Adapting global biodiversity indicators to the national scale: A Red List Index for Australian birds

摘要: The Red List Index (RLI), which uses information from the IUCN to track trends in projected overall extinction risk of sets species, is among indicators adopted by world’s governments assess performance under Convention on Biological Diversity and United Nations Millennium Development Goals. For greatest impact, such need be measured used at a national scale as well globally. We present first application RLI based assessments using IUCN’s recommended methods, evaluating status Australian birds for 1990–2010. calculated RLIs number taxa each category that changed categories between 1990, 2000 2010 result genuine improvement or deterioration status. A novel comparison species ultrataxon (subspecies monotypic species) level showed these were remarkably similar, suggesting current global may also useful surrogate tracking losses genetic diversity this scale, no measures currently exist. Australia declining faster than rates when migratory shorebirds seabirds are included, but not changes resulting threats alone considered. oceanic island has declined those continent continental islands. There differences different jurisdictions within Australia.