Counting complete? Finalising the plant inventory of a global biodiversity hotspot

PeerJ

article

Martina Treurnicht¹  Jonathan F. Colville⁴  Lucas N. Joppa⁶  Onno Huyser⁷  John Manning⁸ 

[1] Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University;Institute of Landscape and Plant Ecology, University of Hohenheim;South African Environmental Observation Network Fynbos Node;Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute;Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town;Microsoft Research;Centre for Biodiversity Conservation;Compton Herbarium, South African National Biodiversity Institute;Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal

关键词: Species inventory;    Species discovery;    Taxonomic effort;    Species accumulation;    Bio-inventory;    Botanical exploration;    Plant species description;    Plant conservation;    Cape Floristic Region;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.2984

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

40% of the current total of species was described within the first 100 years of exploration, followed by a continued steady rate of description. We propose that <1% of the flora is still to be described. We document a relatively constant cohort of taxonomists, working over 250 years at what we interpret to be their ‘taxonomic maximum.’ Rates of description of new species were independent of plant growth-form but narrow-range taxa have constituted a significantly greater proportion of species discoveries since 1950. This suggests that the fraction of undiscovered species predominantly comprises localised endemics that are thus of high conservation concern. Our analysis provides important real-world insights for other hotspots in the context of global strategic plans for biodiversity in informing considerations of the likely effort required in attaining set targets of comprehensive plant inventories. In a time of unprecedented biodiversity loss, we argue for a focused research agenda across disciplines to increase the rate of species descriptions in global biodiversity hotspots.

【 授权许可】

CC BY