Worldwide conservation hotspots for Soricomorpha focusing on endemic island taxa: an analysis at two taxonomic levels

Abstract

ESR Endangered Species Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials ESR 15:143-149 (2011) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00377 Worldwide conservation hotspots for Soricomorpha focusing on endemic island taxa: an analysis at two taxonomic levels Giovanni Amori1*, Federica Chiozza2, Carlo Rondinini2, Luca Luiselli3 1CNR−Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Viale dell’Università 32, 00185 Rome, Italy 2Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza Università di Roma, Viale dell’Università 32, 00185 Roma, Italy 3Centre of Environmental Studies Demetra, Eni Environmental Department, via Olona 7, 00198 Rome, Italy *Email: giovanni.amori@uniroma1.it ABSTRACT: Identifying conservation priorities is crucial in the modern world, and biodiversity hotspots have been vital instruments in better defining the main areas requiring conservation. This paper analyzes distribution patterns of threatened Soricomorpha genera and species to evaluate whether the current biodiversity hotspots network really covers these taxa. We also analyze the Soricomorpha species that are endemic to islands worldwide in order to define the main islands in terms of both endemic species richness and threatened species richness. At the genus level, all threatened taxa are represented within hotspots, whereas 18% of the threatened species (particularly in the Afrotropics) do not occur in any biodiversity hotspot. Approximately 35% of island endemic species are threatened, particularly in the Oriental region. Most of the threatened endemics are found within forest habitats. Both mainland (Cameroon and Congo) and island (particularly Andamans, Sri Lanka, Bioko) forest ecosystems deserve the particular attention of conservation organizations. In addition, basic research on the ecology, taxonomy, and distribution of threatened Soricomorpha species (particularly in the tropical regions) is urgently needed. KEY WORDS: Hotspots · Soricomorpha · Conservation · Endemicity · Islands Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Amori G, Chiozza F, Rondinini C, Luiselli L (2011) Worldwide conservation hotspots for Soricomorpha focusing on endemic island taxa: an analysis at two taxonomic levels. Endang Species Res 15:143-149. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00377 Export citation Mail this link - Contents Mailing Lists - RSS Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in ESR Vol. 15, No. 2. Online publication date: November 10, 2011 Print ISSN: 1863-5407; Online ISSN: 1613-4796 Copyright © 2011 Inter-Research.