Plant Endemism Centres and Biodiversity Hotspots in Greece

Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 10(2), P. 72 - 72

Published: Jan. 20, 2021

Biodiversity hotspots (BH) cover a small fraction of the Earth's surface, yet host numerous endemics. Human-induced biodiversity loss has been increasing worldwide, despite attempts to halt extinction crisis. There is thus an urgent need efficiently allocate available conservation funds in optimised prioritization scheme. Identifying BH and endemism centres (EC) therefore valuable tool planning. Even though Greece one most plant species-rich European countries, few studies have dealt with identification or EC none ever incorporated phylogenetic information extended national scale. Consequently, we are unaware extent that Special Areas Conservation (SAC) Natura 2000 network protect Greek diversity. Here, located for first time at scale framework, areas serving as EC, assessed effectiveness SAC safeguarding them. mainly near mountainous areas, supposedly floristically impoverished, such central Aegean islands. A critical re-assessment might be needed minimize risk endemics, by focusing efforts also on fall outside established SAC.

Language: Английский

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Extinction risk of Mesoamerican crop wild relatives

Plants People Planet, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 3(6), P. 775 - 795

Published: Sept. 6, 2021

Societal Impact Statement Crop wild relatives (CWR) are plant taxa closely related to crops and a source of high genetic diversity that can help adapt the impacts global change, particularly meet increasing consumer demand in face climate crisis. CWR provide vital ecosystem services increasingly important for food nutrition security sustainable resilient agriculture. They therefore major biological, social, cultural economic importance. Assessing extinction risk is essential prioritise situ ex conservation strategies Mesoamerica guarantee long‐term survival availability these resources present future generations worldwide. Summary Ensuring one world's most critical issues as agricultural systems already being impacted by change. (CWR)—wild plants crops—possess variability agriculture changing environment sustainably increase crop yields challenge. Here we report results an assessment 224 some (i.e. chilli pepper, maize, common bean, avocado, cotton, potato, squash, vanilla husk tomato) Mesoamerica—an area significance centre origin, domestication diversity. We show 35% selected threatened with according The International Union Conservation Nature (IUCN) Red List demonstrates valuable under anthropogenic threat. dominant threat processes land use change farming, invasive other problematic species (e.g. pests, genetically modified organisms) biological resources, including overcollection logging. significant drivers relate smallholder agriculture—given its incidence ongoing shifts from traditional modern practices herbicides)—smallholder ranching housing urban development introduced material. There urgent need knowledge research around different aspects CWR. Policies support promote pivotal secure benefit current generations.

Language: Английский

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Spatial phylogenetics of two topographic extremes of the Hengduan Mountains in southwestern China and its implications for biodiversity conservation

Plant Diversity, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 43(3), P. 181 - 191

Published: Sept. 18, 2020

Previous attempts to elucidate the drivers of speciation mechanisms and spatial distribution patterns biodiversity in mountain regions have treated different floras within a single geological region as one flora, ignoring potential contributions high habitat/ecosystem heterogeneity. Furthermore, current conservation strategies largely focus on forest ecosystems and/or specific flagship species, marginal ecosystems, leaving species these at risk. Here, we compared river valley subnival Hengduan Mountains (HDM) southwestern China. Specifically, diversity, endemism, threatened based both traditional measurements recent phylogenetic approaches. We then examined how those were related environmental factors human activity same regions. found that middle-southern HDM supports highest diversity endemism for ecosystems; however, neo- paleo-endemism two differ. Regression models indicate habitat paleo-climatic fluctuation are important ecosystems. Temperature precipitation, showed influences Categorical analysis (CANAPE) indicated most centers not covered by nature reserves. Moreover, intensity is southern southeastern HDM, which coincides with mixed-endemism high-priority (and threatened) species. These findings suggest geographic/floristic respond differently show patterns. We, therefore, recommend future research into consider various ecosystem types region. This study also provides theoretical basis protecting diversity. Our work confirms efforts insufficient protect Mountains. Therefore, establishment reserves identified this study; furthermore, strongly improving establishing new management policies

Language: Английский

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Spatial phylogenetics of the North American flora

