Vascular Plant Diversity in a Changing World: Global Centres and Biome-Specific Patterns

摘要: We summarize research on the global centres and gradients of vascular plant diversity. Most species richness are located in geodiverse areas humid tropics sub-tropics, especially forest biomes. When focussing rarity flora, islands play an outstanding role. Endemism-scaled oceanic island floras (endemism richness) exceeds those mainland regions by several-fold. In contrast to situation for most other groups organisms, biodiversity patterns relatively well understood plants vertebrates. However, diversity some important is still insufficiently documented – impediment its conservation sustainable use. Though habitat conversion overexploitation have yet severe impact diversity, future climate change adding additional threat. This will likely affect low-latitude countries, which contributed least human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.