The artificial reproduction of endangered marine species populations is becoming increasingly crucial. Determining the potential for reintegration into their natural ecological niche remains a persistent obstacle in conservation biology. Spotted seals () are a flagship species in the Chinese marine ecosystem. Efforts have been made to artificially breed them to prevent local extinction. Our study monitored 18 captive-born (nine) and rehabilitated (nine) individuals released into the Bohai Sea between 2010 and 2020. We examined the ecological niche-seeking behavior of captive-born seals (CS) using rehabilitated wild seals (RS) as benchmarks. It encompassed three oceanic gradients, habitat patterns, and potential threats. The findings demonstrated that CS did not return to the appropriate , , and gradients in the ocean. Despite a larger potential habitat area for CS, it exhibited high temporal variability (with an average monthly fluctuation of 53 %) and demonstrated limited spatial overlap with the RS habitat (27 % overlap in July), and four indices, including the Splitting and Global Moran's Indices indicated a higher level of habitat fragmentation. Additionally, the number of shipping hotspots and collision risk within the CS habitats were twice those of the RS. These findings suggest that the released CS did not fully integrate into its native ecological niche. Our objective is to offer a pragmatic approach and framework for monitoring and assessing marine species released into the ocean.
{"title":"Challenges faced by spotted seals born in captivity and released into the wild","authors":"Hongfei Zhuang, Jiashen Tian, Zhaohui Zhang, Zongling Wang, Linlin Zhao, Zhichuang Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03167","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03167","url":null,"abstract":"The artificial reproduction of endangered marine species populations is becoming increasingly crucial. Determining the potential for reintegration into their natural ecological niche remains a persistent obstacle in conservation biology. Spotted seals () are a flagship species in the Chinese marine ecosystem. Efforts have been made to artificially breed them to prevent local extinction. Our study monitored 18 captive-born (nine) and rehabilitated (nine) individuals released into the Bohai Sea between 2010 and 2020. We examined the ecological niche-seeking behavior of captive-born seals (CS) using rehabilitated wild seals (RS) as benchmarks. It encompassed three oceanic gradients, habitat patterns, and potential threats. The findings demonstrated that CS did not return to the appropriate , , and gradients in the ocean. Despite a larger potential habitat area for CS, it exhibited high temporal variability (with an average monthly fluctuation of 53 %) and demonstrated limited spatial overlap with the RS habitat (27 % overlap in July), and four indices, including the Splitting and Global Moran's Indices indicated a higher level of habitat fragmentation. Additionally, the number of shipping hotspots and collision risk within the CS habitats were twice those of the RS. These findings suggest that the released CS did not fully integrate into its native ecological niche. Our objective is to offer a pragmatic approach and framework for monitoring and assessing marine species released into the ocean.","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142181630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-02DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03165
Ferehiwot Mequanint, Alemayehu Wassie, Shimeles Aynalem, Enyew Adgo, Jan Nyssen, Amaury Frankl, Bart Muys, Hans Matheve, Joachim Pintens, Luc Lens, Diederik Strubbe
Birds are vital bioindicators of biodiversity and ecosystem health, but their persistence and ecological roles are under severe threat from human activities in the Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia. Rapid land and forest degradation driven by agricultural expansion, urbanization, and the rising demand for fuelwood imperil avian community structure and ecosystem functions in this region. However, amidst this ecological challenge, church forests have emerged as crucial sanctuaries. Despite their small size and isolation from each other by mainly agricultural land-use, these church forests provide indispensable ecosystem services and play a pivotal role in preserving biodiversity. Understanding the significance of church forests for avian biodiversity and the factors influencing bird species richness and community composition is paramount. To this end, a comprehensive survey was conducted in 24 church forests between November and December 2018. Data collection involved both point counts utilizing Audiomoth acoustic loggers and transect surveys. The study revealed a total of 131 bird species in the surveyed church forests, including endemic and threatened species. These birds exhibited diverse foraging habits and functional traits. Notably, church forest size and canopy cover were positively associated with species richness, highlighting the importance of preserving and potentially expanding these forested areas. Furthermore, the research identified key factors driving the similarity of bird communities in church forests, notably forest surface area, canopy cover, and altitude. Importantly, resilience metrics demonstrated significant positive relationships with species richness, emphasizing the conservation value of these unique ecosystems. Our study underscores the critical role of church forests in safeguarding avian biodiversity in the Lake Tana Basin, and our findings advocate for conservation efforts aimed at preserving and enhancing the region's church forests, as their continued degradation could jeopardize both ecological and socio-economic potential in this network of remnant forests.
