Mapping evolutionary process: a multi‐taxa approach to conservation prioritization

Thomassen, Henri A.; Fuller, Trevon; Buermann, Wolfgang; Milá, Borja; Kieswetter, Charles M.; Jarrín‐V, Pablo; Cameron, Susan E.; Mason, Eliza; Schweizer, Rena M.; Schlunegger, Jasmin; Chan, Jack; Wang, Ophelia; Peralvo, Manuel; Schneider, Christopher J.; Graham, Catherine H.; Pollinger, John P.; Saatchi, Sassan; Wayne, Robert K.; Smith, Thomas B.

doi:10.1111/j.1752-4571.2010.00172.x

Cited by 92 publications

(122 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…We developed anonymous loci (amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), microsatellites and nuclear sequence) and targeted loci (recombination activating gene 1 (RAG1)) following published methods [4,10] to assess genetic variation among populations of common species. We used AFLP loci for the wedge-billed woodcreeper (Glyphorynchus spirurus) [10,11] and seba's short-tailed bat (Carollia perspicillata; [4]), whereas for the masked flowerpiercer (Diglossa cyanea) and streak-necked flycatcher (Mionectes striaticollis), we developed microsatellites [4]. Finally, for the zurucuchu robber frog (Hylodes buergeri), we sequenced two anonymous loci and an 840 base-pair region of the RAG1 [4].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Three birds, three bats and one frog species were analysed because they were abundant and easily sampled and represent a range of different vagilities and life histories ( [4]; table 1). The seven species occupy distinct niches representing a diverse range of altitudes, vegetation communities and feeding ecologies, including insectivory, frugivory and nectarivory.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Genetic and morphological variation of common species can be easily measured and are increasingly recognized for their potential utility in designing protected areas [4]. The ability to develop and use molecular markers to assess genetic variation in non-model organisms is increasingly possible owing to advancements in methods and decreases in costs [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intraspecific morphological and genetic variation of common species predicts ranges of threatened ones

Fuller

Thomassen

Peralvo³

et al. 2013

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Predicting where threatened species occur is useful for making informed conservation decisions. However, because they are usually rare, surveying threatened species is often expensive and time intensive. Here, we show how regions where common species exhibit high genetic and morphological divergence among populations can be used to predict the occurrence of species of conservation concern. Intraspecific variation of common species of birds, bats and frogs from Ecuador were found to be a significantly better predictor for the occurrence of threatened species than suites of environmental variables or the occurrence of amphibians and birds. Fully 93 per cent of the threatened species analysed had their range adequately represented by the geographical distribution of the morphological and genetic variation found in seven common species. Both higher numbers of threatened species and greater genetic and morphological variation of common species occurred along elevation gradients. Higher levels of intraspecific divergence may be the result of disruptive selection and/or introgression along gradients. We suggest that collecting data on genetic and morphological variation in common species can be a cost effective tool for conservation planning, and that future biodiversity inventories include surveying genetic and morphological data of common species whenever feasible.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intraspecific morphological and genetic variation of common species predicts ranges of threatened ones

Fuller

Thomassen

Peralvo³

et al. 2013

Proc. R. Soc. B.

Self Cite

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“…For example, a focus on monitoring wild and cultivated genetic diversity could provide insights into how to increase the adaptive evolutionary potential of wild species (25) and crop resilience against future pests or diseases. Similarly, methods for quantifying and integrating cultural services into land-use decisions are emerging, and future analyses would benefit from more inclusive consideration of social benefits (26).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Confronting and resolving competing values behind conservation objectives

