Seed plant features, distribution patterns, diversity hotspots, and conservation gaps in Xinjiang, China

By

Huang, Jihong
Liu, Canran
Guo, Zhongjun
Ma, Keping
Zang, Runguo
Ding, Yi
Lu, Xinghui
Wang, Jiping
Yu, Ruoyun

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2018

Original Publication

Subterranean Biology

Volume

27

Pages

1-15

Subjects

conservation gaps , diversity hotspots , phylogenetic diversity , Plant Diversity , Xinjiang

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.27.23728

 

Abstract

The flora in Xinjiang is unique. Decisions about biodiversity conservation and management based on seed plant diversity hotspots and conservation gaps in Xinjiang are essential to maintain this unique flora. Based on a species distribution dataset of seed plants, we measured seed plant diversity using species richness and phylogenetic diversity indices. Five percent of Xinjiang’s total land area with the highest biodiversity was used to identify hotspots for each index. In total, eight hotspots were identified. Most hotspots were located in mountainous areas, mainly in the Tianshan Mountains and Altai Mountains. Furthermore, we detected conservation gaps for Xinjiang’s seed flora hotspots by overlaying nature reserve maps on to maps of identified hotspots and we designated priority conservation gaps for hotspots by overlaying global biodiversity hotspot maps on to hotspot conservation gaps maps. Most of Xinjiang’s seed plant hotspots are poorly protected; only 10.45% of these hotspots were covered by nature reserves. We suggest that it is essential to promote network function of nature reserves within these hotspots in Xinjiang to conserve this unique flora.