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RARE SPECIES AND THE USE OF INDICATOR GROUPS FOR CONSERVATION PLANNING
Citation:
Lawler, J. J., R D. White, J. C. Sifneos, AND L. L. Master. RARE SPECIES AND THE USE OF INDICATOR GROUPS FOR CONSERVATION PLANNING. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 17(3):875-882, (2003).
Description:
Indicator groups have been proposed as a promising tool for selecting areas for conservation when information about species distributions is scarce1-3. Application of the indicator concept involves selecting sites based on groups of easily monitored species that represent more broadly defined patterns of biodiversity. Although tests of the concept have produced varied results2,4-8, sites selected to cover indicator groups on the basis of complementarity can include a high proportion of other species9,10. Here we tested the hypothesis that species threatened with extinction are not likely to be well covered by indicator groups. Whereas sites selected using each of six taxonomic indicator groups included relatively large percentages of other species, they provided little coverage for at-risk species. Furthermore, the probability of inclusion in selected sites was related to the area of a species' range, as evidenced by thresholds above which species were included, but below which the probability of inclusion was variable. Of potential importance and utility, at-risk species themselves performed well as an indicator group, covering a relatively large proportion of all other species.