Composição florística de um fragmento de vegetação dos tabuleiros costeiros no município de Eusébio: caminhos para a conservação da diversidade vegetal na Região Metropolitana de Fortaleza, Ceará

Abstract

The state of Ceará encompasses a variety of vegetation types. Although the central portion of the state is dominated by caatinga vegetation, the coastal areas harbor distinct ecosystems, such as tabuleiro forests and savannas, which exhibit floristic affinities with cerrado vegetation. Despite the ecological importance of native vegetation, the coastal region of Ceará has been undergoing extensive loss of plant cover, and the municipality of Eusébio is among the areas experiencing intense urban expansion, resulting in ecosystem fragmentation. In this context, the present study aimed, in general, to document the plant diversity and phytophysiognomies within a peri-urban forest fragment in the municipality of Eusébio, Ceará, in order to contribute to the knowledge of Ceará’s biodiversity. The forest fragment is located on public land belonging to the National Institute for Space Research (INPE Eusébio). Field surveys were conducted using the “caminhamento” method, which consists of nonsystematic walks throughout the area, collecting all fertile botanical material encountered. The collected specimens were deposited in the Prisco Bezerra Herbarium (EAC) at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), documenting the flora of the INPE vegetation fragment. In addition, anthropogenic impacts present in the area were recorded. We recorded 241 species, distributed across 175 genera and 68 families, with the most representative being Fabaceae (46 species), followed by Rubiaceae (18 species), Poaceae (14 species), Malvaceae (13 species), Cyperaceae (12 species), Asteraceae (ten species), and Myrtaceae (nine species). We documented 18 exotic species, most of which were invasive, with particular emphasis on Azadirachta indica, which has already invaded the vegetation. Three distinct phytophysiognomies were identified: tabuleiro forest, characterized by a well-defined canopy and leaf litter on the forest floor; tabuleiro savannas, with typical cerrado species, spaced shrubs, and herbs dominating the substrate; and flooded areas, which retain water even during the dry season and contain species adapted to waterlogged soils. Additionally, two intermittent springs were found in the region, along with the occurrence of the threatened species Bacopa cochlearia. Based on the results generated by this study, we propose the creation of a sustainable-use Protected Area (Área de Relevante Interesse Ecológico – ARIE), encompassing the entire forested area of the site, in order to strengthen the legal protection of local biodiversity and phytophysiognomies, thereby further contributing to the conservation of coastal vegetation in the state of Ceará.