Analysis of taxonomic distinctness and priority conservation areas as a basis for heritage enhancement of floristic diversity: the case of the 'hotspot' of the islands of Numidia (North-Eastern Algeria)

Abstract

The identification of priority conservation areas (PCA) plays an important role in biodiversity conservation, but uncertainties create challenges for conservation planning. The objective was to test a method based on 'taxonomic distinctness' (TD) and to identify PCA to quantify the heritage value of a territory and establish the most appropriate conservation measures. The researchers performed a systematic and phytogeographical analysis of ten islands in northeastern Algeria, a biological hotspot with heterogeneous ecosystem types and subject to socio-economic pressures. The biological diversity represented by 223 species in these environments reflects a high rate of endemicity (13%). The floristic similarity between the islands is estimated at 89.9%. Additionally, four distinct plant groups have been identified by the canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). These groupings are linked to the edaphic characteristics and the degree of insularity.