High endemism and stem density distinguish New Caledonian from other high-diversity rainforests in the Southwest Pacific.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

The biodiversity hotspot of New Caledonia is globally renowned for the diversity and endemism of its flora. New Caledonia's tropical rainforests have been reported to have higher stem densities, higher concentrations of relictual lineages and higher endemism than other rainforests. This study investigates whether these aspects differ in New Caledonian rainforests compared to other high-diversity rainforests in the Southwest Pacific.

Methods

Plants (with a diameter at breast height ≥10 cm) were surveyed in nine 1-ha rainforest plots across the main island of New Caledonia and compared with 14 1-ha plots in high-diversity rainforests of the Southwest Pacific (in Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands). This facilitated a comparison of ste

SUBMITTER: Ibanez T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5786226 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature