Pub Date : 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111708
Travis Longcore , Brittany Lynch , Kaitlyn Phelan , Debbie Melton , Dane Sanders , Michael Herf
Predicting the adverse effects of light at night is necessary to ensure compliance with laws and regulations that protect species. Using two case studies, we developed a method to map the impacts of roadway lighting on two endangered species using software widely available and used in lighting engineering and conservation planning. We calculated vertical and horizontal illuminance at each site and converted the values based on the spectral sensitivity of the species and the spectral composition of the lamps. We mapped illumination in equivalent moonlight illuminance (lux), meaning the illumination is as bright as the same amount of moonlight would appear to the organism, once the spectral sensitivity of the organism is considered, proposing a threshold for adverse impacts at 0.01 and 0.1 moonlight equivalent illuminance. Finally, we compared as-built lamps to lamps with other spectral compositions and calculated illumination that would result from use of commercially available shields. Although this workflow was feasible, improvements in software and characterization of species spectral responses is needed. Nevertheless, spectral tuning reduced the impact area for both species (8–19% and 21–25%). Shielding reduced the impact area for one case study by focusing light more closely on the roadways, but for the other site the available shields increased high-angle forward light emissions. The results demonstrate an approach to calculate the effects of new lights and to analyze benefits of spectral tuning, shielding, or reduction in light intensity that could be further refined through both basic ecological research and software development.
{"title":"Assessing and mapping taxon-specific effects of ecological light pollution for environmental impact analysis","authors":"Travis Longcore , Brittany Lynch , Kaitlyn Phelan , Debbie Melton , Dane Sanders , Michael Herf","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111708","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111708","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Predicting the adverse effects of light at night is necessary to ensure compliance with laws and regulations that protect species. Using two case studies, we developed a method to map the impacts of roadway lighting on two endangered species using software widely available and used in lighting engineering and conservation planning. We calculated vertical and horizontal illuminance at each site and converted the values based on the spectral sensitivity of the species and the spectral composition of the lamps. We mapped illumination in equivalent moonlight illuminance (lux), meaning the illumination is as bright as the same amount of moonlight would appear to the organism, once the spectral sensitivity of the organism is considered, proposing a threshold for adverse impacts at 0.01 and 0.1 moonlight equivalent illuminance. Finally, we compared as-built lamps to lamps with other spectral compositions and calculated illumination that would result from use of commercially available shields. Although this workflow was feasible, improvements in software and characterization of species spectral responses is needed. Nevertheless, spectral tuning reduced the impact area for both species (8–19% and 21–25%). Shielding reduced the impact area for one case study by focusing light more closely on the roadways, but for the other site the available shields increased high-angle forward light emissions. The results demonstrate an approach to calculate the effects of new lights and to analyze benefits of spectral tuning, shielding, or reduction in light intensity that could be further refined through both basic ecological research and software development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"315 ","pages":"Article 111708"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038442","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 : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111714
Devin Edmonds , Jane Du , Samuel Stickley , Samuel Sucre
The global wildlife trade is contributing to biodiversity loss, with amphibians especially vulnerable and overlooked in trade regulations. The trade in pet amphibians is a growing area of concern, and though there are notable benefits from keeping amphibians, the trade is also associated with introducing invasive species, spreading diseases, and overexploiting wild populations. Despite such risks, we lack a full understanding of the origins of traded species and the ways they enter markets. We combined online ads and import records to analyze the sourcing and pricing of pet amphibians traded in the United States, identifying species likely sourced from domestic production and unrecorded channels. Of the 301 species sold online, we identified 30 advertised more often than expected from import records, indicating they are primarily produced domestically. We also found 18.1% of traded non-native species had no import record and were sold at a 40.4% premium. Brazil, China, and Colombia stood out as countries with native species that were unrecorded in import records. Import at the genus-level was the most common way unrecorded species arrived in U.S. markets, but we also found instances of mislabeling, laundering, and suspected smuggling. The greatest number of imports at the genus-level were from Madagascar, Malaysia, Tanzania, and Vietnam. Our findings show the value of combining classifieds data with import records to identify illicit trade pathways and a need for improved record keeping. To move toward sustainable trade, we advocate engaging with domestic breeders and consumers while improving amphibian identification tools for inspecting wildlife shipments.
