Identifying and assessing the efficiency of different networks of a fine-scale hierarchy of biodiversity hotspots

Abstract

Background: For prioritising practical conservation measures in areas of high endemic plant diversity, a fine-scale hierarchy of sites needs to be established. In this context, conservation sites designed at local and regional levels are considered a network of interconnected areas.

Aims: The main aim was to identify two hierarchical levels of a network of conservation sites, called ‘micro hotspots’ and ‘nano hotspots’, and test their efficiency for achieving conservation objectives across the island of Sardinia, Mediterranean Basin.

Methods: We analysed the spatial distribution of endemic vascular plant species (EVPS) richness. Additionally, the area, perimeter, connectivity and surplus costs for the protection of all endemic plant populations were used as ranking criteria for a hierarchical classification.

Results: We identified eight micro hotspots and 82 nano hotspots. Amongst the three possible solutions compared, the integrated network of micro and nano hotspots resulted in more effective conservation than any of the single-level network solutions with only micro or nano hotspots, and it included 89% of all EVPS in a relatively small areal extent.

Conclusions: The identification of hotspot networks at the regional level allowed determining priority areas to implement conservation efforts for EVPS. The integration of micro hotspots with nano hotspots resulted in the most effective network from both conservation and economic perspectives. We suggest that our model may provide an effective tool for integrated and effective conservation actions in the Mediterranean Basin.

Keywords:

• Areas of endemism
• conservation planning
• endemic vascular plant species
• hierarchical conservation planning
• island flora
• Mediterranean basin
• protected area selection
• species richness

Acknowledgements

The authors thank M. Barry for the linguistic support and the anonymous reviewers for their help with improving this manuscript. This research was partially supported by the local Administration of Seui. The authors thanks the ‘Forestas’ Agency for the logistic support for field research activities. We also thank our reviewers for their valuable feedback on the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplementary Material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

This research was partially supported by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia and the local Administration of Seui.

Notes on contributors

Mauro Fois

Mauro Fois is an environmental scientist with an interest in the spatial aspects of conservation of endangered plants.

Giuseppe Fenu

Giuseppe Fenu is a senior researcher and project manager of plant conservation, with special interest in endemic plant conservation and monitoring.

Gianluigi Bacchetta

Gianluigi Bacchetta is a professor and director of the HBK (Hortus Botanicus Karalitanus); he is deputy head of the Scientific Council of Conservatoire Botanique National, Corse.