Hong Kong Orchid Conservation Priorities Using the EDGE2 Framework

A phylogenetic and threat assessment dataset for 138 native orchid taxa in Hong Kong, comprising 134 species and four varieties. The data was compiled by Jihong Li and applies the EDGE2 metric, integrating evolutionary distinctiveness with local and national Red List statuses. The dataset identifies Vanilla shenzhenica, Nervilia plicata, Apostasia nipponica, Bletilla striata, and Acanthophippium gougahense as top conservation priorities.

Use Cases

• Prioritizing conservation actions for orchid species based on evolutionary distinctiveness and threat status.
• Analyzing correlations between threat status and ecological traits such as habit, habitat specificity, mating system, and trade.
• Comparing local versus national extinction risk assessments for plant taxa in a specific region.
• Applying the EDGE2 framework to other taxonomic groups or geographic regions as a model.

Strengths

• Includes data for 138 specifically enumerated native orchid taxa.
• Integrates phylogenetic data from nuclear and plastid sequences with threat assessments from two Red Lists.
• Identifies five specific orchid species as the highest conservation priorities.
• Examines correlations between threat status and four specific ecological traits.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The dataset is very small at 16.6 KB, indicating limited scope.

Provenance

Source

Jihong Li via figshare.

Collection Method

Compiled from a checklist and constructed a time-calibrated phylogeny using sequence data.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-28 05:28:27; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Hong Kong, part of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot.