Conservation Biology最新文献

Providing synthetic substitutes is a widely promoted strategy to shift consumer demand away from wildlife products derived from threatened species. Yet, there is little evidence on whether product substitution prevents illegal or unsustainable harvesting and contributes to the recovery of threatened populations. Drawing on the Furs for Life Zambia initiative, which supplied synthetic furs known as heritage furs to replace leopard furs traditionally worn during Lozi royal ceremonies in western Zambia, we devised a way to test the effects and causal mechanisms of substitution. Guided by the EMMIE (effect, mechanisms, moderators, implementation, and economic cost) framework commonly used in crime prevention evaluations, we triangulated data from semistructured questionnaires, law enforcement patrols, court records, camera-trap monitoring of leopards (Panthera pardus), and stakeholder interviews conducted from 2018 to 2024. We used qualitative analyses and the general elimination method to assess plausible alternative explanations for leopard recovery. By 2024, adoption of synthetic furs among leopard fur users exceeded 80%, and self-reported ownership of authentic leopard furs declined by 78%. Patrol detections of leopard poaching incidents decreased, and camera-trap density estimates increased from an average of 2.7 to 3.8 leopards per 100 km² across the focal landscape. An integrated mechanism of change, derived from stakeholder perspectives, indicated that reduced demand from substitution was reinforced by concurrent counter-poaching and counter-trafficking operations. Our results provide the first empirical link between a demand-reduction initiative based on synthetic substitutes and measurable population recovery of species.

Knowledge of species distributions is essential for informing policies on nature conservation and restoration. However, updating them on a regular basis and doing so in a harmonized manner at the international level is difficult. The European Bird Census Council integrated national monitoring data covering 5 years to update farmland bird distributions and assessed how they changed. We used these data on 50 farmland bird species to generate 10×10 km maps showing their probability of occurrence from 2018 to 2022. We produced these maps with weighted ensemble species distribution models. We also developed models for the previous 5 years and plotted the differences in probabilities of occurrence per 10 × 10-km area between the two periods as calibrated change maps. We evaluated model performance at continental and regional levels and interpreted changes in probability of occurrence in relation to known abundance trends. Models showed good predictive performance (mean AUC ≈ 0.84; mean squared error ≈ 0.13). Change estimates were reliable for 43 species (high accuracy, low bias), and distribution changes were positively correlated with independent abundance trends (Pearson's r ≈ 0.50). Thus, the distribution maps for the two periods accurately captured species' distribution patterns and their temporal changes for all species at the European scale and for the majority of species in all regions except southeastern Europe. Among the 43 species with reliable estimates, predicted occurrences declined for 33 species, increased for nine, and were the same for one species. For most species, the direction of change in distribution was consistent with changes in species overall abundance in the same period, except for four species. Overall, our results indicated a recent contraction of farmland bird distributions in Europe, highlighting the strong capacity of existing bird monitoring networks to provide continent-wide species maps that can be updated regularly.

Addressing urgent conservation issues, such as the drastic declines of North American migratory birds, requires creative, evidence-based, efficient, and collaborative approaches. The abundance of over 50% of monitored North American shorebird populations has declined by over 50% since 1980. To address these declines, we developed a partnership of scientists and practitioners called the Shorebird Science and Conservation Collective (hereafter the collective). The collective was founded to translate the combined findings of shorebird tracking data into on-the-ground conservation action. With advice from an advisory group, the collective acts as an intermediary whereby dedicated staff collate and analyze data contributions from scientists to support knowledge requests from conservation practitioners. In its first three years, data contributions from 75 organizations include over 7.1 million shorebird observations forming movement paths of 3420 individuals representing 36 species tracked across the Americas and have informed 18 conservation projects spanning education, land and species management, land conservation, and policy requests. Others engaged in translational science from big data could consider similar knowledge-sharing models that prioritize usable data products, foster collaborative engagement between science experts and practitioners, build focused communities around topics or taxonomic groups, and employ a proof-of-concept phase to develop scalable solutions while making progress toward long-term funding to sustain impact. As the volume of scientific data continues to grow, intermediaries, such as the collective, can be vital liaisons to rapidly integrate and interpret research to support conservation action. Dedicated to the memory of Shiloh Schulte and his conservation achievements for shorebirds.

