Conservation Biology最新文献

The ongoing biodiversity crisis has raised concerns about the effectiveness of area-based conservation (ABC) strategies for achieving positive biodiversity outcomes. In riverine ecosystems, the linear habitat structure of fishes introduces uncertainty into the synergistic conservation potential of ABC. Therefore, to assess the synergistic conservation potential of ABC for multiple groups, we used data from IUCN and RivFishTIME database up to 2020 for fishes, mammals, and birds to assess the reliability of area sampling based on species-area relationships and latitudinal dependence analyses. We built a spatial model of species richness to determine the spatial distribution of species richness and the spatial overlap of species richness within and among the 3 groups under different group combinations. We found a significant power function relationship between area and species richness; R² values ranged from 0.94 to 0.96. Species richness was unevenly distributed across groups; thus, the potential for synergistic conservation of multiple groups is not promising. Fish were outliers. The spatial overlap for fish-bird combinations (β = -0.001 to 0.02) and fish-mammal combinations (β = 0.10-0.11) were significantly lower than those for mammal-bird combinations (β = 0.20-0.27). This calls for targeted conservation planning for fishes in terrestrial ecosystems rather than considering that protected areas for mammals and birds will also protect fishes. Furthermore, the synergistic conservation potential of multitarget strategies cannot be safely extended to all groups.

Conservation translocations are a well-known conservation tool used to reverse the effects of local population extinctions and restore ecosystems. Compared with mammals and birds, plants are underrepresented in translocation programs, and little is known about the potential taxonomic and phylogenetic biases of plant translocation efforts. We aimed to assess how translocated plant species may contribute to the conservation of phylogenetic diversity (PD) among European countries. Focusing on angiosperms across 4 European countries with well-documented flora and comprehensive sampling of translocated plant species, we determined whether species translocations were related to species conservation status with binomial generalized linear mixed models with threat status as a binary response variable. Then, we evaluated the taxonomic and phylogenetic biases of translocated plant species relative to national floras based on PD and evolutionary distinctiveness (ED). To evaluate PD and ED, we constructed null models to assess the deviation of observed values from those expected under a scenario in which translocated species were randomly sampled from the species pool of national floras in each country. Although most species lacked conservation status assessment, plant translocations mainly targeted species with high extinction risk at national, European, and global scales. Although plant orders with a higher representativeness of translocated species also tended to have a higher representativeness of native species, the probability of species being translocated varied significantly across plant order, suggesting a significant taxonomic bias. Based on null models and considering all countries, PD and mean ED of translocated plants were higher than expected by chance in most countries. These results suggest that although translocation programs were implemented independently across countries, the diversity of translocated plant species is relevant to conserving PD from national to continental scales and restoring evolutionarily distinct species when these species succeed. We argue that PD indicators should be incorporated into translocation planning to restore target species' evolutionary trajectories and to contribute to conservation of PD.

Coexistence with large carnivores represents one of the world's highest profile conservation challenges. Ecologists have identified ecological benefits derived from large carnivores (and large herbivores), yet livestock depredation, perceived competition for shared game, risks to pets and humans, and social conflicts often lead to demands for reduction of predator numbers from a range of stakeholder groups. Nearly 100 years ago, Vito Volterra predicted that increased mortality on both prey and predators results in increased abundance of prey and decreased abundance of predators. This principle appears to be robust and often consistent with the objectives of wildlife management. Although seldom recognized, and rarely tested in the field, the Volterra principle is a fundamental outcome of ecological theory with important implications for conservation.

