Interview-based sighting histories can inform regional conservation prioritization for highly threatened cryptic species.

摘要: The use of robust ecological data to make evidence-based management decisions is frequently prevented by limited quantity or quality, and local knowledge (LEK) increasingly seen as an important source information for conservation. However, there has been little assessment LEK's usefulness informing prioritization landscapes threatened species, assessing comparative species status across landscapes.A large-scale interview survey in the Annamite Mountains (Vietnam Lao PDR) compiled first systematic LEK set saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, one world's rarest mammals, eight other ungulates. Saola conservation hindered uncertainty over continued presence much its proposed distribution. We analysed LEK-based last-sighting three determine whether regional sighting histories support previous suggestions landscape importance (Hue-Quang Nam: top-priority Vietnamese landscape; Pu Mat: lower priority Viengthong: high-priority landscape) they constitute effective spatial tool cryptic management.Wild pig red muntjac may be only ungulates with stable populations; all appears worse. have declined more severely and/or are significantly rarer than most relatively few respondents. were also considered locally declining, never that had not declined.In contrast no differences histories, persistence challenging differs greatly. Remnant populations persist Vietnam despite heavy hunting, but even remote under intense pressure.Synthesis applications. Our suggest intact probably longer exist, individuals landscapes, making activities reduce hunting pressure on each a priority. Analysis can when otherwise unavailable, collection records should incorporated widely into field studies highly threatened, species.