The evolution of EDGE: incorporating scientific advances ... · 10,020 4,079 265 (Tonini et al....
Transcript of The evolution of EDGE: incorporating scientific advances ... · 10,020 4,079 265 (Tonini et al....
The evolution of EDGE: incorporating scientific advances into phylogenetically-
informed conservation prioritisation
Dr. Nisha Owen EDGE of Existence Programme Manager
The agony of choice
Conservation bias
Threatened
Flagship
Umbrella
Landscape
Keystone
Cultural value
Evolutionary Distinctiveness (ED) A measure of value
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Global Endangerment (GE) GE measures urgency of action
EDGE =
ln(1+ED)+GE*ln(2)
Isaac et al. 2007
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Evolutionarily Distinct…
Evolutionarily Distinct…
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Evolutionarily Distinct…
The Challenge
• unique species representing entire branches of the tree of life
• on the verge of extinction
• overlooked by the conservation agenda
ZSL’s EDGE of Existence programme: the only global conservation initiative focusing on species that are
Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered
EDGE species
• Distinct in the way they look, live, behave & in genetic make-up
• Complementary conservation approach
• Need phylogenetic tree + adequate IUCN assessments
Per taxonomic group:
-> EDGE species (median ED & threatened)
-> top 100
-> high ED + DD / NE / NT species
2007
2014
2011 2008
2016/2017 …
Isaac et. al 2012 Curnick et. al 2015
Jetz et. al 2014 Gumbs et. al in prep
EDGE lists
EDGE Reptiles
Credit: Ryan M. Bolton Credit: Vladimir Wrangel Credit: Nick Page
Clade All species
Red Listed species
# imputed spp (phylogeny)
Crocodilians 25 23 2 (Oaks 2011)
Squamates + tuatara
10,020 4,079 265 (Tonini et al. 2016)
Testudines 346 219 214 (Hedges et al. 2015)
Gumbs et. al in prep
Updated EDGE Lists Clade All
species Red Listed
species # imputed spp (phylogeny)
Amphibians 7,488 4,857 4,213 (Pyron 2014)
Birds 10,960 10,960 967 (Jetz et al. 2014)
Mammals 5,454 4,479 539 (Kuhn et al. 2011)
Gumbs et. al in prep
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OUR VISION The diversity of life is secured for future generations
through locally led conservation initiatives
THE SOLUTION
• SCIENCE: a scientific approach for setting conservation priorities
• CAPACITY-BUILDING: supporting the next generation of conservation leaders
• CONSERVATION: of neglected EDGE species
• AWARENESS-RAISING: of the most distinct and threatened species on the planet
---- > maintaining the diversity of life
EDGE Fellowships
Protect EDGE species by building conservation capacity in-country
EDGE Fellows: • 2-year project on top-priority EDGE species • £10,000 grant • Training courses, support & mentoring • Produce survival blueprint for their species
• 68 Fellowship projects • 36 countries • 63 EDGE species
Discovery of new species and populations • Horton plains red slender loris • Togo slippery frog Conservation strategies, legislation and protected areas • Togo slippery frog • Sheath-tailed bat
Down-listing species on the red list • Ambystoma salamanders Innovative technology
Impact (species)
Impact (Fellows)
• 100% of surveyed Fellows work in conservation
• 80% leverage matched funding for their Fellowships
• 76% still work on their EDGE species
• 70% publish in scientific journals
• 100% pass on their knowledge to peers and colleagues
- 500+ university students - 250+ gov. employees - 160+ conservation employees - 65+ teachers
76%
14%
10%
Continuing to work on their EDGE species
Still work onEDGE sp.
Study changedfocus
Downlisted
EDGE investment in Fellowship
Fellows- sourced match funding
£489,000
£985,500
Match funding in the EDGE Fellowship Data from 26 EDGE Fellows
EDGE 2.0
Cutting-EDGE science: 2017 workshop on phylogenetically informed conservation to assess and refine EDGE prioritisation protocol
– Addressing uncertainty
• Extinction probabilities & limited RL assessments
• Incomplete / unresolved phylogenies
– Incorporating complementarity (EDGE lineages)
• robust prioritisation lists
• lists for new taxonomic groups
• enabling regular list updates (new species / assessments)
EDGE Zones
Conserving EDGE species?
Sitas et al. 2009 Washington et al. 2015
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Slide 30 www.edgeofexistence.org