What is mahogany? The importance of a taxonomic framework for conservation

Abstract

Taxonomy is an integral part of conservation and management because it allows managers to define taxa that can be managed to conserve the range of diversity in an ecosystem. This however, depends upon that classification being an accurate description of the taxon, and its interspecific relationships. Misidentification, or an inaccurate, or inadequate classification may lead to the loss of diversity through inadequate protection. Swietenia is a genus of the Meliaceae comprising three species: S. humilis, S. macrophylla and S. mahagoni. The biological boundaries between these species are not clear-cut, and many biological processes within and among these taxa are poorly understood. The following areas are identified as research priorities to resolve the relationships among the three species of Swietenia hybrid zones, cytology and distribution of morphological variation. Preliminary data testing S. macrophylla for DNA markers that allow identification independent of phenotype are presented here. This is the first reported analysis of cpDNA in the genus Swietenia. It is shown that while there is substantial genetic variation in the genome as a whole, variation in the chloroplast genome is low.