Analysis of threatened endemic trees of the Western Ghats of India sheds new light on the Red Data Book of Indian Plants

The Red Data Book of Indian Plants (RDB) is a reference manual that lists threatened angiosperms, gymnosperms and pterydophytes. Because it is widely used as an analytical tool and is a major reference for impact assessments on vegetation, it is important that the RDB be as comprehensive and up to date as possible. This study is an attempt to cross-check the listings in the RDB using vegetation inventories and another reference manual, the Atlas of Endemics of the Western Ghats, India []. Field inventories across the Western Ghats gave an estimate of the species relative abundances and the Atlas provided quantitative information on the number of records for the endemic species in herbaria, literature, and during field surveys. The results of this analysis indicate that the RDB and the Atlas agree statistically regarding the conservation status of endemic trees. However, the proportion of threatened species per Atlas record category behaves erratically, indicating that some threatened endemic trees are not listed in the RDB. Our results suggest that the status of threatened plant species should be reexamined on a priority basis using quantitative methodology. An updating of the RDB is urgently needed, particularly for the endemic plants of the Western Ghats. We provide a list of species that are likely to be threatened, yet are not listed.     

中国裸子植物红色名录评估(2021版)

定期开展物种红色名录评估, 了解植物濒危状态、致危因素变化, 对于物种保育有重要意义。本文报道了国产裸子植物的最新评估结果, 并与2013版红色名录进行了比较。本次评估了国产裸子植物274个种和种下分类群(隶属于8科37属)。与2013版红色名录相比, 本次评估减少了2科, 增加了3属和40个种和种下分类群。分类群变化是由于上次评估遗漏属种、新类群、新分布记录以及分类群名称和等级变化所致。本次评估有139个种和种下分类群被列入受威胁等级(包括极危、濒危和易危), 占总评估种类的50.7%, 与2013版的51.0%相比, 受威胁程度基本不变。物种自身进化属性、资源过度利用、生境丧失和全球变暖是国产裸子植物的主要致危因素。此外, 还有27种列为数据缺乏(DD), 占总种数的9.9%, 较2013版略有增加, 表明我国裸子植物需开展针对性野外调查和相关研究, 以摸清物种的野外生存现状, 为深入认识我国裸子植物濒危程度奠定数据基础。新的红色名录评估对濒危物种保育实践也有重要意义。     

广西木论国家级自然保护区植物物种多样性初步研究

广西木论国家级自然保护区位于我国滇黔桂植物区和华南植物区的交错地带，是古北极与古热带两大植物区系交接过渡的中心地带，在我国生物多样性保护区域中占据不可替代的地位。为摸清广西木论国家级自然保护区植物物种多样性，该文基于历史文献整理、野外调查、标本采集和鉴定以及数据统计分析，对该保护区维管束植物物种多样性组成及其特点进行了研究。结果表明：(1)该区共有维管束植物1 735种，包括石松类和蕨类植物218种、种子植物1 517种，具有较丰富的维管束植物多样性组成以及较复杂的植物区系成分。(2)该区共有中国特有植物486种、广西特有植物56种、岩溶特有植物262种，具有显著的植物特有性。(3)该区共有国家重点保护野生植物68种、广西重点保护野生植物153种、我国极小种群野生植物4种、受威胁植物108种、列入《濒危野生动植物种国际贸易公约》(CITES)附录植物144种，具有较高程度的植物珍稀濒危性。综上表明，该区是我国重要的岩溶植物基因库，具有极其重要的保护价值。该研究结果为自然保护区的建设和管理、植物保护和利用以及其他科研工作的开展提供了重要依据。     

Characteristics and conservation priority of threatened plants in the Yangtze valley

