title: Preserving the tree of life.
abstract: Phylogenies provide new ways to measure biodiversity, to assess conservation priorities, and to quantify the evolutionary history in any set of species. Methodological problems and a lack of knowledge about most species have so far hampered their use. In the future, as techniques improve and more data become accessible, we will have an expanded set of conservation options, including ways to prioritize outcomes from evolutionary and ecological processes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.
authors.forename: Georgina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Mace
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gittleman
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Purvis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002965:Classification / Q000379:methods; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D005843:Geography; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity