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Achieng AO, Arhonditsis GB, Mandrak N, Febria C, Opaa B, Coffey TJ, Masese FO, Irvine K, Ajode ZM, Obiero K, Barasa JE, Kaunda-Arara B. Monitoring biodiversity loss in rapidly changing Afrotropical ecosystems: an emerging imperative for governance and research. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220271. [PMID: 37246384 PMCID: PMC10225856 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Africa is experiencing extensive biodiversity loss due to rapid changes in the environment, where natural resources constitute the main instrument for socioeconomic development and a mainstay source of livelihoods for an increasing population. Lack of data and information deficiency on biodiversity, but also budget constraints and insufficient financial and technical capacity, impede sound policy design and effective implementation of conservation and management measures. The problem is further exacerbated by the lack of harmonized indicators and databases to assess conservation needs and monitor biodiversity losses. We review challenges with biodiversity data (availability, quality, usability and database access) as a key limiting factor that impacts funding and governance. We also evaluate the drivers of both ecosystems change and biodiversity loss as a central piece of knowledge to develop and implement effective policies. While the continent focuses more on the latter, we argue that the two are complementary in shaping restoration and management solutions. We thus underscore the importance of establishing monitoring programmes focusing on biodiversity-ecosystem linkages in order to inform evidence-based decisions in ecosystem conservation and restoration in Africa. This article is part of the theme issue 'Detecting and attributing the causes of biodiversity change: needs, gaps and solutions'.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. O. Achieng
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - G. B. Arhonditsis
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M1C 1A4
| | - N. Mandrak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Scarborough, ON, Canada M1C 1A4
| | - C. Febria
- Department of Integrative Biology, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada N9B 3P4
| | - B. Opaa
- Department of Natural Resources Management, National Land Commission, P.O. Box 44417-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - T. J. Coffey
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
| | - F. O. Masese
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - K. Irvine
- IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Department of Water Resource and Ecosystems, Westvest 7, 2611 AX Delft, The Netherlands
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Z. M. Ajode
- African Center for Aquatic Research and Education (ACARE), 2200 Commonwealth Blvd, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - K. Obiero
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Directorate of Freshwater Aquaculture, P.O. Box 136-40111 Pap Onditi, Kenya
| | - J. E. Barasa
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - B. Kaunda-Arara
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
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Platania L, Gómez-Zurita J. Analysis of intrinsic evolutionary factors leading to microendemic distributions in New Caledonian leaf beetles. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6909. [PMID: 37106022 PMCID: PMC10140066 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34104-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Microendemicity, or the condition of some species having local ranges, is a relatively common pattern in nature. However, the factors that lead to this pattern are still largely unknown. Most studies addressing this issue tend to focus on extrinsic factors associated with microendemic distributions, such as environmental conditions, hypothesising a posteriori about underlying potential speciation mechanisms, linked or not to these conditions. Here, we use a multi-faceted approach mostly focusing on intrinsic factors instead, namely diversification dynamics and speciation modes in two endemic sibling genera of leaf beetles with microendemic distributions, Taophila and Tricholapita, in a microendemicity hotspot, New Caledonia. Results suggest that the diversification rate in this lineage slowed down through most of the Neogene and consistently with a protracted speciation model possibly combined with several ecological and environmental factors potentially adding rate-slowing effects through time. In turn, species accumulated following successive allopatric speciation cycles, possibly powered by marked geological and climatic changes in the region in the last 25 million years, with daughter species ranges uncorrelated with the time of speciation. In this case, microendemicity seems to reflect a mature state for the system, rather than a temporary condition for recent species, as suggested for many microendemic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Platania
- Botanical Institute of Barcelona (CSIC-Ajuntament Barcelona), Pg. del Migdia S/N, 08038, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jesús Gómez-Zurita
- Botanical Institute of Barcelona (CSIC-Ajuntament Barcelona), Pg. del Migdia S/N, 08038, Barcelona, Spain.
