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Wosnick N, Chaves AP, Giareta EP, Leite RD, Saint'Pierre TD, Hauser-Davis RA. From screens to seas: Tech contaminants in tiger sharks. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 360:124690. [PMID: 39116921 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124690] [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: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
The potential negative impacts of Technology-Critical Elements (TCEs) on the environment and wildlife, despite increasingly recognized, remain largely overlooked. In this sense, this study aimed to investigate the concentrations of several TCEs, including rubidium (Rb), titanium (Ti) and various Rare Earth Elements (REEs), in different tissues of tiger sharks. Sharks incidentally caught by artisanal fleets in southern Brazil were opportunistically sampled and liver, gills, kidneys, heart, muscle, eyes, brain, skin, and teeth were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Significant Rb concentration variations were observed across different tissues, with higher levels detected in kidneys and lower levels in the liver. Titanium concentrations also exhibited significant differences, with higher levels detected in teeth and lower levels in liver. Although no statistical differences were observed for the analyzed REEs, a trend of higher accumulation in the liver, gills, and skin was noted. Light Rare Earth Elements (LREEs) were found predominantly in all organs, with neodymium, lanthanum, and cerium as the most significant REEs detected. Several statistically significant correlations were identified between Rb and REEs, as well as between Ti and REEs, indicating systemic transport of these elements across different tissues. These findings indicate that the growing extraction and disposal of metallic elements, driven by technological advancements, may lead to their assimilation by marine fauna, particularly at higher trophic levels. The potential harmful effects on these organisms remain unknown and require urgent investigation. Additionally, as mining activities intensify globally, precise legislative measures are essential to address environmental concerns, species conservation, and human health considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natascha Wosnick
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Paraná, Brazil; Associação MarBrasil, Pontal do Paraná, Brazil; Cape Eleuthera Institute, Eleuthera, The Bahamas.
| | - Ana Paula Chaves
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Toxicologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eloísa Pinheiro Giareta
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Paraná, Brazil; Associação MarBrasil, Pontal do Paraná, Brazil
| | - Renata Daldin Leite
- Associação MarBrasil, Pontal do Paraná, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis
- Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção da Saúde Ambiental, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4.365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Steigerwald E, Chen J, Oshiro J, Vredenburg VT, Catenazzi A, Koo MS. Microreserves are an important tool for amphibian conservation. Commun Biol 2024; 7:1177. [PMID: 39300233 PMCID: PMC11413221 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06510-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Initiatives to protect 30% of Earth by 2030 prompt evaluation of how to efficiently target shortcomings in the global protected area (PA) network. Focusing on amphibians, the most vulnerable vertebrate class, we illustrate the conservation value of microreserves, a term we employ here to refer to reserves of <10 km2. We report that the network continues to under-represent threatened amphibians and that, despite this clear shortcoming in land-based conservation, the creation of PAs protecting amphibians slowed after 2010. By proving something previously assumed-that amphibians generally have smaller ranges than other terrestrial vertebrates-we demonstrate that microreserves could protect a substantial portion of many amphibian ranges, particularly threatened species. We find existing microreserves are capable of hosting an amphibian species richness similar to PAs 1000-10,00X larger, and we show that amphibians' high beta diversity means that microreserves added to a growing PA network cover amphibian species 1.5-6x faster than larger size categories. We propose that stemming global biodiversity loss requires that we seriously consider the conservation potential of microreserves, using them to capture small-range endemics that may otherwise be omitted from the PA network entirely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Steigerwald
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
| | - Julia Chen
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Julianne Oshiro
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Vance T Vredenburg
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA.
| | - Alessandro Catenazzi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad, Lima, Peru
| | - Michelle S Koo
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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Edmonds D, Andriantsimanarilafy RR, Crottini A, Dreslik MJ, Newton-Youens J, Ramahefason A, Randrianantoandro CJ, Andreone F. Small population size and possible extirpation of the threatened Malagasy poison frog Mantella cowanii. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17947. [PMID: 39301061 PMCID: PMC11412227 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Amphibians are experiencing severe population declines, requiring targeted conservation action for the most threatened species and habitats. Unfortunately, we do not know the basic demographic traits of most species, which hinders population recovery efforts. We studied one of Madagascar's most threatened frog species, the harlequin mantella (Mantella cowanii), to confirm it is still present at historic localities and estimate annual survival and population sizes. We surveyed eleven of all thirteen known localities and were able to detect the species at eight. Using a naïve estimate of detection probability from sites with confirmed presence, we estimated 1.54 surveys (95% CI [1.10-2.37]) are needed to infer absence with 95% confidence, suggesting the three populations where we did not detect M. cowanii are now extirpated. However, we also report two new populations for the first time. Repeated annual surveys at three sites showed population sizes ranged from 13-137 adults over 3-8 years, with the most intensively surveyed site experiencing a >80% reduction in population size during 2015-2023. Annual adult survival was moderately high (0.529-0.618) and we recaptured five individuals in 2022 and one in 2023 first captured as adults in 2015, revealing the maximum lifespan of the species in nature can reach 9 years and beyond. Our results confirm M. cowanii is characterized by a slower life history pace than other Mantella species, putting it at greater extinction risk. Illegal collection for the international pet trade and continued habitat degradation are the main threats to the species. We recommend conservation efforts continue monitoring M. cowanii populations and reassess the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status because the species may be Critically Endangered rather than Endangered based on population size and trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devin Edmonds
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | | | - Angelica Crottini
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Michael J Dreslik
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Jade Newton-Youens
- Department of Natural Sciences, The Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Andoniana Ramahefason
- Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
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Douchet P, Haegeman B, Allienne JF, Boissier J, Senghor B, Rey O. The abundance of snail hosts mediates the effects of antagonist interactions between trematodes on the transmission of human schistosomes. Infect Dis Poverty 2024; 13:65. [PMID: 39256885 PMCID: PMC11386086 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-024-01232-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Combating infectious diseases and halting biodiversity loss are intertwined challenges crucial to ensure global health. Biodiversity can constrain the spread of vector-borne pathogens circulation, necessitating a deeper understanding of ecological mechanisms underlying this pattern. Our study evaluates the relative importance of biodiversity and the abundance of Bulinus truncatus, a major intermediate host for the trematode Schistosoma haematobium on the circulation of this human pathogen at aquatic transmission sites. METHODS We combined mathematical modelling and a molecular based empirical study to specifically assess the effect of co-infections between S. haematobium and other trematodes within their B. truncatus snail hosts; and B. truncatus abundance at transmission sites, on the production of S. haematobium infective cercariae stages released into the aquatic environment. RESULTS Our modelling approach shows that more competitive trematode species exploiting B. truncatus as an intermediate host at the transmission site level leads to higher co-infection rates within snail hosts, subsequently reducing the production of S. haematobium cercariae. Conversely, an increase in B. truncatus abundance results in lower co-infection rates, and a higher proportion of S. haematobium cercariae released into the environment. Our empirical data from the field support these findings, indicating a significant negative effect of local trematode species richness (P-value = 0.029; AIC = 14.9) and co-infection rates (P-value = 0.02, AIC = 17.4) on the dominance of S. haematobium based on our GLMM models, while B. truncatus abundance positively influences S. haematobium dominance (P-value = 0.047, AIC = 20.1). CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights the importance of biodiversity in influencing the transmission of S. haematobium through the effect of antagonistic interactions between trematodes within bulinid snail hosts. This effect intensifies when B. truncatus populations are low, promoting co-infections within snails. In line with the One Health concept, our results suggest that maintaining high level of freshwater biodiversity to sustain global trematode diversity at transmission sites can help reducing the circulation of Schistosoma species locally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Douchet
- IHPE Interactions Hotes-Pathogenes-Environnements, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique, University of Montpellier, IFREMER, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France.
| | - Bart Haegeman
- Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique/Sorbonne Université, UMR7621, Laboratoire d'Océanographie Microbienne, Banyuls-Sur-Mer, France
| | - Jean-François Allienne
- IHPE Interactions Hotes-Pathogenes-Environnements, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique, University of Montpellier, IFREMER, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France
| | - Jérôme Boissier
- IHPE Interactions Hotes-Pathogenes-Environnements, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique, University of Montpellier, IFREMER, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France
| | - Bruno Senghor
- Institut de Recherche Pour Le Développement (IRD), Université Cheikh-Anta-Diop-IRD de Hann, 18524, BP 1386, Dakar, CP, Senegal
| | - Olivier Rey
- IHPE Interactions Hotes-Pathogenes-Environnements, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique, University of Montpellier, IFREMER, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, Montpellier, France
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5
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Frank EG. The economic impacts of ecosystem disruptions: Costs from substituting biological pest control. Science 2024; 385:eadg0344. [PMID: 39236171 DOI: 10.1126/science.adg0344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Biodiversity loss is accelerating, yet we know little about how these ecosystem disruptions affect human well-being. Ecologists have documented both the importance of bats as natural predators of insects as well as their population declines after the emergence of a wildlife disease, resulting in a potential decline in biological pest control. In this work, I study how species interactions can extend beyond an ecosystem and affect agriculture and human health. I find that farmers compensated for bat decline by increasing their insecticide use by 31.1%. The compensatory increase in insecticide use by farmers adversely affected health-human infant mortality increased by 7.9% in the counties that experienced bat die-offs. These findings provide empirical validation to previous theoretical predictions about how ecosystem disruptions can have meaningful social costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eyal G Frank
- Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Center for Economic Policy Research, Paris, France
- National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
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6
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Rosas-Espinoza VC, Álvarez-Grzybowska E, Godoy González AA, Santiago-Pérez AL, Peña-Joya KE, Rodríguez-Zaragoza FA, Díaz Pérez L, Huerta Martínez FM. Taxonomic diversity of amphibians (Amphibia, Anura) and reptiles (Reptilia, Testudines, Squamata) in a heterogeneous landscape in west-central Mexico: a checklist and notes on geographical distributions. Zookeys 2024; 1211:29-55. [PMID: 39262608 PMCID: PMC11384138 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1211.122565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
In Mexico, land use changes have significantly impacted the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in a negative way. In light of this, we evaluate the alpha and beta components of the taxonomic diversity of amphibians and reptiles in a heterogeneous landscape in west-central Mexico. Additionally, we provide a checklist of amphibian and reptile species recorded over nine years of observations within the studied landscape and surrounding areas. The land cover/use types with the highest species richness and alpha taxonomic diversity differed between amphibians and reptiles. Overall beta taxonomic diversity was high for both groups, but slightly higher in reptiles. This taxonomic differentiation mainly corresponded to a difference in the turnover component and was greater in pristine habitats compared to disturbed ones. The checklist records 20 species of amphibians (ten of which are endemic) and 48 of reptiles (30 endemics). Additionally, the study expands the known geographical distribution range of one species of frog and three species of snakes. Our findings suggest that heterogeneous landscapes with diverse land cover/use types can provide essential habitats for the conservation of amphibian and reptile species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Carolina Rosas-Espinoza
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular, Microbiología y Taxonomía (LEMITAX), Departamento de Ecología Aplicada,, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Camino Ramón Padilla Sánchez 2100, CP 45200, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico Universidad de Guadalajara Zapopan Mexico
| | - Eliza Álvarez-Grzybowska
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular, Microbiología y Taxonomía (LEMITAX), Departamento de Ecología Aplicada,, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Camino Ramón Padilla Sánchez 2100, CP 45200, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico Universidad de Guadalajara Zapopan Mexico
| | - Arquímedes Alfredo Godoy González
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular, Microbiología y Taxonomía (LEMITAX), Departamento de Ecología Aplicada,, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Camino Ramón Padilla Sánchez 2100, CP 45200, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico Universidad de Guadalajara Zapopan Mexico
| | - Ana Luisa Santiago-Pérez
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular, Microbiología y Taxonomía (LEMITAX), Departamento de Ecología Aplicada,, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Camino Ramón Padilla Sánchez 2100, CP 45200, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico Universidad de Guadalajara Zapopan Mexico
| | - Karen Elizabeth Peña-Joya
- Departamento de Producción Forestal, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Camino Ramón Padilla Sánchez 2100, CP 45200, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico Universidad de Guadalajara Puerto Vallarta Mexico
| | - Fabián Alejandro Rodríguez-Zaragoza
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular, Microbiología y Taxonomía (LEMITAX), Departamento de Ecología Aplicada,, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Camino Ramón Padilla Sánchez 2100, CP 45200, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico Universidad de Guadalajara Zapopan Mexico
| | - Leopoldo Díaz Pérez
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular, Microbiología y Taxonomía (LEMITAX), Departamento de Ecología Aplicada,, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Camino Ramón Padilla Sánchez 2100, CP 45200, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico Universidad de Guadalajara Zapopan Mexico
| | - Francisco Martín Huerta Martínez
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular, Microbiología y Taxonomía (LEMITAX), Departamento de Ecología Aplicada,, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Camino Ramón Padilla Sánchez 2100, CP 45200, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico Universidad de Guadalajara Zapopan Mexico
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7
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Ujszegi J, Ujhegyi N, Balogh E, Mikó Z, Kásler A, Hettyey A, Bókony V. No sex-dependent mortality in an amphibian upon infection with the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70219. [PMID: 39219568 PMCID: PMC11362217 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
One of the major factors driving the currently ongoing biodiversity crisis is the anthropogenic spread of infectious diseases. Diseases can have conspicuous consequences, such as mass mortality events, but may also exert covert but similarly severe effects, such as sex ratio distortion via sex-biased mortality. Chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is among the most important threats to amphibian biodiversity. Yet, whether Bd infection can skew sex ratios in amphibians is currently unknown, although such a hidden effect may cause the already dwindling amphibian populations to collapse. To investigate this possibility, we collected common toad (Bufo bufo) tadpoles from a natural habitat in Hungary and continuously treated them until metamorphosis with sterile Bd culture medium (control), or a liquid culture of a Hungarian or a Spanish Bd isolate. Bd prevalence was high in animals that died during the experiment but was almost zero in individuals that survived until the end of the experiment. Both Bd treatments significantly reduced survival after metamorphosis, but we did not observe sex-dependent mortality in either treatment. However, a small number of genotypically female individuals developed male phenotype (testes) in the Spanish Bd isolate treatment. Therefore, future research is needed to ascertain if larval Bd infection can affect sex ratio in common toads through female-to-male sex reversal.
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Affiliation(s)
- János Ujszegi
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, HUN‐REN Centre for Agricultural ResearchPlant Protection InstituteBudapestHungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and EcologyELTE Eötvös Loránd UniversityBudapestHungary
| | - Nikolett Ujhegyi
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, HUN‐REN Centre for Agricultural ResearchPlant Protection InstituteBudapestHungary
| | - Emese Balogh
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, HUN‐REN Centre for Agricultural ResearchPlant Protection InstituteBudapestHungary
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of Veterinary Medicine BudapestBudapestHungary
| | - Zsanett Mikó
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, HUN‐REN Centre for Agricultural ResearchPlant Protection InstituteBudapestHungary
| | - Andrea Kásler
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, HUN‐REN Centre for Agricultural ResearchPlant Protection InstituteBudapestHungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and EcologyELTE Eötvös Loránd UniversityBudapestHungary
- Doctoral School of Biology, Institute of BiologyELTE Eötvös Loránd UniversityBudapestHungary
| | - Attila Hettyey
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, HUN‐REN Centre for Agricultural ResearchPlant Protection InstituteBudapestHungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and EcologyELTE Eötvös Loránd UniversityBudapestHungary
| | - Veronika Bókony
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, HUN‐REN Centre for Agricultural ResearchPlant Protection InstituteBudapestHungary
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8
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Cádiz MI, Tengstedt ANB, Sørensen IH, Pedersen ES, Fox AD, Hansen MM. Demographic History and Inbreeding in Two Declining Sea Duck Species Inferred From Whole-Genome Sequence Data. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e70008. [PMID: 39257569 PMCID: PMC11386304 DOI: 10.1111/eva.70008] [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: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 08/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic impact has transitioned from threatening already rare species to causing significant declines in once numerous organisms. Long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis) and velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca) were once important quarry sea duck species in NW Europe, but recent declines resulted in their reclassification as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. We sequenced and assembled genomes for both species and resequenced 15 individuals of each. Using analyses based on site frequency spectra and sequential Markovian coalescence, we found C. hyemalis to show more historical demographic stability, whereas M. fusca was affected particularly by the Last (Weichselian) Glaciation. This likely reflects C. hyemalis breeding continuously across the Arctic, with cycles of glaciation primarily shifting breeding areas south or north without major population declines, whereas the more restricted southern range of M. fusca would lead to significant range contraction during glaciations. Both species showed evidence of declines over the past thousands of years, potentially reflecting anthropogenic pressures with the recent decline indicating an accelerated process. Analysis of runs of homozygosity (ROH) showed low but nontrivial inbreeding, with F ROH from 0.012 to 0.063 in C. hyemalis and ranging from 0 to 0.047 in M. fusca. Lengths of ROH suggested that this was due to ongoing background inbreeding rather than recent declines. Overall, despite demographically important declines, this has not yet led to strong inbreeding and genetic erosion, and the most pressing conservation concern may be the risk of density-dependent (Allee) effects. We recommend monitoring of inbreeding using ROH analysis as a cost-efficient method to track future developments to support effective conservation of these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- María I Cádiz
- Department of Biology Aarhus University Aarhus Denmark
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9
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Oliver KE, Harrison XA. Temperature and land use change are associated with Rana temporaria reproductive success and phenology. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17901. [PMID: 39224827 PMCID: PMC11368080 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemical pollution, land cover change, and climate change have all been established as important drivers of amphibian reproductive success and phenology. However, little is known about the relative impacts of these anthropogenic stressors, nor how they may interact to alter amphibian population dynamics. Addressing this gap in our knowledge is important, as it allows us to identify and prioritise the most needed conservation actions. Here, we use long-term datasets to investigate landscape-scale drivers of variation in the reproductive success and phenology of UK Common frog (Rana temporaria) populations. Consistent with predictions, we found that increasing mean temperatures resulted in earlier initialisation of spawning, and earlier hatching, but these relationships were not consistent across all sites. Lower temperatures were also linked to increased spawn mortality. However, temperature increases were also strongly correlated with increases in urban area, arable area, and nitrate levels in the vicinity of spawning grounds. As with spawning and hatching, there was marked spatial variation in spawn mortality trends, where some sites exhibited steady increases over time in the proportion of dead or diseased spawn. These findings support previous work linking warming temperatures to shifts in timing of amphibian breeding, but also highlight the importance of assessing the effect of land use change and pollution on wild amphibian populations. These results have implications for our understanding of the response of wild amphibian populations to climate change, and the management of human-dominated landscapes for declining wildlife populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kat E. Oliver
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Falmouth, United Kingdom
| | - Xavier A. Harrison
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Falmouth, United Kingdom
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10
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Whitla R, Hens K, Hogan J, Martin G, Breuker C, Shreeve TG, Arif S. The last days of Aporia crataegi (L.) in Britain: Evaluating genomic erosion in an extirpated butterfly. Mol Ecol 2024:e17518. [PMID: 39192591 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17518] [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: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Current rates of habitat degradation and climate change are causing unprecedented declines in global biodiversity. Studies on vertebrates highlight how conservation genomics can be effective in identifying and managing threatened populations, but it is unclear how vertebrate-derived metrics of genomic erosion translate to invertebrates, with their markedly different population sizes and life histories. The Black-veined White butterfly (Aporia crataegi) was extirpated from Britain in the 1920s. Here, we sequenced historical DNA from 17 specimens collected between 1854 and 1924 to reconstruct demography and compare levels of genomic erosion between extirpated British and extant European mainland populations. We contrast these results using modern samples of the Common Blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus); a species with relatively stable demographic trends in Great Britain. We provide evidence for bottlenecks in both these species around the period of post-glacial colonization of the British Isles. Our results reveal different demographic histories and Ne for both species, consistent with their fates in Britain, likely driven by differences in life history, ecology and genome size. Despite a difference, by an order of magnitude, in historical effective population sizes (Ne), reduction in genome-wide heterozygosity in A. crataegi was comparable to that in P. icarus. Symptomatic of A. crataegi's disappearance were marked increases in runs-of-homozygosity (RoH), potentially indicative of recent inbreeding, and accumulation of putatively mildly and weakly deleterious variants. Our results provide a rare glimpse of genomic erosion in a regionally extinct insect and support the potential use of genomic erosion metrics in identifying invertebrate populations or species in decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Whitla
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Korneel Hens
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Functional Genomics, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - James Hogan
- Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Oxford, UK
| | - Geoff Martin
- Insects Division, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Casper Breuker
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Functional Genomics, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Timothy G Shreeve
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Saad Arif
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Functional Genomics, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
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11
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Perry KI, Bahlai CA, Assal TJ, Riley CB, Turo KJ, Taylor L, Radl J, Delgado de la Flor YA, Sivakoff FS, Gardiner MM. Landscape change and alien invasions drive shifts in native lady beetle communities over a century. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024:e3024. [PMID: 39192693 DOI: 10.1002/eap.3024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Understanding causes of insect population declines is essential for the development of successful conservation plans, but data limitations restrict assessment across spatial and temporal scales. Museum records represent a source of historical data that can be leveraged to investigate temporal trends in insect communities. Native lady beetle decline has been attributed to competition with established alien species and landscape change, but the relative importance of these drivers is difficult to measure with short-term field-based studies. We assessed distribution patterns for native lady beetles over 12 decades using museum records, and evaluated the relative importance of alien species and landscape change as factors contributing to changes in communities. We compiled occurrence records for 28 lady beetle species collected in Ohio, USA, from 1900 to 2018. Taxonomic beta-diversity was used to evaluate changes in lady beetle community composition over time. To evaluate the relative influence of temporal, spatial, landscape, and community factors on the captures of native species, we constructed negative binomial generalized additive models. We report evidence of declines in captures for several native species. Importantly, the timing, severity, and drivers of these documented declines were species-specific. Land cover change was associated with declines in captures, particularly for Coccinella novemnotata which declined prior to the arrival of alien species. Following the establishment and spread of alien lady beetles, processes of species loss/gain and turnover shifted communities toward the dominance of a few alien species beginning in the 1980s. Because factors associated with declines in captures were highly species-specific, this emphasizes that mechanisms driving population losses cannot be generalized even among closely related native species. These findings also indicate the importance of museum holdings and the analysis of species-level data when studying temporal trends in insect populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla I Perry
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
| | - Christie A Bahlai
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
| | - Timothy J Assal
- Department of Geography, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Katherine J Turo
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Leo Taylor
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - James Radl
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Frances S Sivakoff
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Marion, Ohio, USA
| | - Mary M Gardiner
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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12
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Nabias J, Barbaro L, Fontaine B, Dupuy J, Couzi L, Vallé C, Lorrilliere R. Reassessment of French breeding bird population sizes using citizen science and accounting for species detectability. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17889. [PMID: 39221279 PMCID: PMC11363910 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Higher efficiency in large-scale and long-term biodiversity monitoring can be obtained through the use of Essential Biodiversity Variables, among which species population sizes provide key data for conservation programs. Relevant estimations and assessment of actual population sizes are critical for species conservation, especially in the current context of global biodiversity erosion. However, knowledge on population size varies greatly, depending on species conservation status and ranges. While the most threatened or restricted-range species generally benefit from exhaustive counts and surveys, monitoring common and widespread species population size tends to be neglected or is simply more challenging to achieve. In such a context, citizen science (CS) is a powerful tool for the long-term monitoring of common species through the engagement of various volunteers, permitting data acquisition on the long term and over large spatial scales. Despite this substantially increased sampling effort, detectability issues imply that even common species may remain unnoticed at suitable sites. The use of structured CS schemes, including repeated visits, enables to model the detection process, permitting reliable inferences of population size estimates. Here, we relied on a large French structured CS scheme (EPOC-ODF) comprising 27,156 complete checklists over 3,873 sites collected during the 2021-2023 breeding seasons to estimate the population size of 63 common bird species using hierarchical distance sampling (HDS). These population size estimates were compared to the previous expert-based French breeding bird atlas estimations, which did not account for detectability issues. We found that population size estimates from the former French breeding bird atlas were lower than those estimated using HDS for 65% of species. Such a prevalence of lower estimations is likely due to more conservative estimates inferred from semi-quantitative expert-based assessments used for the previous atlas. We also found that species with long-range songs such as the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) or the Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) had, in contrast, higher estimated population sizes in the previous atlas than in our HDS models. Our study highlights the need to rely on sound statistical methodology to ensure reliable ecological inferences with adequate uncertainty estimation and advocates for a higher reliance on structured CS in support of long-term biodiversity monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Nabias
- Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre d’Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, Paris, France
- Ligue Pour la Protection des Oiseaux, Rochefort, France
| | - Luc Barbaro
- Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre d’Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, Paris, France
- Institut National de la Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Auzeville-Tolosane, France
| | - Benoît Fontaine
- Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre d’Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, Paris, France
- Patrimoine Naturel, Office Français de la Biodiversité, Paris, France
| | - Jérémy Dupuy
- Ligue Pour la Protection des Oiseaux, Rochefort, France
| | - Laurent Couzi
- Ligue Pour la Protection des Oiseaux, Rochefort, France
| | - Clément Vallé
- Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre d’Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, Paris, France
| | - Romain Lorrilliere
- Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre d’Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, Paris, France
- Centre de Recherches sur la Biologie des Populations d’Oiseaux, Paris, France
