Preserving the evolutionary potential of floras in biodiversity hotspots

Félix Forest (), Richard Grenyer, Mathieu Rouget, T. Jonathan Davies, Richard M. Cowling, Daniel P. Faith, Andrew Balmford, John C. Manning, Şerban Procheş, Michelle van der Bank, Gail Reeves, Terry A. J. Hedderson and Vincent Savolainen ()
Additional contact information
Félix Forest: South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa
Richard Grenyer: Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3DS, UK
Mathieu Rouget: South African National Biodiversity Institute, Biodiversity Planning Unit, Private Bag X101, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
T. Jonathan Davies: Gilmer Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4328, USA
Richard M. Cowling: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa
Daniel P. Faith: Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia
Andrew Balmford: University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK
John C. Manning: South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa
Şerban Procheş: Centre for Invasion Biology, Private Bag X1, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland 7602, South Africa
Michelle van der Bank: University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
Gail Reeves: South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa
Terry A. J. Hedderson: University of Cape Town, University Private Bag, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa
Vincent Savolainen: Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3DS, UK

Nature, 2007, vol. 445, issue 7129, 757-760

Abstract: Staying power Areas of high species richness, particularly those with high numbers of species unique to that area, seem obvious candidates for conservation action. But this takes little account of the evolutionary potential of the plants and animals within that ecosystem. With the likelihood of rapid global change high, the conservation of evolutionary processes is increasingly recognized as a priority. Now a detailed analysis of the well known hotspot of flora biodiversity in the Cape in South Africa has come up with a thought-provoking result: the more species-rich western part of the Cape has lower evolutionary potential than the more neglected eastern part. The eastern area boasts fewer species than the west, but has greater phylogenetic diversity — an index of biodiversity that measures the length of evolutionary pathways that connect a given set of species. This finding has important consequences for conservation planning.

Date: 2007
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DOI: 10.1038/nature05587

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