Just Accepted

This article has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. It is in production and has not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

Global hotspots of endemicity, rarity and speciation of aquatic macrophytes

Tatiana Lobato-de Magalhães , Kevin Murphy, Julissa Tapia-Grimaldo, Thomas Davidson, Eugenio Molina-Navarro, José Arturo De-Nova, Andrey Efremov

Abstract

Context: Most aquatic macrophytes are ecozone-endemic species, and about two-thirds of them have rare occurrence at global scale. These small-range plants are seriously under-studied at macroecological scale, despite their marked vulnerability to extinction through habitat loss and climate change. Aims: To identify global hotspots of endemism and rarity of aquatic macrophyte and examine the factors that resulted in speciation hotspots of macrophytes in some areas of the planet. Methods: We analysed a database of 3499 macrophyte species to locate speciation hotspots and assess the biogeographic and environmental drivers which maintain ecozone-endemic, and world-rare species within their current limited global areas of occupancy. Key results: Ecozone-endemic and world-rare macrophyte species hotspots across the planet showed similar occurrence patterns and drivers among ecozones. Ecozone environmental conditions, particularly harsh environments, influenced macrophyte phylogenetic diversity and structure. Most macrophyte species diversification is recent (<10 M years ago). A negative association with bird-mediated zoochory was seen for endemicity and rarity hotspots. Conclusions: This study identified hotspots of endemicity and rarity, and potential cradle and museum speciation areas. Implications: Our findings could inform global action to conserve the macrophyte diversity of wetlands, and other inland aquatic habitats, across the world.

MF23121  Accepted 07 May 2024

© CSIRO 2024