Journal of Systematics and Evolution, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 58(4), P. 393 - 405

Published: April 15, 2020

Abstract North America is a large continent with extensive climatic, geological, soil, and biological diversity. As biota faces threat from habitat destruction climate change, making quantitative assessment of biodiversity becomes critically important. Rapid digitization plant specimen records accumulation DNA sequence data enable much‐needed broad synthesis species occurrences phylogenetic data. In this study, the first such flora diverse part world attempted, all seed plants American (here defined to include Canada, United States, Mexico), focus on examining diversity endemism. We collected digitized chose coarse grain for analysis, recognizing that currently necessary reasonable completeness per sampling unit. found raw richness endemism patterns largely support previous hypotheses hotspots. The application metrics randomization test revealed novel results, including significant clustering across continent, striking east–west geographical difference in distribution branch lengths, discovery centers neo‐ paleoendemism Mexico, southwestern USA, southeastern USA. Finally, our examination beta provides new approach compare discuss empirical challenges working at continental scale need more parts both terminal taxa spatial poorly understood regions, confirm extend these results.

Language: Английский

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Spatial phylogenetics

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 50(8), P. 1454 - 1463

Published: April 5, 2023

Abstract The metric called phylogenetic diversity (PD) has been employed over the last 30 years to add an evolutionary dimension exploration of biodiversity. However, application PD was until recently limited by both technology and methodology. Newly available distributional data from global museum databasing efforts, rapidly increasing coverage DNA sequence improvements computer hardware software have enabled a new ‘big data’ approach PD‐based metrics randomization‐based hypothesis tests ‘spatial phylogenetics’. It can be defined most simply as turning phylogeny into GIS layer, which then used with other layers understand drivers phylodiversity patterns for conservation prioritization. Alpha beta measured using different ways representing branch lengths on given topology (called ‘facets’), each yielding different, interesting perspective that are best viewed in combination. Challenges posed need addressed through careful cleaning gathering further targeted manner. Spatial phylogenetics is only its infancy, showing much promise but many elements awaiting expansion address questions.

Language: Английский

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Rapid in situ diversification rates in Rhamnaceae explain the parallel evolution of high diversity in temperate biomes from global to local scales

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 241(4), P. 1851 - 1865

Published: Jan. 16, 2024

Summary The macroevolutionary processes that have shaped biodiversity across the temperate realm remain poorly understood and may resulted from evolutionary dynamics related to diversification rates, dispersal colonization times, closely coupled with Cenozoic climate change. We integrated phylogenomic, environmental ordination, analyses for cosmopolitan angiosperm family Rhamnaceae disentangle contributed high species diversity within biomes. Our results show independent of environmentally similar but geographically separated regions mainly during Oligocene, consistent global expansion High global, regional, local was result in situ rather than immigration rates or accumulation time, except Southern China, which colonized much earlier other regions. relatively common lineage dispersals out hotspots highlight strong source‐sink distribution Rhamnaceae. proliferation environments since Oligocene provided ecological opportunity rapid realm. study illustrates importance establishment modern biomes spatial scales.

Language: Английский

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Phylogenetic Niche Conservatism Drives Floristic Assembly Across Mexico's Temperate‐Tropical Divide

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 34(4)

Published: March 26, 2025

ABSTRACT Aim We addressed the role of climate and historical biogeography on temperate‐tropical divide in Mexico, also known as “Mexican Transition Zone” (MTZ). asked: (1) How phylogenetic structure species composition vary across MTZ, (2) What roles dispersal, situ speciation climatic filtering play assembling regional floras, (3) biogeographic events interact to maintain distinct floristic communities transition zone. Location Mexico. Time Period Present day. Major Taxa Studied Vascular plants. Methods analysed occurrence data from c. 3 million records, combining herbarium specimens citizen science observations, using grade membership (GoM) models cluster all combined these with a phylogeny 20,947 vascular plant taxa investigate how evolutionary history influence turnover. modelled transitions between temperate tropics understand importance different diversity. Results Plant MTZ is determined primarily by minimum temperature seasonality. found strong signals niche conservatism, especially for clades northern, Nearctic origin, which track their they move southward into occupying higher elevation niches. Furthermore, diversity patterns zones have been driven largely through whereas Neotropical shaped disproportionately cladogenesis. Main Conclusions specimen records make it possible identify that correspond seasonality freezing explain biodiversity terms macroevolutionary processes. highlight contrasting speciation, conservatism generating at temperate–tropical transitions. Together, results interplay contemporary ecological processes shaping meeting place tropical realms.

