UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Inferring extinctions III: A cost-benefit framework for listing extinct species

Akçakaya, HR; Keith, DA; Burgman, M; Butchart, SHM; Hoffmann, M; Regan, HM; Harrison, I; (2017) Inferring extinctions III: A cost-benefit framework for listing extinct species. Biological Conservation , 214 pp. 336-342. 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.07.027. Green open access

[thumbnail of Boakes_Inferring Extinctions III.pdf]
Preview
Text
Boakes_Inferring Extinctions III.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (588kB) | Preview

Abstract

Extinction of a species is difficult to detect, yet there are important conservation consequences of classifying an extant species as extinct or an extinct species as extant, and potentially significant costs of making the wrong classification. To deal with the uncertainties of detecting extinctions, some Critically Endangered species are tagged as 'possibly extinct' in the IUCN Red List. Recently developed methods allow calculating the probability that a species is already extinct, P(E), based on threats, time series of records of the species, the intensity of targeted surveys and other factors. We review the potential costs and benefits of classifying extinct and extant species as extinct, possibly extinct, and extant. Benefits of correct classification include the correct estimation of extinction rates, correct analysis of extinction correlates, appropriate allocation of resources, and (if extinct) the recognition of loss of the species. Costs of incorrectly classifying extant species as extinct include the "Romeo error" (premature cessation of conservation, leading to the possible extinction of the species), and the loss of scientific credibility upon rediscovery of presumed extinct species. Costs of incorrectly classifying extinct species as extant include inefficient use of resources and underestimating extinction rates. Based on these costs and benefits, we propose a framework for setting thresholds of P(E) for classifying species as extinct, possibly extinct, and extant.

Type: Article
Title: Inferring extinctions III: A cost-benefit framework for listing extinct species
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.07.027
Publisher version: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.07.027
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Extinction, Cost-benefit, IUCN Red List
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment > Bartlett School Env, Energy and Resources
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1572774
Downloads since deposit
214Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item