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Nature 445, 717-718 (15 February 2007) | doi:10.1038/445717a; Published online 14 February 2007

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Conservation biology: The diversity of biodiversity

Arne Ø. Mooers1

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Species richness is not the same as evolutionary richness. So which is the better measure for setting conservation priorities? The flora of the Cape of South Africa provides a test for that pressing question.

South Africa's distinctive flag symbolizes its diverse cultural heritage. The nation's biological heritage is no less impressive: whereas the British Isles is home to about 1,500 plant species, South Africa's Cape region houses more than 9,000 in one-third of the area, with perhaps the highest concentration of endangered plant species anywhere in the world1.

  1. Arne Ø. Mooers, currently a fellow of the Institute for Advanced Study, Berlin, Germany, is in the Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada.
    Email: amooers@sfu.ca

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