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Tanalgo KC, Oliveira HFM, Hughes AC. Mapping global conservation priorities and habitat vulnerabilities for cave-dwelling bats in a changing world. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 843:156909. [PMID: 35753458 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Research and media attention is disproportionately focused on taxa and ecosystems perceived as charismatic, while other equally diverse systems such as caves and subterranean ecosystems are often neglected in biodiversity assessments and prioritisations. Highlighting the urgent need for protection, an especially large fraction of cave endemic species may be undescribed. Yet these more challenging systems are also vulnerable, with karsts for example losing a considerable proportion of their area each year. Bats are keystone to cave ecosystems making them potential surrogates to understand cave diversity patterns and identify conservation priorities. On a global scale, almost half (48 %) of known bat species use caves for parts of their life histories, with 32 % endemic to a single country, and 15 % currently threatened. We combined global analysis of cave bats from the IUCN spatial data with site-specific analysis of 1930 bat caves from 46 countries to develop global priorities for the conservation of the most vulnerable subterranean ecosystems. Globally, 28 % of caves showed high bat diversity and were highly threatened. The highest regional concentration of conservation priority caves was in the Palearctic and tropical regions (except the Afrotropical, which requires more intensive cave data sampling). Our results further highlight the importance of prioritising bat caves by incorporating locally collected data and optimising parameter selection (i.e., appropriate landscape features and threats). Finally, to protect and conserve these ecosystems it is crucial that we use frameworks such as this to identify priorities in species and habitat-level and map vulnerable underground habitats with the highest biodiversity and distinctiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krizler C Tanalgo
- Landscape Ecology Group, Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, PR China; Center for Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, PR China; International College of the University Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China; Zukunftskolleg and the Centre for Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, Baden-Württemberg, Konstanz, Germany; Ecology and Conservation Research Laboratory (Eco/Con Lab), Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, North Cotabato, Philippines.
| | | | - Alice Catherine Hughes
- Landscape Ecology Group, Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, PR China; Center for Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, PR China; International College of the University Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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2
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Pratchett MS, Caballes CF, Cvitanovic C, Raymundo ML, Babcock RC, Bonin MC, Bozec YM, Burn D, Byrne M, Castro-Sanguino C, Chen CCM, Condie SA, Cowan ZL, Deaker DJ, Desbiens A, Devantier LM, Doherty PJ, Doll PC, Doyle JR, Dworjanyn SA, Fabricius KE, Haywood MDE, Hock K, Hoggett AK, Høj L, Keesing JK, Kenchington RA, Lang BJ, Ling SD, Matthews SA, McCallum HI, Mellin C, Mos B, Motti CA, Mumby PJ, Stump RJW, Uthicke S, Vail L, Wolfe K, Wilson SK. Knowledge Gaps in the Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Pacific Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star Acanthaster sp. on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2021; 241:330-346. [PMID: 35015620 DOI: 10.1086/717026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
AbstractCrown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) are among the most studied coral reef organisms, owing to their propensity to undergo major population irruptions, which contribute to significant coral loss and reef degradation throughout the Indo-Pacific. However, there are still important knowledge gaps pertaining to the biology, ecology, and management of Acanthaster sp. Renewed efforts to advance understanding and management of Pacific crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) on Australia's Great Barrier Reef require explicit consideration of relevant and tractable knowledge gaps. Drawing on established horizon scanning methodologies, this study identified contemporary knowledge gaps by asking active and/or established crown-of-thorns sea star researchers to pose critical research questions that they believe should be addressed to improve the understanding and management of crown-of-thorns sea stars on the Great Barrier Reef. A total of 38 participants proposed 246 independent research questions, organized into 7 themes: feeding ecology, demography, distribution and abundance, predation, settlement, management, and environmental change. Questions were further assigned to 48 specific topics nested within the 7 themes. During this process, redundant questions were removed, which reduced the total number of distinct research questions to 172. Research questions posed were mostly related to themes of demography (46 questions) and management (48 questions). The dominant topics, meanwhile, were the incidence of population irruptions (16 questions), feeding ecology of larval sea stars (15 questions), effects of elevated water temperature on crown-of-thorns sea stars (13 questions), and predation on juveniles (12 questions). While the breadth of questions suggests that there is considerable research needed to improve understanding and management of crown-of-thorns sea stars on the Great Barrier Reef, the predominance of certain themes and topics suggests a major focus for new research while also providing a roadmap to guide future research efforts.
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Skórka P, Banach A, Banasiak M, Bokalska-Rajba J, Bonk M, Czachura P, García-Rodríguez A, Gaspar G, Hordyńska N, Kaczmarczyk A, Kapłoniak K, Kociński M, Łopata B, Mazur E, Mirzaei M, Misiewicz A, Parres A, Przystałkowska A, Pustkowiak S, Raczyński M, Sadura I, Splitt A, Stanek M, Sternalski J, Wierzbicka A, Wiorek M, Zduńczyk P. Congruence between the prioritisation of conservation problems at the local and national scale: an evaluation by environmental scientists in Poland. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:35317-35326. [PMID: 34100204 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14741-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The anthropogenic pressure on the environment depends on the spatial scale. It is crucial to prioritise conservation actions at different spatial scales to be cost-efficient. Using horizon scanning with the Delphi technique, we asked what the most important conservation problems are in Poland at local and national scales. Twenty-six participants, PhD students, individually identified conservation issues important at the local and national scales. Each problem was then scored and classified into broader categories during the round discussions. Text mining, cross-sectional analyses, and frequency tests were used to compare the context, importance scores, and frequency of identified problems between the two scales, respectively. A total of 115 problems were identified at the local scale and 122 at the national scale. Among them, 30 problems were identical for both scales. Importance scores were higher for national than local problems; however, this resulted from different sets of problems identified at the two scales. Problems linked to urbanisation, education, and management were associated with the local scale. Problems related to policy, forestry, and consumerism were more frequent at the national scale. An efficient conservation policy should be built hierarchically (e.g. introducing adaptive governance), implementing solutions at a national scale with the flexibility to adjust for local differences and to address the most pressing issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Skórka
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland.
