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Plant diversity patterns in neotropical dry forests and their conservation implications
, Karina Banda-R1, Alfonso Delgado-Salinas2
1Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20a Inverleith Row, EH3 5LR, Edinburgh, UK. Fundación Ecosistemas Secos de Colombia, Calle 5 A No. 70 C-31, Bogotá, Colombia.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|October 7, 2016
Summary
Tropical dry forests in Latin America are highly threatened, with less than 10% remaining. High plant species turnover suggests many conservation areas are needed to protect diverse tropical dry forest ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Botany
- Conservation Science
Background:
- Seasonally dry tropical forests (STDFs) are critically threatened ecosystems in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Less than 10% of original STDF extent remains in many regions, highlighting urgent conservation needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the floristic diversity and turnover of woody plant species within neotropical seasonally dry tropical forests.
- To provide a scientific basis for prioritizing conservation efforts across diverse STDF regions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 835 vegetation inventories encompassing 4660 woody plant species.
- Statistical evaluation of floristic composition and turnover across different inventories and geographical regions.
Main Results:
- Significant floristic turnover was observed among inventories and regions within STDFs.
- Floristic turnover in STDFs may exceed that of other neotropical biomes like savannas.
Conclusions:
- High floristic turnover necessitates a network of numerous, geographically distributed conservation areas to protect STDF biodiversity.
- The findings offer a framework for national decision-makers to understand the regional and continental significance of their dry forest flora.
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