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13
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McKee RK, Taillie PJ, Hart KM, Lopez CL, Sanjar A, McCleery RA. Ecological function maintained despite mesomammal declines. Sci Rep 2024; 14:19668. [PMID: 39181911 PMCID: PMC11344858 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66534-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Mid-sized mammals (i.e., mesomammals) fulfill important ecological roles, serving as essential scavengers, predators, pollinators, and seed dispersers in the ecosystems they inhabit. Consequently, declines in mesomammal populations have the potential to alter ecological processes and fundamentally change ecosystems. However, ecosystems characterized by high functional redundancy, where multiple species can fulfil similar ecological roles, may be less impacted by the loss of mesomammals and other vertebrates. The Greater Everglades Ecosystem in southern Florida is a historically biodiverse region that has recently been impacted by multiple anthropogenic threats, most notably the introduction of the Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus). Since pythons became established, mesomammal populations have become greatly reduced. To assess whether these declines in mesomammals have affected two critical ecosystem functions-scavenging and frugivory-we conducted experiments in areas where mesomammals were present and absent. We did not observe significant differences in scavenging or frugivory efficiency in areas with and without mesomammals, but we did observe significant differences in the communities responsible for scavenging and frugivory. Despite the observed evidence of redundancy, the changes in community composition could potentially lead to indirect consequences on processes like seed dispersal and disease dynamics within this ecosystem, emphasizing the need for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca K McKee
- Department of Biology, Mercer University, 1501 Mercer University Drive, Macon, Georgia, 31207, United States.
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
| | - Paul J Taillie
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
- Department of Geography, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kristen M Hart
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Davie, FL, USA
| | - Christopher L Lopez
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
| | - Adam Sanjar
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
| | - Robert A McCleery
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
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14
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Zyambo P, Mwitwa J, Kalaba FK, Kazonga E. Persistent Illegal Hunting of Wildlife in an African Landscape: Insights from a Study in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2401. [PMID: 39199935 PMCID: PMC11350902 DOI: 10.3390/ani14162401] [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: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Decades of illegal hunting (poaching) have adversely affected wildlife populations and thereby limited sustainable wildlife conservation in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia. Despite intervention efforts to address the problem, the illegal hunting of wildlife has persisted. Therefore, this study was conducted to understand the persistence of illegal hunting by investigating the drivers of poaching and intervention measures using a mixed methods approach. Stratified random sampling was used to collect data from 346 respondents through structured questionnaires. Purposive sampling was used to collect data through nine focus group discussions and three in-depth interviews with experts. The study revealed that persistent illegal hunting was mainly driven by people's critical need for survival and sustaining their livelihoods and not by inadequate law enforcement as presumed by resource managers. Although law enforcement was the most prevalent intervention measure, it did not deter local illegal hunters because their main motivations for poaching were not effectively addressed. The key implication of these findings is that where the illegal harvesting of natural resources in protected areas by local resource users is driven by people's critical need for survival and a livelihood, which is ineffectively addressed, illegal harvesting may persist even with increased law enforcement. This study provides empirical evidence, novel conceptual knowledge and an understanding of how prevalent drivers of poaching and other factors may have influenced persistent illegal hunting in the Luangwa Valley.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Zyambo
- School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Lusaka, Lusaka P.O. Box 36711, Zambia
| | - Jacob Mwitwa
- School of Applied Sciences, Kapasa Makasa University, Chinsali P.O. Box 480195, Zambia;
| | | | - Eustarckio Kazonga
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Lusaka, Lusaka P.O. Box 36711, Zambia;
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15
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Landers E, Claridge B, Kuhn W, Seymour V, Peek H, Fluet S, Ramgren J, Phelps J, Paulk B, Cordner L, Blaschke J. Using DNA barcoding to identify high-priority taxa (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 53:730-739. [PMID: 38853372 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvae058] [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: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) seeks to document every species of living thing in the park. The ATBI is decades in progress, yet some taxa remain virtually untouched by taxonomists. Such "high priority" taxa include the hyper-diverse parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae. Despite the positive and multifaceted effects ichneumonids have on their environment, only a small percentage of those collected in the park have been identified as species, mostly to their complex morphology and overwhelming diversity. Recently, DNA barcoding has transformed biodiversity inventories, streamlining the process to be more rapid and efficient. To test the effectiveness of barcoding 20 + year-old specimens of Ichneumonidae and catalog new records for GSMNP, COI was amplified from 95 ichneumonid morphospecies collected from Andrew's Bald, NC. Species identifications were confirmed morphologically. Eighty-one ichneumonids generated sequence data, representing 16 subfamilies and 44 genera. The subfamily Oxytorinae is newly recorded from GSMNP, along with 10 newly recorded genera and 23 newly recorded species across Ichneumonidae. These results contribute significantly to the ATBI by adding new park records for a high-priority taxon and demonstrate the effectiveness of applying DNA barcoding to samples in long-term storage or those lacking immediate taxonomic expertise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emerie Landers
- Department of Biology, Union University, 1050 Union University, Jackson, TN, 38305, USA
| | - Brandon Claridge
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
| | - Will Kuhn
- Discover Life in America, 1316 Cherokee Orchard Road, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, USA
| | - Victoria Seymour
- Department of Biology, Union University, 1050 Union University, Jackson, TN, 38305, USA
| | - Hettie Peek
- Department of Biology, Union University, 1050 Union University, Jackson, TN, 38305, USA
| | - Scout Fluet
- Department of Biology, Union University, 1050 Union University, Jackson, TN, 38305, USA
| | - Jake Ramgren
- Department of Biology, Union University, 1050 Union University, Jackson, TN, 38305, USA
| | - Jake Phelps
- Department of Biology, Union University, 1050 Union University, Jackson, TN, 38305, USA
| | - Brayden Paulk
- Department of Biology, Union University, 1050 Union University, Jackson, TN, 38305, USA
| | - Lydia Cordner
- Department of Biology, Union University, 1050 Union University, Jackson, TN, 38305, USA
| | - Jeremy Blaschke
- Department of Biology, Union University, 1050 Union University, Jackson, TN, 38305, USA
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16
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He G, Zhang X, Wang J, Xu P, Hou X, Dong W, Lei Y, Jin X, Wang W, Tian W, Huang Y, Li D, Qin T, Wang J, Pan R, Li B, Guo S. Advancing primate surveillance with image recognition techniques from unmanned aerial vehicles. Am J Primatol 2024:e23676. [PMID: 39148233 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveys on thermostatic animals has gained prominence due to their ability to provide practical and precise dynamic censuses, contributing to developing and refining conservation strategies. However, the practical application of UAVs for animal monitoring necessitates the automation of image interpretation to enhance their effectiveness. Based on our past experiences, we present the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) as a case study to illustrate the effective use of thermal cameras mounted on UAVs for monitoring monkey populations in Qinling, a region characterized by magnificent biodiversity. We used the local contrast method for a small infrared target detection algorithm to collect the total population size. Through the experimental group, we determined the average optimal grayscale threshold, while the validation group confirmed that this threshold enables automatic detection and counting of target animals in similar datasets. The precision rate obtained from the experiments ranged from 85.14% to 97.60%. Our findings reveal a negative correlation between the minimum average distance between thermal spots and the count of detected individuals, indicating higher interference in images with closer thermal spots. We propose a formula for adjusting primate population estimates based on detection rates obtained from UAV surveys. Our results demonstrate the practical application of UAV-based thermal imagery and automated detection algorithms for primate monitoring, albeit with consideration of environmental factors and the need for data preprocessing. This study contributes to advancing the application of UAV technology in wildlife monitoring, with implications for conservation management and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang He
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Pengfei Xu
- School of Information Science and Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiduo Hou
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wei Dong
- Management Bureau of Shaanxi Changqing National Nature Reserve, Hanzhong, China
| | - Yinghu Lei
- Research Center for the Qinling Giant Panda (Shaanxi Rare Wildlife Rescue Base), Shaanxi Academy of Forestry Sciences, Xi'an, China
| | - Xuelin Jin
- Shaanxi Institute of Zoology, Shaanxi Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, China
| | - Weifeng Wang
- Shaanxi Nature Reserve and Wildlife Management Station, Shaanxi Forestry Bureau, Xi'an, China
| | - Wenyong Tian
- Management Bureau of Shaanxi Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve, Xi'an, China
| | - Yan Huang
- China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda, Chengdu, China
| | - Desheng Li
- China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda, Chengdu, China
| | - Tianyu Qin
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ruliang Pan
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
- International Centre of Biodiversity and Primate Conservation, Dali University, Dali, China
- School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Baoguo Li
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
- Shaanxi Institute of Zoology, Shaanxi Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, China
- College of Life Science, Yanan University, Yanan, China
| | - Songtao Guo
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
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17
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Feng Y, Song H, Song H, Wu Y, Li X, Tian L, Dong S, Lei Y, Clapham ME. High extinction risk in large foraminifera during past and future mass extinctions. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj8223. [PMID: 39110795 PMCID: PMC11305383 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj8223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
There is a strong relationship between metazoan body size and extinction risk. However, the size selectivity and underlying mechanisms in foraminifera, a common marine protozoa, remain controversial. Here, we found that foraminifera exhibit size-dependent extinction selectivity, favoring larger groups (>7.4 log10 cubic micrometer) over smaller ones. Foraminifera showed significant size selectivity in the Guadalupian-Lopingian, Permian-Triassic, and Cretaceous-Paleogene extinctions where the proportion of large genera exceeded 50%. Conversely, in extinctions where the proportion of large genera was <45%, foraminifera displayed no selectivity. As most of these extinctions coincided with oceanic anoxic events, we conducted simulations to assess the effects of ocean deoxygenation on foraminifera. Our results indicate that under suboxic conditions, oxygen fails to diffuse into the cell center of large foraminifera. Consequently, we propose a hypothesis to explain size distribution-related selectivity and Lilliput effect in animals relying on diffusion for oxygen during past and future ocean deoxygenation, i.e., oxygen diffusion distance in body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Haijun Song
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hanchen Song
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yuyang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Li Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Shuaishuai Dong
- Department of Marine Organism Taxonomy & Phylogeny, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- College of Marine Science and Fisheries, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| | - Yanli Lei
- Department of Marine Organism Taxonomy & Phylogeny, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Matthew E. Clapham
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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18
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Liao W, Cao S, Jiang Y, Shao W, Zhao L, Yan C. Predicting Conservation Status of Testudoformes under Climate Change Using Habitat Models. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2300. [PMID: 39199834 PMCID: PMC11350788 DOI: 10.3390/ani14162300] [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: 06/15/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change promotes variations in distribution ranges, potentially leading to biodiversity loss and increased extinction risks for species. It is crucial to investigate these variations under future climate change scenarios for effective biodiversity conservation. Here, we studied the future distribution ranges of 268 Testudoformes species under climate change using habitat models, specifically species distribution models (SDMs), to assess their conservation status. Our results have indicated that over half of species are projected to experience declines in their potential distribution ranges under two scenarios. In particular, we found that three critically endangered species-Three-striped roofed turtle (Batagur dhongoka), Durango mud turtle (Kinosternon durangoense), and Colombian mud turtle (Kinosternon dunni)-displayed extraction of their distribution ranges and faced extinction under global climate change. Additionally, our analysis revealed that the potential distribution ranges of some species might increase under future climate scenarios. However, these findings must be interpreted with caution as they do not account for other significant factors such as biological invasions, population structure, land-use change, anthropogenic disturbances, and inter-organism interrelationships. Future studies should incorporate these factors to provide a more comprehensive assessment of extinction risks. Our findings suggest that climate change, in conjunction with habitat degradation and human activities, must be considered when assessing the extinction risks of Testudoformes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Liao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (S.C.); (Y.J.); (W.S.); (L.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- College of Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Shun Cao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (S.C.); (Y.J.); (W.S.); (L.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- College of Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Ying Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (S.C.); (Y.J.); (W.S.); (L.Z.)
