Conserving the functional and phylogenetic trees of life of European tetrapods.

ABSTRACT: Protected areas (PAs) are pivotal tools for biodiversity conservation on the Earth. Europe has had an extensive protection system since Natura 2000 areas were created in parallel with traditional parks and reserves. However, the extent to which this system covers not only taxonomic diversity but also other biodiversity facets, such as evolutionary history and functional diversity, has never been evaluated. Using high-resolution distribution data of all European tetrapods together with dated molecular phylogenies and detailed trait information, we first tested whether the existing European protection system effectively covers all species and in particular, those with the highest evolutionary or functional distinctiveness. We then tested the ability of PAs to protect the entire tetrapod phyl

SUBMITTER: Thuiller W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4290419 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature