The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity

Scientific Data, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 8(1)

Published: Aug. 13, 2021

The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) is a comprehensive list scientifically described plant species, compiled over four decades, from peer-reviewed literature, authoritative scientific databases, herbaria and observations, then reviewed by experts. It vital tool to facilitate diversity research, conservation effective management, including sustainable use equitable sharing benefits. To maximise utility, such lists should be accessible, explicitly evidence-based, transparent, expert-reviewed, regularly updated, incorporating new evidence emerging consensus. WCVP largely meets these criteria, being continuously updated freely available online. Users can browse, search, or download user-defined subset accepted species with corresponding synonyms bibliographic details, date-stamped full dataset. appropriate data reuse individual researchers global initiatives Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Catalogue Life Flora Online, we document collation review processes, the underlying structure, international standards technical validation that ensure quality integrity. We also address questions most frequently received users.

Language: Английский

---

Plant-Derived Natural Products: A Source for Drug Discovery and Development

Drugs and Drug Candidates, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 3(1), P. 184 - 207

Published: Feb. 19, 2024

For thousands of years, nature has been a source medical substances, and an astounding numeral contemporary remedies have identified from natural origins. Plants long used as folk herbal medicines to treat various disorders, their different products inspired the design, discovery, development new drugs. With invention recent molecular targets based on proteins, there is growing need for fresh chemical diversification in screening. Natural will play vital part supplying this via continuous exploration global biodiversity, majority which remains unexplored. Even though drug discovery medicinal plants important novel therapeutic leads, hurdles exist, including identifying executing suitable high-throughput screening bioassays, scaling up supply bioactive molecules, acquiring plant materials. Investigating these resources takes multi-disciplinary, nationwide, partnerships synthesis, techniques. This review article discusses current advancements future approaches discovering items such health- wellness-promoting remedies. It also summarizes strategies unify use plant-derived worldwide support discoveries derived sources.

Language: Английский

---

New scientific discoveries: Plants and fungi

Plants People Planet, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 2(5), P. 371 - 388

Published: Sept. 1, 2020

Societal Impact Statement Research and publication of the planet's remaining plant fungal species as yet unknown to science is essential if we are address United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 “Life on Land” which includes protection terrestrial ecosystems halting biodiversity loss. If not known science, they cannot be assessed International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN) Red List Threatened Species so possibility protect them from extinction reduced. Furthermore, until fully scientifically evaluated their potential new foods, medicines, products would help SDGs 1,2,3, 8. Summary Scientific discovery, including naming taxa, important because without a scientific name, invisible possibilities researching its ecology, applications threats, conserving it, greatly We review discoveries in kingdoms, based largely names taxa published 2019 indexed Plant Names Index Fungorum. Numbers both kingdoms were similar with 1942 1882 fungi. However, while >50% have likely been discovered, >90% fungi remain unknown. This gulf explains greater number higher order 2019: three classes, 18 orders, 48 families 214 genera versus one family 87 plants. compare terms rates globally different taxonomic groups geographic areas, regard use DNA discovery. especially those interest humanity products, also by life‐form. consider where future such can expected. recommend an urgent increase investment discovery species, still survive. Priorities include more training taxonomists, building equipping collections‐based research centers them, species‐rich, income‐poor countries bulk thought occur.

Language: Английский

---

Molecules from nature: Reconciling biodiversity conservation and global healthcare imperatives for sustainable use of medicinal plants and fungi

Plants People Planet, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 2(5), P. 463 - 481

Published: Sept. 1, 2020

Societal Impact Statement Plants and fungi have provided, or inspired, key pharmaceuticals for global health challenges, including cancer, heart disease, dementia, malaria, are valued as traditional medicines worldwide. Global demand medicinal plants has threatened certain species, contributing to biodiversity loss depletion of natural resources that important the humanity. We consider evolving role in healthcare new challenges human arise. present current emerging scientific approaches, uncover preserve nature‐based solutions future, through harmonization with conservation strategies. Summary Non‐communicable diseases, cardiovascular diabetes, main causes deaths globally, communicable diseases such malaria tuberculosis affect billions people. provided our armory against these while some regions world, they continue a central systems medicines. Consequently, is driving factor loss. Yet future therapeutics from nature evolving. Scientific advances enabling untapped potential world's be explored their value, reveal other roles may improving well‐being; this demonstrates value capital an incentive conservation. Emerging technologies also offer hope safeguarding essential by revealing more sustainable sourcing products. This review discusses recent developments approaches discovery products medicines, well‐being, strategies harmonize therapeutic use its proactive solutions.

