Plant diversity patterns in neotropical dry forests and their conservation implications

Karina R. Banda, Alfonso Delgado-Salinas, Kyle G. Dexter, Reynaldo Linares-Palomino, Ary Oliveira-Filho, Darién Prado, Martin Pullan, Catalina Quintana, Ricarda Riina, Gina M. Rodríguez, Julia Weintritt, Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, Juan Adarve, Esteban Álvarez, Anairamiz B. Aranguren, Julián Camilo Arteaga, Gerardo Aymard, Alejandro Castaño, Natalia Ceballos-Mago, Álvaro CogolloHermes Cuadros, Freddy Delgado, Wilson Devia, Hilda Dueñas, Laurie Fajardo, Ángel Fernández, Miller Ángel Fernández, Janet Franklin, Ethan H. Freid, Luciano A. Galetti, Reina Gonto, Roy M. González, Roger Graveson, Eileen H. Helmer, Álvaro Idárraga, René López, Humfredo Marcano-Vega, Olga G. Martínez, Hernán M. Maturo, Morag McDonald, Kurt McLaren, Omar Melo, Francisco Mijares, Virginia Mogni, Diego Molina, Natalia Del Pilar Moreno, Jafet M. Nassar, Danilo M. Neves, Luis J. Oakley, Michael Oatham, DRYFLOR

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

504 Scopus citations

Abstract

Seasonally dry tropical forests are distributed across Latin America and the Caribbean and are highly threatened, with less than 10% of their original extent remaining in many countries. Using 835 inventories covering 4660 species of woody plants, we show marked floristic turnover among inventories and regions, which may be higher than in other neotropical biomes, such as savanna. Such high floristic turnover indicates that numerous conservation areas across many countries will be needed to protect the full diversity of tropical dry forests. Our results provide a scientific framework within which national decision-makers can contextualize the floristic significance of their dry forest at a regional and continental scale.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number1383
JournalScience
Volume353
Issue number6306
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 23 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Plant diversity patterns in neotropical dry forests and their conservation implications'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this