The number of tree species on Earth

Roberto Cazzolla Gatti; Javier G P Gamarra; Thomas W Crowther; Cang Hui; Albert Morera; Jean-Francois Bastin; S De-Miguel; G J Nabuurs; Jens‐Christian Svenning; Josep M Serra-Diaz; See article full text for complete list of authors; Andrew Marshall

doi:10.1073/pnas.2115329119

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The number of tree species on Earth

Roberto Cazzolla Gatti, Javier G P Gamarra, Thomas W Crowther, Cang Hui, Albert Morera, Jean-Francois Bastin, S De-Miguel, G J Nabuurs, Jens‐Christian Svenning, Josep M Serra-Diaz, …

National Academy of Sciences. Proceedings, Vol.119(6), pp.1-11

2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2115329119

PMCID: PMC8833151

PMID: 35101981

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Abstract

Biodiversity

forests

hyperdominance

rarity

richness

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 University
Javier G P Gamarra (Author) - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Thomas W Crowther (Author) - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich
Cang Hui (Author) - Stellenbosch University
Albert Morera (Author) - Universitat de Lleida
Jean-Francois Bastin (Author) - Ghent University
S De-Miguel (Author) - Universitat de Lleida
G J Nabuurs (Author) - Wageningen University & Research
Jens‐Christian Svenning (Author) - Aarhus University
Josep M Serra-Diaz (Author) - Silva
See article full text for complete list of authors (Author)
Andrew Marshall (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Tropical Forests and People Research Centre
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; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Forest Research Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99613408302621
Output Type: Journal article

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165 Times Cited - Web of Science

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology

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