{"title":"Tracking the hidden trade of non-native pet amphibians in the United States","authors":"Devin Edmonds , Jane Du , Samuel Stickley , Samuel Sucre","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111714","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111714","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The global wildlife trade is contributing to biodiversity loss, with amphibians especially vulnerable and overlooked in trade regulations. The trade in pet amphibians is a growing area of concern, and though there are notable benefits from keeping amphibians, the trade is also associated with introducing invasive species, spreading diseases, and overexploiting wild populations. Despite such risks, we lack a full understanding of the origins of traded species and the ways they enter markets. We combined online ads and import records to analyze the sourcing and pricing of pet amphibians traded in the United States, identifying species likely sourced from domestic production and unrecorded channels. Of the 301 species sold online, we identified 30 advertised more often than expected from import records, indicating they are primarily produced domestically. We also found 18.1% of traded non-native species had no import record and were sold at a 40.4% premium. Brazil, China, and Colombia stood out as countries with native species that were unrecorded in import records. Import at the genus-level was the most common way unrecorded species arrived in U.S. markets, but we also found instances of mislabeling, laundering, and suspected smuggling. The greatest number of imports at the genus-level were from Madagascar, Malaysia, Tanzania, and Vietnam. Our findings show the value of combining classifieds data with import records to identify illicit trade pathways and a need for improved record keeping. To move toward sustainable trade, we advocate engaging with domestic breeders and consumers while improving amphibian identification tools for inspecting wildlife shipments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"315 ","pages":"Article 111714"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038441","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 : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111706
Alan Marín
The Eastern South Pacific Ocean (ESPO) is a nutrient-rich and highly diverse region that plays a pivotal role in the global seafood trade. Despite its importance, the seafood industry in this region is hindered by complex supply chains and insufficient regulation frameworks, which facilitate illegal practices, including mislabeling. DNA-based methods have emerged as essential tools for seafood authentication, helping to mitigate mislabeling and supporting conservation strategies. This study provides the first comprehensive review of DNA-based methods used globally to identify seafood species from the ESPO. Historical and current techniques were systematically examined, with a focus on emerging technologies that offer promising applications in the field. Nearly three decades of research have enabled the successful identification of over 200 commercially valuable species using more than ten distinct DNA-based methods. Fish and mollusks constituted the most extensively studied seafood groups, with DNA sequencing emerging as the predominant technique. Furthermore, a global mislabeling meta-analysis, encompassing 1806 seafood products from the ESPO, revealed an estimated mislabeling rate of 24.8% (95% CI [22.9–26.9]). Notably, a substantial proportion of mislabeled and substituted products corresponds to highly threatened shark species, with the highest rates recorded in Colombia and Peru. This raises serious conservation concerns, particularly given that nations bordering the ESPO are major players in the global shark trade. Overall, the findings of this review underscore the urgent need to integrate advanced DNA-based techniques into existing regulatory frameworks. They also establish a solid foundation for developing targeted policies and encouraging collaborative efforts among nations in this region.
{"title":"Genetic forensics for ocean protection: A meta-review of DNA-based identification methods to combat seafood fraud in the Eastern South Pacific","authors":"Alan Marín","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111706","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111706","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Eastern South Pacific Ocean (ESPO) is a nutrient-rich and highly diverse region that plays a pivotal role in the global seafood trade. Despite its importance, the seafood industry in this region is hindered by complex supply chains and insufficient regulation frameworks, which facilitate illegal practices, including mislabeling. DNA-based methods have emerged as essential tools for seafood authentication, helping to mitigate mislabeling and supporting conservation strategies. This study provides the first comprehensive review of DNA-based methods used globally to identify seafood species from the ESPO. Historical