RT Journal Article
T1 Areas of high biodiversity value evidenced by the spatial scaling of phylogenetic uniqueness
A1 Baselga Fraga, Andrés
A1 Martín Devasa, Ramiro María
A1 Gómez Rodríguez, Carola
K1 Distance decay models
K1 Ecological uniqueness
K1 Endemism
K1 Irreplaceability
K1 Phylogenetic dissimilarity
K1 Spatial scaling
AB Distinct biological communities have high conservation value because they harbour species that cannot be preserved elsewhere. However, community uniqueness is scale-dependent: irreplaceability depends on whether community dissimilarity emerges at small or large spatial scales. To assess conservation value, here we integrate phylogenetic endemism with the spatial scaling of phylogenetic uniqueness in terrestrial vertebrates. We show that phylogenetic endemism is the most efficient single criterion to maximise global phylogenetic diversity within the smallest land area. Moreover, the spatial scaling of phylogenetic uniqueness allows distinguishing globally distinct but regionally less unique sites ‘(evolutionary hills)’, from highly irreplaceable sites even at small scales ‘(evolutionary islands)’, which support lower local diversity but host species that are both evolutionarily unique and threatened. This approach provides a non-heuristic and stable baseline to identify high-value biodiversity areas and offers a powerful tool for prioritising conservation efforts to safeguard evolutionary heritage effectively.
PB Wiley
SN 1461-0248
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/42558
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/42558
LA eng
NO Baselga, A., R. Martín-Devasa, and C. Gómez-Rodríguez. 2025. “ Areas of High Biodiversity Value Evidenced by the Spatial Scaling of Phylogenetic Uniqueness.” Ecology Letters 28, no. 7: e70179. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.70179
NO This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through grant no. PID2020-112935GB-I00/AEI/10.13039/50110001103.
DS Minerva
RD 18 abr 2026