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Abstract Detail


Systematics Section

Torke, Benjamin M. [1], Mansano, Vidal de Freitas [2], Pinto, Rafael Barbosa [2], Ruiz Bohórquez, Liz Karen [3].

The changing landscape of taxonomic monography: the effect of new data, concepts and analyses in an ongoing study of the species-rich neotropical tree genus Swartzia (Leguminosae).

The taxonomic monograph and revision provides fundamental information on the diversity, ecologies, distributions, and uses of the world's species. These data are widely used by scientists, educators, governments, conservation organizations, and industry and are central to nearly all areas of comparative biology where species and other taxonomic categories are fundamental units of analysis. Using the species-rich neotropical tree genus Swartzia (Leguminosae) as a case study, we explore the extent to which new data and analyses have led us to change classifications and estimates of species diversity, geographical distributions, and habitat occupancy since the publication of the last comprehensive monographic revision of the genus in 1967. We conclude that ca. 35% of the known species diversity in Swartzia was discovered after 1967 and discuss the relative contributions of changing species concepts and new collections to this number. We also find that increasing knowledge of the variation, distributions, and habitats of species has been most profound for rare species and species in non-riverine habitats. The results indicate that despite advances in molecular phylogenetics and electronic specimen data presentation, many neotropical plant groups continue to be much more poorly known than available data would permit due to a shortage of recent monographic and revisionary work.

Broader Impacts:


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1 - The New York Botanical Garden, 200th St. & Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY, 10458, USA
2 - Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Pesquisas, DIPEO, Rua Pacheco Leão, 915, CEP 22460-030, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
3 - Universidad de los Andes, Herbario, Museo de História Natural, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Apartado Aéreo 4976, Bogotá, DC., 00001, Colombia

Keywords:
taxonomic treatment
electronic monograph
phylogenetics
taxonomic revision
neotropical
Swartzia.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 17
Location: 551A/Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Time: 1:30 PM
Number: 17001
Abstract ID:599


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