A comparative study on endangered seed plant species between China and Japan

Abstract

Categories and criteria established by the IUCN for globally endangered species have been used by many countries for conservation decision making. Based on geographical distributions and the Red List of China and Red List of Japan, we compared the current status of threatened plants and the floristic composi- tion of the two countries. We highlight our results as follows: (1) the proportion of wild seed plants found on the Red List to total seed plant species was lower in China than in Japan, but the degree of threat for gymno- sperms was higher in China than in Japan; (2) several hydrophyte families were not listed on the Red List of China, but have been severely threatened in Japan; (3) the number of cosmopolitan genera endangered in China was fewer than in Japan; and (4) among species threatened in both China and Japan, there was a large proportion of common species, sister species, and closely related species. Finally, we suggest that: (1) a comprehensive evaluation of the status of hydrophytes in China; (2) an increased effort to study species common to China and Japan; and (3) following the example of Japan, a thorough investigation should be conducted at the plant community level in China to complement the Red List.