XVI International Botanical Congess

The complex structure of the Andes, both geologically and biotically, provides a multiplicity of habitats in which occur many endemics - plants which grow nowhere else. These localized distributions can be the results of ecological, evolutionary or historical factors, and assessing the patterns of endemism in the light of these factors can be difficult. In this paper I will discuss quantitative methods for the assessment of endemism, using the Solanaceae as an example. Methods such as gap analysis, hotspot analysis and complementary areas analysis will be compared and their relative strengths and weaknesses discussed with reference to the Andean context. Problems with current analysis of distribution patterns in the Andes such as the collecting deficit and parochial taxonomy will be discussed. Lastly I will relate the analysis of these patterns to the future of conservation in this extremely biodiverse area.