The international trade in live birds poses risks to animals, people, and biodiversity. To effectively mitigate these risks, decision-makers require information on the volume, dynamics, and direction of trade. Despite Africa once being the largest exporter of birds by region, very little data exist on recent trade in live birds not listed on the appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). We used UN Comtrade data to explore trade in non-CITES birds from African countries to key Asian hubs for wildlife trade, Hong Kong and Singapore, from 2006 to 2020. We supplemented these data with species-specific data obtained from the Hong Kong government for 2015-2020 to further understand the taxonomic composition of recent imports. Over a million non-CITES birds were imported to Hong Kong and Singapore from 2006 to 2020. Africa accounted for an increasing proportion of these imports, with West African countries, particularly Mali, playing an increasingly important role in recent years. Import data from the Hong Kong government indicated that canaries (Crithagra spp.) dominated these imports, including species that have been heavily traded for decades and may be experiencing declines in the wild. Although Comtrade data can provide insights into international wildlife trade, particularly for species that are otherwise difficult to monitor, we propose that its usefulness could be improved by increasing the taxonomic specificity of harmonized system codes to include lower taxonomic levels. To mitigate biosecurity risks and negative impacts on wild populations associated with the large-scale trade in wild birds that we found, we propose that importing countries broaden restrictions on imports of live birds. Specifically, we recommend that importing countries restrict imports from countries unable to demonstrate the legal acquisition of birds or that do not have robust quarantine and surveillance systems for pathogens of human and animal health concern.

Bycatch in fisheries is one of the most serious threats to pelagic seabirds, causing major population declines. Mitigation measures can reduce bycatch substantially, but many fisheries fail to apply best practices, and seabird mortality remains high. Seabirds often segregate at sea according to sex and life-history stage, and bycatch risk can vary accordingly. Few studies have tested whether spatial segregation among colonies in foraging areas affects bycatch risk. We tracked nonbreeding wandering albatrosses (Diomedea exulans) from Bird Island and neighboring Prion Island, South Georgia, to investigate whether differences in at-sea distributions and overlap with fisheries explain the contrasting population trends. Tracked individuals at Bird Island were of known status (immature or nonbreeding adults), and at Prion Island, they were most likely older immatures and potentially a few nonbreeding adults. There was marked spatial segregation between age classes at Bird Island, but the pattern between breeding sites was more complex. The overlap with fisheries was highest in nonbreeding adults from Bird Island, which experienced a faster rate of population decline than at Prion Island, where overlap with fisheries was lower. Overlap was highest with Chinese, South Korean, and Taiwanese squid jiggers, Taiwanese pelagic longliners, and Argentinian and Spanish trawlers. By improving our knowledge of the spatiotemporal overlap of seabirds with fisheries, management initiatives can be directed at the fleets that represent the greatest threats.

Infectious disease is a growing threat to wildlife, with zoonotic transmission most likely at the human-wildlife interface. One underappreciated activity at this interface is fieldwork with wild animals, but associated risks can be mitigated through field hygiene (FH) practices, such as using personal protective equipment and other appropriate behaviors. Following the dissemination of International Union for Conservation of Nature FH guidelines for bat researchers, we investigated factors that affect bat researchers' intent to use FH practices under a theory of planned behavior (TPB) framework. Under the TPB, a person's intent to perform a behavior is influenced by their attitude toward, their subjective norms around, and their perceived behavioral control (PBC) about the behavior. We invited researchers who had recently conducted bat-related fieldwork to complete a qualitative questionnaire, generating data that we used to build a quantitative survey, which we disseminated widely to bat researchers. We analyzed ∼1000 survey responses with structural equation modeling and assessed the role of career stage, research focus, and socioeconomic status of the research location on intent. Bat researchers' intent to adopt FH practices was high overall. For those who do not focus on disease projects, the subjective norm was a strong driver of intent, with mentors the most influential norm referents; authoritative bodies that set regulations and peers were influential too. The only modeled barrier to intent was PBC-with beliefs that FH practices are impractical or uncomfortable contributing most to PBC. We concluded that senior researchers should be encouraged to use FH practices and encourage their mentees to do likewise. Technical solutions and education to mitigate impracticality and discomfort issues should also be encouraged. Although we focused on bat researchers, all wildlife fieldwork entails pathogen transmission risks. To mitigate them, FH practices must become entrenched in the wildlife research community; achieving this goal requires regulatory and social measures.

Although significant biodiversity has been safeguarded by protected areas (PAs), biodiversity trends continue downward. Within the frameworks of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the new EU Restoration Regulation (2024), conserving critical biodiversity areas is essential. One promising approach is other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), which offer alternative pathways for in situ conservation. We identified sites across the EU that are not PAs but could contribute to conservation and be recognized as OECMs, and determined the potential contribution of these sites to biodiversity conservation. We partially applied the IUCN framework for OECM establishment across the entire EU with a focus on Greece and France. This framework is a three-step process (screening, consent, and full assessment), the full application of which requires data related to the governance and management regime of the area, long-term goals, and other site-specific information. Such data are typically available only at the site-based level. Hence, we based our analyses primarily on capturing biodiversity values within geographically defined areas based on freely available European data (e.g., landscape indices, habitats, and species statuses). We found that areas suitable for OECMs could cover up to 10% of European land and make substantial contributions to the EU's target of protecting 30% of its land by 2030. At the national level, we found that achieving biodiversity conservation outcomes with OECMs was uncertain. Accordingly, OECM confirmation must account for both the biodiversity value of proposed sites and the governance and management practices that support their effectiveness. Our approach highlights the potential of OECMs to enhance conservation efforts in support of a more resilient biodiversity landscape across Europe.

