Integrating spatial, phylogenetic, and threat assessment data from frogs and lizards to identify areas for conservation priorities in Peninsular Malaysia
Malaysia is recognized as a megadiverse country and biodiversity hotspot which necessitates sufficient levels of habitat protection and effective conservation management. However, conservation planning in Malaysia has hitherto relied largely on species distribution data without taking into account t...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2021-08-01
|
| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989421002006 |
| _version_ | 1818367893701656576 |
|---|---|
| author | Kin Onn Chan L. Lee Grismer |
| author_facet | Kin Onn Chan L. Lee Grismer |
| author_sort | Kin Onn Chan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Malaysia is recognized as a megadiverse country and biodiversity hotspot which necessitates sufficient levels of habitat protection and effective conservation management. However, conservation planning in Malaysia has hitherto relied largely on species distribution data without taking into account the rich evolutionary history of taxa. This represents the first study that integrates spatial and evolutionary approaches to identify important centers of diversity, endemism, and bioregionalization that can be earmarked for conservation priorities in Peninsular Malaysia. Using georeferenced species occurrences, comprehensive phylogenies, and threat assessments of frogs and lizards, we employed a spatial phylogenetics framework that incorporates various diversity metrics including weighted endemism, phylogenetic diversity, phylogenetic endemism, and evolutionary distinctiveness and global endangerment. Ten areas of high conservation value were identified via the intersection of these metrics—northern Perlis, Langkawi Geopark, southern Bintang range, Cameron Highlands, Fraser’s Hill, Benom-Krau complex, Selangor-Genting complex, Endau-Rompin National Park, Seribuat Archipelago (Tioman and Pemanggil Islands), and southern Johor. Of these, Cameron Highlands requires the highest conservation priority based on the high numbers of endangered and evolutionary distinct species coupled with severe environmental degradation and inadequately protected areas. Other areas, especially in the northwestern (states of Kedah and Penang) and northeastern regions (state of Kelantan) were not only identified as areas of high conservation value but also areas of biogeographic importance. Taken together, frogs and lizards demonstrate distinct east-west and north-south patterns of bioregionalization that are largely modulated by mountain ranges. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T22:59:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-83ee35faccbc462ea788fdc14136cbcf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T22:59:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-83ee35faccbc462ea788fdc14136cbcf2022-12-21T23:28:25ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942021-08-0128e01650Integrating spatial, phylogenetic, and threat assessment data from frogs and lizards to identify areas for conservation priorities in Peninsular MalaysiaKin Onn Chan0L. Lee Grismer1Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, 2 Conservatory Drive, 117377, Singapore; Corresponding author.Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Biology, La Sierra University, 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside, CA 92505, USAMalaysia is recognized as a megadiverse country and biodiversity hotspot which necessitates sufficient levels of habitat protection and effective conservation management. However, conservation planning in Malaysia has hitherto relied largely on species distribution data without taking into account the rich evolutionary history of taxa. This represents the first study that integrates spatial and evolutionary approaches to identify important centers of diversity, endemism, and bioregionalization that can be earmarked for conservation priorities in Peninsular Malaysia. Using georeferenced species occurrences, comprehensive phylogenies, and threat assessments of frogs and lizards, we employed a spatial phylogenetics framework that incorporates various diversity metrics including weighted endemism, phylogenetic diversity, phylogenetic endemism, and evolutionary distinctiveness and global endangerment. Ten areas of high conservation value were identified via the intersection of these metrics—northern Perlis, Langkawi Geopark, southern Bintang range, Cameron Highlands, Fraser’s Hill, Benom-Krau complex, Selangor-Genting complex, Endau-Rompin National Park, Seribuat Archipelago (Tioman and Pemanggil Islands), and southern Johor. Of these, Cameron Highlands requires the highest conservation priority based on the high numbers of endangered and evolutionary distinct species coupled with severe environmental degradation and inadequately protected areas. Other areas, especially in the northwestern (states of Kedah and Penang) and northeastern regions (state of Kelantan) were not only identified as areas of high conservation value but also areas of biogeographic importance. Taken together, frogs and lizards demonstrate distinct east-west and north-south patterns of bioregionalization that are largely modulated by mountain ranges.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989421002006EndemismEndemic speciesProtected areaBioregionPhylogenetic diversityRed list |
| spellingShingle | Kin Onn Chan L. Lee Grismer Integrating spatial, phylogenetic, and threat assessment data from frogs and lizards to identify areas for conservation priorities in Peninsular Malaysia Global Ecology and Conservation Endemism Endemic species Protected area Bioregion Phylogenetic diversity Red list |
| title | Integrating spatial, phylogenetic, and threat assessment data from frogs and lizards to identify areas for conservation priorities in Peninsular Malaysia |
| title_full | Integrating spatial, phylogenetic, and threat assessment data from frogs and lizards to identify areas for conservation priorities in Peninsular Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | Integrating spatial, phylogenetic, and threat assessment data from frogs and lizards to identify areas for conservation priorities in Peninsular Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrating spatial, phylogenetic, and threat assessment data from frogs and lizards to identify areas for conservation priorities in Peninsular Malaysia |
| title_short | Integrating spatial, phylogenetic, and threat assessment data from frogs and lizards to identify areas for conservation priorities in Peninsular Malaysia |
| title_sort | integrating spatial phylogenetic and threat assessment data from frogs and lizards to identify areas for conservation priorities in peninsular malaysia |
| topic | Endemism Endemic species Protected area Bioregion Phylogenetic diversity Red list |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989421002006 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kinonnchan integratingspatialphylogeneticandthreatassessmentdatafromfrogsandlizardstoidentifyareasforconservationprioritiesinpeninsularmalaysia AT lleegrismer integratingspatialphylogeneticandthreatassessmentdatafromfrogsandlizardstoidentifyareasforconservationprioritiesinpeninsularmalaysia |