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McClure CJW, Berkunsky I, Buechley ER, Dunn L, Johnson J, McCabe J, Oppel S, Rolek BW, Sutton LJ, Gumbs R. Conserving the evolutionary history of birds. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14141. [PMID: 37424371 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14141] [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: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
In the midst of the sixth mass extinction, limited resources are forcing conservationists to prioritize which species and places will receive conservation action. Evolutionary distinctiveness measures the isolation of a species on its phylogenetic tree. Combining a species' evolutionary distinctiveness with its globally endangered status creates an EDGE score. We use EDGE scores to prioritize the places and species that should be managed to conserve bird evolutionary history. We analyzed all birds in all countries and important bird areas. We examined parrots, raptors, and seabirds in depth because these groups are especially threatened and relatively speciose. The three focal groups had greater median threatened evolutionary history than other taxa, making them important for conserving bird evolutionary history. Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Madagascar, New Zealand, and the Philippines were especially critical countries for bird conservation because they had the most threatened evolutionary history for endemic birds and are important for parrots, raptors, and seabirds. Increased enforcement of international agreements for the conservation of parrots, raptors, and seabirds is needed because these agreements protect hundreds of millions of years of threatened bird evolutionary history. Decisive action is required to conserve the evolutionary history of birds into the Anthropocene.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Igor Berkunsky
- Instituto Multidisciplinario sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustentable-CICPBA, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Argentina
| | | | - Leah Dunn
- The Peregrine Fund, Boise, Idaho, USA
| | - Jeff Johnson
- Wolf Creek Operating Foundation, Wolf, Wyoming, USA
| | | | - Steffen Oppel
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | | | - Rikki Gumbs
- EDGE of Existence Programme, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Berkshire, UK
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Spatz DR, Young LC, Holmes ND, Jones HP, VanderWerf EA, Lyons DE, Kress S, Miskelly CM, Taylor GA. Tracking the global application of conservation translocation and social attraction to reverse seabird declines. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2214574120. [PMID: 37036988 PMCID: PMC10120044 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2214574120] [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: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The global loss of biodiversity has inspired actions to restore nature across the planet. Translocation and social attraction actions deliberately move or lure a target species to a restoration site to reintroduce or augment populations and enhance biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Given limited conservation funding and rapidly accelerating extinction trajectories, tracking progress of these interventions can inform best practices and advance management outcomes. Seabirds are globally threatened and commonly targeted for translocation and social attraction ("active seabird restoration"), yet no framework exists for tracking these efforts nor informing best practices. This study addresses this gap for conservation decision makers responsible for seabirds and coastal management. We systematically reviewed active seabird restoration projects worldwide and collated results into a publicly accessible Seabird Restoration Database. We describe global restoration trends, apply a systematic process to measure success rates and response times since implementation, and examine global factors influencing outcomes. The database contains 851 active restoration events in 551 locations targeting 138 seabird species; 16% of events targeted globally threatened taxa. Visitation occurred in 80% of events and breeding occurred in 76%, on average 2 y after implementation began (SD = 3.2 y). Outcomes varied by taxonomy, with the highest and quickest breeding response rates for Charadriiformes (terns, gulls, and auks), primarily with social attraction. Given delayed and variable response times to active restoration, 5 y is appropriate before evaluating outcomes. The database and results serve as a model for tracking and evaluating restoration outcomes, and is applicable to measuring conservation interventions for additional threatened taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Holly P. Jones
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL60115
- Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability, and Energy, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL60115
| | | | - Donald E. Lyons
- National Audubon Society, Seabird Institute, Bremen, ME04551
| | - Stephen Kress
- National Audubon Society, Seabird Institute, Bremen, ME04551
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY14850
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Ferrer Obiol J, Herranz JM, Paris JR, Whiting JR, Rozas J, Riutort M, González-Solís J. Species delimitation using genomic data to resolve taxonomic uncertainties in a speciation continuum of pelagic seabirds. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 179:107671. [PMID: 36442764 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Speciation is a continuous and complex process shaped by the interaction of numerous evolutionary forces. Despite the continuous nature of the speciation process, the implementation of conservation policies relies on the delimitation of species and evolutionary significant units (ESUs). Puffinus shearwaters are globally distributed and threatened pelagic seabirds. Due to remarkable morphological status the group has been under intense taxonomic debate for the past three decades. Here, we use double digest Restriction-Site Associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-Seq) to genotype species and subspecies of North Atlantic and Mediterranean Puffinus shearwaters across their entire geographical range. We assess the phylogenetic relationships and population structure among and within the group, evaluate species boundaries, and characterise the genomic landscape of divergence. We find that current taxonomies are not supported by genomic data and propose a more accurate taxonomy by integrating genomic information with other sources of evidence. Our results show that several taxon pairs are at different stages of a speciation continuum. Our study emphasises the potential of genomic data to resolve taxonomic uncertainties, which can help to focus management actions on relevant taxa, even if they do not necessarily coincide with the taxonomic rank of species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Ferrer Obiol
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Jose M Herranz
- National Institute for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, CIBERehd, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain; Program of Hepatology, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Josephine R Paris
- Department of Health, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of l'Aquila, Coppito, Italy; Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - James R Whiting
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Julio Rozas
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Marta Riutort
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jacob González-Solís
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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14
