Identifying high-priority conservation areas in the Atlantic forest: a multicriteria approach using water striders

Abstract

The Atlantic Forest is a biodiversity hotspot highly threatened and devastated. This study identifies areas with conservation priority based on the distribution of 49 Gerridae species. We assessed species richness, phylogenetic diversity and patterns of endemism, and identified climatic refugia using ecological niche models from the Mid-Holocene to 2040. The regions with highest concentration of species, lineages, and endemism aligned with those identified in studies of other taxonomic groups. Refugia patterns also matched with the Carnaval and Moritz model and findings for other taxa. These results informed a spatial conservation prioritization, evaluating both human impacts and current protection levels of the identified areas. Nineteen priority areas, varying in size, disturbance and protection status were recognized. Within these, six micro-hotspots were identified as particularly urgent targets as they concentrate conservation value. These findings highlight the need to direct limited conservation resources toward protecting these key areas to safeguard biodiversity now and in the future.