Is diagnosability an indicator of speciation? Response to "Why one century of phenetics is enough"

Losing the forest for the tree? On the wisdom of subpopulation management

Animal habitats are changing around the world in many ways, presenting challenges to the survival of species. Zoo animal populations are also challenged by small population sizes and limited genetic diversity. Some ex situ populations are managed as subpopulations based on presumed subspecies or geographic locality and related concerns over genetic purity or taxonomic integrity. However, these decisions can accelerate the loss of genetic diversity and increase the likelihood of population extinction. Here I challenge the wisdom of subpopulation management, pointing out significant concerns in the literature with delineation of species, subspecies, and evolutionarily significant units. I also review literature demonstrating the value of gene flow for preserving adaptive potential, the often-misunderstood role of hybridization in evolution, and the likely overstated concerns about outbreeding depression, and preservation of local adaptations. I argue that the most effective way to manage animal populations for the long term be they in human care, in the wild, or if a captive population is being managed for reintroduction, is to manage for maximum genetic diversity rather than managing subpopulations focusing on taxonomic integrity, genetic purity, or geographic locale because selection in the future, rather than the past, will determine what genotypes and phenotypes are the most fit. Several case studies are presented to challenge the wisdom of subpopulation management and stimulate thinking about the preservation of genomes rather than species, subspecies, or lineages because those units evolved in habitats that are likely very different from those habitats today and in the future.

Taxonomic anarchy or an inconvenient truth for conservation? Accelerated species discovery reveals evolutionary patterns and heightened extinction threat in Afro-Malagasy small mammals

We respond to recent criticisms of supposed “taxonomic anarchy” which is said to hamper conservation efforts. Using examples from African small mammals, we document recent increases of 13% (rodents) and 18% (bats) over the past three decades in the number of recognized species of Afro-Malagasy rodents and bats. By reference to a number of case studies involving Afro-Malagasy taxa (predominantly from montane habitats), and a suggested four-criterion approach to delimiting species accurately, we show that these increases are a genuine reflection of speciation in cryptic species complexes. Moreover, we show that some of these cryptic species are subject to increased extinction risks due to small population size and anthropogenic changes (habitat degradation and climate change). These changes were captured accurately in a recent Mammal Red List of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, indicating that taxonomists and conservationists can work together to assess the Red List status of cryptic species based on robust taxonomic revisions.

Emerging and Enduring Issues in Primate Conservation Genetics

Conservation genetics is a branch of conservation biology that uses molecular data to assist in the conservation and management of imperiled populations, subspecies, and species. In this review, I examine conservation action plans (CAPs)—instrumental documents designed to influence conservation policy—for selected primate species. I use the information contained in CAPs as a means to guide this review. The primary genetics-based topics that are mentioned in CAPs are genetic connectivity, inbreeding, and subspecies/species delimitation. I discuss these topics as well as historical demographic inference and hybridization using examples from wild primate species to illustrate the myriad ways in which genetics can assist in conservation efforts. I also discuss some recent technological advances such as genomic capture techniques and the potential to do molecular work in remote locations.

Species delimitation based on diagnosis and monophyly, and its importance for advancing mammalian taxonomy

A recently proposed taxonomic classification of extant ungulates sparked a series of publications that criticize the Phylogenetic Species Concept (PSC) claiming it to be a particularly poor species concept. These opinions reiteratively stated that (1) the two fundamental elements of the "PSC", i.e., monophyly and diagnosability, do not offer objective criteria as to where the line between species should be drawn; and (2) that extirpation of populations can lead to artificial diagnosability and spurious recognitions of species. This sudden eruption of criticism against the PSC is misleading. Problems attributed to the PSC are common to most approaches and concepts that modern systematists employ to establish species boundaries. The controversial taxonomic propositions that sparked criticism against the PSC are indeed highly problematic, not because of the species concept upon which they are based, but because no evidence (whatsoever) has become public to support a substantial portion of the proposed classification. We herein discuss these topics using examples from mammals. Numerous areas of biological research rest upon taxonomic accuracy (including conservation biology and biomedical research); hence, it is necessary to clarify what are (and what are not) the real sources of taxonomic inaccuracy.

