1
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Donald PF, Fernando E, Brown L, Busana M, Butchart SHM, Chng S, de la Colina A, Ferreira JM, Jain A, Jones VR, Lapido R, Malsch K, McDougall A, Muccio C, Nguyen D, Outhwaite W, Petrovan SO, Stafford C, Sutherland WJ, Tallowin O, Safford R. Assessing the global prevalence of wild birds in trade. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14350. [PMID: 39248745 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
Trade represents a significant threat to many wild species and is often clandestine and poorly monitored. Information on which species are most prevalent in trade and potentially threatened by it therefore remains fragmentary. We used 7 global data sets on birds in trade to identify species or groups of species at particular risk and assessed the extent to which they were congruent in terms of the species recorded in trade. We used the frequency with which species were recorded in the data sets as the basis for a trade prevalence score that was applied to all bird species globally. Literature searches and questionnaire surveys were used to develop a list of species known to be heavily traded to validate the trade prevalence score. The score was modeled to identify significant predictors of trade. Although the data sets sampled different parts of the broad trade spectrum, congruence among them was statistically strong in all comparisons. Furthermore, the frequency with which species were recorded within data sets was positively correlated with their occurrence across data sets, indicating that the trade prevalence score captured information on trade volume. The trade prevalence score discriminated well between species identified from semi-independent assessments as heavily or unsustainably traded and all other species. Globally, 45.1% of all bird species and 36.7% of globally threatened bird species had trade prevalence scores ≥1. Species listed in Appendices I or II of CITES, species with large geographical distributions, and nonpasserines tended to have high trade prevalence scores. Speciose orders with high mean trade prevalence scores included Falconiformes, Psittaciformes, Accipitriformes, Anseriformes, Bucerotiformes, and Strigiformes. Despite their low mean prevalence score, Passeriformes accounted for the highest overall number of traded species of any order but had low representation in CITES appendices. Geographical hotspots where large numbers of traded species co-occur differed among passerines (Southeast Asia and Eurasia) and nonpasserines (central South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and India). This first attempt to quantify and map the relative prevalence in trade of all bird species globally can be used to identify species and groups of species that may be at particular risk of harm from trade and can inform conservation and policy interventions to reduce its adverse impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul F Donald
- BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | - Stuart H M Butchart
- BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | - Anuj Jain
- BirdLife International, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Rocio Lapido
- Aves Argentinas, Asociación Ornitológica del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Kelly Malsch
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Colum Muccio
- ARCAS Gautemala, San Lucas Sacatepéquez, Guatemala
| | | | | | | | - Ciara Stafford
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK
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Cooke SJ, Piczak ML, Singh NJ, Åkesson S, Ford AT, Chowdhury S, Mitchell GW, Norris DR, Hardesty-Moore M, McCauley D, Hammerschlag N, Tucker MA, Horns JJ, Reisinger RR, Kubelka V, Lennox RJ. Animal migration in the Anthropocene: threats and mitigation options. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1242-1260. [PMID: 38437713 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Animal migration has fascinated scientists and the public alike for centuries, yet migratory animals are facing diverse threats that could lead to their demise. The Anthropocene is characterised by the reality that humans are the dominant force on Earth, having manifold negative effects on biodiversity and ecosystem function. Considerable research focus has been given to assessing anthropogenic impacts on the numerical abundance of species/populations, whereas relatively less attention has been devoted to animal migration. However, there are clear linkages, for example, where human-driven impacts on migration behaviour can lead to population/species declines or even extinction. Here, we explore anthropogenic threats to migratory animals (in all domains - aquatic, terrestrial, and aerial) using International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Threat Taxonomy classifications. We reveal the diverse threats (e.g. human development, disease, invasive species, climate change, exploitation, pollution) that impact migratory wildlife in varied ways spanning taxa, life stages and type of impact (e.g. from direct mortality to changes in behaviour, health, and physiology). Notably, these threats often interact in complex and unpredictable ways to the detriment of wildlife, further complicating management. Fortunately, we are beginning to identify strategies for conserving and managing migratory animals in the Anthropocene. We provide a set of strategies that, if embraced, have the potential to ensure that migratory animals, and the important ecological functions sustained by migration, persist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Cooke
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Morgan L Piczak
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Navinder J Singh
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, 90183, Sweden
| | - Susanne Åkesson
- Department of Biology, Centre for Animal Movement Research, Lund University, Ecology Building, Lund, 22362, Sweden
| | - Adam T Ford
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, 1177 Research Road, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Shawan Chowdhury
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Straße 159, Jena, 07743, Germany
- Department of Ecosystem Services, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr, 15, Leipzig, 04318, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstr, 4, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Greg W Mitchell
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
- Wildlife Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - D Ryan Norris
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd. E, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Molly Hardesty-Moore
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Douglas McCauley
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Neil Hammerschlag
- Atlantic Shark Expeditions, 29 Wideview Lane, Boutiliers Point, Nova Scotia, B3Z 0M9, Canada
| | - Marlee A Tucker
- Radboud Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Houtlaan 4, Nijmegen, 6525, The Netherlands
| | - Joshua J Horns
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Ryan R Reisinger
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Center Southampton, University Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Vojtěch Kubelka
- Dept of Zoology and Centre for Polar Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Robert J Lennox
- Ocean Tracking Network, Faculty of Science, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford St, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3Z1, Canada
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Haukka A, Lehikoinen A, Mammola S, Morris W, Santangeli A. The iratebirds Citizen Science Project: a Dataset on Birds' Visual Aesthetic Attractiveness to Humans. Sci Data 2023; 10:297. [PMID: 37208398 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02169-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Amidst a global biodiversity crisis, shedding light on the factors that make us like a species can help us understand human's nature-related attitudes and inform conservation actions, e.g. by leveraging flagship potential and helping identify threats. Despite scattered attempts to quantify birds' aesthetic attractiveness to humans, there is no large-scale database providing homogeneous measures of aesthetic attractiveness that are comparable across bird species. We present data on the visual aesthetic attractiveness of bird species to humans, generated through an internet browser-based questionnaire. Respondents (n = 6,212) were asked to rate the appearance of bird species on a scale from 1 (low) to 10 (high) based on photographs from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Macaulay Library. The rating scores were modeled to obtain final scores of visual aesthetic attractiveness for each bird. The data covers 11,319 bird species and subspecies, with respondents from multiple backgrounds providing over 400,000 scores. This is the first attempt to quantify the overall visual aesthetic attractiveness of the world's bird species to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Haukka
