Global Ecology and Conservation最新文献

{"title":"Ecological niche and phenotypic differences among two alpine Rhododendron species and their natural hybrids in a common landscape","authors":"Yanghui Zhao ,&nbsp;Ying Zhang ,&nbsp;Liang Xu ,&nbsp;Yadan Yan ,&nbsp;Chuncheng Wang ,&nbsp;Yafeng Wen ,&nbsp;Donglin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03382","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03382","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Species sharing an environment face similar selective pressures, often evolving adaptive divergence traits to reduce competition. Quantifying ecological niche and phenotypic traits among sympatric species is crucial for understanding ecologically moderated biodiversity. We integrate ecological and phenotypic datasets to investigate the extent to which three sympatric alpine <em>Rhododendron</em> species in the mountainous southwest of China (parents: <em>Rhododendron delavayi</em> and <em>R. irroratum</em>; natural hybrid: <em>R. agastum</em>) differed in their adaptations to co-exist in a shared environment. We utilized principal component analysis, one-way analysis of variance, and niche-identity tests to summarize and compare environmental and phenotypic divergence. Leaf phenotypic traits related to structure, morphology, biomass, and physiology were analyzed, as they were key indicators of niche and phenotypic differences, crucial for the co-existence of sympatric <em>Rhododendron</em> species. We employed nested linear models, and phenotypic differentiation coefficients to assess inter- and intraspecific phenotypic variation. Pearson's correlation analysis and Mantel tests identified key environmental factors influencing leaf phenotypic variation. The results indicate that the three <em>Rhododendron</em> species exhibit different preferences for environmental factors such as annual mean temperature, temperature seasonality, annual precipitation, water vapor pressure, and soil organic matter. These distinct ecological preferences may represent specific ecological adaptations that facilitate their coexistence in sympatry. Leaf area, leaf length, leaf thickness, and leaf tissue density emerged as key indicators for distinguishing the leaf phenotypes of the three <em>Rhododendron</em> species. Elevation, temperature, and precipitation-related factors are significantly correlated with leaf phenotypic variation. The observed ecological niche and phenotypic differences observed likely resulted either causal effects or indirect consequences of ecologically mediated changes. Our study offered novel insights into the mechanisms underlying evolutionary versatility and ecological success among sympatric species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03382"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143150803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Climate-change impacts on distribution, habitats, sustainability and cultivation planning of two economically and ecologically important forest trees (China fir and Masson pine) in China","authors":"Yanghui Zhao ,&nbsp;Liang Xu ,&nbsp;Ying Zhang ,&nbsp;Yafeng Wen ,&nbsp;Donglin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03349","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03349","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anthropogenic climate change (ANCC), which strongly affects forest trees, has brought major challenges. Unraveling the influences of ANCC on forest trees is essential for understanding the response of forests to climate change and devising future strategies for forestry construction and production. In this study, multi-species distribution models and ArcGIS were utilized to identify priority planting and tending areas and simulate the spatiotemporal variation of habitat suitability for two economically and ecologically important forest trees: China fir (<em>Cunninghamia lanceolata</em> (Lamb.) Hook.) and Masson pine (<em>Pinus massoniana</em> Lamb.) in China. Results showed that these two forest trees were significantly affected by precipitation and temperature. Currently, the priority planting and tending areas of China fir are mainly distributed in 169 and 261 counties, respectively, whereas the priority planting and tending regions of Masson pine are mainly distributed in 213 and 170 counties, respectively. The suitable habitats for the two forest trees will change significantly under four shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) in the future three periods (2050 s, 2070 s and 2090 s): (i) the transition zones between tropical and sub-tropical regions and between temperate and sub-tropical regions are the main expansion (Yunnan, Henan, Hubei and Anhui) and loss areas (Guangdong, Hainan, Hunan and Taiwan), respectively. (ii) the suitable habitat is facing a situation of “North expansion” and “South contraction” and moving northward as a whole with climate change. (iii) future hydrothermal change is the primary driver of the expansion, contraction and migration of the suitability habitats for both forest trees. Strengthening intergovernmental cooperation and increasing forest coverage to achieve carbon neutrality, as well as controlling and mitigating the rise in climate warming, will help address the