Global legume diversity assessment: Concepts, key indicators, and strategies

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2013 papers

Abstract

Abstract While many plant species are considered threatened under anthropogenic pressure, it remains uncertain how rapidly we are losing plant species diversity. To fill this gap, we propose a Global Legume Diversity Assessment (GLDA) as the first step of a global plant diversity assessment. Here we describe the concept of GLDA and its feasibility by reviewing relevant approaches and data availability. We conclude that Fabaceae is a good proxy for overall angiosperm diversity in many habitats and that much relevant data for GLDA are available. As indicators of states, we propose comparison of species richness with phylogenetic and functional diversity to obtain an integrated picture of diversity. As indicators of trends, species loss rate and extinction risks should be assessed. Specimen records and plot data provide key resources for assessing legume diversity at a global scale, and distribution modeling based on these records provide key methods for assessing states and trends of legume diversity. GLDA has started in Asia, and we call for a truly global legume diversity assessment by wider geographic collaborations among various scientists.

Related Papers

• → ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REGIONAL AND LOCAL SPECIES RICHNESS: A TEST OF SATURATION THEORY(2008)44 cited
• → How to assess species richness along single environmental gradients? Implications of potential versus realized species distributions(2015)7 cited
• → Patterns in and predictors of stream and river macroinvertebrate genera and fish species richness across the conterminous USA(2023)14 cited
• → Independence of total species richness and richness difference are not the same thing(2015)1 cited
• → Study of the Fabaceae family in the floristic zone of the Irtysh, its ecology and biology ..(2022)