- The Helsinki Lab of Ornithology, Zoology Unit, The Finnish Museum of Natural History (LUOMUS), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Aleksi Lehikoinen
- The Helsinki Lab of Ornithology, Zoology Unit, The Finnish Museum of Natural History (LUOMUS), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Stefano Mammola
- Molecular Ecology Group (MEG), Water Research Institute (IRSA), National Research Council (CNR), Verbania Pallanza, Verbania, Italy
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research (LIBRe), Finnish Museum of Natural History (LUOMUS), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - William Morris
- The Finnish Museum of Natural History (LUOMUS), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andrea Santangeli
- Population Ecology Group, Institute for Mediterranean Studies (IMEDEA), CSIC-UIB, 07190, Esporles, Spain
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Ma H, Papworth SK, Ge T, Wu X, Yu C, Zhang H, Xiao F, Gaillard D, Bielby J, Turvey ST. Ecological knowledge and value of traded species: Local awareness of native turtles in Hainan, China. Anim Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
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5
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A Review of the Trade in Toucans (Ramphastidae): Levels of Trade in Species, Source and Sink Countries, Effects from Governance Actions and Conservation Concerns. CONSERVATION 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/conservation3010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Utilising wildlife as natural resources has a long history and wide appeal for many nations, while seeking international wildlife that is sustainably managed is the primary responsibility of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). However, data-driven trade reviews are required, utilising CITES data to increase our understanding of the trade and facilitate evidence-based conservation planning. This study presents the first trade review for Toucans utilising CITES import reported data. The total number of Toucans exported was over 22,000, which subsequently generated a retail ‘real price’ value of nearly US $72 million. The countries accounting for the majority of Toucan exports were Guyana (39%), Suriname (33%) and Nicaragua (14%), while the main importing country was The Netherlands (nearly 25%). Toucan species traded were Ramphastos vitellinus (accounting for 21.5%), Ramphastos toco (19%) and Ramphastos tucanus (17%), making the top three while trade was recorded in 10 species. However, successfully identifying economic values for 15 species highlights that trade exists within non-CITES listed Toucan species too. Therefore, the levels of trade in non-CITES-listed Toucan species need urgent attention, as do the non-detrimental findings that underpin the CITES quotas set for each species, given the species’ importance ecologically.
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6
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O'Connor VL, Vonk J. “A (tiger) king's ransom”: Dark personality features predict endorsement of exotic animal exploitation. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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7
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Mozer A, Prost S. An Introduction to Illegal Wildlife Trade and its Effects on Biodiversity and Society. FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL: ANIMALS AND ENVIRONMENTS 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fsiae.2023.100064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
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8
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The Asian songbird crisis. Curr Biol 2022; 32:R1063-R1064. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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9
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Dufour PC, Miot EF, So TC, Tang SL, Jones EE, Kong TC, Yuan FL, Sung YH, Dingle C, Bonebrake TC. Home and hub: pet trade and traditional medicine impact reptile populations in source locations and destinations. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221011. [PMID: 36100029 PMCID: PMC9470258 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The pet trade and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) consumption are major drivers of global biodiversity loss. Tokay geckos (Gekko gecko) are among the most traded reptile species worldwide. In Hong Kong, pet and TCM markets sell tokay geckos while wild populations also persist. To clarify connections between trade sources and destinations, we compared genetics and stable isotopes of wild tokays in local and non-local populations to dried individuals from TCM markets across Hong Kong. We found that TCM tokays are likely not of local origin. Most wild tokays were related to individuals in South China, indicating a probable natural origin. However, two populations contained individuals more similar to distant populations, indicating pet trade origins. Our results highlight the complexity of wildlife trade impacts within trade hubs. Such trade dynamics complicate local legal regulation when endangered species are protected, but the same species might also be non-native and possibly damaging to the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline C. Dufour
- Ecology and Biodiversity Area, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Elliott F. Miot
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Limited, Hong Kong
| | - Tsz Chun So
- Ecology and Biodiversity Area, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Shun Long Tang
- Ecology and Biodiversity Area, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Emily E. Jones
- Ecology and Biodiversity Area, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tsz Ching Kong
- Ecology and Biodiversity Area, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Felix Landry Yuan
- Ecology and Biodiversity Area, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | - Caroline Dingle
- Ecology and Biodiversity Area, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Timothy C. Bonebrake
- Ecology and Biodiversity Area, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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10
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The Use of Live Action, Animation, and Computer-Generated Imagery in the Depiction of Non-Human Primates in Film. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12121576. [PMID: 35739912 PMCID: PMC9219458 DOI: 10.3390/ani12121576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
For over 100 years, non-human primates (primates) have been a part of the now hundred-billion-dollar global film industry in a variety of capacities. Their use in the film industry is of concern due to the negative welfare effects on individuals, the potential for increased pet trade, and the conservation impacts of public perception. While the effects on human perception of using live primates in film have been studied, little research has been performed on their appearance in animation and none in computer-generated imagery (CGI). We aimed to investigate how the portrayal of primates varied between depiction medium types and how this related to the films’ performance with critics and in the box office. We observed 151 primates in 101 different English-speaking films that debuted between 2000 and 2019. For each appearance we recorded aspects of primate portrayals based on accuracy, anthropomorphism, environment, and agency displayed, along with the depiction medium. We used structural equation models to depict the highest likelihood of the portrayal aspects on the medium’s relationship to the films gross profit worldwide and film critic consensus scores. We found that over the 20-year time frame, use of live primates has decreased, CGI has increased, and animations have remained relatively steady. While animation had no significant relationship to gross profit or critic consensus, both were significantly lower for films that used live primates and were significantly higher for films that used CGI primates. Due to the steady increase in the use of the CGI medium and its positive relationship with gross profit and critic consensus, it could have great effects on people’s perceptions of primates and implications for conservation efforts.
