Species definitions and conservation: a review and case studies from African mammals

Colin P. Groves; F. P.D. Cotterill; Spartaco Gippoliti; Jan Robovský; Christian Roos; Peter J. Taylor; Dietmar Zinner

doi:10.1007/s10592-017-0976-0

Species definitions and conservation: a review and case studies from African mammals

Colin P. Groves^*, F. P.D. Cotterill, Spartaco Gippoliti, Jan Robovský, Christian Roos, Peter J. Taylor, Dietmar Zinner

^*Corresponding author for this work

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52 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The nature of species, especially as applied to large mammals, is of major concern in conservation. Here, we briefly comment on recent thinking in alpha taxonomy, and assert that species are in essence evolutionary lineages, and that the most effective way of recognising them is by their diagnosability, i.e. the so-called Phylogenetic Species Concept. We further assert that the amount of genetic distance is not a relevant datum for distinguishing species, and that the ability to interbreed is not relevant. We consider a few case studies, especially that of the Northern White Rhinoceros Ceratotherium cottoni, and also species in Loxodonta, Giraffa and Oreotragus.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1247-1256
Number of pages	10
Journal	Conservation Genetics
Volume	18
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-017-0976-0
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2017

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AU - Taylor, Peter J.

AU - Zinner, Dietmar

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Species definitions and conservation: a review and case studies from African mammals

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