{"title":"Larger and older church forests promote bird species richness, diversity and resilience across northwest Ethiopia's deforested landscapes","authors":"Ferehiwot Mequanint, Alemayehu Wassie, Shimeles Aynalem, Enyew Adgo, Jan Nyssen, Amaury Frankl, Bart Muys, Hans Matheve, Joachim Pintens, Luc Lens, Diederik Strubbe","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03165","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03165","url":null,"abstract":"Birds are vital bioindicators of biodiversity and ecosystem health, but their persistence and ecological roles are under severe threat from human activities in the Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia. Rapid land and forest degradation driven by agricultural expansion, urbanization, and the rising demand for fuelwood imperil avian community structure and ecosystem functions in this region. However, amidst this ecological challenge, church forests have emerged as crucial sanctuaries. Despite their small size and isolation from each other by mainly agricultural land-use, these church forests provide indispensable ecosystem services and play a pivotal role in preserving biodiversity. Understanding the significance of church forests for avian biodiversity and the factors influencing bird species richness and community composition is paramount. To this end, a comprehensive survey was conducted in 24 church forests between November and December 2018. Data collection involved both point counts utilizing Audiomoth acoustic loggers and transect surveys. The study revealed a total of 131 bird species in the surveyed church forests, including endemic and threatened species. These birds exhibited diverse foraging habits and functional traits. Notably, church forest size and canopy cover were positively associated with species richness, highlighting the importance of preserving and potentially expanding these forested areas. Furthermore, the research identified key factors driving the similarity of bird communities in church forests, notably forest surface area, canopy cover, and altitude. Importantly, resilience metrics demonstrated significant positive relationships with species richness, emphasizing the conservation value of these unique ecosystems. Our study underscores the critical role of church forests in safeguarding avian biodiversity in the Lake Tana Basin, and our findings advocate for conservation efforts aimed at preserving and enhancing the region's church forests, as their continued degradation could jeopardize both ecological and socio-economic potential in this network of remnant forests.","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142181647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-31DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03173
Qichao Wu, Yue Zhang, Xiaoman Xie, Boqiang Tong, Dan Liu, Yan Ma, Dekui Zang
is a deciduous broad-leaved tree in the Malvaceae family. It is one of the second-class key protected wild plants in China. The evaluation of genetic polymorphisms of crucial protected species is necessary for conserving germplasm resources. In this study, 15 pairs of highly polymorphic SSR primers were used to analyse the genetic diversity of eight populations and the population structure of nine populations distributed in China. At the population level ( = 6.050, = 2.930, = 1.123, = 0.485, = 0.523), there was a high level of genetic diversity. The AMOVA results showed that 12 % and 88 % of the total variation occurred among and within populations, respectively. The degree of genetic differentiation was moderate ( = 0.124), and the level of gene flow was high ( = 1.763). The results of UPGMA cluster analysis, PCoA and structure analysis (ΔK = 2) revealed different degrees of gene introgression between the eight populations and as the outgroup. These findings have important implications for formulating appropriate conservation strategies.
{"title":"Analysis of the genetic diversity and population structure of Tilia amurensis from China using SSR markers: Implications for conservation","authors":"Qichao Wu, Yue Zhang, Xiaoman Xie, Boqiang Tong, Dan Liu, Yan Ma, Dekui Zang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03173","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03173","url":null,"abstract":"is a deciduous broad-leaved tree in the Malvaceae family. It is one of the second-class key protected wild plants in China. The evaluation of genetic polymorphisms of crucial protected species is necessary for conserving germplasm resources. In this study, 15 pairs of highly polymorphic SSR primers were used to analyse the genetic diversity of eight populations and the population structure of nine populations distributed in China. At the population level ( = 6.050, = 2.930, = 1.123, = 0.485, = 0.523), there was a high level of genetic diversity. The AMOVA results showed that 12 % and 88 % of the total variation occurred among and within populations, respectively. The degree of genetic differentiation was moderate ( = 0.124), and the level of gene flow was high ( = 1.763). The results of UPGMA cluster analysis, PCoA and structure analysis (ΔK = 2) revealed different degrees of gene introgression between the eight populations and as the outgroup. These findings have important implications for formulating appropriate conservation strategies.","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142223839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-30DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03162
Katherine Onoszko, Francisco José Ruiz Gómez, Lorenzo Lazzaro, Ángel Lora González, Pablo González-Moreno
is a unique ecosystem associated with high biodiversity, that integrates trees, livestock, and pasture, making agro-pastoral production compatible with sustainability. However, in the last few decades, a manifold of factors have caused a decline in tree vitality, density, and coverage, leading to long-term changes in species composition and ecosystem structure. This study aims to determine changes in the diversity of the herbaceous plant community in relation to environmental characteristics, the phytosanitary state of the holm oak L. subsp. (Desf.) Samp.), and possible interactions with biotic agents, including . For this purpose, the floristic composition and alpha diversity of the understory were assessed in two stands in Southern Spain. Additionally, the spatial heterogeneity (beta diversity) patterns of herbaceous plants were evaluated in relation to a climatic gradient and subplot orientation at the regional, plot, tree, and subplot scales. Our findings show that microsite features and climate substantially impact the herbaceous plant community in stands. Annual precipitation is a crucial factor affecting the diversity and biomass of herbaceous plants on a broader, regional scale, consistent with its role as a limiting factor in the Mediterranean climate. However, site-level differences, such as soil clay content and plot slope angle, positively correlate with plant biodiversity, growth, and richness, varying with the Biodiversity Index considered. Moreover, microsites resulting from the combined effects of plot and tree are the main drivers of dissimilarities between samples, as expressed by beta diversity. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, our results reveal no significant association between tree health and herbaceous biodiversity decline.
{"title":"Diversity patterns of herbaceous community in environmental gradients of dehesa ecosystems","authors":"Katherine Onoszko, Francisco José Ruiz Gómez, Lorenzo Lazzaro, Ángel Lora González, Pablo González-Moreno","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03162","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03162","url":null,"abstract":"is a unique ecosystem associated with high biodiversity, that integrates trees, livestock, and pasture, making agro-pastoral production compatible with sustainability. However, in the last few decades, a manifold of factors have caused a decline in tree vitality, density, and coverage, leading to long-term changes in species composition and ecosystem structure. This study aims to determine changes in the diversity of the herbaceous plant community in relation to environmental characteristics, the phytosanitary state of the holm oak L. subsp. (Desf.) Samp.), and possible interactions with biotic agents, including . For this purpose, the floristic composition and alpha diversity of the understory were assessed in two stands in Southern Spain. Additionally, the spatial heterogeneity (beta diversity) patterns of herbaceous plants were evaluated in relation to a climatic gradient and subplot orientation at the regional, plot, tree, and subplot scales. Our findings show that microsite features and climate substantially impact the herbaceous plant community in stands. Annual precipitation is a crucial factor affecting the diversity and biomass of herbaceous plants on a broader, regional scale, consistent with its role as a limiting factor in the Mediterranean climate. However, site-level differences, such as soil clay content and plot slope angle, positively correlate with plant biodiversity, growth, and richness, varying with the Biodiversity Index considered. Moreover, microsites resulting from the combined effects of plot and tree are the main drivers of dissimilarities between samples, as expressed by beta diversity. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, our results reveal no significant association between tree health and herbaceous biodiversity decline.","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142181651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-30DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03166
Asekho Mantintsilili, Tinyiko C. Shivambu, Ndivhuwo Shivambu, Colleen T. Downs
Assessing the impacts of non-native species is essential for preventing, monitoring and eradicating introduced species. In South Africa, impact assessment has been adopted for species introduced through various pathways, including the legal and illegal wildlife trade. We conducted a comprehensive literature search to collate information on the impacts associated with 76 non-native reptiles sold as pets in South Africa, using the Generic Impact Scoring System (GISS), Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT), and Socio-Economic Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (SEICAT). Using GISS, we found that 12 species were associated with environmental impacts (E_GISS), and 10 had socio-economic impacts (SE_GISS). For EICAT and SEICAT, 12 species had environmental and seven had socio-economic impacts, respectively. Despite extensive research efforts, most (82 %) of the evaluated species had no documented impacts, implying that these species are unlikely to have significant impacts. Environmental impact scores differed between GISS and EICAT, indicating that both schemes should be used when assessing environmental impacts. In contrast, while the socio-economic impact scores of GISS and SEICAT were comparable, both schemes provide a comprehensive assessment by capturing different aspects. Popular pet species such as the , , and , already introduced in the country, scored the highest impacts in all schemes, prompting strict monitoring and policy development regarding their trade. Using multiple impact schemes, we show that despite extensive research efforts, 82 % of reptile species sold as pets in South Africa have no documented impacts. Concerningly, species with documented impacts showed high environmental but minor socio-economic impacts.