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3
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Supsup CE, Asis AA, Edaño JWB, Mallari NAD. Anuran assemblages in western Philippines: Unraveling the effects of habitat types, water availability, and elevation. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2022.103869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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4
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Grattarola F, Martínez-Lanfranco JA, Botto G, Naya DE, Maneyro R, Mai P, Hernández D, Laufer G, Ziegler L, González EM, da Rosa I, Gobel N, González A, González J, Rodales AL, Pincheira-Donoso D. Multiple forms of hotspots of tetrapod biodiversity and the challenges of open-access data scarcity. Sci Rep 2020; 10:22045. [PMID: 33328562 PMCID: PMC7745038 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79074-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The uneven spatial distribution of biodiversity is a defining feature of nature. In fact, the implementation of conservation actions both locally and globally has progressively been guided by the identification of biodiversity 'hotspots' (areas with exceptional biodiversity). However, different regions of the world differ drastically in the availability of fine-scale data on the diversity and distribution of species, thus limiting the potential to assess their local environmental priorities. Within South America-a megadiverse continent-Uruguay represents a peculiar area where multiple tropical and non-tropical eco-regions converge, creating highly heterogeneous ecosystems, but where the systematic quantification of biodiversity remains largely anecdotal. To investigate the constraints posed by the limited access to biodiversity data, we employ the most comprehensive database for tetrapod vertebrates in Uruguay (spanning 664 species) assembled to date, to identify hotspots of species-richness, endemism and threatened species for the first time. Our results reveal negligible spatial congruence among biodiversity hotspots, and that tetrapod sampling has historically concentrated in only a few areas. Collectively, our study provides a detailed account of the areas where urgent biodiversity monitoring efforts are needed to develop more accurate knowledge on biodiversity patterns, offering government and environmental bodies a critical scientific resource for future planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Grattarola
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Campus, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK.
| | - Juan A Martínez-Lanfranco
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science Bldg., University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Germán Botto
- Departamento de Métodos Cuantitativos, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La República, Av. Gral Flores 2125, 11800, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Daniel E Naya
- Departamento de Ecología Y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La República, Iguá 4224, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Raúl Maneyro
- Laboratorio de Sistemática e Historia Natural de Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La República, Iguá 4224, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Patricia Mai
- Departamento de Ecología Y Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de La República, Tacuarembó s/n, 20000, Maldonado, Uruguay
| | - Daniel Hernández
- Polo Educativo Tecnológico Arrayanes (CETP-UTU), Camino Los Arrayanes s/n, 20200, Piriápolis, Uruguay
| | - Gabriel Laufer
- Área Biodiversidad Y Conservación, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, 25 de Mayo 582, 11000, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Lucía Ziegler
- Departamento de Ecología Y Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de La República, Tacuarembó s/n, 20000, Maldonado, Uruguay
| | - Enrique M González
- Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, 25 de Mayo 582, 11000, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Inés da Rosa
- Parque Tecnológico de LATU, Av Italia 6201, Universidad Tecnológica del Uruguay, 11500, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Noelia Gobel
- Área Biodiversidad Y Conservación, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, 25 de Mayo 582, 11000, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Andrés González
- Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, 25 de Mayo 582, 11000, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Javier González
- Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, 25 de Mayo 582, 11000, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ana L Rodales
- Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, 25 de Mayo 582, 11000, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Daniel Pincheira-Donoso
- MacroBiodiversity Lab, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK.
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Scarpelli MDA, Ribeiro MC, Teixeira FZ, Young RJ, Teixeira CP. Gaps in terrestrial soundscape research: It's time to focus on tropical wildlife. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 707:135403. [PMID: 31864000 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
There has been a body of research examining the sounds produced in landscapes. These sounds are commonly defined as soundscapes, however, the term is often used in different contexts. To understand the various meanings attributed to soundscapes, we identified how soundscapes are represented in the scientific literature and identified current knowledge gaps in soundscape research focusing on terrestrial environments. We conducted a quantitative review of published papers with the keyword soundscape available at Web of Science and Scopus databases. A total of 1309 abstracts and a subset of about 5% (N = 68) complete papers and reviews published from 1985 to 2017 were read and analysed, identifying types of sound, types of environment and focal species studied, as well as study regions and climates. By identifying the current focus of research, we also identified gaps and research opportunities. Research was biased towards temperate regions, terrestrial environments, and the impacts on humans in urban areas. Although most of the world's biodiversity is concentrated in tropical wilderness areas, these regions had fewer studies attributed to them. Given the importance of tropical landscapes for biodiversity conservation, we strongly suggest that more research should be undertaken in the tropics, with a particular focus on wildlife in these regions. Furthermore, soundscape research (methods and tools) should increasingly target the anthropogenic impacts on wildlife, including behavioural and physiological changes, alongside the current focus on human-sound interactions and the approach used by bioacoustics methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina D A Scarpelli
