The “Evolutionarily Significant Unit” concept and its applicability in biological conservation

摘要: AbstractAlthough most conservationists claim to protect “species”, the conservation unit actually and practically managed is individual population. As resources are not unlimited, we need focus on a restricted number of populations. But how can select them? The Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU), first conceptualised by Ryder in 1986, may offer some answer. Several definitions have been proposed for ESU, but all make reference units “whose divergence be measured or evaluated putting differential emphasis role evolutionary forces at varied temporal scales”. Thus, an ESU might fully identical with “species” could composed multiple ESUs. On other hand, comprise single/multiple populations exchanging degree gene flow, such as meta-populations. In attempt show strengths weaknesses concepts, present here, among several others, case studies myrmecophilous butterflies genus Maculinea. pa...