Assessing digital accessible botanical knowledge and priorities for exploration and discovery of plant diversity across Mesoamerica

© 2023 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2023 New Phytologist Foundation.

Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:The New phytologist. - 1979. - 240(2023), 4 vom: 12. Nov., Seite 1659-1672
1. Verfasser: Ramírez-Barahona, Santiago (VerfasserIn)
Weitere Verfasser: Cuervo-Robayo, Angela P, Magallón, Susana
Format: Online-Aufsatz
Sprache:English
Veröffentlicht: 2023
Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk:The New phytologist
Schlagworte:Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Mesoamerica digital accessible knowledge phylogenetic shortfall spatial shortfall temporal shortfall vascular plants
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:© 2023 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2023 New Phytologist Foundation.
Digital accessible biodiversity knowledge has the potential to greatly advance botanical research and guide conservation efforts. Evaluating its shortfalls is key to understanding its limits and prioritising regions in need of renewed survey efforts. We used the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants to parse publicly available occurrence data downloaded from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and quantify the spatial distribution of spatial, phylogenetic, and temporal data shortfalls across Mesoamerica. After processing 3578 777 occurrence records for 32 522 species of vascular plants across Mesoamerica, we found evidence of poor data coverage: incomplete characterisation of species diversity, old occurrence records, and low phylogenetic representation. One-third of the region showed large gaps for at least one of these dimensions (hotspots) and < 15% had adequate data coverage across dimensions. Overall, the shortfalls we identified compromise the quality of digitally available occurrence data and hamper research on spatial phylogenetics and species dynamics under anthropogenic disturbances. Our analyses identified areas of opportunity for increased efforts in data digitisation, botanical exploration, sequencing, and biodiversity monitoring. These efforts would serve to increase and rejuvenate knowledge on the geographic distribution of vascular plants in Mesoamerica
Beschreibung:Date Completed 23.10.2023
Date Revised 26.10.2023
published: Print-Electronic
Citation Status MEDLINE
ISSN:1469-8137
DOI:10.1111/nph.19190