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11
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Nijman V, Morcatty TQ, Feddema K, Campera M, Nekaris KAI. Disentangling the Legal and Illegal Wildlife Trade-Insights from Indonesian Wildlife Market Surveys. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12050628. [PMID: 35268197 PMCID: PMC8909552 DOI: 10.3390/ani12050628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Throughout the world, wild-caught animals are traded in wildlife markets, but it is not always easy to disentangle what part of the trade is legal and what part is not. This may diminish the value of conducting wildlife market surveys. Conservationists narrowly focus on whether a species is legally protected, whereas in most countries there are several laws and regulations in place that guide the trade in wild-caught animals. Here we present empirical data from various species of birds recorded during wildlife market surveys in Indonesia and assess whether violations take place in terms of (1) protected species, (2) harvest quota, (3) welfare, (4) transport restrictions, and (5) importation. Our five distinctly different case studies showed that while it is challenging to distinguish legal and illegal aspects, in all cases it was evident that at least some aspects of the trade were in violation of Indonesia’s domestic legislation. By focusing on a wider range of legal restrictions, it is possible to get a good insight into the legality of wildlife trade, what interventions can be made, and overall, our study underscores the value of conducting wildlife trade surveys. Abstract It is challenging to disentangle the legal and illegal aspects of wild-caught animals that are traded in wildlife markets or online, and this may diminish the value of conducting wildlife trade surveys. We present empirical studies on the trade in birds (ducks, owls, songbirds, non-passerines) in Indonesia (2005 to 2021). Based on visits to wildlife markets, wholesale traders, and monitoring of an Instagram account, we examine if five specific pieces of legislation (domestic and international) are adhered to: (1) protected species, (2) harvest quota, (3) welfare, (4) provincial transport restrictions, and (5) illegal import of CITES-listed species. Our five distinctly different case studies showed that in each case, certain rules and regulations were adhered to, whilst others were violated to varying degrees. When trade involved non-protected species, there was frequently a lack of harvest quotas or trade occurred above these allocated quotas. Basic welfare provisions were regularly and habitually violated. Visiting wildlife markets and recording first-hand what is openly offered for sale is a highly reliable, verifiable, and valuable method of data collection that can give insight in numerous aspects of the animal trade. Our research provides support for recognising the urgency for the government to take appropriate action to curb all the illegal aspects of the bird trade in Indonesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Nijman
- Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK; (T.Q.M.); (M.C.)
- Correspondence: (V.N.); (K.A.I.N.)
| | - Thais Q. Morcatty
- Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK; (T.Q.M.); (M.C.)
| | - Kim Feddema
- Business School, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia;
| | - Marco Campera
- Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK; (T.Q.M.); (M.C.)
| | - K. A. I. Nekaris
- Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK; (T.Q.M.); (M.C.)
- Correspondence: (V.N.); (K.A.I.N.)
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12
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Mixed protection of threatened species traded under CITES. Curr Biol 2022; 32:999-1009.e9. [PMID: 35090593 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates international legal trade to prevent the detrimental harvest of wildlife. We assess the volumes of threatened and non-threatened bird, mammal, amphibian, and reptile species in the CITES-managed trade and how this trade responded to category changes of species in the IUCN Red List between 2000 and 2018. In this period, over a thousand wild-sourced vertebrate species were commercially traded. Species of least conservation concern had the highest yearly trade volumes (excluding birds), whereas species in most Red List categories showed an overall decrease in trade reoccurrence and volume through time, with most species unlikely to reoccur in recent trade. Charismatic species with populations split-listed between Appendices I and II were traded in substantially lower yearly volumes when sourced from the more-threatened Appendix I populations. Species trade volumes did not systematically respond to changes in the Red List category, with 31.0% of species disappearing from trade before changing category and the majority of species revealing no difference in trade volumes from pre- to post-change. Just 2.7% (12/432) of species volumes declined and 2.1% (9/432) of volumes increased after a category change. Our findings highlight that non-threatened species dominate trade but reveal small numbers of highly threatened species in trade and a disconnect between species trade volumes and changing extinction risk. We highlight potential drawbacks in the current regulation of trade in listed species and urgently call for open and accessible assessments-non-detriment findings-robustly evidencing the sustainable use of threatened and non-threatened species alike.