{"title":"Assessing the potential impacts of exotic reptile species advertised for sale in the South African pet trade","authors":"Asekho Mantintsilili, Tinyiko C. Shivambu, Ndivhuwo Shivambu, Colleen T. Downs","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03166","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03166","url":null,"abstract":"Assessing the impacts of non-native species is essential for preventing, monitoring and eradicating introduced species. In South Africa, impact assessment has been adopted for species introduced through various pathways, including the legal and illegal wildlife trade. We conducted a comprehensive literature search to collate information on the impacts associated with 76 non-native reptiles sold as pets in South Africa, using the Generic Impact Scoring System (GISS), Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT), and Socio-Economic Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (SEICAT). Using GISS, we found that 12 species were associated with environmental impacts (E_GISS), and 10 had socio-economic impacts (SE_GISS). For EICAT and SEICAT, 12 species had environmental and seven had socio-economic impacts, respectively. Despite extensive research efforts, most (82 %) of the evaluated species had no documented impacts, implying that these species are unlikely to have significant impacts. Environmental impact scores differed between GISS and EICAT, indicating that both schemes should be used when assessing environmental impacts. In contrast, while the socio-economic impact scores of GISS and SEICAT were comparable, both schemes provide a comprehensive assessment by capturing different aspects. Popular pet species such as the , , and , already introduced in the country, scored the highest impacts in all schemes, prompting strict monitoring and policy development regarding their trade. Using multiple impact schemes, we show that despite extensive research efforts, 82 % of reptile species sold as pets in South Africa have no documented impacts. Concerningly, species with documented impacts showed high environmental but minor socio-economic impacts.","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142181650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-30DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03171
Cihao Wu, Hai Ren, Zhanfeng Liu, Hongfang Lu, Yao Huang, Shuguang Jian, Dafeng Hui, Hongxiao Liu, Chuxi Zhu, Shike Zhang, Xiaofang He
Resources scarcity is prevalent in natural microbial communities, affecting both biodiversity and coexistence. However, its intricate impacts on community assembly remain incompletely understood. In this study, we examined the bacterial community assembly processes in low-resource soil patches along the sandy coast of Southern China, focused on the relative importance of abiotic and biotic factors. Our study revealed a slightly decreasing trend in bacterial community similarity with increasing geographic distance, whereas the spatial heterogeneity of soil resource availabilities, including total nitrogen (TN), ammonium (NH-N), and total phosphorus (TP), explained 75 % of the total variation in the soil bacterial community. Nitrogen was identified as the primary limiting resource, playing a key role in shaping the composition of bacterial communities. Notably, elevated N availability did not alleviate N limitations or promote biodiversity. Instead, it led to deterministic community assembly processes by increasing the overall demand for N and intensifying negative biological interactions among taxa. These processes favored the selection of specific communities dominated by highly competitive species with overlapping niches. Our findings offer novel insights into the biogeographic patterns of soil bacterial communities, highlighting how resource availability shapes their compositions and has potential ecological implications, including effects on seedling establishment and the resilience of belowground communities to disturbances.
