The role of subspecies in obscuring avian biological diversity and misleading conservation policy. Zink, R., M. Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society, 271(1539):561-4, 3, 2004.
The role of subspecies in obscuring avian biological diversity and misleading conservation policy. [link]Website  abstract   bibtex   
Subspecies are often used in ways that require their evolutionary independence, for example as proxies for units of conservation. Mitochondrial DNA sequence data reveal that 97% of continentally distributed avian subspecies lack the population genetic structure indicative of a distinct evolutionary unit. Subspecies considered threatened or endangered, some of which have been targets of expensive restoration efforts, also generally lack genetic distinctiveness. Although sequence data show that species include 1.9 historically significant units on average, these units are not reflected by current subspecies nomenclature. Yet, it is these unnamed units and not named subspecies that should play a major role in guiding conservation efforts and in identifying biological diversity. Thus, a massive reorganization of classifications is required so that the lowest ranks, be they species or subspecies, reflect evolutionary diversity. Until such reorganization is accomplished, the subspecies rank will continue to hinder progress in taxonomy, evolutionary studies and especially conservation.
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 title = {The role of subspecies in obscuring avian biological diversity and misleading conservation policy.},
 type = {article},
 year = {2004},
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 keywords = {Animals,Biodiversity,Birds,Birds: classification,Birds: genetics,Conservation of Natural Resources,DNA, Mitochondrial,DNA, Mitochondrial: genetics,Databases, Genetic,Genetics, Population,Species Specificity},
 pages = {561-4},
 volume = {271},
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 abstract = {Subspecies are often used in ways that require their evolutionary independence, for example as proxies for units of conservation. Mitochondrial DNA sequence data reveal that 97% of continentally distributed avian subspecies lack the population genetic structure indicative of a distinct evolutionary unit. Subspecies considered threatened or endangered, some of which have been targets of expensive restoration efforts, also generally lack genetic distinctiveness. Although sequence data show that species include 1.9 historically significant units on average, these units are not reflected by current subspecies nomenclature. Yet, it is these unnamed units and not named subspecies that should play a major role in guiding conservation efforts and in identifying biological diversity. Thus, a massive reorganization of classifications is required so that the lowest ranks, be they species or subspecies, reflect evolutionary diversity. Until such reorganization is accomplished, the subspecies rank will continue to hinder progress in taxonomy, evolutionary studies and especially conservation.},
 bibtype = {article},
 author = {Zink, Robert M},
 journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society},
 number = {1539}
}

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