Genetic diversity among and within populations of all species is necessary for people and the planet to survive in a changing world. This perspective article comments on how CBD goals and targets have evolved, what improvements are still needed, lessons learned from this process, and connections between goals and targets and the actions and reporting that will be needed to maintain, protect, manage and monitor genetic diversity.
Many of the world's ecosystems are at risk: 10% of ecosystems are artificially created and maintained by humans yet occupy more than 30% of the Earth's land surface - what is left is home to 94% of threatened species on the IUCN Red List. The ecosystem typology will enable more coordinated and effective biodiversity conservation, critical for human well-being.
It was recently discovered that the sharp-fruit rush Juncus acuminatus Michx., which was described in 1803 for a common wetland plant found from southern Canada through the United States to Mexico and Honduras, was invalid as another name, Juncus acuminatus Balb., predated it by two years when published in 1801.
Looking at 11 species from a clade of jewelflowers, this study finds that fitness homeostasis of genotypes can be a major factor contributing to niche breadth and range size in this clade. Fitness homeostasis can buffer species from loss of genetic diversity and under changing climates and provides time for adaption to future conditions.
The Global Tree Assessment aims to complete threat assessments for all the world's ~60,000 tree species, but most species native to the continental United States had either never been assessed or were outdated on the two most widely used threat assessment platforms in the United States, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and NatureServe.
This study reveals that only about 5% of ecosystems within the Tropical Andes biodiversity hotspot are adequately represented in designated protected areas. However, the number of ecosystem types adequately protected could increase to 31% if governments and civil society act to protect Key Biodiversity Areas – places that meet the internationally recognized standard for sites that contribute significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity.
Among North American wildflowers, few are as beloved and culturally relevant as Trilliums. A new report led by the ABQ BioPark, NatureServe, and Mt. Cuba Center, analyzed risk factors to these plants and found that 32% of all North American Trillium species or varieties are threatened with extinction.
This paper highlights a major research–implementation gap in the application of the wide variety of assessment methods, which could be bridged by providing users with easy access to the most relevant tools, hands-on training, and strengthening communication.
In this analysis, a new framework for assessing climate change vulnerability was applied to a cross-section of 33 upland ecosystem types in the United States. All 33 types were listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered, demonstrating the use of this input to the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems.