Pub Date : 2025-02-17DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126864
Reshma Sunkur , Komali Kantamaneni , Chandradeo Bokhoree , Upaka Rathnayake , Michael Fernando
Mangroves are vital ecosystems offering services such as coastal protection and carbon sequestration. However, climate change will substantially impact these ecosystems, especially on island states. Currently, there is a lack of detailed studies that predict changes in mangrove distribution under future climate scenarios and those that exist rarely address the unique vulnerabilities and challenges faced by island ecosystems. The present study aimed to fill in this gap by using MaxEnt to predict mangrove distribution at Le Morne, Mauritius, under two climate change scenarios (SSP126 and SSP245) across four time periods: 2021–2040, 2041–2060, 2061–2080 and 2081–2100. Key predictors used were LULC, temperature seasonality, DEM and slope. All AUC values were in the range of 0.89–0.9 indicating robust model performance. Results indicated mangrove inward migration constrained by existing land uses, potentially reducing ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity support. These findings are crucial for conservation efforts at Le Morne, a famous tourist site, where mangroves sustain local livelihoods. The study also supports SDGs 6, 8, 13 and 14 and the methodology can be scaled and replicated globally. Decision makers, researchers and relevant stakeholders can leverage these findings to guide proactive conservation strategies and effective planning efforts to increase climate change resilience.
{"title":"Modelling mangrove dynamics in Mauritius: Implications for conservation and climate resilience","authors":"Reshma Sunkur , Komali Kantamaneni , Chandradeo Bokhoree , Upaka Rathnayake , Michael Fernando","doi":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126864","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126864","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mangroves are vital ecosystems offering services such as coastal protection and carbon sequestration. However, climate change will substantially impact these ecosystems, especially on island states. Currently, there is a lack of detailed studies that predict changes in mangrove distribution under future climate scenarios and those that exist rarely address the unique vulnerabilities and challenges faced by island ecosystems. The present study aimed to fill in this gap by using MaxEnt to predict mangrove distribution at Le Morne, Mauritius, under two climate change scenarios (SSP126 and SSP245) across four time periods: 2021–2040, 2041–2060, 2061–2080 and 2081–2100. Key predictors used were LULC, temperature seasonality, DEM and slope. All AUC values were in the range of 0.89–0.9 indicating robust model performance. Results indicated mangrove inward migration constrained by existing land uses, potentially reducing ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity support. These findings are crucial for conservation efforts at Le Morne, a famous tourist site, where mangroves sustain local livelihoods. The study also supports SDGs 6, 8, 13 and 14 and the methodology can be scaled and replicated globally. Decision makers, researchers and relevant stakeholders can leverage these findings to guide proactive conservation strategies and effective planning efforts to increase climate change resilience.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54898,"journal":{"name":"Journal for Nature Conservation","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 126864"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143438218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}
Pub Date : 2025-02-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126863
María Chanel Juárez-Ramírez , Clarita Rodríguez-Soto , Arturo Estrada-Torres , Jorge Vázquez , Aníbal H. Díaz de la Vega-Pérez , Itzel Arias-Del Razo
Systematic conservation planning is a tool used for the identification of priority conservation areas that evaluates their representativeness, complementarity, and long-term ecological viability. We implemented this approach in a highly transformed but biologically important region in Central Mexico, using terrestrial vertebrates as surrogates (amphibians, reptiles, and mammals; n = 72). We evaluated the representativeness by using the average species distribution covered by Protected Areas for terrestrial vertebrates as a proxy, and we identified priority conservation areas. We built two scenarios, a simple one based on species distribution models and a complementary scenario with the addition of biological and physical criteria (land use and vegetation cover, elevation, turnover species, and bioclimatic corridors). Additionally, we considered two international area-based conservation targets, the Aichi target 11 classified as high (protecting 17 % of the land) and the Post 2020 target 3 classified as medium (protecting 30 % of the land). We ran an analysis for each taxonomic group and another one for all terrestrial vertebrates combined. We found that in our study area, the representativeness of Protected Areas was lower than the high priority conservation areas and these were lower than medium priority conservation areas for each taxonomic group and for all terrestrial vertebrates combined (d.f. 2, Deviance 132.8, p < 0.001). There were no differences in the representativeness of priority conservation areas between scenarios, except when considering priority conservation areas for all terrestrial vertebrates combined (high: t = −10.28, SE = 4.7, p = 0.03, medium: t = −15.2, SE = 4.7, p < 0.01). Finally, the percentage of anthropized land within priority conservation areas changed between scenarios for amphibians, small mammals, medium-sized mammals, and all terrestrial vertebrates combined. Therefore, our prioritization highlights the need to identify additional areas for biodiversity protection, as the existing Protected Areas are insufficient. Furthermore, incorporating biological and physical criteria enhanced the identification of priority conservation areas. Studies like this are crucial in regions facing anthropogenic pressures and limited options for establishing new protected areas.
