Abstract
Plant species richness and range-size rarity in Africa south of the Sahara is concentrated in centres of plant diversity and endemism. Distribution patterns of plants mapped in the Distributiones Plantarum Africanum series and selected taxonomic monographs are analysed using the computer programme WORLDMAP. The plants are divided into four groups: herbaceous geophytes, mesophytic herbs, light-demanding shrubs and woody genera. Each group has peaks of species richness and range-size rarity at locations different to the other groups. Herbaceous geophytes and mesophytic herbs have their peaks of species richness and range-size rarity in the same location, the western Cape for geophytes and the Crystal Mountain for mesophytic herbs, whereas light-demanding shrubs and woody genera have peaks in different places. The results are discussed in relation to possible factors determining species richness and endemism and their likely conservation significance.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arends JC (1992) The biosystematics of Begonia squamulosa Hook.f. and affliliated species in section Tetraphila A.DC. Wageningen Agricultural University Papers 91–6, 1–223
Burgess ND, Clarke GP, Rodgers WA (1998) Coastal forests of eastern Africa: status, endemism patterns and their potential causes. Biol. J. Linnean Soc. 64: 337–367
Connel JH (1978) Diversity in tropical rainforests and coral reefs. Science 199, 1302–1310
Cowling RM, Holmes PM and Rebelo AG (1992) Plant Diversity and Endemism. In: RM Cowling (ed) The Ecology of Fynbos-Nutrients, Fire and Diversity, pp 62–113. Oxford University Press, Cape Town
Davis SD, Heywood VH and Hamilton AC (1994) Centres of Plant Diversity. A Guide and Strategy for Their Conservation, Vol 1. Europe, Africa, South West Asia and the Middle East. IUCN Publications Unit, Cambridge
de Wilde JJFE (1985) Begonia section Cristasemen de Wilde JJ, sect. nov. Studies in Begoniaceae II. Agricultural University Wageningen Papers 84–3, 1–113
de Wilde JJFE and Arends JC (1979) Begonia loranthoides Hook.f. (sect. Tetraphila A.DC.). Acta Bot. Neerl. 28: 357–374
de Wilde JJFE and Arends JC (1980) Begonia sect. Squamibegonia Warb.: a taxonomic revision. Miscellaneous Papers Landbouwhogeschool Wageningen 19: 377–421
DPA (1969–) Distributiones Plantarum Africanum. Jardin Botanique National de Belgique, Brussels
Goldblatt P (1977) Systematics of Moraea in tropical Africa. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 64: 243–295
Goldblatt P (1986) The Moraeas of Southern Africa. National Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch
Goldblatt P (1989) The genus Watsonia. National Botanic Gardens, Kirstenbosch
Goldblatt P (1997) Floristic diversity in the Cape Flora of South Africa. Biodiversity and Conservation 6: 359–377
Grey-Wilson C (1980) Impatiens of Africa. AA Balkema, Rotterdam
Grey-Wilson C (1982) Balsaminaceae. In: RM Polhill (ed) Flora of Tropical East Africa. AA Balkema, Rotterdam
Hagman FA and de Wilde JJFE (1984) Re-establishment of Begonia cavallyensis A. Chev. and the altitudinal vicariad Begonia fusicarpa Irmsch. (sect. Tetraphila). Studies in Begoniaceae I. Meded. Landbouwhogeschool Wageningen 83–9
Hall JB (1973) Vegetational zones on the southern slopes of Mount Cameroon. Vegetatio 27: 49–69
Hamilton AC (1976) The significance of patterns of distribution shown by forest plants and animals in tropical Africa for the reconstruction of Upper Pleistocene palaeoenvironments: a review. Palaeoecology of Africa, the Surrounding Islands and Antarctica 9: 63–97
Irmscher E (1961) Monographische revision der Begoniaceen Afrikas I. Sekt. Augustia und Rostrobegonia sowie einige neue Sippen aus anderen Sektionen. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 81: 106–188
Klazenga N, de Wilde JJFE and Quené, RJ (1994) Begonia sect. Meziera (Gaud.) Warb., a taxonomic revision. Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 63: 263–312
Leeuwenberg AJM (1979) The Loganiaceae of Africa XVIII Buddleja L. II Revision of the African and Asiatic species. Mededelingen Landbouwhogeschool Wageningen 79–6, 1–163
