Vegetation and land cover mapping of the Cabo Frio centre of plant diversity, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

The Cabo Frio region has been nominated an important Centre of Plant Diversity of the Neotropical Region due to the presence of several endemic taxa and unique plant communities, which are related to both a dry climate and a heterogeneous physical environment. Although previous studies have provided important floristic and structural information on vegetation types, there is still considerable uncertainty about the spatial distribution, extent and variation in vegetation cover, as well as the classification and definition of these types. This work aims to provide an analysis of the region's vegetation and its relationship to the physical environment, through vegetation and land cover mapping, based on an integrated analysis of satellite images and aerial photographs, thematic maps, point data from previous floristic and structural surveys and field work, supported by digital image processing and geographic information system software. These results are accompanied by a vegetation and land cover map of the entire area, thus providing a basis for further ecological studies, conservation and land use planning and monitoring and landscape dynamics analyses.