Competition is an important biological filter that can define crucial features of species’ natural history, like survival and reproduction success. We evaluated in the Brazilian tropical savanna whether two sympatric and congenereric species, Qualea multiflora Mart. and Q. parviflora Mart. (Vochysiaceae), compete for pollinator services, testing whether there is a better competitor or whether plants present any anti-competitive mechanism. Additionally, we investigated the breeding system, pollinators, and flowering phenology of both species. The results showed that Q. multiflora and Q. parviflora are dependent on pollinators for fruit formation, as they exhibited a self-incompatible and non-agamospermic breeding system. These plants shared the same guild of pollinators, which was formed by bees and hummingbirds, and an overlap in the flower visitation time was observed. Each plant species had different pollinator attraction strategies: Q. multiflora invested in floral resource quality, while Q. parviflora invested in resource quantity. The blooming time showed a temporal flowering partition, with highly sequential flowering and no overlap. Qualea parviflora bloomed intensely from September to October, while Q. multiflora bloomed from November to January, with the flowering peak occurring in December. The two Qualea species have morphologically similar flowers, are sympatric, and share the same pollinator community, with overlapping foraging activity during the day. However, they do not compete for pollinator services as they exhibit an anti-competitive mechanism mediated by temporal flowering partition.

Protected areas are crucial sanctuaries for biodiversity, strictly prohibiting the direct exploitation of natural resources and helping to maintain viable populations and communities. However, even species within these areas face challenges from climate changes. This study compared the present distribution of five woody species (Aspidosperma tomentosum, Kielmeyera coriacea, Peixotoa tomentosa, Qualea multiflora, and Senna velutina) with their projected distribution (in 2080–2100) in 30 protected Brazilian national parks. Our objectives were to evaluate ecological niche models; determine which bioclimatic variables best explain the geographic distribution of species; assess the current distribution of these species; predict changes under distinct future climatic scenarios; and analyze the potential species richness within Brazilian national parks. We overlayed binarized maps of each species and extracted statistical metrics—mean potential, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum potential—using the ‘extract’ function (raster package, v.3.5-2) in the R platform. The results revealed the dynamic nature of species distribution, each one of them being affected by a specific group of factors. All species exhibited changes in their ecological niche or distribution areas in future projections, be it losing areas (A. tomentosum: 26.27–100%; K. coriacea: 38.39–100%; P. tomentosa: 40.46–96.66%; Q. multiflora: 7.34–100%; Senna velutina: 4.52–99.99%) or gaining areas (Q. multiflora: up to 92.21%, and S. velutina: up to 22.07%). We conclude that the potential species richness within Brazilian national parks will be lower in the future. This information is crucial for biodiversity conservation efforts, offering insights into species habitat dynamics and emphasizing the need for adaptive conservation strategies. This study reinforces the urgency of preserving natural ecosystems to ensure a sustainable future for their flora and fauna.

Agroforestry Systems (AFS) integrate agricultural and forest production, providing ecosystem environmental services. They are considered important tools for addressing problems caused by modern agricultural development. Despite their proven environmental and productive benefits, more studies are needed to support the viability and adoption of AFS by rural producers. This study accounts for the primary costs of implementing 1 hectare of a biodiverse AFS in Brazil. The results show that the acquisition of seedlings and propagules constitutes the highest costs, with avocado seedlings being the most expensive. Operational costs, particularly grading and the purchase of inputs, also represent significant expenses. Future research should focus on tracking the evolution of implementation costs, substituting expensive external supplies, and optimizing operational times for area preparation. These efforts will enhance the design and viability of AFS, addressing local producer needs and ensuring profitable maintenance.

Qualea species (Vochysiaceae) are abundant and diverse in Brazilian savanna, contributing to maintain ecological communities through interactions with animals, mainly arthropods. Plant-pollinator interactions are fundamental to sustain biodiversity in tropical ecosystems. The reproductive ecology of Qualea parviflora is described, including its phenology, floral biology, floral lifespan, mating system, and floral visitors in Brazilian savanna. Flowers exhibits enantiostyly and are formed by one petal, one carpel, one pistil, and a spur formed by five fused sepals. Annual flowering occurred during the rainy season in the study area (October-November/2018). Each tree had 40±17.65 inflorescences, 1.7±1.1 open flowers per inflorescence per day, diurnal anthesis, and flowers lasting just one day. Flowers produced 9498.8±49.43 pollen grains (85.5±0.6% viability), and nectar (0.51±0.30 µL; 31.86±10.56% sugar concentration). Despite pollen/ovule ratio suggesting optional autogamy, Q. parviflora exhibited a self-incompatible and non-agamospermic reproductive mating system, indicating mandatory cross-pollination. Forty-seven species (hummingbirds and insects) performed 420 floral visits. Hymenoptera accounted for 69.9% of visits. Pollinators (middle size /big bees, wasps, and hummingbirds), pollen and/or nectar robbers, herbivores and predators were recorded. We highlight Q. parviflora depends on biotic pollination and interacts with distinct floral visitors, reinforcing its ecological importance and the need to consider pollinator availability in restoration projects.