Pub Date : 2025-02-19DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2025.110992
Sunandan Chakraborty , Spencer N. Roberts , Gohar A. Petrossian , Monique Sosnowski , Juliana Freire , Jennifer Jacquet
Direct exploitation, which includes the trade of wild animals for their parts, is a major driver of extinction. Digital communication tools, particularly the internet, have facilitated the trade in endangered species. Here, we automatically collected data to analyze online sales of threatened animals across 148 English-text online marketplaces. We created a tool that searched for online sales of 13,267 animal species at risk of global extinction, as classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as well as 706 animal species on Appendix I of the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), for which international commercial trade is prohibited. Examining a period of 15 weeks in 2018, we identified 10,699 unique listings selling body parts or eggs of threatened species, of which 4131 contained a full species name (common or scientific). These 4131 results were then filtered by keywords and, finally, manually vetted, which yielded 546 sale listings for 83 species. Of these 546 listings, 61 % advertised shark trophies (mainly jaws), 73 % of which were taken from species listed as endangered or critically endangered. Just four websites hosted >95 % of listings. We identified 18 species for sale that are included on CITES Appendix I. We also identified 13 species for which the IUCN had not identified intentional use as a threat. This work expands current understanding about the dealing of endangered and potentially illegal species online, specifies taxa threatened by online trade, and highlights emerging opportunities and persistent challenges to preventing the trafficking of threatened species.
{"title":"Prevalence of endangered shark trophies in automated detection of the online wildlife trade","authors":"Sunandan Chakraborty , Spencer N. Roberts , Gohar A. Petrossian , Monique Sosnowski , Juliana Freire , Jennifer Jacquet","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.110992","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.110992","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Direct exploitation, which includes the trade of wild animals for their parts, is a major driver of extinction. Digital communication tools, particularly the internet, have facilitated the trade in endangered species. Here, we automatically collected data to analyze online sales of threatened animals across 148 English-text online marketplaces. We created a tool that searched for online sales of 13,267 animal species at risk of global extinction, as classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as well as 706 animal species on Appendix I of the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), for which international commercial trade is prohibited. Examining a period of 15 weeks in 2018, we identified 10,699 unique listings selling body parts or eggs of threatened species, of which 4131 contained a full species name (common or scientific). These 4131 results were then filtered by keywords and, finally, manually vetted, which yielded 546 sale listings for 83 species. Of these 546 listings, 61 % advertised shark trophies (mainly jaws), 73 % of which were taken from species listed as endangered or critically endangered. Just four websites hosted >95 % of listings. We identified 18 species for sale that are included on CITES Appendix I. We also identified 13 species for which the IUCN had not identified intentional use as a threat. This work expands current understanding about the dealing of endangered and potentially illegal species online, specifies taxa threatened by online trade, and highlights emerging opportunities and persistent challenges to preventing the trafficking of threatened species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"304 ","pages":"Article 110992"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143438143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2025-02-17DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111031
Elisa Leal Abbad , Cecília Cronemberger de Faria , Helena Godoy Bergallo , Cristian de Sales Dambros
Biodiversity monitoring networks are essential to quantify changes in biodiversity over time. Despite the importance of monitoring, studies using these data fail to find the widely accepted negative human impact on biodiversity, raising concerns about potential sampling issues in monitoring programs. To quantify the magnitude of these biases and their implications for future studies, we investigated the spatial, temporal, and taxonomic distribution of biodiversity monitoring networks in the Neotropics. Our dataset spans 59 years (1961–2020) and includes data from 30 countries and terrestrial and marine ecosystems. To understand how the duration of the time series could impact future studies, we simulated communities under different levels of colonization and extinction. We then evaluated whether colonization and extinction could be reliably estimated from a short time series. Most networks cover specific geographical regions (overrepresentation in southeastern Brazil), are short (<10 years), and focus on plants and mammals on land and fishes on marine reefs. In addition, most studies (81 %) sample areas with no significant habitat changes over time, which is significantly different from a random sampling expectation. We found long-term data (>50 years) to be important to achieve greater accuracy in temporal analyses, but short time series would still produce unbiased measures of colonization and extinction. Because monitoring sites are primarily in areas with low human impact and are restricted taxonomically, future studies using these data are unlikely to detect most species extinctions. Biodiversity monitoring programs should aim for a more equitable geographic distribution of projects and diversify taxonomic and geographical representation.