{"title":"Under pressure: Evaluating protected areas and identifying priority conservation areas in a highly transformed region in Central Mexico","authors":"María Chanel Juárez-Ramírez , Clarita Rodríguez-Soto , Arturo Estrada-Torres , Jorge Vázquez , Aníbal H. Díaz de la Vega-Pérez , Itzel Arias-Del Razo","doi":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126863","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126863","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Systematic conservation planning is a tool used for the identification of priority conservation areas that evaluates their representativeness, complementarity, and long-term ecological viability. We implemented this approach in a highly transformed but biologically important region in Central Mexico, using terrestrial vertebrates as surrogates (amphibians, reptiles, and mammals; n = 72). We evaluated the representativeness by using the average species distribution covered by Protected Areas for terrestrial vertebrates as a proxy, and we identified priority conservation areas. We built two scenarios, a simple one based on species distribution models and a complementary scenario with the addition of biological and physical criteria (land use and vegetation cover, elevation, turnover species, and bioclimatic corridors). Additionally, we considered two international area-based conservation targets, the Aichi target 11 classified as high (protecting 17 % of the land) and the Post 2020 target 3 classified as medium (protecting 30 % of the land). We ran an analysis for each taxonomic group and another one for all terrestrial vertebrates combined. We found that in our study area, the representativeness of Protected Areas was lower than the high priority conservation areas and these were lower than medium priority conservation areas for each taxonomic group and for all terrestrial vertebrates combined (d.f. 2, Deviance 132.8, p < 0.001). There were no differences in the representativeness of priority conservation areas between scenarios, except when considering priority conservation areas for all terrestrial vertebrates combined (high: t = −10.28, SE = 4.7, p = 0.03, medium: t = −15.2, SE = 4.7, p < 0.01). Finally, the percentage of anthropized land within priority conservation areas changed between scenarios for amphibians, small mammals, medium-sized mammals, and all terrestrial vertebrates combined. Therefore, our prioritization highlights the need to identify additional areas for biodiversity protection, as the existing Protected Areas are insufficient. Furthermore, incorporating biological and physical criteria enhanced the identification of priority conservation areas. Studies like this are crucial in regions facing anthropogenic pressures and limited options for establishing new protected areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54898,"journal":{"name":"Journal for Nature Conservation","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 126863"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143444682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 installation of small structures such as branch and stone piles has been recommended by experts for enhancing habitat conditions for biodiversity in intensively used agricultural landscapes, particularly for stoat (Mustela erminea) and weasel (Mustela nivalis). However, quantitative evidence regarding the effectiveness of such structures is lacking. In this study we investigated the influence of small structures and other surrounding landscape elements on these two mustelid species across the Swiss lowland agricultural landscape. Over the course of two years (2022 and 2023), we used scat-detection dogs, visual scat surveys, and camera traps to sample populations of these species in 420 plots distributed across 28 study sites. Of these plots, 187 harboured a branch pile, 94 a stone pile, while 139 had no small structure. Overall, when considering both scat and camera trap data, stoats were detected at 26 of 420 (6.2%) plots, but only one weasel was recorded, indicating a low mustelid occurrence across our sampling sites. Multi-scale linear models revealed a significant positive effect of small structures on stoat abundance and a preference for stone piles over branch piles. Forest negatively affected stoat occurrence, possibly reflecting a preference for open habitat where small rodents thrive, notably water voles and common voles. Our results underscore the importance of retaining or reinstating small structures, in particular stone piles, in the agricultural landscape to support stoat populations. Nevertheless, we call for ensuring the presence of both stone and branch piles to provide habitat features benefitting a diverse array of species.
