Species coverage of the Sampled Red List Index
Biodiversity conservation has in the past mainly concentrated on charismatic megafauna, such as mammals and birds. The IUCN Red List now contains complete assessments for mammals, birds and amphibians - and reptile and fish assessments are well on the way, in part due to the SRLI project. But what about the majority of our biodiversity which is represented by invertebrates and plants?
The number of described species in lesser known groups, such as invertebrates and plants, still lags a long way behind the estimated global total species richness, and conservation status of these species groups is therefore largely unknown.
Many of these groups play vital roles in the functioning of our ecosystem and therefore to our own well-being.
One of the major conservation challenges lays in the assessment of the conservation status the larger groups that represent the majority of the world’s biodiversity, such as invertebrates and plants.
Broadening species coverage: the SRLI species groups
The following species groups are covered by the SRLI.
Work started in 2007 and is expected to finish in 2010 in time for the 2010 Convention on Biological Diversity.
- Comprehensive assessments are complete for amphibians, birds, crayfish, freshwater crabs, lobsters, mammals and reef-building corals
- Comprehensive assessments are underway for cephalopods
- Sampled assessments are complete for dragonflies, fish and reptiles
- Sampled assessments are underway for butterflies, dung beetles, freshwater molluscs, gymnosperms and monocotyledon plants
Sampled Red List Index species groups
Click on the photo icons to find out more aout each species group.
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Related projects using the Sampled Red List approach
A group of fungi (Ascomycota) has also been assessed using the Sampled Red List approach. This work was carried out by Dr David Minter. At present, data deficiency is very high in this group (95%) which makes it unsuitable for inclusion in the Sampled Red List Index. Future reassessments will hopefully reduce levels of data deficiency.
Find out more about the Global Sampled Red List of Ascomycota .