{"title":"Bias in neotropical and reef biodiversity monitoring programs may prevent detecting changes in species diversity through time","authors":"Elisa Leal Abbad , Cecília Cronemberger de Faria , Helena Godoy Bergallo , Cristian de Sales Dambros","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111031","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111031","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biodiversity monitoring networks are essential to quantify changes in biodiversity over time. Despite the importance of monitoring, studies using these data fail to find the widely accepted negative human impact on biodiversity, raising concerns about potential sampling issues in monitoring programs. To quantify the magnitude of these biases and their implications for future studies, we investigated the spatial, temporal, and taxonomic distribution of biodiversity monitoring networks in the Neotropics. Our dataset spans 59 years (1961–2020) and includes data from 30 countries and terrestrial and marine ecosystems. To understand how the duration of the time series could impact future studies, we simulated communities under different levels of colonization and extinction. We then evaluated whether colonization and extinction could be reliably estimated from a short time series. Most networks cover specific geographical regions (overrepresentation in southeastern Brazil), are short (<10 years), and focus on plants and mammals on land and fishes on marine reefs. In addition, most studies (81 %) sample areas with no significant habitat changes over time, which is significantly different from a random sampling expectation. We found long-term data (>50 years) to be important to achieve greater accuracy in temporal analyses, but short time series would still produce unbiased measures of colonization and extinction. Because monitoring sites are primarily in areas with low human impact and are restricted taxonomically, future studies using these data are unlikely to detect most species extinctions. Biodiversity monitoring programs should aim for a more equitable geographic distribution of projects and diversify taxonomic and geographical representation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 111031"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143420896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2025-02-17DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111010
Guilherme Costa Alvarenga , Mathias W. Tobler , Valeria Boron , Elildo Alves Ribeiro de Carvalho Jr , Ronaldo Gonçalves Morato , Whaldener Endo , Eloisa Neves Mendonça , Ricardo Sampaio , Carlos César Durigan , André Luis Sousa Gonçalves , Emiliano Esterci Ramalho , Juarez Carlos Brito Pezzuti , Milton José de Paula , André Pinassi Antunes , José Luis Mena , Gates Dupont , Wilson Spironello , Jessica Pacheco , Fabiola La Rosa-Camino , Jaime Cabrera , Marcelo Oliveira da Costa
Protected areas, including Indigenous Lands, play a critical role in protecting natural habitats and wildlife. The Amazon has a remarkable network of protected areas and is home to the largest population of the Neotropics' largest felid, the jaguar (Panthera onca). Yet, knowledge of the population status of jaguars across the biome is scarce. In this article, we use camera trap data combined with multi-session spatial capture-recapture models to estimate site-independent jaguar densities in 22 protected areas. Additionally, we tested for density spatial variation based on anthropogenic and biological variables, predicting approximate jaguar population size for each protected area sampled. The estimated average density of jaguars across our sites was 3.08 ± 1.13 individuals per 100 km2 but density estimates varied more than 20-fold from 0.60 ± 0.50 ind./100 km2 in the Lower Negro River (Cuieiras Biological Reserve) to 9.97 ± 2.48 ind./100 km2 in the várzea floodplains of the Amazon River (Sustainable Development Reserve Mamirauá). Our results revealed that the highest densities of jaguars occur in regions with higher primary productivity and that all 22 protected areas combined harbour an estimated jaguar population size of 6389 individuals (95 % CI: 4664-7986), highlighting the importance that protected areas have for the conservation of this emblematic species. We contend that implementing continuous monitoring programs across Amazonian protected areas and curbing escalating anthropogenic pressures is paramount to ensure these areas remain as a stronghold for the species.