Language: Английский

---

Expert perspectives on global biodiversity loss and its drivers and impacts on people

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 21(2), P. 94 - 103

Published: July 18, 2022

Despite substantial progress in understanding global biodiversity loss, major taxonomic and geographic knowledge gaps remain. Decision makers often rely on expert judgement to fill gaps, but are rarely able engage with sufficiently large diverse groups of specialists. To improve the perspectives thousands experts worldwide, we conducted a survey asked focus taxa freshwater, terrestrial, or marine ecosystem which they most familiar. We found several points overwhelming consensus (for instance, multiple drivers loss interact synergistically) important demographic differences specialists’ estimates. Experts from that underrepresented science, including women those Global South, recommended different priorities for conservation solutions, less emphasis acquiring new protected areas, provided higher estimates its impacts. This may part be because disproportionately study highly threatened habitats. Front Ecol Environ 2022;

Language: Английский

---

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

Taxon, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 71(1), P. 178 - 198

Published: Dec. 17, 2021

Abstract The shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description biological taxa and understanding biodiversity patterns processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant impediment to research conservation planning. crisis are widely recognized, highlighting urgent need for data. Over past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort Target 1 Global Strategy Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called preparation working list all known plant species by 2010 an online world Flora 2020. Brazil is megadiverse country, home more world's than any other country. Despite that, Brasiliensis , concluded in 1906, was last comprehensive treatment Brazilian flora. lack accurate estimates number algae, fungi, plants occurring contributes prevailing delays progress towards GSPC targets. 12 years, legion taxonomists motivated meet GSPC, worked together gather integrate knowledge on algal, plant, fungal diversity Brazil. Overall, team about 980 joined efforts highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy prepare updated Brazil, showing power scientific collaboration reach ambitious goals. paper presents overview 2020 provides spatial updates found one most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps summarize future goals extend beyond Our results show 46,975 native plants, 19,669 endemic compiled date suggests Atlantic Rainforest might be diverse domain groups except gymnosperms, Amazon. However, still unequally distributed, with Cerrado being intensively sampled studied biomes In times “scientific reductionism”, botanical mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation recent decades, first significantly enhanced quality quantity available from also made information freely online, providing firm foundation management, conservation, sustainable use funga

Language: Английский

---

The numbers of fungi: are the most speciose genera truly diverse?

Fungal Diversity, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 114(1), P. 387 - 462

Published: March 27, 2022

Language: Английский

---

Bridging the research-implementation gap in IUCN Red List assessments

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 37(4), P. 359 - 370

Published: Jan. 19, 2022

Language: Английский

---

Circling the drain: the extinction crisis and the future of humanity

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 377(1857)

Published: June 27, 2022

Humanity has triggered the sixth mass extinction episode since beginning of Phanerozoic. The complexity this crisis is centred on intersection two complex adaptive systems: human culture and ecosystem functioning, although significance not properly appreciated. Human beings are part biodiversity elements in a global ecosystem. Civilization, perhaps even fate our species, utterly dependent that ecosystem's proper which society increasingly degrading. seems rooted three factors. First, relatively few people globally aware its existence. Second, most who are, many scientists, assume incorrectly problem primarily one disappearance when it existential threat myriad population extinctions. Third, while concerned scientists know there individual collective steps must be taken to slow rates, some willing advocate fundamental, necessary, 'simple' cure, is, reducing scale enterprise. We argue compassionate shrinkage by further encouraging lower birth rates both inequity aggregate wasteful consumption-that an end growthmania-will required. This article theme issue 'Ecological biosphere: next 30 years'.

Language: Английский

---

Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity: Evolution, distribution, and use

Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 378(6623)

Published: Dec. 1, 2022

Madagascar's biota is hyperdiverse and includes exceptional levels of endemicity. We review the current state knowledge on past terrestrial freshwater biodiversity by compiling presenting comprehensive data species diversity, endemism, rates description human uses, in addition to an updated simplified map vegetation types. report a substantial increase records new science recent years; however, diversity evolution many groups remain practically unknown (e.g., fungi most invertebrates). Digitization efforts are increasing resolution richness patterns we highlight crucial role field- collections-based research for advancing identifying gaps our understanding, particularly as corresponds closely collection effort. Phylogenetic mirror that endemism analyzed groups. humid forests centers because their refugia rapid radiations. However, distinct other areas, such grassland-woodland mosaic Central Highlands spiny forest southwest, also biologically important despite lower richness. The documented uses Malagasy manifold, with much potential uncovering useful traits food, medicine, climate mitigation. presented here showcase Madagascar unique "living laboratory" understanding complex interactions between people nature. gathering analysis must continue accelerate if fully understand safeguard this subset Earth's biodiversity.

Language: Английский

---