challenges posed by climate change to forestry production and development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03349"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149276","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatiotemporal characteristics of macroinvertebrate functional feeding groups and biological assessment of water quality in the Hulan River Basin","authors":"Peilun Li ,&nbsp;Shuhan Xiong ,&nbsp;Jiacheng Liu ,&nbsp;Xiangsheng Meng ,&nbsp;Anqi Wang ,&nbsp;Chunfeng Wang ,&nbsp;Yanshen Zhang ,&nbsp;Jilong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03377","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03377","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In order to evaluate the health of river ecosystems, it is essential to look at how macroinvertebrates are affected by changes in their habitat and how they react to environmental influences. This study focused on the Hulan River Basin, situated in a cold region, utilizing survey data on macroinvertebrates and water environmental factors collected in late April, late June, and late September of 2023. The research thoroughly analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of macroinvertebrate functional feeding groups (FFGs) and their correlations with aquatic environmental factors, subsequently conducting a comprehensive biological assessment of water quality. The results indicated the collection of 88 taxonomic units (genus or species) of macroinvertebrates, belonging to 4 phyla, 14 orders, and 35 families. Among these, collector-gatherers were the most prevalent FFG, followed by scrapers, predators, and collector-filterers, with shredders being the least represented. Distinct seasonal variations in dominant macroinvertebrate species were observed, with <em>Chironomus</em> sp. being the annual dominant among collector-gatherers and <em>Semisulcospira amurensis</em> among scrapers. The PERMANOVA test revealed significant differences in the densities of macroinvertebrate FFGs between different river sections and highly significant differences between months. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) indicated that the influential environmental factors varied by month, with water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and total phosphorus being significant in April; ammonia in June; and dissolved oxygen, pH, and alkalinity in September. The ecosystem assessment of the Hulan River Basin based on FFG parameters showed that the upstream possesses robust capabilities for material cycling, longitudinal matter transport, and coastal material input, with the highest habitat stability. Temporally, parameters such as longitudinal transport capacity peaked in September, coinciding with the strongest habitat stability. The Hilsenhoff Biological Index and Shannon-Wiener Index assessments indicated water quality ranging from good to excellent in the upstream, moderate in the midstream, and moderate to poor in the downstream. Overall, the water quality in the upstream areas was superior to that in the midstream and downstream. This study demonstrates that macroinvertebrate FFGs are highly sensitive to human activities and agricultural pollution in the midstream and downstream areas of the Hulan River Basin. These findings provide valuable insights for the restoration of river ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03377"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Habitat use and spatial distribution patterns of endangered pheasants on the southern slopes of the Himalayas","authors":"Kai Zhao ,&nbsp;Ning Wang ,&nbsp;Jiliang Xu ,&nbsp;Shan Tian ,&nbsp;Yanyun Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03414","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03414","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The southern slopes of the Himalayas, with their significant altitudinal gradients and diverse climates and habitats, harbour exceptional biodiversity and serve as crucial habitats for endangered pheasant species in Asia. However, increasing human disturbances pose severe threats to local ecosystems. Understanding the distribution patterns of endangered pheasants and their responses to environmental changes is vital for their conservation. This study utilised infrared camera traps combined with the Joint Species Distribution Model and the MaxEnt model to analyse the spatial distribution patterns of Satyr Tragopan (<em>Tragopan satyra</em>) in the southern Himalayas and predict its future responses to climate change. The results indicate that Satyr Tragopan is primarily distributed in riverine forests at altitudes between 2700 m and 3600 m. Its occupancy probability was significantly influenced by altitude, human activity disturbances, and forest cover proportion. Species co-occurrence patterns revealed a significant positive correlation between Satyr Tragopan and Hill Partridge, Mainland Serow, and Chinese Goral, suggesting similar habitat requirements or mutualistic relationships. MaxEnt model predictions indicated that, under future climate scenarios, the suitable habitat for Satyr Tragopan is projected to increase, particularly expanding westwards into Nepal under the SSP245 scenario. However, owing to its limited dispersal