A piece in Scientific American that covers a new global assessment of tree biodiversity shows that there are roughly 9,200 tree species yet to be discovered, suggesting that the world’s woods may hold more secrets than previously imagined. According to recent research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA on Monday, the majority of these species are likely to be found in the tropics.
“Trees are difficult to ignore, but they are also difficult to quantify. They’re not always easy to spot, either. Their crowns are hundreds of feet up; they’re in amongst other things; they seem like related [species],”
— Miles Silman, Wake Forest University Professor of Biology
Hundreds of researchers from all across the world contributed to the new study. Trees have been cataloged by these contributors in two massive data sets: The Global Forest Biodiversity Initiative, for example, keeps track of every species discovered in well-documented forest plots all around the world. TREECHANGE, on the other hand, keeps track of specific species sightings.
To read more follow the link to Scientific American–
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/thousands-of-tree-species-remain-unknown-to-science/