The Conservation of Biodiverse and Threatened Dry Rainforest Plant Communities Is Vital in a Changing Climate
Dry rainforest communities are globally threatened by anthropogenic pressures and climatic change but are less well researched and more poorly conserved than mesic rainforests. In response to the increasing loss of biodiversity, the Australian Government joined other international signatory parties...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Conservation |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7159/4/4/40 |
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| author | Marion Howard Hilary Pearl Bill McDonald Yoko Shimizu Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava Alison Shapcott |
| author_facet | Marion Howard Hilary Pearl Bill McDonald Yoko Shimizu Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava Alison Shapcott |
| author_sort | Marion Howard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dry rainforest communities are globally threatened by anthropogenic pressures and climatic change but are less well researched and more poorly conserved than mesic rainforests. In response to the increasing loss of biodiversity, the Australian Government joined other international signatory parties to adopt the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The GBF emphasises the maintenance of connectivity and genetic diversity of whole ecosystems via landscape-scale conservation initiatives. Rainforest plant diversity, distinctiveness, and the current level of conservation of seasonal rainforest regional ecosystems of the Central Queensland Coast region in Australia were evaluated. Our three-marker DNA barcode dated phylogeny of rainforest plant taxa together with community species lists were used to calculate phylogenetic diversity (PD) estimates and species composition. Levels of rainforest ecosystem protection were assessed using Queensland government data. This study found selection pressures for moisture and geology significantly influence rainforest distribution and species diversity and evidence of a high degree of variability in terms of conservation. While some phylogenetically distinctive rainforest community types were well conserved, restricted or endangered communities were very poorly protected. Additionally, we found smaller dry rainforests in the Central Queensland Coast represent regional plant migration but are inadequately protected, highlighting the need for a revision of conservation objectives within the region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d4e995aa935547eeb2fb2e7387bad610 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-7159 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation |
| spelling | doaj-art-d4e995aa935547eeb2fb2e7387bad6102025-08-20T02:00:21ZengMDPI AGConservation2673-71592024-11-014465768410.3390/conservation4040040The Conservation of Biodiverse and Threatened Dry Rainforest Plant Communities Is Vital in a Changing ClimateMarion Howard0Hilary Pearl1Bill McDonald2Yoko Shimizu3Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava4Alison Shapcott5School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs 4556, AustraliaSchool of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs 4556, AustraliaQueensland Herbarium, Mount Coot-Tha Rd., Toowong 4066, AustraliaSchool of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs 4556, AustraliaSchool of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs 4556, AustraliaSchool of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs 4556, AustraliaDry rainforest communities are globally threatened by anthropogenic pressures and climatic change but are less well researched and more poorly conserved than mesic rainforests. In response to the increasing loss of biodiversity, the Australian Government joined other international signatory parties to adopt the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The GBF emphasises the maintenance of connectivity and genetic diversity of whole ecosystems via landscape-scale conservation initiatives. Rainforest plant diversity, distinctiveness, and the current level of conservation of seasonal rainforest regional ecosystems of the Central Queensland Coast region in Australia were evaluated. Our three-marker DNA barcode dated phylogeny of rainforest plant taxa together with community species lists were used to calculate phylogenetic diversity (PD) estimates and species composition. Levels of rainforest ecosystem protection were assessed using Queensland government data. This study found selection pressures for moisture and geology significantly influence rainforest distribution and species diversity and evidence of a high degree of variability in terms of conservation. While some phylogenetically distinctive rainforest community types were well conserved, restricted or endangered communities were very poorly protected. Additionally, we found smaller dry rainforests in the Central Queensland Coast represent regional plant migration but are inadequately protected, highlighting the need for a revision of conservation objectives within the region.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7159/4/4/40dry rainforestregional ecosystemphylogenetic diversityDNA barcodeconservationclimatic refugia |
| spellingShingle | Marion Howard Hilary Pearl Bill McDonald Yoko Shimizu Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava Alison Shapcott The Conservation of Biodiverse and Threatened Dry Rainforest Plant Communities Is Vital in a Changing Climate Conservation dry rainforest regional ecosystem phylogenetic diversity DNA barcode conservation climatic refugia |
| title | The Conservation of Biodiverse and Threatened Dry Rainforest Plant Communities Is Vital in a Changing Climate |
| title_full | The Conservation of Biodiverse and Threatened Dry Rainforest Plant Communities Is Vital in a Changing Climate |
| title_fullStr | The Conservation of Biodiverse and Threatened Dry Rainforest Plant Communities Is Vital in a Changing Climate |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Conservation of Biodiverse and Threatened Dry Rainforest Plant Communities Is Vital in a Changing Climate |
| title_short | The Conservation of Biodiverse and Threatened Dry Rainforest Plant Communities Is Vital in a Changing Climate |
| title_sort | conservation of biodiverse and threatened dry rainforest plant communities is vital in a changing climate |
| topic | dry rainforest regional ecosystem phylogenetic diversity DNA barcode conservation climatic refugia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7159/4/4/40 |
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