荷兰自然生物多样性中心Renato A. F. de Lima的课题组宣布，他们最新的综合保护评估显示，大西洋森林树木的灭绝风险很高。这一研究成果发表在2024年1月12日出版的国际学术期刊《科学》上。
课题组人员利用多个国际自然保护联盟(IUCN)红色名录标准，来评估多种灭绝风险和数以百万计的植物标本馆和森林清查记录，对大西洋森林生物多样性热点地区的所有树种(包括约1100种迄今未评估的树种)进行了自动保护评估。约65%的物种和82%的特有物种被列为受威胁物种。
课题组人员重新发现了世界自然保护联盟红色名录上被列为已灭绝的5个物种，并确定了13种可能灭绝的地方性物种。物种信息的不确定性对评估影响不大，但使用较少的红色名录标准严重低估了威胁水平。研究强调，全球热带森林的保护状况比以往报道的要更差。
据了解，全球生物多样性正在下降，但许多生物多样性热点地区仍缺乏全面的物种保护评估。
附：英文原文
Title: Comprehensive conservation assessments reveal high extinction risks across Atlantic Forest trees
Author: Renato A. F. de Lima, Gilles Dauby, André L. de Gasper, Eduardo P. Fernandez, Alexander C. Vibrans, Alexandre A. de Oliveira, Paulo I. Prado, Vinícius C. Souza, Marinez F. de Siqueira, Hans ter Steege
Issue&Volume: 2024-01-12
Abstract: Biodiversity is declining globally, yet many biodiversity hotspots still lack comprehensive species conservation assessments. Using multiple International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria to evaluate extinction risks and millions of herbarium and forest inventory records, we present automated conservation assessments for all tree species of the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot, including ~1100 heretofore unassessed species. About 65% of all species and 82% of endemic species are classified as threatened. We rediscovered five species classified as Extinct on the IUCN Red List and identified 13 endemics as possibly extinct. Uncertainties in species information had little influence on the assessments, but using fewer Red List criteria severely underestimated threat levels. We suggest that the conservation status of tropical forests worldwide is worse than previously reported.
DOI: abq5099