title: Phylodiversity to inform conservation policy: An Australian example.
abstract: Phylodiversity measures summarise the phylogenetic diversity patterns of groups of organisms. By using branches of the tree of life, rather than its tips (e.g., species), phylodiversity measures provide important additional information about biodiversity that can improve conservation policy and outcomes. As a biodiverse nation with a strong legislative and policy framework, Australia provides an opportunity to use phylogenetic information to inform conservation decision-making. We explored the application of phylodiversity measures across Australia with a focus on two highly biodiverse regions, the south west of Western Australia (SWWA) and the South East Queensland bioregion (SEQ). We analysed seven diverse groups of organisms spanning five separate phyla on the evolutionary tree of life, the plant genera Acacia and Daviesia, mammals, hylid frogs, myobatrachid frogs, passerine birds, and camaenid land snails. We measured species richness, weighted species endemism (WE) and two phylodiversity measures, phylogenetic diversity (PD) and phylogenetic endemism (PE), as well as their respective complementarity scores (a measure of gains and losses) at 20 km resolution. Higher PD was identified within SEQ for all fauna groups, whereas more PD was found in SWWA for both plant groups. PD and PD complementarity were strongly correlated with species richness and species complementarity for most groups but less so for plants. PD and PE were found to complement traditional species-based measures for all groups studied: PD and PE follow similar spatial patterns to richness and WE, but highlighted different areas that would not be identified by conventional species-based biodiversity analyses alone. The application of phylodiversity measures, particularly the novel weighted complementary measures considered here, in conservation can enhance protection of the evolutionary history that contributes to present day biodiversity values of areas. Phylogenetic measures in conservation can include important elements of biodiversity in conservation planning, such as evolutionary potential and feature diversity that will improve decision-making and lead to better biodiversity conservation outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Science Division, Department of Environment, GPO Box 787, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laity
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Shawn W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Laffan
authors.affiliation: Institute for Applied Ecology and Collaborative Research for Murray-Darling Basin Futures, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Carlos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: González-Orozco
authors.affiliation: The Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 6 College St, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Faith
authors.affiliation: Division of Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity Analysis, The Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Dan F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Rosauer
authors.affiliation: Science and Conservation Division, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983, Australia.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, CSIRO, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
authors.forename: Joseph T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University, Cairns Campus, PO Box 6811, Smithfield, QLD 4878, Australia; Centre for Tropical Environmental Sustainability Science, James Cook University, Cairns Campus, PO Box 6811, Smithfield, QLD 4878, Australia.
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crayn
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Environmental Sustainability Science, James Cook University, Cairns Campus, PO Box 6811, Smithfield, QLD 4878, Australia; Botany Department, National Museum of Natural History, MRC 166, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costion
authors.affiliation: Division of Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity Analysis, The Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Craig C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Moritz
authors.affiliation: Science Division, Department of Environment, GPO Box 787, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Newport
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000379:methods; D058735:Environmental Policy; D010944:Plants / Q000145:classification*
keywords: Conservation planning; Diversity; Phylogenetic diversity; Phylogenetic endemism; Phylogeny; Policy; Species