Abstract
Species richness is predominantly used as one of the fundamental measures of biodiversity for prioritization of areas for conservation. However, species richness often underestimates true diversity, as it does not take into account the evolutionary histories of the species in an area. In this regard, phylogenetic diversity, which incorporates information regarding species relationships in calculating diversity, has been proposed as an alternative. Here we compare species richness and phylogenetic diversity of mammals in nine sanctuaries to explore the importance and use of evolutionary relationships in characterizing diversity. Our analyses suggest that even though species richness and phylogenetic diversity are correlated, they are often decoupled. Importantly, areas with low species richness might harbour high phylogenetic diversity and vice-versa. We recommend the use of both the diversity measures for a holistic understanding of biodiversity and for prioritization of areas for conservation.References
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