Pub Date : 2024-10-16DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110809
Yuntao Dong , Ouya Fang
Detection of early warning signals (EWSs) for forest declines is a critical yet challenging in forest ecology and management. Although the EWSs have been investigated from the perspective of external stresses, changes in tree resistance in stresses before forest declines have received much less attention. In this study, we utilized tree ring-width data from 346 juniper trees in the Qilian Mountains to calculate tree resistance in stresses during non-decline period of forest and to explore the temporal relationships between the occurrence of forest declines and changes in resistance of trees. The forest declines, characterized by sustained slow growth rates, were identified independently. The results showed that, there was a decrease in tree resistance during the 12 years before forest declines. This phenomenon was particularly common at the study sites. Resistance of trees before forest declines was positively correlated with tree growth during forest declines, which implying that lower pre-decline resistance was associated with more severe forest decline. These observations suggest that decreasing resistance can be used as an EWS of forest declines. Our results provide insights into the relationships between changes in ecological resilience and forest stability and are useful for monitoring or predicting changes in forest health under future climate change.
{"title":"Decreasing resistance as an early warning signal of forest declines in the Qilian Mountains","authors":"Yuntao Dong , Ouya Fang","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110809","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110809","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Detection of early warning signals (<em>EWSs</em>) for forest declines is a critical yet challenging in forest ecology and management. Although the <em>EWSs</em> have been investigated from the perspective of external stresses, changes in tree resistance in stresses before forest declines have received much less attention. In this study, we utilized tree ring-width data from 346 juniper trees in the Qilian Mountains to calculate tree resistance in stresses during non-decline period of forest and to explore the temporal relationships between the occurrence of forest declines and changes in resistance of trees. The forest declines, characterized by sustained slow growth rates, were identified independently. The results showed that, there was a decrease in tree resistance during the 12 years before forest declines. This phenomenon was particularly common at the study sites. Resistance of trees before forest declines was positively correlated with tree growth during forest declines, which implying that lower pre-decline resistance was associated with more severe forest decline. These observations suggest that decreasing resistance can be used as an <em>EWS</em> of forest declines. Our results provide insights into the relationships between changes in ecological resilience and forest stability and are useful for monitoring or predicting changes in forest health under future climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 110809"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142442852","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 : 2024-10-16DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110805
Carine Firmino Carvalho-Roel , Fernanda Cavalcanti de Azevedo , Mozart Caetano de Freitas-Junior , Isis Zanini das Candeias , Oswaldo Marçal Junior , Frederico Gemesio Lemos
Wild canids face a myriad of threats, such as habitat loss and fragmentation, poisoning, gunshot, domestic dog attacks, diseases, roadkill, among others. It is crucial to understand how threats may influence population viability and their extinction risk. Here, we evaluate if and how two wild canids are affected by anthropogenic factors in an agroecosystem landscape in the Cerrado biome, Central Brazil. We also provide data that fills natural history gaps for these carnivores, especially the poor-known hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus). Over eleven years, we conducted comprehensive monitoring of the endangered hoary fox and its non-endangered counterpart crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous). We analyzed six different scenarios based on these canids mortality causes: 1) predation, 2) roadkill, 3) poisoning/gunshot and dog attack, 4) unknown pup mortality, 5) other mortality causes (when we could not conclude what caused the animal's death), and 6) all causes of mortality together. Considering all causes of mortality, the hoary fox exhibits an alarming 80 % probability of extinction. In the scenarios where the species could be extinct, the mean time to extinction was 49 years. In contrast, the crab-eating fox faces no risk of extinction. Our findings are alarming for the hoary fox conservation, once the species is endemic to the Cerrado. Based on our results and employing the IUCN criteria, the hoary fox warrants status as vulnerable to extinction. The implications of our study extend beyond these two species, offering a model for understanding the conservation needs of other wild canids and carnivores living in similar agroecosystems.
