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- Title
SETTING PRIORITIES FOR THE CONSERVATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE SPECIES IN FLORIDA.
- Authors
Millsap, Brian A.; Gore, Jeffery A.; Runde, Douglas E.; Cerulean, Susan I.
- Abstract
To help prioritize vertebrate conservation efforts in Florida, we developed a system to rank taxa (species and subspecies) according to biological vulnerability, extent of current knowledge of population status, and management needs. Our system provided a biological score and an action score for 668 taxa native to Florida. Biological scores were the sum of individual scores for 7 variables that reflected different facets of distribution, abundance, and life history. High biological scores indicated greater vulnerability to extirpation. Action scores were the sum of individual scores for 4 variables that reflected the current state of knowledge of the taxon's distribution, population trend, limiting factors, and the current extent of conservation efforts. High action scores denoted poorly known, unmanaged taxa. Five supplemental variables, not used directly in the ranking process, were used to sort and categorize taxa to answer specific questions. A major 2-year effort was required to complete the ranking process. Comparisons of median scores for each vertebrate class and polytypic order revealed broad patterns in the relative status and state of applied knowledge of major vertebrate groups. At the class level, mammals and reptiles had relatively high median biological and action scores (high biological vulnerability and poor knowledge of population status and management needs). Bats (Chiroptera), rodents (Rodentia), turtles (Testudines), snakes (Serpentes), and lizards (Sauria) had relatively high median biological and action scores within these classes. Birds also had a high median biological score, but the median action score was low due to several ongoing conservation programs. Rails and cranes (Gruiformes), herons (Ciconiiformes), hawks and vultures (Falconiformes), owls (Strigiformes), and shorebirds (Charadriiformes) had relatively high median biological and action scores. Biological scores indicated that 294 (44%) of Florida's vertebrate taxa were...
- Subjects
FLORIDA; VERTEBRATES; ANIMALS; WILDLIFE conservation; ANIMAL classification
- Publication
Wildlife Monographs, 1990, Issue 111, p4
- ISSN
0084-0173
- Publication type
Article