{"title":"The role of small structures for stoats in agricultural landscapes","authors":"Gregory B. Egloff , Laurent Schenker , Sandra Riverendo , Andrin C. Dürst , Gerald Heckel , Denise Karp , Jean-Yves Humbert","doi":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126865","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126865","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The installation of small structures such as branch and stone piles has been recommended by experts for enhancing habitat conditions for biodiversity in intensively used agricultural landscapes, particularly for stoat (<em>Mustela erminea</em>) and weasel (<em>Mustela nivalis</em>). However, quantitative evidence regarding the effectiveness of such structures is lacking. In this study we investigated the influence of small structures and other surrounding landscape elements on these two mustelid species across the Swiss lowland agricultural landscape. Over the course of two years (2022 and 2023), we used scat-detection dogs, visual scat surveys, and camera traps to sample populations of these species in 420 plots distributed across 28 study sites. Of these plots, 187 harboured a branch pile, 94 a stone pile, while 139 had no small structure. Overall, when considering both scat and camera trap data, stoats were detected at 26 of 420 (6.2%) plots, but only one weasel was recorded, indicating a low mustelid occurrence across our sampling sites. Multi-scale linear models revealed a significant positive effect of small structures on stoat abundance and a preference for stone piles over branch piles. Forest negatively affected stoat occurrence, possibly reflecting a preference for open habitat where small rodents thrive, notably water voles and common voles. Our results underscore the importance of retaining or reinstating small structures, in particular stone piles, in the agricultural landscape to support stoat populations. Nevertheless, we call for ensuring the presence of both stone and branch piles to provide habitat features benefitting a diverse array of species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54898,"journal":{"name":"Journal for Nature Conservation","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 126865"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143463495","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}
Pub Date : 2025-02-13DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126860
Robin Daelemans , Eva Hulsmans , Luc De Bruyn , Olivier Honnay
Widespread agricultural intensification has strongly affected the biodiversity of European farmlands. Organic farming is commonly proposed as a more biodiversity-friendly alternative to mitigate this impact. However, its effectiveness for the on-field conservation of various taxa simultaneously remains unclear, especially relative to the conservation potential of a semi-natural benchmark. Given the yield penalty associated with organic farming as compared to conventional farming, it is essential to accurately assess its biodiversity benefits to evaluate whether further transitions to organic farming can be justified. Here, we aimed to quantify the effects of organic and conventional apple orchard management, as well as the influence of the surrounding landscape, on local multi-taxon biodiversity. Therefore, we quantified community composition, species abundance, and species diversity across six taxa (plants, bees, hoverflies, true bugs, grasshoppers and springtails) in organic and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) orchards, and in semi-natural grasslands as a benchmark. Organic farming showed some benefits for biodiversity compared to IPM, but responses varied significantly among taxa, with stronger positive effects on plants than on arthropods, and on species abundance rather than on species diversity. Overall, semi-natural grasslands greatly outperformed both orchard management types in terms of biodiversity, though some responses were again taxon-dependent. Furthermore, the proximity and proportion of semi-natural habitat in the landscape enhanced both local multi-taxon and several taxon-specific biodiversity metrics. We conclude that, while organic farming in apple orchards may provide some benefits for local biodiversity, its effects are inconsistent across taxa, and the presence of semi-natural habitats seems more important for biodiversity conservation in the studied apple farming landscapes.
