Conservation of species is of primary global challenge given that one-quarter of animals across the globe are at risk of extinction. Although efforts have been undertaken at global to national scales to document the species that are most at risk, effective management of these species may be limited by lack of sufficient conservation-relevant research. In particular, information may be lacking for the majority of threatened species that are not large and charismatic species. In addition, in some cases research may exist in the international literature but may not be tied to local conservation planning. We used mammals of Chile — a country that has both among the highest percentage of endemic species and the highest rates of threats to native mammals — as a case study to assess the adequacy of conservation-relevant research for high-risk species. Specifically, we reviewed the published literature on 22 IUCN Red-listed terrestrial mammals of Chile to determine whether (1) frequency of publications varies by degree of threat or taxonomic status, (2) research effort aligns with conservation information needs, (3) quantity of publications or relationship between research effort and conservation need changed over time; and (4) research was conducted by investigators from the region versus by foreigners.
Results/Conclusions
Of 22 red-listed mammals in Chile, only four (18%) had publications in each of the conservation relevant information categories (taxonomy, biology, ecology, threats, response to management actions, and human dimensions of conservation). The remaining species (82%) were lacking information in at least one of these categories. The largest gaps in research were on threats (only 11% of the total papers across species), efficacy of management actions to conserve the species (2.6%) and human dimensions of conservation (1.7%). The rate of publication increased until 2012, but dropped off after this peak. Seventy five percent of the articles had first authors from South America. Our findings highlight gaps in information needed for improving management and conservation of Chile’s biodiversity. Results from may be useful for the development of a research agenda to support conservation decision-making in Chile, but also in other countries where trends may be similar.