24
Mark Burgman et al.
IUCN (1994) International Union for the Conservation of Nature, draft red list categories.
World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland
Mace GM, Lande R (1991) Assessing extinction threats: toward a reevaluation of IUCN
threatened species categories. Conservation Biology 5:148–157
McCarthy MA (1998) Identifying declining and threatened species with museum data.
Biological Conservation 83:9–17.
Peterman, RM (1990) The importance of reporting statistical power: the forest decline and
acidic deposition example. Ecology 71:2024 –2027
Siegal S, Castellan NJ Jr (1988) Nonparametric statistics for the behavioral sciences.
McGraw-Hill, New York
Solow AR (1993) Inferring extinction from sighting data. Ecology 74:962–964
Appendix: Interpretation of Collection Information
The paragraphs in this appendix provide details of interpretations of collection
patterns on 23 conservation taxa highlighted by the analyses.
Acacia ancistrophylla var. perarcuata is a relatively unspectacular taxon that
has only recently been recognized formally. Most collections were probably random. The variety is unlikely to be at risk, despite the paucity of collections since
1979. Variation in taxonomic interest is the most likely explanation.
A. aprica was known from only two populations, one on a road verge and one in
a small reserve, at the time of these analyses. It was the subject of active taxonomic study in the period up to 1982. The absence of collections since 1982 may
be because it was not included in the priority flora list until recently and because
of the death of an active collector in the region where it occurs. Subsequent to our
analysis, an independent survey located three new populations, all in close proximity to the original populations and all on degraded road verges. The continued
degradation of road verges in the area where this species occurs raises concerns
for the long-term survival of this species (D. Papenfus, personal communication).
A. auratiflora was collected five times between 1968 and 1974. The absence of
records since 1974 lends support to the need for further survey.
A. auricoma has distinctive facies, and it is likely to be collected if encountered.
The reason for the lack of collections since 1983 may relate to the fact that it has a
restricted distribution in the remote ranges of central Australia. Collections may
be linked to the timing of expeditions.
A. bifaria is superficially similar to, and only recently segregated from, A.
glaucoptera, a common and widespread species that is readily recognized by most
field workers. There have been no opportunistic collections of A. bifaria since
1980 when the taxon was the subject of active taxonomic study, and the absence
of collections since 1980 is probably due to changes in taxonomic interest.
A. aff. eremophila is attractive and floriferous and is therefore likely to be
collected opportunistically if encountered. The lack of collections since 1984 may
relate, at least in part, to the fact that the taxon has a patchy distribution in remote
areas of the southwestern arid zone. However, most collections appear to have
been made opportunistically by a variety of people. Collection frequency does not
Mark Burgman et al.
IUCN (1994) International Union for the Conservation of Nature, draft red list categories.
World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland
Mace GM, Lande R (1991) Assessing extinction threats: toward a reevaluation of IUCN
threatened species categories. Conservation Biology 5:148–157
McCarthy MA (1998) Identifying declining and threatened species with museum data.
Biological Conservation 83:9–17.
Peterman, RM (1990) The importance of reporting statistical power: the forest decline and
acidic deposition example. Ecology 71:2024 –2027
Siegal S, Castellan NJ Jr (1988) Nonparametric statistics for the behavioral sciences.
McGraw-Hill, New York
Solow AR (1993) Inferring extinction from sighting data. Ecology 74:962–964
Appendix: Interpretation of Collection Information
The paragraphs in this appendix provide details of interpretations of collection
patterns on 23 conservation taxa highlighted by the analyses.
Acacia ancistrophylla var. perarcuata is a relatively unspectacular taxon that
has only recently been recognized formally. Most collections were probably random. The variety is unlikely to be at risk, despite the paucity of collections since
1979. Variation in taxonomic interest is the most likely explanation.
A. aprica was known from only two populations, one on a road verge and one in
a small reserve, at the time of these analyses. It was the subject of active taxonomic study in the period up to 1982. The absence of collections since 1982 may
be because it was not included in the priority flora list until recently and because
of the death of an active collector in the region where it occurs. Subsequent to our
analysis, an independent survey located three new populations, all in close proximity to the original populations and all on degraded road verges. The continued
degradation of road verges in the area where this species occurs raises concerns
for the long-term survival of this species (D. Papenfus, personal communication).
A. auratiflora was collected five times between 1968 and 1974. The absence of
records since 1974 lends support to the need for further survey.
A. auricoma has distinctive facies, and it is likely to be collected if encountered.
The reason for the lack of collections since 1983 may relate to the fact that it has a
restricted distribution in the remote ranges of central Australia. Collections may
be linked to the timing of expeditions.
A. bifaria is superficially similar to, and only recently segregated from, A.
glaucoptera, a common and widespread species that is readily recognized by most
field workers. There have been no opportunistic collections of A. bifaria since
1980 when the taxon was the subject of active taxonomic study, and the absence
of collections since 1980 is probably due to changes in taxonomic interest.
A. aff. eremophila is attractive and floriferous and is therefore likely to be
collected opportunistically if encountered. The lack of collections since 1984 may
relate, at least in part, to the fact that the taxon has a patchy distribution in remote
areas of the southwestern arid zone. However, most collections appear to have
been made opportunistically by a variety of people. Collection frequency does not