Abstract
The high species richness of tropical forests has long been recognized, yet there remains substantial uncertainty regarding the actual number of tropical tree species. Using a pantropical tree inventory database from closed canopy forests, consisting of 657,630 trees belonging to 11,371 species, we use a fitted value of Fisher's alpha and an approximate pantropical stem total to estimate the minimum number of tropical forest tree species to fall between ∼40,000 and ∼53,000, i.e., at the high end of previous estimates. Contrary to common assumption, the Indo-Pacific region was found to be as species-rich as the Neotropics, with both regions having a minimum of ∼19,000-25,000 tree species. Continental Africa is relatively depauperate with a minimum of ∼4,500-6,000 tree species. Very few species are shared among the African, American, and the Indo-Pacific regions. We provide a methodological framework for estimating species richness in trees that may help refine species richness estimates of tree-dependent taxa.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
| Volume | 112 |
| Issue number | 24 |
| Pages (from-to) | 7472-7477 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| ISSN | 0027-8424 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 |
Keywords
- Diversity estimation
- Fisher's log series
- Pantropical
- Spatial richness patterns
- Tropical tree species richness
Access to Document
Other files and links
Cite this
- APA
- Standard
- Harvard
- Vancouver
- Author
- BIBTEX
- RIS
An estimate of the number of tropical tree species. / Slik, J. W Ferry; Arroyo-Rodríguez, Víctor; Aiba, Shin Ichiro; Alvarez-Loayza, Patricia; Alves, Luciana F.; Ashton, Peter; Balvanera, Patricia; Bastian, Meredith L.; Bellingham, Peter J.; Van Den Berg, Eduardo; Bernacci, Luis; Da Conceição Bispo, Polyanna; Blanc, Lilian; Böhning-Gaese, Katrin; Boeckx, Pascal; Bongers, Frans; Boyle, Brad; Bradford, Matt; Brearley, Francis Q.; Hockemba, Mireille Breuer Ndoundou; Bunyavejchewin, Sarayudh; Matos, Darley Calderado Leal; Castillo-Santiago, Miguel; Catharino, Eduardo L M; Chai, Shauna Lee; Chen, Yukai; Colwell, Robert K.; Robin, Chazdon L.; Clark, Connie; Clark, David B.; Clark, Deborah A.; Culmsee, Heike; Damas, Kipiro; Dattaraja, Handanakere S.; Dauby, Gilles; Davidar, Priya; DeWalt, Saara J.; Doucet, Jean Louis; Duque, Alvaro; Durigan, Giselda; Eichhorn, Karl A O; Eisenlohr, Pedro V.; Eler, Eduardo; Ewango, Corneille; Farwig, Nina; Feeley, Kenneth J.; Ferreira, Leandro; Field, Richard; De Oliveira Filho, Ary T.; Fletcher, Christine; Forshed, Olle; Franco, Geraldo; Fredriksson, Gabriella; Gillespie, Thomas; Gillet, Jean François; Amarnath, Giriraj; Griffith, Daniel M.; Grogan, James; Gunatilleke, Nimal; Harris, David; Harrison, Rhett; Hector, Andy; Homeier, Jürgen; Imai, Nobuo; Itoh, Akira; Jansen, Patrick A.; Joly, Carlos A.; De Jong, Bernardus H J; Kartawinata, Kuswata; Kearsley, Elizabeth; Kelly, Daniel L.; Kenfack, David; Kessler, Michael; Kitayama, Kanehiro; Kooyman, Robert; Larney, Eileen; Laumonier, Yves; Laurance, Susan; Laurance, William F.; Lawes, Michael J.; Do Amaral, Ieda Leao; Letche, Susan G.; Lindsell, Jeremy; Lu, Xinghui; Mansor, Asyraf; Marjokorpi, Antti; Martin, Emanuel H.; Meilby, Henrik; Melo, Felipe P L; Metcalfe, Daniel J.; Medjibe, Vincent P.; Metzger, Jean Paul; Millet, Jerome; Mohandass, D.; Montero, Juan C.; De Morisson Valeriano, Márcio; Mugerwa, Badru; Nagamasu, Hidetoshi; Nilus, Reuben; Ochoa-Gaona, Susana; Onrizal; Page, Navendu; Parolin, Pia; Parren, Marc; Parthasarathy, Narayanaswamy; Paudel, Ekananda; Permana, Andrea; Piedade, Maria T F; Pitman, Nigel C A; Poorter, Lourens; Poulsen, Axel D.; Poulsen, John; Powers, Jennifer; Prasad, Rama C.; Puyravaud, Jean Philippe; Razafimahaimodison, Jean Claude; Reitsma, Jan; Dos Santos, João Roberto; Spironello, Wilson Roberto; Romero-Saltos, Hugo; Rovero, Francesco; Rozak, Andes Hamuraby; Ruokolainen, Kalle; Rutishauser, Ervan; Saiter, Felipe; Saner, Philippe; Santos, Braulio A.; Santos, Fernanda; Sarker, Swapan K.; Satdichanh, Manichanh; Schmitt, Christine B.; Schöngart, Jochen; Schulze, Mark; Suganuma, Marcio S.; Sheil, Douglas; Da Silva Pinheiro, Eduardo; Sist, Plinio; Stevart, Tariq; Sukumar, Raman; Sun, I. Fang; Sunderand, Terry; Suresh, H. S.; Suzuki, Eizi; Tabarelli, Marcelo; Tang, Jangwei; Targhetta, Natália; Theilade, Ida; Thomas, Duncan W.; Tchouto, Peguy; Hurtado, Johanna; Valencia, Renato; Van Valkenburg, Johan L C H; Van Do, Tran; Vasquez, Rodolfo; Verbeeck, Hans; Adekunle, Victor; Vieira, Simone A.; Webb, Campbell O.; Whitfeld, Timothy; Wich, Serge A.; Williams, John; Wittmann, Florian; Wöll, Hannsjoerg; Yang, Xiaobo; Yao, C. Yves Adou; Yap, Sandra L.; Yoneda, Tsuyoshi; Zahawi, Rakan A.; Zakaria, Rahmad; Zang, Runguo; De Assis, Rafael L.; Luize, Bruno Garcia; Venticinque, Eduardo M.