One hundred and twenty-seven threatened species listed in the ChinaPlant Red Data Book were found in the Yangtze valley. One-third of them belongedto four families with high economic value, including Pinaceae, Magnoliaceae,Lauraceae and Ranuculaceae. Of all the plants, 66.9% grew in forests and 71.7%were threatened with damage to habitats. The threatened plants in the studiedregion formed a geographical pattern with two large and six small distributioncenters. The two large centers were in the high mountains in western Sichuan andnorthern Yunnan or around the Sichuan Basin. The six small centers were situatedin fragmented montane forests in the eastern part of the Yangtze valley. Todetermine a plant's threat category, the number of populations 10 wasused as the basic criterion as accorded with the China Plant Red Data Book. Thethreatened plants in the valley could be divided into five ranks of priority forconservation. The plants in the first rank comprised eight species endemic tothe valley, with only one population, which should be first preserved. It wasconcluded that human activity was the main factor threatening the survival ofplants, and protecting forests had been the most effective approach in savingthe threatened plants in the valley.     

Characteristics and Conservation Priority of Rare and Endangered Plants in the Yangtse River Valley

127 rare and endangered species listed in 《China Plant Red Data Book》 were found in Yangtse River valley. 1/3 of them belonged to 4 families with high economic values such as Pinaceae, Magnoliaceae, Lauraceae and Ranuculanceae. Of all the plants, 66.93 % existed in forests and 71.65 % were threatened with damage of habitats. The rare and endangered plants in the studied region formed a geographical pattern with 2 distribution areas and 6 small distribution centers. The 2 areas were in the high mountains in western Sichuan and northern Yunnan or around the Sichuan Basin. The 6 centers included the fragmented montane forests in the eastern part of the valley. These showed that human activities were the main factor threatening the survival of plants, and preserving forests were the effective approach to save the rare and endangered plants in the valley. Takings≤ 10 as the number of population in a unit of area for categorizing the endangered plants is basically in accord with the criterion defined in the 《China Plant Red Data Book》. Thus the rare and endangered plants in the valley could be divided into 5 ranks for priority conservation. The plants in the first rank composed cf 8 endemic species natively grown the valley with only one population for which effective measures should be taken for active preservation.     

Conservation on diversity and distribution patterns of endemic birds in China

The diversity and distribution patterns of endemic species of birds inChina have been studied on the basis of the distribution database of specimencollections and published references. One hundred and two endemic species ofbirds in China, belonging to 53 genera, 16 families and 8 orders are recognized.They account for 8.1% of the total species of China. The distribution patternswere studied and three centers of endemism were found, includingHengduanshan Mountains, mountain areas of western Qinling, north Sichuan Province andSouth Gansu Province, as well as Taiwan Island, which are suggested as conservationpriorities based on endemism. Twenty-four endemics are rare and endangered, listedin the China Red Data Book of Endangered Animals. Among them, 15 species are in rankI and 9 species are in rank II. The study results are to be beneficial tofurther study on both the processing mechanism of the distribution patterns andon the priority of the diversity and endemism conservation.     

Extinction Risks and the Conservation of Madagascar's Reptiles

Background

An understanding of the conservation status of Madagascar''s endemic reptile species is needed to underpin conservation planning and priority setting in this global biodiversity hotspot, and to complement existing information on the island''s mammals, birds and amphibians. We report here on the first systematic assessment of the extinction risk of endemic and native non-marine Malagasy snakes, lizards, turtles and tortoises.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Species range maps from The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species were analysed to determine patterns in the distribution of threatened reptile species. These data, in addition to information on threats, were used to identify priority areas and actions for conservation. Thirty-nine percent of the data-sufficient Malagasy reptiles in our analyses are threatened with extinction. Areas in the north, west and south-east were identified as having more threatened species than expected and are therefore conservation priorities. Habitat degradation caused by wood harvesting and non-timber crops was the most pervasive threat. The direct removal of reptiles for international trade and human consumption threatened relatively few species, but were the primary threats for tortoises. Nine threatened reptile species are endemic to recently created protected areas.

