A catalogue of the vascular plants of the Caatinga Phytogeographical Domain: a synthesis of floristic and phytosociological surveys

Phytotaxa ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 160 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Freire Moro ◽  
Eimear Nic Lughadha ◽  
Denis L. Filer ◽  
Francisca Soares de Araújo ◽  
Fernando Roberto Martins
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Plant Biodiversity ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Floristic Study ◽  
Plant Names ◽  
Ecological Patterns

A catalogue is presented of plant names in use in the Caatinga Phytogeographical Domain (CPD), the largest semiarid ecoregion of South America. We compiled all pubished papers we could locate with floristic and/or phytosociological data relating to the CPD and created a database of all site-based surveys, all names reported in these surveys and the basic ecological data associated with each species. We then mapped the names used in survey reports to those currently accepted in Brazil, consulting specialists to resolve taxonomic and nomenclatural issues before synthesizing the data in order to present here a list of all names in use. Thus this compilation represents the taxonomic data in use by generalist botanists on a sub continental scale. Synthesizing the previously dispersed ecological data available for the species, we explored general ecological patterns in the CPD. We also classified each survey as documenting the flora of a specific type of environment within the CPD and compared the general floristic resemblance between different environments within CPD on a biogeographical scale. Rarefaction curves and species richness estimator indices were employed in order to address the question as to whether or not the Caatinga Phytogeographical Domain can be described as well-sampled. To date over 1700 species have been reported in site-based floristic and phytosociological studies in the CPD. Most surveys focused only on woody plants, ignoring the non woody component, but we show here that a large proportion of the plant biodiversity in the Caatinga is comprised of non woody plants. We estimate that 40% of the existing species were not sampled by site-based surveys. Moreover, most of the species in our database were recorded from a single site, while a few species were considered widespread. When comparing the number of widespread species in our dataset to results published for the cerrado savannas, we show that species in Caatinga seems to have a much more restricted distribution than plants in the Cerrado. We present here a catalogue of all plant names recorded and discuss sampling and geographical issues related to the floristic study of Caatinga.

scholarly journals Riqueza total de especies de plantas vasculares en un bosque andino de la Cordillera central de Colombia

2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 227
Author(s):  
Heriberto David-Higuita ◽  
Esteban Alvarez-Dávila
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Total Species Richness ◽  
Total Species

Studies of plant diversity in tropical forests are usually restricted to trees or other groups of woody plants above a certain stem diameter. However, surveys that include all forms of live plants with no restrictions on their sizes, clearly indicate that non-woody plants are equally important. In this study, we reported the total species richness of vascular plants species (TSR) in one hectare plot in an Andean forest in Northwestern Colombia (6º 12' 48” N & 75º 29' 32” W). We evaluated the relative contribution of the different growth habits and the effect of the plant size, to TSR. We measured all individuals with diameter (D) ≥ 5 cm in the hectare and all the vascular plants of all sizes, including epiphytes, in a subsample of 0.25 ha. A total of 14 545 individuals distributed in 318 species, 72 families (considering Pteridophyta as one group) and 171 genera were registered. Most of the species showed a (D) < 10 cm (99.7%) and < 2.5 cm (94.4 %). The no-arboreal species (ground herbs, epiphytes and vines) represented 54.3 % of the total species reported in the plot, indicating that they are important in the structure, composition and species richness of this montane forest. Our results coincide with similar studies in other tropical forests. We concluded that to get a more detailed knowledge of the floristic diversity of a site, it is advisable to: 1) amplify the size range of the plants generally considered in the floristic inventories and 2) to include non-woody species. This information is crucial for making better decisions in local and global conservation efforts.

scholarly journals Patterns and drivers of species richness and turnover of neo-endemic and palaeo-endemic vascular plants in a Mediterranean hotspot: the case of Crete, Greece

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Lazarina ◽  
Athanasios S. Kallimanis ◽  
Panayotis Dimopoulos ◽  
Maria Psaralexi ◽  
Danai-Eleni Michailidou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Relict Species ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Α Diversity ◽  
Bioclimatic Variables ◽  
Biotic Effects

