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

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.This paper is an outcome of the workshop on the global legume diversity assessment held from 19 to 22 August 2011 in Kyushu University, Japan.The Environment Research and Technology Development Fund (S9) of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan and the JSPS fund for Global Center of Excellence Program “Asian Conservation Ecology”.http://www.botanik.univie.ac.at/iapt/s_taxon.phpam201

Changes in tree functional composition and forest functioning ten years after logging and thinning interventions in Bornean tropical forests

Examining ecosystem functioning of logged-over forests requires a quantitative trait-based monitoring approach, in addition to a taxonomic approach, which allows for evaluation of the accompanying shifts in species traits and functional composition. Our study evaluated forest regrowth after different logging and thinning techniques applied to 60 one-hectare forest subplots in East Kalimantan that were logged using selective conventional and reduced-impact techniques. We used seven functional traits to compare the short-term (~1-year) and longerterm (~10-year) changes in functional diversity and composition of the forest. Both conventional and reduced impact logging resulted in higher functional diversity after 10 years, but forest functional traits shifted away from those observed in unlogged (control) subplots. Reduced-impact logging led to smaller deviations in functional composition compared to unlogged forest. We found that low-intensity reduced-impact logging, i.e., <3 m2 h

Cooper Consistent Patterns of Common Species Across Tropical Forest Tree Communities

Species abundance data from tropical forest inventory plots in Africa, Amazonia, and Southeast Asia detailing the number of trees greater than or equal to 10cm diameter at breast height of each species (names redacted) in each plot (plot details redacted aside from plot sizes in ha). Columns (after plot area) are species, rows are plots, entries are number of trees greater than or equal to 10cm diameter at breast height of the column species in the row plot

Origins and Assembly of Malesian Rainforests

Unraveling the origins of Malesia's once vast, hyperdiverse rainforests is a perennial challenge. Major contributions to rainforest assembly came from floristic elements carried on the Indian Plate and montane elementsfrom the Australian Plate (Sahul). The Sahul component is now understood to include substantial two-way exchanges with Sunda inclusive of lowland taxa. Evidence for the relative contributions of the great Asiatic floristic interchanges (GAFIs) with India and Sahul, respectively, to the flora of Malesia comes from contemporary lineage distributions, the fossil record, time-calibrated phylogenies, functional traits, and the spatial structure of genetic diversity. Functional-trait and biome conservatism are noted features of montane austral lineages from Sahul (e.g., diverse Podocarpaceae), whereas the abundance and diversity of lowland lineages, including Syzygium (Myrtaceae) and the Asian dipterocarps (Dipterocarpoideae), reflect a less well understood combination of dispersal, ecology, and adaptive radiations. Thus, Malesian rainforest assembly has been shaped by sharply contrasting evolutionary origins and biogeographic histories

Environmental correlates for tropical tree diversity and distribution patterns in Borneo

Aim Identify environmental correlates for tropical tree diversity and composition. Location Borneo, Southeast Asia. Methods A GIS-environmental database with 5 arc minute (c. 10 × 10 km) resolution was combined with tree inventory data. Tree diversity, phylogenetic diversity (PD) and the two main compositional gradients were determined for 46 tree inventories. Akaike's information criterion and a data jackknifing procedure were used to select 50 explanatory models for diversity and composition gradients. The average of these models was used as our final diversity and compositional model. We applied Moran's I to detect spatial autocorrelation of residuals. Results Tree diversity, PD and the two main compositional gradients in Borneo were all significantly correlated with the environment. Tree diversity correlated negatively with elevation, soil depth, soil coarseness (texture) and organic carbon content, whereas it correlated positively with soil C:N ratio, soil pH, moisture storage capacity and annual rainfall. Tree PD was correlated positively with elevation and temperature seasonality and was largely determined by gymnosperms. However, angiosperm PD also correlated positive with elevation. Compositional patterns were strongly correlated with elevation but soil texture, cation-exchange-capacity, C:N ratio, C and N content and drainage were also important next to rainfall seasonality and El Niño Southern Oscillation drought impact. Main conclusions Although elevation is the most important correlate for diversity and compositional gradients in Borneo, significant additional variability is explained by soil characteristics (texture, carbon content, pH, depth, drainage and nutrient status) and climate (annual rainfall, rainfall seasonality and droughts). The identified environmental correlates for diversity and composition gradients correspond to those found in other tropical regions of the world. Differences between the regions are mainly formed by differences in the relative importance of the environmental variables in explaining diversity and compositional gradients

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

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 scientistsFil: Yahara, Tetsukazu. Kyushu University; JapónFil: Javadi, Firouzeh. Kyushu University; JapónFil: Onoda, Yusuke. Kyoto University; JapónFil: Paganucci de Queiroz, Luciano. Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana; BrasilFil: Faith, Daniel P.. The Australian Museum; AustraliaFil: Prado, Darien Eros. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas. Cátedra de Botánica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Akasaka, Munemitsu. University of Tokyo; JapónFil: Kadoya, Taku. National Institute for Environmental Studies; JapónFil: Ishihama, Fumiko. National Institute for Environmental Studies; JapónFil: Davies, Stuart. Smithsonian Institution; Estados UnidosFil: Ferry Slik, J.W.. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de ChinaFil: Yi, Tingshuang. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de ChinaFil: Ma, Keping. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de ChinaFil: Bin, Chen. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de ChinaFil: Darnaedi, Dedy. Indonesian Institute of Sciences; IndonesiaFil: Pennington, R.Toby. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; Reino UnidoFil: Tuda, Midori. Kyushu University; JapónFil: Shimada, Masakazu. University of Tokyo; JapónFil: Ito, Motomi. University of Tokyo; JapónFil: Egan, Ashley N.. East Carolina University; Estados UnidosFil: Buerki, Sven. Royal Botanic Gardens; Reino UnidoFil: Raes, Niels. Naturalis Biodiversity Center; Países Bajos. Leiden University; Países BajosFil: Kajita, Tadashi. Chiba University; JapónFil: Vatanparast, Mohammad. Chiba University; JapónFil: Mimura, Makiko. Kyushu University; JapónFil: Tachida, Hidenori. Kyushu University; JapónFil: Iwasa, Yoh. Kyushu University; JapónFil: Smith, Gideon. South African National Biodiversity Institute; Sudáfrica. University of Pretoria; Sudáfrica. Universidad de Coimbra; PortugalFil: Victor, Janine E.. South African National Biodiversity Institute; SudáfricaFil: Nkonki, Tandiwe. South African National Biodiversity Institute; Sudáfric