Globally, the exotic pet trade has contributed to species invasion, disease, and animal welfare risks. Although scientists have advocated for increased trade regulation, the success of management and regulatory efforts depends on compliance by participants in the exotic pet trade. We used a regulatory compliance framework to investigate exotic pet trade participants' support for proposed changes to regulations. In 2023, we administered online surveys to 1653 exotic pet owners, breeders, and sellers in the United States. Survey respondents largely supported efforts to ensure that animals in the exotic pet trade are captive bred, appropriately housed, and provided with veterinary care. On average, respondents also supported changes to federal regulations to improve consistency in species that can be traded as pets and imported into the United States. However, individuals who opposed regulatory changes considered regulations unfair, reactive, and inconsistently enforced, distrusted management agencies, and advocated for government consultation with the exotic pet trade when designing regulations. Proponents of regulatory changes expressed moral obligation to obey regulations applied to the exotic pet trade, agreed that regulations pertaining to the exotic pet trade are ethically valid, demonstrated greater trust in government agencies, and considered regulations fair, equitable, and consistent. Our findings suggest there is a cohort of exotic pet trade participants who would collaborate with government agencies to reduce the risks associated with the pet trade, but agencies should also address pet trade participants' concerns about gaps in regulation and failures in enforcement strategies to build trust between exotic pet trade participants and government agencies.

Human-wildlife conflict is a major conservation issue, particularly in lower income countries, where it affects marginalized people and leads to the extirpation of threatened species. Managers increasingly use fences to reduce this conflict but lack evidence on the effectiveness of these barriers, especially on whether this reduces the number of incidents or only shifts the problem elsewhere. We adapted an approach designed to measure how individual animals respond to barriers (barrier behavior analysis) to evaluate a human-wildlife conflict intervention. We used movement data from 20 GPS-collared elephants to assess the extent to which their behavior was influenced by community-managed beehive fences around Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique. We measured the number of times elephants were stopped by the fences and compared this with the number of times elephants were stopped by a natural barrier formed by a major river. Beehive fences blocked elephant movement in 69.3% of encounters, whereas the river barrier blocked 35.9%. Human-elephant conflict levels were lower after construction of the fence, dropping from a mean of 566 crop and infrastructure damage incidents per year in 2018 and 2019 to a mean of 117.5 incidents per year in 2020 and 2021. The mean distance of crop and infrastructure damage incidents from the park boundary increased from 0.98 to 1.97 km, and the number of human injuries and deaths increased from 1 to 8. Our results showed that community-run beehive fences can be effective barriers and reduce overall levels of human-elephant conflict in agricultural landscapes. They also showed how fencing can change the spatial pattern of conflict. This highlights the benefits of understanding how conflict mitigation methods change individual animal behavior and of measuring intervention effectiveness at a landscape scale.

The lack of wildlife health (WH) surveillance systems leaves critical gaps in biodiversity conservation and One Health protection. Integrating rangers patrolling protected areas (PAs) into WH monitoring represents a cost-effective and scalable opportunity to address these gaps at key human-wildlife interfaces and nature strongholds. For the past 2.5 years, organizations across 4 countries have collaborated to pilot this integration. The approach involved establishing a practical definition of health event for rangers patrolling PAs, developing a referential form tailored for rangers to document these events, training key country actors to identify and record health events on this form, merging this form with local forms used by rangers to record other events of interest observed during their patrols (e.g., illegal logging), and training rangers to identify and document health events with the modified local form. We examined 4 case studies involving dozens of PAs in different countries with different languages and local partners. The recording of health events was supported by the Spatial Monitoring And Reporting Tool, SMART, which provides the modified form for rangers on mobile devices and enabled standardized recording of events. Currently, over 200 rangers across more than 50 PAs have been trained, and more than 1000 health events have been recorded. This provides early evidence that rangers could enhance WH monitoring and strengthen biodiversity conservation, ultimately fostering One Health. This initiative lays important groundwork for overcoming key barriers (e.g., lack of personnel and funding) to establishing functional WH surveillance systems in PAs. Still, specific data infrastructure, human resources, and institutional support are needed. It will be important to evaluate the limitations of ranger-collected data and align monitoring goals with the capabilities of rangers and data managers. Expansion to additional PAs is planned, alongside efforts to integrate ranger-collected data into multisectoral One Health frameworks.