Are Galliformes of the High Himalayas Well Protected? Identifying Conservation Priority Areas Using an Assemblage‐Level Approach

Understanding the distribution patterns of less charismatic species that co-occur with a charismatic umbrella species is critical for ecosystem protection. However, conservation efforts often overlook non-charismatic taxa, especially the distributions of multiple co-occurring species. Here, we use an assemblage-level approach to identify key conservation areas for a functionally important and abundant group of Galliformes occurring at high elevations in the Indian Himalayas. We address three main questions: (1) What factors influence Galliformes species distribution patterns? (2) Where are the specific regions of high species richness and high endemism in these landscapes? and (3) To what extent do these regions overlap with the current network of protected areas? We conducted extensive camera-trapping surveys covering 26,000 km² of high-altitude habitat. We found that vegetation cover and temperature seasonality were the most important predictors of Galliformes species distributions. Regions of high Galliformes species richness and endemism had low overlap with the protected area network (12.5% and 8.8%, respectively). We also found that the transition zone between the Greater and Trans-Himalaya is particularly important for conserving the Phasianidae assemblage inhabiting snow leopard landscapes. Our study has global significance as we bring attention to the value of assessing assemblage-level patterns for functionally significant taxa that occur largely outside the protected area networks designed primarily for umbrella species conservation.