New conservation status for data-deficient endemic mammals of East Africa

Abstract

Knowing the exact status of several species is unimaginable since the data available is not adequate to determine their category, they are classified as Data Deficient (DD) by the IUCN. Lack of sufficient information impedes the assessment of conservation status for DD species and could lead to missing conservation opportunities for rare mammals under multiple threats. It seems appropriate that available knowledge of each species should be recorded now because the next few decades will see even more human-induced changes. The main objective is to suggest a strategic framework and establishing categories to help overcome the uncertainty regarding the conservation status of endemic mammals of East Africa. Preliminary extinction risk categories were determined based on the IUCN Red List Criterion B particularly of criteria B1 which uses the extent of occurrence. We use quantile regression to model a relationship between the time since species discovery (50 years as a reference) and log-transformed range-size of mammal species (1–20,000 km2 area for a threatened category). Mammals that were described more than 50 years ago and have an EOO of less than 20,000 km2 are categorized under threatened status. We found a significant positive relationship between time since species discovery and geographic range size of the non-DD mammal species for all quantile levels (p < 0.05) allowed the use of time since species discovery and geographic range size to infer the proper red list category of species. Only 16 endemic mammals currently listed as Data Deficient, should continue to be listed as so (group A). The remaining species should be re-listed as threatened (17 species) and as non-threatened (25 species, groups C and D). Our finding reduced the number of DD species of mammals of East Africa from 32.04% to 8.83%. As of the investigation of the present study, 12 (70.6%) mammals suggested for threatened categories are small-sized shrews and bats. DD species introduce greater uncertainty in estimates of overall extinction risk to the endemics, and by no means are they such species that can be considered low priorities for research. DD mammals may still face high extinction risks and may be more frequently threatened than successfully evaluated mammals. These findings may hopefully contribute to a more efficient allocation of conservation funds and more efficient development of conservation plans using data available for almost all mammalian species.