02906naa a2200289 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001902400450006010000180010524501730012326000090029650000430030552020040034865000250235265000210237765000170239865300190241565300200243465300130245465300150246770000170248270000220249970000210252170000200254270000170256277300370257921824772026-01-12       2025    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d7 ahttps://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcaf2442DOI1 aSCHINDLER, B.  aFrom the field to the laboratoryba multidisciplinary approach to conserving the microendemic Vellozia sessilis in Chapada dos Veadeiros, Brazil.h[electronic resource]  c2025  aNa publicação: Dulce Alves-da-Silva.  aBackground and aims: The conservation of species increasingly demands integrated approaches that rely on collaboration accros multiple areas of knowledge. In this context, we adopted a multidisciplinary approach to address key knowledge gaps in the biology and conservation of Vellozia sessilis, an Endangered (EN) and microendemic species native to the highlands of Chapada dos Veadeiros in Central Brazil. Methods: We combined field surveys, citizen science, species distribution modelling, satellite-based estimates of habitat loss, and ex situ seed conservation. Key results: Our fieldwork recorded four new populations of V. sessilis, two of which were identified with the help of citizen science. The species has an Area of Occupancy (AOO) of 24 km² and Extent of Occurrence (EOO) of 88.6 km². Land use analysis, indicated a modest habitat reduction of 1.3%within the species' EOO between 1985 and 2023. However, several threats to habitat quality were observed, including invasive alien grasses, human disturbances from tourism and nearby agricultural activities, and fire-induced mortality. A seed conservation protocol was developed to enable long-term ex situ preservation of accessions in germplasm banks. Conclusions: Collaboration among institutions, researchers, and citizens was essential at all stages of the study, resulting in the discovery of new populations of V. sessilis and the identification of 29 other rare and/or endangered plant species in biodiversity hotspot of Chapada dos Veadeiros. This comprehensive strategy confirmed the conservation status of V. sessilis as EN. Despite new occurrence data, the number of locations, AOO and EOO, remain below the critical thresholds for the EN category, further reinforced observed threats in the field. This multidisciplinary approach offers a replicable model for the conservation of other microendemic and threatened plant species facing similar challenges, thereby contributing to broader biodiversity conservation efforts.  aEx situ conservation  aSeed germination  aVelloziaceae  aCampo rupestre  aCitizen science  aEndemism  aThreatened1 aFIGUEIRA, M.1 aNORONHA, S. E. de1 aMATIAS, R. A. M.1 aSILVA, D. A. da1 aSIMON, M. F.  tAnnals of Botany, mcaf244, 2025.