- Environmental Analysis and Modelling Graduate Program - Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) - Geosciences Institute, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Milton Cezar Ribeiro
- Spatial Ecology and Conservation Lab (LEEC) - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP) - Department of Ecology - Biosciences Institute/Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Z Teixeira
- Environmental Analysis and Modelling Graduate Program - Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) - Geosciences Institute, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Robert J Young
- University of Salford - School of Environment and Life Sciences - EERC, United Kingdom - Salford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Camila P Teixeira
- Environmental Analysis and Modelling Graduate Program - Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) - Geosciences Institute, Minas Gerais, Brazil; UNIFEMM - Sete Lagoas University Centre Minas Gerais, Brazil
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6
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Taylor-Smith B, Morgan-Richards M, Trewick SA. Patterns of regional endemism among New Zealand invertebrates. NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/03014223.2019.1681479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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7
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Hickisch R, Hodgetts T, Johnson PJ, Sillero-Zubiri C, Tockner K, Macdonald DW. Effects of publication bias on conservation planning. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2019; 33:1151-1163. [PMID: 30957293 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Conservation planners need reliable information on spatial patterns of biodiversity. However, existing data sets are skewed because some ecosystems, taxa, and locations are underrepresented. We determined how many articles have been published in recent decades on the biodiversity of different countries and their constituent provinces. We searched the Web of Science catalogues Science Citation Index (SCI) and Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) for biodiversity-related articles published from 1993 to 2016 that included country and province names. We combined data on research publication frequency with other provincial-scale factors hypothesized to affect the likelihood of research activity (i.e., economic development, human presence, infrastructure, and remoteness). Areas that appeared understudied relative to the biodiversity expected based on site climate likely have been inaccessible to researchers for reasons, notably armed conflict. Geographic publication bias is of most concern in the most remote areas of sub-Saharan Africa and South America. Our provincial-scale model may help compensate for publication biases in conservation planning by revealing the spatial extent of research needs and the low cost of redoing this analysis annually.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Hickisch
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Tubney, OX13 5QL, U.K
| | - T Hodgetts
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Tubney, OX13 5QL, U.K
| | - P J Johnson
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Tubney, OX13 5QL, U.K
| | - C Sillero-Zubiri
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Tubney, OX13 5QL, U.K
- Born Free Foundation, Horsham, RH12 4QP, U.K
| | - K Tockner
- Department of Ecosystem Research, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), 12587, Berlin, Germany
- Austrian Science Fund (FWF), Sensengasse 1, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstraße 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - D W Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Tubney, OX13 5QL, U.K
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8
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Abstract
AbstractNew technological methods, such as rapidly developing molecular approaches, often provide new tools for scientific advances. However, these new tools are often not utilized equally across different research areas, possibly leading to disparities in progress between these areas. Here, we use empirical evidence from the scientific literature to test for potential discrepancies in the use of genetic tools to study parasitic vs non-parasitic organisms across three distinguishable molecular periods, the allozyme, nucleotide and genomics periods. Publications on parasites constitute only a fraction (<5%) of the total research output across all molecular periods and are dominated by medically relevant parasites (especially protists), particularly during the early phase of each period. Our analysis suggests an increasing complexity of topics and research questions being addressed with the development of more sophisticated molecular tools, with the research focus between the periods shifting from predominantly species discovery to broader theory-focused questions. We conclude that both new and older molecular methods offer powerful tools for research on parasites, including their diverse roles in ecosystems and their relevance as human pathogens. While older methods, such as barcoding approaches, will continue to feature in the molecular toolbox of parasitologists for years to come, we encourage parasitologists to be more responsive to new approaches that provide the tools to address broader questions.