| | - Agata Banach
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016, Kraków, Poland
| | - Marek Banasiak
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016, Kraków, Poland
| | - Joanna Bokalska-Rajba
- W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lubicz 46, 31-512, Kraków, Poland
| | - Maciej Bonk
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland
| | - Paweł Czachura
- W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lubicz 46, 31-512, Kraków, Poland
| | - Alberto García-Rodríguez
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland
| | - Gabriela Gaspar
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016, Kraków, Poland
| | - Natalia Hordyńska
- The Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 21, 30-239, Kraków, Poland
| | - Adriana Kaczmarczyk
- The Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 21, 30-239, Kraków, Poland
| | - Kamila Kapłoniak
- The Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 21, 30-239, Kraków, Poland
| | - Maciej Kociński
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016, Kraków, Poland
| | - Barbara Łopata
- W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lubicz 46, 31-512, Kraków, Poland
| | - Edyta Mazur
- W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lubicz 46, 31-512, Kraków, Poland
| | - Mohamadreza Mirzaei
- The Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 21, 30-239, Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Misiewicz
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland
| | - Aida Parres
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Przystałkowska
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016, Kraków, Poland
| | - Sylwia Pustkowiak
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland
| | - Mateusz Raczyński
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland
| | - Iwona Sadura
- The Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 21, 30-239, Kraków, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Splitt
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Stanek
- W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lubicz 46, 31-512, Kraków, Poland
| | - Jakub Sternalski
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016, Kraków, Poland
| | - Alicja Wierzbicka
- National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1, 32-083, Balice, Poland
| | - Marcin Wiorek
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016, Kraków, Poland
| | - Paweł Zduńczyk
- W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lubicz 46, 31-512, Kraków, Poland
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4
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Dietz S, Beazley KF, Lemieux CJ, St. Clair C, Coristine L, Higgs E, Smith R, Pellatt M, Beaty C, Cheskey E, Cooke SJ, Crawford L, Davis R, Forbes G, Gadallah F(Z, Kendall P, Mandrak N, Moola F, Parker S, Quayle J, Ray JC, Richardson K, Smith K, Snider J, Smol JP, Sutherland WJ, Vallillee A, White L, Woodley A. Emerging issues for protected and conserved areas in Canada. Facets (Ott) 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2021-0072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizon scanning is increasingly used in conservation to systematically explore emerging policy and management issues. We present the results of a horizon scan of issues likely to impact management of Canadian protected and conserved areas over the next 5–10 years. Eighty-eight individuals participated, representing a broad community of academics, government and nongovernment organizations, and foundations, including policymakers and managers of protected and conserved areas. This community initially identified 187 issues, which were subsequently triaged to 15 horizon issues by a group of 33 experts using a modified Delphi technique. Results were organized under four broad categories: ( i) emerging effects of climate change in protected and conserved areas design, planning, and management (i.e., large-scale ecosystem changes, species translocation, fire regimes, ecological integrity, and snow patterns); ( ii) Indigenous governance and knowledge systems (i.e., Indigenous governance and Indigenous knowledge and Western science); ( iii) integrated conservation approaches across landscapes and seascapes (i.e., connectivity conservation, integrating ecosystem values and services, freshwater planning); and ( iv) early responses to emerging cumulative, underestimated, and novel threats (i.e., management of cumulative impacts, declining insect biomass, increasing anthropogenic noise, synthetic biology). Overall, the scan identified several emerging issues that require immediate attention to effectively reduce threats, respond to opportunities, and enhance preparedness and capacity to react.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Dietz
- Ecosystem Science Laboratory, Office of the Chief Ecosystem Scientist, Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation Directorate, Parks Canada Agency, Gatineau QC J8X 0B3, Canada
| | - Karen F. Beazley
- School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Christopher J. Lemieux
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3C5, Canada
| | - Colleen St. Clair
- Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Laura Coristine
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Gatineau, QC, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Eric Higgs
- School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Risa Smith
- International Union for the Conservation of Nature/World Commission on Protected Areas
| | - Marlow Pellatt
- Ecosystem Science Laboratory, Office of the Chief Ecosystem Scientist, Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation Directorate, Parks Canada Agency, Gatineau QC J8X 0B3, Canada
| | | | | | - Steven J. Cooke
- Institute for Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences and Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Lindsay Crawford
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Rob Davis
- Ontario Parks, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Peterborough, ON K9J 8M5, Canada
| | - Graham Forbes
- University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
| | - Fawziah (ZuZu) Gadallah
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Gatineau, QC, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | | | - Nick Mandrak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Faisal Moola
- Geography, Environment & Geomatics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Scott Parker
- Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation Directorate, Parks Canada Agency, Gatineau QC J8X 0B3, Canada
| | | | - Justina C. Ray
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, Toronto, ON M5S 3A7, Canada
| | - Karen Richardson
- Ecosystem Science Laboratory, Office of the Chief Ecosystem Scientist, Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation Directorate, Parks Canada Agency, Gatineau QC J8X 0B3, Canada
| | - Kevin Smith
- Ducks Unlimited Canada, Edmonton, AB T5S 0A2, Canada
| | - James Snider
- World Wildlife Fund Canada, Toronto, ON M5V 1S8, Canada
| | - John P. Smol
- Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Lab (PEARL), Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - William J Sutherland
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK; Biosecurity Research Initiative at St Catharine’s, St Catharine’s College, Cambridge CB2 1RL, UK
| | | | - Lori White
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Alison Woodley
- Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Ottawa, ON K2P 0A4, Canada
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5
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Cooke SJ, Bergman JN, Madliger CL, Cramp RL, Beardall J, Burness G, Clark TD, Dantzer B, de la Barrera E, Fangue NA, Franklin CE, Fuller A, Hawkes LA, Hultine KR, Hunt KE, Love OP, MacMillan HA, Mandelman JW, Mark FC, Martin LB, Newman AEM, Nicotra AB, Raby GD, Robinson SA, Ropert-Coudert Y, Rummer JL, Seebacher F, Todgham AE, Tomlinson S, Chown SL. One hundred research questions in conservation physiology for generating actionable evidence to inform conservation policy and practice. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab009. [PMID: 33859825 PMCID: PMC8035967 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Environmental change and biodiversity loss are but two of the complex challenges facing conservation practitioners and policy makers. Relevant and robust scientific knowledge is critical for providing decision-makers with the actionable evidence needed to inform conservation decisions. In the Anthropocene, science that leads to meaningful improvements in biodiversity conservation, restoration and management is desperately needed. Conservation Physiology has emerged as a discipline that is well-positioned to identify the mechanisms underpinning population declines, predict responses to environmental change and test different in situ and ex situ conservation interventions for diverse taxa and ecosystems. Here we present a consensus list of 10 priority research themes. Within each theme we identify specific research questions (100 in total), answers to which will address conservation problems and should improve the management of biological resources. The themes frame a set of research questions related to the following: (i) adaptation and phenotypic plasticity; (ii) human-induced environmental change; (iii) human-wildlife interactions; (iv) invasive species; (v) methods, biomarkers and monitoring; (vi) policy, engagement and communication; (vii) pollution; (viii) restoration actions; (ix) threatened species; and (x) urban systems. The themes and questions will hopefully guide and inspire researchers while also helping to demonstrate to practitioners and policy makers the many ways in which physiology can help to support their decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
- Corresponding author: Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada.
| | - Jordanna N Bergman
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Christine L Madliger
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Rebecca L Cramp
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
| | - John Beardall
- Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Gary Burness
- Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Timothy D Clark
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Ben Dantzer
- Department of Psychology, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Erick de la Barrera
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Morelia, Michoacán, 58190, Mexico
| | - Nann A Fangue
- Department of Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Craig E Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
| | - Andrea Fuller
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Rd, Parktown, 2193, South Africa
| | - Lucy A Hawkes
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter EX4 4PS, UK
| | - Kevin R Hultine
- Department of Research, Conservation and Collections, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA
| | - Kathleen E Hunt
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Oliver P Love
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Heath A MacMillan
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - John W Mandelman
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA, 02110, USA
| | - Felix C Mark
- Department of Integrative Ecophysiology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Lynn B Martin
- Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Amy E M Newman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Adrienne B Nicotra
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Graham D Raby
- Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Sharon A Robinson
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS) and Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
| | - Yan Ropert-Coudert
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS UMR 7372—La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Frank Seebacher
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences A08, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Anne E Todgham
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Sean Tomlinson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Steven L Chown
- Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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6
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Three decades of Philippine nonhuman primate studies: research gaps and opportunities for Philippine primatology. Primates 2020; 62:233-239. [PMID: 32681352 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-020-00847-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The Philippines is considered a megadiverse country. However, there are few published studies on its nonhuman primate (NHP) species (Carlito syrichta, Macaca fascicularis, and Nycticebus menagensis). Understanding the nature and extent of existing NHP research in the Philippines would help us to determine research gaps and opportunities. Thus, studies on NHPs of Philippine origin were retrieved from online databases including Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Primate Lit, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), and relevant authors. Of a total of 107 studies on Philippine NHP from 1989 to 2019, most focused on Philippine long-tailed macaque (52.78%), and Philippine tarsier (42.59%), with far fewer on Philippine slow loris (4.63%). Fewer studies were based on fieldwork (26.17%); more were based on research on captive animals or that undertaken in the laboratory (34.58%), or used only existing specimens or data (33.64%). Studies on wild NHPs were mostly conducted in Bohol Island. In terms of the type of research, studies on diseases (38.60%) were the most prevalent for macaques; ecological studies (23.91%) for tarsiers; evolutionary, taxonomic, and systematic studies (40%), and ecological and natural history studies (40%) for lorises. Philippine researchers and collaborations with foreign researchers contributed fewer studies (43.93%) than foreign-only researchers (56.07%). In conclusion, although research on Philippine NHPs is increasing, there is a bias with regards to the species studied, the type of research, and study location. Conservation-driven studies are also lacking. These gaps offer opportunities for further research to identify threats to the survival of NHPs in the Philippines, and for the development of plans and effective strategies for their conservation.
