Open AccessWoody plant phylogenetic diversity supports nature's contributions to people but is at risk from human population growth
Author(s) -
Davies T. Jonathan,
Maurin Olivier,
Yessoufou Kowiyou,
Daru Barnabas H.,
Bezeng Bezeng S.,
Mankga Ledile T.,
Schaefer Hanno,
Thuiller Wilfried,
van der Bank Michelle
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
conservation letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.153
H-Index - 79
ISSN - 1755-263X
DOI - 10.1111/conl.12914
Subject(s) - biodiversity , phylogenetic tree , ecology , phylogenetic diversity , species richness , diversity (politics) , ecosystem , biology , population , woody plant , phylogenetics , geography , agroforestry , demography , biochemistry , sociology , anthropology , gene
Abstract The Tree of Life—phylogeny—provides a powerful tool for understanding the processes regulating life's diversity. Conserving the branches on the Tree of Life might also have practical benefits. Using a comprehensive phylogeny of southern African woody trees and shrubs, and structural equation modeling, we show that human population density correlates closely with not only the richness of woody plants in a region but also their evolutionary relatedness. Further, we demonstrate that more phylogenetically diverse species assemblages support a greater diversity of ecosystem goods and services. Our results suggest that people in Africa may gain material benefits from inhabiting regions that support high phylogenetic diversity of woody plants. However, the correlation between human population and woody plant diversity creates a tension between people and biodiversity, which could threaten the contributions to people provided by intact and phylogenetically diverse ecosystems.