| Abstract Detail
Systematics Section Snow, Neil [1], Legler, Ben [2]. Vascular Flora of the Southern Rocky Mountain Region. The Southern Rocky Mountain Region (SRMR) encompasses all of Colorado, nine counties across most of southern and central Wyoming, and northern New Mexico generally east of the San Juan River drainage. The SRMR covers ca. 459,698 km2, or roughly 4.7% of the USA (including Alaska). A numerical summary of vascular plant diversity for the SRMR is given following an APG II-based familial classification. It highlights the most species-rich families and genera, as well as the richest families and genera in terms of endemic taxa. The numerous newly described taxa from the region are highlighted, including several endemics. A numerical summary is also presented for non-native taxa in terms of overall number, number by families, and as a percentage of the total flora. An initial and conservative estimate suggests an average of at least 0.7 new collections per square kilometer for the twenty year period from 1989-2008, based largely on the results of ca. 32 floristic surveys and the collections of other workers active during this time. The WY portion of the SRMR is most densely collected, followed by higher elevations in CO and NM. Areas in need of additional surveying include the eastern plains of CO and NM and portions of the western slope in CO. The SRMR faces numerous current and future threats to its native vegetation, including habitat conversion for development and housing, habitat degradation from many sources but particularly from invasive species, habitat loss at higher altitudes due to global climate disruption, and widespread forest dieback due to disease. The clear benefits of aligning regional herbaria nomenclaturally based on a single taxonomic standard are discussed, which would simplify regional communication and enhance metadata analysis by internet-based bioinformatics applications.
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1 - Bishop Museum, Herbarium Pacficum, 1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, HI , 96817, USA
2 - Univeristy of Wyoming, Department of Botany, 3165, 1000 E. University Ave, Laramie, WY , 82071, USA
Keywords:
Rocky Mountains
Vascular plant diversity.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for BSA Sections
Session: P1
Location: Event Tent/Cliff Lodge
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2009
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: P1SP025
Abstract ID:566 |
