ABSTRACT
Optimising conservation efforts requires an accurate record of the extant species as well as their geographic distributions. Nevertheless, most current conservation strategies start from an incomplete biodiversity inventory. Argentina has an extraordinary diversity of species, however, until now an updated inventory of its fauna has not been carried out. In this context, the main objective of this work is to present the results of the first national inventory of vertebrate species. Experts from each major vertebrate taxonomic group assembled and compiled its respective inventory. The information gathered included taxonomic rank, conservation status, endemism and geographic distribution. Species richness and representativeness were calculated for each taxonomic group, distinguishing between native, endemic and exotic, for each Argentinian province. Our results show Argentina harbours 3,303 species: 574 marine fish, 561 freshwater fish, 177 amphibians, 450 reptiles, 1,113 birds, and 428 mammals. Native species constitute 98.1% of the total taxa. The results achieved were spatially represented showing a pattern of higher richness from north to south and from east to west. Species considered as threatened account for 17.8% and 15.2% are endemic. There are five Extinct species. These results provide key information on developing strategies and public policies at the national and provincial levels and constitute a tool for the management and conservation of biodiversity.
ABSTRACT
El informe sostiene que conservar la biodiversidad y los servicios ambientales que ofrecen las 18 regiones ecológicas argentinas plantea grandes desafíos. Hay que definir qué regiones merecen un esfuerzo prioritario. Vida Silvestre opina que merecen urgencia el Chaco, la Selva Paranaense o Misionera, el Espinal, la Estepa Patagónica, la Pampa y las Yungas. Los problemas de estas regiones no pueden ser resueltos por medio de una decisión gubernamental y el apoyo de una sola ONG. Comenta que deben ser objeto de mayores esfuerzos las áreas prioritarias para asegurar el mantenimiento de la biodiversidad
Subject(s)
Conservation of Natural Resources , Fauna , Flora , Fishing IndustryABSTRACT
El informe sostiene que conservar la biodiversidad y los servicios ambientales que ofrecen las 18 regiones ecológicas argentinas plantea grandes desafíos. Hay que definir qué regiones merecen un esfuerzo prioritario. Vida Silvestre opina que merecen urgencia el Chaco, la Selva Paranaense o Misionera, el Espinal, la Estepa Patagónica, la Pampa y las Yungas. Los problemas de estas regiones no pueden ser resueltos por medio de una decisión gubernamental y el apoyo de una sola ONG. Comenta que deben ser objeto de mayores esfuerzos las áreas prioritarias para asegurar el mantenimiento de la biodiversidad