How many species of flowering plants are there?

dc.contributor.author

Joppa, Lucas N

dc.contributor.author

Roberts, David L

dc.contributor.author

Pimm, Stuart L

dc.date.accessioned

2021-08-02T18:48:48Z

dc.date.available

2021-08-02T18:48:48Z

dc.date.issued

2011-02

dc.date.updated

2021-08-02T18:48:47Z

dc.description.abstract

We estimate the probable number of flowering plants. First, we apply a model that explicitly incorporates taxonomic effort over time to estimate the number of as-yet-unknown species. Second, we ask taxonomic experts their opinions on how many species are likely to be missing, on a family-by-family basis. The results are broadly comparable. We show that the current number of species should grow by between 10 and 20 per cent. There are, however, interesting discrepancies between expert and model estimates for some families, suggesting that our model does not always completely capture patterns of taxonomic activity. The as-yet-unknown species are probably similar to those taxonomists have described recently-overwhelmingly rare and local, and disproportionately in biodiversity hotspots, where there are high levels of habitat destruction.

dc.identifier

rspb.2010.1004

dc.identifier.issn

0962-8452

dc.identifier.issn

1471-2954

dc.identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10161/23559

dc.language

eng

dc.publisher

The Royal Society

dc.relation.ispartof

Proceedings. Biological sciences

dc.relation.isversionof

10.1098/rspb.2010.1004

dc.subject

Biodiversity

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Species Specificity

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Models, Biological

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Magnoliopsida

dc.title

How many species of flowering plants are there?

dc.type

Journal article

duke.contributor.orcid

Pimm, Stuart L|0000-0003-4206-2456

pubs.begin-page

554

pubs.end-page

559

pubs.issue

1705

pubs.organisational-group

Nicholas School of the Environment

pubs.organisational-group

Environmental Sciences and Policy

pubs.organisational-group

Duke Science & Society

pubs.organisational-group

Duke

pubs.organisational-group

Initiatives

pubs.organisational-group

Institutes and Provost's Academic Units

pubs.publication-status

Published

pubs.volume

278

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