Water availability outweighs heat and human pressure in shaping threatened plant hotspots in Kenting, Taiwan: Implications for island biodiversity conservation

Water availability outweighs heat and human pressure in shaping threatened plant hotspots in Kenting, Taiwan: Implications for island biodiversity conservation

Effective biodiversity conservation requires the identification of species-rich hotspots, especially for threatened taxa. This study identified threatened plant hotspots in Kenting National Park, Taiwan, and examined the environmental and anthropogenic factors that shaped their distribution. Field surveys and herbarium records documented 140 taxa, including 18 Critically Endangered (CR), 35 Endangered (EN), 81 Vulnerable (VU), and 6 potentially threatened species (VU* suggested by authors), with 32.14% endemic to Taiwan. Six major hotspots were delineated, with the Nanjen–Chufongbi–Jialeshuei region exhibiting the highest diversity. Nonparametric correlation analysis revealed water-related variables, particularly mean annual precipitation (ρ= 0.420*) and winter precipitation ratio (ρ= 0.399*), as primary positive drivers of hotspot distribution, followed by energy-related variables (mean annual temperature and warmth index, bothρ=–0.308*), altitude (ρ= 0.320*), and human activities (ρ=–0.137*). Habitat fragmentation, invasive species such as Leucaena leucocephala (Fabaceae), and localized human disturbance were identified as major threats to hotspot integrity. Beyond the Kenting context, this study provides a transferable framework for identifying and managing threatened plant hotspots across tropical and subtropical island ecosystems, offering strategic insights for broader biodiversity conservation efforts.