Page 1 - Gippoliti_Amori_2004_11

Biogeographia vol. XXV- 2004
(Printed December, 30 '" 2004)
Marine Biogeography of the Mediterranean Sea: patterns and dynamics of biodiversity

Mediterranean Island mammals:
are they a priority for biodiversity conservation?

SPARTACO GIPPOLITI, GIOVANNI AMORI
Istituto per lo Studio degli Ecosistemi, CNR

c/o Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell'Uomo,
Università "La Sapienza': VìaA. Bore/li 50-00161 Roma (ltary)

e-mail· spartacolobus@hotmailcom

Keywords: Medirerranean Islands, feral mammals, conservarion priorities, biodiversiry, taxonomy.

SUMMARY

lffiiJOl1tan<:e of ta.xonomy in biologica! conservation is now well established. However, the risk involved in

or subspecifìc status to feral mammals or mammals introduced in the Mediterranean Islands ancient

generally overlooked. In fuct, these 'antropochorous raxa', especially ungulares such as 'wild' and

have became the focus of many narional and internarional conservation acriviries because

aesthetir, symbolic and huming value. This, however, has often lead to a misallocarion ofconservation

indirectly damagìng d1e future prospects for rhe few true surviving insular paleoendemic mamrnals sueh as the Cretan

and Sicilian shrews Crocidura zimmmnanni and Crocidura siCll!a, respectìvely. Conservarion policies simply based on

protectÌQn of anthropocorous mammals- or of birds of prey whose populations depend on such ìnsular mammals
need to oe
re-assessed. Acrually, there is scattered evidence rhat rhis approach represents a further threat to the

whole Nedirerranean island biodiversity. Great caution is especially needed in small, protecred, 'ocean-like' islands where

mammals especìally - are nor hunred and endemism rare is usually high. H ere, rhe growrh

popularions can have dìsastrous effects on biodiversìty throughour bod1 dìsappearance ofsevera! endemie planrs

lack defence and a likely cascade effect o n invertebrate communities. Nowadays, knowledge ofeach island

to assess rhe best management options far anrrophocorous mammals in the interest of

b!od.!v•ersrry conservation.

INTRODUCTION

The importance of taxonomy in the conservation assessments has often been
emphasised in the last years (McNeely, 2002). It is obviously not possible to
protect what is not believed to exist and it is not recognised by taxonomy. This
is the case of the tuatara, Sphenodon spp., as revealed by a well-known study on
its systematic (Daugherry et al., 1990). On the other hand, the opposite problem
also exists. A formal taxonomic recognition could justif}r considerable conservation