{"title":"Spatial heterogeneity of resource availability drives soil bacterial community assembly along the sandy coast of Southern China","authors":"Cihao Wu, Hai Ren, Zhanfeng Liu, Hongfang Lu, Yao Huang, Shuguang Jian, Dafeng Hui, Hongxiao Liu, Chuxi Zhu, Shike Zhang, Xiaofang He","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03171","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03171","url":null,"abstract":"Resources scarcity is prevalent in natural microbial communities, affecting both biodiversity and coexistence. However, its intricate impacts on community assembly remain incompletely understood. In this study, we examined the bacterial community assembly processes in low-resource soil patches along the sandy coast of Southern China, focused on the relative importance of abiotic and biotic factors. Our study revealed a slightly decreasing trend in bacterial community similarity with increasing geographic distance, whereas the spatial heterogeneity of soil resource availabilities, including total nitrogen (TN), ammonium (NH-N), and total phosphorus (TP), explained 75 % of the total variation in the soil bacterial community. Nitrogen was identified as the primary limiting resource, playing a key role in shaping the composition of bacterial communities. Notably, elevated N availability did not alleviate N limitations or promote biodiversity. Instead, it led to deterministic community assembly processes by increasing the overall demand for N and intensifying negative biological interactions among taxa. These processes favored the selection of specific communities dominated by highly competitive species with overlapping niches. Our findings offer novel insights into the biogeographic patterns of soil bacterial communities, highlighting how resource availability shapes their compositions and has potential ecological implications, including effects on seedling establishment and the resilience of belowground communities to disturbances.","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142223840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The Atlantic Forest holds the greatest diversity of fireflies on Earth. Although the knowledge about lampyrids in the Atlantic Forest has increased in the last 10 years thanks to the efforts of new taxonomists and ecologists, both the total number of species and their geographic ranges remain largely unknown. Furthermore, the Atlantic Forest has been facing intense deforestation since the XV century, and now only 23 % of the natural vegetation cover remains, resulting in high vulnerability of its endemic species. Here, we assess the quality and coverage of the information available on the distribution of Lampyridae fireflies; i.e. the extent of the so-called Wallacean shortfall. To do this, we used a database that comprises 3010 records with geospatial and taxonomic information to evaluate the overall coverage of the geographical and environmental distribution of fireflies in the Atlantic Forest. Our assessment shows that the knowledge of Atlantic Forest's firefly diversity and distribution presents significant spatial and climatic biases. Firefly species remain largely under-collected in the Atlantic Forest; only around 16 % of its grid cells at a 50 km scale are well-sampled, and most of them are located in the Serra do Mar bioregion. The location of well-sampled cells is conditioned by recorders’ survey bias and is particularly biased towards protected areas, large forest remnants, the proximity to institutions holding entomological collections, and light-polluted sites surrounding urban spaces. Our findings also highlight that a considerable number of firefly species may remain undiscovered, which adds to the lack of reliable information on the geographic location of many valid species. Based on this assessment, we further point to areas where more sampling effort would provide maximum benefits in terms of geographical and environmental coverage, thus maximizing its value for biodiversity knowledge and conservation.
大西洋森林拥有地球上最丰富的萤火虫种类。虽然在过去十年中，由于新的分类学家和生态学家的努力，人们对大西洋森林中的萤火虫有了更多的了解，但物种总数及其地理分布范围在很大程度上仍然不为人知。此外，大西洋森林自十五世纪以来一直面临着严重的森林砍伐，现在只剩下 23% 的自然植被覆盖，导致其特有物种非常脆弱。在此，我们评估了现有的关于灯节萤火虫分布信息的质量和覆盖范围，即所谓的华莱士缺口的程度。为此，我们使用了一个由 3010 条记录组成的数据库，其中包含地理空间和分类信息，以评估大西洋森林中萤火虫地理和环境分布的总体覆盖范围。我们的评估表明，对大西洋森林萤火虫多样性和分布的了解存在明显的空间和气候偏差。大西洋森林中的萤火虫物种大部分仍未得到充分采集；在50公里范围内，只有约16%的网格单元得到了充分采样，其中大部分位于Serra do Mar生物区。取样良好的单元格的位置受记录员调查偏差的影响，尤其偏向于保护区、大型森林遗迹、昆虫学收藏机构附近以及城市空间周围的光污染地点。我们的研究结果还强调，相当多的萤火虫物种可能仍未被发现，这使得许多有效物种的地理位置更加缺乏可靠的信息。在这一评估的基础上，我们进一步指出了一些地区，在这些地区，更多的采样工作将在地理和环境覆盖方面带来最大的益处，从而最大限度地提高其对生物多样性知识和保护的价值。
