Hotspots within a global biodiversity hotspot - areas of endemism are associated with high mountain ranges.

ABSTRACT: Conservation biology aims at identifying areas of rich biodiversity. Currently recognized global biodiversity hotspots are spatially too coarse for conservation management and identification of hotspots at a finer scale is needed. This might be achieved by identification of areas of endemism. Here, we identify areas of endemism in Iran, a major component of the Irano-Anatolian biodiversity hotspot, and address their ecological correlates. Using the extremely diverse sunflower family (Asteraceae) as our model system, five consensus areas of endemism were identified using the approach of endemicity analysis. Both endemic richness and degree of endemicity were positively related to topographic complexity and elevational range. The proportion of endemic taxa at a certain elevation (percent end

SUBMITTER: Noroozi J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6037708 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature