Analysis of the floristic composition of the Brazilian cerrado vegetation II: Comparison of the woody vegetation of 98 areas

A comprehensive analysis of the floristic composition of 98 areas of Brazilian cerrados and Amazonian savannas revealed significant geographic patterns in woody vegetation distribution. The study identified five distinct regional groups—southern, southeastern, central, central-western, and northern—as well as a disjunct group of Amazonian savannas, demonstrating the biome's extreme heterogeneity. Only 28 species were present across at least half of the sites, while 158 species were unique to single locations. Multivariate analyses, including TWINSPAN, UPGMA, and DCA, consistently showed that soil type (mesotrophic or dystrophic) plays a crucial role in shaping floristic composition. This research underscores the cerrados' complex structure and the importance of regional factors in determining plant diversity.

Ratter, J. A., Bridgewater, S., Atkinson, R., & Ribeiro, J. F. (2010). Analysis of the floristic composition of the Brazilian cerrado vegetation II: Comparison of the woody vegetation of 98 areas. Edinburgh Journal of Botany, 53(2), 153–180. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0960428600002821