Open AccessSpatial mismatch of phylogenetic diversity across three vertebrate groups and protected areas in Europe
Author(s) -
Zupan Laure,
Cabeza Mar,
Maiorano Luigi,
Roquet Cristina,
Devictor Vincent,
Lavergne Sébastien,
Mouillot David,
Mouquet Nicolas,
Renaud Julien,
Thuiller Wilfried
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
diversity and distributions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.918
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1472-4642
pISSN - 1366-9516
DOI - 10.1111/ddi.12186
Subject(s) - convergent evolution , phylogenetic tree , phylogenetic diversity , null model , taxon , biodiversity , ecology , spatial ecology , biology , geography , biochemistry , gene
Aim We investigate patterns of phylogenetic diversity in relation to species diversity for European birds, mammals and amphibians to evaluate their congruence and highlight areas of particular evolutionary history. We estimate the extent to which the European network of protected areas ( PA s) network retains interesting evolutionary history areas for the three groups separately and simultaneously. Location Europe Methods Phylogenetic ( QE PD ) and species diversity ( SD ) were estimated using the Rao's quadratic entropy at 10′ resolution. We determined the regional relationship between QE PD and SD for each taxa with a spatial regression model and used the tails of the residuals ( QE RES ) distribution to identify areas of higher and lower QE PD than predicted. Spatial congruence of biodiversity between groups was assessed with Pearson correlation coefficient. A simple classification scheme allowed building a convergence map where a convergent pixel equalled to a QE RES value of the same sign for the three groups. This convergence map was overlaid to the current PA s network to estimate the level of protection in convergent pixels and compared it to a null expectation built on 1000 randomization of PA s over the landscape. Results QE RES patterns across vertebrates show a strong spatial mismatch highlighting different evolutionary histories. Convergent areas represent only 2.7% of the Western Palearctic, with only 8.4% of these areas being covered by the current PA s network while a random distribution would retain 10.4% of them. QE RES are unequally represented within PA s: areas with higher QE PD than predicted are better covered than expected, while low QE PD areas are undersampled. Main conclusions Patterns of diversity strongly diverge between groups of vertebrates in Europe. Although Europe has the world's most extensive PA s network, evolutionary history of terrestrial vertebrates is unequally protected. The challenge is now to reconcile effective conservation planning with a contemporary view of biodiversity integrating multiple facets.