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Species richness of the globally distributed, arctic–alpine genus Draba L. (Brassicaceae)

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Abstract

Draba includes over 390 species distributed globally, mostly in extreme ecosystems at high elevations and latitudes making it the most successful and species-rich genus of the Brassicaceae, particularly in mountain and alpine regions. In this analysis, species richness data were collected from floras and checklists, and species distribution patterns were compared on a global scale for 367 of the species. A compilation of the geographical distribution of the entire genus using a presence/absence matrix was generated and displayed upon geographical maps. The three areas of highest species richness are the northern Andes (48 spp.), central Rocky Mountains (49 spp.), and Tibetan Plateau/C-SW Chinese (Hengduan) mountains (52 spp.). Previous phylogenetic analyses are in congruence with the area cladogram shown herein. It is shown that Draba has a diverse range of distribution patterns from widely spread to narrowly endemic. Species with wider distributions are frequently found in the Arctic, while those with a more narrow distribution are restricted to high elevations. However, ploidy-level information as well as recently presented genetic data convincingly indicates that the European and West Asian biota have served as a primary source and center of origin of the large diversity in the genus. A complete list of accepted Draba species is provided.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) to Marcus A. Koch (DFG KO2302-1, 2302-12, 2302-13). Ingrid Jordon-Thaden completed her doctorate as a DAAD scholar (German Academic Exchange Service) at the University of Heidelberg, under the supervision of Marcus A. Koch. The authors would also like to thank Graham Muir and Steve Jordon for many helpful comments on this manuscript. We also would like to express our gratitude to the two anonymous reviewers and, in particular, Jürg Stöcklin, for many important critical comments and suggestions to substantially improve the clarity of the finally presented manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biodiversity and Plant Systematics, Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Ingrid E. Jordon-Thaden & Marcus A. Koch

  2. University of California Berkeley, University and Jepson Herbaria, Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA

    Ingrid E. Jordon-Thaden

  3. Missouri Botanical Gardens, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO, 63166-0299, USA

    Ihsan A. Al-Shehbaz

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  1. Ingrid E. Jordon-Thaden
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  2. Ihsan A. Al-Shehbaz
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  3. Marcus A. Koch
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Correspondence to Marcus A. Koch.

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Jordon-Thaden, I.E., Al-Shehbaz, I.A. & Koch, M.A. Species richness of the globally distributed, arctic–alpine genus Draba L. (Brassicaceae). Alp Botany 123, 97–106 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00035-013-0120-9

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