Phylogenetic classification of the world’s tropical forests
Authors: Slik J. W. Ferry , Franklin Janet , Arroyo-Rodríguez Víctor , Field Richard , Aguilar Salomon , Aguirre Nikolay , Ahumada Jorge , Aiba Shin-Ichiro , Alves Luciana F. , K Anitha , Avella Andres , Mora Francisco , Aymard C. Gerardo A. , Báez Selene , Balvanera Patricia , Bastian Meredith L. , Bastin Jean-François , Bellingham Peter J. , van den Berg Eduardo , da Conceição Bispo Polyanna , Boeckx Pascal , Boehning-Gaese Katrin , Bongers Frans , Boyle Brad , Brambach Fabian , Brearley Francis Q. , Brown Sandra , Chai Shauna-Lee , Chazdon Robin L. , Chen Shengbin , Chhang Phourin , Chuyong George , Ewango Corneille , Coronado Indiana M. , Cristóbal-Azkarate Jurgi , Culmsee Heike , Damas Kipiro , Dattaraja H. S. , Davidar Priya , DeWalt Saara J. , Din Hazimah , Drake Donald R. , Duque Alvaro , Durigan Giselda , Eichhorn Karl , Eler Eduardo Schmidt , Enoki Tsutomu , Ensslin Andreas , Fandohan Adandé Belarmain , Farwig Nina , Feeley Kenneth J. , Fischer Markus , Forshed Olle , Garcia Queila Souza , Garkoti Satish Chandra , Gillespie Thomas W. , Gillet Jean-Francois , Gonmadje Christelle , Granzow-de la Cerda Iñigo , Griffith Daniel M. , Grogan James , Hakeem Khalid Rehman , Harris David J. , Harrison Rhett D. , Hector Andy , Hemp Andreas , Homeier Jürgen , Hussain M. Shah , Ibarra-Manríquez Guillermo , Hanum I. Faridah , Imai Nobuo , Jansen Patrick A. , Joly Carlos Alfredo , Joseph Shijo , Kartawinata Kuswata , Kearsley Elizabeth , Kelly Daniel L. , Kessler Michael , Killeen Timothy J. , Kooyman Robert M. , Laumonier Yves , Laurance Susan G. , Laurance William F. , Lawes Michael J. , Letcher Susan G. , Lindsell Jeremy , Lovett Jon , Lozada Jose , Lu Xinghui , Lykke Anne Mette , Mahmud Khairil Bin , Mahayani Ni Putu Diana , Mansor Asyraf , Marshall Andrew R. , Martin Emanuel H. , Calderado Leal Matos Darley , Meave Jorge A. , Melo Felipe P. L. , Mendoza Zhofre Huberto Aguirre , Metali Faizah , Medjibe Vincent P. , Metzger Jean Paul , Metzker Thiago , Mohandass D. , Munguía-Rosas Miguel A. , Muñoz Rodrigo , Nurtjahy Eddy , de Oliveira Eddie Lenza , Onrizal  , Parolin Pia , Parren Marc , Parthasarathy N. , Paudel Ekananda , Perez Rolando , Pérez-García Eduardo A. , Pommer Ulf , Poorter Lourens , Qie Lan , Piedade Maria Teresa F. , Pinto José Roberto Rodrigues , Poulsen Axel Dalberg , Poulsen John R. , Powers Jennifer S. , Prasad Rama Chandra , Puyravaud Jean-Philippe , Rangel Orlando , Reitsma Jan , Rocha Diogo S. B. , Rolim Samir , Rovero Francesco , Rozak Andes , Ruokolainen Kalle , Rutishauser Ervan , Rutten Gemma , Mohd. Said Mohd. Nizam , Saiter Felipe Z. , Saner Philippe , Santos Braulio , dos Santos João Roberto , Sarker Swapan Kumar , Schmitt Christine B. , Schoengart Jochen , Schulze Mark , Sheil Douglas , Sist Plinio , Souza Alexandre F. , Spironello Wilson Roberto , Sposito Tereza , Steinmetz Robert , Stevart Tariq , Suganuma Marcio Seiji , Sukri Rahayu , Sultana Aisha , Sukumar Raman , Sunderland Terry , Supriyadi  , Suresh H. S. , Suzuki Eizi , Tabarelli Marcelo , Tang Jianwei , Tanner Ed V. J. , Targhetta Natalia , Theilade Ida , Thomas Duncan , Timberlake Jonathan , de Morisson Valeriano Márcio , van Valkenburg Johan , Van Do Tran , Van Sam Hoang , Vandermeer John H. , Verbeeck Hans , Vetaas Ole Reidar , Adekunle Victor , Vieira Simone A. , Webb Campbell O. , Webb Edward L. , Whitfeld Timothy , Wich Serge , Williams John , Wiser Susan , Wittmann Florian , Yang Xiaobo , Adou Yao C. Yves , Yap Sandra L. , Zahawi Rakan A. , Zakaria Rahmad , Zang Runguo 
Published: February 2018

Significance

Identifying and explaining regional differences in tropical forest dynamics, structure, diversity, and composition are critical for anticipating region-specific responses to global environmental change. Floristic classifications are of fundamental importance for these efforts. Here we provide a global tropical forest classification that is explicitly based on community evolutionary similarity, resulting in identification of five major tropical forest regions and their relationships: (
i
) Indo-Pacific, (
ii
) Subtropical, (
iii
) African, (
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) American, and (
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) Dry forests. African and American forests are grouped, reflecting their former western Gondwanan connection, while Indo-Pacific forests range from eastern Africa and Madagascar to Australia and the Pacific. The connection between northern-hemisphere Asian and American forests is confirmed, while Dry forests are identified as a single tropical biome.