Endangered species you wish zoos tried to preserve

Yes, but that’s just restating the preference, again without giving a reason.

Arguably the main point in favour of incorporating ED into prioritization frameworks is that phylogenetic diversity is a correlate of functional diversity and evolutionary potential. My opinion, in case you’re interested, is that this assumption is context-dependent and we should be very wary of assuming any species is functionally redundant, particularly based on small, short-term datasets at limited spatial scales.

 

My argument is that taxonomically distinct species are more likely to provide us information about evolution and animal behavior we didn't even know we didn't know. That's also my argument for maintaining species with unusual adaptations, or which have filled unusual niches relative to most members of the clade, even if they're less evolutionarily distinct.

 

More island endemics should be captive bred (especially Hawaiian honeycreepers.)

 

The salt creek tiger beetle needs more love