Priceless or worthless: conserving Psorodonotus ebneri, one of the World’s 100 most threatened species

OpenAlex İngilizce

Abstract Background The Noah’s Ark metaphor provides a compelling framework for understanding the conservation challenges faced by glacial endemics in high mountain refugia across the West Palearctic. The iconic bush-cricket Psorodonotus ebneri, endemic to Beydağları Mountains in southwest Anatolia, serves as a potential model species for investigating residual taxa within Anatolian ‘Noah’s Ark. Methods Extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, habitat characteristics, population size, threats to existence and genetic diversity of Psorodonotus ebneri were observed/studied for 2 years. Results The species’ area of occupancy is 2.5 km2 within 26 km2 extent of occurrence that is divided into five patches of moist meadows at 1650–1900 m elevation. The population census size was estimated as 960 individuals. The species has been declining in extent of occurrence and due to this has lost considerable genetic diversity during the last 50 years. Conclusions The (i) species Psorodonotus ebneri is ‘Critically Endangered’, (ii) its area of occurrence and population size significantly declined over the past half-century and this trend continues, (iii) it has experienced a notable phenological shift, (iv) it has lost considerable genetic diversity, thereby adaptive potential, (v) global warming and associated environmental changes pose the most serious threats to its survival, and (vi) human activities, particularly herd grazing, represent the second major threat; however, proactive actions of the local communities, such as delaying the grazing season, have contributed to its protection. Unfortunately, this scenario appears to be applicable to all glacial relicts on mountains, the Noah’s Ark for glacial relicts. Implications for insect conservation Global warming changes habitats, especially those in the highlands of the Northern Mediterranean Basin. Drought due to climate change particularly narrows mountain meadows and threatens insect species restricted to such habitats. Additional approaches are needed to protect species with such habitat preferences. Delaying the grazing season by local people served as such a side protection measure and made a serious contribution to the conservation of Psorodonotus ebneri.