Setting conservation priorities

• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) roles

  • gathering and analysing data on conservation
  • Categorising species according to their vulnerability to extinction
  • Publication of the IUCN Red List of endangered species
  • Wildlife conservation research, field projects and education
• What does the IUCN stand for?

  International Union for Conservation of Nature
• Criteria used to select species for categorisation:

  • Evolutionary uniqueness (EDGE species)
  • Endemic species
  • Keystone species
  • Flagship species
  • Degree of population dispersal
• Evolutionary uniqueness:

  • species with very few close evolutionary relatives are categorised as EDGE species - Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered
  • They have a genetically unique gene pool so if they become extinct there are no surviving near-identical gene pools
  • They are already threatened with extinction throughout their range

  Examples

  • Chinese Giant Salamander - only species close to its size
  • Northern Bald Ibis - rapidly changing characteristics make it hard to help
• Evolutionary uniqueness

  Example: Wollemi Pine

  • survived for 200 million years and was originally only known in fossil records
  • There are conservation efforts to preserve biodiversity - genes of all the different trees were collected to identify the gene pool, ensuring the population is as genetically diverse as possible
  • Saplings are then sent to specific locations to be cared for all over the world
• Endemic species:

  • species found in one geographical area
  • This location is the only opportunity to protect the species
  • They are vulnerable to localised changes in legislation and environmental factors
  • Once they have gone extinct they are gone forever

  Examples:

  • Madagascar - Lemurs
  • New Zealand - Kiwis
• Keystone species:

  • species that have an important niche to maintain the ecological structure of a community
  • It has lots of species that depend on it - interdependent species
  • Their roles may include seed dispersal, provision of food, predation, creation of structural features, pollination ...

  Examples:

  • Grey Wolf
  • Beavers
  • African Forest Elephants
• Flagship species:

  • species with a high public profile - popular
  • They bring attention to a cause
  • If the species habitat is protected other species that live in that habitat of rely on the species also benefit

  Examples:

  • Pandas for WWF
  • Dolphins for Marine Conservation Society
• Degree of population dispersal:

  • habitats become fragmented, isolating populations of species
  • There is a lack of resources e.g. food and shelter
  • There is a small gene pool which increases chance of inbreeding, making them vulnerable to disease and sudden environmental changes
  • There is also increased mortality when species have to cross the boundaries to other fragments to find resources
• Red List examples:

  Red Panda - endangered

  Threats: Residential and commercial development; energy production and mining; invasive genes, species and diseases; and many others

  Conservation actions: partly protected, 41 - 50% of the population is in protected areas, they are subject to ex-situ conservation
• Red List examples:

  Hirihiry - critically endangered

  Threats: Agriculture and aquaculture - annual and perennial non-timber crops; biological resource use - gathering terrestrial plants

  Conservation actions: occurs in at least one protected area