Assessing digital accessible botanical knowledge and priorities for exploration and discovery of plant diversity across Mesoamerica

• DOI: 10.1111/nph.19190
• Publication Date: 2023-08-12T07:12:15Z
• Authors: Santiago Ramírez‐...; Angela P. Cuervo‐...; Susana Magallón
• Keywords: Mesoamerica; Vascular plant

Digital accessible biodiversity knowledge has the potential to greatly advance botanical research and guide conservation efforts. Evaluating its shortfalls is key understanding limits prioritising regions in need of renewed survey We used Royal Botanical Gardens Kew's World Checklist Vascular Plants parse publicly available occurrence data downloaded from Global Biodiversity Information Facility quantify spatial distribution spatial, phylogenetic, temporal across Mesoamerica. After processing 3578 777 records for 32 522 species vascular plants Mesoamerica, we found evidence poor coverage: incomplete characterisation diversity, old records, low phylogenetic representation. One-third region showed large gaps at least one these dimensions (hotspots) < 15% had adequate coverage dimensions. Overall, identified compromise quality digitally hamper on phylogenetics dynamics under anthropogenic disturbances. Our analyses areas opportunity increased efforts digitisation, exploration, sequencing, monitoring. These would serve increase rejuvenate geographic