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13
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The making of a (dog) movie star: The effect of the portrayal of dogs in movies on breed registrations in the United States. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0261916. [PMID: 35020738 PMCID: PMC8754329 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The media is a powerful force that can affect the welfare of the domiciled dog population. Dogs have long been in human stories and their depictions can create demand for the breeds shown. While previous research has found that this effect can last for up to ten years after the release of a movie, how this phenomenon occurs is unknown. This paper examines if how a dog is portrayed in a movie is associated with a subsequent change in American Kennel Club breed registrations for that breed. Following a systematic literature review, four key themes were identified in how dogs are portrayed in the media; dogs portrayed as heroes, as anthropomorphised, as embodying the ideals of Western societies (Whiteness and heteronormativity) and as boundaries between wilderness and human society. Forty movies from between 1930 to 2004 were analysed, resulting in 95 dog characters scored, and hierarchical multiple linear regression was run. Movies with dogs portrayed as heroes were followed by significant increases in the number of American Kennel Club breed registrations for the breed shown, while anthropomorphised dogs were followed by significant decreases in the number of dogs registered for up to five years after a movie’s release. These results indicate that how dogs are portrayed may be an important driver of demand for breeds. Future work should investigate whether these portrayals may have negative welfare implications for real dogs by leading to owners having unrealistic expectations for dogs or increasing demand for dogs with in-breeding related disorders.
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Cross-Amplification in Strigiformes: A New STR Panel for Forensic Purposes. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12111721. [PMID: 34828327 PMCID: PMC8625634 DOI: 10.3390/genes12111721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Strigiformes are affected by a substantial decline mainly caused by habitat loss and destruction, poaching, and trapping. Moreover, the increasing trend in bird trade and the growing interest in wild-caught rather than captive-bred birds are expected to encourage illegal trade. The biomolecular investigation represents a valuable tool to track illegal trade and to explore the genetic variability to preserving biodiversity. Microsatellite loci (STRs) are the most used markers to study genetic variability. Despite the availability of species-specific microsatellite loci in Strigiformes, a unique panel permitting the description of the genetic variability across species has not been identified yet. We tested 32 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers to evaluate the reliability of a unique microsatellite panel in different species of Strigiformes and its use for conservation and forensic purposes. We included in the study 84 individuals belonging to 28 parental groups and 11 species of Strigiformes. After screening polymorphic microsatellite loci, the description of genetic variability, and the kinship assessment, we characterized a final panel of 12 microsatellite loci able to identify individuals in 9 Strigiformes species. This STR panel might support the authorities in the forensic investigation for suspected smugglers and false parental claims; moreover, it can be useful to evaluate relatedness among individuals in captive-bred populations and to implement research projects finalized to the description of the genetic variability in wild populations.
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15
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Freund CA, Heaning EG, Mulrain IR, McCann JB, DiGiorgio AL. Building better conservation media for primates and people: A case study of orangutan rescue and rehabilitation YouTube videos. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cathryn A. Freund
- Department of Biology Wake Forest University Winston‐Salem NC USA
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science Arizona State University Tempe AZ USA
| | - Erin G. Heaning
- Department of Psychology Princeton University Princeton NJ USA
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16
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Seaboch MS, Cahoon SN. Pet primates for sale in the United States. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256552. [PMID: 34496001 PMCID: PMC8425555 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Our research goal was to investigate the primate pet trade in the United States. While dogs and cats are the most common type of pet, there are an estimated 15,000 pet primates in the United States and the demand for exotic pets in general has been rising. Most research on pet primates occurs in habitat countries and little is known about these pets in the United States. We collected data from six exotic pet-trade websites twice a month for 12 months. We recorded the type of primate for sale, sex, age, location, and price. We used Chi-Square Goodness-of-Fit tests to compare whether the number of male and female pet primates for sale and the number of different age categories of pet primates for sale differed from equality and Spearman Correlation to examine associations between price and size and price and supply. We recorded 551 pet primates for sale between June 2019-June 2020, with 69.1% platyrrhines, 21.6% strepsirrhines, and 8.9% catarrhines. Marmosets were sold most often (36.7%, N = 202) followed by lemurs (21.6%, N = 119), capuchins (11.3%, N = 62), and squirrel monkeys (10.5%, N = 58). Almost two-thirds of the pet primates for sale were male (Chi-Square = 16.056, df = 1, P = 0. 00006) and 78.7% were under one year old (Chi-Square = 440.264, df = 2, P<0.00001). The median price was $3,800 though price was highly variable, even for the same taxa. There are several potential drivers for the primate pet trade, including media influence, fashion/status, and profitable breeding though these are not mutually exclusive. Primates do not make good pets and even when captive-bred, pet primates impact the conservation of their wild counterparts. Advertisement campaigns focusing on disease transmission and legal consequences and a federal ban on pet primate ownership are two avenues to pursue to end the ownership of pet primates in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa S Seaboch
- Anthropology Department, Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America.,Anthropology Department, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America
| | - Sydney N Cahoon
- Anthropology Department, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America
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17
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The Role of the Songbird Trade as an Anthropogenic Vector in the Spread of Invasive Non-Native Mynas in Indonesia. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11080814. [PMID: 34440559 PMCID: PMC8402190 DOI: 10.3390/life11080814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The wildlife trade has facilitated the introduction of invasive non-native species, which may compete with native species for resources and alter ecosystems. Some of these species have great potential to become invasive if released or escaped from captivity. Here we studied the pet trade in a group of open countryside birds, the mynas (Acridotheres spp.) in Indonesia, and identified the areas that are at high risk of facing the establishment of these species. Mynas are among the most invasive birds in Southeast Asia. Once established in a new area, they are almost impossible to eradicate and can have strong negative impacts on the ecosystem. Preventing their introduction is therefore essential. Yet, invasive non-native mynas continue to be traded openly. We present data on the trade in seven species of mynas on Java, Bali and Lombok, with three species being native to parts of one or two of these islands, but not to the remainder, and four that are non-native to the region. From 2016 to 2021 we conducted 255 surveys of 30 animal markets. We recorded over 6000 mynas that were offered for sale outside their native range. Areas most at risk because of their high prevalence in specific animal markets, are Greater Jakarta, eastern Java, Bali and Lombok. The number of invasive non-native mynas recorded was positively related to the size of the animal market. Indonesia is signatory to several international agreements (CBD, ASEAN) that have policies and guidelines to prevent the introduction of invasive non-native species, but compliancy is weak. Annually hundreds and possibly thousands of invasive non-native mynas are released by Indonesian conservation authorities in regions that are outside their native range. Effective management of, and regulation of trade in, potential invasive non-native birds in Indonesia falls short and inadvertently greatly aids both their introduction and establishment.