{"title":"Casting light out of shadows: Assessing the coverage of data on endemic firefly distribution in the Atlantic Forest","authors":"Stephanie Vaz, Cristina Ronquillo, Thadeu Sobral-Souza, Joaquín Hortal, Alejandra Zarzo-Arias","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03169","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03169","url":null,"abstract":"The Atlantic Forest holds the greatest diversity of fireflies on Earth. Although the knowledge about lampyrids in the Atlantic Forest has increased in the last 10 years thanks to the efforts of new taxonomists and ecologists, both the total number of species and their geographic ranges remain largely unknown. Furthermore, the Atlantic Forest has been facing intense deforestation since the XV century, and now only 23 % of the natural vegetation cover remains, resulting in high vulnerability of its endemic species. Here, we assess the quality and coverage of the information available on the distribution of Lampyridae fireflies; i.e. the extent of the so-called Wallacean shortfall. To do this, we used a database that comprises 3010 records with geospatial and taxonomic information to evaluate the overall coverage of the geographical and environmental distribution of fireflies in the Atlantic Forest. Our assessment shows that the knowledge of Atlantic Forest's firefly diversity and distribution presents significant spatial and climatic biases. Firefly species remain largely under-collected in the Atlantic Forest; only around 16 % of its grid cells at a 50 km scale are well-sampled, and most of them are located in the Serra do Mar bioregion. The location of well-sampled cells is conditioned by recorders’ survey bias and is particularly biased towards protected areas, large forest remnants, the proximity to institutions holding entomological collections, and light-polluted sites surrounding urban spaces. Our findings also highlight that a considerable number of firefly species may remain undiscovered, which adds to the lack of reliable information on the geographic location of many valid species. Based on this assessment, we further point to areas where more sampling effort would provide maximum benefits in terms of geographical and environmental coverage, thus maximizing its value for biodiversity knowledge and conservation.","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142181649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-30DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03172
Obakèmi Jean-Pierre Olofindji
The Ouémé Lower Valley, located in Southern Benin, is renowned for its rich biodiversity, which includes three species of crocodiles. Despite the presence of the crocodile species, the relation between these species and the local population is not well known. In this study, we aimed to examine local perceptions of crocodiles, document their uses, and identify conservation challenges. Over a period of 10 months, we surveyed the local population to understand their perceptions of crocodiles and the uses they make of these animals. Given the critical role of perceived threats in shaping conservation attitudes and behaviours, our objective also included analyzing perceived threats to crocodiles. From the 420 individuals interviewed, 90 % have a negative perception of crocodiles, perceiving them as harmful. However, 10 % of respondents, mainly from the 'Xwla' ethnic group, have a positive perception, perceiving crocodiles as harmless and beneficial. Local communities attribute various virtues to crocodile by-products, with crocodile teeth being the most cited, valued for their protective qualities. According to them, the decline in crocodile populations in the area is attributed primarily to poaching, agriculture, and sand extraction, as reported by 35 %, 28 %, and 22 % of respondents, respectively. Educational initiatives aimed at raising awareness about the ecological significance of crocodiles should be implemented, particularly targeting ethnic groups with negative perceptions of crocodiles in the region. Future researches are also needed in order to study in deep the impacts of anthropic activities on the crocodile population in the area.
