Species-richness patterns of the living collections of the world's botanic gardens: a matter of socio-economics?
OBJECTIVE
The botanic gardens of the world are now unmatched ex situ collections of plant biodiversity. They mirror two biogeographical patterns (positive diversity-area and diversity-age relationships) but differ from nature with a positive latitudinal gradient in their richness. Whether these relationships can be explained by socio-economic factors is unknown.


METHODS
Species and taxa richness of a comprehensive sample of botanic gardens were analysed as a function of key ecological and socio-economic factors using (a) multivariate models controlling for spatial autocorrelation and (b) structural equation modelling.


RESULTS
The number of plant species in botanic gardens increases with town human population size and country Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per person. The country flora richness is not related to the species richness of botanic gardens. Botanic gardens in more populous towns tend to have a larger area and can thus host richer living collections. Botanic gardens in richer countries have more species, and this explains the positive latitudinal gradient in botanic gardens' species richness.


CONCLUSIONS
Socio-economic factors contribute to shaping patterns in the species richness of the living collections of the world's botanic gardens.
Centre for the Environment, Oxford University, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK.
Janice
J
Golding
Sabine
S
Güsewell
Holger
H
Kreft
Victor Y
VY
Kuzevanov
Susanna
S
Lehvävirta
Ingrid
I
Parmentier
Marco
M
Pautasso
D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000191:economics*; D017753:Ecosystem; D010944:Plants / Q000145:classification*