Conclusions/Significance

With a few alarming exceptions, the threatened endemic reptiles of Madagascar occur within the national network of protected areas, including some taxa that are only found in new protected areas. Threats to these species, however, operate inside and outside protected area boundaries. This analysis has identified priority sites for reptile conservation and completes the conservation assessment of terrestrial vertebrates in Madagascar which will facilitate conservation planning, monitoring and wise-decision making. In sharp contrast with the amphibians, there is significant reptile diversity and regional endemism in the southern and western regions of Madagascar and this study highlights the importance of these arid regions to conserving the island''s biodiversity.     

生物多样性保护优先区对重庆苔藓植物多样性保护的重要性

生物多样性保护优先区的生物多样性十分丰富, 对于生物多样性保护具有重要意义。本文基于野外调查数据和文献资料, 整合大巴山和武陵山两个中国生物多样性保护优先区重庆境内的苔藓植物名录, 通过分析物种丰富度、中国特有种和受威胁物种, 比较了这两个地区的苔藓植物组成特点和相似性。结果显示, 两个保护优先区重庆境内共有苔藓植物77科221属722种, 其物种数分别占重庆市和中国苔藓植物总种数的76.0%和23.9%。两个区域分布有中国特有苔藓植物56种, 占中国苔藓植物总种数的1.9%; 分布有极危苔藓植物1种、濒危4种和易危3种。科、属、种的Jaccard相似性系数分别为0.7、0.6和0.3, 表明两个区域物种组成差异较大。大巴山和武陵山两个中国生物多样性保护优先区都具有较高的苔藓植物物种多样性, 其种类组成具有一定代表性, 对重庆市和中国苔藓植物多样性保护具有重要价值。     

Where are threatened ferns found? Global conservation priorities for pteridophytes

Recent efforts to improve the representation of plant species included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species through the IUCN Sampled Red List Index (SRLI) for Plants have led to the assessment of almost 1000 additional species of pteridophytes and lycophytes under IUCN Red List criteria. Species were selected at random from all lineages of pteridophytes and lycophytes and are taxonomically as well as ecologically representative of pteridophyte and lycophyte diversity. 16% of pteridophyte and lycophyte species are globally threatened with extinction and 22% are of elevated conservation concern (threatened or Near Threatened); of species of pteridophytes and lycophytes previously included on the Red List, 54% were considered threatened. Over half of pteridophyte and lycophyte species assessed for the SRLI use estimates of range size; therefore the method used to measure range may affect the Red List category assigned. We evaluated this using two alternative metrics for estimating range, species distribution modelling (SDM) and ecologically suitable habitat (ESH), for 227 species endemic to the Neotropical biogeographic realm. Differences between range estimates were small when ranges were small but increased with increasing range size. For 58 (25.6%) species alternative modelling techniques result in the species meeting the threshold for a different IUCN Red List category from using extent of occurrence. Modelling threatened species distributions also highlights priority areas for conservation in tropical and subtropical montane forests that are the most species-rich habitat for small-range pteridophyte and lycophyte species, but which are now increasingly subject to rapid conversion to agriculture.     

内蒙古珍稀濒危植物濒危现状及优先保护评估

以《中国珍稀濒危保护植物名录》、《中国植物红皮书》、《国家重点保护野生植物名录(第一批)》、《中国物种红色名录》、《中国生物多样性红色名录(高等植物卷)》、《内蒙古珍稀濒危保护植物名录》和《内蒙古珍稀濒危植物图谱》中127种内蒙古珍稀濒危植物为研究对象,通过资料收集及专家咨询,构建了内蒙古珍稀濒危植物受威胁等级、优先保护评估体系.建立了濒危系数、遗传价值系数、利用价值系数、生境系数、繁殖系数5项准则,准则下共设17个指标;运用层次分析法确定指标体系权重,计算出珍稀濒危植物濒危等级及优先保护级别.结果表明: 极危种2种、濒危种13种、易危种37种、近危种44种、无危种31种,分别占总数的1.6%、10.2%、29.1%、34.7%、24.4%.其中,受威胁种(极危、濒危和易危种)共52种,占总种数的40.9%.一级保护植物35种、二级保护植物72种、三级保护植物20种,分别占总数的27.6%、56.7%、15.8%.本评估结果与《中国生物多样性红色名录(高等植物卷)》、《内蒙古珍稀濒危保护植物名录》相比,有75种植物的濒危等级和62种植物的保护级别发生了变化.其中新增了9种植物的濒危等级评估和32种植物的保护级别.     

