Abstract The actual status of the progress and the main aspects of diatom studies in Brazil remain unknown. This paper describes a survey of published studies addressing material of Brazilian origin in non-marine aquatic environments. Our objectives are to (1) summarize and categorize diatom research topics, (2) to describe how related studies evolved and developed over time, as well as respective journals, (3) to identify the most studied regions and environments, and (4) to indicate the main institutions and works addressing diatom research and related interactions. We conducted a systematic review selecting 478 studies. Since the early studies, the approach on diatom floristic exclusively was the most frequent, even though, ecological studies have been increasing since the 2000s. However, these concentrate in the southern and southeastern. It was only in the last decades that other Brazilian regions became the setting of more extensive samplings, thus reflecting on the interactions between authors and institutions from the collection sites. However, the actual biodiversity scenario of diatoms in Brazil still seems to be underestimated, which may influence further conservation measures. Finally, we indicate some suggestions aimed at filling the sampling gaps presented/highlighted in this study.

Present study is the floristic survey and the distribution of diatoms observed in two sediment cores of the Xingu river, Pará State, north Brazil, and represents the past ~6,000 cal yr BP. Thirty-eight taxa distributed in twenty genera were recorded, among which five were new records for Brazil and nineteen new for the Brazilian Amazon. The most representative genus based on species number was Gomphonema Ehrenberg with six species. In brief, present new records represent a 75% increase in the total number of records for the Brazilian Amazon, and indicates that this region has not only been poorly investigated, but also suggests that its biodiversity assessment is underestimated. These findings highlight the efficacy of the paleolimnological approach as a tool for assessing biodiversity before the human impacts begin to affect the pristine conditions of the area.

O presente estudo visou ao levantamento florístico e à distribuição de diatomáceas obtidas de dois perfis sedimentares do rio Xingu, Estado do Pará, Brasil, e representa os últimos ~6.000 anos de idade. Trinta e oito táxons distribuídos em vinte gêneros foram documentados, entre os quais cinco são novos registros de ocorrência no Brasil e dezenove na Amazônia brasileira. Gomphonema Ehrenberg foi o gênero mais representado com seis espécies. Sintetizando, as novas ocorrências representam um aumento de 75% do número total de registros para a Amazônia brasileira e indicam que essa região ainda se encontra mal investigada, mas também sugere que a avaliação da biodiversidade está subestimada. Finalmente, os resultados destacam a utilidade da abordagem paleolimnológica como uma ferramenta de peso na avaliação da biodiversidade antes que os impactos humanos comecem a afetar as condições pristinas da área.

RESUMO O presente estudo visou ao levantamento florístico e à distribuição de diatomáceas obtidas de dois perfis sedimentares do rio Xingu, Estado do Pará, Brasil, e representa os últimos ~6.000 anos de idade. Trinta e oito táxons distribuídos em vinte gêneros foram documentados, entre os quais cinco são novos registros de ocorrência no Brasil e dezenove na Amazônia brasileira. Gomphonema Ehrenberg foi o gênero mais representado com seis espécies. Sintetizando, as novas ocorrências representam um aumento de 75% do número total de registros para a Amazônia brasileira e indicam que essa região ainda se encontra mal investigada, mas também sugere que a avaliação da biodiversidade está subestimada. Finalmente, os resultados destacam a utilidade da abordagem paleolimnológica como uma ferramenta de peso na avaliação da biodiversidade antes que os impactos humanos comecem a afetar as condições pristinas da área.

ABSTRACT Present study is the floristic survey and the distribution of diatoms observed in two sediment cores of the Xingu river, Pará State, north Brazil, and represents the past ~6,000 cal yr BP. Thirty-eight taxa distributed in twenty genera were recorded, among which five were new records for Brazil and nineteen new for the Brazilian Amazon. The most representative genus based on species number was Gomphonema Ehrenberg with six species. In brief, present new records represent a 75% increase in the total number of records for the Brazilian Amazon, and indicates that this region has not only been poorly investigated, but also suggests that its biodiversity assessment is underestimated. These findings highlight the efficacy of the paleolimnological approach as a tool for assessing biodiversity before the human impacts begin to affect the pristine conditions of the area.