The evolution of EDGE: incorporating scientific advances into - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The evolution of EDGE: incorporating scientific advances into phylogenetically- informed conservation prioritisation

• Dr. Nisha Owen

EDGE of Existence Programme Manager

The agony of choice

Conservation bias

Threatened Flagship Umbrella Landscape Keystone Cultural value

Evolutionary Distinctiveness (ED)

A measure of value

A B C D E F G 5 4 3 2 1 Node age/MYBP ED 2.23 2.23 2.73 2.4 2.4 2.75 2.75

1

1 2 1 1 0.5 0.5 4.5 2 1 2 1

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3 1 2 1 1 5 2 2 1 1 1

Global Endangerment (GE)

GE measures urgency of action

EDGE = ln(1+ED)+GE*ln(2)

Isaac et al. 2007

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time A B C

Evolutionarily Distinct…

Evolutionarily Distinct…

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time A B C

Evolutionarily Distinct…

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A B C time

Evolutionarily Distinct…

The Challenge

• unique species representing entire branches of the tree of life
• on the verge of extinction
• overlooked by the conservation agenda

ZSL’s EDGE of Existence programme: the only global conservation initiative focusing on species that are Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered

EDGE species

• Distinct in the way they look, live, behave & in genetic

make-up

• Complementary conservation approach
• Need phylogenetic tree + adequate IUCN assessments

Per taxonomic group:

• > EDGE species (median ED & threatened)
• > top 100
• > high ED + DD / NE / NT species

2007 2014 2011 2008 2016/2017 …

Isaac et. al 2012 Curnick et. al 2015 Jetz et. al 2014 Gumbs et. al in prep

EDGE lists

EDGE Reptiles

Credit: Ryan M. Bolton

Credit: Vladimir Wrangel Credit: Nick Page

Clade All species Red Listed species # imputed spp (phylogeny) Crocodilians 25 23 2 (Oaks 2011) Squamates + tuatara 10,020 4,079 265 (Tonini et al. 2016) Testudines 346 219 214 (Hedges et al. 2015)

Gumbs et. al in prep

Updated EDGE Lists

Clade All species Red Listed species # imputed spp (phylogeny) Amphibians 7,488 4,857 4,213 (Pyron 2014) Birds 10,960 10,960 967 (Jetz et al. 2014) Mammals 5,454 4,479 539 (Kuhn et al. 2011)

Gumbs et. al in prep

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ED: 16.61

OUR VISION

The diversity of life is secured for future generations through locally led conservation initiatives THE SOLUTION

• SCIENCE: a scientific approach for setting conservation

priorities

• CAPACITY-BUILDING: supporting the next generation of

conservation leaders

• CONSERVATION: of neglected EDGE species
• AWARENESS-RAISING: of the most distinct and

threatened species on the planet

• --- > maintaining the diversity of life

EDGE Fellowships

Protect EDGE species by building conservation capacity in-country EDGE Fellows:

• 2-year project on top-priority EDGE species
• £10,000 grant
• Training courses, support & mentoring
• Produce survival blueprint for their species

• 68 Fellowship projects
• 36 countries
• 63 EDGE species

Discovery of new species and populations

• Horton plains red slender loris
• Togo slippery frog

Conservation strategies, legislation and protected areas

• Togo slippery frog
• Sheath-tailed bat

Down-listing species on the red list

• Ambystoma salamanders

Innovative technology

Impact (species)

Impact (Fellows)

• 100% of surveyed Fellows work in

conservation

• 80% leverage matched funding for

their Fellowships

• 76% still work on their EDGE species
• 70% publish in scientific journals
• 100% pass on their knowledge to peers

and colleagues

• 500+ university students
• 250+ gov. employees
• 160+ conservation employees
• 65+ teachers

76% 14% 10%

Continuing to work on their EDGE species

Still work on EDGE sp. Study changed focus Downlisted

EDGE investment in Fellowship Fellows- sourced match funding £489,000 £985,500

Match funding in the EDGE Fellowship

Data from 26 EDGE Fellows

EDGE 2.0

Cutting-EDGE science: 2017 workshop on phylogenetically informed conservation to assess and refine EDGE prioritisation protocol – Addressing uncertainty

• Extinction probabilities & limited RL assessments
• Incomplete / unresolved phylogenies

– Incorporating complementarity (EDGE lineages)

• robust prioritisation lists
• lists for new taxonomic groups
• enabling regular list updates (new species / assessments)

EDGE Zones

Conserving EDGE species?

Sitas et al. 2009 Washington et al. 2015

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www.edgeofexistence.org