{"title":"How risky is to live among us? Assessing the population viability of two South American wild canids in an agroecosystem","authors":"Carine Firmino Carvalho-Roel , Fernanda Cavalcanti de Azevedo , Mozart Caetano de Freitas-Junior , Isis Zanini das Candeias , Oswaldo Marçal Junior , Frederico Gemesio Lemos","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110805","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110805","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wild canids face a myriad of threats, such as habitat loss and fragmentation, poisoning, gunshot, domestic dog attacks, diseases, roadkill, among others. It is crucial to understand how threats may influence population viability and their extinction risk. Here, we evaluate if and how two wild canids are affected by anthropogenic factors in an agroecosystem landscape in the Cerrado biome, Central Brazil. We also provide data that fills natural history gaps for these carnivores, especially the poor-known hoary fox (<em>Lycalopex vetulus</em>). Over eleven years, we conducted comprehensive monitoring of the endangered hoary fox and its non-endangered counterpart crab-eating fox (<em>Cerdocyon thous</em>). We analyzed six different scenarios based on these canids mortality causes: 1) predation, 2) roadkill, 3) poisoning/gunshot and dog attack, 4) unknown pup mortality, 5) other mortality causes (when we could not conclude what caused the animal's death), and 6) all causes of mortality together. Considering all causes of mortality, the hoary fox exhibits an alarming 80 % probability of extinction. In the scenarios where the species could be extinct, the mean time to extinction was 49 years. In contrast, the crab-eating fox faces no risk of extinction. Our findings are alarming for the hoary fox conservation, once the species is endemic to the Cerrado. Based on our results and employing the IUCN criteria, the hoary fox warrants status as vulnerable to extinction. The implications of our study extend beyond these two species, offering a model for understanding the conservation needs of other wild canids and carnivores living in similar agroecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 110805"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142442849","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 : 2024-10-13DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110811
Erica M. Christensen , Abigail J. Lawson , Erin Rivenbark , Paula K. London , David Castellanos , Jan C. Culbertson , Stephanie M. DeMay , Carly Eakin , Luke S. Pearson , Karen Soileau , Hardin Waddle , Conor P. McGowan
Conservation and management decisions often must be made on strict timelines, based on the “best available information” regarding a species' current and expected future status. Simulation models are valuable tools for predicting a species' future status but must incorporate multiple types of uncertainty in order to provide a complete understanding of plausible outcomes. Here we present a population viability analysis for a data-deficient species proposed for protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the alligator snapping turtle. We used a matrix population model to simulate population trajectories, incorporating both parametric uncertainty and temporal variation into demographic parameters. We used expert elicitation to generate modified survival rates in the presence of specific anthropogenic threats, for which empirical estimates were unavailable. Because uncertainty in the expert elicited values was of particular interest to decision makers, we constructed a set of simulation scenarios to evaluate the sensitivity of model conclusions to the accuracy of expert elicited parameters. Our model predicted steep population declines under all scenarios with anthropogenic threats, indicating that under- or overestimation by experts would not change the overall conclusion that populations would decline. An additional sensitivity analysis revealed that a parameter related to nest survival for which there was high disagreement among experts had a negligible effect on model outcome, while other parameters (e.g., the effect of poaching) had more influence. Our analyses demonstrate the use of an expert-parameterized decision-support population viability analysis that explicitly evaluates the effects of multiple sources of uncertainty on model predictions.
{"title":"Accounting for multiple uncertainties in a decision-support population viability assessment","authors":"Erica M. Christensen , Abigail J. Lawson , Erin Rivenbark , Paula K. London , David Castellanos , Jan C. Culbertson , Stephanie M. DeMay , Carly Eakin , Luke S. Pearson , Karen Soileau , Hardin Waddle , Conor P. McGowan","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110811","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110811","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conservation and management decisions often must be made on strict timelines, based on the “best available information” regarding a species' current and expected future status. Simulation models are valuable tools for predicting a species' future status but must incorporate multiple types of uncertainty in order to provide a complete understanding of plausible outcomes. Here we present a population viability analysis for a data-deficient species proposed for protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the alligator snapping turtle. We used a matrix population model to simulate population trajectories, incorporating both parametric uncertainty and temporal variation into demographic parameters. We used expert elicitation to generate modified survival rates in the presence of specific anthropogenic threats, for which empirical estimates were unavailable. Because uncertainty in the expert elicited values was of particular interest to decision makers, we constructed a set of simulation scenarios to evaluate the sensitivity of model conclusions to the accuracy of expert elicited parameters. Our model predicted steep population declines under all scenarios with anthropogenic threats, indicating that under- or overestimation by experts would not change the overall conclusion that populations would decline. An additional sensitivity analysis revealed that a parameter related to nest survival for which there was high disagreement among experts had a negligible effect on model outcome, while other parameters (e.g., the effect of poaching) had more influence. Our analyses demonstrate the use of an expert-parameterized decision-support population viability analysis that explicitly evaluates the effects of multiple sources of uncertainty on model predictions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 110811"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142434176","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 : 2024-10-13DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110810
S. Rostro-García , J.F. Kamler , R. Sollmann , G. Balme , R. Sukmasuang , A. Godfrey , S. Saosoong , K. Siripattaranukul , S. Suksavate , W. Thomas , R. Crouthers , V. In , S. Prum , G.R. Clements , A. Kadir , S.H. Liang , R. Avriandy , D. Gunaryadi , N. Kholiq , I. Pinondang , D.W. Macdonald
Southeast Asia, a biodiversity hotspot, is at the center of the global wildlife extinction crisis. Despite being Threatened in the region, the population status of the leopard (Panthera pardus) is mostly unknown. We conducted the largest camera-trap study for leopard in Southeast Asia, encompassing seven sites across four countries, to estimate densities, activity patterns, and habitat use in key populations across the region. We developed spatially explicit capture-recapture models to estimate leopard densities, analyzed detections within a Bayesian occupancy framework to evaluate leopard habitat use in response to environmental and anthropogenic factors, and examined activity patterns. In northern sites (Cambodia, Thailand), leopard was mostly nocturnal, densities were low (0.23–0.88 leopard/100 km2), and its habitat use was strongly positively associated with higher vegetation productivity. In southern sites (Malaysia, Indonesia), leopard was almost exclusively diurnal, densities were higher (0.98–4.72 leopard/100 km2), and its habitat use was strongly positively associated with preferred prey. Leopard densities estimated in our study areas are some of the lowest ever reported for the species, with illegal human activities appearing to affect densities, habitat use and activity patterns. The effects of humans differed between northern and southern sites, likely due to differences pertaining to poaching, which appear to be influenced by management effectiveness, proximity to major wildlife consuming markets, religious beliefs, and socio-economic status. Our findings suggest the overall prognosis of the leopard in Southeast Asia is becoming increasingly bleak, and only with timely and effective strategies will the long-term conservation of this species be feasible in the region.
{"title":"Leopards on the edge: Assessing population status, habitat use, and threats in Southeast Asia","authors":"S. Rostro-García , J.F. Kamler , R. Sollmann , G. Balme , R. Sukmasuang , A. Godfrey , S. Saosoong , K. Siripattaranukul , S. Suksavate , W. Thomas , R. Crouthers , V. In , S. Prum , G.R. Clements , A. Kadir , S.H. Liang , R. Avriandy , D. Gunaryadi , N. Kholiq , I. Pinondang , D.W. Macdonald","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110810","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110810","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Southeast Asia, a biodiversity hotspot, is at the center of the global wildlife extinction crisis. Despite being Threatened in the region, the population status of the leopard (<em>Panthera pardus</em>) is mostly unknown. We conducted the largest camera-trap study for leopard in Southeast Asia, encompassing seven sites across four countries, to estimate densities, activity patterns, and habitat use in key populations across the region. We developed spatially explicit capture-recapture models to estimate leopard densities, analyzed detections within a Bayesian occupancy framework to evaluate leopard habitat use in response to environmental and anthropogenic factors, and examined activity patterns. In northern sites (Cambodia, Thailand), leopard was mostly nocturnal, densities were low (0.23–0.88 leopard/100 km<sup>2</sup>), and its habitat use was strongly positively associated with higher vegetation productivity. In southern sites (Malaysia, Indonesia), leopard was almost exclusively diurnal, densities were higher (0.98–4.72 leopard/100 km<sup>2</sup>), and its habitat use was strongly positively associated with preferred prey. Leopard densities estimated in our study areas are some of the lowest ever reported for the species, with illegal human activities appearing to affect densities, habitat use and activity patterns. The effects of humans differed between northern and southern sites, likely due to differences pertaining to poaching, which appear to be influenced by management effectiveness, proximity to major wildlife consuming markets, religious beliefs, and socio-economic status. Our findings suggest the overall prognosis of the leopard in Southeast Asia is becoming increasingly bleak, and only with timely and effective strategies will the long-term conservation of this species be feasible in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"299 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142421126","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 : 2024-10-13DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110814
Bunyeth Chan , Zeb S. Hogan , Michael I. Grant , Samol Chhuoy , Chheana Chhut , Kong Heng , Sébastien Brosse
The Critically Endangered giant salmon carp (Aaptosyax grypus) is an endemic mega fish from the Mekong River basin. It had not been recorded in the wild since 2005, and was considered as possibly extinct. Here, we report the capture of three new specimens between 2020 and 2023. Those recent observations indicate that the species persists, and that one or more populations of A. grypus inhabit the Cambodian Mekong and its tributaries. Though the rarity of A. grypus makes it difficult to set specific conservation actions, we suggest building on the recent development of environmental DNA techniques and citizen science to investigate A. grypus geographic range and habitats as a first step before initiating actions to conserve its habitats. Given the emblematic species status of A. grypus, its conservation could have an umbrella effect contributing more broadly to the conservation of the globally significant freshwater biodiversity in the Mekong Basin ecosystem.
极度濒危的大马哈鱼（Aaptosyax grypus）是湄公河流域特有的大型鱼类。自 2005 年以来，它在野外再无记录，被认为可能已经灭绝。在此，我们报告了 2020 年至 2023 年间捕获的三个新标本。这些最新观察结果表明，该物种仍然存在，而且柬埔寨湄公河及其支流中栖息着一个或多个蝼蛄种群。虽然蝼蛄的稀有性使我们很难制定具体的保护行动，但我们建议在启动保护其栖息地的行动之前，首先利用最近发展起来的环境 DNA 技术和公民科学来调查蝼蛄的地理分布和栖息地。鉴于蝼蛄的标志性物种地位，对其进行保护可以产生保护伞效应，更广泛地促进湄公河流域生态系统中具有全球意义的淡水生物多样性的保护。
{"title":"Rediscovery and future approaches to conservation of the elusive giant salmon carp Aaptosyax grypus, a Critically Endangered megafish in the Mekong","authors":"Bunyeth Chan , Zeb S. Hogan , Michael I. Grant , Samol Chhuoy , Chheana Chhut , Kong Heng , Sébastien Brosse","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110814","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110814","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Critically Endangered giant salmon carp (<em>Aaptosyax grypus</em>) is an endemic mega fish from the Mekong River basin. It had not been recorded in the wild since 2005, and was considered as possibly extinct. Here, we report the capture of three new specimens between 2020 and 2023. Those recent observations indicate that the species persists, and that one or more populations of <em>A. grypus</em> inhabit the Cambodian Mekong and its tributaries. Though the rarity of <em>A. grypus</em> makes it difficult to set specific conservation actions, we suggest building on the recent development of environmental DNA techniques and citizen science to investigate <em>A. grypus</em> geographic range and habitats as a first step before initiating actions to conserve its habitats. Given the emblematic species status of <em>A. grypus,</em> its conservation could have an umbrella effect contributing more broadly to the conservation of the globally significant freshwater biodiversity in the Mekong Basin ecosystem.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 110814"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142434177","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 : 2024-10-09DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110789
Stewart Lockie , Henry A. Bartelet , Brent W. Ritchie , Csilla Demeter , Bruce Taylor , Lintje Sie
The scale and pace of global environmental change calls for a dramatic upscaling of ecosystem restoration and for actions that build the resilience of ecosystems to future environmental change. This research aimed to quantify public perceptions of threats to the health of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia, and their support for strategies to address those threats including large-scale restoration and resilience-building actions. We examine how these perceptions change over time and across social cohorts including people living closer to the Reef (n = 2621) and the general Australian population (n = 5825). Respondents were concerned about both the current state and future of the GBR. They identified climate change as the largest threat to the GBR with the strength of this perception increasing between 2018 and 2022. Respondents were ambivalent about existing management and overwhelmingly of the view that more should be done to save the GBR. Strong support was expressed for a range of responses including preventing threats, local restoration, measures to increase the resilience of the GBR to future threats, providing more research funding, and large-scale restoration. Trust in science to develop solutions for Reef protection and repair was high and strongly correlated with support for action. The results suggest that ongoing scientifically-informed action – underpinned by deep engagement with impacted communities and stakeholders and the full, prior and informed consent of rights-holders including First Nations – is needed to build public confidence in Reef management and the deployment of technological interventions.
