scholarly journals Misinterpretation of Genomic Data Matters for Endangered Species Listing: The Sub-specific Status of the Peñasco Least Chipmunk (Neotamias minimus atristriatus)

2022 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew G. Hope ◽  
Jennifer K. Frey
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Genomic Data ◽  
Endangered Species Act ◽  
Geographic Isolation ◽  
Reciprocal Monophyly ◽  
Inappropriate Use ◽  
Exon Capture ◽  
Genomic Analyses ◽  
The U.S

We provide a response to a recently published evaluation of the subspecies status of the Peñasco least chipmunk (Neotamias minimus atristriatus). The work we discuss used exon capture genomic approaches and concluded that their results did not support the distinction of this taxon as a subspecies, with recommendation that it be synonymized with N. m. operarius. We refute the interpretations, conclusions, and taxonomic recommendations of this study, and explain in clearer terms how to interpret genomic analyses for applied management. We identify four broad conceptual issues that led to errant recommendations: (1) interpretation of subspecies and diagnosability, (2) inappropriate use of reciprocal monophyly as a criterion for subspecies, (3) importance of geographic isolation, and (4) error in hypothesis testing and misinterpretation of results. We conclude that the data from this genomic appraisal add to information from prior studies providing strong support for recognition of N. m. atristriatus as a subspecies. Our conclusions have important and immediate implications for the proposed listing of N. m. atristriatus as an endangered species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

scholarly journals Misinterpretation of genomic data matters for endangered species listing: the subspecific status of the Peñasco least chipmunk (Neotamias minimus atristriatus)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew G Hope ◽  
Jennifer K. Frey
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Genomic Data ◽  
Endangered Species Act ◽  
Geographic Isolation ◽  
Reciprocal Monophyly ◽  
Inappropriate Use ◽  
Genomic Analyses ◽  
Statistical Support ◽  
The U.S

Puckett et al. (2021. Ecology and Evolution, 11, 12114-12128) evaluated the subspecies status of the Peñasco least chipmunk (Neotamias minimus atristriatus) using genomic approaches and concluded that their results did not support the taxonomic distinction of this endemic mammal as a subspecies and recommended it be synonymized with N. m. operarius. We refute the interpretations, conclusions, and taxonomic recommendations of Puckett et al. (2021), and explain in clearer terms how to interpret genomic analyses for applied management. We identify six conceptual issues that led to the faulty interpretations and recommendations: 1) error in hypothesis testing, 2) overlooking statistical support (or lack thereof) of lineages, 3) inappropriate use of reciprocal monophyly as a criterion for subspecies, 4) importance of geographic isolation and inferences from historical biogeography, 5) diagnosable criteria, and 6) importance of phenotype. We conclude that the data of Puckett et al. (2021) add to information from prior studies providing strong support for N. m. atristriatus as a well-defined taxonomic unit at the rank of subspecies (or species). This finding has important and immediate implications for the proposed listing of N. m. atristriatus as an endangered species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

scholarly journals Extinction and the U.S. Endangered Species Act

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noah Greenwald ◽  
Kieran F Suckling ◽  
Brett Hartl ◽  
Loyal Mehrhoff
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Endangered Species Act ◽  
The United States ◽  
Species Extinction ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
The U.S ◽  
Species Extinctions

The United States Endangered Species Act is one of the strongest laws of any nation for preventing species extinction, but quantifying the Act’s effectiveness has proven difficult. To provide one measure of effectiveness, we identified listed species that have gone extinct and used previously developed methods to update an estimate of the number of species extinctions prevented by the Act. To date, only four species have been confirmed extinct with another 22 possibly extinct following protection. Another 71 listed species are extinct or possibly extinct, but were last seen before protections were enacted, meaning the Act’s protections never had the opportunity to save these species. In contrast, a total of 39 species have been fully recovered, including 23 in the last 10 years. We estimate the Endangered Species Act has prevented the extinction of roughly 291 species since passage in 1973, and has to date saved more than 99 percent of species under its protection.

Testing Decision Rules for Categorizing Species’ Extinction Risk to Help Develop Quantitative Listing Criteria for the U.S. Endangered Species Act

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 821-831 ◽  
Author(s):  
TRACEY J. REGAN ◽  
BARBARA L. TAYLOR ◽  
GRANT G. THOMPSON ◽  
JEAN FITTS COCHRANE ◽  
KATHERINE RALLS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Decision Rules ◽  
Endangered Species Act ◽  
Species Extinction ◽  
The U.S

The Economics of the U.S. Endangered Species Act: A Review of Recent Developments

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Langpap ◽  
Joe Kerkvliet ◽  
Jason F. Shogren
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Endangered Species Act ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The U.S

Allopolyploid Species and the U.S. Endangered Species Act

1994 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 895-897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom A. Ranker ◽  
Anna M. Arft
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Endangered Species Act ◽  
The U.S

Incorporating Climate Science in Applications of the U.S. Endangered Species Act for Aquatic Species

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 1222-1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHELLE M. MCCLURE ◽  
MICHAEL ALEXANDER ◽  
DIANE BORGGAARD ◽  
DAVID BOUGHTON ◽  
LISA CROZIER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Climate Science ◽  
Endangered Species Act ◽  
Aquatic Species ◽  
The U.S

scholarly journals Marine mammals and sea turtles listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act are recovering

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abel Valdivia ◽  
Shaye Wolf ◽  
Kieran Suckling
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Population Change ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Sea Turtles ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
Endangered Species Act ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
The U.S

AbstractThe U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) is the world’s strongest environmental law protecting imperiled plants and animals, and a growing number of marine species have been protected under this law as extinction risk in the oceans has increased. Marine mammals and sea turtles comprise 36% of the 161 ESA-listed marine species, yet analyses of recovery trends after listing are lacking. Here we gather the best available annual population estimates for all marine mammals (n=33) and sea turtles (n=29) listed under the ESA as species. Of these, we quantitatively analyze population trends, magnitude of population change, and recovery status for representative populations of 23 marine mammals and 9 sea turtles, which were listed for more than five years, occur in U.S. waters, and have data of sufficient quality and span of time for trend analyses. Using generalized linear and non-linear models, we found that 78% of marine mammals (n=18) and 78% of sea turtles (n=7) significantly increased after listing; 13% of marine mammals (n=3) and 22% of sea turtles (n=2) showed non-significant changes; while 9% of marine mammals (n=2), but no sea turtles declined after ESA protection. Overall, species with populations that increased in abundance were listed for 20 years or more (e.g., large whales, manatees, and sea turtles). Conservation measures triggered by ESA listing such as ending exploitation, tailored species management, and fishery regulations, among others, appear to have been largely successful in promoting species recovery, leading to the delisting of some species and to increases in most. These findings underscore the capacity of marine mammals and sea turtles to recover from substantial population declines when conservation actions under the ESA are implemented in a timely and effective manner.

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