Abstract Background Exploring species richness and turnover patterns and their drivers can provide new insights into underlying mechanisms shaping community assembly, with significant implications for biodiversity conservation. Here, we explored diversity patterns of non-endemic, neo-endemic and palaeo-endemic vascular plants in Crete, Greece, a Mediterranean hotspot of plant richness and endemism. We evaluated the relationship between α-diversity and environmental (bioclimatic variables, topography), and anthropogenic variables by Generalized Additive Models, after accounting for spatial autocorrelation. Then, we quantified turnover using the novel concept of zeta diversity (the number of shared species by multiple sites), a framework which allows to explore the full spectrum of compositional turnover, the contribution of rare and widespread species to observed patterns and the underlying processes shaping them. Finally, we explored the abiotic and biotic effects, i.e. how well one category of species (non-endemics, palaeo-endemics, neo-endemics) predicts the patterns of the other categories, on zeta diversity by multi-site Generalized Dissimilarity Modelling. Results We found a strong correlation between neo-endemic and palaeo-endemic α-diversity, with climate, topography, and human impact driving species richness. Zeta diversity analysis revealed a sharper decrease of shared palaeo-endemic species, followed by neo-endemics, and then by non-endemics with the number of sites considered to estimate compositional turnover. Perhaps, the narrow distributions of palaeo-endemics as relict species and often habitat specialists, thus persisting locally, and of neo-endemics that may have not reached yet their potential geographical range, resulted in the observed zeta diversity decline pattern. Deterministic processes controlled species turnover of rare non-endemic and neo-endemic species, while deterministic and stochastic processes contributed similarly to palaeo-endemic turnover. However, stochasticity dominates in the case of widespread species in all occasions. The environmental and anthropogenic variables were poor predictors of compositional turnover, especially of widespread species. However, the non-endemic species composition was correlated to rare palaeo-endemics and neo-endemics, highlighting the importance of biotic effects in driving turnover patterns. Conclusions It seems that centers of neo-endemism of vascular plants coincide with centers of palaeo-endemism in Crete, but species richness and species turnover are shaped by different drivers.

Distribution Patterns and Climatic Explanations of Species Richness of Vascular Plants in Xinjiang, China

2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-ping LI ◽  
Nurbay Abdusalih ◽  
Shao-peng WANG ◽  
Zhi-heng WANG ◽  
Zhi-yao TANG
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Distribution Patterns

scholarly journals The Genus Plagiothecium Schimp. (Plagiotheciaceae, Bryophyta) in Eurasia: An Annotated Checklist with Distribution and Ecological Data

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 868
Author(s):  
Grzegorz J. Wolski ◽  
Samar Nour-El-Deen ◽  
Alicja Cienkowska ◽  
Daniel Bożyk ◽  
Wagieh El-Saadawi
Keyword(s):  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Sectional Classification ◽  
Pleurocarpous Moss ◽  
Annotated Checklist

An annotated checklist of the pleurocarpous moss genus Plagiothecium in Eurasia is presented for the first time based on a thorough review of the literature. Data have been compiled from previous relevant works conducted on the genus over more than 70 years and published up to the end of June 2020 for 107 Eurasian countries (and islands). Sectional classification is based on molecular phylogeny of the genus published recently. A total of 41 taxa are reported, including 29 species and 12 infraspecific taxa (nine varieties and three forms) belonging to eight sections. The highest numbers of taxa were found in China (20 taxa), the Russian Federation (20 taxa) and Japan (18 taxa), while the smallest numbers of taxa were recorded in the Middle East, Central Asia and the islands area. Not a single species of Plagiothecium was recorded in 26 regions, whereas P. denticulatum, P. nemorale and P. cavifolium turned out to be the most widespread species in the entire study area. They were recorded in most of the surveyed countries and islands. For each accepted taxon, information on relevant literature, synonyms, distribution within Eurasia and globally are provided. Comments on each taxon, ecological preferences, and notes on doubtful records are also included. Additionally, distribution maps for each recognised taxon are supplied. This checklist can enlighten and foster a better understanding of the distribution, diversity, and ecology of Plagiothecium in Eurasia and provides an incentive for future research on the genus.

Designing the eLTER Research Infrastructure: representativity, priority regions and recommendations for development

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Ohnemus ◽  
Hannes Mollenhauer ◽  
Michael Mirtl ◽  
Steffen Zacharias
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Design Strategy ◽  
Critical Zone ◽  
Research Infrastructure ◽  
Statistical Criterion ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Site Network ◽  
Combining Information

&lt;p&gt;The integrated European Long-Term Ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological Research Infrastructure (eLTER RI) was accepted onto the ESFRI roadmap in 2018. While several existing thematic environmental RIs in Europe focus on impacts of climate change and/or other elements of environmental change, eLTER RI will be the only research infrastructure embracing holistically the integrated impacts of such stressors on a wide variety of European benchmark ecosystems (major geo-eco-sociological systems across the continent&amp;#8217;s ecoclimatological zones and Earth&amp;#8217;s critical zone). In the beginning of 2020 eLTER RI entered the preparatory phase aiming at the development of the legal, financial and technical maturity required for an ESFRI Research Infrastructure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The core of the eLTER RI will be ca. 200 selected sites covering all biogeographical zones in Europe, where biological, biogeochemical, hydrological and socio-ecological data will be collected - according to common standards - and analyzed. The European landscape of LTER sites and national networks has mainly been developed in a bottom-up manner. The sites have mostly been established for different monitoring and research purposes and are heterogeneous in terms of investigated ecosystem types, scales of investigation, complexity and instrumentation. Consequently, the transformation of the selected elements of the eLTER RI into a harmonized, high-performance, complementary and interoperable infrastructure is one of the key challenges of eLTER. Achieving the best possible representativity is on the major building blocks in eLTER&amp;#8217;s design strategy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To evaluate the representativity of eLTER a novel statistical approach combining information on biogeographical, ecological and socio-economic gradients with the management-relevant distribution of established sites was developed aiming at &amp;#160;i) identification of areas in Europe that are geographically underrepresented by the existing eLTER RI site network, ii) definition of priority regions for the geographical extension of the eLTER site network and, iii) development of suggestions for conceptual and infrastructural upgrades for existing less developed eLTER sites.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Reference datasets depicting biogeographical, ecological and socio-economical gradients were used to describe underrepresentation with a summation parameter called Aggregated Representedness. This statistical criterion was then used to classify five types of &amp;#8220;priority regions&amp;#8221; from very low to very high priority for geographical and/or conceptual extension. In a second step this information on priority regions was refined using additional information describing the geographical distribution based on Euclidean distances between established eLTER sites. &amp;#160;The combination of these two analyses allowed to identify less developed eLTER sites most suitable for conceptual and infrastructural upgrades. Thus, the presented analysis provides important information for the development of the design strategy for eLTER RI on the continental scale.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Concluding, a novel approach combining information on biogeographical, ecological and socio-economic gradients with the management-relevant information on the geographical distribution of established sites was developed. This tool allows to evaluate the strategies for further extension of established site networks.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Species richness and conservation gap analysis of karst areas: A case study of vascular plants from Guizhou, China

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. e00460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Liu ◽  
Mei Zhang ◽  
W. Rainer Bussmann ◽  
Hui-ming Liu ◽  
Ying-ying Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Gap Analysis ◽  
Karst Areas

scholarly journals Dynamics and Edge Effect of an Atlantic Forest Fragment in Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 340-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Poliana Gabriella Araújo Mendes ◽  
Maria Amanda Menezes Silva ◽  
Tassiane Novacosque Feitosa Guerra ◽  
Ana Carolina Borges Lins-e-Silva ◽  
Airton de Deus Cysneiros Cavalcanti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Edge Effect ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Canopy Tree ◽  
Forest Interior

ABSTRACT The woody plants in an edge area formed approximately 35 years ago in an Atlantic Forest fragment in northeastern Brazil were examined, and three environments defined: edge, intermediate, and interior. Canopy tree densities and basal areas were found to be similar in all three environments, and also similar to previous published studies in the same region; species richness was greatest at the forest edge. The understory showed greater species richness in the forest interior, but greater diversity and equitability in the intermediate environment. Understory environments close to the forest edge demonstrated larger stem diameters than in the forest interior, although at lesser densities and with smaller total basal areas. Our results indicated the existence of distinct patterns in canopy and understory that most likely reflect differences in the response times of these two vegetation layers, with the understory being more sensitive to alterations in environmental structure.

scholarly journals Ecological and microbiological diversity of chigger mites, including vectors of scrub typhus, on small mammals across stratified habitats in Thailand

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kittipong Chaisiri ◽  
A. Christina Gill ◽  
Alexandr A. Stekolnikov ◽  
Soawapak Hinjoy ◽  
John W. McGarry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Scrub Typhus ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Human Land Use ◽  
Β Diversity ◽  
Α Diversity

AbstractScrub typhus, caused by a bacterial pathogen (Orientia spp.), is a potentially life-threatening febrile illness widely distributed in the Asia-Pacific region and is emerging elsewhere. The infection is transmitted by the larval stage of trombiculid mites (“chiggers”) that often exhibit low host specificity. Here, we present an analysis of chigger ecology for 38 species sampled from 11 provinces of Thailand and microbiomes for eight widespread species. In total, >16 000 individual chiggers were collected from 1 574 small mammal specimens belonging to 18 species across four horizontally-stratified habitat types. Chigger species richness was positively associated with higher latitudes, dry seasonal conditions, and host maturity; but negatively associated with increased human land use. Human scrub typhus incidence was found to be positively correlated with chigger species richness. The bacterial microbiome of chiggers was highly diverse, with Sphingobium, Mycobacterium, Neisseriaceae and various Bacillales representing the most abundant taxa. Only Leptotrombidium deliense was found to be infected with Orientia. β-diversity, but not α-diversity, was significantly different between chigger species and geographic regions, although not between habitat types. This first field survey of the chigger microbiome provides a framework for future studies on interactions between pathogens and other symbionts in these understudied vectors.

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