In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 112, No. 24, 2015, p. 7472-7477.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - An estimate of the number of tropical tree species
AU - Slik, J. W Ferry
AU - Arroyo-Rodríguez, Víctor
AU - Aiba, Shin Ichiro
AU - Alvarez-Loayza, Patricia
AU - Alves, Luciana F.
AU - Ashton, Peter
AU - Balvanera, Patricia
AU - Bastian, Meredith L.
AU - Bellingham, Peter J.
AU - Van Den Berg, Eduardo
AU - Bernacci, Luis
AU - Da Conceição Bispo, Polyanna
AU - Blanc, Lilian
AU - Böhning-Gaese, Katrin
AU - Boeckx, Pascal
AU - Bongers, Frans
AU - Boyle, Brad
AU - Bradford, Matt
AU - Brearley, Francis Q.
AU - Hockemba, Mireille Breuer Ndoundou
AU - Bunyavejchewin, Sarayudh
AU - Matos, Darley Calderado Leal
AU - Castillo-Santiago, Miguel
AU - Catharino, Eduardo L M
AU - Chai, Shauna Lee
AU - Chen, Yukai
AU - Colwell, Robert K.
AU - Robin, Chazdon L.
AU - Clark, Connie
AU - Clark, David B.
AU - Clark, Deborah A.
AU - Culmsee, Heike
AU - Damas, Kipiro
AU - Dattaraja, Handanakere S.
AU - Dauby, Gilles
AU - Davidar, Priya
AU - DeWalt, Saara J.
AU - Doucet, Jean Louis
AU - Duque, Alvaro
AU - Durigan, Giselda
AU - Eichhorn, Karl A O
AU - Eisenlohr, Pedro V.
AU - Eler, Eduardo
AU - Ewango, Corneille
AU - Farwig, Nina
AU - Feeley, Kenneth J.
AU - Ferreira, Leandro
AU - Field, Richard
AU - De Oliveira Filho, Ary T.
AU - Fletcher, Christine
AU - Forshed, Olle
AU - Franco, Geraldo
AU - Fredriksson, Gabriella
AU - Gillespie, Thomas
AU - Gillet, Jean François
AU - Amarnath, Giriraj
AU - Griffith, Daniel M.
AU - Grogan, James
AU - Gunatilleke, Nimal
AU - Harris, David
AU - Harrison, Rhett
AU - Hector, Andy
AU - Homeier, Jürgen
AU - Imai, Nobuo
AU - Itoh, Akira
AU - Jansen, Patrick A.
AU - Joly, Carlos A.
AU - De Jong, Bernardus H J
AU - Kartawinata, Kuswata
AU - Kearsley, Elizabeth
AU - Kelly, Daniel L.
AU - Kenfack, David
AU - Kessler, Michael
AU - Kitayama, Kanehiro
AU - Kooyman, Robert
AU - Larney, Eileen
AU - Laumonier, Yves
AU - Laurance, Susan
AU - Laurance, William F.
AU - Lawes, Michael J.
AU - Do Amaral, Ieda Leao
AU - Letche, Susan G.
AU - Lindsell, Jeremy
AU - Lu, Xinghui
AU - Mansor, Asyraf
AU - Marjokorpi, Antti
AU - Martin, Emanuel H.
AU - Meilby, Henrik
AU - Melo, Felipe P L
AU - Metcalfe, Daniel J.
AU - Medjibe, Vincent P.
AU - Metzger, Jean Paul
AU - Millet, Jerome
AU - Mohandass, D.
AU - Montero, Juan C.