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Weijie Shao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (S.C.); (Y.J.); (W.S.); (L.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- College of Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (S.C.); (Y.J.); (W.S.); (L.Z.)
- College of Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Chengzhi Yan
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (S.C.); (Y.J.); (W.S.); (L.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- College of Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
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19
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Feng X, Peterson AT, Aguirre-López LJ, Burger JR, Chen X, Papeş M. Rethinking ecological niches and geographic distributions in face of pervasive human influence in the Anthropocene. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1481-1503. [PMID: 38597328 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Species are distributed in predictable ways in geographic spaces. The three principal factors that determine geographic distributions of species are biotic interactions (B), abiotic conditions (A), and dispersal ability or mobility (M). A species is expected to be present in areas that are accessible to it and that contain suitable sets of abiotic and biotic conditions for it to persist. A species' probability of presence can be quantified as a combination of responses to B, A, and M via ecological niche modeling (ENM; also frequently referred to as species distribution modeling or SDM). This analytical approach has been used broadly in ecology and biogeography, as well as in conservation planning and decision-making, but commonly in the context of 'natural' settings. However, it is increasingly recognized that human impacts, including changes in climate, land cover, and ecosystem function, greatly influence species' geographic ranges. In this light, historical distinctions between natural and anthropogenic factors have become blurred, and a coupled human-natural landscape is recognized as the new norm. Therefore, B, A, and M (BAM) factors need to be reconsidered to understand and quantify species' distributions in a world with a pervasive signature of human impacts. Here, we present a framework, termed human-influenced BAM (Hi-BAM, for distributional ecology that (i) conceptualizes human impacts in the form of six drivers, and (ii) synthesizes previous studies to show how each driver modifies the natural BAM and species' distributions. Given the importance and prevalence of human impacts on species distributions globally, we also discuss implications of this framework for ENM/SDM methods, and explore strategies by which to incorporate increasing human impacts in the methodology. Human impacts are redefining biogeographic patterns; as such, future studies should incorporate signals of human impacts integrally in modeling and forecasting species' distributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Feng
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | | | | | - Joseph R Burger
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40502, USA
| | - Xin Chen
- Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Frostburg, MD, 21532, USA
| | - Monica Papeş
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
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20
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Li Y, Zhao Y, Huang Q, Deng J, Deng X, Li J. Empathy with nature promotes pro-environmental attitudes in preschool children. Psych J 2024; 13:598-607. [PMID: 38351460 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to explore whether empathy with nature (i.e., the tendency to understand and share the emotional experience of the natural world) contributes to pro-environmental attitudes in early childhood. In a correlational investigation (Study 1), 138 (Mage = 57.78 months) preschool children completed a battery of tasks to measure their pro-environmental attitudes, empathy with nature, and empathy with humans. We found that empathy with nature positively predicts pro-environmental attitudes, even beyond the predictive power of empathy with humans. In a quasi-experimental investigation (Study 2), 46 children from two parallel classes in the same preschool were recruited as the intervention (n = 23, Mage = 66.74 months) and control (n = 23, Mage = 67.61 months) groups. An intervention session that aimed to induce empathy with nature was applied to the intervention group, whereas an active control teaching session was applied to the control group. After the intervention, the intervention group demonstrated greater pro-environmental attitudes than did the control group. Together, our studies provide converging evidence that empathy with nature promotes pro-environmental attitudes in early childhood, further implying the value of integrating empathy with nature in early childhood environmental education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Li
- College of Teacher Education, Dali University, Dali, China
- College of Culture, Tourism, and Health Care, Chongqing City Vocational College, Chongqing, China
| | - Yajun Zhao
- School of Education and Psychology, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qun Huang
- College of Teacher Education, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Jiyan Deng
- College of Teacher Education, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Xueer Deng
- College of Liberal Arts, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jingguang Li
- College of Teacher Education, Dali University, Dali, China
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21
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Priest J, Ferreira CM, Munday PL, Roberts A, Rodolfo-Metalpa R, Rummer JL, Schunter C, Ravasi T, Nagelkerken I. Out of shape: Ocean acidification simplifies coral reef architecture and reshuffles fish assemblages. J Anim Ecol 2024; 93:1097-1107. [PMID: 38926938 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Climate change stressors are progressively simplifying biogenic habitats in the terrestrial and marine realms, and consequently altering the structure of associated species communities. Here, we used a volcanic CO2 seep in Papua New Guinea to test in situ if altered reef architecture due to ocean acidification reshuffles associated fish assemblages. We observed replacement of branching corals by massive corals at the seep, with simplified coral architectural complexity driving abundance declines between 60% and 86% for an assemblage of damselfishes associated with branching corals. An experimental test of habitat preference for a focal species indicated that acidification does not directly affect habitat selection behaviour, with changes in habitat structural complexity consequently appearing to be the stronger driver of assemblage reshuffling. Habitat health affected anti-predator behaviour, with P. moluccensis becoming less bold on dead branching corals relative to live branching corals, irrespective of ocean acidification. We conclude that coral reef fish assemblages are likely to be more sensitive to changes in habitat structure induced by increasing pCO2 than any direct effects on behaviour, indicating that changes in coral architecture and live cover may act as important mediators of reef fish community structures in a future ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Priest
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Camilo M Ferreira
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Philip L Munday
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Amelia Roberts
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Riccardo Rodolfo-Metalpa
- ENTROPIE-UMR 9220 (CNRS, IRD, UR, UNC, IFREMER), IRD Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement, Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Celia Schunter
- Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Timothy Ravasi
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Marine Climate Change Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), Onna-son, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Ivan Nagelkerken
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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22
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Pradel R, Renaud P, Pays O, Scholte P, Ogutu JO, Hibert F, Casajus N, Mialhe F, Fritz H. Establishing large mammal population trends from heterogeneous count data. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70193. [PMID: 39184571 PMCID: PMC11341276 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Monitoring population trends is pivotal to effective wildlife conservation and management. However, wildlife managers often face many challenges when analyzing time series of census data due to heterogeneities in sampling methodology, strategy, or frequency. We present a three-step method for modeling trends from time series of count data obtained through multiple census methods (aerial or ground census and expert estimates). First, we design a heuristic for constructing credible intervals for all types of animal counts including those which come with no precision measure. Then, we define conversion factors for rendering aerial and ground counts comparable and provide values for broad classes of animals from an extant series of parallel aerial and ground censuses. Lastly, we construct a Bayesian model that takes the reconciled counts as input and estimates the relative growth rates between successive dates while accounting for their precisions. Importantly, we bound the rate of increase to account for the demographic potential of a species. We propose a flow chart for constructing credible intervals for various types of animal counts. We provide estimates of conversion factors for 5 broad classes of species. We describe the Bayesian model for calculating trends, annual rates of population increase, and the associated credible intervals. We develop a bespoke R CRAN package, popbayes, for implementing all the calculations that take the raw counts as input. It produces consistent and reliable estimates of population trends and annual rates of increase. Several examples from real populations of large African mammals illustrate the different features of our method. The approach is well-suited for analyzing population trends for heterogeneous time series and allows a principled use of all the available historical census data. The method is general and flexible and applicable to various other animal species besides African large mammals. It can readily be adapted to test predictions of various hypotheses about drivers of rates of population increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Pradel
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRDMontpellierFrance
- Sustainability Research Unit, Faculty of Science, George CampusNelson Mandela UniversityGeorgeSouth Africa
| | - P.‐C. Renaud
- Sustainability Research Unit, Faculty of Science, George CampusNelson Mandela UniversityGeorgeSouth Africa
- Cirad, UPR Forêts et SociétésMontpellierFrance
- Forêts et Sociétés, Univ Montpellier, CiradMontpellierFrance
| | - O. Pays
- Univ Angers, BIODIVAGAngersFrance
- REHABS International Research LaboratoryCNRS‐Université Lyon 1‐Nelson Mandela University, George CampusGeorgeSouth Africa
| | - P. Scholte
- German Development Cooperation (GIZ)Addis AbabaEthiopia
| | - J. O. Ogutu
- Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Crop ScienceUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
| | - F. Hibert
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558VilleurbanneFrance
| | | | - F. Mialhe
- Department of Geography, CNRS 5600 EVSUniversity Lumière Lyon 2BronFrance
| | - H. Fritz
- Sustainability Research Unit, Faculty of Science, George CampusNelson Mandela UniversityGeorgeSouth Africa
- REHABS International Research LaboratoryCNRS‐Université Lyon 1‐Nelson Mandela University, George CampusGeorgeSouth Africa
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23
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Uusi‐Heikkilä S, Salonen JK, Karjalainen JS, Väisänen A, Hippeläinen J, Hämärvuo T, Kuparinen A. Fish with slow life-history cope better with chronic manganese exposure than fish with fast life-history. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70134. [PMID: 39119176 PMCID: PMC11307103 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Animals with different life-history types vary in their stress-coping styles, which can affect their fitness and survival in changing environments. We studied how chronic exposure to manganese sulfate (MnSO4), a common aquatic pollutant, affects life-history traits, physiology, and behavior of zebrafish (Danio rerio) with two life-history types: fast (previously selected for fast juvenile growth, early maturation, and small adult body size) and slow life histories (selected for slow juvenile growth, late maturation, and large adult body size). We found that MnSO4 had negative effects on growth and condition factors, but the magnitude of these effects depended on the life-history type. Individuals with fast life histories were more susceptible to MnSO4 than fish with slow life histories as they had lower growth rate, condition factor and feeding probability in high MnSO4 concentrations. Our results demonstrate that MnSO4 can impair fish performance, and life-history variation can modulate the stress-coping ability of individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silva Uusi‐Heikkilä
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyvaskylaFinland
| | - Jouni K. Salonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyvaskylaFinland
| | - Juha S. Karjalainen
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyvaskylaFinland
| | - Ari Väisänen
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of JyväskyläJyvaskylaFinland
| | - Johanna Hippeläinen
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyvaskylaFinland
| | - Teemu Hämärvuo
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyvaskylaFinland
| | - Anna Kuparinen
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyvaskylaFinland
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24
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Wilson JD, Huang EJ, Lyson TR, Bever GS. Freshwater fish and the Cretaceous/Palaeogene boundary: a critical assessment of survivorship patterns. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20241025. [PMID: 39196282 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.1025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Mass extinctions are major influences on both the phylogenetic structure of the modern biota and our ability to reconstruct broad-based patterns of evolutionary history. The most recent mass extinction is also the most famous-that which implicates a bolide impact in defining the Cretaceous/Palaeogene boundary (K/Pg). Although the biotic effects of this event receive intensive scrutiny, certain ecologically important and diverse groups remain woefully understudied. One such group is the freshwater ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii). These fish represent 25% of modern vertebrate diversity, yet the isolated and fragmentary nature of their K/Pg fossil record limits our understanding of their diversity dynamics across this event. Here, we address this problem using diversification analysis of molecular-based phylogenies alongside a morphotype analysis of fossils recovered from a unique site in the Denver Basin of western North America that provides unprecedented K/Pg resolution. Our results reveal previously unrecognized signals of post-K/Pg diversification in freshwater clades and suggest that the change was driven by localized and sporadic patterns of extinction. Supported inferences regarding the effects of the K/Pg event on freshwater fish also inform our expectations of how freshwater faunas might recover from the current biodiversity crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob D Wilson
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1830 Monument Street , Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - E J Huang
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1830 Monument Street , Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Tyler R Lyson
- Department of Earth Sciences, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard , Denver, CO 80205, USA
| | - Gabriel S Bever