and current techniques were systematically examined, with a focus on emerging technologies that offer promising applications in the field. Nearly three decades of research have enabled the successful identification of over 200 commercially valuable species using more than ten distinct DNA-based methods. Fish and mollusks constituted the most extensively studied seafood groups, with DNA sequencing emerging as the predominant technique. Furthermore, a global mislabeling meta-analysis, encompassing 1806 seafood products from the ESPO, revealed an estimated mislabeling rate of 24.8% (95% CI [22.9–26.9]). Notably, a substantial proportion of mislabeled and substituted products corresponds to highly threatened shark species, with the highest rates recorded in Colombia and Peru. This raises serious conservation concerns, particularly given that nations bordering the ESPO are major players in the global shark trade. Overall, the findings of this review underscore the urgent need to integrate advanced DNA-based techniques into existing regulatory frameworks. They also establish a solid foundation for developing targeted policies and encouraging collaborative efforts among nations in this region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"315 ","pages":"Article 111706"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038437","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 : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111715
Clare M. Flynn , Michael Wethington , Mairi Hilton , Gemma V. Clucas , Tom Hart , Grant R.W. Humphries , Camilla Nichol , Heather J. Lynch
The Covid-19 pandemic led to a near complete shutdown of the Antarctic tourism industry for two years, providing a natural experiment to test the impact of tourism on Antarctic penguins. An early study using Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) imagery (Flynn et al., 2023) found evidence for rapid gentoo penguin migration into a tourism hotspot during the Covid-19 anthropause, which was notable given the assumed high site-fidelity of this species. Here we present improved methods for processing RPAS imagery and, from the improved imagery, an updated interpretation of gentoo breeding behavior during this period. This re-analysis revealed that fewer penguins successfully established nests at the tourist hotspot than was originally reported, instead, high levels of penguins not on nests were present onshore. This may indicate an increased presence of subadults or non-breeding adults, movement of individuals to new locations during the Covid-19 anthropause without successfully establishing nests, or delayed nesting from increased snowfall. Overall, there was a decline in nests in the metapopulation during anthropause. This re-analysis sheds new light on penguin attendance and movement during this unusual period of suspended tourism and indicates that any tourism impact studies involving rotating closures would need to extend over several seasons for responses with time lags to fully manifest. While the core findings of Flynn et al. (2023) – that the cessation of tourism coincided with an unexpected shift in breeding patterns of gentoo penguins – remain true, our re-analysis provides a more nuanced perspective on the impacts of the Covid anthropause.
新冠肺炎大流行导致南极旅游业几乎完全关闭了两年，为测试旅游业对南极企鹅的影响提供了一个自然实验。一项使用遥控飞机系统（RPAS）图像的早期研究（Flynn et al., 2023）发现了在Covid-19人类暂停期间巴布亚企鹅快速迁移到旅游热点的证据，考虑到该物种的高现场保真度，这一点值得注意。在这里，我们提出了改进的方法来处理RPAS图像，并从改进的图像，在这一时期的gentoo育种行为的最新解释。这次重新分析显示，在旅游热点成功筑巢的企鹅比最初报道的要少，相反，岸上没有筑巢的企鹅数量很高。这可能表明亚成虫或非繁殖成虫的存在增加，个体在Covid-19人类暂停期间迁移到新的地点而没有成功筑巢，或者由于降雪增加而延迟筑巢。总体而言，在人类活动期间，大种群的巢穴数量有所下降。这一重新分析揭示了企鹅在这一不寻常的旅游暂停期间的出勤和活动情况，并表明任何涉及轮流关闭的旅游影响研究都需要延长几个季节，以充分体现时间滞后的反应。虽然Flynn等人（2023）的核心发现——旅游业的停止与巴布亚企鹅繁殖模式的意外转变相吻合——仍然正确，但我们的重新分析提供了一个更细致入微的视角来观察人类暂停冠状病毒的影响。
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Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111703
Matthew A. McCary , Zo S.E. Fenosoa , Julieanne Montaquila , Eric F. Wuesthoff , Emile Rajeriarison , Ella Matsuda , Amy E. Dunham
<div><div>Madagascar's rainforests, known for their exceptional biodiversity, face mounting pressures from invasive species such as strawberry guava (<em>Psidium cattleyanum</em>). Despite its widespread presence, little is known about how guava might impact the biodiversity and functioning of these unique ecosystems. To address this, we conducted a paired-plot study in a southeastern rainforest in Madagascar to examine how guava invasion influences understory vegetation, seedling and invertebrate communities, and soil nutrients. We found that guava-invaded plots had 3.5 times higher understory vegetation density due to the formation of dense thickets, with negative consequences for seedling richness and diversity. Although total woody seedling abundance was higher in invaded sites, this pattern was strongly linked to guava's presence, with no differences in native seedling abundance between forest types. However, because native adult trees and saplings are rarely found within these long-persisting invaded plots, our