Relative occupancy, endemism, taxonomic distinctiveness and vulnerability: prioritizing regional conservation actions

摘要: A method is presented whereby regional species are scored and ranked in order of conservation importance according to a number different but complementary 'rarity' criteria. Approaches for determining occupancy (RO), relative taxonomic distinctiveness (RTD), endemism (RE) vulnerability (RV) rankings faunas proposed. The continuous variable approach resultant positively skewed scores suggest easy identification priority species. These methods collectively applied mammalian fauna prioritize action using score (RPS). proposed comparative relational aimed at which require the establishment viable populations within context. two afforded highest RPSs Transvaal region, South Africa, Gunning's golden mole Amblysomus gunningi Juliana's A. julianae. true endemics, with geographic ranges completely restricted region. Also high four-toed elephant shrew Petrodromus tetradactylus, pangolin Manis temminckii aardvark Orycteropus afer. Although these have low RE scores, they RTD RV scores. equal weightings given four components ensures that achieving any categories will be considered listing. This simple, explicit repeatable, circumventing problems scale.