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1830 Monument Street , Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Earth Sciences, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard , Denver, CO 80205, USA
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street , Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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25
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Horesh SJA, Ovadia O. Predicting habitat suitability of the critically endangered Be'er Sheva fringe-fingered lizard. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70108. [PMID: 39157672 PMCID: PMC11327611 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic changes, such as land use, are the main drivers causing climate change and biodiversity loss, with hundreds of thousands of species lacking sufficient habitats for their populations to persist and likely to go extinct within decades. Endemic species are more susceptible to habitat changes and are at the forefront of the biodiversity crisis. We used species distribution models to generate a relative habitat suitability map and identified the habitat requirements of the critically endangered and endemic Be'er Sheva fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus beershebensis). The model showed that the species' suitable habitats are associated with arid loess plains characterized by scattered, low vegetation cover, primarily on north-facing aspects, suggesting that these species-specific habitat requirements limit its distribution. The size of the potentially suitable area within the species' historical range is 1350.73 km2. However, anthropogenic changes decreased the remaining suitable habitat to 995.04 km2. Most of this area is unprotected and at risk of further adverse anthropogenic effects. Only 91.72 km2 of this area is protected by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, and 587.11 km2 may be considered indirectly protected because it is within military firing zones. Our study is the first attempt to map the remaining suitable habitat of A. beershebensis based on the results of a species distribution model. The results of this model can assist in prioritizing the protection of areas needed for the conservation of this critically endangered and endemic lizard species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sefi J. A. Horesh
- Department of Life SciencesBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBe'er ShevaIsrael
- Midbarium Animal ParkBe'er ShevaIsrael
| | - Ofer Ovadia
- Department of Life SciencesBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBe'er ShevaIsrael
- The Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate ChangeBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBe'er ShevaIsrael
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26
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Abedin I, Mukherjee T, Kim AR, Lee SR, Kim H, Kundu S. Fragile futures: Evaluating habitat and climate change response of hog badgers (Mustelidae: Arctonyx) in the conservation landscape of mainland Asia. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70160. [PMID: 39145041 PMCID: PMC11322595 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The small mammalian fauna plays pivotal roles in ecosystem dynamics and as crucial biodiversity indicators. However, recent research has raised concerns about the decline of mammalian species due to climate change. Consequently, significant attention is directed toward studying various big flagship mammalian species for conservation. However, small mammals such as the hog badgers (Mustelidae: Arctonyx) remain understudied regarding the impacts of climate change in Asia. The present study offers a comprehensive analysis of climate change effects on two mainland hog badger species, utilizing ensemble species distribution modeling. Findings reveal concerning outcomes, as only 52% of the IUCN extent is deemed suitable for the Great Hog Badger (Arctonyx collaris) and a mere 17% is ideal for the Northern Hog Badger (Arctonyx albogularis). Notably, projections suggest a potential reduction of over 26% in suitable areas for both species under future climate scenarios, with the most severe decline anticipated in the high-emission scenario of SSP585. These declines translate into evident habitat fragmentation, particularly impacting A. collaris, whose patches shrink substantially, contrasting with the relatively stable patches of A. albogularis. However, despite their differences, niche overlap analysis reveals an intriguing increase in overlap between the two species, indicating potential ecological shifts. The study underscores the importance of integrating climate change and habitat fragmentation considerations into conservation strategies, urging a reassessment of the IUCN status of A. albogularis. The insights gained from this research are crucial for improving protection measures by ensuring adequate legal safeguards and maintaining ecological corridors between viable habitat patches, which are essential for the conservation of hog badgers across mainland Asia. Furthermore, emphasizing the urgency of proactive efforts, particularly in countries with suitable habitats can help safeguard these small mammalian species and their ecosystems from the detrimental impacts of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imon Abedin
- Agricultural and Ecological Research UnitIndian Statistical InstituteKolkataIndia
| | - Tanoy Mukherjee
- Agricultural and Ecological Research UnitIndian Statistical InstituteKolkataIndia
| | - Ah Ran Kim
- Research Center for Marine Integrated Bionics TechnologyPukyong National UniversityBusanRepublic of Korea
| | - Soo Rin Lee
- Research Center for Marine Integrated Bionics TechnologyPukyong National UniversityBusanRepublic of Korea
| | - Hyun‐Woo Kim
- Research Center for Marine Integrated Bionics TechnologyPukyong National UniversityBusanRepublic of Korea
- Department of Marine BiologyPukyong National UniversityBusanRepublic of Korea
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and TechnologyAirlangga UniversitySurabayaIndonesia
| | - Shantanu Kundu
- Institute of Fisheries Science, College of Fisheries SciencesPukyong National UniversityBusanRepublic of Korea
- International Graduate Program of Fisheries SciencePukyong National UniversityBusanRepublic of Korea
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27
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Zhang C, Wang Y, Chang J, Li J, Pan S, Yang B, Zhan X, Dai Q. Global patterns of human-wildlife spatial associations and implications for differentiating conservation strategies. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14279. [PMID: 38682658 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the global patterns of human and wildlife spatial associations is essential for pragmatic conservation implementation, yet analytical foundations and indicator-based assessments that would further this understanding are lacking. We integrated the global distributions of 30,664 terrestrial vertebrates and human pressures to map human-nature index (HNI) categories that indicate the extent and intensity of human-wildlife interactions. Along the 2 dimensions of biodiversity and human activity, the HNI allowed placement of terrestrial areas worldwide in one of 4 HNI categories: anthropic (human-dominated areas), wildlife-dominated (little human influence and rich in wildlife), co-occurring (substantial presence of humans and wildlife), and harsh-environment (limited presence of humans and wildlife) areas. The HNI varied considerably among taxonomic groups, and the leading driver of HNI was global climate patterns. Co-occurring regions were the most prevalent (35.9%), and wildlife-dominated and anthropic regions encompassed 26.45% and 6.50% of land area, respectively. Our results highlight the necessity for customizing conservation strategies to regions based on human-wildlife spatial associations and the distribution of existing protected area networks. Human activity and biodiversity should be integrated for complementary strategies to support conservation toward ambitious and pragmatic 30×30 goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengcheng Zhang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Yihong Wang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiang Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Junsheng Li
- Command Center for Comprehensive Survey of Natural Resources, China Geological Survey Bureau, Beijing, China
| | - Shengkai Pan
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Biao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, China
| | - Xiangjiang Zhan
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Dai
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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28
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Dahlin CR, Smith-Vidaurre G, Genes MK, Wright TF. Widespread cultural change in declining populations of Amazon parrots. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240659. [PMID: 39163980 PMCID: PMC11335405 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Species worldwide are experiencing anthropogenic environmental change, and the long-term impacts on animal cultural traditions such as vocal dialects are often unknown. Our prior studies of the yellow-naped amazon (Amazona auropalliata) revealed stable vocal dialects over an 11-year period (1994-2005), with modest shifts in geographic boundaries and acoustic structure of contact calls. Here, we examined whether yellow-naped amazons maintained stable dialects over the subsequent 11-year time span from 2005 to 2016, culminating in 22 years of study. Over this same period, this species suffered a dramatic decrease in population size that prompted two successive uplists in IUCN status, from vulnerable to critically endangered. In this most recent 11-year time span, we found evidence of geographic shifts in call types, manifesting in more bilingual sites and introgression across the formerly distinct North-South acoustic boundary. We also found greater evidence of acoustic drift, in the form of new emerging call types and greater acoustic variation overall. These results suggest cultural traditions such as dialects may change in response to demographic and environmental conditions, with broad implications for threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine R. Dahlin
- Departments of Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Johnstown, PA, USA
| | - Grace Smith-Vidaurre
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
- Rockefeller University Field Research Center, Millbrook, NY, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Departments of Integrative Biology and Computational Mathematics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Molly K. Genes
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
| | - Timothy F. Wright
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
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29
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Peddle SD, Hodgson RJ, Borrett RJ, Brachmann S, Davies TC, Erickson TE, Liddicoat C, Muñoz-Rojas M, Robinson JM, Watson CD, Krauss SL, Breed MF. Practical applications of soil microbiota to improve ecosystem restoration: current knowledge and future directions. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024. [PMID: 39075839 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Soil microbiota are important components of healthy ecosystems. Greater consideration of soil microbiota in the restoration of biodiverse, functional, and resilient ecosystems is required to address the twin global crises of biodiversity decline and climate change. In this review, we discuss available and emerging practical applications of soil microbiota into (i) restoration planning, (ii) direct interventions for shaping soil biodiversity, and (iii) strategies for monitoring and predicting restoration trajectories. We show how better planning of restoration activities to account for soil microbiota can help improve progress towards restoration targets. We show how planning to embed soil microbiota experiments into restoration projects will permit a more rigorous assessment of the effectiveness of different restoration methods, especially when complemented by statistical modelling approaches that capitalise on existing data sets to improve causal understandings and prioritise research strategies where appropriate. In addition to recovering belowground microbiota, restoration strategies that include soil microbiota can improve the resilience of whole ecosystems. Fundamentally, restoration planning should identify appropriate reference target ecosystem attributes and - from the perspective of soil microbiota - comprehensibly consider potential physical, chemical and biological influences on recovery. We identify that inoculating ecologically appropriate soil microbiota into degraded environments can support a range of restoration interventions (e.g. targeted, broad-spectrum and cultured inoculations) with promising results. Such inoculations however are currently underutilised and knowledge gaps persist surrounding successful establishment in light of community dynamics, including priority effects and community coalescence. We show how the ecological trajectories of restoration sites can be assessed by characterising microbial diversity, composition, and functions in the soil. Ultimately, we highlight practical ways to apply the soil microbiota toolbox across the planning, intervention, and monitoring stages of ecosystem restoration and address persistent open questions at each stage. With continued collaborations between researchers and practitioners to address knowledge gaps, these approaches can improve current restoration practices and ecological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn D Peddle
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, Australia
| | - Riley J Hodgson
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, Australia
| | - Ryan J Borrett
- SoilsWest, Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Stella Brachmann
- University of Waikato Te Whare Wananga o Waikato Gate 1, Knighton Road, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Tarryn C Davies
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, Australia
| | - Todd E Erickson
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Science, Kattidj Close, Kings Park, Western Australia, 6005, Australia
- Centre for Engineering Innovation, School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Craig Liddicoat
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, Australia
| | - Miriam Muñoz-Rojas
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Seville, C. San Fernando, Sevilla, Spain
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Ecosystem Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - Jake M Robinson
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, Australia
| | - Carl D Watson
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, Australia
| | - Siegfried L Krauss
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Science, Kattidj Close, Kings Park, Western Australia, 6005, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Martin F Breed
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, Australia
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30
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Denny S, Englander G, Hunnicutt P. Private management of African protected areas improves wildlife and tourism outcomes but with security concerns in conflict regions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2401814121. [PMID: 38950358 PMCID: PMC11260162 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2401814121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Protected areas can conserve wildlife and benefit people when managed effectively. African governments increasingly delegate the management of protected areas to private, nongovernmental organizations, hoping that private organizations' significant resources and technical capacities actualize protected areas' potential. Does private sector management improve outcomes compared to a counterfactual of government management? We leverage the transfer of management authority from governments to African Parks (AP)-the largest private manager of protected areas in Africa-to show that private management significantly improves wildlife outcomes via reduced elephant poaching and increased bird abundances. Our results also suggest that AP's management augments tourism, while the effect on rural wealth is inconclusive. However, AP's management increases the risk of armed groups targeting civilians, which could be an unintended outcome of AP's improved monitoring and enforcement systems. These findings reveal an intricate interplay between conservation, economic development, and security under privately managed protected areas in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Denny
