BackgroundResolving threats to widely distributed marine megafauna requires definition of the geographic distributions of both the threats as well as the population unit(s) of interest. In turn, because individual threats can operate on varying spatial scales, their impacts can affect different segments of a population of the same species. Therefore, integration of multiple tools and techniques — including site-based monitoring, genetic analyses, mark-recapture studies and telemetry — can facilitate robust definitions of population segments at multiple biological and spatial scales to address different management and research challenges.Methodology/Principal FindingsTo address these issues for marine turtles, we collated all available studies on marine turtle biogeography, including nesting sites, population abundances and trends, population genetics, and satellite telemetry. We georeferenced this information to generate separate layers for nesting sites, genetic stocks, and core distributions of population segments of all marine turtle species. We then spatially integrated this information from fine- to coarse-spatial scales to develop nested envelope models, or Regional Management Units (RMUs), for marine turtles globally.Conclusions/SignificanceThe RMU framework is a solution to the challenge of how to organize marine turtles into units of protection above the level of nesting populations, but below the level of species, within regional entities that might be on independent evolutionary trajectories. Among many potential applications, RMUs provide a framework for identifying data gaps, assessing high diversity areas for multiple species and genetic stocks, and evaluating conservation status of marine turtles. Furthermore, RMUs allow for identification of geographic barriers to gene flow, and can provide valuable guidance to marine spatial planning initiatives that integrate spatial distributions of protected species and human activities. In addition, the RMU framework — including maps and supporting metadata — will be an iterative, user-driven tool made publicly available in an online application for comments, improvements, download and analysis.

Where conservation resources are limited and conservation targets are diverse, robust yet flexible priority-setting frameworks are vital. Priority-setting is especially important for geographically widespread species with distinct populations subject to multiple threats that operate on different spatial and temporal scales. Marine turtles are widely distributed and exhibit intra-specific variations in population sizes and trends, as well as reproduction and morphology. However, current global extinction risk assessment frameworks do not assess conservation status of spatially and biologically distinct marine turtle Regional Management Units (RMUs), and thus do not capture variations in population trends, impacts of threats, or necessary conservation actions across individual populations. To address this issue, we developed a new assessment framework that allowed us to evaluate, compare and organize marine turtle RMUs according to status and threats criteria. Because conservation priorities can vary widely (i.e. from avoiding imminent extinction to maintaining long-term monitoring efforts) we developed a “conservation priorities portfolio” system using categories of paired risk and threats scores for all RMUs (n = 58). We performed these assessments and rankings globally, by species, by ocean basin, and by recognized geopolitical bodies to identify patterns in risk, threats, and data gaps at different scales. This process resulted in characterization of risk and threats to all marine turtle RMUs, including identification of the world's 11 most endangered marine turtle RMUs based on highest risk and threats scores. This system also highlighted important gaps in available information that is crucial for accurate conservation assessments. Overall, this priority-setting framework can provide guidance for research and conservation priorities at multiple relevant scales, and should serve as a model for conservation status assessments and priority-setting for widespread, long-lived taxa.

Antecedentes y Objetivos: La Flora de Sinaloa está compuesta por 3736 especies registradas; sin embargo, su conocimiento es relativamente escaso y la mayoría de los estudios florísticos se han realizado en la porción norte, por lo cual se desarrolló en la zona sur el presente trabajo. Éste tiene como objetivo contribuir al conocimiento de dicha flora, a través de un nuevo registro para la especie Vigna vexillata, a nivel estatal.Métodos: Se realizaron cinco salidas a lo largo de la zona de estudio, durante las cuales se recolectaron plantas, siguiendo las recomendaciones para la preparación de ejemplares botánicos; estas se determinaron con ayuda de bibliografía taxonómica especializada.Resultados clave: Se encontró un taxon del género Vigna que no estaba reportado para la flora del estado de Sinaloa. Se reconoce por presentar el giro de quilla hacia la izquierda; las estípulas foliales cordadas; un fruto terete lineal y la pubescencia marrón. La especie fue colectada en la zona costera de Escuinapa. El registro extiende la distribución de la especie a una zona más norteña.Conclusiones: Este registro sugiere la necesidad de continuar con los trabajos de flora en la zona sur de Sinaloa, ya que es un área escasamente estudiada y que presenta una gran variedad de tipos de vegetación, los cuales han permanecido inexplorados.