Conservation Priorities for Lizard Biodiversity in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau Under Climate Change: Current Status and Future Strategies

Abstract

Global framework for nature management requires identifying areas of high priority for biodiversity conservation and restoration. The unique environments of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (QXP) provide irreplaceable habitats for biodiversity which is prominent under future climate change. Despite the recent increase in research interest on conservation priorities, there is a lack of comprehensive and targeted protection strategies for pandemic species under climate change. Here, we compiled an exhaustive dataset with the variables of extinction risk and occurrence records of ectothermic lizards to investigate the conservation priorities in the QXP. We assessed the conservation status of the QXP lizards and identified the priority protected areas within the QXP under future climate scenarios using phylogenetic generalized least squares and ensemble species distribution models. Our analyses suggested nine lizard species to be prioritized for protection, with the most critical priority species being Dopasia gracilis, D. harti, and Phrynocephalus putjatai. Moreover, the priority protected areas covered ~4.7% area of the QXP, mostly in the southern QXP and southeastern Hengduan Mountains. Protecting these regions would achieve a conservation effectiveness of ≥ 95% for species richness, phylogenetic and functional diversity under climate change. Our findings provide realistic guidance for improving the conservation effectiveness of specific-lizard and -regions in the QXP under climate change. Our “bottom-up” approach could help the conservation efforts of other regions and species as an alternative to “top-down” global maps.