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7
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Seymour CL, Gillson L, Child MF, Tolley KA, Curie JC, da Silva JM, Alexander GJ, Anderson P, Downs CT, Egoh BN, Ehlers Smith DA, Ehlers Smith YC, Esler KJ, O’Farrell PJ, Skowno AL, Suleman E, Veldtman R. Horizon scanning for South African biodiversity: A need for social engagement as well as science. AMBIO 2020; 49:1211-1221. [PMID: 31564051 PMCID: PMC7128016 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01252-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A horizon scan was conducted to identify emerging and intensifying issues for biodiversity conservation in South Africa over the next 5-10 years. South African biodiversity experts submitted 63 issues of which ten were identified as priorities using the Delphi method. These priority issues were then plotted along axes of social agreement and scientific certainty, to ascertain whether issues might be "simple" (amenable to solutions from science alone), "complicated" (socially agreed upon but technically complicated), "complex" (scientifically challenging and significant levels of social disagreement) or "chaotic" (high social disagreement and highly scientifically challenging). Only three of the issues were likely to be resolved by improved science alone, while the remainder require engagement with social, economic and political factors. Fortunately, none of the issues were considered chaotic. Nevertheless, strategic communication, education and engagement with the populace and policy makers were considered vital for addressing emerging issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen L. Seymour
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735 South Africa
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa
| | - Lindsey Gillson
- Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa
| | - Matthew F. Child
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735 South Africa
- Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20 Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028 South Africa
| | - Krystal A. Tolley
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735 South Africa
- Department of Zoology, Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2000 South Africa
| | - Jock C. Curie
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735 South Africa
- Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth, 6031 South Africa
| | - Jessica M. da Silva
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735 South Africa
- Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag x1, Matieland, 7602 South Africa
| | - Graham J. Alexander
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2050 South Africa
| | - Pippin Anderson
- Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa
| | - Colleen T. Downs
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Benis N. Egoh
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - David A. Ehlers Smith
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Yvette C. Ehlers Smith
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Karen J. Esler
- Centre for Invasion Biology and Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag x1, Matieland, 7602 South Africa
| | - Patrick J. O’Farrell
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, PO Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7599 South Africa
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa
| | - Andrew L. Skowno
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735 South Africa
- Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa
| | - Essa Suleman
- NextGen Health Cluster, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa
- National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), 232 Boom Street, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa
| | - Ruan Veldtman
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735 South Africa
- Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag x1, Matieland, 7602 South Africa
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8
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Dey CJ, Rego AI, Midwood JD, Koops MA. A review and meta-analysis of collaborative research prioritization studies in ecology, biodiversity conservation and environmental science. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20200012. [PMID: 32183628 PMCID: PMC7126043 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Collaborative research prioritization (CRP) studies have become increasingly popular during the last decade. By bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, and using a democratic process to create a list of research priorities, these methods purport to identify research topics that will better meet the needs of science users. Here, we review 41 CRP studies in the fields of ecology, biodiversity conservation and environmental science that collectively identify 2031 research priorities. We demonstrate that climate change, ecosystem services and protected areas are common terms found in the research priorities of many CRP studies, and that identified research priorities have become less unique over time. In addition, we show that there is a considerable variation in the size and composition of the groups involved in CRP studies, and that at least one aspect of the identified research priorities (lexical diversity) is related to the size of the CRP group. Although some CRP studies have been highly cited, the evidence that CRP studies have directly motivated research is weak, perhaps because most CRP studies have not directly involved organizations that fund science. We suggest that the most important impact of CRP studies may lie in their ability to connect individuals across sectors and help to build diverse communities of practice around important issues at the science-policy interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody J. Dey
- Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario, CanadaL7S 1A1
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9
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Moreira F, Allsopp N, Esler KJ, Wardell‐Johnson G, Ancillotto L, Arianoutsou M, Clary J, Brotons L, Clavero M, Dimitrakopoulos PG, Fagoaga R, Fiedler P, Filipe AF, Frankenberg E, Holmgren M, Marquet PA, Martinez‐Harms MJ, Martinoli A, Miller BP, Olsvig‐Whittaker L, Pliscoff P, Rundel P, Russo D, Slingsby JA, Thompson J, Wardell‐Johnson A, Beja P. Priority questions for biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean biome: Heterogeneous perspectives across continents and stakeholders. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Moreira
- CIBIO/InBIOUniversity of Porto Vairão Portugal
- CIBIO/InBIO, Institute of AgronomyUniversity of Lisbon Lisbon Portugal
- Society for Conservation BiologyEurope Section Washington DC
| | - Nicky Allsopp
- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Fynbos Node Claremont South Africa
| | - Karen J. Esler
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, and Centre for Invasion BiologyStellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - Grant Wardell‐Johnson
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin University Perth Western Australia Australia
| | - Leonardo Ancillotto
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di AgrariaUniversità degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Portici Italy
| | - Margarita Arianoutsou
- Department of Ecology and Systematics, Faculty of BiologyNational and Kapodistrian University of Athens Athens Greece
| | - Jeffrey Clary
- Natural Reserve SystemUniversity of California Davis California
| | - Lluis Brotons
- InForest Jru (CTFC‐CREAF) Solsona Spain
- CREAF Cerdanyola del Vallés Spain
- CSIC Cerdanyola del Vallés Spain
| | | | | | - Raquel Fagoaga
- Resource Ecology GroupWageningen University Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Peggy Fiedler
- Natural Reserve SystemUniversity of California Office of the President Oakland California
| | - Ana F. Filipe
- CIBIO/InBIOUniversity of Porto Vairão Portugal
- CIBIO/InBIO, Institute of AgronomyUniversity of Lisbon Lisbon Portugal
| | - Eliezer Frankenberg
- National Natural History CollectionsThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel
| | - Milena Holmgren
- Resource Ecology GroupWageningen University Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Pablo A. Marquet
- Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias BiológicasPontificia Universidade Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB)Laboratorio Internacional en cambio Global (LINCGlobal) Santiago Chile
- Centro de Cambio Global UCPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
| | - Maria J. Martinez‐Harms
- Center for Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES)Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile Santiago Chile
| | - Adriano Martinoli
- Unità di Analisi e Gestione delle Risorse Ambientali, Guido Tosi Research Group, Dipartimento di Scienze Teoriche e ApplicateUniversita' degli Studi dell'Insubria Varese Italy
| | - Ben P. Miller
- Kings Park ScienceDepartment of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Perth Western Australia Australia
| | - Linda Olsvig‐Whittaker
- German Protestant Institute of Archaeology in the Holy LandResearch Unit of the German Archaeological Institute, Auguste Victoria Compound Jerusalem Israel
| | - Patricio Pliscoff
- Centro de Cambio Global UCPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
- Departamento de EcologíaInstituto de Geografía Santiago Chile
| | - Phil Rundel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of California (UCLA) Los Angeles California
| | - Danilo Russo
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di AgrariaUniversità degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Portici Italy
| | - Jasper A. Slingsby
- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Fynbos Node Claremont South Africa
- Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Cape Town Rondebosch South Africa
| | | | | | - Pedro Beja
- CIBIO/InBIOUniversity of Porto Vairão Portugal
- CIBIO/InBIO, Institute of AgronomyUniversity of Lisbon Lisbon Portugal
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10
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Crosby AD, Bayne EM, Cumming SG, Schmiegelow FKA, Dénes FV, Tremblay JA. Differential habitat selection in boreal songbirds influences estimates of population size and distribution. DIVERS DISTRIB 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D. Crosby
- Boreal Avian Modelling Project University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
| | - Erin M. Bayne
- Boreal Avian Modelling Project University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
| | - Steven G. Cumming
- Boreal Avian Modelling Project University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
- Department of Wood and Forest Science Laval University Quebec City QC Canada
| | - Fiona K. A. Schmiegelow
- Boreal Avian Modelling Project University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
- Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
| | - Francisco V. Dénes
- Boreal Avian Modelling Project University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
- Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
| | - Junior A. Tremblay
- Boreal Avian Modelling Project University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
- Sciences and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada Quebec City QC Canada
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11
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Gallant D, Lecomte N, Berteaux D. Disentangling the relative influences of global drivers of change in biodiversity: A study of the twentieth‐century red fox expansion into the Canadian Arctic. J Anim Ecol 2019; 89:565-576. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Gallant
- Chaire de recherche du Canada en biodiversité nordique and Centre d'Études Nordiques Université du Québec à Rimouski Rimouski QC Canada
- Chaire de recherche du Canada en écologie polaire et boréale and Centre d'Études Nordiques Université de Moncton Moncton NB Canada
| | - Nicolas Lecomte
- Chaire de recherche du Canada en écologie polaire et boréale and Centre d'Études Nordiques Université de Moncton Moncton NB Canada
| | - Dominique Berteaux
- Chaire de recherche du Canada en biodiversité nordique and Centre d'Études Nordiques Université du Québec à Rimouski Rimouski QC Canada
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12
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Van den Brink PJ, Boxall AB, Maltby L, Brooks BW, Rudd MA, Backhaus T, Spurgeon D, Verougstraete V, Ajao C, Ankley GT, Apitz SE, Arnold K, Brodin T, Cañedo-Argüelles M, Chapman J, Corrales J, Coutellec MA, Fernandes TF, Fick J, Ford AT, Papiol GG, Groh KJ, Hutchinson TH, Kruger H, Kukkonen JV, Loutseti S, Marshall S, Muir D, Ortiz-Santaliestra ME, Paul KB, Rico A, Rodea-Palomares I, Römbke J, Rydberg T, Segner H, Smit M, van Gestel CA, Vighi M, Werner I, Zimmer EI, van Wensem J. Toward sustainable environmental quality: Priority research questions for Europe. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2018; 37:2281-2295. [PMID: 30027629 PMCID: PMC6214210 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals have been established to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. Delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals will require a healthy and productive environment. An understanding of the impacts of chemicals which can negatively impact environmental health is therefore essential to the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, current research on and regulation of chemicals in the environment tend to take a simplistic view and do not account for the complexity of the real world, which inhibits the way we manage chemicals. There is therefore an urgent need for a step change in the way we study and communicate the impacts and control of chemicals in the natural environment. To do this requires the major research questions to be identified so that resources are focused on questions that really matter. We present the findings of a horizon-scanning exercise to identify research priorities of the European environmental science community around chemicals in the environment. Using the key questions approach, we identified 22 questions of priority. These questions covered overarching questions about which chemicals we should be most concerned about and where, impacts of global megatrends, protection goals, and sustainability of chemicals; the development and parameterization of assessment and management frameworks; and mechanisms to maximize the impact of the research. The research questions identified provide a first-step in the path forward for the research, regulatory, and business communities to better assess and manage chemicals in the natural environment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2281-2295. © 2018 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J. Van den Brink
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Wageningen Environmental Research (Alterra), P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Alistair B.A. Boxall
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5NG, UK
- Corresponding author:
| | - Lorraine Maltby
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Bryan W. Brooks
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | | | - Thomas Backhaus
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Carl Skottsbergs Gata 22 B, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - David Spurgeon
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, MacLean Building, Benson Lane, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 8BB, UK
| | | | - Charmaine Ajao
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), Annankatu 18, 00120 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gerald T. Ankley
- US Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA
| | - Sabine E. Apitz
- SEA Environmental Decisions, Ltd., 1 South Cottages, The Ford; Little Hadham, Hertfordshire SG11 2AT, UK
| | - Kathryn Arnold
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Tomas Brodin
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles
- Freshwater Ecology and Management (FEM) Research Group, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Institut de Recerca de l’Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Aquatic Ecology Group, BETA Tecnio Centre, University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia, Vic, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jennifer Chapman
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5NG, UK
| | - Jone Corrales
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | | | - Teresa F. Fernandes
- Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
| | - Jerker Fick
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Alex T. Ford
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Portsmouth, England, PO4 9LY, UK
| | - Gemma Giménez Papiol
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Chemical Engineering Department, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Ksenia J. Groh
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf Switzerland
| | - Thomas H. Hutchinson
- School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
| | - Hank Kruger
- Wildlife International Ltd., Easton, Maryland, USA
| | - Jussi V.K. Kukkonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Stefania Loutseti
- DuPont De Nemours, Agriculture & Nutrition Crop Protection, Hellas S.A. Halandri Ydras 2& Kifisias Avenue 280r. 15232 Athens, Greece
| | - Stuart Marshall
- Unilever, Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, MK441LQ, UK. (Retired)
| | - Derek Muir
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Water Science Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario L7S 1A1 Canada
| | - Manuel E. Ortiz-Santaliestra
- Spanish Institute of Game and Wildlife Resources (IREC) CSIC-UCLM-JCCM. Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Kai B. Paul
- Blue Frog Scientific Limited, Quantum House, 91 George St., EH2 3ES, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Andreu Rico
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Avenida Punto Com 2, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ismael Rodea-Palomares
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Jörg Römbke
- ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH, Böttgerstrasse 2-14, D-65439 Flörsheim, Germany
| | - Tomas Rydberg
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, PO Box 5302, 40014 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Helmut Segner
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mathijs Smit
- Shell Global Solutions, Carel van Bylandtlaan 30, 2596 HR The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelis A.M. van Gestel
- Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marco Vighi
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Avenida Punto Com 2, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Inge Werner
- Swiss Centre for Applied Ecotoxicology, Ueberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | | | - Joke van Wensem
- Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, P.O. Box 20901, 2500 EX The Hague, The Netherlands
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13
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Bats of the Philippine Islands—A review of research directions and relevance to national-level priorities and targets. Mamm Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2018.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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14
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Marquardt SR, Annis M, Drum RG, Hummel SL, Mosby DE, Smith T. On the Cutting Edge of Research to Conserve At-Risk Species: Maximizing Impact through Partnerships. Integr Comp Biol 2018; 58:140-149. [PMID: 29697777 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icy009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Today's conservation challenges are complex. Solving these challenges often requires scientific collaborations that extend beyond the scope, expertise, and capacity of any single agency, organization, or institution. Conservation efforts can benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific and technological innovations, and the leveraging of capacity and resources among partners. Here we explore a series of case studies demonstrating how collaborative scientific partnerships are furthering the mission of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), including: (1) contaminants of emerging concern in the Great Lakes Basin, (2) Poweshiek skipperling conservation, (3) using technology to improve population survey methods for bats and monarch butterfly, and (4) Big River restoration in the Southeast Missouri lead mining district. These case studies illustrate how strategic and effective scientific collaboration is a multi-stage process that requires investment of time and resources by all participants. Early coordination and communication is crucial to aligning planned work with scientific and decision-making needs. Collaborations between USFWS and external scientists can be mutually beneficial by supporting the agency mission while also providing an avenue for innovative research to be directly applied in conservation decisions and management actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shauna R Marquardt
- Missouri Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Columbia, MO 65202, USA
| | - Mandy Annis
- Michigan Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Ryan G Drum
- Midwest Regional Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bloomington, MN 55437, USA
| | | | - David E Mosby
- Missouri Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Columbia, MO 65202, USA
| | - Tamara Smith
- Minnesota-Wisconsin Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bloomington, MN 55425, USA
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15
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Weeks R, Adams VM. Research priorities for conservation and natural resource management in Oceania's small-island developing states. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2018; 32:72-83. [PMID: 28585338 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
For conservation science to effectively inform management, research must focus on creating the scientific knowledge required to solve conservation problems. We identified research questions that, if answered, would increase the effectiveness of conservation and natural resource management practice and policy in Oceania's small-island developing states. We asked conservation professionals from academia, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations across the region to propose such questions and then identify which were of high priority in an online survey. We compared the high-priority questions with research questions identified globally and for other regions. Of 270 questions proposed by respondents, 38 were considered high priority, including: What are the highest priority areas for conservation in the face of increasing resource demand and climate change? How should marine protected areas be networked to account for connectivity and climate change? What are the most effective fisheries management policies that contribute to sustainable coral reef fisheries? High-priority questions related to the particular challenges of undertaking conservation on small-island developing states and the need for a research agenda that is responsive to the sociocultural context of Oceania. Research priorities for Oceania relative to elsewhere were broadly similar but differed in specific issues relevant to particular conservation contexts. These differences emphasize the importance of involving local practitioners in the identification of research priorities. Priorities were reasonably well aligned among sectoral groups. Only a few questions were widely considered answered, which may indicate a smaller-than-expected knowledge-action gap. We believe these questions can be used to strengthen research collaborations between scientists and practitioners working to further conservation and natural resource management in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Weeks
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - V M Adams
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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16
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Marshall N, Adger N, Attwood S, Brown K, Crissman C, Cvitanovic C, De Young C, Gooch M, James C, Jessen S, Johnson D, Marshall P, Park S, Wachenfeld D, Wrigley D. Empirically derived guidance for social scientists to influence environmental policy. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0171950. [PMID: 28278238 PMCID: PMC5344331 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Failure to stem trends of ecological disruption and associated loss of ecosystem services worldwide is partly due to the inadequate integration of the human dimension into environmental decision-making. Decision-makers need knowledge of the human dimension of resource systems and of the social consequences of decision-making if environmental management is to be effective and adaptive. Social scientists have a central role to play, but little guidance exists to help them influence decision-making processes. We distil 348 years of cumulative experience shared by 31 environmental experts across three continents into advice for social scientists seeking to increase their influence in the environmental policy arena. Results focus on the importance of process, engagement, empathy and acumen and reveal the importance of understanding and actively participating in policy processes through co-producing knowledge and building trust. The insights gained during this research might empower a science-driven cultural change in science-policy relations for the routine integration of the human dimension in environmental decision making; ultimately for an improved outlook for earth’s ecosystems and the billions of people that depend on them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Marshall
- CSIRO Land and Water, ATSIP Building, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- College of Environmental and Marine Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Neil Adger
- Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Attwood
- Biodiversity International, Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich Norfolk, United Kingdom
| | - Katrina Brown
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | | | - Christopher Cvitanovic
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Cassandra De Young
- Food and Agriculture Organisation, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla Rome, Italy
| | - Margaret Gooch
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Sabine Jessen
- Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Dave Johnson
- Department of the Environment, Canberra, Australia
| | - Paul Marshall
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Sarah Park
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich Norfolk, United Kingdom
- School of international Development, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich Norfolk, United Kingdom
| | - Dave Wachenfeld
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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17
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Rudd MA, Andres S, Kilfoil M. Non-use Economic Values for Little-Known Aquatic Species at Risk: Comparing Choice Experiment Results from Surveys Focused on Species, Guilds, and Ecosystems. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2016; 58:476-490. [PMID: 27294723 PMCID: PMC4969348 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-016-0716-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Accounting for non-market economic values of biological diversity is important to fully assess the benefits of environmental policies and regulations. This study used three choice experiments (species-, guild-, and ecosystem-based surveys) in parallel to quantify non-use values for little-known aquatic species at risk in southern Ontario. Mean willingness-to-pay (WTP) ranged from $9.45 to $21.41 per listing status increment under Canada's Species at Risk Act for both named and unnamed little-known species. Given the broad range of valuable ecosystem services likely to accrue to residents from substantial increases in water quality and the rehabilitation of coastal wetlands, the difference in WTP between species- and ecosystem-based surveys seemed implausibly small. It appeared that naming species-the 'iconization' of species in two of the three surveys-had an important effect on WTP. The results suggest that reasonable annual household-level WTP values for little-known aquatic species may be $10 to $25 per species or $10 to $20 per listing status increment. The results highlighted the utility of using parallel surveys to triangulate on non-use economic values for little-known species at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murray A Rudd
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sheri Andres
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
| | - Mary Kilfoil
- Gardner Pinfold Consulting Economists Ltd, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Rowe School of Business, Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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18
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Wang B, Shugart HH, Shuman JK, Lerdau MT. Forests and ozone: productivity, carbon storage, and feedbacks. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22133. [PMID: 26899381 PMCID: PMC4762018 DOI: 10.1038/srep22133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropospheric ozone is a serious air-pollutant, with large impacts on plant function. This study demonstrates that tropospheric ozone, although it damages plant metabolism, does not necessarily reduce ecosystem processes such as productivity or carbon sequestration because of diversity change and compensatory processes at the community scale ameliorate negative impacts at the individual level. This study assesses the impact of ozone on forest composition and ecosystem dynamics with an individual-based gap model that includes basic physiology as well as species-specific metabolic properties. Elevated tropospheric ozone leads to no reduction of forest productivity and carbon stock and to increased isoprene emissions, which result from enhanced dominance by isoprene-emitting species (which tolerate ozone stress better than non-emitters). This study suggests that tropospheric ozone may not diminish forest carbon sequestration capacity. This study also suggests that, because of the often positive relationship between isoprene emission and ozone formation, there is a positive feedback loop between forest communities and ozone, which further aggravates ozone pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wang
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, PO Box 400123, Clark Hall, 291 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4123, USA
| | - Herman H. Shugart
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, PO Box 400123, Clark Hall, 291 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4123, USA
| | - Jacquelyn K. Shuman
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, PO Box 400123, Clark Hall, 291 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4123, USA
| | - Manuel T. Lerdau
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, PO Box 400123, Clark Hall, 291 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4123, USA
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Kark S, Sutherland WJ, Shanas U, Klass K, Achisar H, Dayan T, Gavrieli Y, Justo-Hanani R, Mandelik Y, Orion N, Pargament D, Portman M, Reisman-Berman O, Safriel UN, Schaffer G, Steiner N, Tauber I, Levin N. Priority Questions and Horizon Scanning for Conservation: A Comparative Study. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0145978. [PMID: 26815653 PMCID: PMC4729468 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 12/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Several projects aimed at identifying priority issues for conservation with high relevance to policy have recently been completed in several countries. Two major types of projects have been undertaken, aimed at identifying (i) policy-relevant questions most imperative to conservation and (ii) horizon scanning topics, defined as emerging issues that are expected to have substantial implications for biodiversity conservation and policy in the future. Here, we provide the first overview of the outcomes of biodiversity and conservation-oriented projects recently completed around the world using this framework. We also include the results of the first questions and horizon scanning project completed for a Mediterranean country. Overall, the outcomes of the different projects undertaken (at the global scale, in the UK, US, Canada, Switzerland and in Israel) were strongly correlated in terms of the proportion of questions and/or horizon scanning topics selected when comparing different topic areas. However, some major differences were found across regions. There was large variation among regions in the percentage of proactive (i.e. action and response oriented) versus descriptive (non-response oriented) priority questions and in the emphasis given to socio-political issues. Substantial differences were also found when comparing outcomes of priority questions versus horizon scanning projects undertaken for the same region. For example, issues related to climate change, human demography and marine ecosystems received higher priority as horizon scanning topics, while ecosystem services were more emphasized as current priority questions. We suggest that future initiatives aimed at identifying priority conservation questions and horizon scanning topics should allow simultaneous identification of both current and future priority issues, as presented here for the first time. We propose that further emphasis on social-political issues should be explicitly integrated into future related projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salit Kark
- The Biodiversity Research Group, The School of Biological Sciences, ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
- The Biodiversity Research Group, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
- * E-mail:
| | - William J. Sutherland
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom
| | - Uri Shanas
- Dept. of Biology and Environment, University of Haifa-Oranim, Tivon, 36006, Israel
| | - Keren Klass
- The Biodiversity Research Group, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
- HaMa’arag – The Israel National Program for Ecosystem Assessment, Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Albert Einstein Square, Jerusalem, 91040, Israel
| | - Hila Achisar
- The Biodiversity Research Group, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Tamar Dayan
- Dept. of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Yael Gavrieli
- Nature Campus, Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Ronit Justo-Hanani
- Dept. of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Yael Mandelik
- Dept. of Entomology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 012, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Nir Orion
- Earth and Environmental Sciences group, Dept. of Science Teaching, The Weizmann Institute of Science, P.O. Box 26, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - David Pargament
- Yarqon River Authority, PO Box 6297, Tel Aviv, 61067, Israel
| | - Michelle Portman
- Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel
| | - Orna Reisman-Berman
- French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, Sede Boqer, 84990, Israel
| | - Uriel N. Safriel
- Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Gad Schaffer
- Dept. of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mt Scopus, Jerusalem, 91905, Israel
| | - Noa Steiner
- Open Landscapes and Biodiversity Division, The Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Israel Tauber
- Forest Management, Monitoring and GIS, KKL – Land Development Authority – Forest Department, The Jewish National Fund, Eshtaol, Israel
| | - Noam Levin
- Dept. of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mt Scopus, Jerusalem, 91905, Israel
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Mihók B, Kovács E, Balázs B, Pataki G, Ambrus A, Bartha D, Czirák Z, Csányi S, Csépányi P, Csőszi M, Dudás G, Egri C, Erős T, Gőri S, Halmos G, Kopek A, Margóczi K, Miklay G, Milon L, Podmaniczky L, Sárvári J, Schmidt A, Sipos K, Siposs V, Standovár T, Szigetvári C, Szemethy L, Tóth B, Tóth L, Tóth P, Török K, Török P, Vadász C, Varga I, Sutherland WJ, Báldi A. Bridging the research-practice gap: Conservation research priorities in a Central and Eastern European country. J Nat Conserv 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2015.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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21
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Boivin F, Simard A, Peres-Neto P. Can wide consultation help with setting priorities for large-scale biodiversity monitoring programs? PLoS One 2014; 9:e113905. [PMID: 25525798 PMCID: PMC4272257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 11/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate and other global change phenomena affecting biodiversity require monitoring to track ecosystem changes and guide policy and management actions. Designing a biodiversity monitoring program is a difficult task that requires making decisions that often lack consensus due to budgetary constrains. As monitoring programs require long-term investment, they also require strong and continuing support from all interested parties. As such, stakeholder consultation is key to identify priorities and make sound design decisions that have as much support as possible. Here, we present the results of a consultation conducted to serve as an aid for designing a large-scale biodiversity monitoring program for the province of Québec (Canada). The consultation took the form of a survey with 13 discrete choices involving tradeoffs in respect to design priorities and 10 demographic questions (e.g., age, profession). The survey was sent to thousands of individuals having expected interests and knowledge about biodiversity and was completed by 621 participants. Overall, consensuses were few and it appeared difficult to create a design fulfilling the priorities of the majority. Most participants wanted 1) a monitoring design covering the entire territory and focusing on natural habitats; 2) a focus on species related to ecosystem services, on threatened and on invasive species. The only demographic characteristic that was related to the type of prioritization was the declared level of knowledge in biodiversity (null to high), but even then the influence was quite small.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Boivin
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Anouk Simard
- Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Pedro Peres-Neto
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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22
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Han X, Smyth RL, Young BE, Brooks TM, Sánchez de Lozada A, Bubb P, Butchart SHM, Larsen FW, Hamilton H, Hansen MC, Turner WR. A biodiversity indicators dashboard: addressing challenges to monitoring progress towards the Aichi biodiversity targets using disaggregated global data. PLoS One 2014; 9:e112046. [PMID: 25409183 PMCID: PMC4237332 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2014] [Accepted: 10/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Recognizing the imperiled status of biodiversity and its benefit to human well-being, the world's governments committed in 2010 to take effective and urgent action to halt biodiversity loss through the Convention on Biological Diversity's "Aichi Targets". These targets, and many conservation programs, require monitoring to assess progress toward specific goals. However, comprehensive and easily understood information on biodiversity trends at appropriate spatial scales is often not available to the policy makers, managers, and scientists who require it. We surveyed conservation stakeholders in three geographically diverse regions of critical biodiversity concern (the Tropical Andes, the African Great Lakes, and the Greater Mekong) and found high demand for biodiversity indicator information but uneven availability. To begin to address this need, we present a biodiversity "dashboard"--a visualization of biodiversity indicators designed to enable tracking of biodiversity and conservation performance data in a clear, user-friendly format. This builds on previous, more conceptual, indicator work to create an operationalized online interface communicating multiple indicators at multiple spatial scales. We structured this dashboard around the Pressure-State-Response-Benefit framework, selecting four indicators to measure pressure on biodiversity (deforestation rate), state of species (Red List Index), conservation response (protection of key biodiversity areas), and benefits to human populations (freshwater provision). Disaggregating global data, we present dashboard maps and graphics for the three regions surveyed and their component countries. These visualizations provide charts showing regional and national trends and lay the foundation for a web-enabled, interactive biodiversity indicators dashboard. This new tool can help track progress toward the Aichi Targets, support national monitoring and reporting, and inform outcome-based policy-making for the protection of natural resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Han
- NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Regan L. Smyth
- NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Bruce E. Young
- NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Thomas M. Brooks
- NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America
- International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland
- World Agroforestry Center, International Center for Research in Agroforestry, University of Philippines, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
- School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | | | - Philip Bubb
- United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Frank W. Larsen
- European Environment Agency, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Healy Hamilton
- NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Matthew C. Hansen
- Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Will R. Turner
- Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America
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Rudd MA, Ankley GT, Boxall ABA, Brooks BW. International scientists' priorities for research on pharmaceutical and personal care products in the environment. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2014; 10:576-87. [PMID: 24954797 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2014] [Revised: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are widely discharged into the environment via diverse pathways. The effects of PPCPs in the environment have potentially important human and ecosystem health implications, so credible, salient, and legitimate scientific evidence is needed to inform regulatory and policy responses that address potential risks. A recent "big questions" exercise with participants largely from North America identified 22 important research questions around the risks of PPCP in the environment that would help address the most pressing knowledge gaps over the next decade. To expand that analysis, we developed a survey that was completed by 535 environmental scientists from 57 countries, of whom 49% identified environmental or analytical chemistry as their primary disciplinary background. They ranked the 22 original research questions and submitted 171 additional candidate research questions they felt were also of high priority. Of the original questions, the 3 perceived to be of highest importance related to: 1) the effects of long-term exposure to low concentrations of PPCP mixtures on nontarget organisms, 2) effluent treatment methods that can reduce the effects of PPCPs in the environment while not increasing the toxicity of whole effluents, and 3) the assessment of the environmental risks of metabolites and environmental transformation products of PPCPs. A question regarding the role of cultural perspectives in PPCP risk assessment was ranked as the lowest priority. There were significant differences in research orientation between scientists who completed English and Chinese language versions of the survey. We found that the Chinese respondents were strongly orientated to issues of managing risk profiles, effluent treatment, residue bioavailability, and regional assessment. Among English language respondents, further differences in research orientation were associated with respondents' level of consistency when ranking the survey's 15 comparisons. There was increasing emphasis on the role of various other stressors relative to PPCPs and on risk prioritization as internal decision making consistency increased. Respondents' consistency in their ranking choices was significantly and positively correlated with SETAC membership, authors' number of publications, and longer survey completion times. Our research highlighted international scientists' research priorities and should help inform decisions about the type of hazard and risk-based research needed to best inform decisions regarding PPCPs in the environment. Disciplinary training of a scientist or engineer appears to strongly influence preferences for research priorities to understand PPCPs in the environment. Selection of participants and the depth and breadth of research prioritization efforts thus have potential effects on the outcomes of research prioritization exercises. Further elucidation of how patterns of research priority vary between academic and government scientists and between scientists and other government and stakeholders would be useful in the future and provide information that helps focus scientific effort on socially relevant challenges relating to PPCPs in the environment. It also suggests the potential for future collaborative research between industry, government, and academia on environmental contaminants beyond PPCPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murray A Rudd
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, United Kingdom
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24
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Coristine LE, Robillard CM, Kerr JT, O'Connor CM, Lapointe D, Cooke SJ. A conceptual framework for the emerging discipline of conservation physiology. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2014; 2:cou033. [PMID: 27293654 PMCID: PMC4806729 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cou033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2014] [Revised: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Current rates of biodiversity decline are unprecedented and largely attributed to anthropogenic influences. Given the scope and magnitude of conservation issues, policy and management interventions must maximize efficiency and efficacy. The relatively new field of conservation physiology reveals the physiological mechanisms associated with population declines, animal-environment relationships and population or species tolerance thresholds, particularly where these relate to anthropogenic factors that necessitate conservation action. We propose a framework that demonstrates an integrative approach between physiology, conservation and policy, where each can inform the design, conduct and implementation of the other. Each junction of the conservation physiology process has the capacity to foster dialogue that contributes to effective implementation, monitoring, assessment and evaluation. This approach enables effective evaluation and implementation of evidence-based conservation policy and management decisions through a process of ongoing refinement, but may require that scientists (from the disciplines of both physiology and conservation) and policy-makers bridge interdisciplinary knowledge gaps. Here, we outline a conceptual framework that can guide and lead developments in conservation physiology, as well as promote innovative research that fosters conservation-motivated policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E. Coristine
- Canadian Facility for Ecoinformatics Research, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie-Curie, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5
| | - Cassandra M. Robillard
- Canadian Facility for Ecoinformatics Research, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie-Curie, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5
| | - Jeremy T. Kerr
- Canadian Facility for Ecoinformatics Research, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie-Curie, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5
| | - Constance M. O'Connor
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4L8
| | - Dominique Lapointe
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Steven J. Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
- Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
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25
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Rudd MA, Fleishman E. Policymakers’ and Scientists’ Ranks of Research Priorities for Resource-Management Policy. Bioscience 2014. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/bit035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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26
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Gregr EJ, Baumgartner MF, Laidre KL, Palacios DM. Marine mammal habitat models come of age: the emergence of ecological and management relevance. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2013. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Brooks BW, Ankley GT, Boxall ABA, Rudd MA. Toward sustainable environmental quality: a call to prioritize global research needs. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2013; 9:179-180. [PMID: 23529803 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
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28
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Cooke SJ, Sack L, Franklin CE, Farrell AP, Beardall J, Wikelski M, Chown SL. What is conservation physiology? Perspectives on an increasingly integrated and essential science(†). CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 1:cot001. [PMID: 27293585 PMCID: PMC4732437 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cot001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 251] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 01/28/2013] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Globally, ecosystems and their constituent flora and fauna face the localized and broad-scale influence of human activities. Conservation practitioners and environmental managers struggle to identify and mitigate threats, reverse species declines, restore degraded ecosystems, and manage natural resources sustainably. Scientific research and evidence are increasingly regarded as the foundation for new regulations, conservation actions, and management interventions. Conservation biologists and managers have traditionally focused on the characteristics (e.g. abundance, structure, trends) of populations, species, communities, and ecosystems, and simple indicators of the responses to environmental perturbations and other human activities. However, an understanding of the specific mechanisms underlying conservation problems is becoming increasingly important for decision-making, in part because physiological tools and knowledge are especially useful for developing cause-and-effect relationships, and for identifying the optimal range of habitats and stressor thresholds for different organisms. When physiological knowledge is incorporated into ecological models, it can improve predictions of organism responses to environmental change and provide tools to support management decisions. Without such knowledge, we may be left with simple associations. 'Conservation physiology' has been defined previously with a focus on vertebrates, but here we redefine the concept universally, for application to the diversity of taxa from microbes to plants, to animals, and to natural resources. We also consider 'physiology' in the broadest possible terms; i.e. how an organism functions, and any associated mechanisms, from development to bioenergetics, to environmental interactions, through to fitness. Moreover, we consider conservation physiology to include a wide range of applications beyond assisting imperiled populations, and include, for example, the eradication of invasive species, refinement of resource management strategies to minimize impacts, and evaluation of restoration plans. This concept of conservation physiology emphasizes the basis, importance, and ecological relevance of physiological diversity at a variety of scales. Real advances in conservation and resource management require integration and inter-disciplinarity. Conservation physiology and its suite of tools and concepts is a key part of the evidence base needed to address pressing environmental challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J. Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Lawren Sack
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of California Los Angeles, 621 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Craig E. Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Anthony P. Farrell
- Department of Zoology and Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - John Beardall
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Max Plank Institute of Ornithology, D-78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Steven L. Chown
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
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29
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Gillson L, Dawson TP, Jack S, McGeoch MA. Accommodating climate change contingencies in conservation strategy. Trends Ecol Evol 2013; 28:135-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2012.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2012] [Revised: 10/09/2012] [Accepted: 10/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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30
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Cooke SJ, Sack L, Franklin CE, Farrell AP, Beardall J, Wikelski M, Chown SL. What is conservation physiology? Perspectives on an increasingly integrated and essential science(†). CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 1:cot001. [PMID: 27293585 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cot1001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 01/28/2013] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Globally, ecosystems and their constituent flora and fauna face the localized and broad-scale influence of human activities. Conservation practitioners and environmental managers struggle to identify and mitigate threats, reverse species declines, restore degraded ecosystems, and manage natural resources sustainably. Scientific research and evidence are increasingly regarded as the foundation for new regulations, conservation actions, and management interventions. Conservation biologists and managers have traditionally focused on the characteristics (e.g. abundance, structure, trends) of populations, species, communities, and ecosystems, and simple indicators of the responses to environmental perturbations and other human activities. However, an understanding of the specific mechanisms underlying conservation problems is becoming increasingly important for decision-making, in part because physiological tools and knowledge are especially useful for developing cause-and-effect relationships, and for identifying the optimal range of habitats and stressor thresholds for different organisms. When physiological knowledge is incorporated into ecological models, it can improve predictions of organism responses to environmental change and provide tools to support management decisions. Without such knowledge, we may be left with simple associations. 'Conservation physiology' has been defined previously with a focus on vertebrates, but here we redefine the concept universally, for application to the diversity of taxa from microbes to plants, to animals, and to natural resources. We also consider 'physiology' in the broadest possible terms; i.e. how an organism functions, and any associated mechanisms, from development to bioenergetics, to environmental interactions, through to fitness. Moreover, we consider conservation physiology to include a wide range of applications beyond assisting imperiled populations, and include, for example, the eradication of invasive species, refinement of resource management strategies to minimize impacts, and evaluation of restoration plans. This concept of conservation physiology emphasizes the basis, importance, and ecological relevance of physiological diversity at a variety of scales. Real advances in conservation and resource management require integration and inter-disciplinarity. Conservation physiology and its suite of tools and concepts is a key part of the evidence base needed to address pressing environmental challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Lawren Sack
