Identifying hotspots and priority areas for xenarthran research and conservation

Aim: Limited funds for conservation and research require the development of prioritization schemes. Traditionally, biodiversity metrics were used to delineate priority areas; however, a growing realization emphasizes that logistic factors should be also considered. Here, we combine species richness, past collection efforts, degree of habitat loss and accessibility to define priority areas and spatially orient fieldwork in a cost-effective manner for xenarthrans, one of the four main mammalian radiation.

Location: Neotropics.

Methods: We assessed spatial patterns of species richness in Xenarthra and identify diversity hotspots based on species distribution models. Spatial patterns and biases in the Xenarthra past collection efforts were analyzed using a comprehensive database including 33,464 individual records. Finally, we produced priority area indices relating species richness and collection efforts with levels of habitat loss and accessibility (roads and rivers network) to high...

研究背景：保护与研究经费有限，亟需制定优先级划分方案。传统研究多以生物多样性指标划定优先保护区域，但当前学界愈发认识到，后勤保障因素亦需纳入考量范畴。本研究结合物种丰富度、既往野外采集强度、栖息地丧失程度与区域可达性，以低成本高效划定贫齿总目（Xenarthra）的优先研究与保护区域，并优化野外工作的空间布局——贫齿总目为四大哺乳动物辐射演化类群之一。
研究区域：新热带界（Neotropics）。
研究方法：本研究基于物种分布模型评估贫齿总目（Xenarthra）的物种丰富度空间格局，并据此识别多样性热点区域；依托包含33464条独立记录的综合数据库，分析贫齿总目既往采集活动的空间分布特征与采集偏倚；最终构建优先区域指数，将物种丰富度、采集强度与栖息地丧失程度、可达性（道路与河网系统）相关联，以实现……