results suggest that native recruitment is suppressed after the seedling stage and that a fundamental shift in successional trajectories occurs under guava dominance. Ground-dwelling invertebrates were less diverse in guava-invaded plots, characterized by lower taxonomic richness and Hill-Shannon diversity. Flying invertebrates were also less abundant in invaded areas, while micro-invertebrate communities remained largely unchanged. Guava-invaded forests were also found to have nutrient-depleted soils with significantly lower total C, N, NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>, and organic matter. The results provide insights into how this globally significant invasive plant may hinder forest regeneration and disrupt key ecological processes, underscoring the urgent need for effective management and removal to control its spread.</div></div><div><h3>Abstract French</h3><div>Les forêts tropicales de Madagascar, reconnues pour leur biodiversité exceptionnelle, sont de plus en plus menacées par des espèces invasives telles que le goyavier fraise (Psidium cattleyanum). Nous avons mené une étude par parcelles appariées dans une forêt tropicale humide du sud-est de Madagascar afin d'évaluer les effets de l'invasion du goyavier sur la végétation du sous-bois, les communautés de plantules, les invertébrés du sol et les nutriments édaphiques. Les parcelles envahies présentaient une densité de végétation du sous-bois 3,5 fois plus élevée, associée à la formation de fourrés denses, avec des effets négatifs sur la richesse et la diversité des plantules. Bien que l'abondance totale des semis ligneux soit plus élevée dans les sites envahis, cette augmentation était principalement liée à la dominance du goyavier, sans différence significative dans l'abondance des semis d'espèces indigènes. L'absence d'arbres adultes et de juvéniles indigènes dans les parcelles envahies suggère un ralentissement du recrutement des espèces natives et une modification profonde de
马达加斯加的热带雨林以其独特的生物多样性而闻名，它面临着来自草莓番石榴（Psidium catleyanum）等入侵物种越来越大的压力。尽管番石榴广泛存在，但人们对番石榴如何影响这些独特生态系统的生物多样性和功能知之甚少。为了解决这个问题，我们在马达加斯加东南部的热带雨林进行了一项配对研究，以研究番石榴入侵如何影响下层植被、幼苗和无脊椎动物群落以及土壤养分。研究发现，番石榴入侵后的样地林下植被密度增加了3.5倍，导致幼苗丰富度和多样性下降。虽然入侵地的木本幼苗总丰度较高，但这种模式与番石榴的存在密切相关，不同森林类型的原生幼苗丰度没有差异。然而，由于在这些长期存在的入侵地中很少发现本地成年树和树苗，我们的研究结果表明，在苗期之后，本地补充受到抑制，并且在番石榴优势下，演替轨迹发生了根本性的转变。番石榴入侵样地陆生无脊椎动物多样性较低，分类丰富度和Hill-Shannon多样性较低。在入侵地区，会飞的无脊椎动物数量也较少，而微型无脊椎动物群落基本保持不变。此外，番石榴入侵林的土壤养分枯竭，总C、N、NH4+和有机质显著降低。研究结果揭示了这种具有全球意义的入侵植物是如何阻碍森林再生和破坏关键生态过程的，强调了对其进行有效管理和清除以控制其传播的迫切需要。【摘要】法国热带植物（forêts tropicales de Madagascar, regues pour leur biodiverse.exceptionnelle, sont de plus en plus menacsames par des espires）入侵植物（Psidium catleyanum）。在马达加斯加西南部的热带湿气中，有一种叫“热带湿气”的物质，它的作用是“热带湿气”，它的作用是“热带湿气”，它的作用是“热带湿气”，它的作用是“热带湿气”，它的作用是“热带湿气”，它的作用是“热带湿气”，它的作用是“热带湿气”。Les邻近envahies presentaient一个三硝基甲苯炸药de植被du sous-bois 3、5次+ elevee associee la形成de fourres式样当然,用des运用负的苏尔la richesse la diversite des胚芽。从总体上看，半胱胱素的丰富度加上<s:1> <s:1> - <s:1> - <s:1> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -“成人与青少年的分离”这句话表明，“成人与青少年的分离”和“青少年与青少年的分离”这句话的意思是，“成人与青少年的分离”和“原住民与青少年的分离”都是“继承轨迹的改变”。La diversit<e:1> des invertsambracys du sol samtays加上可行的dans les zones妒忌，平均减少La richesse taxonomique和de La diverseise de Hill-Shannon。小昆虫变异了大量的变异，小昆虫变异了大量的变异，小昆虫变异了大量的变异。对碳、偶氮、铵等物质的化学性质进行了评价。这是一个令人不安的过程，这是一个令人不安的过程，这是一个令人不安的过程。摘要：马拉加兰‘ny faritra mando eto Madagasikara，马拉加兰’ny hakanton'ny zavamanan‘aina ao aminy，马拉加兰’ny tsindry ' vokatry 'ny zavamanity mpandrakotra toerana toy ny goavy tsinahy （Psidium catleyanum）。Nanao fandalinana fampitaana izahay tao 'ny ala mando ' o atsimo atsinanan'i Madagasikara ' ' hijerena ' finantrai 'ny fanandrakofan 'ny govavamanian 'ny ravinkazo, ny zana-kazo， ny bibibibiki -可能是any any kaina - any any any any any any any。我的意思是：我的意思是：我的意思是：我的意思是：我的意思是：我的意思是：我的意思是：我的意思是：我的意思是：我的意思是：我的意思是：我的意思是：我的意思是：我的意思是：我的意思是：我想说的是，我想说的是：我想说的是：我想说的是：我想说的是：我想说的是：我想说的是：我想说的是：我想说的是：我想说的是：我想说的是：我想说的是：Tamin'i ' rereto - erana a ' ' orakan ' ' goavy ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ‘ ’Nihena be any karazana sy ny fahasamihafana（希尔-香农）amin'ny bibibik可能是mandeha amin'ny tany tany amin'i ' rereana rakotra goavy。Nihena nihany koa nibikely manidina, raha toa niova nibikely madinika。Nihena是koa any otrikaina anatyany， toy ny karbôna, azôty, amôniôma any any zavatra organika。