{"title":"The effects of organic and conventional apple orchard management systems for biodiversity: A multi-taxon study with a semi-natural benchmark","authors":"Robin Daelemans , Eva Hulsmans , Luc De Bruyn , Olivier Honnay","doi":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126860","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126860","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Widespread agricultural intensification has strongly affected the biodiversity of European farmlands. Organic farming is commonly proposed as a more biodiversity-friendly alternative to mitigate this impact. However, its effectiveness for the on-field conservation of various taxa simultaneously remains unclear, especially relative to the conservation potential of a semi-natural benchmark. Given the yield penalty associated with organic farming as compared to conventional farming, it is essential to accurately assess its biodiversity benefits to evaluate whether further transitions to organic farming can be justified. Here, we aimed to quantify the effects of organic and conventional apple orchard management, as well as the influence of the surrounding landscape, on local multi-taxon biodiversity. Therefore, we quantified community composition, species abundance, and species diversity across six taxa (plants, bees, hoverflies, true bugs, grasshoppers and springtails) in organic and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) orchards, and in semi-natural grasslands as a benchmark. Organic farming showed some benefits for biodiversity compared to IPM, but responses varied significantly among taxa, with stronger positive effects on plants than on arthropods, and on species abundance rather than on species diversity. Overall, semi-natural grasslands greatly outperformed both orchard management types in terms of biodiversity, though some responses were again taxon-dependent. Furthermore, the proximity and proportion of semi-natural habitat in the landscape enhanced both local multi-taxon and several taxon-specific biodiversity metrics. We conclude that, while organic farming in apple orchards may provide some benefits for local biodiversity, its effects are inconsistent across taxa, and the presence of semi-natural habitats seems more important for biodiversity conservation in the studied apple farming landscapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54898,"journal":{"name":"Journal for Nature Conservation","volume":"84 ","pages":"Article 126860"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143402566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}
Floristic diversity of mountainous regions is the depiction of their specific environmental conditions. This study aimed to assess plant diversity, analyze the impact of environmental variables, and identify indicator species across four hill sites. 151 quadrats sampled 117 plant species from 48 families, dominated by Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Asteraceae. Native flora accounted for 79% of species, while non-native plants (21%) indicated anthropogenic influences. Diversity indices revealed significant spatial variability, with KKH showing the highest Shannon and Simpson diversity. At the same time, BSH displayed the lowest diversity and highest dominance, reflecting ecological stress from grazing and anthropogenic pressures. Canonical Correspondence Analysis identified soil saturation, organic matter, and proximity to human settlements as significant drivers of species composition. Beta diversity analysis highlighted compositional turnover as the primary driver of site differences, with BSH and CSH showing distinct clustering due to species replacement. Indicator species analysis identified 22 key species, such as Boerhavia diffusa, Cynodon dactylon, and Justicia adhatoda, as ecological markers of site-specific conditions. Positive correlations between diversity indices and environmental variables, particularly altitude, soil saturation, and organic matter, emphasized their role in shaping species richness and community structure. This study provides critical insights into the ecological patterns of a hypersaline environment, highlighting the need for targeted conservation efforts to mitigate anthropogenic impacts and preserve the region’s unique biodiversity.
{"title":"Adaptive floristic diversity and ecological responses to environmental gradients in the saline soil ecosystem","authors":"Sehrish Sadia , Muhammad Waheed , Fahim Arshad , Abeer Al-Andal , Mubashrah Munir , Asma Jabeen , Samreen Aslam","doi":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126862","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126862","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Floristic diversity of mountainous regions is the depiction of their specific environmental conditions. This study aimed to assess plant diversity, analyze the impact of environmental variables, and identify indicator species across four hill sites. 151 quadrats sampled 117 plant species from 48 families, dominated by Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Asteraceae. Native flora accounted for 79% of species, while non-native plants (21%) indicated anthropogenic influences. Diversity indices revealed significant spatial variability, with KKH showing the highest Shannon and Simpson diversity. At the same time, BSH displayed the lowest diversity and highest dominance, reflecting ecological stress from grazing and anthropogenic pressures. Canonical Correspondence Analysis identified soil saturation, organic matter, and proximity to human settlements as significant drivers of species composition. Beta diversity analysis highlighted compositional turnover as the primary driver of site differences, with BSH and CSH showing distinct clustering due to species replacement. Indicator species analysis identified 22 key species, such as <em>Boerhavia diffusa</em>, <em>Cynodon dactylon</em>, and <em>Justicia adhatoda</em>, as ecological markers of site-specific conditions. Positive correlations between diversity indices and environmental variables, particularly altitude, soil saturation, and organic matter, emphasized their role in shaping species richness and community structure. This study provides critical insights into the ecological patterns of a hypersaline environment, highlighting the need for targeted conservation efforts to mitigate anthropogenic impacts and preserve the region’s unique biodiversity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54898,"journal":{"name":"Journal for Nature Conservation","volume":"84 ","pages":"Article 126862"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143388099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 : 2025-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126861
Nayara Mesquita Mota , Bárbara Emanuelly Santos Souza Sales , Juliano Cezar Zonzini Borin , Eduardo Euclydes de Lima e Borges , Evandro Alexandre Fortini
Melanoxylon brauna is a species vulnerable to extinction, mainly due to intense wood exploitation. However, there is not enough information about seedling growth of this tree, which hinders the seedlings production. Thus, our purpose was to analyze the growth of M. brauna seedlings in different substrates: (1) native soil, (2) commercial substrate (sand, soil, and organic compost), and (3) commercial fertilized substrate (sand, soil, organic compost, phosphate fertilizer, and osmocote). We also evaluated the seedlings growth in sterilized (by autoclaving) and non-sterilized native soil. At the end of the experiments, the growth parameters and photosynthetic pigment content of the seedlings were measured. The native soil provided seedlings with the highest growth and accumulation of biomass. According to our findings, seedlings grown in sterilized native soil showed a decrease in shoot length and biomass compared to the ones grown in non-sterile soil. This suggests that the chemical and biological properties of the non-sterile native soil are conducive to seedling growth. Therefore, using of native soil can be a viable alternative for producing difficult-to-cultivate seedlings for ex-situ conservation and reintroduction projects of the threatened species into the wild, emphasizing the importance of plant-soil relationships understanding for seedling production and tropical forest restoration.
{"title":"Using native soil to cultivate seedlings of the threatened Melanoxylon brauna Schott (Fabaceae): A path for ex-situ conservation","authors":"Nayara Mesquita Mota , Bárbara Emanuelly Santos Souza Sales , Juliano Cezar Zonzini Borin , Eduardo Euclydes de Lima e Borges , Evandro Alexandre Fortini","doi":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126861","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126861","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Melanoxylon brauna</em> is a species vulnerable to extinction, mainly due to intense wood exploitation. However, there is not enough information about seedling growth of this tree, which hinders the seedlings production. Thus, our purpose was to analyze the growth of <em>M. brauna</em> seedlings in different substrates: (1) native soil, (2) commercial substrate (sand, soil, and organic compost), and (3) commercial fertilized substrate (sand, soil, organic compost, phosphate fertilizer, and osmocote). We also evaluated the seedlings growth in sterilized (by autoclaving) and non-sterilized native soil. At the end of the experiments, the growth parameters and photosynthetic pigment content of the seedlings were measured. The native soil provided seedlings with the highest growth and accumulation of biomass. According to our findings, seedlings grown in sterilized native soil showed a decrease in shoot length and biomass compared to the ones grown in non-sterile soil. This suggests that the chemical and biological properties of the non-sterile native soil are conducive to seedling growth. Therefore, using of native soil can be a viable alternative for producing difficult-to-cultivate seedlings for ex-situ conservation and reintroduction projects of the threatened species into the wild, emphasizing the importance of plant-soil relationships understanding for seedling production and tropical forest restoration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54898,"journal":{"name":"Journal for Nature Conservation","volume":"84 ","pages":"Article 126861"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143402571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 : 2025-02-08DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126852
J.M. Díaz-García , A.H. Díaz de la Vega-Pérez , Y. Navarro-Noya , A. Ramírez-Ponce , S. Guillén , J.P. Esparza-Carlos , S. Hereira-Pacheco , J.L. Martínez y Pérez , V. Moctezuma , M. Juárez-Díaz , B. Salazar-Hernández , A. Arias-Del Razo , M. Rivera-Vazquez , A. Estrada-Torres , I. Arias-Del Razo
The effectiveness of protected areas (PAs) for conservation is under debate because many were decreed without considering biological criteria. Efforts have been made to increase their numbers and to promote ecological connectivity among the existing PAs. In this study, we identify new priority conservation areas (PCAs) through a multi-taxa analysis in a highly fragmented landscape between La Malinche (LMNP) and Iztaccíhuatl − Popocatépetl (IPNP) National Parks in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Particularly, we compared the taxonomic diversity of amphibians, reptiles, terrestrial mammals, scarab beetles, myxomycetes, and soil fungal species in six polygons with different land uses and vegetation types. We paid attention to the taxonomic diversity patterns according to the disturbance tolerance of the species, and we described the relationship between biodiversity and environmental variables. Adjacent temperate forests of the IPNP are habitats for the greatest number of species and individuals with low tolerance to disturbance. Polygons located in the central hills of Tlaxcala serve as a reservoir of mainly generalist species but also host exclusive and low tolerance species even though ∼ 63 % of the original vegetation has been transformed. Restoration and conservation through Areas Voluntarily Destined for Conservation and communal protected areas is a challenge that must be addressed to promote biological connectivity between the studied National Parks. Finally, we suggest that multi-taxonomic approaches discriminating species by their level of disturbance tolerance could be an efficient tool to identify new PCAs that ensure ecological processes and maintain diverse communities in highly fragmented landscapes.
