Insights from a century of data reveal global trends in ex situ living plant collections.
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Resource type
Journal article
Creator (person)
Cano, Ángela
Powell, Jake
Aiello, Anthony S.
Andersen, Heidi Lie
Arbour, Thomas
Balzer, Aleisha
Bauer, Dennise Stefan
Bugarchich, Jeremy
Cano, Fernando
Contreras, Maria Paula
Cubey, Robert
Czajkowski, Ignacio
Diaz-Toribio, Milton H.
Freeth, Thomas
Freyre, Nicolas
Gardner, Martin F.
Griffith, M. Patrick
Gustafsson, A. Lovisa S.
Havström, Mats
Hockley, Leslie R.
Hollingsworth, Peter M.
Jørgensen, Tina
Kindl, Kristen
Kirkwood, Donovan
Larpin, Denis
Lofthus, Øystein
Löhne, Cornelia
López-Villalobos, Adriana
Luscombe, Dan
Molloy, Dermot
Morales-Rozo, Clara
Nāburga, Inese
Nebot, Anna
Neinhuis, Christoph
Newlander, Cindy S.
Ossaer, Joke
Payton, Greg
Peter, Jon
Puente Martinez, Raul
Scheen, Anne-Cathrine
Scherberich, David
Senekal, Anna Maria
Shearman, Clare
Siemon, John
Socher, Stephanie A.
Sucher, Rebecca
Summers, Alex
Tucker Lima, Joanna M.
Vry, Alison
Wong, Jessica
Wrigley, Damian
You, Frédéric
Brockington, Samuel F.
Date published
January 21, 2025
Abstract
Ex situ living plant collections play a crucial role in providing nature-based solutions to twenty-first century global challenges. However, the complex dynamics of these artificial ecosystems are poorly quantified and understood, affecting biodiversity storage, conservation and utilization. To evaluate the management of ex situ plant diversity, we analysed a century of data comprising 2.2 million records, from a meta-collection currently holding ~500,000 accessions and 41% of global ex situ species diversity. Our study provides critical insights into the historical evolution, current state and future trajectory of global living collections. We reveal sigmoidal growth of a meta-collection that has reached capacity in both total accessions and total diversity, and identify intrinsic constraints on biodiversity management, including a median survival probability of 15 years. We explore the impact of external constraints and quantify the influence of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which we link to reduced acquisition of wild-origin and internationally sourced material by 44% and 38%, respectively. We further define the impact of these constraints on ex situ conservation but highlight targeted initiatives that successfully mitigate these challenges. Ultimately, our study underscores the urgent need for strategic prioritization and the re-evaluation of ex situ biodiversity management to achieve both scientific and conservation goals.
Journal title
Nature Ecology & Evolution
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Place of publication
Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany
eISSN
2397-334X
Date accepted
December 18, 2024
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In Copyright
Additional information
IF = 7.84 (2023-2024)