The Southwest Australian floristic region : evolution and conservation of a global hot spot of biodiversity

Stephen Hopper, P. Gioia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

687 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Like South Africa's Greater Cape Floristic Region, the Southwest Australian Floristic Region (SWAFR) is species rich, with a Mediterranean climate and old, weathered, nutrient-deficient landscapes. This region has 7380 native vascular plants (species/subspecies): one third described since 1970, 49% endemic, and 2500 of conservation concern. Origins are complex. Molecular phylogenies suggest multiple dispersal events into, out of, and within the SWAFR throughout the Cretaceous and Cenozoic; in many phylogenetically unrelated clades; and from many directions. Either explosive speciation or steady cladogenesis occurred among some woody sclerophyll and herbaceous families from the mid-Tertiary in response to progressive aridity. Genomic coalescence was sometimes involved. Rainforest taxa went extinct by the Pleistocene. Old lineages nevertheless persist as one endemic order (Dasypogonales) and 6--11 endemic families. Such a rich flora on old landscapes that have been exposed to European land-use practices is highly threatened. Conservation programs must minimize soil removal and use local germplasm in restoration programs.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)623-650
JournalAnnual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics
Volume35
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 2004

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