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Tydecks L, Jeschke JM, Wolf M, Singer G, Tockner K. Spatial and topical imbalances in biodiversity research. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199327. [PMID: 29975719 PMCID: PMC6033392 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid erosion of biodiversity is among the biggest challenges human society is facing. Concurrently, major efforts are in place to quantify changes in biodiversity, to understand the consequences for ecosystem functioning and human wellbeing, and to develop sustainable management strategies. Based on comprehensive bibliometric analyses covering 134,321 publications, we report systematic spatial biases in biodiversity-related research. Research is dominated by wealthy countries, while major research deficits occur in regions with disproportionately high biodiversity as well as a high share of threatened species. Similarly, core scientists, who were assessed through their publication impact, work primarily in North America and Europe. Though they mainly exchange and collaborate across locations of these two continents, the connectivity among them has increased with time. Finally, biodiversity-related research has primarily focused on terrestrial systems, plants, and the species level, and is frequently conducted in Europe and Asia by researchers affiliated with European and North American institutions. The distinct spatial imbalances in biodiversity research, as demonstrated here, must be filled, research capacity built, particularly in the Global South, and spatially-explicit biodiversity data bases improved, curated and shared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tydecks
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biology—Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jonathan M. Jeschke
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biology—Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Max Wolf
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Gabriel Singer
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Klement Tockner
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biology—Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Der Wissenschaftsfond (FWF), Vienna, Austria
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de los Ríos C, Watson JE, Butt N. Persistence of methodological, taxonomical, and geographical bias in assessments of species' vulnerability to climate change: A review. Glob Ecol Conserv 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
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11
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Harms TM, Murphy KT, Lyu X, Patterson SS, Kinkead KE, Dinsmore SJ, Frese PW. Using landscape habitat associations to prioritize areas of conservation action for terrestrial birds. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173041. [PMID: 28301877 PMCID: PMC5354636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Predicting species distributions has long been a valuable tool to plan and focus efforts for biodiversity conservation, particularly because such an approach allows researchers and managers to evaluate species distribution changes in response to various threats. Utilizing data from a long-term monitoring program and land cover data sets, we modeled the probability of occupancy and colonization for 38 bird Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in the robust design occupancy modeling framework, and used results from the best models to predict occupancy and colonization on the Iowa landscape. Bird surveys were conducted at 292 properties from April to October, 2006-2014. We calculated landscape habitat characteristics at multiple spatial scales surrounding each of our surveyed properties to be used in our models and then used kriging in ArcGIS to create predictive maps of species distributions. We validated models with data from 2013 using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Probability of occupancy ranged from 0.001 (SE < 0.001) to 0.995 (SE = 0.004) for all species and probability of colonization ranged from 0.001 (SE < 0.001) to 0.999 (SE < 0.001) for all species. AUC values for predictive models ranged from 0.525-0.924 for all species, with 17 species having predictive models considered useful (AUC > 0.70). The most important predictor for occupancy of grassland birds was percentage of the landscape in grassland habitat, and the most important predictor for woodland birds was percentage of the landscape in woodland habitat. This emphasizes the need for managers to restore specific habitats on the landscape. In an era during which funding continues to decrease for conservation agencies, our approach aids in determining where to focus limited resources to best conserve bird species of conservation concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler M. Harms
- Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology, Iowa State University, 208 Office and Laboratory Building, 2401 Osborn Drive, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Kevin T. Murphy
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, 339 Science Hall II, 2310 Pammel Drive, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Xiaodan Lyu
- Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology, Iowa State University, 208 Office and Laboratory Building, 2401 Osborn Drive, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, 1121 Snedecor Hall, 2438 Osborn Drive, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Shane S. Patterson
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, 339 Science Hall II, 2310 Pammel Drive, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Karen E. Kinkead
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Diversity Program, Boone, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Stephen J. Dinsmore
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, 339 Science Hall II, 2310 Pammel Drive, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Paul W. Frese
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Diversity Program, Boone, Iowa, United States of America
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Murphy GEP, Romanuk TN. Data gaps in anthropogenically driven local-scale species richness change studies across the Earth's terrestrial biomes. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:2938-47. [PMID: 27069589 PMCID: PMC4808076 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
There have been numerous attempts to synthesize the results of local‐scale biodiversity change studies, yet several geographic data gaps exist. These data gaps have hindered ecologist's ability to make strong conclusions about how local‐scale species richness is changing around the globe. Research on four of the major drivers of global change is unevenly distributed across the Earth's biomes. Here, we use a dataset of 638 anthropogenically driven species richness change studies to identify where data gaps exist across the Earth's terrestrial biomes based on land area, future change in drivers, and the impact of drivers on biodiversity, and make recommendations for where future studies should focus their efforts. Across all drivers of change, the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests and the tropical moist broadleaf forests are the best studied. The biome–driver combinations we have identified as most critical in terms of where local‐scale species richness change studies are lacking include the following: land‐use change studies in tropical and temperate coniferous forests, species invasion and nutrient addition studies in the boreal forest, and warming studies in the boreal forest and tropics. Gaining more information on the local‐scale effects of the specific human drivers of change in these biomes will allow for better predictions of how human activity impacts species richness around the globe.
