Identification and evaluation of priority conservation areas for Buprestidae (Coleoptera) in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and Namibia

Representative priority conservation areas of quarter-degree grid size (app roximately 25 x 25 km) were identified using an iterative rarity-based algo rithm for the beetle family Buprestidae (Coleoptera) in South Africa, Lesot ho, Swaziland and Namibia. This algorithm provided similar results (number of grids chosen, grid identity and efficiency) to an algorithm that based s election of areas on the taxonomic distinctiveness of each species. The alg orithms were also run after pre-selecting grids containing buprestid record s and at least 25, 50, 75 and 100 % protection in the form of established r eserves, and the number of additional grids required to adequately represen t all species was determined. The existing reserve network was found to be inefficient for the conservation of Buprestidae, although many records fall into grids within or containing protected areas. The Nama Karoo, Northern Cape savanna, and grassland are evident as areas of least known richness ow ing to undersampling. When the algorithms were run for the entire study are a, considerably fewer grids, as well as a different spatial arrangement of grids, was selected within Namibia, but not within the combined regions of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. This illustrates possible asymmetry wh en sharing conservation responsibilities between nations.