How We Can Prioritize Evoltionarily Distinctive Species Through Metrics
Today, scientists are announcing a revolutionary new metric for prioritizing conservation efforts: the Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) score. This score is intended to identify species that are both highly distinct from other species on the planet, and are also at a high risk of extinction. The EDGE score is based on the evolutionary history of species, and is designed to be used in conjunction with other metrics to ensure that conservation efforts are focused on the species that are most in need of protection. With the EDGE score, scientists hope to identify species that are under immediate threat of extinction, and direct resources to ensure their survival.
source: Phys.org