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Meyer C, Kreft H, Guralnick R, Jetz W. Global priorities for an effective information basis of biodiversity distributions. Nat Commun 2015; 6:8221. [PMID: 26348291 PMCID: PMC4569846 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Gaps in digital accessible information (DAI) on species distributions hamper prospects of safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem services, and addressing central ecological and evolutionary questions. Achieving international targets on biodiversity knowledge requires that information gaps be identified and actions prioritized. Integrating 157 million point records and distribution maps for 21,170 terrestrial vertebrate species, we find that outside a few well-sampled regions, DAI on point occurrences provides very limited and spatially biased inventories of species. Surprisingly, many large, emerging economies are even more under-represented in global DAI than species-rich, developing countries in the tropics. Multi-model inference reveals that completeness is mainly limited by distance to researchers, locally available research funding and participation in data-sharing networks, rather than transportation infrastructure, or size and funding of Western data contributors as often assumed. Our results highlight the urgent need for integrating non-Western data sources and intensifying cooperation to more effectively address societal biodiversity information needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Meyer
- Biodiversity, Macroecology and Conservation Biogeography Group, Faculty of Forest Sciences, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Holger Kreft
- Biodiversity, Macroecology and Conservation Biogeography Group, Faculty of Forest Sciences, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Robert Guralnick
- University of Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida at Gainesville, 358 Dickinson Hall, Gainesville, Florida 32611-2710, USA
| | - Walter Jetz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berks SL5 7PY, UK
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14
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Hayward MW, Child MF, Kerley GIH, Lindsey PA, Somers MJ, Burns B. Ambiguity in guideline definitions introduces assessor bias and influences consistency in IUCN Red List status assessments. Front Ecol Evol 2015. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2015.00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Aslan C, Holmes N, Tershy B, Spatz D, Croll DA. Benefits to poorly studied taxa of conservation of bird and mammal diversity on islands. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2015; 29:133-142. [PMID: 25065901 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2013] [Accepted: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Protected area delineation and conservation action are urgently needed on marine islands, but the potential biodiversity benefits of these activities can be difficult to assess due to lack of species diversity information for lesser known taxa. We used linear mixed effects modeling and simple spatial analyses to investigate whether conservation activities based on the diversity of well-known insular taxa (birds and mammals) are likely to also capture the diversity of lesser known taxa (reptiles, amphibians, vascular land plants, ants, land snails, butterflies, and tenebrionid beetles). We assembled total, threatened, and endemic diversity data for both well-known and lesser known taxa and combined these with physical island biogeography characteristics for 1190 islands from 109 archipelagos. Among physical island biogeography factors, island area was the best indicator of diversity of both well-known and little-known taxa. Among taxonomic factors, total mammal species richness was the best indicator of total diversity of lesser known taxa, and the combination of threatened mammal and threatened bird diversity was the best indicator of lesser known endemic richness. The results of other intertaxon diversity comparisons were highly variable, however. Based on our results, we suggest that protecting islands above a certain minimum threshold area may be the most efficient use of conservation resources. For example, using our island database, if the threshold were set at 10 km(2) and the smallest 10% of islands greater than this threshold were protected, 119 islands would be protected. The islands would range in size from 10 to 29 km(2) and would include 268 lesser known species endemic to a single island, along with 11 bird and mammal species endemic to a single island. Our results suggest that for islands of equivalent size, prioritization based on total or threatened bird and mammal diversity may also capture opportunities to protect lesser known species endemic to islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare Aslan
- Conservation Education and Science Department, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ, 85743, U.S.A..
