> New method rates species on the EDGE
New method rates species on the EDGE
April 5, 2007
Some endangered species are now living on the EDGE.
EDGE (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered), is a new method of prioritizing species for conservation.
Simon Fraser University graduate student Dave Redding, working with biologist Arne Mooers, is helping to pioneer the method, which assigns values to endangered animal species more quantitatively than current methods.
Using EDGE, researchers assign every species an 'originality' value based on its evolutionary isolation, then multiply that value by the probability that the species will become extinct.
The approach is now the focus of a major conservation scheme at the London Zoological Society (www.edgeofexistence.org).
Working with the London Zoo and other organizations, Redding is applying this method to all of the world's birds. His preliminary results show that the Edge-iest species is the Kagu, a threatened heron-like bird found on New Caledonia in the South Pacific.
The Baiji, or Yangtze River dolphin, was highlighted as the highest priority mammal in an earlier study.
Closer to home in B.C., the rarely seen mountain beaver has been promoted from 1065th highest priority mammal in the world to the 195th most important, suggesting added importance should be placed on our local populations.
Mooers and Redding are investigating how scientific protocol could be changed so that more attention can be placed on such species as the tailed frog, one of the most original species in the world. Concern for the creature was raised during the upgrade of the alpine run at Whistler.
Redding is currently working on his PhD at SFU while Mooers is in Germany (until July) at the interdisciplinary Institute of Advanced Study in Berlin.
EDGE (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered), is a new method of prioritizing species for conservation.
Simon Fraser University graduate student Dave Redding, working with biologist Arne Mooers, is helping to pioneer the method, which assigns values to endangered animal species more quantitatively than current methods.
Using EDGE, researchers assign every species an 'originality' value based on its evolutionary isolation, then multiply that value by the probability that the species will become extinct.
The approach is now the focus of a major conservation scheme at the London Zoological Society (www.edgeofexistence.org).
Working with the London Zoo and other organizations, Redding is applying this method to all of the world's birds. His preliminary results show that the Edge-iest species is the Kagu, a threatened heron-like bird found on New Caledonia in the South Pacific.
The Baiji, or Yangtze River dolphin, was highlighted as the highest priority mammal in an earlier study.
Closer to home in B.C., the rarely seen mountain beaver has been promoted from 1065th highest priority mammal in the world to the 195th most important, suggesting added importance should be placed on our local populations.
Mooers and Redding are investigating how scientific protocol could be changed so that more attention can be placed on such species as the tailed frog, one of the most original species in the world. Concern for the creature was raised during the upgrade of the alpine run at Whistler.
Redding is currently working on his PhD at SFU while Mooers is in Germany (until July) at the interdisciplinary Institute of Advanced Study in Berlin.