{"title":"Australians support multi-pronged action to build ecosystem resilience in the Great Barrier Reef","authors":"Stewart Lockie , Henry A. Bartelet , Brent W. Ritchie , Csilla Demeter , Bruce Taylor , Lintje Sie","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110789","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110789","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The scale and pace of global environmental change calls for a dramatic upscaling of ecosystem restoration and for actions that build the resilience of ecosystems to future environmental change. This research aimed to quantify public perceptions of threats to the health of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia, and their support for strategies to address those threats including large-scale restoration and resilience-building actions. We examine how these perceptions change over time and across social cohorts including people living closer to the Reef (<em>n</em> = 2621) and the general Australian population (<em>n</em> = 5825). Respondents were concerned about both the current state and future of the GBR. They identified climate change as the largest threat to the GBR with the strength of this perception increasing between 2018 and 2022. Respondents were ambivalent about existing management and overwhelmingly of the view that more should be done to save the GBR. Strong support was expressed for a range of responses including preventing threats, local restoration, measures to increase the resilience of the GBR to future threats, providing more research funding, and large-scale restoration. Trust in science to develop solutions for Reef protection and repair was high and strongly correlated with support for action. The results suggest that ongoing scientifically-informed action – underpinned by deep engagement with impacted communities and stakeholders and the full, prior and informed consent of rights-holders including First Nations – is needed to build public confidence in Reef management and the deployment of technological interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 110789"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142421124","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 : 2024-10-08DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110808
Mingming Liu , Wenzhi Lin , Mingli Lin , Lijun Dong , Binshuai Liu , Shenglan Chen , Mingyue Ouyang , Peijun Zhang , Zixin Yang , Hui Kang , Songhai Li
Despite being recognized as a global marine biodiversity hotspot, the South China Sea (SCS) is a distinct “cetacean data-deficient area”. In particular, robust scientific knowledge and conservation baseline information available for offshore cetacean species in this region remain scarce. Between 2019 and 2023, we conducted six systematic ship-based surveys to investigate cetaceans occurring potentially in the offshore waters of the SCS, primarily around the Xisha-Zhongsha Islands. During the field surveys, 211 cetacean sightings comprising 187 single- and 24 mixed-species sightings were recorded. We identified 17 odontocete species, all offshore and deep-diving species. Notably, the pantropical spotted dolphin, short-finned pilot whale, and Fraser's dolphin, were recognized as the dominant species because of regular presence, commonness and high relative abundance. Based on the field sightings reported in this study and supplementary opportunistic sightings, we confirm 25 cetacean species living in the SCS. By integrating several additional data sources, such as stranding records and taxidermy/skeletal specimens, we further establish a cetacean species checklist consisting of at least 36 species. Biogeographically, the northern SCS (especially Xisha-Zhongsha waters) not only supports a remarkably high level of cetacean richness, and may also function as nursery and/or feeding grounds for the “Vulnerable” sperm whale and serve as critical habitats for many other offshore and deep-diving species. Therefore, we recommend that the Xisha-Zhongsha waters be proposed as a candidate Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA), which has great potential to be delineated and managed for conservation.