Predatory and large-bodied coral reef fishes have fundamental roles in the functioning and biodiversity of coral reef ecosystems, but their populations are declining, largely due to overexploitation in fisheries. These fishes include sharks, groupers, Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), and Green Humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum). In the western Indian Ocean, this situation is exacerbated by limited population data on these fishes, including from conventional visual census methods, which limit the surface area surveyed. We developed a rapid timed scuba swim survey approach for application over large areas for estimation of the abundance of large-bodied reef fishes and assessment of the effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs) in maintaining these species' populations. Using this method, we sampled 7 regions in the western central Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, including 2 remote reference locations where fishing is prohibited. Eight families were selected for the surveys from across 3 categories: pelagic, demersal, and large-bodied single species. Sharks (Carcharhinidae) were absent in 5 of the 7 regions, observed only in Mozambique and the Chagos Archipelago. Tunas (Scombridae) and barracudas (Sphyraenidae) were rarely observed (none in Madagascar, Djibouti, and Iles Glorieuses). The Giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) was absent in all regions, Humphead wrasse was absent in Comoros and Iles Glorieuses, and Green Humphead parrotfish was observed at only one site in Tanzania. The MPAs were not effective in protecting these single large-bodied species or the 4 pelagic families, except for sharks in the highly protected reference locations. However, MPAs with medium levels of protection were effective in maintaining the abundance of some demersal families, notably large-bodied groupers. Our results support the hypothesis of local extirpation of these large-bodied fishes on many coral reefs in the western Indian Ocean.

Terrestrial protected areas are essential for biodiversity conservation, yet it is not fully understood when and how different types of protected areas are most effective in achieving specific conservation objectives. We assessed the impact of reserves on tree cover loss and gain through a case study in Tasmania, Australia. We considered varying protection levels (strict, where human activities are restricted, and multiple use) and governance types (public and private). We used a counterfactual matching approach to compare tree cover loss and gain between reserves and matched unprotected areas from 2004 to 2021. We accounted for forest policy changes, environmental covariates, and human pressures to reduce placement bias. We also characterized reserves by size, governance, management, and vegetation and compared covariates inside and outside reserves to define baseline conditions. Reserves established from 2004 to 2016 were overall 75.4% less likely to have lost tree cover and 16.0% more likely to have had tree cover gain compared with controls. Patterns of loss and gain varied by protection level and governance type. Multiple-use reserves were as effective as reserves in which human activities were more restricted. Privately managed reserves contributed to tree cover growth, and public reserves helped avoid loss. This highlights reserves' distinct contributions to conservation targets, with private reserves allowing for growth and restoration and public reserves acting as stable anchor points. Our results emphasize the importance of having a diverse array of protected areas to enhance the resilience of reserve networks. We advocate for adaptive regional measures and robust monitoring to achieve global ecological targets.

Parasites represent a significant proportion of Earth's biodiversity and play important roles in the ecology and biology of ecosystems and hosts, making them an important target for conservation. Despite increasing calls to prioritize protection for parasites in the academic literature, they remain undervalued and underrepresented in global biodiversity conservation efforts, not least due to the perception that the interests of parasite and host conservation are opposing and the common misconception that parasites are a threat, rather than a benefit, to conservation. We considered whether taking an interdisciplinary approach to parasite conservation research will generate novel insights and solutions concerning why and how parasite conservation should be practiced for the benefit of parasites, their hosts, ecosystems, and people. We argue that 2 of the main barriers to more widespread parasite conservation are the knowledge gap concerning the role of sociocultural factors affecting the willingness to enact parasite conservation and the lack of a consistent and cohesive philosophical basis for parasite conservation. Possible sociocultural barriers to parasite conservation include misconceptions of the risks posed by parasites, taxonomic bias, differences in conservation values, economic constraints, and technical challenges. The use of social science can generate insights into levels of awareness and support for parasite conservation and improve understanding of how human values and attitudes mediate conservation practices concerning parasites. Such knowledge will have a critical role in addressing sociocultural barriers and improving support for parasite conservation. Issues with the current philosophical basis for parasite conservation include contradictory accounts of which parasites merit conservation, insufficient explanation of how different conservation values apply to parasite biodiversity, and the existence of a false antagonism between host and parasite conservation. Greater engagement with philosophical work on environmental ethics and biological unitization will strengthen existing arguments for parasite conservation and will support conservation decision-making processes.

