Endemism in the Australian flora

摘要: Aim To detect centres of vascular plant endemism at a continental scale by analysis specimen-based distributional data and to relate any pattern environmental factors history. Location Australia. Methods Presence 8468 seed species-level taxa throughout Australia Tasmania was mapped on 1∞ grid visualize the species richness. This sample comprises half known flora. Three indices were calculated but we preferred one that is unrelated richness, so these two concepts could be distinguished in practice. Centres detected simple mapping spatial autocorrelation (SAC). Linear regression used examine relationship patterns richness latitude, topography climate. Results Both vary greatly across continent most cases same high both endemism. Twelve distinct identified. The major diversity are south-west western Australia, Border Ranges between New South Wales Queensland, Wet Tropics near Cairns, Iron-McIlwraith Range eastern Cape York Peninsula. last centre appears more significant than recognized past authors. Whether this true Australian endemism, or largely an outlier flora Papua Guinea, explored. Another centre, Adelaide‐Kangaroo Island region, has been overlooked altogether previous Regression did not find climatic explanation observed patterns. There suggestion topographic variation within cells may positively correlated with which consistent mountainous regions functioning as refugia. One clear result all near-coastal. A likely Pleistocene expansions central desert have powerful limitation viability refugia for narrowly endemic species. All lie outside estimated limits expanded arid zone glacial maximum (18,000 yr BP). In particular, ‘Central Mountain endemism’ Boden & Given (1995) strong despite good sampling region. Main conclusions Endemism can from using appropriate index such study demonstrates value specimen based data, held state herbaria museums.