金佛山自然保护区兰科植物多样性及保护对策研究

通过对保护区内兰科植物的调查,分析了保护区内兰科植物的物种多样性、垂直分布格局.结果表明,金佛山兰科植物种类丰富,区系成分复杂多样,共有兰科植物48属114种;金佛山兰科植物特有现象明显,中国特有兰科植物47种,3种为金佛山特有;垂直分布格局明显;不同海拔段的兰科植物濒危程度差异较大,低海拔地区物种?受威胁程度较低,资源保存状况更好.对造成兰科植物濒危的主要原因进行了分析,并提出了保护对策.     

三江源国家公园兽类物种多样性及区系分析

为了解三江源国家公园野生兽类的分布现状,2015-2017年对园区进行了实地调查。根据调查结果并参考相关文献资料,三江源国家公园内野生兽类共62种,分别隶属8目19科44属。园区内兽类呈现出物种多样性高,珍稀濒危物种多,特有种多的特点：三江源国家公园内的兽类物种多样性G-F指数为0.77,表明该区域物种多样性处于很高水平。根据中国物种红色名录,20个物种受威胁（极危、濒危和易危）,比例为32.26%,远高于国家整体水平;中国或青藏高原特有种29种,占46.77%。三江源国家公园在动物地理区划上属于古北界青藏区,在地理分布型上,以古北界成分为主,东洋界成分为辅,以古北界高山型成分最多,有25种,且资源量大,表明三江源国家公园的兽类以适应高寒气候的特殊种类为主。3个园区的平均动物区系相似性比较结果表明,长江源园区与澜沧江源园区为共同关系,黄河源园区与长江源园区和澜沧江源园区为密切关系。近些年,三江源地区的兽类保护工作取得了很好的效果,并得到国内外认可,本研究结合园区生物多样性和区系特点,根据保护现状,提出了今后的监测保护建议。     

四川马边大风顶自然保护区两栖爬行动物调查

2005年7月中旬至下旬对四川马边大风顶自然保护区的两栖爬行动物进行了调查.本次调查共采得两栖爬行动物标本17种,隶属于9科3目.结合文献资料,该保护区现已知有两栖爬行动物27种（亚种）,隶属于12科4目.其中,两栖动物13种（亚种）,隶属于7科2目;爬行动物14种（亚种）,隶属于5科2目.该保护区物种组成较丰富,没有古北界的成分,特有种所占比例较高.马边县新纪录9种,大鲵已被收入“濒危野生动植物种国际贸易公约（CITES）”附录Ⅰ,大凉疣螈和脆蛇蜥已被收入《中国濒危动物红皮书》,大鲵和大凉疣螈是国家Ⅱ级重点保护野生动物.该保护区和四川美姑大风顶自然保护区的两栖爬行动物Sorenson指数为36.7%.     

湖北赛武当自然保护区野生珍稀植物优先保护定量研究

通过对湖北赛武当国家级自然保护区内的野生珍稀植物资源进行调查,运用濒危系数、遗传价值系数和物种价值系数,计算出物种优先保护值,以确定物种濒危等级和优先保护等级。结果显示：（1）该区内共有珍稀保护植物33种,隶属于26科33属,其中易危15种、近危11种、安全种7种;（2）该区珍稀植物优先保护值的范围为0.2631~0.6985,据此得出33种珍稀植物的优先保护等级为：Ⅰ级6种、Ⅱ级13种、Ⅲ级12种、Ⅳ级2种。（3）本研究结果与相关珍稀保护植物名录的濒危等级和优先保护级别存在较大差异,这可能是由于生境破碎化和人为干扰导致大部分植物在本区受威胁程度加重,因此应强化管理。     