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Smith-Patten BD, Patten MA. Beyond Surrogacy-A Multi-taxon Approach to Conservation Biogeography. Biotropica 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael A. Patten
- Oklahoma Biological Survey; University of Oklahoma; Norman OK 73019 U.S.A
- Department of Biology; University of Oklahoma; Norman OK 73019 U.S.A
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Deikumah JP, McAlpine CA, Maron M. Biogeographical and taxonomic biases in tropical forest fragmentation research. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2014; 28:1522-1531. [PMID: 25065550 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2012] [Revised: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/28/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Despite several decades of research on the effects of fragmentation and habitat change on biodiversity, there remain strong biases in the geographical regions and taxonomic species studied. The knowledge gaps resulting from these biases are of particular concern if the forests most threatened with modification are also those for which the effects of such change are most poorly understood. To quantify the nature and magnitude of such biases, we conducted a systematic review of the published literature on forest fragmentation in the tropics for the period 1980-2012. Studies included focused on any type of response of single species, communities, or assemblages of any taxonomic group to tropical forest fragmentation and on fragmentation-related changes to forests. Of the 853 studies we found in the SCOPUS database, 64% were conducted in the Neotropics, 13% in Asia, 10% in the Afrotropics, and 5% in Australasia. Thus, although the Afrotropics is subject to the highest rates of deforestation globally, it was the most disproportionately poorly studied biome. Significant taxonomic biases were identified. Of the taxonomic groups considered, herpetofauna was the least studied in the tropics, particularly in Africa. Research examining patterns of species distribution was by far the most common type (72%), and work focused on ecological processes (28%) was rare in all biomes, but particularly in the Afrotropics and for fauna. We suggest research efforts be directed toward less-studied biogeographic regions, particularly where the threat of forest fragmentation continues to be high. Increased research investment in the Afrotropics will be important to build knowledge of threats and inform responses in a region where almost no efforts to restore its fragmented landscapes have yet begun and forest protection is arguably most tenuous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justus P Deikumah
- Landscape Ecology and Conservation Group, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia
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Rovero F, Menegon M, Fjeldså J, Collett L, Doggart N, Leonard C, Norton G, Owen N, Perkin A, Spitale D, Ahrends A, Burgess ND. Targeted vertebrate surveys enhance the faunal importance and improve explanatory models within the Eastern Arc Mountains of Kenya and Tanzania. DIVERS DISTRIB 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Rovero
- Tropical Biodiversity Section MUSE‐ Museo delle Scienze Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3 Trento 38123 Italy
- Udzungwa Ecological Monitoring Centre Udzungwa Mountains National Park P.O. Box 99 Mang'ula Tanzania
| | - Michele Menegon
- Tropical Biodiversity Section MUSE‐ Museo delle Scienze Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3 Trento 38123 Italy
| | - Jon Fjeldså
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark University of Copenhagen Universitetsparken 15 Copenhagen DK‐2100 Denmark
| | - Leah Collett
- Animal Behaviour Research Unit Mikumi National Park P.O. Box 75 Mikumi Tanzania
| | - Nike Doggart
- Tanzania Forest Conservation Group P.O. Box 23410 Dar es Salaam Tanzania
| | - Charles Leonard
- Tanzania Forest Conservation Group P.O. Box 23410 Dar es Salaam Tanzania
| | - Guy Norton
- Animal Behaviour Research Unit Mikumi National Park P.O. Box 75 Mikumi Tanzania
| | - Nisha Owen
- Society for Environmental Exploration/Frontier 60‐62 Rivington Street London EC2A 3QP UK
- EDGE of Existence Zoological Society of London Regents Park London NW1 4RY UK
| | - Andrew Perkin
- Tanzania Forest Conservation Group P.O. Box 23410 Dar es Salaam Tanzania
| | - Daniel Spitale
- Tropical Biodiversity Section MUSE‐ Museo delle Scienze Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3 Trento 38123 Italy
| | - Antje Ahrends
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 20A Inverleith Row Edinburgh EH3 5LR UK
| | - Neil D. Burgess
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark University of Copenhagen Universitetsparken 15 Copenhagen DK‐2100 Denmark
- Conservation Science Program WWF‐US 1250 24th Street Washington DC USA
- UNEP‐World Conservation Monitoring Center 219 Huntington Road Cambridge UK
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Jump AS, Carr M, Ahrends A, Marchant R. Genetic Divergence During Long-term Isolation in Highly Diverse Populations of Tropical Trees Across the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania. Biotropica 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alistair S. Jump
- Tropical Ecology and Conservation Group; Biological and Environmental Sciences; School of Natural Sciences; University of Stirling; Stirling FK9 4LA U.K
| | - Martin Carr
- School of Applied Sciences; University of Huddersfield; Huddersfield HD1 3DH U.K
| | - Antje Ahrends
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; 20A Inverleith Row Edinburgh EH3 5LR U.K
| | - Rob Marchant
- York Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Dynamics; Environment Department; University of York; York YO10 5DD U.K
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Abstract
AbstractThe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species uses geographical distribution as a key criterion in assessing the conservation status of species. Accurate knowledge of a species’ distribution is therefore essential to ensure the correct categorization is applied. Here we compare the geographical distribution of 35 species of chameleons endemic to East Africa, using data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and data compiled by a taxonomic expert. Data screening showed 99.9% of GBIF records used outdated taxonomy and 20% had no locality coordinates. Conversely the expert dataset used 100% up-to-date taxonomy and only seven records (3%) had no coordinates. Both datasets were used to generate range maps for each species, which were then used in preliminary Red List categorization. There was disparity in the categories of 10 species, with eight being assigned a lower threat category based on GBIF data compared with expert data, and the other two assigned a higher category. Our results suggest that before conducting desktop assessments of the threatened status of species, aggregated museum locality data should be vetted against current taxonomy and localities should be verified. We conclude that available online databases are not an adequate substitute for taxonomic experts in assessing the threatened status of species and that Red List assessments may be compromised unless this extra step of verification is carried out.
