Features and distribution patterns of Chinese endemic seed plant species

Abstract

We compiled and identified a list of Chinese endemic seed plant species based on a large number of published references and expert reviews. The characters of these seed plant species and their distribution patterns were described at length. China is rich in endemic seed plants, with a total of 14 939 species (accounting for 52.1% of its total seed plant species) belonging to 1584 genera and 191 families. Temperate families and genera have a significantly higher proportion of endemism than cosmopolitan and tropical ones. The most primitive and derived groups have significantly higher endemism than the other groups. The endemism of tree, shrub, and liana or vine is higher than that of total species; in contrast, the endemism of herb is lower than that of total species. Geographically, these Chinese endemic plants are mainly distributed in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, southwest China. Species richness and proportion of these endemic plants decrease with increased latitude and have a unimodal response to altitude. The peak value of proportion of endemism is at higher altitudes than that of total species and endemic species richness. The proportions of endemic shrub, liana or vine, and herb increase with altitude and have a clear unimodal curve. In contrast, the proportion of tree increases with altitude, with a sudden increase at ∼4000 m and has a completely different model. To date, our study provides the most comprehensive list of Chinese endemic seed plant species and their basic composition and distribution features.

Centers of endemism and diversity patterns for typhlocybine leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae) in China

“…Through correlation analysis of patterns between TSR and WER (or ESR), we affirmed that TSR and endemism for Typhlocybinae in China have a highly congruent pattern. This result concurs with other studies on plants (Linder, ; Huang et al ., ) and aphids (Huang et al ., ), but is different from studies on birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles (Orme et al ., ; Lamoreux et al ., ). Although there is considerable controversy regarding the correlation between biodiversity patterns based on different indices (e.g., species richness, endemism) (Prendergast et al ., ; Kerr, ; Orme et al ., ; Lamoreux et al ., ), the contradictory results may both be correct because they reflect the unique biology of the groups studied.…”

The wild relatives of grape in China: diversity, conservation gaps and impact of climate change

“…There are 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions and 4 municipalities in China. A province is equivalent to an autonomous region and municipality in terms of administrative level; thus we refer to all provinces and autonomous regions as "province" for the convenience of discussion (Huang et al, 2011). We have used ARC GIS 10.0 software (ESRI) to describe the geographical distribution of GWRs, and the number of GWRs distributed in each province in China.…”

Species Diversity Distribution Patterns of Chinese Endemic Seed Plants Based on Geographical Regions

“…China flora is highly endemic [4,20]. Endemic species account for 52.1% of total seed plants species [21]. …”

“…Many studies on biodiversity conservation and endemism of Chinese flora have carried out across China [21–27]. China seed flora has four endemic families [25,26], 243 endemic genera [27] and 15103 endemic species [28].…”

“…China seed flora has four endemic families [25,26], 243 endemic genera [27] and 15103 endemic species [28]. At species level, 52.1% seed plant species are endemic to China [21], and there are three centers of endemism in terms of endemic seed plants genera [27], eight hotspots of threatened plant species [23], 10 hotspot ecoregions [22], 11 terrestrial key areas for the biodiversity conservation [29], and 20 biodiversity hotspots for Chinese endemic woody seed plant species [24]. In those studies, all distribution patterns of natural species, endemic species or threatened species were analyzed based on administrative province or county units; all diversity hotspots or centers of species diversity were identified based on administrative or natural landform units.…”