{"title":"Invasive strawberry guava (Psidium cattleyanum) disrupts forest recovery and invertebrate biodiversity in Madagascar's threatened rainforest ecosystem","authors":"Matthew A. McCary , Zo S.E. Fenosoa , Julieanne Montaquila , Eric F. Wuesthoff , Emile Rajeriarison , Ella Matsuda , Amy E. Dunham","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111703","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111703","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Madagascar's rainforests, known for their exceptional biodiversity, face mounting pressures from invasive species such as strawberry guava (<em>Psidium cattleyanum</em>). Despite its widespread presence, little is known about how guava might impact the biodiversity and functioning of these unique ecosystems. To address this, we conducted a paired-plot study in a southeastern rainforest in Madagascar to examine how guava invasion influences understory vegetation, seedling and invertebrate communities, and soil nutrients. We found that guava-invaded plots had 3.5 times higher understory vegetation density due to the formation of dense thickets, with negative consequences for seedling richness and diversity. Although total woody seedling abundance was higher in invaded sites, this pattern was strongly linked to guava's presence, with no differences in native seedling abundance between forest types. However, because native adult trees and saplings are rarely found within these long-persisting invaded plots, our results suggest that native recruitment is suppressed after the seedling stage and that a fundamental shift in successional trajectories occurs under guava dominance. Ground-dwelling invertebrates were less diverse in guava-invaded plots, characterized by lower taxonomic richness and Hill-Shannon diversity. Flying invertebrates were also less abundant in invaded areas, while micro-invertebrate communities remained largely unchanged. Guava-invaded forests were also found to have nutrient-depleted soils with significantly lower total C, N, NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>, and organic matter. The results provide insights into how this globally significant invasive plant may hinder forest regeneration and disrupt key ecological processes, underscoring the urgent need for effective management and removal to control its spread.</div></div><div><h3>Abstract French</h3><div>Les forêts tropicales de Madagascar, reconnues pour leur biodiversité exceptionnelle, sont de plus en plus menacées par des espèces invasives telles que le goyavier fraise (Psidium cattleyanum). Nous avons mené une étude par parcelles appariées dans une forêt tropicale humide du sud-est de Madagascar afin d'évaluer les effets de l'invasion du goyavier sur la végétation du sous-bois, les communautés de plantules, les invertébrés du sol et les nutriments édaphiques. Les parcelles envahies présentaient une densité de végétation du sous-bois 3,5 fois plus élevée, associée à la formation de fourrés denses, avec des effets négatifs sur la richesse et la diversité des plantules. Bien que l'abondance totale des semis ligneux soit plus élevée dans les sites envahis, cette augmentation était principalement liée à la dominance du goyavier, sans différence significative dans l'abondance des semis d'espèces indigènes. L'absence d'arbres adultes et de juvéniles indigènes dans les parcelles envahies suggère un ralentissement du recrutement des espèces natives et une modification profonde de ","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"315 ","pages":"Article 111703"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038440","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 : 2026-01-19DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111702
Miguel A. Acevedo , Carly Fankhauser , Isla Hession , Gabriela Echevarría Colón , Ben L. Gonzalez , Julia Ball , Victor Remley , Brooke DeMoor , Cooper Johnson , Riccardo Papa
Recovery dynamics are a defining feature of the Anthropocene landscape. These processes, shaped by ecological and evolutionary mechanisms, can be investigated through multiple theoretical frameworks. Among them, range expansion theory is increasingly recognized as a powerful lens for understanding recovery, particularly the recolonization of fauna. While previous studies have documented the spatial patterns of fauna recolonization, the underlying eco-evolutionary mechanisms remain less well understood. Range expansion theory predicts that the individuals recolonizing recovering forests are not random representatives of the source population. Instead, they are expected to exhibit lower initial densities, possess phenotypic traits favoring dispersal, and experience reduced parasitism. We experimentally tested these predictions using Anolis gundlachi, a shade-dwelling lizard recolonizing regenerating forests in Puerto Rico. We established small forest patches at varying distances from an old-growth reference site and compared lizard traits between the source and recolonizing populations. We assessed capture rates, dispersal-related morphology (e.g., limb and body size), and parasitic infection by Plasmodium spp. among individuals in the source population and those using the newly planted forest patches. Our results revealed that the individuals from the old-growth population that ventured to the young forests were a non-random subset of the source population with distinct traits related to movement capacity. While such results support predictions of trait-based dispersal during early recolonization, we observed no significant differences in parasitism across treatments. Our findings support range expansion theory as an appropriate framework to study early-stage recolonization and highlight the dynamic interplay of density, phenotypic filtering, and local conditions.
