Cacti of Eastern Brazil
Arrojadoa bahiensis, a stunning cactus from the Chapada Diamantina in Bahia, is classed as Vulnerable on account of its small population size and ongoing overcollection of seeds
Published by Kew in July 2004, Cacti of Eastern Brazil is a floristic monograph and guide to the history of discovery, classification, identification, ecology, phytogeography and conservation of the cacti (Cactaceae) found native and naturalised in Eastern Brazil, illustrating and mapping all recognised native species and subspecies. It includes IUCN Red List Conservation Assessments for all 162 taxa and recommendations for conservation action, protected areas and priorities for further study. It is based on fieldwork and herbarium research carried out over the period 1987–2003, and embodies the doctoral theses of both authors, Taylor and Zappi.
Spin-offs from the project include the co-supervision of several Brazilian Masters and PhD students, as follows:
Marlon Machado, 2003–04 (Univ. Estadual Feira de Santana, Bahia: Masters project on the taxonomy and conservation genetics of Discocactus in Bahia, using molecular techniques); two papers published – now completing a PhD at Univ. Zürich on Parodia (Cactaceae).
Juliana Ordones, 2001–2004 (Univ. Federal de Minas Gerais: Masters project on the biology and conservation of Cipocereus laniflorus in the Serra do Caraça); two papers in press- now working at the Fundação Zoobotânica de Belo Horizonte.
Lidyanne Aona, 2003–04 (Univ. Estadual Campinas, São Paulo: Masters project on taxonomy, phylogeny & pollination biology of Micranthocereus); one paper published– now engaged in PhD work on Commelinaceae at Universidade Estadual de Campinas.
Emerson Rocha, 2003– (Univ. Federal Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco: PhD on pollination biology of Pilosocereus).
Alice Calvente, 2005– (Univ. São Paulo, São Paulo: PhD on taxonomy and conservation of Rhipsalis in the Atlantic Forest of SE Brazil).
Project Team
Project Leader: Taylor, Nigel
Herbarium
Daniela Zappi
HPE
Nigel Taylor
Project Partners and Collaborators
Brazil
Universidade de São Paulo
Universidade Estadual de Campinas
Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
Funders
Brazil
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) & Coordenadoria de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) grants, MSc/PhD (to D Zappi, 1987–1991)
USA
National Geographic grant (to RM Harley, 1988)