Species definitions and conservation: a review and case studies from African mammals

Groves, Colin P.; Cotterill, F.P.D.; Gippoliti, Spartaco; Robovský, Jan; Roos, Christian; Taylor, Peter J.; Zinner, Dietmar

doi:10.1007/s10592-017-0976-0

Cited by 55 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…The klipsringer Oreotragustyleri would become near-endemic to Angola, extending marginally to north-west Namibia. Some conservationists have opposed the taxonomy of Groves and Grubb (2011); for recent debates see: Gippoliti and Groves (2012), Heller et al (2013), Zachos et al (2013), Cotterill et al (2014), Heller et al (2014), Garnett and Christidis (2017), Cotterill et al (2017), and Groves et al (2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tapping into technology and the biodiversity informatics revolution: updated terrestrial mammal list of Angola, with new records from the Okavango Basin

Taylor

Neef²,

Keith³

et al. 2018

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Using various sources, including the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), published literature, recent (2015–2017) collections, as well as bat detector and camera trap surveys with opportunistic sightings and live capture in the upper Okavango catchment in central Angola, we present an updated mammal checklist of 275 species from 15 different orders for Angola (including the Cabinda region). Recent surveys (captures and bat detectors) of small mammals from the upper Okavango catchment yielded 46 species (33 species of bats, ten species of rodents and three species of shrews). One bat (Pipistrellusrusticus, rusty pipistrelle); two rodents (Mussetzeri, Setzer’s mouse and Zelotomyswoosnami, Woosnam’s broad-faced mouse) and one shrew (Suncusvarilla, lesser dwarf shrew) were captured for the first time, in Angola. While our species lists of bats conformed to predicted totals, terrestrial small mammals were under sampled, with only 13 species recorded by our trapping survey compared to a total of 42 shrew and rodent species expected based on GBIF records for the central Angolan highlands. Seven terrestrial small mammal species (one shrew and six rodents) are endemic to the central and western Angolan highlands but none of these were captured in our survey. The bat detector surveys added three further bat species to the country list: Pipistrellushesperidus, Kerivoulaargentata, and Mopsmidas. Camera trap surveys and opportunistic sightings in the upper Okavango catchment in 2016 yielded a total of 35 species of medium-large mammals, from 17 families, although all of these had been reported previously in Angola. GBIF proved to be an excellent source of biodiversity data for Angolan mammals, most importantly for documenting dramatic historical range changes of larger mammals such as the sable (Hippotragusnigerniger), Kirk’s sable (H.nigerkirkii) and the giant sable (H.nigervariani).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tapping into technology and the biodiversity informatics revolution: updated terrestrial mammal list of Angola, with new records from the Okavango Basin

Taylor

Neef²,

Keith³

et al. 2018

Self Cite

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“…Regardless of the motives for using the PSC, there are potential positive and negative impacts for conservation. For example, the PSC arguably enhances biodiversity protection by identifying many previously unrecognized species, thus allowing conservation initiatives to be applied to more ecologically and evolutionarily diverse populations . Conversely, conservation options can become more limited as smaller units (e.g., single populations) receive species status by precluding genetic rescue between newly distinguished taxa and thus increase inbreeding …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[8][9][10] Species concepts are often revisited, [8][9][10] and the implications of taxonomic changes on conservation are often discussed. 9,[11][12][13][14] For primates, the increasing number of recognized species is largely because of the wider acceptance of the Phylogenetic Species Concept (PSC). [8][9][10]14,15 This concept defines a species as a diagnosable group with a pattern of ancestry and descent.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, the PSC arguably enhances biodiversity protection by identifying many previously unrecognized species, thus allowing conservation initiatives to be applied to more ecologically and evolutionarily diverse populations. 12,13 Conversely, conservation options can become more limited as smaller units (e.g., single populations) receive species status by precluding genetic rescue between newly distinguished taxa and thus increase inbreeding. 11 Unfortunately, one conservation implication is often overlooked: the effect that changing taxonomy has on enforcing laws aimed at protecting wildlife.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The species dilemma and its potential impact on enforcing wildlife trade laws

Jacobs

Baker

2018

Evolutionary Anthropology

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The varied answers to the question “What is a species?” provoke more than lively debates in academic circles. They pose practical problems for law enforcement. Commercial wildlife trade threatens many primate species and is regulated through such laws and international agreements as the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Enforcing legislation relies on the ability to identify when violations occur. Species‐defining characters may not be preserved in wildlife trade items. For example, pelage patterns and behavioral characters (e.g., vocalizations) are absent from skulls. Accordingly, identifying victims of illegal trade can be difficult, which hinders enforcement. Moreover, identifying new species and “splitting” of currently recognized species can result in enforcement lags and regulatory loopholes. Although such negative consequences should not hinder scientific advancement, we suggest that they be considered by primate taxonomists and provide recommendations to prevent unintended conservation consequences.

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“…Canestrelli, Cimmaruta, Costantini & Nascetti, 2006), often with narrow distribution (e.g. Bisconti et al, 2018)detecting which is crucial to understanding species genetic structure and to defining evolutionary and management units for conservation planning (Avise, 2008;Frankham, 2010;Groves et al, 2017;Palsbøll, Berube & Allendorf, 2007). However, despite their disproportionate importance for the historical biogeography of Western Palearctic biota, current knowledge of their biodiversity patterns is still far from satisfactory.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population genetic structure of the bank vole Myodes glareolus within its glacial refugium in peninsular Italy

Chiocchio

Senczuk

Aloise

et al. 2018

Preprint

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It is now well established that Southern European peninsulas have been major glacial refugia for temperate species during Pleistocene climatic oscillations. However, substantial environmental changes occurred also within these peninsulas throughout the Pleistocene, rising questions about the role and interplay of various of micro-evolutionary processes in shaping patterns of intraspecific diversity within these areas. Here, we investigate the patterns of genetic variation in the bank vole Myodes glareolus within the Italian peninsula. By using a panel of 13 microsatellite loci, we found more intra-specific variation than expected based on previous assessments. Indeed, both Bayesian and ordination-based clustering analyses of variation recovered five main geographic/genetic clusters along the peninsula, with three clusters geographically restricted to the southern portion of the study area. This pattern supports the occurrence of multiple sub-refugia for the bank vole in peninsular Italy, likely promoted by the major paleo-environmental changes which affected forested habitats within this area during the Pleistocene. Thus, our results support a scenario whereby the high levels of intraspecific diversity observed within major glacial refugia are better explained by dynamic micro-evolutionary processes occurred within these areas, rather than by long-term demographic stability of refugial population. Finally, the narrow and isolated distribution of some of the identified lineages, suggest the need for future assessments of their conservation and taxonomic status.

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Species definitions and conservation: a review and case studies from African mammals

Cited by 55 publications

References 88 publications

Tapping into technology and the biodiversity informatics revolution: updated terrestrial mammal list of Angola, with new records from the Okavango Basin

Tapping into technology and the biodiversity informatics revolution: updated terrestrial mammal list of Angola, with new records from the Okavango Basin

The species dilemma and its potential impact on enforcing wildlife trade laws

Population genetic structure of the bank vole Myodes glareolus within its glacial refugium in peninsular Italy

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