@article{9b45fefd3e9843719d101a40b20816c8,
title = "A return-on-investment approach for prioritization of rigorous taxonomic research needed to inform responses to the biodiversity crisis",
abstract = "Global biodiversity loss is a profound consequence of human activity. Disturbingly, biodiversity loss is greater than realized because of the unknown number of undocumented species. Conservation fundamentally relies on taxonomic recognition of species, but only a fraction of biodiversity is described. Here, we provide a new quantitative approach for prioritizing rigorous taxonomic research for conservation. We implement this approach in a highly diverse vertebrate group—Australian lizards and snakes. Of 870 species assessed, we identified 282 (32.4%) with taxonomic uncertainty, of which 17.6% likely comprise undescribed species of conservation concern. We identify 24 species in need of immediate taxonomic attention to facilitate conservation. Using a broadly applicable return-on-investment framework, we demonstrate the importance of prioritizing the fundamental work of identifying species before they are lost.",
author = "Jane Melville and Chapple, {David G.} and {Scott Keogh}, J. and Joanna Sumner and Andrew Amey and Phil Bowles and Brennan, {Ian G.} and Patrick Couper and Donnellan, {Stephen C.} and Paul Doughty and Edwards, {Danielle L.} and Ellis, {Ryan J.} and Damien Esquerr{\'e} and J{\'e}ssica Fenker and Gardner, {Michael G.} and Arthur Georges and Haines, {Margaret L.} and Hoskin, {Conrad J.} and Mark Hutchinson and Craig Moritz and James Nankivell and Paul Oliver and Pav{\'o}n-V{\'a}zquez, {Carlos J.} and Mitzy Pepper and Rabosky, {Daniel L.} and Kate Sanders and Glenn Shea and Sonal Singhal and Wilmer, {Jessica Worthington} and Reid Tingley",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Melville et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.",
year = "2021",
month = jun,
doi = "10.1371/journal.pbio.3001210",
language = "English",
volume = "19",
journal = "PLoS Biology",
issn = "1544-9173",
publisher = "Public Library of Science",
number = "6",
}