Endemicity and evolutionary value: a study of Chilean endemic vascular plant genera.

ABSTRACT: This study uses phylogeny-based measures of evolutionary potential (phylogenetic diversity and community structure) to evaluate the evolutionary value of vascular plant genera endemic to Chile. Endemicity is regarded as a very important consideration for conservation purposes. Taxa that are endemic to a single country are valuable conservation targets, as their protection depends upon a single government policy. This is especially relevant in developing countries in which conservation is not always a high resource allocation priority. Phylogeny-based measures of evolutionary potential such as phylogenetic diversity (PD) have been regarded as meaningful measures of the "value" of taxa and ecosystems, as they are able to account for the attributes that could allow taxa to recover from enviro

SUBMITTER: Scherson RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3967905 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature