A return-on-investment approach for prioritization of rigorous taxonomic research needed to inform responses to the biodiversity crisis

Melville, Jane;Chapple, David F.;Keogh, J. Scott;Sumner, Joanna;Amey, Andrew;Bowles, Phil;Brennan, Ian G.;Couper, Patrick;Donnellan, Stephen C.;Doughty, Paul;Edwards, Danielle L.;Ellis, Ryan J.;Esquerré, Damien;Fenker, Jéssica;Gardner, Michael G.;Georges, Arthur;Haines, Margaret L.;Hoskin, Conrad J.;Hutchinson, Mark;Moritz, Craig;Nankivell, James;Oliver, Paul;Pavón-Vázquez, Carlos J.;Pepper, Mitzy;Rabosky, Daniel L.;Sanders, Kate;Shea, Glenn;Singhal, Sonal;Wilmer, Jessica Worthington;Tingley, Reid

Conrad Hoskin

Abstract

Global biodiversity loss is a profound consequence of human activity. Disturbingly, biodiversity loss is greater than realized because of the unknown number of undocumented species. Conservation fundamentally relies on taxonomic recognition of species, but only a fraction of biodiversity is described. Here, we provide a new quantitative approach for prioritizing rigorous taxonomic research for conservation. We implement this approach in a highly diverse vertebrate group—Australian lizards and snakes. Of 870 species assessed, we identified 282 (32.4%) with taxonomic uncertainty, of which 17.6% likely comprise undescribed species of conservation concern. We identify 24 species in need of immediate taxonomic attention to facilitate conservation. Using a broadly applicable return-on-investment framework, we demonstrate the importance of prioritizing the fundamental work of identifying species before they are lost.

Journal

PLoS Biology

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PLoS Biology

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ISBN/ISSN

1545-7885

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Public Library of Science

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DOI

10.1371/journal.pbio.3001210