Abstract A whole systems thinking approach to conservation has spawned new approaches in adaptive management planning that require a crucial understanding of what is essential for the functionality of ecosystems and the biodiversity they embrace. In this context, the key ecological attributes (KEA) have been introduced as aspects of a conservation target's biology or ecology that, if missing or altered, would lead to the loss of that target over time. Ecological stresses describe the impaired status of KEAs. Whilst for threats, the drivers of stresses, a systematic classification has been suggested and adopted by IUCN, all existing proposals for stresses and KEAs are preliminary. In order to fill the gap and provide conservation analysts and practitioners with a standard terminology supporting adaptive management planning we suggest a first hierarchical framework and comprehensive classification of key ecological attributes and corresponding stresses to biodiversity. Analyzing 22 vulnerability assessments in 13 countries, spread across 5 continents, as well as an extensive literature review, we identified 144 specific KEAs and stresses. These are differentiated and classified according to three hierarchical levels, 11 KEA and stress classes and 42 general KEAs and stresses. Our classification may help with describing and understanding both the natural functionality and also impaired functioning of biodiversity targets, as well as assist with the development of appropriate conservation strategies. The classification of key ecological attributes is presented as a list but it is important to recognize that the diverse array of KEAs and stresses are systemically interrelated across scales.

中文翻译：

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用于基于生态系统的保护评估和管理的生物多样性关键生态属性和压力分类

摘要 保护的整体系统思维方法催生了适应性管理规划的新方法，需要对生态系统的功能及其所包含的生物多样性至关重要的内容有重要的了解。在这种情况下，关键生态属性 (KEA) 已被引入作为保护目标生物学或生态学的方面，如果丢失或改变，将导致该目标随着时间的推移而丧失。生态压力描述了 KEA 的受损状态。对于威胁，压力的驱动因素，IUCN 建议并采用了系统分类，所有现有的压力和 KEA 建议都是初步的。为了填补空白并为保护分析人员和从业者提供支持适应性管理规划的标准术语，我们建议对关键生态属性和相应的生物多样性压力进行第一层次框架和综合分类。通过分析分布在 5 大洲的 13 个国家/地区的 22 项脆弱性评估以及广泛的文献综述，我们确定了 144 个特定的 KEA 和压力。它们根据三个层次级别进行区分和分类，即 11 个 KEA 和应力等级以及 42 个一般 KEA 和应力。我们的分类可能有助于描述和理解生物多样性目标的自然功能和受损功能，并有助于制定适当的保护策略。