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of California Los Angeles, 621 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Craig E Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Anthony P Farrell
- Department of Zoology and Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - John Beardall
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Max Plank Institute of Ornithology, D-78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Steven L Chown
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
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Boxall ABA, Rudd MA, Brooks BW, Caldwell DJ, Choi K, Hickmann S, Innes E, Ostapyk K, Staveley JP, Verslycke T, Ankley GT, Beazley KF, Belanger SE, Berninger JP, Carriquiriborde P, Coors A, Deleo PC, Dyer SD, Ericson JF, Gagné F, Giesy JP, Gouin T, Hallstrom L, Karlsson MV, Larsson DGJ, Lazorchak JM, Mastrocco F, McLaughlin A, McMaster ME, Meyerhoff RD, Moore R, Parrott JL, Snape JR, Murray-Smith R, Servos MR, Sibley PK, Straub JO, Szabo ND, Topp E, Tetreault GR, Trudeau VL, Van Der Kraak G. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment: what are the big questions? ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2012; 120:1221-9. [PMID: 22647657 PMCID: PMC3440110 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1104477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 730] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2011] [Accepted: 05/18/2012] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the past 10-15 years, a substantial amount of work has been done by the scientific, regulatory, and business communities to elucidate the effects and risks of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment. OBJECTIVE This review was undertaken to identify key outstanding issues regarding the effects of PPCPs on human and ecological health in order to ensure that future resources will be focused on the most important areas. DATA SOURCES To better understand and manage the risks of PPCPs in the environment, we used the "key question" approach to identify the principle issues that need to be addressed. Initially, questions were solicited from academic, government, and business communities around the world. A list of 101 questions was then discussed at an international expert workshop, and a top-20 list was developed. Following the workshop, workshop attendees ranked the 20 questions by importance. DATA SYNTHESIS The top 20 priority questions fell into seven categories: a) prioritization of substances for assessment, b) pathways of exposure, c) bioavailability and uptake, d) effects characterization, e) risk and relative risk, f ) antibiotic resistance, and g) risk management. CONCLUSIONS A large body of information is now available on PPCPs in the environment. This exercise prioritized the most critical questions to aid in development of future research programs on the topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair B A Boxall
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, United Kingdom
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Hoban S, Vernesi C. Challenges in global biodiversity conservation and solutions that cross sociology, politics, economics and ecology. Biol Lett 2012; 8:897-9. [PMID: 22832128 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2012.0596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The study and practice of conservation biology is inherently interdisciplinary, addresses short and long time-scales and occurs within complex human-natural interfaces. Zoos and aquaria, in partnership with researchers, other non-government organizations, government, industry and educators, are combining knowledge of species and ecosystems with economics, psychology and law to create solutions for conserving biodiversity. From 22 to 25 May, the Conservation Forum of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria was a venue for discussing conservation research, education and interventions, from the scale of villages to global policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Hoban
- Dipartimento di Biologia ed Evoluzione, Università di Ferrara, Via L Borsari, Ferrara, 44100, Italy.
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Sutherland WJ, Bellingan L, Bellingham JR, Blackstock JJ, Bloomfield RM, Bravo M, Cadman VM, Cleevely DD, Clements A, Cohen AS, Cope DR, Daemmrich AA, Devecchi C, Anadon LD, Denegri S, Doubleday R, Dusic NR, Evans RJ, Feng WY, Godfray HCJ, Harris P, Hartley SE, Hester AJ, Holmes J, Hughes A, Hulme M, Irwin C, Jennings RC, Kass GS, Littlejohns P, Marteau TM, McKee G, Millstone EP, Nuttall WJ, Owens S, Parker MM, Pearson S, Petts J, Ploszek R, Pullin AS, Reid G, Richards KS, Robinson JG, Shaxson L, Sierra L, Smith BG, Spiegelhalter DJ, Stilgoe J, Stirling A, Tyler CP, Winickoff DE, Zimmern RL. A collaboratively-derived science-policy research agenda. PLoS One 2012; 7:e31824. [PMID: 22427809 PMCID: PMC3302883 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2011] [Accepted: 01/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The need for policy makers to understand science and for scientists to understand policy processes is widely recognised. However, the science-policy relationship is sometimes difficult and occasionally dysfunctional; it is also increasingly visible, because it must deal with contentious issues, or itself becomes a matter of public controversy, or both. We suggest that identifying key unanswered questions on the relationship between science and policy will catalyse and focus research in this field. To identify these questions, a collaborative procedure was employed with 52 participants selected to cover a wide range of experience in both science and policy, including people from government, non-governmental organisations, academia and industry. These participants consulted with colleagues and submitted 239 questions. An initial round of voting was followed by a workshop in which 40 of the most important questions were identified by further discussion and voting. The resulting list includes questions about the effectiveness of science-based decision-making structures; the nature and legitimacy of expertise; the consequences of changes such as increasing transparency; choices among different sources of evidence; the implications of new means of characterising and representing uncertainties; and ways in which policy and political processes affect what counts as authoritative evidence. We expect this exercise to identify important theoretical questions and to help improve the mutual understanding and effectiveness of those working at the interface of science and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Sutherland
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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Sutherland WJ, Freckleton RP. Making predictive ecology more relevant to policy makers and practitioners. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2012; 367:322-30. [PMID: 22144394 PMCID: PMC3223805 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the aims of ecology is to aid policy makers and practitioners through the development of testable predictions of relevance to society. Here, we argue that this capacity can be improved in three ways. Firstly, by thinking more clearly about the priority issues using a range of methods including horizon scanning, identifying policy gaps, identifying priority questions and using evidence-based conservation to identify knowledge gaps. Secondly, by linking ecological models with models of other systems, such as economic and social models. Thirdly, by considering alternative approaches to generate and model data that use, for example, discrete or categorical states to model ecological systems. We particularly highlight that models are essential for making predictions. However, a key to the limitation in their use is the degree to which ecologists are able to communicate results to policy makers in a clear, useful and timely fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Sutherland
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.
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Fox HE, Mascia MB, Basurto X, Costa A, Glew L, Heinemann D, Karrer LB, Lester SE, Lombana AV, Pomeroy RS, Recchia CA, Roberts CM, Sanchirico JN, Pet-Soede L, White AT. Reexamining the science of marine protected areas: linking knowledge to action. Conserv Lett 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-263x.2011.00207.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Rudd MA. How research-prioritization exercises affect conservation policy. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2011; 25:860-866. [PMID: 21790784 DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2011.01712.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Conservation scientists are concerned about the apparent lack of impact their research is having on policy. By better aligning research with policy needs, conservation science might become more relevant to policy and increase its real-world salience in the conservation of biological diversity. Consequently, some conservation scientists have embarked on a variety of exercises to identify research questions that, if answered, would provide the evidence base with which to develop and implement effective conservation policies. I synthesized two existing approaches to conceptualizing research impacts. One widely used approach classifies the impacts of research as conceptual, instrumental, and symbolic. Conceptual impacts occur when policy makers are sensitized to new issues and change their beliefs or thinking. Instrumental impacts arise when scientific research has a direct effect on policy decisions. The use of scientific research results to support established policy positions are symbolic impacts. The second approach classifies research issues according to whether scientific knowledge is developed fully and whether the policy issue has been articulated clearly. I believe exercises to identify important research questions have objectives of increasing the clarity of policy issues while strengthening science-policy interactions. This may facilitate the transmission of scientific knowledge to policy makers and, potentially, accelerate the development and implementation of effective conservation policy. Other, similar types of exercises might also be useful. For example, identification of visionary science questions independent of current policy needs, prioritization of best practices for transferring scientific knowledge to policy makers, and identification of questions about human values and their role in political processes could all help advance real-world conservation science. It is crucial for conservation scientists to understand the wide variety of ways in which their research can affect policy and be improved systematically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murray A Rudd
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
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