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93117
| | | | - Patrick Hunnicutt
- Environmental Science and Policy, Chapman University, Orange, CA92866
- School of Planning, Public Policy, and Management, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR97403
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31
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Poulin R, Salloum PM, Bennett J. Evolution of parasites in the Anthropocene: new pressures, new adaptive directions. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024. [PMID: 38984760 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
The Anthropocene is seeing the human footprint rapidly spreading to all of Earth's ecosystems. The fast-changing biotic and abiotic conditions experienced by all organisms are exerting new and strong selective pressures, and there is a growing list of examples of human-induced evolution in response to anthropogenic impacts. No organism is exempt from these novel selective pressures. Here, we synthesise current knowledge on human-induced evolution in eukaryotic parasites of animals, and present a multidisciplinary framework for its study and monitoring. Parasites generally have short generation times and huge fecundity, features that predispose them for rapid evolution. We begin by reviewing evidence that parasites often have substantial standing genetic variation, and examples of their rapid evolution both under conditions of livestock production and in serial passage experiments. We then present a two-step conceptual overview of the causal chain linking anthropogenic impacts to parasite evolution. First, we review the major anthropogenic factors impacting parasites, and identify the selective pressures they exert on parasites through increased mortality of either infective stages or adult parasites, or through changes in host density, quality or immunity. Second, we discuss what new phenotypic traits are likely to be favoured by the new selective pressures resulting from altered parasite mortality or host changes; we focus mostly on parasite virulence and basic life-history traits, as these most directly influence the transmission success of parasites and the pathology they induce. To illustrate the kinds of evolutionary changes in parasites anticipated in the Anthropocene, we present a few scenarios, either already documented or hypothetical but plausible, involving parasite taxa in livestock, aquaculture and natural systems. Finally, we offer several approaches for investigations and real-time monitoring of rapid, human-induced evolution in parasites, ranging from controlled experiments to the use of state-of-the-art genomic tools. The implications of fast-evolving parasites in the Anthropocene for disease emergence and the dynamics of infections in domestic animals and wildlife are concerning. Broader recognition that it is not only the conditions for parasite transmission that are changing, but the parasites themselves, is needed to meet better the challenges ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Priscila M Salloum
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Jerusha Bennett
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Wirth W, Schwarzkopf L, Schaffer J, Ariel E. No Ranaviral DNA Found in Australian Freshwater Turtles, 2014-19, Despite Previous Serologic Evidence. J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:683-690. [PMID: 38741369 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Ranaviruses are pathogens of ectothermic vertebrates (fish, amphibians, and reptiles). Turtles are the most common group of reptiles reported with ranaviral infections. However, there have been no surveys for wild ranaviral infection in any turtles from the suborder Pleurodira, despite ranaviral distributions and experimentally susceptible pleurodiran turtle populations overlapping in several areas, including Australia. We assayed 397 pooled blood samples from six Australian freshwater turtle species collected from five different sites in northern Australia between 2014 and 2019. Historical serologic surveys in the area had found antiranaviral antibodies; however, we did not detect any ranaviral DNA in our samples. Discrepancies between historical serologic and our molecular results may be explained by low viral prevalence during the years that these samples were collected, survivorship bias, or possibly an age class bias in sampling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wytamma Wirth
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, 1 James Cook Drive, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia
| | - Lin Schwarzkopf
- College of Science and Engineering, 1 James Cook Drive, James Cook University, The Science Place, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia
| | - Jason Schaffer
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, 1 James Cook Drive, Building 145, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia
| | - Ellen Ariel
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, 1 James Cook Drive, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia
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33
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Cavill EL, Morales HE, Sun X, Westbury MV, van Oosterhout C, Accouche W, Zora A, Schulze MJ, Shah N, Adam P, Brooke MDL, Sweet P, Gopalakrishnan S, Gilbert MTP. When birds of a feather flock together: Severe genomic erosion and the implications for genetic rescue in an endangered island passerine. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13739. [PMID: 38948538 PMCID: PMC11212007 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The Seychelles magpie-robin's (SMR) five island populations exhibit some of the lowest recorded levels of genetic diversity among endangered birds, and high levels of inbreeding. These populations collapsed during the 20th century, and the species was listed as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List in 1994. An assisted translocation-for-recovery program initiated in the 1990s increased the number of mature individuals, resulting in its downlisting to Endangered in 2005. Here, we explore the temporal genomic erosion of the SMR based on a dataset of 201 re-sequenced whole genomes that span the past ~150 years. Our sample set includes individuals that predate the bottleneck by up to 100 years, as well as individuals from contemporary populations established during the species recovery program. Despite the SMR's recent demographic recovery, our data reveal a marked increase in both the genetic load and realized load in the extant populations when compared to the historical samples. Conservation management may have reduced the intensity of selection by increasing juvenile survival and relaxing intraspecific competition between individuals, resulting in the accumulation of loss-of-function mutations (i.e. severely deleterious variants) in the rapidly recovering population. In addition, we found a 3-fold decrease in genetic diversity between temporal samples. While the low genetic diversity in modern populations may limit the species' adaptability to future environmental changes, future conservation efforts (including IUCN assessments) may also need to assess the threats posed by their high genetic load. Our computer simulations highlight the value of translocations for genetic rescue and show how this could halt genomic erosion in threatened species such as the SMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily L. Cavill
- The Globe Institute, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | | | - Xin Sun
- The Globe Institute, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | | | - Cock van Oosterhout
- School of Environmental SciencesUniversity of East Anglia, Norwich Research ParkNorwichUK
| | | | - Anna Zora
- Fregate Island Sanctuary LtdVictoriaSeychelles
| | | | | | | | | | - Paul Sweet
- American Museum of Natural HistoryNew YorkUSA
| | | | - M. Thomas P. Gilbert
- The Globe Institute, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
- University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway
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Zhang H, Shi Z, Feng B, Liu Y, Tang Z, Dong X, Gu X, Qi D, Xu W, Zhou C, Zhang J. Facilitating giant panda crossings of national highway in Wolong area of Giant Panda National Park amid human activities. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70067. [PMID: 39076614 PMCID: PMC11286302 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
As human activities continue to expand, wildlife persistence faces escalating threats from roads. In Wolong area of Giant Panda National Park, the local giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are divided into two population groups along the National Highway G350 (NHG). Therefore, selecting suitable areas to help those giant pandas communicate across the NHG is necessary. In this research, we evaluated the presence of human activities and simulated their absence to analyze how they affect the giant panda's habitat in Wolong. Subsequently, based on the kernel density estimation (KDE) for giant pandas and the main human distribution locations, we selected suitable areas for the population link between the two road sections on the NHG. We simulated the absence of human activities on the two road sections to compare changes in the habitat suitability index (HSI) and connectivity value (CV) relative to their presence. We aimed to carefully select the area for future giant panda corridor plans and simulate whether eliminating human activities will significantly improve the HSI and CV of the area. Our results show that: (1) Human activities presence has led to subtle changes in the landscape pattern of suitable habitats and a decrease in Wolong by 78.76 km2 compared to their absence. (2) Human activities presence significantly reduced HSI and CV in the 1000 m buffer along the NHG compared to their absence. (3) The HSI and CV of the 1000 m buffer in the simulated absence of human activities for the two road sections were significantly higher than their presence. This research identified the optimal road section for crossing the NHG to link giant panda population groups and habitats in Wolong. These insights are significant for formulating conservation decisions and corridor plans and for promoting wildlife conservation in reserves amid high levels of human activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education)China West Normal UniversityNanchongChina
| | - Zongkun Shi
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education)China West Normal UniversityNanchongChina
| | - Bin Feng
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education)China West Normal UniversityNanchongChina
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentTibet UniversityLhasaChina
| | - Ying Liu
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education)China West Normal UniversityNanchongChina
| | - Zhuo Tang
- Wolong National Nature Reserve AdministrationWenchuanChina
| | - Xin Dong
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education)China West Normal UniversityNanchongChina
- College of Environmental Science and EngineeringChina West Normal UniversityNanchongChina
| | - Xiaodong Gu
- Forestry and Grassland Administration of Sichuan Province & Sichuan Giant Panda National Park AdministrationChengduChina
| | - Dunwu Qi
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda BreedingChengduChina
| | - Weihua Xu
- Research Center for Eco‐Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Caiquan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education)China West Normal UniversityNanchongChina
| | - Jindong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education)China West Normal UniversityNanchongChina
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35
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Leigh DM, Vandergast AG, Hunter ME, Crandall ED, Funk WC, Garroway CJ, Hoban S, Oyler-McCance SJ, Rellstab C, Segelbacher G, Schmidt C, Vázquez-Domínguez E, Paz-Vinas I. Best practices for genetic and genomic data archiving. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:1224-1232. [PMID: 38789640 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02423-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Genetic and genomic data are collected for a vast array of scientific and applied purposes. Despite mandates for public archiving, data are typically used only by the generating authors. The reuse of genetic and genomic datasets remains uncommon because it is difficult, if not impossible, due to non-standard archiving practices and lack of contextual metadata. But as the new field of macrogenetics is demonstrating, if genetic data and their metadata were more accessible and FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) compliant, they could be reused for many additional purposes. We discuss the main challenges with existing genetic and genomic data archives, and suggest best practices for archiving genetic and genomic data. Recognizing that this is a longstanding issue due to little formal data management training within the fields of ecology and evolution, we highlight steps that research institutions and publishers could take to improve data archiving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah M Leigh
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
| | - Amy G Vandergast
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Margaret E Hunter
- US Geological Survey, Wetland & Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Eric D Crandall
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - W Chris Funk
- Department of Biology, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Colin J Garroway
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Sean Hoban
- Center for Tree Science, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL, USA
| | | | | | | | - Chloé Schmidt
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ella Vázquez-Domínguez
- Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Ivan Paz-Vinas
- Department of Biology, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1, LEHNA UMR 5023, CNRS, ENTPE, Villeurbanne, France
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36
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Ballesteros M, Díaz-Avalos C, Hernández O, Garro G. A New Method for Low Density Distribution Modeling and Near Threatened Species: The Study Case of Plectrohyla Guatemalensis. Bull Math Biol 2024; 86:97. [PMID: 38935181 DOI: 10.1007/s11538-024-01315-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
We introduce a model that can be used for the description of the distribution of species when there is scarcity of data, based on our previous work (Ballesteros et al. J Math Biol 85(4):31, 2022). We address challenges in modeling species that are seldom observed in nature, for example species included in The International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN 2023). We introduce a general method and test it using a case study of a near threatened species of amphibians called Plectrohyla Guatemalensis (see IUCN 2023) in a region of the UNESCO natural reserve "Tacaná Volcano", in the border between Mexico and Guatemala. Since threatened species are difficult to find in nature, collected data can be extremely reduced. This produces a mathematical problem in the sense that the usual modeling in terms of Markov random fields representing individuals associated to locations in a grid generates artificial clusters around the observations, which are unreasonable. We propose a different approach in which our random variables describe yearly averages of expectation values of the number of individuals instead of individuals (and they take values on a compact interval). Our approach takes advantage of intuitive insights from environmental properties: in nature individuals are attracted or repulsed by specific features (Ballesteros et al. J Math Biol 85(4):31, 2022). Drawing inspiration from quantum mechanics, we incorporate quantum Hamiltonians into classical statistical mechanics (i.e. Gibbs measures or Markov random fields). The equilibrium between spreading and attractive/repulsive forces governs the behavior of the species, expressed through a global control problem involving an energy operator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Ballesteros
