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Combining molecular and landscape tools for targeting evolutionary processes in reserve design: an approach for islands

Combining molecular and landscape tools for targeting evolutionary processes in reserve design: an approach for islands
Combining molecular and landscape tools for targeting evolutionary processes in reserve design: an approach for islands
The importance of targeting ecological and evolutionary processes in reserve design has been widely acknowledged in the literature but rarely implemented on islands. Using Socotran reptiles as models, we aim to relate richness of widespread and restricted-range species directly with landscape variables and to compare the impact of setting conservation targets for lineages versus species. Socotra Island is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, containing high levels of endemism in relation to its area, especially of reptiles, the vertebrates with the most comprehensive available genetic data. We predicted the occurrences of reptile species using distribution models and used a novel approach to interpolate maps of spatial phylogenetic patterns. Patterns of intra and interspecifc diversity and differences between spatial outputs of lineage and species richeness were related to eco-geographic variables. We evaluated differences in target achievement for each conservation unit within protected areas (PAs) under the current Zoning Plan (ZP) using gap and reserve design analyses. Although intraspecific richness was strongly correlated with interspecific richness, differences in their spatial distribution reached ~30% in some areas. Differences were more pronounced for wide-ranging than restricted-range taxa. Gap analysis indicates that most conservation units are under-represented in sanctuaries and that intra and interspecific richness were significantly higher outside PAs. This work will guide local-scale conservation planning as the ZP is due to be re-evaluated. This is one of the few studies on islands using genetic data from an entire class of vertebrates to incorporate lineage diversity in reserve design. This study provides an alternative methodological framework for supporting the use of landscape and genetic tools in reserve design, circumventing the use of phylogenetic distances and deterministic spatial interpolation of lineage diversity that can be widely applied to other systems.
conservation units, intraspecific diversity patterns, landscape genetics, persistence, protected areas
1932-6203
Vasconcelos, Raquel
ac851cb6-6d84-41ba-a310-ac0f351c3a66
Razgour, Orly
107f4912-304a-44d5-99f8-cdf2a9ce6f14
Tarroso, Pedro
e876db84-3364-4a74-87b5-be24e6679e9d
Fasola, Mauro
c0c874f3-d99f-459a-94bf-fefe99592392
Carranza, Salvador
68f4a853-a213-4c49-aced-dd11b40131b4
Alves, Paulo Célio
6ed74a06-5b18-4930-87e3-92a22a8ccfaf
Vasconcelos, Raquel
ac851cb6-6d84-41ba-a310-ac0f351c3a66
Razgour, Orly
107f4912-304a-44d5-99f8-cdf2a9ce6f14
Tarroso, Pedro
e876db84-3364-4a74-87b5-be24e6679e9d
Fasola, Mauro
c0c874f3-d99f-459a-94bf-fefe99592392
Carranza, Salvador
68f4a853-a213-4c49-aced-dd11b40131b4
Alves, Paulo Célio
6ed74a06-5b18-4930-87e3-92a22a8ccfaf

Vasconcelos, Raquel, Razgour, Orly, Tarroso, Pedro, Fasola, Mauro, Carranza, Salvador and Alves, Paulo Célio (2018) Combining molecular and landscape tools for targeting evolutionary processes in reserve design: an approach for islands. PLoS ONE, 13 (7), [e0200830]. (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0200830).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The importance of targeting ecological and evolutionary processes in reserve design has been widely acknowledged in the literature but rarely implemented on islands. Using Socotran reptiles as models, we aim to relate richness of widespread and restricted-range species directly with landscape variables and to compare the impact of setting conservation targets for lineages versus species. Socotra Island is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, containing high levels of endemism in relation to its area, especially of reptiles, the vertebrates with the most comprehensive available genetic data. We predicted the occurrences of reptile species using distribution models and used a novel approach to interpolate maps of spatial phylogenetic patterns. Patterns of intra and interspecifc diversity and differences between spatial outputs of lineage and species richeness were related to eco-geographic variables. We evaluated differences in target achievement for each conservation unit within protected areas (PAs) under the current Zoning Plan (ZP) using gap and reserve design analyses. Although intraspecific richness was strongly correlated with interspecific richness, differences in their spatial distribution reached ~30% in some areas. Differences were more pronounced for wide-ranging than restricted-range taxa. Gap analysis indicates that most conservation units are under-represented in sanctuaries and that intra and interspecific richness were significantly higher outside PAs. This work will guide local-scale conservation planning as the ZP is due to be re-evaluated. This is one of the few studies on islands using genetic data from an entire class of vertebrates to incorporate lineage diversity in reserve design. This study provides an alternative methodological framework for supporting the use of landscape and genetic tools in reserve design, circumventing the use of phylogenetic distances and deterministic spatial interpolation of lineage diversity that can be widely applied to other systems.

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Accepted/In Press date: 5 July 2018
e-pub ahead of print date: 24 July 2018
Keywords: conservation units, intraspecific diversity patterns, landscape genetics, persistence, protected areas

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 422246
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/422246
ISSN: 1932-6203
PURE UUID: b584d8a9-23a0-454e-95b0-7fde5255216c
ORCID for Orly Razgour: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3186-0313

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Date deposited: 19 Jul 2018 16:30
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 20:44

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Contributors

Author: Raquel Vasconcelos
Author: Orly Razgour ORCID iD
Author: Pedro Tarroso
Author: Mauro Fasola
Author: Salvador Carranza
Author: Paulo Célio Alves

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