{"title":"Experimental recolonization of secondary forests by a Caribbean anole follows predictions from range expansion theory","authors":"Miguel A. Acevedo , Carly Fankhauser , Isla Hession , Gabriela Echevarría Colón , Ben L. Gonzalez , Julia Ball , Victor Remley , Brooke DeMoor , Cooper Johnson , Riccardo Papa","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111702","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111702","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recovery dynamics are a defining feature of the Anthropocene landscape. These processes, shaped by ecological and evolutionary mechanisms, can be investigated through multiple theoretical frameworks. Among them, range expansion theory is increasingly recognized as a powerful lens for understanding recovery, particularly the recolonization of fauna. While previous studies have documented the spatial patterns of fauna recolonization, the underlying eco-evolutionary mechanisms remain less well understood. Range expansion theory predicts that the individuals recolonizing recovering forests are not random representatives of the source population. Instead, they are expected to exhibit lower initial densities, possess phenotypic traits favoring dispersal, and experience reduced parasitism. We experimentally tested these predictions using <em>Anolis gundlachi</em>, a shade-dwelling lizard recolonizing regenerating forests in Puerto Rico. We established small forest patches at varying distances from an old-growth reference site and compared lizard traits between the source and recolonizing populations. We assessed capture rates, dispersal-related morphology (e.g., limb and body size), and parasitic infection by <em>Plasmodium</em> spp. among individuals in the source population and those using the newly planted forest patches. Our results revealed that the individuals from the old-growth population that ventured to the young forests were a non-random subset of the source population with distinct traits related to movement capacity. While such results support predictions of trait-based dispersal during early recolonization, we observed no significant differences in parasitism across treatments. Our findings support range expansion theory as an appropriate framework to study early-stage recolonization and highlight the dynamic interplay of density, phenotypic filtering, and local conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"315 ","pages":"Article 111702"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038439","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 : 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111710
Madson Antonio Benjamin Freitas , Raphael Vasconcelos Nunes , Maria Aparecida Lopes , Caio Crisley Moura Soares , Thiago Sanna Freire Silva , Ima Célia Guimarães Vieira , Marcelo Tabarelli , Alexander Charles Lees
Non-timber forest product (NTFP) exploitation has emerged as an alternative to deforestation in human-modified landscapes, but their overexploitation can also reduce biodiversity if it leads to chronic habitat degradation. This study investigates the effects of management intensification on the taxonomic and functional diversity of bird assemblages in Amazonian floodplain forests. The management is directed at enhancing açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) density for fruit production in the estuarine floodplains of Pará, Brazil. We explored community change across a gradient of açaí palm density ranging from 11 to 1430 clumps.ha−1 and we used multimodel inference to assess its effects on the richness, abundance, and functional attributes of bird guilds. We found that increasing açaí density was negatively correlated with species richness at local and landscape scales, leading to shifts in richness and composition especially negatively impacting insectivores and ‘forest dependent species’, whilst only a few species benefitted from intensification, such as Pitangus sulphuratus. These changes in avian community structure associated with açaí management intensification indicate that demand for this NTFP is driving ecological degradation of Amazon estuarine forests at local and landscape scales. Our findings underscore the need to regulate açaí management intensity to safeguard estuarine forest biodiversity.