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Sousa-Baena MS, Garcia LC, Peterson AT. Completeness of digital accessible knowledge of the plants of Brazil and priorities for survey and inventory. DIVERS DISTRIB 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Letícia Couto Garcia
- Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental; Av. Romeu Tórtima 388 Campinas SP 13084-791 Brazil
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Pardo I, Pata MP, Gómez D, García MB. A novel method to handle the effect of uneven sampling effort in biodiversity databases. PLoS One 2013; 8:e52786. [PMID: 23326357 PMCID: PMC3543413 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2012] [Accepted: 11/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
How reliable are results on spatial distribution of biodiversity based on databases? Many studies have evidenced the uncertainty related to this kind of analysis due to sampling effort bias and the need for its quantification. Despite that a number of methods are available for that, little is known about their statistical limitations and discrimination capability, which could seriously constrain their use. We assess for the first time the discrimination capacity of two widely used methods and a proposed new one (FIDEGAM), all based on species accumulation curves, under different scenarios of sampling exhaustiveness using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analyses. Additionally, we examine to what extent the output of each method represents the sampling completeness in a simulated scenario where the true species richness is known. Finally, we apply FIDEGAM to a real situation and explore the spatial patterns of plant diversity in a National Park. FIDEGAM showed an excellent discrimination capability to distinguish between well and poorly sampled areas regardless of sampling exhaustiveness, whereas the other methods failed. Accordingly, FIDEGAM values were strongly correlated with the true percentage of species detected in a simulated scenario, whereas sampling completeness estimated with other methods showed no relationship due to null discrimination capability. Quantifying sampling effort is necessary to account for the uncertainty in biodiversity analyses, however, not all proposed methods are equally reliable. Our comparative analysis demonstrated that FIDEGAM was the most accurate discriminator method in all scenarios of sampling exhaustiveness, and therefore, it can be efficiently applied to most databases in order to enhance the reliability of biodiversity analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iker Pardo
- Conservation of Biodiversity, Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (CSIC), Zaragoza, Spain.
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KAVANAGH PATRICKH, BURNS KEVINC. Mistletoe macroecology: spatial patterns in species diversity and host use across Australia. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2012.01890.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Global models of ant diversity suggest regions where new discoveries are most likely are under disproportionate deforestation threat. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:7368-73. [PMID: 22529355 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1113867109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Most of the described and probably undescribed species on Earth are insects. Global models of species diversity rarely focus on insects and none attempt to address unknown, undescribed diversity. We assembled a database representing about 13,000 records for ant generic distribution from over 350 regions that cover much of the globe. Based on two models of diversity and endemicity, we identified regions where our knowledge of ant diversity is most limited, regions we have called "hotspots of discovery." A priori, such regions might be expected to be remote and untouched. Instead, we found that the hotspots of discovery are also the regions in which biodiversity is the most threatened by habitat destruction. Our results not only highlight the immediate need for conservation of the remaining natural habitats in these regions, but also the extent to which, by focusing on well-known groups such as vertebrates, we may fail to conserve the far greater diversity of the smaller species yet to be found.
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