Hold onto your houseplants, folks—Chinese scientists just decoded why Earth’s most diverse plant group, angiosperms (aka flowering plants!), are at risk of disappearing. Spoiler: It’s not just climate change!
The Flower Power Crisis
From vibrant orchids to towering oaks, angiosperms rule the plant kingdom. But researchers found their extinction risks in China are geographyspecific: Southern regions are hit hardest, while northern areas fare better. Think of it like a survival game where your zip code matters.
What’s Killing the Blooms?
Using 2 MILLION data points and a mega “tree of life” model, the team identified three main threats:
Vegetation structure (biggest culprit!)
Climate factors (southern China’s main issue)
Evolutionary history (northern regions’ key challenge)
“It’s like a puzzle where each region has different missing pieces,” said researcher Zhao Lina. Their findings, published in Nature Communications, could help create targeted conservation playbooks.
Why Should You Care?
Biodiversity isn’t just for nature docs—it keeps our food systems, medicines, and ecosystems alive. As Zhao puts it: “Losing these plants isn’t just about flowers; it’s about humanity’s future.”
Next up? Using this data to predict which species need urgent help. Stay tuned, plant lovers!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com