{"title":"Açaí management intensification impoverishes Amazonian avian assemblages in estuarine forests","authors":"Madson Antonio Benjamin Freitas , Raphael Vasconcelos Nunes , Maria Aparecida Lopes , Caio Crisley Moura Soares , Thiago Sanna Freire Silva , Ima Célia Guimarães Vieira , Marcelo Tabarelli , Alexander Charles Lees","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111710","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111710","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Non-timber forest product (NTFP) exploitation has emerged as an alternative to deforestation in human-modified landscapes, but their overexploitation can also reduce biodiversity if it leads to chronic habitat degradation. This study investigates the effects of management intensification on the taxonomic and functional diversity of bird assemblages in Amazonian floodplain forests. The management is directed at enhancing açaí palm (<em>Euterpe oleracea</em> Mart.) density for fruit production in the estuarine floodplains of Pará, Brazil. We explored community change across a gradient of açaí palm density ranging from 11 to 1430 clumps.ha<sup>−1</sup> and we used multimodel inference to assess its effects on the richness, abundance, and functional attributes of bird guilds. We found that increasing açaí density was negatively correlated with species richness at local and landscape scales, leading to shifts in richness and composition especially negatively impacting insectivores and ‘forest dependent species’, whilst only a few species benefitted from intensification, such as <em>Pitangus sulphuratus</em>. These changes in avian community structure associated with açaí management intensification indicate that demand for this NTFP is driving ecological degradation of Amazon estuarine forests at local and landscape scales. Our findings underscore the need to regulate açaí management intensity to safeguard estuarine forest biodiversity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"315 ","pages":"Article 111710"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979568","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 : 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111705
Benjamin Larue , Amélie Roberto-Charron , Amanda Dumond , Jan Adamczewski , Robert Winter , Erik Hedlin , Megan Perra , Anne Gunn , Eliezer Gurarie , Mark Hebblewhite
Arctic warming is driving shifts in species distributions and predator–prey interactions, with important consequences for migratory tundra caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus). The Bathurst herd has declined to <1% of its historical peak, with no signs of recovery despite severe harvest restrictions and wolf control. Inuit knowledge holders in Kugluktuk, Nunavut, Canada, have reported increasing grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) activity and associated concerns about caribou calf survival, while recognizing predators as one of several cumulative factors influencing herd dynamics. To estimate the calving period and evaluate predator-caribou overlap, we deployed 96 motion-triggered cameras across the Bathurst calving grounds from May to August 2021. We found that cameras reliably estimated peak calving day and period (2 June ±7.81 days), demonstrating their value as a non-invasive tool aligned with Indigenous preferences to minimize disturbance. Grizzly bear detections overlapped spatially and temporally with caribou, while wolf (Canis lupus) detections were less frequent and showed weaker associations with caribou presence. Predator detections dropped markedly after the calving period, suggesting temporary aggregation on the calving grounds. Future studies that quantify calf predation and its demographic consequences, alongside other factors influencing Bathurst caribou population dynamics, are needed to inform management.
{"title":"Predators at the nursery: Grizzly-Caribou spatiotemporal overlap in a declining herd?","authors":"Benjamin Larue , Amélie Roberto-Charron , Amanda Dumond , Jan Adamczewski , Robert Winter , Erik Hedlin , Megan Perra , Anne Gunn , Eliezer Gurarie , Mark Hebblewhite","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111705","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111705","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Arctic warming is driving shifts in species distributions and predator–prey interactions, with important consequences for migratory tundra caribou (<em>Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus</em>). The Bathurst herd has declined to <1% of its historical peak, with no signs of recovery despite severe harvest restrictions and wolf control. Inuit knowledge holders in Kugluktuk, Nunavut, Canada, have reported increasing grizzly bear (<em>Ursus arctos</em>) activity and associated concerns about caribou calf survival, while recognizing predators as one of several cumulative factors influencing herd dynamics. To estimate the calving period and evaluate predator-caribou overlap, we deployed 96 motion-triggered cameras across the Bathurst calving grounds from May to August 2021. We found that cameras reliably estimated peak calving day and period (2 June ±7.81 days), demonstrating their value as a non-invasive tool aligned with Indigenous preferences to minimize disturbance. Grizzly bear detections overlapped spatially and temporally with caribou, while wolf (<em>Canis lupus</em>) detections were less frequent and showed weaker associations with caribou presence. Predator detections dropped markedly after the calving period, suggesting temporary aggregation on the calving grounds. Future studies that quantify calf predation and its demographic consequences, alongside other factors influencing Bathurst caribou population dynamics, are needed to inform management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"315 ","pages":"Article 111705"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979570","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 : 2026-01-15DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111704
