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Schellenberger Costa D, Boehnisch G, Freiberg M, Govaerts R, Grenié M, Hassler M, Kattge J, Muellner-Riehl AN, Rojas Andrés BM, Winter M, Watson M, Zizka A, Wirth C. The big four of plant taxonomy - a comparison of global checklists of vascular plant names. New Phytol 2023; 240:1687-1702. [PMID: 37243532 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Taxonomic checklists used to verify published plant names and identify synonyms are a cornerstone of biological research. Four global authoritative checklists for vascular plants exist: Leipzig Catalogue of Vascular Plants, World Checklist of Vascular Plants, World Flora Online (successor of The Plant List, TPL), and WorldPlants. We compared these four checklists in terms of size and differences across taxa. We matched taxon names of these checklists and TPL against each other, identified differences across checklists, and evaluated the consistency of accepted names linked to individual taxon names. We assessed geographic and phylogenetic patterns of variance. All checklists differed strongly compared with TPL and provided identical information on c. 60% of plant names. Geographically, differences in checklists increased from low to high latitudes. Phylogenetically, we detected strong variability across families. A comparison of name-matching performance on taxon names submitted to the functional trait database TRY, and a check of completeness of accepted names evaluated against an independent, expert-curated checklist of the family Meliaceae, showed a similar performance across checklists. This study raises awareness on the differences in data and approach across these checklists potentially impacting analyses. We propose ideas on the way forward exploring synergies and harmonizing the four global checklists.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Schellenberger Costa
- Department of Special Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 21-23, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstr 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gerhard Boehnisch
- Research Group Functional Biogeography, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knoell-Str. 10, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Martin Freiberg
- Department of Special Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 21-23, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rafaël Govaerts
- Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 3DS, UK
| | - Matthias Grenié
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstr 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Jens Kattge
- Research Group Functional Biogeography, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knoell-Str. 10, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Alexandra N Muellner-Riehl
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstr 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Molecular Evolution and Plant Systematics & Herbarium (LZ), Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 21-23, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Blanca M Rojas Andrés
- Departamento de Botánica y Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de Salamanca, Ave Licenciado Méndez Nieto s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
- Biobanco de ADN Vegetal, Edificio Multiusos I+D+i, Universidad de Salamanca, Calle Espejo s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Marten Winter
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstr 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mark Watson
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR, UK
| | - Alexander Zizka
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstr 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Christian Wirth
- Department of Special Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 21-23, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstr 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
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