Language: Английский

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Climate change increases threat to plant diversity in tropical forests of Central America and southern Mexico

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(2), P. e0297840 - e0297840

Published: Feb. 29, 2024

Global biodiversity is negatively affected by anthropogenic climate change. As species distributions shift due to increasing temperatures and precipitation fluctuations, many face the risk of extinction. In this study, we explore expected trend for plant in Central America southern Mexico under two alternative Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) portraying moderate (RCP4.5) severe (RCP8.5) increases greenhouse gas emissions, combined with dispersal assumptions (limited unlimited), 2061–2080 forecast. Using an ensemble approach employing three techniques generate distribution models, classified 1924 from region’s (sub)tropical forests according IUCN Red List categories. To infer spatial taxonomic species’ vulnerability each scenario, calculated proportion a threat category (Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered) at pixel resolution 30 arc seconds family. Our results show high (58–67%) threatened among four experimental scenarios, highest RCP8.5 limited dispersal. Threatened were concentrated montane areas avoided lowland where conditions are likely be increasingly inhospitable. Annual diurnal temperature range main drivers relative vulnerability. identifies strategic taxa conservation concern that merit urgent inclusion management plans improve climatic resilience Mesoamerican hotspot. Such information necessary develop policies prioritize vulnerable elements mitigate threats

Language: Английский

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Niche conservatism promotes speciation in cycads: the case of Dioon merolae (Zamiaceae) in Mexico

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 227(6), P. 1872 - 1884

Published: May 11, 2020

Niche conservatism is the tendency of lineages to retain same niche as their ancestors. It constrains biological groups and prevents ecological divergence. However, theory predicts that can hinder gene flow, strengthen drift increase local adaptation: does it mean also facilitate speciation? Why this happen? We aim answer these questions. examined variation chloroplast DNA, genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms, morphological traits environmental variables across Dioon merolae cycad populations. tested geographical structure, scenarios demographic history, between population groups. Lineage divergence associated with presence a barrier consisting unsuitable habitats for cycads. There clear genetic distinction groups, suggesting allopatric even in contrasting available conditions, ancestral niche, supporting conservatism. process promote speciation. In D. merolae, lineage occurred because represented against incurring populations experience isolated histories disparate conditions. This study explains why cycads, despite ancient origin stasis, have been able diversify into modern ecosystems worldwide.

Language: Английский

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Spatial Phylogenetics, Biogeographical Patterns and Conservation Implications of the Endemic Flora of Crete (Aegean, Greece) under Climate Change Scenarios

Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 9(8), P. 199 - 199

Published: July 31, 2020

Human-induced biodiversity loss has been accelerating since the industrial revolution. The climate change impacts will severely alter and biogeographical patterns at all scales, leading to biotic homogenization. Due underfunding, a smart, conservation-prioritization scheme is needed optimize species protection. Spatial phylogenetics enable identification of endemism centers provide valuable insights regarding eco-evolutionary conservation value, as well origin given area. Many studies exist prioritization mainland areas, yet none assessed how might an island hotspot. Thus, we conducted phylogenetically informed, study dealing with effects on Crete's plant diversity patterns. Using several macroecological analyses, identified current future impact in Crete. highlands Cretan mountains have served both cradles museums, due their stable high topographical heterogeneity, providing important ecosystem services. Historical processes seem driven diversification endemic distribution changing subsequent homogenization, unique bioregionalization, which strongly reminiscent spatial configuration Pliocene/Pleistocene paleo-islands, drastically change. emergence 'Anthropocene' era calls for biodiversity-rich serving mixed-endemism centers, overlaps among protected areas climatic refugia.

Language: Английский

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