Seed plant features, distribution patterns, diversity hotspots, and conservation gaps in Xinjiang, China

Abstract

R (2018) Seed plant features, distribution patterns, diversity hotspots, and conservation gaps in Xinjiang, China. Nature Conservation 27: 1-15. https://doi. org/10.3897/natureconservation.27.23728 AbstractThe flora in Xinjiang is unique. Decisions about biodiversity conservation and management based on seed plant diversity hotspots and conservation gaps in Xinjiang are essential to maintain this unique flora. Based on a species distribution dataset of seed plants, we measured seed plant diversity using species richness and phylogenetic diversity indices. Five percent of Xinjiang's total land area with the highest biodiversity was used to identify hotspots for each index. In total, eight hotspots were identified. Most hotspots were located in mountainous areas, mainly in the Tianshan Mountains and Altai Mountains. Furthermore, we detected conservation gaps for Xinjiang's seed flora hotspots by overlaying nature reserve maps on to maps of identified hotspots and we designated priority conservation gaps for hotspots by overlaying global biodiversity hotspot maps on to hotspot conservation gaps maps. Most of Xinjiang's seed plant hotspots are poorly protected; only 10.45% of these hotspots were covered by nature reserves. We suggest that it is essential to promote network function of nature reserves within these hotspots in Xinjiang to conserve this unique flora. RESEARCH ARTICLE Launched to accelerate biodiversity conservation A peer-reviewed open-access journalJihong Huang et al. / Nature Conservation 27: 1-15 (2018) 2

Floristic composition and plant diversity in distribution areas of native species congeneric with Betula halophila in Xinjiang, northwest China

“…In addition, all species of Betula within Xinjiang mostly distribute in Tianshan Mountain and Altai Mountain. The diversity hotspots of seed plants of Xinjiang are mainly located in both of these two mountains (Huang et al 2018). Therefore, the main distribution area of Betula in Xinjiang is consistent with the diversity distribution centre of plant species in Xinjiang.…”

“…In Xinjiang, there are a small number of tropical families or genera in the distribution area of congeneric species of B. halophila, which may be a legacy of flora under a hot climate in the early Tertiary in Xinjiang (Pan 1995). To some extent, it also reflects the uniqueness of the seed plant flora distributed in the distribution area of congeneric species of B. halophila, just like the uniqueness of seed plant flora in Xinjiang (Huang et al 2011;Huang et al 2018). Nearly 94% of the families of Xinjiang are found in the distribution area of congeneric species of B. halophila, which indicates the distribution areas of these species cover the diversity distribution centre of seed plants in Xinjiang.…”

“…These five species are B. tianschanica, B. microphylla B. pendula, B. rotundifolia and B. humilis. Combining the altitude range with the geographic distribution of all seed plant species occurring in Xinjiang and integrating data of field investigation in the past 10 years (2008-2018), we established a dataset of seed plants distribution in Xinjiang with a spatial unit of 50 km × 50 km (Huang et al 2018). Based on this dataset, we extracted a subset of distribution data of Xinjiang seed plants, known as the distribution dataset of Betula plants in Xinjiang, according to distribution of these five congeneric species of B. halophila with a spatial unit of 50 km × 50 km ( Fig.…”

Integration of hotspot identification, gap analysis, and niche modeling supports the conservation of Chinese threatened higher plants

“…In this study, most of the hotspots neglected by the SR index were identified by the SC index, indicating that these “species‐poor” hotspots are also important for biodiversity conservation. This is especially the case for the Changbai Mountains (hotspot 1) and the mountainous areas in north Xinjiang, which play an important role in conserving native species (Wan et al, 2014; Huang et al, 2018). The hotspots derived by WE focus on the areas that are characterized by range‐restricted species, were similar to the SR‐based hotspots.…”

Exploring the Species Richness Pattern and Areas of Endemism of Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) in Xinjiang, China

“…A large part of the region is arid and semiarid, and onesixth is covered by desert [3]. Due to the characteristics of its special geographical location, Xinjiang has become a biodiversity hotspot with high species richness and endemic levels, especially breeding many drought-tolerant insect species [8][9][10][11]. For example, 84 species of Meloidae Gyllenhal, 1810, accounting for approximately 40% of the total number of species occurring in China, were recorded in Xinjiang [12].…”