2. Inferring Threat from Scientific Collections
21
number of populations, and geographic range are static properties of a taxon and
are not considered by the equations applied here. Instead, these equations provide
some insight into dynamic population attributes in that they integrate changes
through time in population size and geographic range. On the basis of district
management plans, the Department of Conservation and Land Management
(CALM) gave priority for survey to approximately 20 taxa in the Katanning
district that were part of the analyses conducted here. CALM’s priorities were set
on the basis of information from regional and district surveys and the conventional wisdom of ecologists, taxonomists, and collectors. Only one of the 20
species, A. auratiflora, was detected in our analyses. Similarly, CALM is systematically surveying all P1 and P2 taxa, a total of 16 Acacia taxa, within their south
coast region. However, only two of these (A. microneura and A. prismifolia) were
highlighted in our analyses. In total, only four species were highlighted in these
results and were recommended independently for detailed survey for consideration as declared rare flora: A. aprica, A. microneura, A. prismifolia, and A.
kingiana.
The different equations produce different results. None of the equations provides better or worse information than the others. Rather, each is sensitive to
different patterns of change and therefore to different patterns of deviation from a
simple random process (Burgman et al. 1995). All have a useful role to play in the
exploration of collection information.
Collection Patterns
The preponderance of small probabilities resulting from the equations (Fig. 2.6)
may suggest that there exists in Western Australia a statewide process (or processes) that is affecting the distribution and abundance of many species. It may
also suggest that there are systematic factors at play such as collection protocols
and herbarium curatorial procedures that affect the collection patterns of many
species in the same way.
Collections are made for many different reasons, including scientific research,
biological survey, and curiosity. For example, a taxonomist working on any group
is also likely to collect relevant material at the time of working on the taxon.
However, once the taxonomist is able to describe adequately the nature of the
morphological variation, the taxon is unlikely to be a target of further sustained
collection. Future collections by the specialist are likely to include only geographic range extensions, and thus collections may diminish. Plants that are rarely
collected are more prone to the biases that result from variations in taxonomic
interest. For example, A. pygmaea and A. semicircinalis are both endemic to the
Wongan Hills, and neither has declined in abundance or distribution within the
past one or two decades. However, A. pygmaea is more rarely collected, and the
probabilities resulting from the equations are smaller, reflecting the greater influence of variations in collection intensity due to taxonomic interest. Similarly, if
collections are neither taxonomically nor geographically informative, they may be
destroyed to save the cost of processing and housing specimens. It is also possible
21
number of populations, and geographic range are static properties of a taxon and
are not considered by the equations applied here. Instead, these equations provide
some insight into dynamic population attributes in that they integrate changes
through time in population size and geographic range. On the basis of district
management plans, the Department of Conservation and Land Management
(CALM) gave priority for survey to approximately 20 taxa in the Katanning
district that were part of the analyses conducted here. CALM’s priorities were set
on the basis of information from regional and district surveys and the conventional wisdom of ecologists, taxonomists, and collectors. Only one of the 20
species, A. auratiflora, was detected in our analyses. Similarly, CALM is systematically surveying all P1 and P2 taxa, a total of 16 Acacia taxa, within their south
coast region. However, only two of these (A. microneura and A. prismifolia) were
highlighted in our analyses. In total, only four species were highlighted in these
results and were recommended independently for detailed survey for consideration as declared rare flora: A. aprica, A. microneura, A. prismifolia, and A.
kingiana.
The different equations produce different results. None of the equations provides better or worse information than the others. Rather, each is sensitive to
different patterns of change and therefore to different patterns of deviation from a
simple random process (Burgman et al. 1995). All have a useful role to play in the
exploration of collection information.
Collection Patterns
The preponderance of small probabilities resulting from the equations (Fig. 2.6)
may suggest that there exists in Western Australia a statewide process (or processes) that is affecting the distribution and abundance of many species. It may
also suggest that there are systematic factors at play such as collection protocols
and herbarium curatorial procedures that affect the collection patterns of many
species in the same way.
Collections are made for many different reasons, including scientific research,
biological survey, and curiosity. For example, a taxonomist working on any group
is also likely to collect relevant material at the time of working on the taxon.
However, once the taxonomist is able to describe adequately the nature of the
morphological variation, the taxon is unlikely to be a target of further sustained
collection. Future collections by the specialist are likely to include only geographic range extensions, and thus collections may diminish. Plants that are rarely
collected are more prone to the biases that result from variations in taxonomic
interest. For example, A. pygmaea and A. semicircinalis are both endemic to the
Wongan Hills, and neither has declined in abundance or distribution within the
past one or two decades. However, A. pygmaea is more rarely collected, and the
probabilities resulting from the equations are smaller, reflecting the greater influence of variations in collection intensity due to taxonomic interest. Similarly, if
collections are neither taxonomically nor geographically informative, they may be
destroyed to save the cost of processing and housing specimens. It is also possible