Are we close to knowing the plant diversity of the Amazon?

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor(a) principal: HOPKINS,MICHAEL J.G.
Data de Publicação: 2019
Tipo de documento: Artigo
Idioma: eng
Título da fonte: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (Online)
Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0001-37652019000600616
Resumo: Abstract: Amazonia is often cited as having the most diverse flora on the planet. However, the total number of species of higher plants in the region has been largely a matter of guesswork. Some recent publications have estimated the total number of species present, which indicate a lower overall diversity than was estimated in the past. However, analysis of the sampling density across the region, and data from various sources suggest that there may be reason why the recent figures may be considerable underestimates. I believe that much more investment in extensive collecting of quality plant specimens is needed to encounter the very large number of rare and local species that might never have been collected. Unfortunately the tendencies of investment in botany, in terms of geography and types of project, suggest that we will probably not be able to accurately assess the real diversity of the region.
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spelling Are we close to knowing the plant diversity of the Amazon?diversityAmazoniaspecies discoveryplantsAbstract: Amazonia is often cited as having the most diverse flora on the planet. However, the total number of species of higher plants in the region has been largely a matter of guesswork. Some recent publications have estimated the total number of species present, which indicate a lower overall diversity than was estimated in the past. However, analysis of the sampling density across the region, and data from various sources suggest that there may be reason why the recent figures may be considerable underestimates. I believe that much more investment in extensive collecting of quality plant specimens is needed to encounter the very large number of rare and local species that might never have been collected. Unfortunately the tendencies of investment in botany, in terms of geography and types of project, suggest that we will probably not be able to accurately assess the real diversity of the region.Academia Brasileira de Ciências2019-01-01info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontext/htmlhttp://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0001-37652019000600616Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências v.91 suppl.3 2019reponame:Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (Online)instname:Academia Brasileira de Ciências (ABC)instacron:ABC10.1590/0001-3765201920190396info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessHOPKINS,MICHAEL J.G.eng2019-09-13T00:00:00Zoai:scielo:S0001-37652019000600616Revistahttp://www.scielo.br/aabchttps://old.scielo.br/oai/scielo-oai.php||aabc@abc.org.br1678-26900001-3765opendoar:2019-09-13T00:00Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (Online) - Academia Brasileira de Ciências (ABC)false
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Are we close to knowing the plant diversity of the Amazon?
title Are we close to knowing the plant diversity of the Amazon?
spellingShingle Are we close to knowing the plant diversity of the Amazon?
HOPKINS,MICHAEL J.G.
diversity
Amazonia
species discovery
plants
title_short Are we close to knowing the plant diversity of the Amazon?
title_full Are we close to knowing the plant diversity of the Amazon?
title_fullStr Are we close to knowing the plant diversity of the Amazon?
title_full_unstemmed Are we close to knowing the plant diversity of the Amazon?
title_sort Are we close to knowing the plant diversity of the Amazon?
author HOPKINS,MICHAEL J.G.
author_facet HOPKINS,MICHAEL J.G.
author_role author
dc.contributor.author.fl_str_mv HOPKINS,MICHAEL J.G.
dc.subject.por.fl_str_mv diversity
Amazonia
species discovery
plants
topic diversity
Amazonia
species discovery
plants
description Abstract: Amazonia is often cited as having the most diverse flora on the planet. However, the total number of species of higher plants in the region has been largely a matter of guesswork. Some recent publications have estimated the total number of species present, which indicate a lower overall diversity than was estimated in the past. However, analysis of the sampling density across the region, and data from various sources suggest that there may be reason why the recent figures may be considerable underestimates. I believe that much more investment in extensive collecting of quality plant specimens is needed to encounter the very large number of rare and local species that might never have been collected. Unfortunately the tendencies of investment in botany, in terms of geography and types of project, suggest that we will probably not be able to accurately assess the real diversity of the region.
publishDate 2019
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2019-01-01
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dc.language.iso.fl_str_mv eng
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dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv 10.1590/0001-3765201920190396
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dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Academia Brasileira de Ciências
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Academia Brasileira de Ciências
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências v.91 suppl.3 2019
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