{"title":"Species diversity and critical habitats of offshore and deep-diving cetaceans in the South China Sea","authors":"Mingming Liu , Wenzhi Lin , Mingli Lin , Lijun Dong , Binshuai Liu , Shenglan Chen , Mingyue Ouyang , Peijun Zhang , Zixin Yang , Hui Kang , Songhai Li","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110808","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110808","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite being recognized as a global marine biodiversity hotspot, the South China Sea (SCS) is a distinct “cetacean data-deficient area”. In particular, robust scientific knowledge and conservation baseline information available for offshore cetacean species in this region remain scarce. Between 2019 and 2023, we conducted six systematic ship-based surveys to investigate cetaceans occurring potentially in the offshore waters of the SCS, primarily around the Xisha-Zhongsha Islands. During the field surveys, 211 cetacean sightings comprising 187 single- and 24 mixed-species sightings were recorded. We identified 17 odontocete species, all offshore and deep-diving species. Notably, the pantropical spotted dolphin, short-finned pilot whale, and Fraser's dolphin, were recognized as the dominant species because of regular presence, commonness and high relative abundance. Based on the field sightings reported in this study and supplementary opportunistic sightings, we confirm 25 cetacean species living in the SCS. By integrating several additional data sources, such as stranding records and taxidermy/skeletal specimens, we further establish a cetacean species checklist consisting of at least 36 species. Biogeographically, the northern SCS (especially Xisha-Zhongsha waters) not only supports a remarkably high level of cetacean richness, and may also function as nursery and/or feeding grounds for the “Vulnerable” sperm whale and serve as critical habitats for many other offshore and deep-diving species. Therefore, we recommend that the Xisha-Zhongsha waters be proposed as a candidate Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA), which has great potential to be delineated and managed for conservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 110808"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142421123","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 : 2024-10-03DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110801
F.J. Pflüger , C. Frank , M. Busch , J. Wahl , R. Dröschmeister , C. Sudfeldt , J. Kamp
Protected areas aim to conserve and restore populations of target species and their habitats, but it is challenging to quantify their effectiveness. Assessments of protected area effectiveness require long-term monitoring data, which are rarely available for all target species. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of semi-structured citizen science data to derive population trends of target species, and use these to assess the effectiveness of EU Special Protection Areas (SPA). We derived occupancy trends for 42 target species across the SPA network of Germany over a 11-year period. We found that 62 % of the target species were more likely to occur in SPA than outside, especially when these sites also comprised parts of other types of protected areas. 17 % of the species showed more positive occupancy trends (including slower declines) in SPA, whereas 21 % showed more negative trends than outside. We conclude that the German SPA network represents target species well approximately two decades after the designation of most SPA, but is currently only effective for a minority of studied target species.
Our results contribute to mounting evidence of mixed effectiveness of the Natura 2000 network to maintain populations of target species in Europe. We therefore call for greater conservation efforts, especially for declining species. Our results can help to define priority species and initiate or optimize species-specific management. Thus, semi-structured data have the potential to inform national impact assessments when data from structured monitoring programs are lacking.