AU - De Morisson Valeriano, Márcio
AU - Mugerwa, Badru
AU - Nagamasu, Hidetoshi
AU - Nilus, Reuben
AU - Ochoa-Gaona, Susana
AU - Onrizal, null
AU - Page, Navendu
AU - Parolin, Pia
AU - Parren, Marc
AU - Parthasarathy, Narayanaswamy
AU - Paudel, Ekananda
AU - Permana, Andrea
AU - Piedade, Maria T F
AU - Pitman, Nigel C A
AU - Poorter, Lourens
AU - Poulsen, Axel D.
AU - Poulsen, John
AU - Powers, Jennifer
AU - Prasad, Rama C.
AU - Puyravaud, Jean Philippe
AU - Razafimahaimodison, Jean Claude
AU - Reitsma, Jan
AU - Dos Santos, João Roberto
AU - Spironello, Wilson Roberto
AU - Romero-Saltos, Hugo
AU - Rovero, Francesco
AU - Rozak, Andes Hamuraby
AU - Ruokolainen, Kalle
AU - Rutishauser, Ervan
AU - Saiter, Felipe
AU - Saner, Philippe
AU - Santos, Braulio A.
AU - Santos, Fernanda
AU - Sarker, Swapan K.
AU - Satdichanh, Manichanh
AU - Schmitt, Christine B.
AU - Schöngart, Jochen
AU - Schulze, Mark
AU - Suganuma, Marcio S.
AU - Sheil, Douglas
AU - Da Silva Pinheiro, Eduardo
AU - Sist, Plinio
AU - Stevart, Tariq
AU - Sukumar, Raman
AU - Sun, I. Fang
AU - Sunderand, Terry
AU - Suresh, H. S.
AU - Suzuki, Eizi
AU - Tabarelli, Marcelo
AU - Tang, Jangwei
AU - Targhetta, Natália
AU - Theilade, Ida
AU - Thomas, Duncan W.
AU - Tchouto, Peguy
AU - Hurtado, Johanna
AU - Valencia, Renato
AU - Van Valkenburg, Johan L C H
AU - Van Do, Tran
AU - Vasquez, Rodolfo
AU - Verbeeck, Hans
AU - Adekunle, Victor
AU - Vieira, Simone A.
AU - Webb, Campbell O.
AU - Whitfeld, Timothy
AU - Wich, Serge A.
AU - Williams, John
AU - Wittmann, Florian
AU - Wöll, Hannsjoerg
AU - Yang, Xiaobo
AU - Yao, C. Yves Adou
AU - Yap, Sandra L.
AU - Yoneda, Tsuyoshi
AU - Zahawi, Rakan A.
AU - Zakaria, Rahmad
AU - Zang, Runguo
AU - De Assis, Rafael L.
AU - Luize, Bruno Garcia
AU - Venticinque, Eduardo M.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - The high species richness of tropical forests has long been recognized, yet there remains substantial uncertainty regarding the actual number of tropical tree species. Using a pantropical tree inventory database from closed canopy forests, consisting of 657,630 trees belonging to 11,371 species, we use a fitted value of Fisher's alpha and an approximate pantropical stem total to estimate the minimum number of tropical forest tree species to fall between ∼40,000 and ∼53,000, i.e., at the high end of previous estimates. Contrary to common assumption, the Indo-Pacific region was found to be as species-rich as the Neotropics, with both regions having a minimum of ∼19,000-25,000 tree species. Continental Africa is relatively depauperate with a minimum of ∼4,500-6,000 tree species. Very few species are shared among the African, American, and the Indo-Pacific regions. We provide a methodological framework for estimating species richness in trees that may help refine species richness estimates of tree-dependent taxa.
AB - The high species richness of tropical forests has long been recognized, yet there remains substantial uncertainty regarding the actual number of tropical tree species. Using a pantropical tree inventory database from closed canopy forests, consisting of 657,630 trees belonging to 11,371 species, we use a fitted value of Fisher's alpha and an approximate pantropical stem total to estimate the minimum number of tropical forest tree species to fall between ∼40,000 and ∼53,000, i.e., at the high end of previous estimates. Contrary to common assumption, the Indo-Pacific region was found to be as species-rich as the Neotropics, with both regions having a minimum of ∼19,000-25,000 tree species. Continental Africa is relatively depauperate with a minimum of ∼4,500-6,000 tree species. Very few species are shared among the African, American, and the Indo-Pacific regions. We provide a methodological framework for estimating species richness in trees that may help refine species richness estimates of tree-dependent taxa.
KW - Diversity estimation
KW - Fisher's log series
KW - Pantropical
KW - Spatial richness patterns
KW - Tropical tree species richness
UR - http://www.pnas.org/content/112/33/E4628.short
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.1423147112
DO - 10.1073/pnas.1423147112
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 26034279
AN - SCOPUS:84935873599
VL - 112
SP - 7472
EP - 7477
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
SN - 0027-8424
IS - 24
ER -