Spatial decoupling of taxon richness, phylogenetic diversity and threat status in the megagenus Erica (Ericaceae).

Estimates of the number of vascular plant species currently under threat of extinction are shockingly high, with the highest extinction rates reported for narrow-range, woody plants, especially in biodiversity hotspots with Mediterranean and tropical climates. The large genus is a prime example, as a large proportion of its 851 species, all shrubs or small trees, are endemic to the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) of South Africa. Almost two hundred are known to be threatened and a further hundred are ‘Data Deficient’. We need to target conservation efforts and research to fill the most problematic knowledge gaps. This can be especially challenging in large genera, such as , with numerous threatened species that are closely related. One approach involves combining knowledge of phylogenetic diversity with that of IUCN threat status to identify the most Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species. We present an expanded and improved phylogenetic hypothesis for (representing 65% of described species diversity) and combine this with available threat and distribution data to identify species and geographic areas that could be targeted for conservation effort to maximise preservation of phylogenetic diversity (PD). The resulting 39 EDGE taxa include 35 from the CFR. A further 32 high PD, data deficient taxa are mostly from outside the CFR, reflecting the low proportion of assessed taxa outside South Africa. The most taxon-rich areas are found in the south-western CFR. They are not the most phylogenetically diverse, but do include the most threatened PD. These results can be cross-referenced to existing living and seed-banked collections and used to target new and updated threat assessments and conservation action.

Project(s)

Priority 1: Ecosystem Stewardship

Funder

Funder name	Awards
Horizon 2020, European Union	Research and Innovation Programme H2020-WF-03-2020 for the grant TropAlp (101038083)
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Germany	PI1169/1-1 - PI1169/1-2 - PI1169/2-1 - PI1169/3-1
National Research Foundation, South Africa
Claude Leon Foundation, South Africa
Natural Environment Research Council, United Kingdom	Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet Doctoral Training Programme (grant number NE/S007415/1), the CASE component of which was funded by On the Edge; and The Heather Society.