Plant Extinction Risks in the Cape of South Africa
Author Information
Author(s): Davies T. Jonathan, Smith Gideon F., Bellstedt Dirk U., Boatwright James S., Bytebier Benny, Cowling Richard M., Forest Félix, Harmon Luke J., Muasya A. Muthama, Schrire Brian D., Steenkamp Yolande, van der Bank Michelle, Savolainen Vincent
Primary Institution: National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California, Santa Barbara
Hypothesis
What are the underlying drivers of extinction risk in plants, particularly in the Cape of South Africa?
Conclusion
Plant extinction risks in the Cape are higher for young and fast-evolving lineages and are independent of human effects.
Supporting Evidence
- Current rates of extinction are several orders of magnitude greater than background rates.
- Over 70% of currently listed flowering plant species are classified as at risk of extinction.
- Threatened species cluster in young, rapidly diversifying lineages.
Takeaway
Some plants in South Africa are disappearing quickly, especially the younger ones, and this is happening even without human interference.
Methodology
The study compared Red List data for British and South African floras and used a comprehensive phylogenetic tree for the Cape.
Potential Biases
The study may not account for all potential biological traits influencing extinction risk.
Limitations
The study's findings may not extrapolate across less diverse biomes with different evolutionary histories.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on plant species endemic to the Cape of South Africa.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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