{"title":"Crocodiles of the Ouémé lower valley in Southern Benin: Local perceptions, uses and conservation challenges","authors":"Obakèmi Jean-Pierre Olofindji","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03172","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03172","url":null,"abstract":"The Ouémé Lower Valley, located in Southern Benin, is renowned for its rich biodiversity, which includes three species of crocodiles. Despite the presence of the crocodile species, the relation between these species and the local population is not well known. In this study, we aimed to examine local perceptions of crocodiles, document their uses, and identify conservation challenges. Over a period of 10 months, we surveyed the local population to understand their perceptions of crocodiles and the uses they make of these animals. Given the critical role of perceived threats in shaping conservation attitudes and behaviours, our objective also included analyzing perceived threats to crocodiles. From the 420 individuals interviewed, 90 % have a negative perception of crocodiles, perceiving them as harmful. However, 10 % of respondents, mainly from the 'Xwla' ethnic group, have a positive perception, perceiving crocodiles as harmless and beneficial. Local communities attribute various virtues to crocodile by-products, with crocodile teeth being the most cited, valued for their protective qualities. According to them, the decline in crocodile populations in the area is attributed primarily to poaching, agriculture, and sand extraction, as reported by 35 %, 28 %, and 22 % of respondents, respectively. Educational initiatives aimed at raising awareness about the ecological significance of crocodiles should be implemented, particularly targeting ethnic groups with negative perceptions of crocodiles in the region. Future researches are also needed in order to study in deep the impacts of anthropic activities on the crocodile population in the area.","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142181648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-28DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03168
Guillaume Marchessaux, Dimitri Veyssiere, Eric D.H. Durieux, Gianluca Sarà, Marie Garrido
The blue crab Rathbun, 1896 is an invasive species in the Mediterranean, with a remarkable ability to adapt to various habitats, and thereby having significant impacts on biodiversity and artisanal fishing activities. Currently, fishing is a measure being considered to control blue crab populations in invaded sites. However, it is necessary to understand the temporal structure of blue crab populations (e.g., growth, reproduction, sexual maturity) to determine specific periods when control measures need to be implemented. Considering the species' ability to adapt to various habitats, it is crucial to evaluate how temperature and salinity influence population structure. In this study, we present fishers-dependent monitoring on the temporal population structure of blue crabs in two lagoons in Corsica (France) over 12 months. Through this approach, we provide new information that can assist in decision-making for the implementation of control measures. Even though these two lagoons are geographically close, blue crab populations showed differences, particularly in terms of sexual maturity. Specimens from Biguglia mature later (males: 16.16 cm; females: 16.79 cm) than those in the Palo Lagoon (males: 14.38 cm; females: 13.86 cm). Seasonal size distribution also showed differences between the lagoons and within the same lagoon between males and females. Temperature and salinity had a significant effect on the monthly relationship between carapace width and wet weight (referred to here as growth rate) for males and females and between the lagoons. In the Biguglia Lagoon, the higher the temperature, the greater the growth rate over a wide salinity window (16–30 psu); for females, the environmental window was restricted (temperature: 20–30°C; salinities > 16 psu). The dynamics differed in the Palo Lagoon, with a more restricted high growth rate window for males, and females showed a much wider window, with high growth rates over the entire temperature and salinity range. By employing blue crab’s populations monitoring along with environmental parameters, we were able to determine how the environment influenced the blue crab’s population structure, thus identifying periods conducive to species control. The most effective strategy would undoubtedly be to eliminate females before their period of sexual maturity and copulation ensue. In our case, this would involve intensive control in summer for Biguglia and in spring for Palo. These recommendations have been translated into operations to be implemented as part of the "Territorial Plan for Combating the Blue Crab () in Corsica (2024–2027)".
{"title":"Using species population structure to assist in management and decision-making in the fight against invasive species: The case of the Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus","authors":"Guillaume Marchessaux, Dimitri Veyssiere, Eric D.H. Durieux, Gianluca Sarà, Marie Garrido","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03168","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03168","url":null,"abstract":"The blue crab Rathbun, 1896 is an invasive species in the Mediterranean, with a remarkable ability to adapt to various habitats, and thereby having significant impacts on biodiversity and artisanal fishing activities. Currently, fishing is a measure being considered to control blue crab populations in invaded sites. However, it is necessary to understand the temporal structure of blue crab populations (e.g., growth, reproduction, sexual maturity) to determine specific periods when control measures need to be implemented. Considering the species' ability to adapt to various habitats, it is crucial to evaluate how temperature and salinity influence population structure. In this study, we present fishers-dependent monitoring on the temporal population structure of blue crabs in two lagoons in