Dawa Yoezer , Andrew Hall , Ana Horta , Skye Wassens
Freshwater forested wetlands support high levels of biodiversity, influence hydrological function, store substantial carbon and provide ecosystem services. Despite their ecological importance, freshwater forested wetlands remain underrepresented in global conservation frameworks and face multifaceted threats. This systematic review synthesized findings from 74 peer-reviewed studies to evaluate the conservation status, dominant threats, and research trends associated with freshwater forested wetlands worldwide. Altered hydrology is the most frequently cited ecologically disruptive threat, followed by agriculture and plantation dominated land-use change, climate change, logging, wildfire and infrastructure expansion. Research is geographically concentrated in Southeast Asia, Central and Western Europe, North America, and the Amazon Basin, whereas extensive regions such as Africa, South Asia, Oceania and Eastern Europe remain underrepresented. There is a growing adoption of remote sensing, ecological modelling, and socio-ecological approaches, whereas interdisciplinary integration and long-term monitoring remain limited. Many tree species central to these ecosystems lack up-to-date conservation assessments, especially in biodiverse but data-deficient regions. The review highlights persistent knowledge and geographic imbalances, widespread ecosystem decline, and common yet context-specific degradation drivers, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches that link ecological, hydrological, and social dimensions to enhance conservation planning and resilience of freshwater forested wetlands under accelerating environmental change.
{"title":"Conservation status and threats to freshwater forested wetlands: A global systematic review","authors":"Dawa Yoezer , Andrew Hall , Ana Horta , Skye Wassens","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111704","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111704","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Freshwater forested wetlands support high levels of biodiversity, influence hydrological function, store substantial carbon and provide ecosystem services. Despite their ecological importance, freshwater forested wetlands remain underrepresented in global conservation frameworks and face multifaceted threats. This systematic review synthesized findings from 74 peer-reviewed studies to evaluate the conservation status, dominant threats, and research trends associated with freshwater forested wetlands worldwide. Altered hydrology is the most frequently cited ecologically disruptive threat, followed by agriculture and plantation dominated land-use change, climate change, logging, wildfire and infrastructure expansion. Research is geographically concentrated in Southeast Asia, Central and Western Europe, North America, and the Amazon Basin, whereas extensive regions such as Africa, South Asia, Oceania and Eastern Europe remain underrepresented. There is a growing adoption of remote sensing, ecological modelling, and socio-ecological approaches, whereas interdisciplinary integration and long-term monitoring remain limited. Many tree species central to these ecosystems lack up-to-date conservation assessments, especially in biodiverse but data-deficient regions. The review highlights persistent knowledge and geographic imbalances, widespread ecosystem decline, and common yet context-specific degradation drivers, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches that link ecological, hydrological, and social dimensions to enhance conservation planning and resilience of freshwater forested wetlands under accelerating environmental change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"315 ","pages":"Article 111704"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979569","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 : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111701
Matthew W. Herring , Stephen T. Garnett , Kerstin K. Zander
Land sparing centres on agricultural intensification to increase yields and free land for conservation, while land sharing integrates farming and biodiversity but needs larger areas. Although the debate has matured to consider social-ecological systems and potential synergies, water has been almost entirely neglected. We develop a ‘water sparing versus sharing’ concept, propose new water sharing policies, and assess public values towards them in Australia's Murray–Darling Basin. Here, water sparing dominates and fuels polarised debate, especially around environmental water recovery, where increased conservation—typically in protected areas—occurs while farming becomes more intensive and water-efficient. Conversely, we introduce water sharing, which transcends this binary approach and, under certain conditions, could offer greater environmental, economic and social benefits. We show that water sharing challenges the key premise of land sparing because additional water to integrate biodiversity can increase yields, requiring less land. We illustrate our arguments with three policy options to conserve threatened species dependent on both traditional rice farming and natural wetlands supported by environmental water: (1) amalgamating environmental and irrigation water; (2) using environmental water in artificial refuges; and (3) subsidising water to incentivise multifunctional benefits. Using biodiversity benefits per megalitre, alongside social and economic metrics, scenarios could be prioritised. A survey of Australians (n = 1478) showed strong public support for such amendments. A multinomial logit model indicated younger people with higher environmental values and lower incomes were most supportive. Water sharing policy can depolarise management, maximise multifunctional water-use efficiency and offer a political conduit between conflicting interests.
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