The Role of Endemism and Biodiversity Hotspots in Conservation: A Case Study with Neotropical Leaf Litter Weevils

Neotropical montane ecosystems are currently experiencing drastic environmental alterations due to climate change. Cold and moist high-elevation habitats in the Neotropics are particularly at risk due to the increased temperature and drying that are predicted with climate change. Methods such as evaluating areas of high endemism (species limited to a small geographic area), can help to identify areas of high conservation value with relatively little other ecological information. Here, we use over 15,000 weevil specimens (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) collected from across the mountainous neotropical state of Chiapas in Mexico to explore weevil endemism and diversity, and to discuss the implications of these patterns for conservation. We found that species richness increased with elevation, and that there was high species turnover across sites, likely indicating high endemism. Our results imply that the Neotropical areas most at risk from climate change (high-elevation cloud forests) are biodiversity hotspots, and the species residing there are only present in these vulnerable areas.