{"title":"Semi-structured citizen science data reveal mixed effectiveness of EU Special Protection Areas (SPA) in Germany","authors":"F.J. Pflüger , C. Frank , M. Busch , J. Wahl , R. Dröschmeister , C. Sudfeldt , J. Kamp","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110801","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110801","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Protected areas aim to conserve and restore populations of target species and their habitats, but it is challenging to quantify their effectiveness. Assessments of protected area effectiveness require long-term monitoring data, which are rarely available for all target species. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of semi-structured citizen science data to derive population trends of target species, and use these to assess the effectiveness of EU Special Protection Areas (SPA). We derived occupancy trends for 42 target species across the SPA network of Germany over a 11-year period. We found that 62 % of the target species were more likely to occur in SPA than outside, especially when these sites also comprised parts of other types of protected areas. 17 % of the species showed more positive occupancy trends (including slower declines) in SPA, whereas 21 % showed more negative trends than outside. We conclude that the German SPA network represents target species well approximately two decades after the designation of most SPA, but is currently only effective for a minority of studied target species.</div><div>Our results contribute to mounting evidence of mixed effectiveness of the Natura 2000 network to maintain populations of target species in Europe. We therefore call for greater conservation efforts, especially for declining species. Our results can help to define priority species and initiate or optimize species-specific management. Thus, semi-structured data have the potential to inform national impact assessments when data from structured monitoring programs are lacking.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 110801"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142421400","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 : 2024-10-03DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110803
La-Mei Wu , Rui-Chang Quan , Bo Wang
Forest fragmentation often leads to changes in the abundance and composition of various organisms, thereby affecting biotic interactions. Currently, many studies lack consensus on the magnitude or direction of the impact of forest fragmentation on plant-animal interactions. Here, we employed seed-rodent interaction as a case study and assessed the removal by rodents of 66,960 seeds belonging to 31 woody species in 18 fragmented forests with areas of 1.05–14,517.63 ha, in a seriously fragmented tropical area in Southwest China for two consecutive years. Our study provided strong evidence that forest fragmentation affected seed-rodent interactions but did not follow a consistent pattern between years. Forest size and edge effects on seed removal were mainly due to variations in seed availability but not rodent activity. Interestingly, the effect of fragment size on seed removal was species-specific with monotonic decreases as well as U-shaped and humped-shaped patterns. These remarkable spatiotemporal and interspecific variations pertaining to forest fragmentation impact on seed removal may translate into subsequent seed germination and seedling regeneration processes, which may further influence the species composition in different fragmented forests. This complexity in responses among plant species reiterates the need to consider the interspecies specificity in conservation and management initiatives of fragmented forests. Additionally, we recommend that multiple field surveys involving multiple species be conducted in future studies focusing on forest fragmentation to help us better understand fragmentation effects on ecological processes.
{"title":"Forest fragmentation effects on plant-animal interaction do not always show consistent patterns – Evidence from a seed removal experiment of 31 woody species","authors":"La-Mei Wu , Rui-Chang Quan , Bo Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110803","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110803","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Forest fragmentation often leads to changes in the abundance and composition of various organisms, thereby affecting biotic interactions. Currently, many studies lack consensus on the magnitude or direction of the impact of forest fragmentation on plant-animal interactions. Here, we employed seed-rodent interaction as a case study and assessed the removal by rodents of 66,960 seeds belonging to 31 woody species in 18 fragmented forests with areas of 1.05–14,517.63 ha, in a seriously fragmented tropical area in Southwest China for two consecutive years. Our study provided strong evidence that forest fragmentation affected seed-rodent interactions but did not follow a consistent pattern between years. Forest size and edge effects on seed removal were mainly due to variations in seed availability but not rodent activity. Interestingly, the effect of fragment size on seed removal was species-specific with monotonic decreases as well as U-shaped and humped-shaped patterns. These remarkable spatiotemporal and interspecific variations pertaining to forest fragmentation impact on seed removal may translate into subsequent seed germination and seedling regeneration processes, which may further influence the species composition in different fragmented forests. This complexity in responses among plant species reiterates the need to consider the interspecies specificity in conservation and management initiatives of fragmented forests. Additionally, we recommend that multiple field surveys involving multiple species be conducted in future studies focusing on forest fragmentation to help us better understand fragmentation effects on ecological processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 110803"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142421125","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 : 2024-10-02DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110802
Jan Peter George , Mari Rusanen , Egbert Beuker , Leena Yrjänä , Volkmar Timmermann , Nenad Potočić , Sakari Välimäki , Heino Konrad
Ash dieback (ADB) has been threatening populations of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior & F. angustifolia) for more than three decades. Although much knowledge has been gathered in the recent past, practical conservation measures have been mostly implemented at local scale. Since range contraction in both ash species is likely to be exacerbated already in the near future by westward expansion of the emerald ash borer and climate change, systematic conservation frameworks need to be developed to avoid long-term population-genetic consequences and depletion of genomic diversity. In this article, we address the advantages and obstacles of conservation approaches aiming to conserve genetic diversity in situ or ex situ during tree pandemics. We are reviewing 47 studies which were published on ash dieback to unravel three important dimensions of ongoing conservation approaches or perceived conservation problems: i) conservation philosophy (i.e. natural selection, resistance breeding or genetic conservation), ii) the spatial scale (ecosystem, country, continent), and iii) the integration of genetic safety margins in conservation planning. Although nearly equal proportions of the reviewed studies mention breeding or active conservation as possible long-term solutions, only 17 % consider that additional threats exist which may further reduce genetic diversity in both ash species. We also identify and discuss several knowledge gaps and limitations which may have limited the initiation of conservation projects at national and international level so far. Finally, we demonstrate that there is not much time left for filling these gaps, because European-wide forest health monitoring data indicates a significant decline of ash populations in the last 5 years.