{"title":"Jaguar (Panthera onca) density and population size across protected areas and indigenous lands in the Amazon biome, its largest stronghold","authors":"Guilherme Costa Alvarenga , Mathias W. Tobler , Valeria Boron , Elildo Alves Ribeiro de Carvalho Jr , Ronaldo Gonçalves Morato , Whaldener Endo , Eloisa Neves Mendonça , Ricardo Sampaio , Carlos César Durigan , André Luis Sousa Gonçalves , Emiliano Esterci Ramalho , Juarez Carlos Brito Pezzuti , Milton José de Paula , André Pinassi Antunes , José Luis Mena , Gates Dupont , Wilson Spironello , Jessica Pacheco , Fabiola La Rosa-Camino , Jaime Cabrera , Marcelo Oliveira da Costa","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Protected areas, including Indigenous Lands, play a critical role in protecting natural habitats and wildlife. The Amazon has a remarkable network of protected areas and is home to the largest population of the Neotropics' largest felid, the jaguar (<em>Panthera onca</em>). Yet, knowledge of the population status of jaguars across the biome is scarce. In this article, we use camera trap data combined with multi-session spatial capture-recapture models to estimate site-independent jaguar densities in 22 protected areas. Additionally, we tested for density spatial variation based on anthropogenic and biological variables, predicting approximate jaguar population size for each protected area sampled. The estimated average density of jaguars across our sites was 3.08 ± 1.13 individuals per 100 km<sup>2</sup> but density estimates varied more than 20-fold from 0.60 ± 0.50 ind./100 km<sup>2</sup> in the Lower Negro River (Cuieiras Biological Reserve) to 9.97 ± 2.48 ind./100 km<sup>2</sup> in the <em>várzea</em> floodplains of the Amazon River (Sustainable Development Reserve Mamirauá). Our results revealed that the highest densities of jaguars occur in regions with higher primary productivity and that all 22 protected areas combined harbour an estimated jaguar population size of 6389 individuals (95 % CI: 4664-7986), highlighting the importance that protected areas have for the conservation of this emblematic species. We contend that implementing continuous monitoring programs across Amazonian protected areas and curbing escalating anthropogenic pressures is paramount to ensure these areas remain as a stronghold for the species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 111010"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143420895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2025-02-16DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111030
Kristian Bell , Siegmund Nuyts , Christopher Bie , Valerie Hagger , Peter Macreadie , Melissa Wartman
Amid global biodiversity and climate crises, restoring blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) like mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrass may offer multiple biodiversity and climate benefits. However, species-specific information on BCE use remains unconsolidated and often inaccessible to land managers. Here we compile a database and examine broad ecological patterns in the use of BCEs by threatened Australian fauna, including amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals and reptiles. The database is presented within an open-access web tool to assist with restoration decisions and monitoring actions. We identified 30 threatened species that depend on BCEs (‘obligates’), and a further 160 threatened species that benefit from the resources BCEs provide (‘facultatives’). Obligate species included the Critically Endangered Orange-bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogaster), and the Endangered Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) and Mangrove ant-blue butterfly (Acrodipsas illidgei). Obligate species displayed many characteristics often associated with higher extinction risk, including smaller home range sizes, diurnal activity and carnivorous diets. Habitat loss and degradation combined threaten 91.7 % of obligate species, with most species (90.9 %) facing these threats within Australia. Significant disparities exist in available information for obligate species, particularly invertebrates, resulting in greater uncertainty around species ranges and level of reliance on BCEs. With habitat loss and degradation driving declines in threatened species, the conservation importance and potential benefit of future blue carbon protection and restoration projects is pronounced. Our findings and web tool aid project planning by facilitating rapid identification of target species, along with species-specific survey methods, population trajectories, and key threats.