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18
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Fisher JC, Yoh N, Kubo T, Rundle D. Could Nintendo’s Animal Crossing be a tool for conservation messaging? PEOPLE AND NATURE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C. Fisher
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) School of Anthropology and Conservation Canterbury UK
| | - Natalie Yoh
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) School of Anthropology and Conservation Canterbury UK
| | - Takahiro Kubo
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) School of Anthropology and Conservation Canterbury UK
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Biodiversity Division National Institute for Environmental Studies Tsukuba Japan
| | - Danielle Rundle
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) School of Anthropology and Conservation Canterbury UK
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19
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Emerging Patterns in Cultural Ecosystem Services as Incentives and Obstacles for Raptor Conservation. BIRDS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/birds2020014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment proposed four categories of ecosystem services as regulating, provisioning, supporting and cultural. Of these, cultural services have been the most difficult to quantify despite playing a key role in developing society’s supporting services to ecosystems. By reviewing a series of case studies related to the cultural services derived from raptors, we examine relations between tangible ecosystem services and ‘knowledge’ and ‘beliefs’ as part of supporting services from human societies to ecosystems. We identified types of raptor regulating and provisioning services and patterns in service--knowledge-beliefs that defined positive or negative outcomes for raptor conservation. We also demonstrate how possible interactions between physical, experiential, physical-symbolic and representative-symbolic cultural services and between different stakeholders can create incentives or obstacles for conservation. Predictable patterns in service-knowledge-beliefs provide a framework upon which socio-cultural and ethnobiological aspects of raptor conservation may be combined with ecological research to support conservation initiatives. Based on these patterns we present examples of how cultural services might be employed to better promote raptor conservation while respecting the beliefs and traditions of stakeholders.
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20
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Nijman V, Ardiansyah A, Hendrik R, Langgeng A, Manson S, Hedger K, Imron MA, Nekaris KAI. Trade in a small-range songbird, the Javan crocias, gives insight into the Asian Songbird Crisis. JOURNAL OF ASIA-PACIFIC BIODIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.japb.2021.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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21
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Sawada A, Iwasaki T, Inoue C, Nakaoka K, Nakanishi T, Sawada J, Aso N, Nagai S, Ono H, Takagi M. Missing piece of top predator‐based conservation: Demographic analysis of an owl population on a remote subtropical island. POPUL ECOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/1438-390x.12080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Akira Sawada
- Department of Natural History Science, Graduate School of Science Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan
| | - Tetsuya Iwasaki
- Department of Biology and Geosciences, Graduate School of Science Osaka City University Osaka Japan
| | - Chitose Inoue
- Department of Biology and Geosciences, Graduate School of Science Osaka City University Osaka Japan
| | - Kana Nakaoka
- Department of Biology and Geosciences, Graduate School of Science Osaka City University Osaka Japan
| | - Takumi Nakanishi
- Department of Biology and Geosciences, Graduate School of Science Osaka City University Osaka Japan
| | - Junpei Sawada
- Department of Biology and Geosciences, Graduate School of Science Osaka City University Osaka Japan
| | - Narumi Aso
- Department of Biology and Geosciences, Graduate School of Science Osaka City University Osaka Japan
| | - Syuya Nagai
- Department of Natural History Science, Graduate School of Science Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan
| | - Haruka Ono
- Department of Natural History Science, Graduate School of Science Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan
| | - Masaoki Takagi
- Department of Natural History Science, Graduate School of Science Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan
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22
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Schell CJ, Stanton LA, Young JK, Angeloni LM, Lambert JE, Breck SW, Murray MH. The evolutionary consequences of human-wildlife conflict in cities. Evol Appl 2021; 14:178-197. [PMID: 33519964 PMCID: PMC7819564 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-wildlife interactions, including human-wildlife conflict, are increasingly common as expanding urbanization worldwide creates more opportunities for people to encounter wildlife. Wildlife-vehicle collisions, zoonotic disease transmission, property damage, and physical attacks to people or their pets have negative consequences for both people and wildlife, underscoring the need for comprehensive strategies that mitigate and prevent conflict altogether. Management techniques often aim to deter, relocate, or remove individual organisms, all of which may present a significant selective force in both urban and nonurban systems. Management-induced selection may significantly affect the adaptive or nonadaptive evolutionary processes of urban populations, yet few studies explicate the links among conflict, wildlife management, and urban evolution. Moreover, the intensity of conflict management can vary considerably by taxon, public perception, policy, religious and cultural beliefs, and geographic region, which underscores the complexity of developing flexible tools to reduce conflict. Here, we present a cross-disciplinary perspective that integrates human-wildlife conflict, wildlife management, and urban evolution to address how social-ecological processes drive wildlife adaptation in cities. We emphasize that variance in implemented management actions shapes the strength and rate of phenotypic and evolutionary change. We also consider how specific management strategies either promote genetic or plastic changes, and how leveraging those biological inferences could help optimize management actions while minimizing conflict. Investigating human-wildlife conflict as an evolutionary phenomenon may provide insights into how conflict arises and how management plays a critical role in shaping urban wildlife phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Schell
