Floristic characteristics and diversity patterns of seed plants endemic to the Tibetan Plateau

doi:10.17520/biods.2017078

Abstract

Abstract:

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) harbors numerous seed plants, however, the floristic characteristics and diversity patterns of plants endemic to this region have been rarely studied. Based on several monographs and online databases, we compiled a list of seed plants that exclusively occur on the TP as well as their distribution at the county level. We further explored their characteristics, floristic composition and spatial distribution patterns. We identified 3,764 endemic seed plants belonging to 519 genera and 113 families, 76.3% of which are herbaceous plants. Among them, 15 families (e.g. Asteraceae, Ranunculaceae, Orobanchaceae) and 7 genera (e.g. Pedicularis, Rhododendron, Corydalis) contain over 100 endemic species. Floristic composition analysis indicates that 67.5% of these endemic plants are temperate species. Species diversity declined gradually from the southeast to the northwest with hotspots located within the East Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains. Vertically, most species occurred at intermediate elevations. Understanding floristic characteristics and diversity patterns of Tibetan endemic flora shed light on future studies on the evolutional history and conservation practices in this area.

http://jtp.cnki.net/bilingual/detail/html/SWDY201802003

Key words: diversity patterns, flora, endemism, alpine plant, Tibetan Plateau

Haibin Yu, Yili Zhang, Linshan Liu, Zhao Chen, Wei Qi. Floristic characteristics and diversity patterns of seed plants endemic to the Tibetan Plateau[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2018, 26(2): 130-137.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2017078

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2018/V26/I2/130

Figures/Tables 4

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	分布类型 Areal type	属数 Number of genera	百分比 %
1	世界分布 Cosmopolitan	40	7.7
2	泛热带 Pantropic	45	8.7
3	东亚及热带美洲间断 Tropical Asia and Tropical America disjunction	9	1.7
4	旧世界热带 Old World Tropic	16	3.1
5	热带亚洲至热带大洋洲 Tropical Asia to Tropical Australia	15	2.9
6	热带亚洲至热带非洲 Tropical Asia to Tropical Africa	13	2.5
7	热带亚洲 Tropical Asia	31	5.9
	热带成分小计(2-7) Subtotal in tropical elements (types 2-7)	129	24.8
8	北温带 North Temperate	131	25.2
9	东亚及北美间断 East Asia and North America disjunction	20	3.9
10	旧世界温带 Old World Temperate	50	9.7
11	温带亚洲 Temperate Asia	11	2.1
12	地中海、西亚至中亚 Mediterranean, West Asia to Central Asia	10	1.9
13	中亚 Central Asia	19	3.6
14	东亚 East Asia	65	12.6
15	中国特有 Endemic to China	44	8.5
	温带成分小计(8-15) Subtotal in temperate elements (types 8-15)	350	67.5
	总计 Total	519	100.0

	分布类型 Areal type	属数 Number of genera	百分比 %
1	世界分布 Cosmopolitan	40	7.7
2	泛热带 Pantropic	45	8.7
3	东亚及热带美洲间断 Tropical Asia and Tropical America disjunction	9	1.7
4	旧世界热带 Old World Tropic	16	3.1
5	热带亚洲至热带大洋洲 Tropical Asia to Tropical Australia	15	2.9
6	热带亚洲至热带非洲 Tropical Asia to Tropical Africa	13	2.5
7	热带亚洲 Tropical Asia	31	5.9
	热带成分小计(2-7) Subtotal in tropical elements (types 2-7)	129	24.8
8	北温带 North Temperate	131	25.2
9	东亚及北美间断 East Asia and North America disjunction	20	3.9
10	旧世界温带 Old World Temperate	50	9.7
11	温带亚洲 Temperate Asia	11	2.1
12	地中海、西亚至中亚 Mediterranean, West Asia to Central Asia	10	1.9
13	中亚 Central Asia	19	3.6
14	东亚 East Asia	65	12.6
15	中国特有 Endemic to China	44	8.5
	温带成分小计(8-15) Subtotal in temperate elements (types 8-15)	350	67.5
	总计 Total	519	100.0