Mammals on the EDGE: Conservation priorities based on threat and phylogeny

Isaac, Nick J.B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4869-8052; Turvey, Samuel T.; Collen, Ben; Waterman, Carly; Baillie, Jonathan E.M.. 2007 Mammals on the EDGE: Conservation priorities based on threat and phylogeny. PLoS ONE, 1 (3), e296. 10.1371/journal.pone.0000296

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Abstract/Summary

Conservation priority setting based on phylogenetic diversity has frequently been proposed but rarely implemented. Here, we define a simple index that measures the contribution made by different species to phylogenetic diversity and show how the index might contribute towards species-based conservation priorities. We describe procedures to control for missing species, incomplete phylogenetic resolution and uncertainty in node ages that make it possible to apply the method in poorly known clades. We also show that the index is independent of clade size in phylogenies of more than 100 species, indicating that scores from unrelated taxonomic groups are likely to be comparable. Similar scores are returned under two different species concepts, suggesting that the index is robust to taxonomic changes. The approach is applied to a near-complete species-level phylogeny of the Mammalia to generate a global priority list incorporating both phylogenetic diversity and extinction risk. The 100 highest-ranking species represent a high proportion of total mammalian diversity and include many species not usually recognised as conservation priorities. Many species that are both evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered (EDGE species) do not benefit from existing conservation projects or protected areas. The results suggest that global conservation priorities may have to be reassessed in order to prevent a disproportionately large amount of mammalian evolutionary history becoming extinct in the near future.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1371/journal.pone.0000296
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biodiversity
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Pywell
ISSN:	1932-6203
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	PLoS ONE is an open access journal. To access full text, click on the Official URL
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Zoology
Date made live:	30 Jan 2013 14:56 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/3767

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