The Diversity and Distribution of the Fruit Bat Fauna (Mammalia, Chiroptera, Megachiroptera) of Danjugan Island, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, Philippines (with Notes on the Microchiroptera)

Bats are the most diverse mammalian order in the Philippines and whilst many endemic and threatened species have been documented, they are also probably the least well-known order. Negros Island (central Visayas, Philippines) represents one of the ten highest-ranking sites globally for megachiropteran diversity, and is listed as a priority area for the establishment of protected areas for megachiropteran conservation. It is also listed as a priority site for survey work. The current study undertook mist-netting, roost and observation surveys of the bat fauna of Danjugan Island, off the west coast of Negros Occidental, to inventory the bat species present and to provide baseline ecological information to identify key areas of conservation concern. Eight species – five megachiropterans and three microchiropterans – were recorded over the course of the study, representing over 10% of the total Philippine bat fauna. Four of the species are new records for the island, and three are IUCN Red Listed. The results show that the island provides important cave- and tree-roosting areas for the local populations of several endemic and globally endangered species and sub-species. Already designated with reserve status, and with an environmental education programme established within the local communities, the island may be considered of national and global importance for bat conservation. Recommendations are given for future management.     

钱江源国家公园古田山珍稀濒危植物资源现状及分析

在钱江源国家公园古田山国家级自然保护区珍稀濒危植物系统调查的基础上,对该地区珍稀濒危植物的种类组成、保护价值、地理区系特征及分布现状进行了系统研究。结果显示：古田山地区共有省级及以上野生珍稀濒危种子植物32科55属63种,其中被《国家重点保护野生植物名录》（第一批）收录的Ⅰ级保护植物1种、Ⅱ级保护植物15种,被《中国植物红皮书》收录的有15种,浙江省重点野生保护植物19种,其余物种分别被《中国物种红色名录》和《中国高等植物受威胁物种名录》收录;保护区内的多数珍稀濒危植物分布区狭窄,除少数保护植物如野大豆Glycine soja Siebold&Zucc.、野含笑Michelia skinneriana Dunn、杨桐Cleyera japonica Thunb.等种类的种群较大外,其他种类的种群较小;长序榆Ulmus elongata L.K.Fu&C.S.Ding、香果树Emmenopterys henryi Oliv.、榧树Torreya grandis Fortune ex Lindl.、三小叶山豆根Euchresta japonica Benth.ex Oliv.、金刚大Croomia japonica Miq.等种类零星分布于核心保护区,有少量珍稀植物如南方红豆杉Taxus wallichiana Zucc.var. mairei（Lemée&H.Lév.）L.K.Fu&Nan Li、花榈木Ormosia henryi Prain等位于缓冲区或试验区;保护区珍稀濒危植物属的区系成分较丰富,温带成分相对较多,中国特有属的濒危度较高,急需采取相应保护措施。     

Identifying evolutionarily significant units for conservation of the endangered Malus sieversii using genome‐wide RADseq data

Malus sieversii, a wild progenitor of the domesticated apple, is an endangered species and is assigned second conservation priority by the China Plant Red Data Book. It is urgent to carry out in situ conservation of this species, but previous studies have not identified evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) for conservation management. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity and relationships of six M. sieversii populations from China using integrated analysis of microsatellite (nSSR) data, genome‐wide SNPs and previous results in order to propose a reasonable conservation management. The results showed that levels of genetic diversity were inconsistently reflected by our nSSR and previous studies, suggesting that indices of genetic diversity are not effective to identify priority conservation areas for M. sieversii. Based on the selection criteria of ESUs for endangered species conservation, ESUs should reflect lineage divergence, geographical separation and different adaptive variation. Our phylogenetic tree based on genome‐wide SNPs yielded a clear relationship of divergent lineages among M. sieversii populations, leading to new different from those of previous studies. Three independent lineages, including the pairs of populations Huocheng‐Yining, Gongliu‐Xinyuan and Tuoli‐Emin, were identified. The geographic distances between populations among the different phylogenetic lineages were much greater than those within the same phylogenetic lineage. A cluster analysis on environmental variables showed that the three independent lineages inhabit different environmental conditions, suggesting that they may have adapted to different environments. Based on the results, we propose that three independent ESUs should be recognized as conservation units for M. sieversii in China.     

Implications of poor taxonomy in conservation

Red Lists are legal instruments that guide decisions within the context of conservation. Such lists can indicate the most appropriate conservation actions, leading to choices of priority areas for conservation, or create alternatives to ensure the preservation of threatened species. However, if Red Lists are effective tools in the conservation of threatened species, then it is important that we have guaranteed the quality of taxonomic delimitation of these taxa. Here we discuss a case of taxonomic confusion, emphasizing the implications of misidentification in Red Lists. To avoid mistakes in species conservation, we advocate that a minimum level of taxonomic knowledge is needed to ensure success in preserving target species. Therefore, complementarity of taxonomy and conservation guarantee stronger conservation actions.     

Conservation of Chinese Theaceae species under future climate and land use changes

Aim

Climate and land use changes are two major pervasive and growing global causes of rapid changes in the distribution patterns of biodiversity, challenging the future effectiveness of protected areas (PAs), which were mainly designed based on a static view of biodiversity. Therefore, evaluating the effectiveness of protected areas for protecting the species threatened by climate and land use change is critical for future biodiversity conservation.

Location

China.

Methods

Here, using distributions of 200 Chinese Theaceae species and ensemble species distribution models, we identified species threatened by future climate and land use change (i.e. species with predicted loss of suitable habitat ≥30%) under scenarios incorporating climate change, land use change and dispersal. We then estimate the richness distribution patterns of threatened species and identify priority conservation areas and conservation gaps of the current PA network.

Results

Our results suggest that 36.30%–51.85% of Theaceae species will be threatened by future climate and land use conditions and that although the threatened species are mainly distributed at low latitudes in China under both current and future periods, the mean richness of the threatened species per grid cell will decline by 0.826–3.188 species by the 2070s. Moreover, we found that these priority conservation areas are highly fragmented and that the current PA network only covers 14.21%–20.87% of the ‘areas worth exploring’ and 6.91%–7.91% of the ‘areas worth attention’.

Main Conclusions

Our findings highlight the necessity of establishing new protected areas and ecological corridors in priority conservation areas to protect the threatened species. Moreover, our findings also highlight the importance of taking into consideration the potential threatened species under future climate and land use conditions when designating priority areas for biodiversity conservation.     

IUCN Red List assessment of the Cape Verde endemic flora: towards a global strategy for plant conservation in Macaronesia

We review the conservation status and threats to the endemic vascular flora of the Cape Verde islands, mostly based on the past two decades of collecting, literature review and herbarium specimens. The application of IUCN Red List criteria and categories using RAMAS software reveals that 78% of the endemic plants are threatened (29.3% Critically Endangered, 41.3% Endangered, 7.6% Vulnerable). Most of these endemics have a limited geographical range, and half of them have Areas of Occupancy and Extents of Occurrence of < 20 and 200 km², respectively. Our data show that, over the last two decades, the Cape Verde vascular plants have become more threatened and their conservation status has declined, mostly as a consequence of the increase in exotic species, habitat degradation and human disturbance. This paper presents the first comprehensive IUCN Red List data review for the plants endemic to Cape Verde, thus providing an important step towards the recognition and conservation of its threatened endemic flora at the national and global level. It also fills a knowledge gap, as it represents the first thorough assessment of the conservation status of the entire endemic flora of a Macaronesian archipelago.