Hot spots, indicator taxa, complementarity and optimal networks of taiga

If hot spots for different taxa coincide, priority-setting surveys in a reg ion could be carried out more cheaply by focusing on indicator taxa. Severa l previous studies show that hot spots of different taxa rarely coincide. H owever, in tropical areas indicator taxa may be used in selecting complemen tary networks to represent biodiversity as a whole. We studied beetles (Col eoptera), Heteroptera, polypores or bracket fungi (Polyporaceae) and vascul ar plants of old growth boreal taiga forests. Optimal networks for Heteropt era maximized the high overall species richness of beetles and vascular pla nts, but these networks were least favourable options for polypores. Polypo res are an important group indicating the conservation value of old growth taiga forests. Random selection provided a better option. Thus, certain gro ups may function as good indicators for maximizing the overall species rich ness of some taxonomic groups, but all, taxa should be examined separately.