Background:

The geographic distribution of species is crucial for identifying patterns of species richness and endemism in global biodiversity. This information serves as the foundation for formulating hypotheses about the processes and factors that drive the variation in the distribution of organisms.

Questions:

How are Brickellia species distributed? Where are the areas of greatest richness and endemism of Brickellia located?

Studied species:

Brickellia genus.

Study site and dates:

American Continent.

Methods:

A database was constructed using geographic information from herbarium specimens, electronic databases, and published literature. Distribution maps for Brickellia species were generated. Patterns of species richness and endemism were calculated using 1 × 1° grid and biogeographic provinces. The correlation between these two patterns was assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficient.

Results:

A total of 109 Brickellia species are recognized, ranging from southern Canada to northern Argentina. Mexico exhibits the highest values of species richness and endemism for this genus. The Chihuahuense, Sierra Madre Occidental, Sierra Madre del Sur, Tierras Bajas del Pacífico and Faja Volcánica Transmexicana provinces are particularly notable for having the highest levels of both diversity patterns. A positive and significant correlation between these patterns was observed.

Conclusions:

The areas of highest species richness and endemism for Brickellia are located in Mexico, where a geographic congruence between both diversity patterns is observed, indicating that regions with high species diversity also exhibit elevated levels of endemism.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )