Journal article
The number of tree species on Earth
National Academy of Sciences. Proceedings, Vol.119(6), pp.1-11
2022
PMCID: PMC8833151
PMID: 35101981
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Abstract
One of the most fundamental questions in ecology is how many species inhabit the Earth. However, due to massive logistical and financial challenges and taxonomic difficulties connected to the species concept definition, the global numbers of species, including those of important and well-studied life forms such as trees, still remain largely unknown. Here, based on global ground-sourced data, we estimate the total tree species richness at global, continental, and biome levels. Our results indicate that there are ∼73,000 tree species globally, among which ∼9,000 tree species are yet to be discovered. Roughly 40% of undiscovered tree species are in South America. Moreover, almost one-third of all tree species to be discovered may be rare, with very low populations and limited spatial distribution (likely in remote tropical lowlands and mountains). These findings highlight the vulnerability of global forest biodiversity to anthropogenic changes in land use and climate, which disproportionately threaten rare species and thus, global tree richness.
Details
- Title
- The number of tree species on Earth
- Authors
- Roberto Cazzolla Gatti (Author) - Purdue UniversityJavier G P Gamarra (Author) - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsThomas W Crowther (Author) - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in ZurichCang Hui (Author) - Stellenbosch UniversityAlbert Morera (Author) - Universitat de LleidaJean-Francois Bastin (Author) - Ghent UniversityS De-Miguel (Author) - Universitat de LleidaG J Nabuurs (Author) - Wageningen University & ResearchJens‐Christian Svenning (Author) - Aarhus UniversityJosep M Serra-Diaz (Author) - SilvaCory Merow - University of ConnecticutBrian Enquist - University of ArizonaMaria Kamenetsky - University of Wisconsin–MadisonJunho Lee - King Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyJun Zhu - University of Wisconsin–MadisonJinyun Fang - Peking UniversityDouglass F Jacobs - Purdue UniversityBryan Pijanowski - Purdue University West LafayetteArindam Banerjee - University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignRobert A Giaquinto - Islamic University of MinnesotaGiorgio Alberti - Free University of Bozen-BolzanoAngelica Maria Almeyda Zambrano - University of FloridaEsteban Alvarez-Davila - Universidad Nacional Abierta y a DistanciaAlejandro Araujo-Murakami - Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff MercadoValerio Avitabile - European CommissionGerardo A Aymard Corredor - Universidad Nacional Experimental de los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel ZamoraRadomir Bałazy - Instytut Badawczy LeśnictwaChristopher Baraloto - Florida International UniversityJorcely G Barroso - Universidade Federal do AcreMeredith L Bastian - Duke UniversityPhilippe Birnbaum - Université de MontpellierRobert Bitariho - Mbarara University of Science and TechnologyJan Bogaert - University of LiègeFrans Bongers - Wageningen University & ResearchOlivier Bouriaud - Ştefan cel Mare University of SuceavaPedro H S Brancalion - University of Sao PauloFrancis Q Brearley - Manchester Metropolitan UniversityEben North Broadbent - University of FloridaFilippo Bussotti - University of FlorenceWendeson Castro da Silva - Universidade Federal do AcreRicardo Gomes Cesar - University of Sao PauloGoran Cesljar - Institute of ForestryVictor Chama Moscoso - National University of Saint Anthony the Abbot in CuzcoHan Y H Chen - Lakehead UniversityEmil Cienciala - Institute of Forest Ecosystem ResearchConnie J Clark - Duke UniversityDavid A Coomes - University of CambridgeSelvadurai Dayanandan - Concordia UniversityMathieu Decuyper - Wageningen University & ResearchLaura E Dee - University of Colorado BoulderJhon del Aguila Pasquel - Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía PeruanaGeraldine Derroire - University of French GuianaMarie Noel Kamdem Djuikouo - University of BueaTran Van Do - Vietnamese Academy of Forest SciencesJiri Dolezal - Czech Academy of SciencesIlija Đ Đorđević - Institute of ForestryJulian Engel - Université de MontpellierTom M. Fayle - Queen Mary University of LondonTed R Feldpausch - University of ExeterJonas K Fridman - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, AlnarpDavid J Harris - Royal Botanic Garden EdinburghAndreas Hemp - University of BayreuthGeerten Hengeveld - Wageningen University & ResearchBruno Hérault - Forests and SocietiesMartin Herold - GFZ Helmholtz Centre for GeosciencesThomas Ibanez - University of Hawaii at HiloAndrzej M. Jagodziński - Polish Academy of SciencesBogdan Jaroszewicz - University of WarsawKathryn J Jeffery - University of StirlingVivian Kvist Johannsen - University of CopenhagenTommaso Jucker - University of BristolAhto Kangur - Estonian University of Life SciencesVictor N Karminov - Center for Forest Ecology and Productivity, Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow, Russian)Kuswata Kartawinata - Field Museum of Natural HistoryDeborah K Kennard - Colorado Mesa UniversitySebastian Kepfer-Rojas - University of CopenhagenGunnar Keppel - University of South AustraliaMohammed Latif Khan - Dr. Hari Singh Gour UniversityPramod Kumar Khare - Dr. Hari Singh Gour UniversityTimothy J Kileen - Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff MercadoHyun Seok Kim - Seoul National UniversityHenn Korjus - Estonian University of Life SciencesAmit Kumar - Central University of JharkhandAshwani Kumar - Dr. Hari Singh Gour UniversityDiana Laarmann - Estonian University of Life SciencesNicolas Labriere - Evolution et Diversité BiologiqueMait Lang - Estonian University of Life SciencesSimon L Lewis - University of LeedsNatalia Lukina - Center for Forest Ecology and Productivity, Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow, Russian)Brian S Maitner - University of ArizonaYadvinder Malhi - University of OxfordAndrew Marshall (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Tropical Forests and People Research CentreSee article text for complete list of remaining 53 authors (Author)
- Publication details
- National Academy of Sciences. Proceedings, Vol.119(6), pp.1-11
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Date published
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.1073/pnas.2115329119
- ISSN
- 1091-6490
- PMID
- 35101981; PMC8833151
- Organisation Unit
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Forest Research Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99613408302621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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