- School of Interdisciplinary Arts and SciencesUniversity of Washington TacomaTacomaWAUSA
| | - Lauren A. Stanton
- Department of Zoology and PhysiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWYUSA
- Program in EcologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWYUSA
| | - Julie K. Young
- USDA‐WS‐National Wildlife Research Center‐Predator Research FacilityMillvilleUTUSA
| | | | - Joanna E. Lambert
- Program in Environmental Studies and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of Colorado‐BoulderBoulderCOUSA
| | - Stewart W. Breck
- USDA‐WS‐National Wildlife Research CenterFort CollinsCOUSA
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyFort CollinsCOUSA
| | - Maureen H. Murray
- Urban Wildlife Institute and Davee Center for Epidemiology and EndocrinologyChicagoILUSA
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23
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Thirty years of trade data suggests population declines in a once common songbird in Indonesia. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-020-01436-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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24
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McMillan SE, Dingle C, Allcock JA, Bonebrake TC. Exotic animal cafes are increasingly home to threatened biodiversity. Conserv Lett 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sharne E. McMillan
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Caroline Dingle
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China
| | - John A. Allcock
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China
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25
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Siriwat P, Nijman V. Wildlife trade shifts from brick-and-mortar markets to virtual marketplaces: A case study of birds of prey trade in Thailand. JOURNAL OF ASIA-PACIFIC BIODIVERSITY 2020; 13:454-461. [PMID: 32296661 PMCID: PMC7156811 DOI: 10.1016/j.japb.2020.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The shift of wildlife trade from brick-and-mortar markets to virtual online marketplaces is reported using the trade of birds of prey (raptors) in Thailand from 1968 to 2019 as a case study. We analyzed data obtained from physical market survey data for 2,782 individuals from 27 species, with 2,420 individuals reported in early surveys (1968-1988) and 362 individuals reported in later surveys (2003-2015) and online surveys (February 2017 to January 2019). We compared information on asking prices and what species were traded using two comparative approaches to analyze how species composition may have changed over time (physical markets and online platforms; pre-Internet and Internet era). In comparison with the five previous market surveys, we did not find a statistically significant difference between species and availability of species offered for sale when comparing physical bird markets and online markets. In all data sets, biological factors such as wingspan were significant factors in explaining price variation. We conclude that sustained monitoring is needed to make direct comparisons between the trade platforms. With a continued increase of wildlife trade on online platforms, we recommend increased regulation and enforcement of wildlife trade laws.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penthai Siriwat
- Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent Nijman
- Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom
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26
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Scheffers BR, Oliveira BF, Lamb I, Edwards DP. Global wildlife trade across the tree of life. Science 2020; 366:71-76. [PMID: 31604304 DOI: 10.1126/science.aav5327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife trade is a multibillion dollar industry that is driving species toward extinction. Of >31,500 terrestrial bird, mammal, amphibian, and squamate reptile species, ~18% (N = 5579) are traded globally. Trade is strongly phylogenetically conserved, and the hotspots of this trade are concentrated in the biologically diverse tropics. Using different assessment approaches, we predict that, owing to their phylogenetic replacement and trait similarity to currently traded species, future trade will affect up to 3196 additional species-totaling 8775 species at risk of extinction from trade. Our assessment underscores the need for a strategic plan to combat trade with policies that are proactive rather than reactive, which is especially important because species can quickly transition from being safe to being endangered as humans continue to harvest and trade across the tree of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett R Scheffers
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Brunno F Oliveira
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.,Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, AL 36124, USA
| | - Ieuan Lamb
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - David P Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
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27
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Siriwat P, Nekaris KAI, Nijman V. Digital media and the modern-day pet trade: a test of the ‘Harry Potter effect’ and the owl trade in Thailand. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2020. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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28
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Norconk MA, Atsalis S, Tully G, Santillán AM, Waters S, Knott CD, Ross SR, Shanee S, Stiles D. Reducing the primate pet trade: Actions for primatologists. Am J Primatol 2019; 82:e23079. [PMID: 31876316 PMCID: PMC9286354 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
This commentary emerged from a panel presentation at the International Primatological Society Congress in Nairobi, Kenya, 2018. The goal was to provide regional updates on the status of primate removal from habitat countries, especially for the pet trade, and develop guidelines that could help primatologists address this critical problem. The trade in live primates includes those used as pets, in entertainment, and as subjects of biomedical experimentation, but here we focus on those primates destined for the pet trade. Such transactions are a hugely lucrative business, impacting hundreds of thousands of individuals annually and affecting the survival of wild populations. Being intimately familiar with primate social behavior, life history and biology, primatologists, whether they work with captive or wild primates, are in a unique position to understand the nature of the trade and attempt to counter its effects. In addition to updating the status of the primate pet trade, we provide recommendations that may help primatologists formulate a plan to deal, locally and regionally, with illegal trafficking in live primates. General guidelines include increasing awareness of local customs, policies and laws; developing collaborative research opportunities for local people; engaging in training/informational opportunities; and instructing on how to take action when encountering illegally-trafficked primates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gregg Tully
- Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA), Portland, Oregon
| | - Ana Maria Santillán
- Departamento de Etología, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico City, Mexico.,Centro Mexicano de Rehabilitación de Primates A.C., Vera Cruz, Mexico
| | - Siân Waters
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, UK.,Barbary Macaque Awareness & Conservation, Morocco
| | - Cheryl D Knott
- Departments of Anthropology and Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.,Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program, West Kalimantan, Indonesia
| | - Stephen R Ross
- Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Sam Shanee
- Neotropical Primate Conservation, Cornwall, UK
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29
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Gippet JM, Liebhold AM, Fenn-Moltu G, Bertelsmeier C. Human-mediated dispersal in insects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 35:96-102. [PMID: 31479895 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Central to the problem of biological invasions, human activities introduce species beyond their native ranges and participate in their subsequent spread. Understanding human-mediated dispersal is therefore crucial for both predicting and preventing invasions. Here, we show that decomposing human-mediated dispersal into three temporal phases: departure, transport and arrival, allows to understand how the characteristics of human activities and the biological traits of species influence each phase of the dispersal process, and ultimately govern invasion pathways in insects. Integrating these precise mechanisms into future invasion models should increase their realism and generalization for any potential insect invader. Moreover, understanding these mechanisms can provide insight into why some invasive insects are more widely distributed than others, and to estimate risks posed by species that have not yet been introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Mw Gippet
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Andrew M Liebhold
- US Forest Service Northern Research Station, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Praha 6 - Suchdol, CZ 165 21, Czech Republic
| | - Gyda Fenn-Moltu
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cleo Bertelsmeier
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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30
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Harrington LA, Macdonald DW, D’Cruze N. Popularity of pet otters on YouTube: evidence of an emerging trade threat. NATURE CONSERVATION 2019. [DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.36.33842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
In response to growing reports of otters in the pet trade, and suggestions that the popularity of pet otters on social media may be driving demand, we collated YouTube videos of pet otters to test for trends in the number of videos published, their exposure (number of views) and popularity. We used English-language search terms to provide a global overview, as well as local language search terms for four South East Asian countries identified as being of potential importance in the pet otter trade (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam), and Japan. We found that not only had the number of videos depicting pet otters increased in the last two to three years (2016–2018), but that their popularity and/or engagement had also increased. Notwithstanding some country-level differences in the details of effects observed, the greatest increases in both the number of videos produced and their popularity occurred in Indonesia and Japan. At a global-level, commercial “viral” video sites appeared to be influential in terms of posting highly popular pet otter videos. At a national level, potentially influential videos tended to be produced by four or five individual otter owners. The appearance of phrases such as “I want one” in the comments section of the English-language videos, although not necessarily a statement of actual intent, suggests that these videos may be driving demand amongst their viewers and followers; similar analyses of video comments in each local language are warranted. Our results show an increase in social media activity that may not only be driving the apparent increase in popularity, but also amplifying awareness of the availability of these animals as pets, as well as creating and perpetuating the (erroneous) perception of otters as a suitable companion animal. At a global level, there are welfare concerns associated with otters in the pet trade, and, in South East Asia specifically, there are serious conservation concerns. We recommend increased regulation of these activities on social media, increased public awareness of the negative impacts of the pet trade on otters, and increased international protection. Specifically, we suggest the need to uplist both small-clawed and smooth-coated otters (Aonyxcinereus and Lutrogaleperspicillata, respectively) to CITES Appendix 1.
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31
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32
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Abstract
Efforts to mitigate the current biodiversity crisis require a better understanding of how and why humans value other species. We use Internet query data and citizen science data to characterize public interest in 621 bird species across the United States. We estimate the relative popularity of different birds by quantifying how frequently people use Google to search for species, relative to the rates at which they are encountered in the environment. In intraspecific analyses, we also quantify the degree to which Google searches are limited to, or extend beyond, the places in which people encounter each species. The resulting metrics of popularity and geographic specificity of interest allow us to define aspects of relationships between people and birds within a cultural niche space. We then estimate the influence of species traits and socially constructed labels on niche positions to assess the importance of observations and ideas in shaping public interest in birds. Our analyses show clear effects of migratory strategy, color, degree of association with bird feeders, and, especially, body size on niche position. They also indicate that cultural labels, including "endangered," "introduced," and, especially, "team mascot," are strongly associated with the magnitude and geographic specificity of public interest in birds. Our results provide a framework for exploring complex relationships between humans and other species and enable more informed decision-making across diverse bird conservation strategies and goals.