ability and poor habitat connectivity, the survival of Satyr Tragopan remains threatened. This study emphasizes the importance of enhancing habitat connectivity, establishing new protected areas, and reducing habitat fragmentation, thus providing a scientific basis for the long-term conservation of pheasants on the southern slopes of the Himalayas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03414"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancements and trends in mangrove species mapping based on remote sensing: A comprehensive review and knowledge visualization","authors":"Yuqi Wu ,&nbsp;Chunyan Lu ,&nbsp;Kexin Wu ,&nbsp;Wenna Gao ,&nbsp;Nuocheng Yang ,&nbsp;Jingwen Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03408","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03408","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mapping and monitoring of mangrove species based on remote sensing technology play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation and management. This paper employs CiteSpace to visualize the literature and presents a comprehensive review of the researches conducted in this domain, focusing primarily on bibliometric characteristics, diverse sensors, and classification algorithms. Since the publication of the first remote sensing-based study on mangrove species classification in 2004, the number of publications in this field has exhibited a general upward trend up to 2023. China, the United States, and India lead in publishing research on mangrove species mapping, with researchers in the United States being particularly active in international collaborations. Mapping of mangrove species is predominantly concentrated on single time points and across 53 small regions, with the majority of research sites located in India and China. Existing studies have utilized various remote sensing image for mangrove species classification, including airborne hyperspectral, spaceborne visible, infrared, multispectral, hyperspectral, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and drone-borne visible, infrared, multispectral, hyperspectral, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. Classification algorithm development has evolved four stages, from pixel-based methods to object-oriented approaches, progressing to approaches incorporating machine learning algorithms, and currently advancing towards ensemble learning and deep learning. Research in this field still faces several challenges in data fusion, classification algorithm enhancement, increased number of classification species, and large-scale long-term mapping. The studys findings would provide valuable guidance to researchers and practitioners in advancing and enhancing the management and conservation of mangroves.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03408"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ecological portraits: Mapping functional spectra and space characteristics of birds in China","authors":"Fei Duan ,&nbsp;Ming Gao ,&nbsp;Shuyi Zhu ,&nbsp;Xiaoli Shen ,&nbsp;Sheng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03361","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03361","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The functions of wildlife species in ecosystems and their responses to environmental changes are mediated through their functional traits. By mapping the gradient across the diversity of bird ecological strategies (functional spectra) and quantifying the functional spaces of the focus taxon, we can better understand their ecological requirements and acquire critical information needed for developing effective conservation strategies. As one of the world’s 17 mega-diversity countries China harbors a highly diverse avian fauna. Using China’s 1445 bird species, we constructed a comprehensive dataset of their functional traits, encompassing morphological feature, dietary composition, fecundity and space utilization. The results showed that birds in China exhibited a clustered distribution pattern within the functional spectra and spaces. Specifically, terrestores, natatores, and raptators displayed relatively diverse strategies (low functional redundancy), indicating their high conservation priority. Compared to non-threatened species, the threatened species assessed by China’s Red List exhibited much lower functional redundancy. The total volume of the 4-dimensional functional space occupied by all bird species in China was 169.6 SD⁴, but only approximately 45 % is currently realized when compared to the two null models, displaying a non-uniform distribution pattern. Scenario analyses showed that, compared to randomized extinction, the loss of functional space would be significantly greater in an extinction scenario where there is no improvement in the species’ current threatened status. Bird species characterized by large body mass, narrow distribution range, small clutch size, and non-invertebrate diet are more vulnerable while facing future extinction risks. Our study, for the first time, quantitatively describes the ecological strategies of China’s avian fauna through an integrated cross-dimensional analysis and provides a solid foundation and valuable insights to future ecological studies and conservation