Patterns of endemic plants and biogeography of the Baetic high mountains (south Spain)

Abstract

The largest number of Iberian endemic plant species and indeed one of the largest in Europe is found in the Baetic Mountains in the south of Europe (Spain), with mountain peaks up to 1,800 m. Our aim is to analyze the endemic plants and biogeographic patterns as a base for establishing priority areas for conservation and management. We present the complete floristic list of the 237 narrow endemics that inhabit these mountain regions. Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Poaceae and Papilionaceae are families with the largest number of endemic species. The comparative analysis shows that the Baetic mountains are an important centre of endemism in the Mediterranean basin with a present degree of endemism of 28, 18%. Biogeographic patterns are first identified according to the development of the endemic plants on calcareous soils or siliceous soils, and next the phytogeographic subunits identified by different levels of endemism diversity. The abundance of endemic species in the Baetic mountains is explained by the geographical isolation together with its natural history. © 2005, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.