Red List Index of Chinese higher plants based on IUCN global assessment data

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2024.0387

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List provides a monitoring basis to biodiversity conservation. The Red List Index (RLI), derived from the Red List assessments, is an indicator of the status of species and taxonomic groups at global, national, and regional scales. This study aims to analyze the RLI of Chinese higher plants based on the IUCN global assessment data.
Methods The RLI can be calculated using either national or global assessment data. While the Chinese Red List Index based on national assessment data (nRLI) for higher plants has previously been reported, this study focuses on calculating Chinese higher plant Red List Index based on global assessment data (gRLI), following the IUCN assessment framework. By partitioning species’ Extent of Occurrence (EOO) within China and outside China, we derived the gRLI based on global assessment data. We then compared the resulting Chinese higher plant gRLI with the figures from the Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (BIP), which derived a nation’s gRLI values relying only on a representative subset of Cycads.
Important findings Using the equal steps method, the gRLI for Chinese higher plants, was calculated as 0.946 7 based on IUCN assessment data only, 0.908 2 based on the IUCN and Chinese endemic species assessments, and 0.540 1 using solely Cycas, respectively. The BIP approach, relying only on Cycads, underestimates gRLI for Chinese higher plants, suggesting a taxonomical bias. This study highlights the importance of incorporating data as comprehensive as possible to generate more accurate and reliable gRLI results. By calculating a gRLI for Chinese higher plants that is comparable to those of other countries, this study provides essential baseline data to support evaluation of China’s progress and efforts toward international commitments.

Key words: biodiversity, Red List Index (RLI), national assessment, global assessment, species range size, Extent of Occurrence (EOO), endemic species

LI Li-Ping, YU Kun, CHEN Fang-Miao, CHEN Qiang, JING Yu-Hang, NIU Zhen-Guo, HU Chen-Lu, QIN Hai-Ning, HUANG Hui-Ping, TIAN Yi-Chen. Red List Index of Chinese higher plants based on IUCN global assessment data[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2025, 49(10): 1612-1625.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2024.0387

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2025/V49/I10/1612

Figures/Tables 8

References 52

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	总物种数 Total species	已评估 Assessed species	占比 Percentage (%)	受威胁物种数 Threatened species
苔藓类 Mosses	21 925	327	1.5	181
蕨类 Ferns and Allies	11 800	821	7.0	321
裸子植物 Gymnosperm	1 113	1 059	95.1	451
被子植物 Angiosperm	369 000	68 704	18.6	26 367
绿藻类 Green algae	13 960	17	0.1	0
红藻类 Red algae	7 523	78	1.0	9
总计 Total	425 321	71 006	17.0	27 329

	总物种数 Total species	已评估 Assessed species	占比 Percentage (%)	受威胁物种数 Threatened species
苔藓类 Mosses	21 925	327	1.5	181
蕨类 Ferns and Allies	11 800	821	7.0	321
裸子植物 Gymnosperm	1 113	1 059	95.1	451
被子植物 Angiosperm	369 000	68 704	18.6	26 367
绿藻类 Green algae	13 960	17	0.1	0
红藻类 Red algae	7 523	78	1.0	9
总计 Total	425 321	71 006	17.0	27 329

级别 Status	等步长法 Equal steps method	灭绝风险法 Extinction risk method
灭绝 Extinct (EX)	5	1
野外灭绝 Extinct in the wild (EW)	5	1
极危 Critically endangered (CR)	4	0.5
濒危 Endangered (EN)	3	0.05
易危 Vulnerable (VU)	2	0.005
近危 Near threatened (NT)	1	0.000 5
无危 Least concern (LC)	0	0

级别 Status	等步长法 Equal steps method	灭绝风险法 Extinction risk method
灭绝 Extinct (EX)	5	1
野外灭绝 Extinct in the wild (EW)	5	1
极危 Critically endangered (CR)	4	0.5
濒危 Endangered (EN)	3	0.05
易危 Vulnerable (VU)	2	0.005
近危 Near threatened (NT)	1	0.000 5
无危 Least concern (LC)	0	0

等级 Status	科 Family	属 Genus	种 Species
灭绝 Extinct (EX)	6	6	6
极危 Critically endangered (CR)	46	75	150
濒危 Endangered (EN)	69	165	370
易危 Vulnerable (VU)	75	163	331
近危 Near threatened (NT)	43	74	135
无危 Least concern (LC)	212	896	2 873
数据缺乏 Data deficient (DD)	47	99	294
评估物种总计 Total assessed species	241	1 104	4 159
受威胁种总计 Total threatened species	110	309	851