{"title":"Threatened fauna that use blue carbon ecosystems: A review from Australia","authors":"Kristian Bell , Siegmund Nuyts , Christopher Bie , Valerie Hagger , Peter Macreadie , Melissa Wartman","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111030","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111030","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Amid global biodiversity and climate crises, restoring blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) like mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrass may offer multiple biodiversity and climate benefits. However, species-specific information on BCE use remains unconsolidated and often inaccessible to land managers. Here we compile a database and examine broad ecological patterns in the use of BCEs by threatened Australian fauna, including amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals and reptiles. The database is presented within an open-access web tool to assist with restoration decisions and monitoring actions. We identified 30 threatened species that depend on BCEs (‘obligates’), and a further 160 threatened species that benefit from the resources BCEs provide (‘facultatives’). Obligate species included the Critically Endangered Orange-bellied parrot (<em>Neophema chrysogaster</em>), and the Endangered Green turtle (<em>Chelonia mydas</em>), Australian sea lion (<em>Neophoca cinerea</em>) and Mangrove ant-blue butterfly (<em>Acrodipsas illidgei</em>). Obligate species displayed many characteristics often associated with higher extinction risk, including smaller home range sizes, diurnal activity and carnivorous diets. Habitat loss and degradation combined threaten 91.7 % of obligate species, with most species (90.9 %) facing these threats within Australia. Significant disparities exist in available information for obligate species, particularly invertebrates, resulting in greater uncertainty around species ranges and level of reliance on BCEs. With habitat loss and degradation driving declines in threatened species, the conservation importance and potential benefit of future blue carbon protection and restoration projects is pronounced. Our findings and web tool aid project planning by facilitating rapid identification of target species, along with species-specific survey methods, population trajectories, and key threats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 111030"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143420894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2025-02-16DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111029
Pedro Romero-Vidal , Abraham Rojas , Mauricio Herrera , Fernando Hiraldo , José A. Díaz , Guillermo Blanco , Martina Carrete , José L. Tella
International wildlife trade and, as suggested by studies on illegal urban markets, to a lesser extent domestic trade have been recognized among the main threats to several parrot species worldwide. However, little attention has been paid to the impact of parrot poaching not for trade but to satisfy the local communities' demand for pets. We develop here a novel survey methodology that consists on monitoring the number of parrots for sale in illicit city markets, identifying catchment areas, and then probing there the proportion of poached parrots that are either kept locally as household pets or transported to market for sale. This way, we roughly estimated that the number of parrots poached in Bolivia in a single year (300,000–500,000 individuals) is between 20 and 70 times higher than numbers traded annually in its main market, and double the total number of parrots that Bolivia legally exported since 1979. These annual captures are explained by a high turnover rate of pets mostly due to poor keeping conditions (owners lost their pets at median ages of 0.8–2 years) and the fact that most pet owners poach parrots themselves, at no economic costs. This survey method, that could be applied to other countries where domestic trade in various taxa is registered in illicit markets, shows the actual dimensions both in terms of numbers, spatial extent and actors involved in wildlife poaching. Knowledge and understanding of these components are key to designing effective conservation actions.
{"title":"The hidden dimension of poaching: A novel survey method shows that local demand for pets largely outnumbers domestic and international trade of neotropical parrots","authors":"Pedro Romero-Vidal , Abraham Rojas , Mauricio Herrera , Fernando Hiraldo , José A. Díaz , Guillermo Blanco , Martina Carrete , José L. Tella","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111029","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111029","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>International wildlife trade and, as suggested by studies on illegal urban markets, to a lesser extent domestic trade have been recognized among the main threats to several parrot species worldwide. However, little attention has been paid to the impact of parrot poaching not for trade but to satisfy the local communities' demand for pets. We develop here a novel survey methodology that consists on monitoring the number of parrots for sale in illicit city markets, identifying catchment areas, and then probing there the proportion of poached parrots that are either kept locally as household pets or transported to market for sale. This way, we roughly estimated that the number of parrots poached in Bolivia in a single year (300,000–500,000 individuals) is between 20 and 70 times higher than numbers traded annually in its main market, and double the total number of parrots that Bolivia legally exported since 1979. These annual captures are explained by a high turnover rate of pets mostly due to poor keeping conditions (owners lost their pets at median ages of 0.8–2 years) and the fact that most pet owners poach parrots themselves, at no economic costs. This survey method, that could be applied to other countries where domestic trade in various taxa is registered in illicit markets, shows the actual dimensions both in terms of numbers, spatial extent and actors involved in wildlife poaching. Knowledge and understanding of these components are key to designing effective conservation actions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 111029"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143420992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2025-02-14DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111032
Arturo Zenone , V. Maximiliano Giacalone , Marco Martinez , Carlo Pipitone , Adriana Alagna , Eduardo Infantes , Giovanni D'Anna , Fabio Badalamenti
Seagrass meadows are experiencing a worldwide decline, driven by human activities and natural disturbances. The degradation of these meadows raises significant concerns regarding the loss of essential ecosystem services. Posidonia oceanica, a Mediterranean endemic seagrass, plays a crucial role in coastal ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity, carbon storage, water purification, and shoreline protection. This study reports the outcomes of a six-year transplantation experiment aimed at restoring small damaged patches in a Posidonia oceanica meadow in the southwestern Tyrrhenian Sea, within the Egadi Marine Protected Area (MPA). The damage, likely caused by boat anchoring, was addressed using seedlings grown in the laboratory from beach-cast seeds. The experiment evaluated the survival and growth of seedlings planted at three different densities in two sites. After six years, the intermediate planting density (100 seedlings per m2) yielded the highest survival rate (76.9 %), while the lowest density (40 seedlings per m2) resulted in the lowest survival rate (5.1 %). Seedlings showed significantly different growth rates and biomass accumulation in the two sites, likely due to variability in sediment accumulation, seabed slope and hydrodynamic conditions. This research highlights the potential of seed-based techniques for restoring seagrass meadows, emphasizing that long-term monitoring and careful selection of transplant sites are essential for the success of such restoration efforts.