Tapping into technology and the biodiversity informatics revolution: updated terrestrial mammal list of Angola, with new records from the Okavango Basin

Using various sources, including the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), published literature, recent (2015–2017) collections, as well as bat detector and camera trap surveys with opportunistic sightings and live capture in the upper Okavango catchment in central Angola, we present an updated mammal checklist of 275 species from 15 different orders for Angola (including the Cabinda region). Recent surveys (captures and bat detectors) of small mammals from the upper Okavango catchment yielded 46 species (33 species of bats, ten species of rodents and three species of shrews). One bat (Pipistrellusrusticus, rusty pipistrelle); two rodents (Mussetzeri, Setzer’s mouse and Zelotomyswoosnami, Woosnam’s broad-faced mouse) and one shrew (Suncusvarilla, lesser dwarf shrew) were captured for the first time, in Angola. While our species lists of bats conformed to predicted totals, terrestrial small mammals were under sampled, with only 13 species recorded by our trapping survey compared to a total of 42 shrew and rodent species expected based on GBIF records for the central Angolan highlands. Seven terrestrial small mammal species (one shrew and six rodents) are endemic to the central and western Angolan highlands but none of these were captured in our survey. The bat detector surveys added three further bat species to the country list: Pipistrellushesperidus, Kerivoulaargentata, and Mopsmidas. Camera trap surveys and opportunistic sightings in the upper Okavango catchment in 2016 yielded a total of 35 species of medium-large mammals, from 17 families, although all of these had been reported previously in Angola. GBIF proved to be an excellent source of biodiversity data for Angolan mammals, most importantly for documenting dramatic historical range changes of larger mammals such as the sable (Hippotragusnigerniger), Kirk’s sable (H.nigerkirkii) and the giant sable (H.nigervariani).

Tapping into technology and the biodiversity informatics revolution: updated terrestrial mammal list of Angola, with new records from the Okavango Basin

Using various sources, including the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), published literature, recent (2015-2017) collections, as well as bat detector and camera trap surveys with opportunistic sightings and live capture in the upper Okavango catchment in central Angola, we present an updated mammal checklist of 275 species from 15 different orders for Angola (including the Cabinda region). Recent surveys (captures and bat detectors) of small mammals from the upper Okavango catchment yielded 46 species (33 species of bats, ten species of rodents and three species of shrews). One bat (Pipistrellusrusticus, rusty pipistrelle); two rodents (Mussetzeri, Setzer's mouse and Zelotomyswoosnami, Woosnam's broad-faced mouse) and one shrew (Suncusvarilla, lesser dwarf shrew) were captured for the first time, in Angola. While our species lists of bats conformed to predicted totals, terrestrial small mammals were under sampled, with only 13 species recorded by our trapping survey compared to a total of 42 shrew and rodent species expected based on GBIF records for the central Angolan highlands. Seven terrestrial small mammal species (one shrew and six rodents) are endemic to the central and western Angolan highlands but none of these were captured in our survey. The bat detector surveys added three further bat species to the country list: Pipistrellushesperidus, Kerivoulaargentata, and Mopsmidas. Camera trap surveys and opportunistic sightings in the upper Okavango catchment in 2016 yielded a total of 35 species of medium-large mammals, from 17 families, although all of these had been reported previously in Angola. GBIF proved to be an excellent source of biodiversity data for Angolan mammals, most importantly for documenting dramatic historical range changes of larger mammals such as the sable (Hippotragusnigerniger), Kirk's sable (H.nigerkirkii) and the giant sable (H.nigervariani).

Impacts of taxonomic inertia for the conservation of African ungulate diversity: an overview

We review the state of African ungulate taxonomy over the last 120 years, with an emphasis on the introduction of the polytypic species concept and the discipline's general neglect since the middle of the 20th century. We single out negative consequences of 'orthodox' taxonomy, highlighting numerous cases of neglect of threatened lineages, unsound translocations that led to lineage introgression, and cases of maladaptation to local conditions including parasitic infections. Additionally, several captive breeding programmes have been hampered by chromosome rearrangements caused by involuntary lineage mixing. We advocate that specimen-based taxonomy should regain its keystone role in mammal research and conservation biology, with its scientific values augmented with genomic evidence. While integration with molecular biology, ecology and behaviour is needed for a full understanding of ungulate alpha diversity, we stress that morphological diversity has been neglected despite its tremendous practical importance for some groups of 'utilizers' such as trophy hunters, wildlife tourists and conservationists. We conclude that there is no evidence that purported 'taxonomic inflation' has adverse effects on ungulate conservation: rather, it is taxonomic inertia that has such adverse effects. We stress that sound science, founded on robust taxonomy, should underpin effective sustainable management (hunting, ranching, captive breeding and reintroduction programmes) of this unique African natural resource.