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Holmes ND, Spatz DR, Oppel S, Tershy B, Croll DA, Keitt B, Genovesi P, Burfield IJ, Will DJ, Bond AL, Wegmann A, Aguirre-Muñoz A, Raine AF, Knapp CR, Hung CH, Wingate D, Hagen E, Méndez-Sánchez F, Rocamora G, Yuan HW, Fric J, Millett J, Russell J, Liske-Clark J, Vidal E, Jourdan H, Campbell K, Springer K, Swinnerton K, Gibbons-Decherong L, Langrand O, Brooke MDL, McMinn M, Bunbury N, Oliveira N, Sposimo P, Geraldes P, McClelland P, Hodum P, Ryan PG, Borroto-Páez R, Pierce R, Griffiths R, Fisher RN, Wanless R, Pasachnik SA, Cranwell S, Micol T, Butchart SHM. Globally important islands where eradicating invasive mammals will benefit highly threatened vertebrates. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212128. [PMID: 30917126 PMCID: PMC6436766 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive alien species are a major threat to native insular species. Eradicating invasive mammals from islands is a feasible and proven approach to prevent biodiversity loss. We developed a conceptual framework to identify globally important islands for invasive mammal eradications to prevent imminent extinctions of highly threatened species using biogeographic and technical factors, plus a novel approach to consider socio-political feasibility. We applied this framework using a comprehensive dataset describing the distribution of 1,184 highly threatened native vertebrate species (i.e. those listed as Critically Endangered or Endangered on the IUCN Red List) and 184 non-native mammals on 1,279 islands worldwide. Based on extinction risk, irreplaceability, severity of impact from invasive species, and technical feasibility of eradication, we identified and ranked 292 of the most important islands where eradicating invasive mammals would benefit highly threatened vertebrates. When socio-political feasibility was considered, we identified 169 of these islands where eradication planning or operation could be initiated by 2020 or 2030 and would improve the survival prospects of 9.4% of the Earth's most highly threatened terrestrial insular vertebrates (111 of 1,184 species). Of these, 107 islands were in 34 countries and territories and could have eradication projects initiated by 2020. Concentrating efforts to eradicate invasive mammals on these 107 islands would benefit 151 populations of 80 highly threatened vertebrates and make a major contribution towards achieving global conservation targets adopted by the world's nations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick D. Holmes
- Island Conservation, Delaware Ave, Santa Cruz California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Dena R. Spatz
- Island Conservation, Delaware Ave, Santa Cruz California, United States of America
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Steffen Oppel
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, United Kigndom
| | - Bernie Tershy
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Donald A. Croll
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Brad Keitt
- Island Conservation, Delaware Ave, Santa Cruz California, United States of America
- American Bird Conservancy, The Plains, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Piero Genovesi
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research ISPRA and Chair IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group, Via V. Brancati, Rome, Italy
| | | | - David J. Will
- Island Conservation, Delaware Ave, Santa Cruz California, United States of America
| | - Alexander L. Bond
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, United Kigndom
- Bird Group, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Tring, Hertfordshire, United Kigndom
| | - Alex Wegmann
- Island Conservation, Delaware Ave, Santa Cruz California, United States of America
- The Nature Conservancy, Nuuanu Ave, Honolulu, Hawai’i, United States of America
| | - Alfonso Aguirre-Muñoz
- Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas, A.C. Av. Moctezuma, Zona Centro, Ensenada, B.C., Mexico
| | - André F. Raine
- Kaua`i Endangered Seabird Recovery Project, Hanapepe, Kaua`i, Hawai’i, United States of America
| | - Charles R. Knapp
- John G. Shedd Aquarium, IUCN Iguana Specialist Group, S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Chung-Hang Hung
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Erin Hagen
- Island Conservation, Delaware Ave, Santa Cruz California, United States of America
| | - Federico Méndez-Sánchez
- Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas, A.C. Av. Moctezuma, Zona Centro, Ensenada, B.C., Mexico
| | - Gerard Rocamora
- Island Biodiversity & Conservation center, University of Seychelles, Anse Royale, Mahé, Seychelles
| | - Hsiao-Wei Yuan
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jakob Fric
- Nature Conservation Consultants Ltd, Gytheiou Chalandri, Greece
| | | | - James Russell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jill Liske-Clark
- Division of Fish & Wildlife, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Lower Base, Saipan Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
| | - Eric Vidal
- Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie marine et continentale, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université, Centre IRD de Nouméa, Nouméa cedex, New-Caledonia
| | - Hervé Jourdan
- Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie marine et continentale, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université, Centre IRD de Nouméa, Nouméa cedex, New-Caledonia
| | - Karl Campbell
- Island Conservation, Delaware Ave, Santa Cruz California, United States of America
| | - Keith Springer
- Rinaldi Avenue, The Pines Beach, North Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - Kirsty Swinnerton
- The Island Endemics Foundation, Boqueron, Puerto Rico, United States of America
| | | | - Olivier Langrand
- Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Crystal Drive, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America
| | - M. de L. Brooke
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kigndom
| | - Miguel McMinn
- BIOGEOMED Group, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra, Valdemossa Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Nancy Bunbury
- Seychelles Islands Foundation, La Ciotat Building, Mont Fleuri, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, United Kigndom
| | - Nuno Oliveira
- Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves, Avenida Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Pedro Geraldes
- Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves, Avenida Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Peter Hodum
- Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge, Kailua, Hawai’i, United States of America
| | - Peter G. Ryan
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | | | - Ray Pierce
- Stoney Creek Rd, Speewah, Queensland, Australia
| | - Richard Griffiths
- Island Conservation, Delaware Ave, Santa Cruz California, United States of America
| | - Robert N. Fisher
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Ross Wanless
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
- BirdLife South Africa, Parklands, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Stesha A. Pasachnik
- Fort Worth Zoo, IUCN Iguana Specialist Group, Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth, Texas United States of America
| | | | - Thierry Micol
- Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux, Fonderies Royales, 8 rue du Docteur Pujos, Rochefort, France
- Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises, rue Gabriel Dejean, Saint Pierre de la Réunion, France
| | - Stuart H. M. Butchart
- BirdLife International, Cambridge, United Kigndom
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kigndom
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