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33
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Clarke TA, Reuter KE, LaFleur M, Schaefer MS. A viral video and pet lemurs on Twitter. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0208577. [PMID: 30625137 PMCID: PMC6326470 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Content shared on social media platforms can impact public perceptions of wildlife. These perceptions, which are in part shaped by context (e.g. non-naturalistic setting, presence of a human), can influence people's desires to interact with or acquire wild animals as pets. However, few studies have examined whether this holds true for wild animals featured in viral videos. This study reports on opportunistic data collected on Twitter before, during, and after a video that featured a habituated ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), called "Sefo", in southern Madagascar went 'viral' (i.e. circulated rapidly on the internet). Our dataset of 13,953 tweets (from an 18.5-week time period in early 2016) referencing lemurs was collected using targeted keywords on the Twitonomy Service. We identified 613 individual tweets about people wanting a lemur as a pet. In addition, 744 tweets that were captured in our dataset linked to the Sefo viral video. We found that as the number of tweets about the viral video increased, so did the number of tweets where an individual wanted to have a lemur as a pet. Most tweets (91%) did not make reference to a specific species of lemur, but when they did, they often (82%) referenced ring-tailed lemurs (L. catta), ruffed lemurs (Varecia spp.), and mouse lemurs (Microcebus spp.). This study serves as a case study to consider how viral content can impact how wild animals are perceived. We close by noting that social media sites like Twitter, which are increasingly providing their users with news and information, should carefully consider how information about wild animals is shared on their platforms, as it may impact animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara A. Clarke
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Pet Lemur Survey Initiative, housed by the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Kim E. Reuter
- Pet Lemur Survey Initiative, housed by the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
- Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Marni LaFleur
- Pet Lemur Survey Initiative, housed by the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
- Lemur Love Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
- Department of Anthropology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Melissa S. Schaefer
- Pet Lemur Survey Initiative, housed by the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
- Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
- Anthropology Program, Salt Lake City Community College, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
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34
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Symes WS, Edwards DP, Miettinen J, Rheindt FE, Carrasco LR. Combined impacts of deforestation and wildlife trade on tropical biodiversity are severely underestimated. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4052. [PMID: 30283038 PMCID: PMC6170487 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06579-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropical forest diversity is simultaneously threatened by habitat loss and exploitation for wildlife trade. Quantitative conservation assessments have previously considered these threats separately, yet their impacts frequently act together. We integrate forest extent maps in 2000 and 2015 with a method of quantifying exploitation pressure based upon a species’ commercial value and forest accessibility. We do so for 308 forest-dependent bird species, of which 77 are commercially traded, in the Southeast Asian biodiversity hotspot of Sundaland. We find 89% (274) of species experienced average habitat losses of 16% and estimate exploitation led to mean population declines of 37%. Assessing the combined impacts of deforestation and exploitation indicates the average losses of exploited species are much higher (54%), nearly doubling the regionally endemic species (from 27 to 51) threatened with extinction that should be IUCN Red Listed. Combined assessment of major threats is vital to accurately quantify biodiversity loss. Disentangling multiple drivers of species declines can be difficult yet is critical to species conservation. Here, the authors parse the relative contributions of deforestation and trapping to declines of native birds in Southeast Asia, finding that the extinction risk of trapped species may be underestimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- William S Symes
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.
| | - David P Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Jukka Miettinen
- Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing (CRISP), National University of Singapore (NUS), 10 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119076, Singapore
| | - Frank E Rheindt
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - L Roman Carrasco
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
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Nijman V, Langgeng A, Birot H, Imron MA, Nekaris K. Wildlife trade, captive breeding and the imminent extinction of a songbird. Glob Ecol Conserv 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Megias DA, Anderson SC, Smith RJ, Veríssimo D. Investigating the impact of media on demand for wildlife: A case study of Harry Potter and the UK trade in owls. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182368. [PMID: 28976986 PMCID: PMC5627891 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, a substantial number of popular press articles have described an increase in demand for certain species in the pet trade due to films such as "Finding Nemo", "Ninja turtles", and "Harry Potter". Nevertheless, such assertions are largely supported only by anecdotal evidence. Given the role of the wildlife trade in the spread of pathogens and zoonosis, the introduction of invasive species, the overexploitation of biodiversity, and the neglect of animal welfare, it is crucial to understand what factors drive demand for a species. Here, we investigate the effect the movie industry may have on wildlife trade by examining the relationship between the "Harry Potter" cultural phenomenon and the trade in owls within the United Kingdom (UK). We gathered data from the UK box office, book sales, and newspaper mentions, and examined their relationship with data from three independent sources reflecting the legal ownership of owls in the UK, which is likely to involve several thousands of animals. Additionally, we conducted a questionnaire survey with UK animal sanctuaries to study the presumed mass abandonment of pet owls when the film series ended. Counter to common assertions, we find no evidence that the "Harry Potter" phenomenon increased the legal trade in owls within the UK, even when possible time-lag effects were taken into account. Only one indicator, the number of movie tickets sold, showed a weak but contradictory relationship with demand for owls, with a recorded drop of 13% (95% CI: 3-27%) per 1 SD in tickets sold in the original analysis but an increase of 4% (95% CI: 0-8%) with a one-year lag. In addition, our results suggest that the end of the Harry Potter series did not have a noticeable impact on the number of owls abandoned in UK wildlife sanctuaries, as only two of the 46 animal sanctuaries we contacted independently stated they had seen an increase in owls received and believed this was due to the Harry Potter series. We highlight the importance of further research on the drivers of demand for wildlife to better manage this global trade, and discuss the potential to use films to positively influence behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane A. Megias
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (DM); (DV)
| | - Sean C. Anderson
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Robert J. Smith
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Diogo Veríssimo
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
- Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DM); (DV)
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