Diversity hotspots, centers of phylogenetic endemism, and preservation gaps for Malagasy vascular plants. Credit: IBCASResearch on Madagascars vascular plants exposes crucial conservation concerns, identifying locations of high endemic and phylogenetic variety and determining significant conservation gaps in the islands dry and semi-arid regions.Despite the significance of biodiversity and the urgency to conserve it, assessing what element of biodiversity requires the greatest top priority has actually shown complex, especially when conservation resources are restricted. A new study released in Current Biology sheds light on this question.Research on Madagascars Unique BiodiversityProf. Zhiduan Chens group from the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IBCAS) and worldwide collaborators have actually identified the spatial heterogeneity of biodiversity hotspots and endemism centers. With this information, they have identified the conservation top priority for vascular plants in Madagascar.Madagascars Endemic DiversityMadagascar is the 4th biggest island on the planet and among the most crucial global biodiversity hotspots. It is popular for its high level of endemic diversity, which is mostly associated to its complex geological history, geographic location, and biogeographic connections with Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia.Comprehensive Study on Malagasy Vascular PlantsThe scientists generated a new dated tree of life for the island, consisting of an extraordinary tasting of 3,950 species (33% of all known species) and 1,621 genera (93% of all understood genera) of Malagasy vascular plants. They found that the majority of the extant endemic genera (69%) in Madagascar came from reasonably just recently throughout the Neogene– Quaternary.Biodiversity Distribution and Conservation in MadagascarIntegrating geographic and phylogenetic distribution data, the scientists revealed an uneven distribution of taxon richness and phylogenetic diversity, with hotspots focused in the northern, eastern, and southeastern damp forests.They also assessed endemic centers, which feature both taxonomic endemism and phylogenetic endemism. The analyses regularly supported a high concentration of paleoendemism in the damp eastern and central area, while neoendemism was found in the dry and spiny forests of western and southern Madagascar.Identifying Conservation GapsFinally, the scientists identified preservation gaps in oft-ignored dry and semi-arid regions by overlaying biodiversity hotspots and centers of endemism with safeguarded areas. These preservation spaces supply additional proof to support the conservation of biodiversity in Madagascar in the face of climate change and increased anthropogenic pressures.Reference: “Spatial heterogeneity of neo- and paleo-endemism for plants in Madagascar” by Wyckliffe Omondi Omollo, Romer Narindra Rabarijaona, Rindra Manasoa Ranaivoson, Mijoro Rakotoarinivo, Russell L. Barrett, Qiang Zhang, Yang-Jun Lai, Jian-Fei Ye, Chi Toan Le, Alexandre Antonelli, Zhi-Duan Chen, Bing Liu and Li-Min Lu, 8 March 2024, Current Biology.DOI: 10.1016/ j.cub.2024.02.023 This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the International Partnership Program of CAS, and the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center of CAS, and so on.