Endemicity of Gaylussacia H.B.K., 1818 (Ericaceae, Ericales) ; Áreas de Endemismo de Gaylussacia H.B.K., 1818 (Ericaceae, Ericales)

The shrubs of the genus Gaylussacia, commonly known as “huckleberries”, are distributed geographically in a disjunct pattern in North and South America. All the species are important as components of forests and food source for wildlife. The fruits are also collected and eaten by humans. The extracts of these plants have been used as chemotherapeutic agents to regulate the immune system activities. Areas of endemism have been the focus of biodiversity production in the past and thus may be “hot spots” of evolutionary potential for the future. To recognize the endemicity, it is necessary a method to maximize the congruence of the greater number of species as possible. The PAE method, Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity unites areas based on their shared species. It is analogous with the cladistics methods used in phylogenetic analysis. The distributional data of 46 species of Gaylussacia were taken from systematic reviews, scientific papers, and recent floristic surveys. The relationship between areas illustrated by PAE cladograms recognized areas of endemism in the eastern North America and in southeastern and southern Brazil. The recognized areas are congruent with endemic areas of birds, primates, insects, and crustaceans delimited in different studies. This congruence support the endemicity identified in the present study and shows the value of these areas to biodiversity conservation. ; Os arbustos do gênero Gaylussacia, conhecidos como “camarinhas”, são importantes componentes da vegetação e possuem distribuição limitada ao hemisfério Oeste, nas Américas do Norte e do Sul. Seus frutos representam fontes de alimento para animais selvagens e também são coletados e utilizados pelo homem. Recentemente, extratos orgânicos retirados dessas plantas têm sido utilizados no tratamento e modulação das funções do sistema imunológico. Áreas de endemismo representam focos de produção de biodiversidade no passado e podem ser regiões com grande potencial evolutivo para o futuro. Para delimitar uma área ...