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Author |
S. Véron, A. Bernard, E. Lebreton, C. Rodrigues-Vaz, M. Durand, L. Procopio, M. Hélion, M. Gayot, G. Viscardi, G. A. Krupnick, C. M. S. Carrington, V. Boullet, B. Mallet, A. Dimassi, T. Pailler, J. Hivert, M. Lebouvier, P. Agnola, D. Bruy, G. Gateblé, G. Lannuzel, S. Meyer, O. Gargominy, G. Gigot, V. Invernon, S. Leblond, M. Pignal, S. Tercerie, S. Muller, G. Rouhan |
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Abstract |
Assessment methods have been developed to estimate a preliminary conservation status for species and subsequently to facilitate the building of Red Lists. Such pre-assessment methods could be particularly useful in the French Overseas Territories (FOTs) where Red Lists tend to be out-dated or absent and where a high number of endemic species face detrimental anthropogenic pressures. We first aimed to conduct a preliminary assessment (hereafter, pre-assessment) of the conservation status of endemic plants from Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, Mayotte, French sub-Antarctic islands, New Caledonia, and Scattered Islands. We then compared the various methods used in conducting the pre-assessment and discussed ways to adapt these methods to small territories. We compiled occurrence data of endemic species identified thanks to a previous taxonomic work and pre-assessed their conservation status under Red List criteria A and B and the use of a Random Forest algorithm. We then measured the accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity of each method based on existing Red Lists. The Random Forest algorithm and a method based on range-size performed best at correctly attributing conservation status. Using these pre-assessment methods, we estimated that up to 60% of the endemic flora of the FOTs is potentially threatened. Range restriction but also anthropogenic pressures were key factors that explained these risks. Pre-assessment methods are useful tools to get a first measure of species conservation status. These methods should be adapted to the territories considered and their conservation issues in order to reach a good performance. |
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