Leeuwenberg AJM (1991) A revision of Tabernaemontana: The Old World species. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Lovett JC (1992) Classification and affinities of the Eastern Arc moist forests of Tanzania. Unpublished PhD Thesis. University College of North Wales, Bangor
Lovett JC (1996) Elevational and latitudinal changes in tree associations and diversity in the Eastern Arc mountains of Tanzania. J. Trop. Ecol. 12: 629–650
Lovett JC (1998) Continuous change in Tanzanian moist forest tree communities with elevation. J. Trop. Ecol. 14: 719–722
Lovett JC (1999) Tanzanian forest tree plot diversity and elevation. J. Trop. Ecol. 15: xxx-xxx
Lovett JC and Friis I (1996) Some patterns of endemism in the tropical north east and eastern African woody flora. In: van der Maesen LJG, van der Burgt XM and van Medenbach de Rooy JM (eds) The Biodiversity of African Plants. Proceedings of the XIVth AETFAT Congress 22–27 August 1994, Wageningen, The Netherlands, pp 582–601. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht
Lovett JC and Prins E (1994) Estimation of land use changes on the Kitulo Plateau of Tanzania using satellite imagery. Oryx 28: 173–182
Lovett JC, Gereau RE and Sidwell KJ (1994) Vegetation and phytogeography of the Kitulo Plateau, southern Tanzania. In: JH Seyani and AC Chikuni (eds) Proceedings of the XIIIth Plenary Meeting of AETFAT, Zomba, Malawi, 2–11 April 1991, pp 1025–1041. National Herbarium & Botanic Gardens of Malawi, Zomba
Mittermeier RA, Myers N, Thomsen JB, daFonseca GAB and Olivieri S (1998) Biodiversity hotspots and major tropical wilderness areas: approaches to setting conservation priorities. Conservation Biology 12: 516–520
Myers N (1988) Threatened biotas: 'Hot Spots' in tropical forests. The Environmentalist 8: 187–208
Myers N (1990) The biodiversity challenge: expanded hot-spots analysis. The Environmentalist 10: 243–256
Nelson BW, Ferreira CA, da Silva MF and Kawasaki ML (1990) Refugia, endemism centers and botanical collecting density in Brazilian Amazonia. Nature 345: 714–716
Perrings C and Lovett JC (1999) Policies for biodiversity conservation: the case of Sub-Saharan Africa. International Affairs 75: 281–305
Phillips OL, Hall P, Gentry AH, Sawyer SA and Vasquez R (1994) Dynamics and species richness of tropical rain forests. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 91: 2805–2809
Polhill RM (1982) Crotalaria in Africa and Madagascar. AA Balkema, Rotterdam
Prendergast JR, Quinn RM, Lawton JH, Eversham BC and Gibbons DW (1993) Rare species, the coincidence of diversity hotspots and conservation strategies. Nature 365: 335–337
Reitsma JM (1985) Begonia section Baccabegonia Reitsma, sect. nov. Studies in Begoniaceae II. Agric. Univ. Wageningen Papers 84–3, 95–11
Richards MB, Cowling RM and Stock WD (1995) Fynbos plant communities and vegetation-environment relationships in the Soetanysberg hills, Western Cape. South African J. Bot. 61: 298–305
Richards MB, Stock WD and Cowling RM (1997) Soil nutrient dynamics and community boundaries in the Fynbos vegetation of South Africa. Plant Ecology 130: 143–153
Sosef MSM (1994) Studies in Begoniaceae V. Refuge Begonias. Taxonomy, phylogeny and historical biogeography of Begonia sect. Loasibegonia and sect. Scutobegonia in relation to glacial rain forest refuges in Africa. Wageningen Agricultural University Papers, Wageningen
van den Berg RG (1984) Pollen morphology of the genus Begonia in Africa. Studies in Begoniaceae II. Agricultural University Wageningen Papers 84–3
Williams PH (1998) WORLDMAP. Version 4. The Natural History Museum, London
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lovett, J.C., Rudd, S., Taplin, J. et al. Patterns of plant diversity in Africa south of the Sahara and their implications for conservation management. Biodiversity and Conservation 9, 37–46 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008956529695
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008956529695