{"title":"Biodiversity between volcanoes: A multi-taxa analysis to identify priority conservation areas in a highly fragmented landscape of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt","authors":"J.M. Díaz-García , A.H. Díaz de la Vega-Pérez , Y. Navarro-Noya , A. Ramírez-Ponce , S. Guillén , J.P. Esparza-Carlos , S. Hereira-Pacheco , J.L. Martínez y Pérez , V. Moctezuma , M. Juárez-Díaz , B. Salazar-Hernández , A. Arias-Del Razo , M. Rivera-Vazquez , A. Estrada-Torres , I. Arias-Del Razo","doi":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126852","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126852","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The effectiveness of protected areas (PAs) for conservation is under debate because many were decreed without considering biological criteria. Efforts have been made to increase their numbers and to promote ecological connectivity among the existing PAs. In this study, we identify new priority conservation areas (PCAs) through a multi-taxa analysis in a highly fragmented landscape between La Malinche (LMNP) and Iztaccíhuatl − Popocatépetl (IPNP) National Parks in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Particularly, we compared the taxonomic diversity of amphibians, reptiles, terrestrial mammals, scarab beetles, myxomycetes, and soil fungal species in six polygons with different land uses and vegetation types. We paid attention to the taxonomic diversity patterns according to the disturbance tolerance of the species, and we described the relationship between biodiversity and environmental variables. Adjacent temperate forests of the IPNP are habitats for the greatest number of species and individuals with low tolerance to disturbance. Polygons located in the central hills of Tlaxcala serve as a reservoir of mainly generalist species but also host exclusive and low tolerance species even though ∼ 63 % of the original vegetation has been transformed. Restoration and conservation through Areas Voluntarily Destined for Conservation and communal protected areas is a challenge that must be addressed to promote biological connectivity between the studied National Parks. Finally, we suggest that multi-taxonomic approaches discriminating species by their level of disturbance tolerance could be an efficient tool to identify new PCAs that ensure ecological processes and maintain diverse communities in highly fragmented landscapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54898,"journal":{"name":"Journal for Nature Conservation","volume":"84 ","pages":"Article 126852"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143377985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}
Throughout history, human-wildlife conflicts have posed persistent challenges for wildlife conservation. With global population growth and extensive development, these conflicts have intensified, leading to casualties among both humans and wildlife. This pioneering study focuses on human-wildlife conflicts in villages near the less explored Pakhro range of Jim Corbett National Park, situated in the Himalayan foothills of India. Through extensive ground surveys, the study identifies conflict hotspots and assesses their severity, revealing the significant impact on local populations. It is revealed through this study a significant amount of population permanently migrated from the villages like Godi and Amsaur in past few years. Animal attacks and wildlife sightings are common occurrence in the region. In addition to this, the study also identifies conflict with herbivores like Elephants and Deers in the region which results in crop damage. To discover the factors driving these conflicts, a thorough MaxEnt-based analysis was conducted, integrating anthropogenic, topographic, and environmental variables based on literature and expert opinions with 86 location points where wildlife conflicts were reported. The model elucidates the impact of these factors on conflict occurrence in the region. It is clearly indicated from the results that parameters like LULC, proximity from waterbodies, slope, aspect, elevation play a key role in assessment of such conflict zones. The results highlight the significance of adopting a holistic approach, whereby considering multiple predictor variables enhances our ability to comprehensively understand and forecast human-animal conflict dynamics.
{"title":"Human wildlife conflict pattern analysis around Least explored Pakhro range of Jim Corbett National Park- A MaxEnt based case study","authors":"Amrapali Tiwari , Sameer Saran , Kirti Avishek , Amrapali Tiwari , Sameer Saran , Kirti Avishek","doi":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126858","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126858","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Throughout history, human-wildlife conflicts have posed persistent challenges for wildlife conservation. With global population growth and extensive development, these conflicts have intensified, leading to casualties among both humans and wildlife. This pioneering study focuses on human-wildlife conflicts in villages near the less explored Pakhro range of Jim Corbett National Park, situated in the Himalayan foothills of India. Through extensive ground surveys, the study identifies conflict hotspots and assesses their severity, revealing the significant impact on local populations. It is revealed through this study a significant amount of population permanently migrated from the villages like Godi and Amsaur in past few years. Animal attacks and wildlife sightings are common occurrence in the region. In addition to this, the study also identifies conflict with herbivores like Elephants and Deers in the region which results in crop damage. To discover the factors driving these conflicts, a thorough MaxEnt-based analysis was conducted, integrating anthropogenic, topographic, and environmental variables based on literature and expert opinions with 86 location points where wildlife conflicts were reported. The model elucidates the impact of these factors on conflict occurrence in the region. It is clearly indicated from the results that parameters like LULC, proximity from waterbodies, slope, aspect, elevation play a key role in assessment of such conflict zones. The results highlight the significance of adopting a holistic approach, whereby considering multiple predictor variables enhances our ability to comprehensively understand and forecast human-animal conflict dynamics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54898,"journal":{"name":"Journal for Nature Conservation","volume":"84 ","pages":"Article 126858"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143351010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 : 2025-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126859
Rizmoon N. Zulkarnaen , Sabri Mohd. Ali , Daniele Cicuzza
The Arecaceae family (palms) holds global significance for its economic and ecological roles. Borneo is known as a center of endemic plant species but faces threats from human activities, including those affecting palms. This study aims to update the distribution and conservation status of endemic Bornean palms, identify potential conservation priority areas, and conduct a gap analysis to inform conservation strategies. The methodology involved comprehensive data collection, along with spatial and statistical analysis for conservation assessment and prioritization. Despite challenges like limited data on palm distribution in Indonesia, the study provides critical insights for developing targeted conservation strategies, particularly for conservation priority areas outside protected areas. The study identified 210 endemic Bornean palms, including 16 genera and 111 local endemics, with Malaysia exhibiting the highest species richness. Preliminary global assessment categorized 147 species as threatened palms, with 51 Critically Endangered (CR), 65 Endangered (EN), and 31 Vulnerable (VU). Meanwhile, 63 species were recognized as Least Concern (LC) and Near Threatened (NT). Furthermore, we conducted a hotspot analysis to identify key areas for conservation efforts. This analysis identified 32 grids (covering 12,378.93 km2), representing 10 % of the total identified Conservation Priority Areas (CPA), and 45 grids (covering 104,257.3 km2), representing 20 %. The larger area encompassed by the 20 % CPA highlights broader landscape-level priorities, emphasizing the importance of scaling conservation efforts to address habitat connectivity and ecological resilience. These areas spanned all regions, but a higher percentage was found in Malaysia at 10 % and 20 % sensitivity levels. These findings provide important guidance for targeted conservation actions and support further discussions on the future conservation of endemic Bornean palms.
