Taxonomic, Phylogenetic and Functional Diversity of Mammals Across a Nationwide Protected Area Network

Understanding how taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity vary over environmental and anthropogenic gradients can shed light on what shapes species assemblages and inform conservation strategy. However, we have a limited understanding of this variation at national scales, a major scale for conservation decision‐making. Using camera‐trap data from 26 protected areas in Tanzania, one of the world's most important countries for mammal conservation, we assess how the taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional measures of richness of mammal assemblages vary with landscape heterogeneity and protection strength. We find that areas with greater landscape heterogeneity and stronger protection support more mammal species, ultimately leading to phylogenetically and functionally richer assemblages. Greater landscape heterogeneity appears to particularly benefit generalist species, whereas stronger protection seems to benefit species vulnerable to human‐wildlife conflict and hunting. We also identify community‐based conservation areas with relatively high mammal richness, and more isolated protected areas with low connectivity and relatively low richness. Our study demonstrates the potential of using extensive camera‐trap surveys to quantify and monitor these multiple dimensions of species assemblages, and to explore the environmental and anthropogenic factors that could affect them. We encourage further research to assess the mechanisms that drive variation in mammalian diversity over time and space, and their relationships with different management interventions.