Key Neotropical ecoregions for conservation of terrestrial vertebrates

Author(s)

Loyola, Rafael D. ^[1] ; Kubota, Umberto ^[1] ; da Fonseca, Gustavo A. B. ^{[2, 3]} ; Lewinsohn, Thomas M. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, PG Ecol, BR-13083863 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Global Environm Facil, Washington, DC 20433 - USA

^[3] Univ Fed Minas Gerais, Dept Zool, BR-31270970 Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION; v. 18, n. 8, p. 2017-2031, JUL 2009.
• Web of Science Citations: 29

Abstract

Conservation planning analyses show a striking progression from endeavors targeted at single species or at individual sites, to the systematic assessment of entire taxa at large scales. These, in turn, inform wide-reaching conservation policies and financial investments. The latter are epitomized by global-scale prioritization frameworks, such as the Biodiversity Hotspots. We examine the entire Neotropical region to identify sets of areas of high conservation priority according to terrestrial vertebrate distribution patterns. We identified a set of 49 ecoregions in which 90, 82 and 83%, respectively of total, endemic and threatened vertebrates are represented. A core subset of 11 ecoregions captured 55, 27 and 38% of these groups. The Neotropics hold the largest remaining wilderness areas in the world, and encompass most of the tropical ecosystems still offering significant options for successful broad-scale conservation action. Our analysis helps to elucidate where conservation is likely to yield best returns at the ecoregion scale. (AU)