Maximising Synergy among Tropical Plant Systematists, Ecologists, and Evolutionary Biologists. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baker, Timothy R.; Pennington, R. Toby; Dexter, Kyle G.; Fine, Paul V.A.; Fortune-Hopkins, Helen; Honorio, Euridice N.; Huamantupa-Chuquimaco, Isau; Klitgård, Bente B.; Lewis, Gwilym P.; de Lima, Haroldo C.; Ashton, Peter; Baraloto, Christopher; Davies, Stuart; Donoghue, Michael J.; Kaye, Maria; Kress, W. John; Lehmann, Caroline E.R.; Monteagudo, Abel; Phillips, Oliver L.; Vasquez, Rodolfo
• Is Part Of: Trends in ecology & evolution. Volume 32:Number 4(2017)
• Page Start: 258
• Page End: 267
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: beta diversity -- global change -- permanent plot -- taxonomy -- trait -- tropical forest; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution (Biology) -- Periodicals; 576.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2017.01.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0169-5347

Abstract

Abstract : Closer collaboration among ecologists, systematists, and evolutionary biologists working in tropical forests, centred on studies within long-term permanent plots, would be highly beneficial for their respective fields. With a key unifying theme of the importance of vouchered collection and precise identification of species, especially rare ones, we identify four priority areas where improving links between these communities could achieve significant progress in biodiversity and conservation science: (i) increasing the pace of species discovery; (ii) documenting species turnover across space and time; (iii) improving models of ecosystem change; and (iv) understanding the evolutionary assembly of communities and biomes. Trends: Key research questions are defined to foster closer collaboration between systematists, ecologists, and evolutionary biologists working in tropical forests. Long-term plots are proposed as a focus of such collaborative studies. Addressing the proposed questions will require a significant shift in how both individuals and institutions operate in the collection and curation of botanical specimens.