Thousands of plants, fungi, and lichen species are traded every year. Although sustainable use is critical for livelihoods and biodiversity conservation, insufficient data prevent detailed sustainability assessments for most species. How can the sustainability of trade in such data-deficient species be enhanced? We considered a country-level example of 300 medicinal and aromatic plant, fungus, and lichen species traded in tens of thousands of tons worth tens of millions of US dollars in and from Nepal annually. Past interventions have not ensured sustainable trade, leaving species vulnerable to commercial harvesting and threatening rural household incomes, the processing industry, and government revenues. Building on documented evidence and stakeholder involvement, we used a theory of change approach to develop a sustainable management approach. We produced a draft plan (roadmap) by combining interventions proposed at annual key stakeholder dialogue meetings with recommendations extracted from a literature review on the trade and conservation of commercial medicinal and aromatic plants, fungi, and lichens in Nepal. The draft roadmap was discussed at a national workshop with sector-wide stakeholder representation to derive the final roadmap. The literature review showed the 41 causal assumptions and theoretical explanations for actions and outcomes. Feedback mechanisms included 6 bundles of mutually reinforcing actions, such as the relationship between increased cultivation and decreased wild harvesting. The roadmap has 5 pathways: increase cultivation, strengthen local management, support domestic businesses, improve sector governance, and increase international collaboration. Each pathway is associated with 2-5 actions (e.g., hand over high-elevation areas to local communities) that lead to outputs (2-5) (e.g., an increased area under local management) and outcomes (2-6) (e.g., less overharvesting). Accordingly, the roadmap offers stakeholders a structured approach to implement future activities and investments to enhance sustainable trade. The approach can be replicated for other countries and products.

Indigenous ecological knowledge (IEK) has proven effective in environmental governance, forest management, and sustainable development, yet it is threatened by globalization and rapid social-ecological changes. In southern India, I investigated the engagement of the Kattunaicken community with the forest, particularly through honey collection, to explore the connection between their Indigenous epistemological identity and their role in caring for the forest and its inhabitants. I conducted 48 interviews and accompanied 11 forest walks as part of walking ethnography with male community members, who are primarily involved in honey collection within the Wayanad district of Kerala. The Kattunaicken identity was intrinsically linked to their knowledge of the forest, with reciprocal epistemological interactions between the community and forest entities (trees, animals, and bees). Honey collection emerged as an epistemological endeavor, manifesting their Indigenous identity through the collective "knowing" of the forest that encompassed sensorial, ethical, and metaphysical dimensions that facilitated harmonious coexistence and care for the forest and its inhabitants. The Kattunaicken world of knowing challenges extractivist interpretations of nontimber forest product collection, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous epistemologies in shaping alternative knowledge construction for forest conservation. Their epistemological framework highlights care as an active process emerging from collective understanding and negotiation among all entities within their shared epistemic realm, fostering a harmonious coexistence that transcends conservation efforts.

Multispecies coral reef fisheries are typically managed by local communities who often lack research and monitoring capacity, which prevents estimation of well-defined sustainable reference points to perform locally relevant fishery assessments. Recent research modeling coral reef fisheries globally has estimated multispecies sustainable reference points (i.e., the maximum reef fish yields that can be harvested sustainably and the corresponding reef fish standing biomass at which those are expected to be achieved) based on environmental indicators. These global reference points are a promising tool for assessing data-poor reef fisheries but need to be downscaled to be relevant to resource practitioners. Using a small-scale multispecies reef fishery in Papua New Guinea, we estimated sustainable reference points and assessed the sustainability of the fishery by integrating global-scale analyses with local-scale environmental conditions (i.e., coral cover, sea surface temperature, ocean productivity, and whether the reef is an atoll), reef area, fish catch and standing biomass estimates, and fishers' perceptions. Local-scale relevant data were obtained from a combination of remote sensing products, underwater visual censuses, catch surveys, and household structured social surveys. Our sustainability assessment based on downscaled estimated sustainable reference points was consistent with local fishers' perceptions. Specifically, our downscaled results suggested that the fishing community was overfishing their reef fish stocks and stocks were below biomass levels that maximize production, making the overall reef fishery unsustainable. These results were consistent with fisher perceptions that reef fish stocks were declining in abundance and mean fish length and that fishers had to spend more time finding fish. Our downscaled site-level assessment revealed severe local resource exploitation, the dynamics of which were masked in national-scale assessments, emphasizing the importance of matching assessments to the scale of management. Overall, we show how global reference points can be applied locally when long-term data are not available, providing baseline assessments for sustainably managing previously unassessed multispecies reef fisheries around the globe.