As a Refuge Manager for the US Fish and Wildlife

Multiple Choice

As a refuge manager for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, you have the difficult decision of selecting which refuges will be sold and put up for sale to be developed and which ones will be preserved. Selling refuge "A" will result in the loss of the Serpentes, the sale of refuge "B" will result in the loss of the Lacertoidae, and the sale of refuge "C" will result in the loss of the Tuataras. Based on phylogenetic history, you decide to save refuge "C" and have to explain to your supervisor why. Which statement best explains your decision?

A) Saving refuge "C" saves the greatest number of species in the phylogeny.
B) Saving refuge "C" saves the last two remaining species of tuataras, Sphendon punctatus and Sphendon gunther.
C) Saving refuge "C" saves the group with the deepest, oldest phylogenetic history.
D) Saving refuge "C" saves the greatest geographic area and is therefore likely to preserve all the groups on this phylogeny.