{"title":"Stitching up Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile anchorage scars using beach-cast seeds: Results of a six-year study","authors":"Arturo Zenone , V. Maximiliano Giacalone , Marco Martinez , Carlo Pipitone , Adriana Alagna , Eduardo Infantes , Giovanni D'Anna , Fabio Badalamenti","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111032","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111032","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seagrass meadows are experiencing a worldwide decline, driven by human activities and natural disturbances. The degradation of these meadows raises significant concerns regarding the loss of essential ecosystem services. <em>Posidonia oceanica</em>, a Mediterranean endemic seagrass, plays a crucial role in coastal ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity, carbon storage, water purification, and shoreline protection. This study reports the outcomes of a six-year transplantation experiment aimed at restoring small damaged patches in a <em>Posidonia oceanica</em> meadow in the southwestern Tyrrhenian Sea, within the Egadi Marine Protected Area (MPA). The damage, likely caused by boat anchoring, was addressed using seedlings grown in the laboratory from beach-cast seeds. The experiment evaluated the survival and growth of seedlings planted at three different densities in two sites. After six years, the intermediate planting density (100 seedlings per m<sup>2</sup>) yielded the highest survival rate (76.9 %), while the lowest density (40 seedlings per m<sup>2</sup>) resulted in the lowest survival rate (5.1 %). Seedlings showed significantly different growth rates and biomass accumulation in the two sites, likely due to variability in sediment accumulation, seabed slope and hydrodynamic conditions. This research highlights the potential of seed-based techniques for restoring seagrass meadows, emphasizing that long-term monitoring and careful selection of transplant sites are essential for the success of such restoration efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 111032"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143420995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2025-02-14DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111019
Vasavi Prakash, Robert A. Gitzen, Christopher A. Lepczyk
Human-carnivore conflict (HCC) is a growing global problem. A fundamental challenge is that HCC almost universally involves human-human conflict. Residents affected by HCC may also lack power and money to implement solutions, while conservation practitioners with power to guide solutions prioritize species conservation. Given the need to holistically evaluate HCC, we used a social-ecological systems (SES) approach that incorporated theoretical frameworks to draw out the hidden aspects of HCC. Specifically, we used a participatory fuzzy logic cognitive modeling approach to create mental models as a SES tool to study HCC. The theoretical lens of systems thinking encompassing conflict theory and power sharing were used to test hypotheses and to compare models between conservation experts and residents. We used human-tiger conflict (HTC) in India as a model system given the country's success at tiger conservation and the complex human dimensions involved. We conducted focused group discussions in 16 villages around Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, and with 10 experts, to create 26 mental models. We identified 445 qualitative variables that were aggregated across 6 themes. The mean complexity scores were similar between residents and experts, demonstrating similarities in understanding the complexity of HTCs for both groups. Based on conflict theory, important factors identified by residents included fencing, early warning systems, and awareness measures. In contrast, important factors identified by experts were pollution, climate change, and habitat quality. Based on power asymmetry, these two groups identified different drivers and mitigation solutions, with residents prioritizing fuelwood collection and fencing, while experts prioritized habitat quality and prey base availability. These results are valuable for identifying the unaddressed needs of actors involved. Our findings can aid in policy to promote local support of conservation initiatives for wild species conservation by integrating local ecological knowledge and fulfilling the needs of the local people.
