Conservation priority for endemic birds of mainland China based on a phylogenetic framework

Abstract

In this report, a conservation priority scenario for endemic birds of mainland China is proposed from a phylogenetic perspective. By utilizing and comparing seven phylogenetic diversity (PD) indices, the study shows that the top five endemic birds with high conservation priority are Ar- borophila ardens, A. gingica, A. rufipectus , Lophophorus lhuysii and Alectoris magna respectively. The ranking of species, based on the IUCN Red List and PD indices, were compared by means of a Wilcox signed rank test and Pearson's correlation, drawing the inference that the PD ranking of endemic birds for mainland China shows a distinct and statistically significant difference from the IUCN rank - ing. Therefore, the ranking of conservation priority for endemic birds of China using PD indices might offer new insights on species conservation from an evolutionary-heritage perspective, serving as a complement to the IUCN ranking.