三十多年来，欧洲白蜡树（Fraxinus excelsior & F. angustifolia）的枯萎病（ADB）一直威胁着欧洲白蜡树（Fraxinus excelsior & F. angustifolia）的种群。虽然近些年来已经收集了很多相关知识，但实际的保护措施大多是在当地范围内实施的。由于在不久的将来，这两种白蜡树的分布范围可能会因翡翠白蜡螟的西扩和气候变化而进一步缩小，因此需要制定系统的保护框架，以避免长期的种群遗传后果和基因组多样性的耗竭。在本文中，我们探讨了在树木大流行期间旨在原地或异地保护遗传多样性的保护方法的优势和障碍。我们回顾了已发表的 47 篇有关白蜡枯死的研究，以揭示当前保护方法或保护问题的三个重要方面：i) 保护理念（即自然选择、抗性育种或基因保护）；ii) 空间尺度（生态系统、国家、大陆）；iii) 将基因安全系数纳入保护规划。虽然几乎同等比例的综述研究都提到育种或积极保护是可能的长期解决方案，但只有 17% 的研究认为存在其他威胁，可能会进一步减少两种灰树种的遗传多样性。我们还发现并讨论了一些知识差距和局限性，这些差距和局限性可能限制了迄今为止国家和国际层面保护项目的启动。最后，我们表明，由于全欧洲的森林健康监测数据表明白蜡树种群数量在过去 5 年中显著下降，留给填补这些空白的时间已经不多了。
{"title":"Lessons to learn for better safeguarding of genetic resources during tree pandemics: The case of ash dieback in Europe","authors":"Jan Peter George , Mari Rusanen , Egbert Beuker , Leena Yrjänä , Volkmar Timmermann , Nenad Potočić , Sakari Välimäki , Heino Konrad","doi":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110802","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110802","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ash dieback (ADB) has been threatening populations of European ash (<em>Fraxinus excelsior & F. angustifolia</em>) for more than three decades. Although much knowledge has been gathered in the recent past, practical conservation measures have been mostly implemented at local scale. Since range contraction in both ash species is likely to be exacerbated already in the near future by westward expansion of the emerald ash borer and climate change, systematic conservation frameworks need to be developed to avoid long-term population-genetic consequences and depletion of genomic diversity. In this article, we address the advantages and obstacles of conservation approaches aiming to conserve genetic diversity in situ or ex situ during tree pandemics. We are reviewing 47 studies which were published on ash dieback to unravel three important dimensions of ongoing conservation approaches or perceived conservation problems: i) conservation philosophy (i.e. natural selection, resistance breeding or genetic conservation), ii) the spatial scale (ecosystem, country, continent), and iii) the integration of genetic safety margins in conservation planning. Although nearly equal proportions of the reviewed studies mention breeding or active conservation as possible long-term solutions, only 17 % consider that additional threats exist which may further reduce genetic diversity in both ash species. We also identify and discuss several knowledge gaps and limitations which may have limited the initiation of conservation projects at national and international level so far. Finally, we demonstrate that there is not much time left for filling these gaps, because European-wide forest health monitoring data indicates a significant decline of ash populations in the last 5 years.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55375,"journal":{"name":"Biological Conservation","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 110802"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142421127","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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