@article{fdi:010069320,
  title = {{E}xploring the floristic diversity of tropical {A}frica},
  author = {{S}osef, {M}. {S}. {M}. and {D}auby, {G}. and {B}lach-{O}vergaard, {A}. and van der {B}urgt, {X}. and {C}atarino, {L}. and {D}amen, {T}. and {D}eblauwe, {V}. and {D}essein, {S}. and {D}ransfield, {J}. and {D}roissart, {V}incent and {D}uarte, {M}. {C}. and {E}ngledow, {H}. and {F}adeur, {G}. and {F}igueira, {R}. and {G}ereau, {R}. {E}. and {H}ardy, {O}. {J}. and {H}arris, {D}. {J}. and de {H}eij, {J}. and {J}anssens, {S}. and {K}lomberg, {Y}. and {L}ey, {A}. {C}. and {M}ackinder, {B}. {A}. and {M}eerts, {P}. and de {P}oel, {J}. {L}. {V}. and {S}onke, {B}. and {S}tevart, {T}. and {S}toffelen, {P}. and {S}venning, {J}. {C}. and {S}epulchre, {P}. and {Z}aiss, {R}ainer and {W}ieringa, {J}. {J}. and {C}ouvreur, {T}homas},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground: {U}nderstanding the patterns of biodiversity distribution and what influences them is a fundamental pre-requisite for effective conservation and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity. {S}uch knowledge is increasingly urgent as biodiversity responds to the ongoing effects of global climate change. {N}owhere is this more acute than in species-rich tropical {A}frica, where so little is known about plant diversity and its distribution. {I}n this paper, we use {RAINBIO} - one of the largest mega-databases of tropical {A}frican vascular plant species distributions ever compiled - to address questions about plant and growth form diversity across tropical {A}frica. {R}esults: {T}he filtered {RAINBIO} dataset contains 609,776 georeferenced records representing 22,577 species. {G}rowth form data are recorded for 97% of all species. {R}ecords are well distributed, but heterogeneous across the continent. {O}verall, tropical {A}frica remains poorly sampled. {W}hen using sampling units ({SU}) of 0.5 degrees, just 21 reach appropriate collection density and sampling completeness, and the average number of records per species per {SU} is only 1.84. {S}pecies richness (observed and estimated) and endemism figures per country are provided. {B}enin, {C}ameroon, {G}abon, {I}vory {C}oast and {L}iberia appear as the botanically best-explored countries, but none are optimally explored. {F}orests in the region contain 15,387 vascular plant species, of which 3013 are trees, representing 5-7% of the estimated world's tropical tree flora. {T}he central {A}frican forests have the highest endemism rate across {A}frica, with approximately 30% of species being endemic. {C}onclusions: {T}he botanical exploration of tropical {A}frica is far from complete, underlining the need for intensified inventories and digitization. {W}e propose priority target areas for future sampling efforts, mainly focused on {T}anzania, {A}tlantic {C}entral {A}frica and {W}est {A}frica. {T}he observed number of tree species for {A}frican forests is smaller than those estimated from global tree data, suggesting that a significant number of species are yet to be discovered. {O}ur data provide a solid basis for a more sustainable management and improved conservation of tropical {A}frica's unique flora, and is important for achieving {O}bjective 1 of the {G}lobal {S}trategy for {P}lant {C}onservation 2011-2020. {I}n turn, {RAINBIO} provides a solid basis for a more sustainable management and improved conservation of tropical {A}frica's unique flora.},
  keywords = {{H}erbarium specimens ; {D}igitization ; {T}ropical forests ; {B}otanical exploration ; {P}lant growth form ; {S}pecies richness ; {F}loristic patterns ; {AFRIQUE} ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{BMC} {B}iology},
  volume = {15},
  numero = {},
  pages = {art. 15 [17 p.]},
  ISSN = {1741-7007},
  year = {2017},
  DOI = {10.1186/s12915-017-0356-8},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010069320},
}