Mismatch of research effort and threat in avian conservation biology

摘要: Avian declines and extinctions are a worldwide concern. Conservation priorities for birds should target threatened taxa (taxonomic targets) regions with high levels of species richness endemism (geographical targets). Does published research on bird conservation reflect the global taxonomic geographic priorities? We surveyed six years (2000-2005) international journals, analyzed all articles birds. Attention indexes were calculated orders, species, biogeographic realms. also examined how well from tropical nations (with endemism) represented in literature. Results show that Struthioniformes is order has highest attention (0.54), mostly because this relatively few lowest was recorded Coliiformes (0.00). For some orders (Anseriformes, Apodiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Coraciiformes, Cuculiformes, Gaviiformes, Pelecaniformes, Phoenicopteriformes, Podicipediformes, Struthioniformes, Tinamiformes Trogoniformes), most focuses non-threatened species. The Nearctic Palearctic realms receive by avian conservationists. However, Neotropical, Afrotropical, Indomalayan higher diversity. Eighty-four countries contributed articles, but majority conducted North American western European researchers. There urgent need capacity building developing nations. Birds seriously rapidly declining worldwide. still misplacing its focus lowerbiodiversity focusing If such trends not changed, consequences persistence may be dire.