the evolution of edge: incorporating scientific advances ... · 10,020 4,079 265 (tonini et al....

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 0

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

1

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

Slide 8

tim

e

A

B C

Evolutionarily Distinct…

Evolutionarily Distinct…

Slide 9

tim

e

A

B C

Evolutionarily Distinct…

Slide 10

A

B C

tim

e

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

Slide 16

Slide 17

Slide 18 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 onEDGE sp.

Study changedfocus

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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Slide 30 www.edgeofexistence.org