{"title":"Integrating hotspot analysis and priority setting for enhanced endemic Bornean palms conservation","authors":"Rizmoon N. Zulkarnaen , Sabri Mohd. Ali , Daniele Cicuzza","doi":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126859","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126859","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Arecaceae family (palms) holds global significance for its economic and ecological roles. Borneo is known as a center of endemic plant species but faces threats from human activities, including those affecting palms. This study aims to update the distribution and conservation status of endemic Bornean palms, identify potential conservation priority areas, and conduct a gap analysis to inform conservation strategies. The methodology involved comprehensive data collection, along with spatial and statistical analysis for conservation assessment and prioritization. Despite challenges like limited data on palm distribution in Indonesia, the study provides critical insights for developing targeted conservation strategies, particularly for conservation priority areas outside protected areas. The study identified 210 endemic Bornean palms, including 16 genera and 111 local endemics, with Malaysia exhibiting the highest species richness. Preliminary global assessment categorized 147 species as threatened palms, with 51 Critically Endangered (CR), 65 Endangered (EN), and 31 Vulnerable (VU). Meanwhile, 63 species were recognized as Least Concern (LC) and Near Threatened (NT). Furthermore, we conducted a hotspot analysis to identify key areas for conservation efforts. This analysis identified 32 grids (covering 12,378.93 km<sup>2</sup>), representing 10 % of the total identified Conservation Priority Areas (CPA), and 45 grids (covering 104,257.3 km<sup>2</sup>), representing 20 %. The larger area encompassed by the 20 % CPA highlights broader landscape-level priorities, emphasizing the importance of scaling conservation efforts to address habitat connectivity and ecological resilience. These areas spanned all regions, but a higher percentage was found in Malaysia at 10 % and 20 % sensitivity levels. These findings provide important guidance for targeted conservation actions and support further discussions on the future conservation of endemic Bornean palms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54898,"journal":{"name":"Journal for Nature Conservation","volume":"84 ","pages":"Article 126859"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143372909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126856
Ana Carolina da C. Ribeiro , Jean C.G. Ortega , Luis Mauricio Bini , Viviane G. Ferro , Arthur A. Bispo , Wanessa Fernandes Carvalho , Fausto Nomura , Marcus Vinicius Cianciaruso
We investigated the impact of a human-caused fire on four animal communities (birds, moths, and adults and larvae of anurans) within Emas National Park, Brazil, over a 10-year period. We compared community descriptors (mean abundance, species richness, and beta diversity) before and after the fire using an interrupted time series regression model. We found a significant impact of fire on the avian community, with all measured descriptors indicated a process of biotic homogenization, that is, a reduction in beta diversity, suggesting that sampled sites become more similar in species composition, and a decline in species richness that indicates dominance by a few bird species. Conversely, the fire’s effect on moth and anuran communities appeared less pronounced, while the abundance and species richness in tadpole communities were increasing over time, different of the response of adult anuran communities, that randomly oscillated over time. At first, we expected that moths would be more vulnerable to fire than birds, since moths have lower dispersal ability than birds, with anuran communities less affected, although we were not able to identify the causes that make avian communities more vulnerable than the moth and anuran communities. We suggest that the lack of nearby refuges and larger home range requirements may be the key factors in understanding avian vulnerability to catastrophic fire events.
{"title":"The effect of fire on the structure of animal metacommunities in a Cerrado landscape: A 10-year survey of anurans, birds and moth assemblages","authors":"Ana Carolina da C. Ribeiro , Jean C.G. Ortega , Luis Mauricio Bini , Viviane G. Ferro , Arthur A. Bispo , Wanessa Fernandes Carvalho , Fausto Nomura , Marcus Vinicius Cianciaruso","doi":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126856","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126856","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We investigated the impact of a human-caused fire on four animal communities (birds, moths, and adults and larvae of anurans) within Emas National Park, Brazil, over a 10-year period. We compared community descriptors (mean abundance, species richness, and beta diversity) before and after the fire using an interrupted time series regression model. We found a significant impact of fire on the avian community, with all measured descriptors indicated a process of biotic homogenization, that is, a reduction in beta diversity, suggesting that sampled sites become more similar in species composition, and a decline in species richness that indicates dominance by a few bird species. Conversely, the fire’s effect on moth and anuran communities appeared less pronounced, while the abundance and species richness in tadpole communities were increasing over time, different of the response of adult anuran communities, that randomly oscillated over time. At first, we expected that moths would be more vulnerable to fire than birds, since moths have lower dispersal ability than birds, with anuran communities less affected, although we were not able to identify the causes that make avian communities more vulnerable than the moth and anuran communities. We suggest that the lack of nearby refuges and larger home range requirements may be the key factors in understanding avian vulnerability to catastrophic fire events.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54898,"journal":{"name":"Journal for Nature Conservation","volume":"84 ","pages":"Article 126856"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143180735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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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