{"title":"Applying fuzzy logic cognitive modeling to integrate socio-ecological knowledge for carnivore conflict management","authors":"Vasavi Prakash, Robert A. Gitzen, Christopher A. Lepczyk","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human-carnivore conflict (HCC) is a growing global problem. A fundamental challenge is that HCC almost universally involves human-human conflict. Residents affected by HCC may also lack power and money to implement solutions, while conservation practitioners with power to guide solutions prioritize species conservation. Given the need to holistically evaluate HCC, we used a social-ecological systems (SES) approach that incorporated theoretical frameworks to draw out the hidden aspects of HCC. Specifically, we used a participatory fuzzy logic cognitive modeling approach to create mental models as a SES tool to study HCC. The theoretical lens of systems thinking encompassing conflict theory and power sharing were used to test hypotheses and to compare models between conservation experts and residents. We used human-tiger conflict (HTC) in India as a model system given the country's success at tiger conservation and the complex human dimensions involved. We conducted focused group discussions in 16 villages around Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, and with 10 experts, to create 26 mental models. We identified 445 qualitative variables that were aggregated across 6 themes. The mean complexity scores were similar between residents and experts, demonstrating similarities in understanding the complexity of HTCs for both groups. Based on conflict theory, important factors identified by residents included fencing, early warning systems, and awareness measures. In contrast, important factors identified by experts were pollution, climate change, and habitat quality. Based on power asymmetry, these two groups identified different drivers and mitigation solutions, with residents prioritizing fuelwood collection and fencing, while experts prioritized habitat quality and prey base availability. These results are valuable for identifying the unaddressed needs of actors involved. Our findings can aid in policy to promote local support of conservation initiatives for wild species conservation by integrating local ecological knowledge and fulfilling the needs of the local people.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 111019"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143420994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2025-02-13DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2025.110995
David O'Brien , Tsipe Aavik , Ancuta Fedorca , Martin C. Fischer , Robin Goffaux , Sean Hoban , Peter Hollingsworth , Christina Hvilsom , Robert Jehle , Belma Kalamujić Stroil , Francine Kershaw , Peter Klinga , Alexander Kopatz , Deborah M. Leigh , Ivan Paz-Vinas , Marine Robuchon , Gernot Segelbacher , Viktoria Takacs , Cristiano Vernesi , Linda Laikre
Governments and economic blocs are recognising that the world faces a biodiversity crisis. The restoration of biodiversity to the levels prior to widespread human induced damage has been incorporated as a crucial component of conservation in the Global Biodiversity Framework of the Convention of Biological Diversity. The Nature Restoration Law (NRL) forms part of the European Union's response and after its adoption by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, it has formally become the Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR). The NRL aims to play a role in restoring ecosystems, habitats and species but does not expressly include genetic diversity, the third biodiversity component. Considering genetic diversity in strategic biodiversity planning is important to help nature adapt to rapid anthropogenic change. We have reviewed the text of the NRL and note opportunities to incorporate genetic diversity in National Restoration Plans to augment its implementation. In particular, genetic diversity assessments are well aligned with the NRL's aspiration to enhance connectivity, and genetic indicators can assess the effectiveness of its implementation. Here we give examples where restoration has incorporated genetic diversity to ensure long term wide-reaching success. This is of relevance beyond the NRL and applies generally to policy for nature restoration efforts globally, especially those related to the Global Biodiversity Framework.
