Systematics and Conservation Evaluation: (50 Systematics Association Special Volumes)

Conservation of the Earth's diversity is one of the most important and daunting challenges faced by biologists and politicians alike. The challenge has been taken up and declarations of intent issued, but there remains a basic problem of defining what we are trying to conserve, and why. This collection of essays reflects the wide range of views that are held of what constitutes biodiversity; from its perception in terms of species numbers, categorization of landforms, or different ecological levels, to a dynamic and socio-political necessity for our own survival. The problems of matching species numbers, variety and the systematic hierarchy to geographic areas which we may wish to save are addressed. Given that we need to set priorites for conservation, it is suggested that the preservation of the systematic hierarchy - as the most complete representation of the evolutionary legacy - should be the goal of conservation. A synthesis of systematics and convservation Outlines methods of selecting priority areas for conversation Challenges the concepts of 'megadiversity' and 'hotspots' Focuses on the problems of monitoring and establishing databases

Table of Contents:
Setting objectives for conservation evaluation, Walter V. Reid; the measurement of biodiversity and the politics of implementation, V.H. Heywood; on what we should save - the role of culture in determining conservation targets, Bryan G. Norton; conservation goals and the configuration of biodiversity, S.J. McNaughton; ecological measures for conserving terrestrial biodiversity - a New Zealand perspective, I.A.E. Atkinson; inventories of biodiversity - more than a question of numbers, N.E. Stork; biodiversity research and biological collections - transfer of information, E.S. Nielsen and J. West; the industrialization of scientific information, B.J. Richardson; a possible method for the rapid assessment of biodiversity, I. Oliver and A.J. Beattie; survey and conservation status of Indian plants, S. Mandal; the use of phytogeographic data for conservation planning, G.T. Prance FRS; assessing local distribution of threatened species - a case study considering the threatened plants of Italy, R.I. Miller et al; the numbers and spatial distributions of species - analyses of British data, J.H. Lawton et al; the relative vulnerabilities of moth higher taxa to habitat change in Borneo, J.D. Holloway; global patterns of endemism and the conservation of biodiversity, S.J. Thirgood and M.F. Heath; species as the "currency" of conservation - the Karoo/Dune/Red Lark complex of south-western Africa, T.M. Crowe et al; basal taxa and the role of cladistic patterns in the evaluation of conservation priorities - a view from freshwater, Melanie L.J. Stiassny and Mario C.C. de Pinna; phylogenetic diversity - a general framework for the prediction of feature diversity, Daniel P. Faith; biodiversity, taxonomic relatedness and endemism in conservation, P. Williams and C.J. Humphries; biodiversity of the Mediterranean region, Pjotr Oosterbroek; systematic assessment of taxic diversity by summation, R.I. Vane-Wright et al; a scientific basis for establishing networks of protected areas, C.R. Margules et al; new procedures for reserve selection in New South Wales - maximizing the chances of achieving a representative network, R.L. Pressey et al; using the proteaceae to design a nature reserve network and determine conservation priorities for the Cape Floristic region, A.G. Rebelo; taxonomy and functional biotic measurement, or, will the ark work?, S.H. Cousins.