A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
HERBase: A collection of understorey herb vegetation plots from Amazonia
Authors: Andre Thiago, Moulatlet Gabriel Massaine, Almeida Thais Elias, Alverga Paula Palhares De Polari, Boelter Carlos Renato, Drucker Debora Pignatari, da Silva Julia Gomez, Linares-Palomino Reynaldo, Lopes Maria Aparecida, Magalhaes José Leonardo Lima, Manzatto Angelo Gilberto, Mews Henrique Augusto, Moll Iracema Elizabeth De Siuza, Mortati Amanda Frederico, da Paixao Eliana Celestino, Quintero-Vallejo Estela, van Andel Tinde, Silveira Marcos, Storck-Tonon Danielle, Tuomisto Hanna, Zuquim Gabriela, Costa Flávia Regina Cappelloto
Publisher: INST NACIONAL PESQUISAS AMAZONIA
Publication year: 2023
Journal: Acta Amazonica
Journal name in source: ACTA AMAZONICA
Journal acronym: ACTA AMAZON
Volume: 53
Issue: 2
First page : 114
Last page: 121
Number of pages: 10
ISSN: 0044-5967
eISSN: 1809-4392
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-4392202203150
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-4392202203150
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/179757309
Understorey herbs form a diverse and understudied plant assemblage in tropical forests. Although several studies and research teams have long been dedicated to the study of this conspicuous vegetation component in Amazonia, no effort to unify the data has been undertaken to date. In contrast to trees and other life forms for which major data compilations already exist, a unified database dedicated to herbs is still lacking. Part of the problem is in defining what is a herb and how to effectively sample herb assemblages. In this article, we describe the database HERBase, an exhaustive compilation of published and unpublished data on herb inventories in Amazonia. We also describe the structure, functioning, and guidelines for data curation and integration in HERBase. We were able to compile information from 1381 plots from all six Amazonian geographic regions. Based on this dataset, we describe and discuss sampling and knowledge gaps, priority areas for new collections, and recommend sampling protocols to facilitate data integration in the future. This novel database provides a unique biodiversity data repository on understorey herbs that will enable new studies on community ecology and biogeography.
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |  |
