Phylogeny and Conservation

[Les Kaufman]

Data on phylogenetic uniqueness can be important in conservation
decisionmaking, though they would never stand completely on their own.
This information can have profound impact in fisheries (where species
complexes have been mismanaged as single species on several occasions), and
in "captive propagation rescue" efforts for terminally endangered taxa.  It
is not a solitary criterion for setting conservation priorities across the
board, nor does it have to be in order to justify the significance of
phylogenetics to conservation.

Les Kaufman
Boston University Marine Program
Department of Biology
Boston University
5 Cummington Street
Boston, MA 02215

e-mail: lesk at bio.bu.edu
phone: 617-353-5560
fax:   617-353-6340