{"title":"Restoring genetic diversity to facilitate the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Law","authors":"David O'Brien , Tsipe Aavik , Ancuta Fedorca , Martin C. Fischer , Robin Goffaux , Sean Hoban , Peter Hollingsworth , Christina Hvilsom , Robert Jehle , Belma Kalamujić Stroil , Francine Kershaw , Peter Klinga , Alexander Kopatz , Deborah M. Leigh , Ivan Paz-Vinas , Marine Robuchon , Gernot Segelbacher , Viktoria Takacs , Cristiano Vernesi , Linda Laikre","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.110995","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.110995","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Governments and economic blocs are recognising that the world faces a biodiversity crisis. The restoration of biodiversity to the levels prior to widespread human induced damage has been incorporated as a crucial component of conservation in the Global Biodiversity Framework of the Convention of Biological Diversity. The Nature Restoration Law (NRL) forms part of the European Union's response and after its adoption by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, it has formally become the Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR). The NRL aims to play a role in restoring ecosystems, habitats and species but does not expressly include genetic diversity, the third biodiversity component. Considering genetic diversity in strategic biodiversity planning is important to help nature adapt to rapid anthropogenic change. We have reviewed the text of the NRL and note opportunities to incorporate genetic diversity in National Restoration Plans to augment its implementation. In particular, genetic diversity assessments are well aligned with the NRL's aspiration to enhance connectivity, and genetic indicators can assess the effectiveness of its implementation. Here we give examples where restoration has incorporated genetic diversity to ensure long term wide-reaching success. This is of relevance beyond the NRL and applies generally to policy for nature restoration efforts globally, especially those related to the Global Biodiversity Framework.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 110995"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143395199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2025-02-13DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111020
Edoardo Scali , Michael Johnson , Giovanni Emiliani , Douglas Schmidt , Tina Popenuck , Matteo Garbelotto
Scattered trees are hubs of biodiversity. Here, we present a study in which fungal communities in the caulosphere of scattered individual trees were compared to those of woodlands. We compared alpha and beta diversities of wood- and bark-inhabiting fungi from the stems of trees across seven vegetation types belonging to three species: Pinus muricata, Quercus agrifolia and Notholithocarpus densiflorus. Scattered pines were among the investigated vegetation types. Correlations between stand density, or other tree features, and alpha diversity matrices, were studied with six Generalized Linear Models (GLMs), while the effect of spatial dispersion of trees was studied by correlating Ripley's K values with diversity. Results show that scattered trees represent a hub for biodiversity of wood and bark fungi. We found that caulosphere fungal richness in scattered pines was higher than that of pines growing in stands and was as high as that in notoriously biodiverse oak woodlands. Beta diversity analyses showed that the high fungal diversity in scattered pines is explained by the large number of taxa unique to pines, by a significant overlap of fungi between scattered pines and other vegetation types, and by a significant number of fungi unique to scattered pines. The GLMs showed significant correlations between high species richness, Shannon's and Simpson's indices and low forest density. Finally, we show that the fungi in or on the stems of more dispersed vegetation types are more diverse. These surprising results suggest that preserving or planting scattered trees is a cost-effective strategy that could support as much, or even more, caulosphere fungal biodiversity than entire woodlands.
{"title":"Not seeing the tree for the Forest: Scattered trees can be unexpected hotspots of fungal diversity","authors":"Edoardo Scali , Michael Johnson , Giovanni Emiliani , Douglas Schmidt , Tina Popenuck , Matteo Garbelotto","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111020","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111020","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Scattered trees are hubs of biodiversity. Here, we present a study in which fungal communities in the caulosphere of scattered individual trees were compared to those of woodlands. We compared alpha and beta diversities of wood- and bark-inhabiting fungi from the stems of trees across seven vegetation types belonging to three species: <em>Pinus muricata</em>, <em>Quercus agrifolia</em> and <em>Notholithocarpus densiflorus</em>. Scattered pines were among the investigated vegetation types. Correlations between stand density, or other tree features, and alpha diversity matrices, were studied with six Generalized Linear Models (GLMs), while the effect of spatial dispersion of trees was studied by correlating Ripley's K values with diversity. Results show that scattered trees represent a hub for biodiversity of wood and bark fungi. We found that caulosphere fungal richness in scattered pines was higher than that of pines growing in stands and was as high as that in notoriously biodiverse oak woodlands. Beta diversity analyses showed that the high fungal diversity in scattered pines is explained by the large number of taxa unique to pines, by a significant overlap of fungi between scattered pines and other vegetation types, and by a significant number of fungi unique to scattered pines. The GLMs showed significant correlations between high species richness, Shannon's and Simpson's indices and low forest density. Finally, we show that the fungi in or on the stems of more dispersed vegetation types are more diverse. These surprising results suggest that preserving or planting scattered trees is a cost-effective strategy that could support as much, or even more, caulosphere fungal biodiversity than entire woodlands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 111020"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143403126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
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