ESR SPECIAL PrePrint (2008) - Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper reviews the use of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List criteria for saproxylic beetles (Coleoptera) in Sweden and Finland. Of the red-listed saproxylic beetle species, 86% have been red-listed, based on Criterion B, and 12% based on Criterion D, both of which are related to range size. Criteria A (population reduction) and E (quantitative analysis) have not been applied at all, and C (small population size) in few cases only. We argue that there are great challenges in applying objectively the IUCN Red List criteria to saproxylic beetles in national assessments. To meet these challenges, there is a need for well-designed surveys to obtain better estimates of range size, monitoring schemes to detect temporal trends and population level studies to fully evaluate the extinction risk of isolated populations.

KEY WORDS: Coleoptera · Extinction risk · IUCN · Population size estimate · Population viability analysis · Range size