Karp

Mendenhall

Callaway

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Diverse motivations for preserving nature both inspire and hinder its conservation. Optimal conservation strategies may differ radically depending on the objective. For example, creating nature reserves may prevent extinctions through protecting severely threatened species, whereas incentivizing farmland hedgerows may benefit people through bolstering pest-eating or pollinating species. Winwin interventions that satisfy multiple objectives are alluring, but can also be elusive. To achieve better outcomes, we developed and implemented a practical typology of nature conservation framed around seven common conservation objectives. Using an intensively studied bird assemblage in southern Costa Rica as a case study, we applied the typology in the context of biodiversity's most pervasive threat: habitat conversion. We found that rural habitats in a varied tropical landscape, comprising small farms, villages, forest fragments, and forest reserves, provided biodiversity-driven processes that benefit people, such as pollination, seed dispersal, and pest consumption. However, species valued for their rarity, endemism, and evolutionary distinctness declined in farmland. Conserving tropical forest on farmland increased species that international tourists value, but not species discussed in Costa Rican newspapers. Despite these observed trade-offs, our analyses also revealed promising synergies. For example, we found that maintaining forest cover surrounding farms in our study region would likely enhance most conservation objectives at minimal expense to others. Overall, our typology provides a framework for resolving the competing objectives of modern conservation.agriculture | bird | conservation | ecosystem services | multifunctionality F or at least the last century (1, 2), there has been fierce debate over whether nature should be conserved primarily to benefit people or for its own sake. Recently, conservation scientists and practitioners have called for the adoption of a more holistic and inclusive conservation ethic that accepts diverse motivations for conservation (3). In practice, however, limited funding and resources precipitate conflict between individuals and institutions with different motivations for conserving nature. Such conflicts often arise because the best intervention for achieving a chosen conservation objective may fail to achieve another. For example, the influential "biodiversity hotspots" concept directs conservation resources to areas with high rates of habitat loss and high densities of endemic species (4). But hotspots could be delineated using criteria related to virtually any conservation objective. Targeting conservation efforts only on hotspots of extinction or endemism could overlook other species and ecosystems that deliver vital benefits to people (e.g., wetlands that purify water and mitigate floods) (5, 6; but see ref. 7).Because conservationists have disparate and diverse values (8), measuring trade-offs is critical. A typology of conservation objectives could help identify trade-offs...

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“…Most of the emerging research disciplines mentioned above deal with geographical patterns and processes (Diniz-Filho et al 2008;Thomassen et al 2011). In many cases, however, these new disciplines arise to solve particular problems and it is usually not emphasized how these approaches can lead to an even more integrated view of biodiversity, both conceptually and operationally.…”

Section: "Biodiversity Is Often Defined As the Variety Of All Forms Omentioning

confidence: 99%

Geographical Patterns in Biodiversity: Towards an Integration of Concepts and Methods from Genes to Species Diversity

Diniz‐Filho

Bini

2011

Nat. Conserv.

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Definitions of Biodiversity that encompass multiple levels of the biological hierarchy are common and fulfill theoretical and conservation expectations. However, these definitions are usually not fully operational because these levels are usually analyzed independently. We understand that the difficulties in integrating concepts and methods for distinct "Fundamental Biodiversity Units" (FBUs) for analyses, including genes, haplotypes or neutral molecular variants, species, biomes or ecosystem, arise both because of operational and conceptual difficulties in dealing with the evolutionary continuum and because of 'sociological' issues regarding how different research traditions in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology deal with these different FBUs. Here we explore some common patterns of geographic variation in FBUs at different hierarchical levels, starting from the conceptual view by which evolution give rises to a continuum of biodiversity. We seek for an integrated methodological and conceptual framework to study FBUs, searching for the relationships and commonalities of concepts and methods traditionally developed to evaluate patterns and processes at a given level of the biological hierarchy. We point out several cases where conceptual and theoretical advances have been made by using an integrated perspective based for FBUs, for the analysis of broad-scale gradients in richness, distance decay similarity and systematic conservation planning. We conclude by stating that the recognition of an integrated approach that takes the evolutionary continuum into account may be an important step to mitigate biodiversity loss.

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Mapping evolutionary process: a multi‐taxa approach to conservation prioritization

Cited by 92 publications

References 73 publications

Intraspecific morphological and genetic variation of common species predicts ranges of threatened ones

Intraspecific morphological and genetic variation of common species predicts ranges of threatened ones

Confronting and resolving competing values behind conservation objectives

Geographical Patterns in Biodiversity: Towards an Integration of Concepts and Methods from Genes to Species Diversity

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