Premium
Conservation science: a 20‐year report card
Author(s) -
Lawler Joshua J.,
Aukema Juliann E.,
Grant Jacqualine B.,
Halpern Benjamin S.,
Kareiva Peter,
Nelson Cara R.,
Ohleth Kris,
Olden Julian D.,
Schlaepfer Martin A.,
Silliman Brian R.,
Zaradic Patricia
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
frontiers in ecology and the environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.918
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1540-9309
pISSN - 1540-9295
DOI - 10.1890/1540-9295(2006)4[473:csayrc]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - biome , threatened species , tundra , biodiversity , geography , ecology , citizen science , global biodiversity , environmental resource management , biodiversity conservation , arctic , biology , ecosystem , habitat , environmental science , botany
We conducted an intensive review of conservation science to find out whether the field has tracked priorities over the past 20 years. A total of 628 papers from the literature, for the years 1984, 1994, and 2004, were surveyed. For each paper, we recorded where conservation research was done and what was studied. We found geographic gaps in conservation research, with marine, tundra, and desert biomes being studied less than other systems. We also found taxonomic gaps, with amphibians being understudied as compared to other, less threatened, taxonomic groups. Finally, we discovered that studies of invasive species are still lacking, despite the magnitude of the threat they pose to global biodiversity. Although there was a weak trend towards filling these gaps between 1984 and 2004, progress has been slow. To be more effective, the research community must quickly redirect research to better match conservation priorities.