Corsica (France) over 12 months. Through this approach, we provide new information that can assist in decision-making for the implementation of control measures. Even though these two lagoons are geographically close, blue crab populations showed differences, particularly in terms of sexual maturity. Specimens from Biguglia mature later (males: 16.16 cm; females: 16.79 cm) than those in the Palo Lagoon (males: 14.38 cm; females: 13.86 cm). Seasonal size distribution also showed differences between the lagoons and within the same lagoon between males and females. Temperature and salinity had a significant effect on the monthly relationship between carapace width and wet weight (referred to here as growth rate) for males and females and between the lagoons. In the Biguglia Lagoon, the higher the temperature, the greater the growth rate over a wide salinity window (16–30 psu); for females, the environmental window was restricted (temperature: 20–30°C; salinities > 16 psu). The dynamics differed in the Palo Lagoon, with a more restricted high growth rate window for males, and females showed a much wider window, with high growth rates over the entire temperature and salinity range. By employing blue crab’s populations monitoring along with environmental parameters, we were able to determine how the environment influenced the blue crab’s population structure, thus identifying periods conducive to species control. The most effective strategy would undoubtedly be to eliminate females before their period of sexual maturity and copulation ensue. In our case, this would involve intensive control in summer for Biguglia and in spring for Palo. These recommendations have been translated into operations to be implemented as part of the \"Territorial Plan for Combating the Blue Crab () in Corsica (2024–2027)\".","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142181652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-28DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03164
Wenhui Yang, Ziyu Zhu, Le Dong, Wanting Peng, Chengzhao Wu
The conflict between multiple functions of human use and habitat conservation represents an intractable challenge for environmental management. While numerous studies on marine conservation prioritize cumulative impact assessments (CIA) to tackle this issue, estuaries — despite their immense conservation significance amidst intense human activities — remain overlooked. Taking the Yangtze River Estuary (YRE) as the case study area, it is one of the most intensely human-utilized estuaries globally, yet it serves as a critical habitat and migratory corridor for the endangered Chinese sturgeon ().We employed ecological indicators and quantitative modeling to assess habitat suitability and cumulative anthropogenic impacts on this endangered species in the YRE. The results demonstrated that suitable habitat distribution and human impact varied for juvenile Chinese sturgeon in the YRE. The suitable habitat distribution for juvenile Chinese sturgeon was concentrated in Chongming Dongtan and the North Channel. Ship density, submarine optical cables, and smooth cord grass invasion were the main anthropogenic factors impacting the Chinese sturgeon's migrating habitat in the YRE. Moreover, existing Chinese sturgeon habitats remain at risk, with 36.24 % of potential habitats and 56.60 % of high human impact areas requiring enhanced protection. Adaptive management strategies were proposed, tailored to the spatial and environmental protection needs across the dynamic habitat demands of aquatic species. Our spatially explicit and indicator-based findings provide key scientific support for enlarging protected areas and implementing adaptive management of human activities to balance conservation and sustainable use in this highly utilized ecosystem.
{"title":"Using cumulative human impact assessment to support adaptive management of the threatened species’ habitats in the Yangtze River Estuary","authors":"Wenhui Yang, Ziyu Zhu, Le Dong, Wanting Peng, Chengzhao Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03164","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03164","url":null,"abstract":"The conflict between multiple functions of human use and habitat conservation represents an intractable challenge for environmental management. While numerous studies on marine conservation prioritize cumulative impact assessments (CIA) to tackle this issue, estuaries — despite their immense conservation significance amidst intense human activities — remain overlooked. Taking the Yangtze River Estuary (YRE) as the case study area, it is one of the most intensely human-utilized estuaries globally, yet it serves as a critical habitat and migratory corridor for the endangered Chinese sturgeon ().We employed ecological indicators and quantitative modeling to assess habitat suitability and cumulative anthropogenic impacts on this endangered species in the YRE. The results demonstrated that suitable habitat distribution and human impact varied for juvenile Chinese sturgeon in the YRE. The suitable habitat distribution for juvenile Chinese sturgeon was concentrated in Chongming Dongtan and the North Channel. Ship density, submarine optical cables, and smooth cord grass invasion were the main anthropogenic factors impacting the Chinese sturgeon's migrating habitat in the YRE. Moreover, existing Chinese sturgeon habitats remain at risk, with 36.24 % of potential habitats and 56.60 % of high human impact areas requiring enhanced protection. Adaptive management strategies were proposed, tailored to the spatial and environmental protection needs across the dynamic habitat demands of aquatic species. Our spatially explicit and indicator-based findings provide key scientific support for enlarging protected areas and implementing adaptive management of human activities to balance conservation and sustainable use in this highly utilized ecosystem.","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142181653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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