[en] We examined six groups of taxa - woody plants, aquatic and terrestrial herpetofauna, small terrestrial birds, orchids, and Orthoptera - to determine their efficiency as biodiversity indicators in the Dadia Reserve in northern Greece. We investigated the indicator value of each group by examining the degree of congruence of its species-richness pattern with that of the other groups and the efficiency of its complementary network in conserving the other groups and biodiversity. The two techniques differed in many respects in their outputs, but they both showed woody plants as the best biodiversity indicator. There was in general low congruence in the species richness patterns across the different groups. Significant relationships were found between woody plants and birds, Orthoptera and terrestrial herpetofauna, and birds and aquatic herpetofauna. None of the optimal complementary networks of the groups we examined protected all species of the other groups. Nevertheless, the complementary network of woody plants adequately conserved all groups except orchids. We conclude that the principle of complementarity must be integrated into the methodology of evaluating an indicator. In an applied context, our results provide a scientific background on which to base a biomonitoring program for the Dadia Reserve. In a wider scope, if the group of woody plants prove an adequate biodiversity indicator for other Mediterranean areas as well, this will be important because it will facilitate conservation-related decisions for the entire Mediterranean region.
Disciplines :
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Kati, V.; Dept. Environ. and Nat. Rsrc. Mgmt., University of Ioannina, Seferi 2, 30100 Agrinio, Greece
Devillers, P.; Inst. Roy. Sci. Naturelles Belgique, Sect. de Biologie de la Conservation, Rue Vautier 29, B-1000 Brussells, Belgium
Dufrêne, Marc ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Biodiversité et Paysage
Legakis, A.; Department of Biology, Zoological Museum, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, Greece
Vokou, D.; Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Lebrun, Philippe
Language :
English
Title :
Testing the value of six taxonomic groups as biodiversity indicators at a local scale
Publication date :
2004
Journal title :
Conservation Biology
ISSN :
0888-8892
eISSN :
1523-1739
Publisher :
Blackwell Publishing, Malden, United States - Massachusetts
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