policies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03361"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143150722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Waterbird diversity and its influencing factors in various types of coastal wetlands in the Bohai Rim region","authors":"Mengdi FU ,&nbsp;Jun WANG ,&nbsp;Chunfei HOU ,&nbsp;Junsheng LI ,&nbsp;Jiade BAI ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan ZHANG","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03421","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03421","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The coastal wetlands of the Bohai Rim region in China serve as critical habitats for breeding, migratory stopovers, and wintering birds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. This study surveyed waterbird diversity across 17 coastal wetlands in the Bohai Rim region from 2018 to 2023 to identify community composition, analyze spatial and temporal patterns, and examine the key factors influencing waterbird diversity across various wetland types. A total of 133 species belonging to 18 families and 8 orders were recorded, with migratory species comprising 85.71 % of the total. Scolopacidae, Charadriidae, and Laridae exhibited the highest species richness and abundance, respectively. The number of waterbirds and diversity indices displayed a fluctuating but overall upward trend during the study period. Estuarine wetlands had the highest waterbird diversity, tidal wetlands exhibited the greatest bird density, whereas shallow sea and island wetlands showed comparatively lower diversity and evenness. The primary factors influencing waterbird diversity, ranked by significance, were PM_2.5 concentration, vegetation coverage, macrobenthic biodiversity, regional population density, and temperature. High PM_2.5 concentrations were significantly associated with reduced waterbird diversity, whereas higher vegetation coverage promoted diversity by improving habitat complexity. Macrobenthic biodiversity influenced food web dynamics via predation and competition, leading to a marginally negative impact on waterbird diversity. Regional population density significantly impacted waterbird diversity in island and tidal wetlands, highlighting the necessity of establishing and managing protected areas to sustain waterbird diversity. Additionally, increased precipitation caused by climate change alters wetland water levels, indirectly impacting habitat conditions for waterbirds. Improved wetland management and pollution control are essential for preserving waterbird diversity. This study provides important insights into how air pollution, water pollution, and climate change affect waterbird diversity, emphasizing the importance of integrated management strategies for maintaining coastal wetland ecosystem stability and the health of waterbird communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03421"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143150832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ecological influences on regeneration dynamics in the sundarbans, Bangladesh: Exploring biotic and abiotic factors across time and space","authors":"MD. Najmus Sayadat Pitol ,&nbsp;Mominul Islam Nahid ,&nbsp;MD. Akramul Islam ,&nbsp;SK. MD. Mehedi Hasan ,&nbsp;Sheikh Mohammed Rabiul Alam","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03403","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03403","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural regeneration is critical for sustaining mangrove ecosystems, particularly the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest. This study assessed the impacts of biotic and abiotic factors on regeneration dynamics, examining spatial variations across salinity zones and temporal changes (2010–2020) using data from 30 permanent sample plots (PSPs) established by the Mangrove Silviculture Division, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute. We found that the biodiversity of the Sundarbans remained relatively stable over time, with a high Müeller-Dombois Similarity Index and low Bray-Curtis Dissimilarity Index across years and zones. However, salinity variations influenced species composition. The study also revealed a decline in the dominance of <em>Heritiera fomes</em> and an increase in the abundance of <em>Excoecaria agallocha</em> (showed habitat expansion) over time while both species maintained a high importance value. The total biomass growth from living (77.84 Mg/ha) and newly established trees (14.39 Mg/ha) was low, while the biomass loss (81.79 Mg/ha) from the dead trees was significant. Furthermore, our analysis indicated that abiotic factors, including salinity, siltation, and soil pH, had minimal influence on plant functional traits, but changes in basal area notably affected biomass dynamics. These findings provide insights into the regeneration trends of the Sundarbans and guide the formulation of policies to manage this unique ecosystem sustainably.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03403"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long time-series and high-frequency ecological evaluation of Henan section of the Yellow River","authors":"Jianzhong Guo ,&nbsp;Daozhu Xu ,&nbsp;Jian Xu ,&nbsp;Ruoxin Zhu ,&nbsp;Ning Li","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03351","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03351","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Clarifying ecological status and dynamic changes is crucial to ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin. However, due to the limitations of the existing model's solution mechanism, current ecological environment assessment models have poor automation capabilities. So the research tends to select images from limited periods, making it difficult to conduct batch calculations of high-frequency, long-term sequence, and multi-time scales of ecological environment quality automatically, dynamically, and rapidly. This study proposed a new Spatial-Temporal Comprehensive Evaluation of Eco-environment Quality Index (SCEQI) model. Then taking Henan section of the Yellow River as an example, 960 images from 2001 to 2021 were used to calculate the comprehensive ecological environment quality quickly and in batches. Subsequently, comprehensive ecological environment quality data at different time scales (monthly, quarterly, and annually) were obtained using the average value method in SCEQI. The results showed that the regional ecological environment quality exhibited significant temporal heterogeneity. Spring is the best, followed by autumn and summer, and winter is the worst. In terms of monthly ecological environment quality, the ranking from best to worst was May, September, October, November, December, January, August, April, July, March, June, and February, exhibiting a pattern of ‘double peaks’ and ‘double valleys’. To further elucidate the spatial-temporal distribution pattern, fluctuations, change trends, and future evolution trends of the ecological environment quality, we conducted coefficient of variation fluctuation analysis, Theil-Sen's slope estimation, Mann-Kendall test, and Hurst index calculation. This study realized rapid and batch calculations of ecological environment quality, thereby enabling comprehensive research on ecological environment quality with high-frequency, long time-sequence, and multiple time-scale. And the findings can provide scientific methodologies and data support for formulating policies of ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03351"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143150719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of public roads on wildlife-vehicle collisions in two protected areas, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and iSimangaliso Wetland Park, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa","authors":"Cameron T. Cormac ,&nbsp;Cormac Price ,&nbsp;Wendy Collinson ,&nbsp;Dave J. Druce ,&nbsp;Jarryd P. Streicher ,&nbsp;Colleen T. Downs","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03368","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03368","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anthropogenic change is a global threat to wildlife and the biosphere's health. Wildlife faces growing threats from anthropogenic activities, especially infrastructure. Protected areas (PAs) are not exempt, particularly those that experience high traffic volumes on public road passages both within and on their peripheries. Globally, studies have found that public roads in PAs cause large numbers of wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs), threatening the stability of these wildlife refugia. As vehicle traffic density is increasing globally, particularly in Africa, where little research on the ecological impact of linear infrastructure has been done, the impact of roads on wildlife in protected areas must be determined. We determined the effect of public roads on vertebrate mortalities in the protected areas of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) and iSimangaliso Wetland Park (ISWP), KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, collected monthly in 2022 and 2023. Species composition of vertebrate mortalities, and heat maps of mortalities, combined with a suite of ecological factors, were used to identify drivers of wildlife-vehicle collisions. A total of 1606 road mortalities were recorded, with small-bodied vertebrates (&lt; 5 kg) comprising most of the identified species. Amphibians experienced the highest number of mortalities, 1066 individuals, while birds had the highest species diversity in the mortality record with 31 identified species. High mortality levels were concentrated in areas with unsloped road surfaces and increased vehicle traffic within HiP, while the surrounding habitat had a larger influence on mortalities within ISWP. Our results showed that intervention is needed along portions of the two public roads in both protected areas, particularly during the wet season, with mortality rates as high as 13 carcasses per km. Mitigation measures should be implemented to reduce the number of wildlife mortalities along the roads in both locations, with specific measures to mitigate small vertebrate road mortalities. All planned mitigation measures should focus on the sections identified as high mortalities zones.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03368"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}