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Carlos Díaz-Avalos
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Omar Hernández
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Guillermo Garro
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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37
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Coppari L, Di Gregorio M, Corti C, Merilli S, Mulargia M, Cogoni R, Manenti R, Ficetola GF, Lunghi E. Four years monitoring of the endangered European plethodontid salamanders. Sci Data 2024; 11:706. [PMID: 38937493 PMCID: PMC11211419 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03555-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The ongoing biodiversity crisis is strongly threatening amphibians, mostly because of their peculiar physiology, their sensitivity to climate change and the spread of diseases. Effective monitoring involving assessments of pressure effects across time and estimation of population trends play a key role in mitigating amphibian decline. To improve implementation of standardized protocols and conservation efforts, we present here a dataset related to one of the amphibian genera whose onservation status is considered the most declining according to the IUCN. We report information on 66 populations of the endangered European cave salamanders, genus Speleomantes, that was collected through a standardized monitoring along a four-year period (2021-2024). Demographics data of the populations and fitness-related data of single individuals are reported. Furthermore, we include 3,836 high quality images of individuals that can allow to perform studies aiming to assess the phenotypic variability within the genus, and to perform long-term capture-mark-recaptured studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Coppari
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Corti
- Natural History Museum of the University of Firenze, Museo "La Specola", Firenze, Italy
- Speleo Club Firenze, Firenze, Italy
| | | | | | - Roberto Cogoni
- Unione Speleologica Cagliaritana, Quartu Sant'Elena, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Raoul Manenti
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Gentile Francesco Ficetola
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
- Laboratoire d'Écologie Alpine (LECA), University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble, France
| | - Enrico Lunghi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
- Natural Oasis, Prato, Italy.
- Unione Speleologica Calenzano, Calenzano (Florence), Italy.
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38
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Yuan R, Zhang N, Zhang Q. The impact of habitat loss and fragmentation on biodiversity in global protected areas. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 931:173004. [PMID: 38710390 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173004] [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: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Protected areas (PAs) serve as effective means for biodiversity conservation but face threats from habitat loss and fragmentation. Current research on the impact of habitat loss or habitat fragmentation on biodiversity in PAs mostly focuses on individual PA or regional scales. At the global scale, the extent of habitat loss and fragmentation in PAs and their effects on biodiversity remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the degree of habitat loss and fragmentation in global PAs from 2000 to 2020, analyzed the impact of habitat loss and fragmentation on biodiversity in PAs, identified hotspot PAs of severe habitat loss or fragmentation, and highlighted critically endangered species within these PAs. Our study reveals that, between 2000 and 2020, 19 % of global PAs experienced habitat loss, and 34 % experienced habitat fragmentation, with large PAs and South American tropical PAs exhibiting the most severe levels of habitat loss and fragmentation. The impact of habitat loss and fragmentation on biodiversity was most significant in small PAs and African tropical PAs. There are 10 global hotspot PAs of habitat loss or fragmentation, posing a serious threat to the survival of endangered species within PAs. Biodiversity conservation remains a prominent research focus globally, and the issues of habitat loss and fragmentation in PAs may impact the achievement of the COP15 biodiversity conservation goals. Therefore, this study aims to provide data support and scientific guidance for the management and development of global PAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongyan Yuan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Grassland Ecological Security (Jointly Supported by the Ministry of Education of China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region), Hohhot 010021, China.
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39
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Arseneau-Robar TJ, Teichroeb JA, Macintosh AJJ, Saj TL, Glotfelty E, Lucci S, Sicotte P, Wikberg EC. When population growth intensifies intergroup competition, female colobus monkeys free-ride less. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14363. [PMID: 38906888 PMCID: PMC11192885 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64188-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Intergroup aggression often results in the production of public goods, such as a safe and stable social environment and a home range containing the resources required to survive and reproduce. We investigate temporal variation in intergroup aggression in a growing population of colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus) to ask a novel question: "Who stepped-up to produce these public goods when doing so became more difficult?". Both whole-group encounters and male incursions occurred more frequently as the population grew. Males and females were both more likely to participate in whole-group encounters when monopolizable food resources were available, indicating both sexes engaged in food defence. However, only females increasingly did so as the population grew, suggesting that it was females who increasingly produced the public good of home range defence as intergroup competition intensified. Females were also more active in male incursions at high population densities, suggesting they increasingly produced the public good of a safe and stable social environment. This is not to say that males were chronic free-riders when it came to maintaining public goods. Males consistently participated in the majority of intergroup interactions throughout the study period, indicating they may have lacked the capacity to invest more time and effort.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julie A Teichroeb
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Tania L Saj
- Department of Anthropology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Emily Glotfelty
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, USA
| | - Sara Lucci
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, USA
| | - Pascale Sicotte
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Eva C Wikberg
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, USA.
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40
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Viljanen M, Tostrams L, Schoffelen N, van de Kassteele J, Marshall L, Moens M, Beukema W, Wamelink W. A joint model for the estimation of species distributions and environmental characteristics from point-referenced data. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304942. [PMID: 38905294 PMCID: PMC11192322 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Predicting and explaining species occurrence using environmental characteristics is essential for nature conservation and management. Species distribution models consider species occurrence as the dependent variable and environmental conditions as the independent variables. Suitable conditions are estimated based on a sample of species observations, where one assumes that the underlying environmental conditions are known. This is not always the case, as environmental variables at broad spatial scales are regularly extrapolated from point-referenced data. However, treating the predicted environmental conditions as accurate surveys of independent variables at a specific point does not take into account their uncertainty. METHODS We present a joint hierarchical Bayesian model where models for the environmental variables, rather than a set of predicted values, are input to the species distribution model. All models are fitted together based only on point-referenced observations, which results in a correct propagation of uncertainty. We use 50 plant species representative of the Dutch flora in natural areas with 8 soil condition predictors taken during field visits in the Netherlands as a case study. We compare the proposed model to the standard approach by studying the difference in associations, predicted maps, and cross-validated accuracy. FINDINGS We find that there are differences between the two approaches in the estimated association between soil conditions and species occurrence (correlation 0.64-0.84), but the predicted maps are quite similar (correlation 0.82-1.00). The differences are more pronounced in the rarer species. The cross-validated accuracy is substantially better for 5 species out of the 50, and the species can also help to predict the soil characteristics. The estimated associations tend to have a smaller magnitude with more certainty. CONCLUSION These findings suggests that the standard model is often sufficient for prediction, but effort should be taken to develop models which take the uncertainty in the independent variables into account for interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Viljanen
- Department of Statistics, Data Science and Modelling, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lisa Tostrams
- Centre for Environmental Quality, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Niels Schoffelen
- Centre for Environmental Quality, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan van de Kassteele
- Department of Statistics, Data Science and Modelling, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Leon Marshall
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, South-Holland, The Netherlands
- Agroecology Lab, Interfaculty School of Bioengineering, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale, Belgium
| | - Merijn Moens
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, South-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter Beukema
- Reptile, Amphibian & Fish Conservation Netherlands (RAVON), Nijmegen, Gelderland, the Netherlands
| | - Wieger Wamelink
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Gelderland, The Netherlands
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41
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Li Q, Shao W, Jiang Y, Yan C, Liao W. Assessing Reptile Conservation Status under Global Climate Change. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:436. [PMID: 38927316 PMCID: PMC11200438 DOI: 10.3390/biology13060436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Global climate change drives variations in species distribution patterns and affects biodiversity, potentially increasing the risk of species extinction. Investigating the potential distribution range of species under future global climate change is crucial for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. In this study, we collected distributional data for 5282 reptile species to assess their conservation status based on distributional ranges using species distribution models. Our predictions indicate that the potential distribution ranges for over half of these species are projected to decrease under different scenarios. Under future scenarios with relatively low carbon emissions, the increase in the number of threatened reptiles is significantly lower, highlighting the importance of human efforts. Surprisingly, we identified some endangered species that are projected to expand their distribution ranges, underscoring the potential positive effects of climate change on some special species. Our findings emphasize the increased extinction risk faced by reptile species due to climate change and highlight the urgent need to mitigate the effects of habitat degradation and human activities on their potential distribution in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- College of Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Weijie Shao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- College of Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Ying Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- College of Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Chengzhi Yan
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- College of Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Wenbo Liao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- College of Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
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Llorente-Culebras S, Carmona CP, Carvalho WD, Menegotto A, Molina-Venegas R, Ladle RJ, Santos AMC. Island biodiversity in peril: Anticipating a loss of mammals' functional diversity with future species extinctions. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17375. [PMID: 38895806 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Islands are biodiversity hotspots that host unique assemblages. However, a substantial proportion of island species are threatened and their long-term survival is uncertain. Identifying and preserving vulnerable species has become a priority, but it is also essential to combine this information with other facets of biodiversity like functional diversity, to understand how future extinctions might affect ecosystem stability and functioning. Focusing on mammals, we (i) assessed how much functional space would be lost if threatened species go extinct, (ii) determined the minimum number of extinctions that would cause a significant functional loss, (iii) identified the characteristics (e.g., biotic, climatic, geographic, or orographic) of the islands most vulnerable to future changes in the functional space, and (iv) quantified how much of that potential functional loss would be offset by introduced species. Using trait information for 1474 mammal species occurring in 318 islands worldwide, we built trait probability density functions to quantify changes in functional richness and functional redundancy in each island if the mammals categorized by IUCN as threatened disappeared. We found that the extinction of threatened mammals would reduce the functional space in 63% of the assessed islands, although these extinctions in general would cause a reduction of less than 15% of their overall functional space. Also, on most islands, the extinction of just a few species would be sufficient to cause a significant loss of functional diversity. The potential functional loss would be higher on small, isolated, and/or species-rich islands, and, in general, the functional space lost would not be offset by introduced species. Our results show that the preservation of native species and their ecological roles remains crucial for maintaining the current functioning of island ecosystems. Therefore, conservation measures considering functional diversity are imperative to safeguard the unique functional roles of threatened mammal species on islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Llorente-Culebras
- Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG-UAM), Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos P Carmona
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - William D Carvalho
- Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG-UAM), Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Tropical, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Macapá, Brazil
| | - André Menegotto
- Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG-UAM), Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Molina-Venegas
- Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG-UAM), Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Richard J Ladle
- Institute of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil
| | - Ana M C Santos
- Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG-UAM), Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Min CG, Ma X, Wang YC, Zhong CK, Yuan CS, Zhang KY, Zhan CL, Hou SK, Wang XH, Wang J, Zhao J, Fang Y, Liu HY, Ding H, Guo J, Lu WF. The effects of repeated freezing and thawing on bovine sperm morphometry and function. Cryobiology 2024; 115:104892. [PMID: 38593909 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2024.104892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Refreezing the remaining genetic resources after in vitro fertilization (IVF) can conserve genetic materials. However, the precise damage inflicted by repeated freezing and thawing on bovine sperm and its underlying mechanism remain largely unexplored. Thus, this study investigates the impact of repeated freeze-thaw cycles on sperm. Our findings indicate that such cycles significantly reduce sperm viability and motility. Furthermore, the integrity of the sperm plasma membrane and acrosome is compromised during this process, exacerbating the advanced apoptosis triggered by oxidative stress. Additionally, transmission electron microscopy exposed severe damage to the plasma membranes of both the sperm head and tail. Notably, the "9 + 2" structure of the tail was disrupted, along with a significant decrease in the level of the axonemal protein DNAH10, leading to reduced sperm motility. IVF outcomes revealed that repeated freeze-thaw cycles considerably impair sperm fertilization capability, ultimately reducing the blastocyst rate. In summary, our research demonstrates that repeated freeze-thaw cycles lead to a decline in sperm viability and motility, attributed to oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and DNAH10-related dynamic deficiency. As a result, the utility of semen is compromised after repeated freezing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Guo Min
- Key Laboratory of the Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xin Ma
- Key Laboratory of the Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yu-Chan Wang
- Key Laboratory of the Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Cheng-Kun Zhong
- Key Laboratory of the Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Chong-Shan Yuan
- Key Laboratory of the Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Kai-Yan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of the Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Cheng-Lin Zhan
- Key Laboratory of the Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Sheng-Kui Hou
- Key Laboratory of the Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xin-Hai Wang
- Key Laboratory of the Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of the Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Key Laboratory of the Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yi Fang
- Key Laboratory of the Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Hong-Yu Liu
- Key Laboratory of the Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - He Ding
- Key Laboratory of the Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jing Guo
- Key Laboratory of the Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Wen-Fa Lu
- Key Laboratory of the Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
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Senior RA, Bagwyn R, Leng D, Killion AK, Jetz W, Wilcove DS. Global shortfalls in documented actions to conserve biodiversity. Nature 2024; 630:387-391. [PMID: 38839953 PMCID: PMC11168922 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07498-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Threatened species are by definition species that are in need of assistance. In the absence of suitable conservation interventions, they are likely to disappear soon1. There is limited understanding of how and where conservation interventions are applied globally, or how well they work2,3. Here, using information from the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List and other global databases, we find that for species at risk from three of the biggest drivers of biodiversity loss-habitat loss, overexploitation for international trade and invasive species4-many appear to lack the appropriate types of conservation interventions. Indeed, although there has been substantial recent expansion of the protected area network, we still find that 91% of threatened species have insufficient representation of their habitats within protected areas. Conservation interventions are not implemented uniformly across different taxa and regions and, even when present, have infrequently led to substantial improvements in the status of species. For 58% of the world's threatened terrestrial species, we find conservation interventions to be notably insufficient or absent. We cannot determine whether such species are truly neglected, or whether efforts to recover them are not included in major conservation databases. If they are indeed neglected, the outlook for many of the world's threatened species is grim without more and better targeted action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Senior
- Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Conservation Ecology Group, Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK.
| | | | - Danyan Leng
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Alexander K Killion
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Walter Jetz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - David S Wilcove
- Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
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45
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Michalczuk J. Which habitat factors affect the occurrence and richness of cavity nesters in parks along an urbanisation gradient? Recommendations for the management of greenery in an urban landscape. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:172091. [PMID: 38599413 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jerzy Michalczuk
- Department of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Rzeszów, Zelwerowicza 4, 35-601 Rzeszów, Poland.
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46
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Clarke SH, Lawrence ER, Matte JM, Gallagher BK, Salisbury SJ, Michaelides SN, Koumrouyan R, Ruzzante DE, Grant JWA, Fraser DJ. Global assessment of effective population sizes: Consistent taxonomic differences in meeting the 50/500 rule. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17353. [PMID: 38613250 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Effective population size (Ne) is a particularly useful metric for conservation as it affects genetic drift, inbreeding and adaptive potential within populations. Current guidelines recommend a minimum Ne of 50 and 500 to avoid short-term inbreeding and to preserve long-term adaptive potential respectively. However, the extent to which wild populations reach these thresholds globally has not been investigated, nor has the relationship between Ne and human activities. Through a quantitative review, we generated a dataset with 4610 georeferenced Ne estimates from 3829 populations, extracted from 723 articles. These data show that certain taxonomic groups are less likely to meet 50/500 thresholds and are disproportionately impacted by human activities; plant, mammal and amphibian populations had a <54% probability of reachingN ̂ e = 50 and a <9% probability of reachingN ̂ e = 500. Populations listed as being of conservation concern according to the IUCN Red List had a smaller medianN ̂ e than unlisted populations, and this was consistent across all taxonomic groups.N ̂ e was reduced in areas with a greater Global Human Footprint, especially for amphibians, birds and mammals, however relationships varied between taxa. We also highlight several considerations for future works, including the role that gene flow and subpopulation structure plays in the estimation ofN ̂ e in wild populations, and the need for finer-scale taxonomic analyses. Our findings provide guidance for more specific thresholds based on Ne and help prioritise assessment of populations from taxa most at risk of failing to meet conservation thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon H Clarke
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Jean-Michel Matte
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Brian K Gallagher
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sarah J Salisbury
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | | | - Ramela Koumrouyan
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Daniel E Ruzzante
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - James W A Grant
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Dylan J Fraser
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Pereira AG, Antonelli A, Silvestro D, Faurby S. Two Major Extinction Events in the Evolutionary History of Turtles: One Caused by an Asteroid, the Other by Hominins. Am Nat 2024; 203:644-654. [PMID: 38781523 DOI: 10.1086/729604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
AbstractWe live in a time of accelerated biological extinctions that has the potential to mirror past mass extinction events. However, the rarity of mass extinctions and the restructuring of diversity they cause complicate direct comparisons between the current extinction crisis and earlier events. Among animals, turtles (Testudinata) are one of few groups that have both a rich fossil record and sufficiently stable ecological and functional roles to enable meaningful comparisons between the end-Cretaceous mass extinction (∼66 Ma) and the ongoing wave of extinctions. Here we analyze the fossil record of the entire turtle clade and identify two peaks in extinction rates over their evolutionary history. The first coincides with the Cretaceous-Paleogene transition, reflecting patterns previously reported for other taxa. The second major extinction event started in the Pliocene and continues until now. This peak is detectable only for terrestrial turtles and started much earlier in Africa and Eurasia than elsewhere. On the basis of the timing, geography, and functional group of this extinction event, we postulate a link to co-occurring hominins rather than climate change as the cause. These results lend further support to the view that negative biodiversity impacts were already incurred by our ancestors and related lineages and demonstrate the severity of this continued impact through human activities.
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48
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Cui Y, Carmona CP, Wang Z. Identifying global conservation priorities for terrestrial vertebrates based on multiple dimensions of biodiversity. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14205. [PMID: 37855155 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity calls for an expansion of the current protected areas (PAs) to cover at least 30% of global land and water areas by 2030 (i.e., the 30×30 target). Efficient spatial planning for PA expansion is an urgent need for global conservation practice. A spatial prioritization framework considering multiple dimensions of biodiversity is critical for improving the efficiency of the spatial planning of PAs, yet it remains a challenge. We developed an index for the identification of priority areas based on functionally rare, evolutionarily distinct, and globally endangered species (FREDGE) and applied it to 21,536 terrestrial vertebrates. We determined species distributions, conservation status (global endangerment), molecular phylogenies (evolutionary distinctiveness), and life-history traits (functional rarity). Madagascar, Central America, and the Andes were of high priority for the conservation of multiple dimensions of terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity. However, 68.8% of grid cells in these priority areas had <17% of their area covered by PAs, and these priority areas were under intense anthropogenic and climate change threats. These results highlight the difficulties of conserving multiple dimensions of biodiversity. Our global analyses of the geographical patterns of multiple dimensions of terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity demonstrate the insufficiency of the conservation of different biodiversity dimensions, and our index, based on multiple dimensions of biodiversity, provides a useful tool for guiding future spatial prioritization of PA expansion to achieve the 30×30 target under serious pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Cui
- Institute of Ecology and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Zhiheng Wang
- Institute of Ecology and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
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49
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Jameson TJM, Johnston GR, Barr M, Sandow D, Head JJ, Turner EC. Squamate scavenging services: Heath goannas ( Varanus rosenbergi) support carcass removal and may suppress agriculturally damaging blowflies. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11535. [PMID: 38919645 PMCID: PMC11197000 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Human-induced environmental change has caused widespread loss of species that support important functions for ecosystems and society. For example, vertebrate scavengers contribute to the functional health of ecosystems and provide services to agricultural landscapes by removing carcasses and associated pests. Widespread extirpation of native Australian mammals since the arrival of Europeans in Australia has removed many scavenging species from landscapes, while scavenging mammals such as European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have been introduced. In much of Australia, squamate reptiles are the largest native terrestrial scavengers remaining, where large native mammals are extinct and conservation management is being undertaken to remove invasive mammals. The contribution of reptiles to scavenging functions is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the ecosystem functions provided by large reptiles as scavengers to better understand how populations can be managed to support ecosystem services. We investigated the ecosystem services provided by vertebrate scavengers in Australian coastal mallee ecosystems, focusing on the heath goanna (Varanus rosenbergi), the only extant native terrestrial scavenger in the region. We carried out exclosure experiments, isolating the scavenging activity of different taxonomic groups to quantify the contribution of different taxa to scavenging services, specifically the removal of rat carcasses, and its impact on the occurrence of agriculturally damaging blowflies. We compared areas with different native and invasive scavenger communities to investigate the impact of invasive species removal and native species abundance on scavenging services. Our results indicated that vertebrate scavenging significantly contributes to carcass removal and limitation of necrophagous fly breeding in carcasses and that levels of removal are higher in areas associated with high densities of heath goannas and low densities of invasive mammals. Therefore, augmentation of heath goanna populations represents a promising management strategy to restore and maximize scavenging ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom J. M. Jameson
- Department of Zoology and University Museum of ZoologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Gregory R. Johnston
- College of Science & EngineeringFlinders UniversityAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
- South Australian MuseumAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Max Barr
- Northern and Yorke Landscape BoardMinlatonSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Derek Sandow
- Northern and Yorke Landscape BoardClareSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Jason J. Head
- Department of Zoology and University Museum of ZoologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Edgar C. Turner
- Department of Zoology and University Museum of ZoologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
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Curti JN, Barton M, Flores RG, Lechner M, Lipman A, Montgomery GA, Park AY, Rochel K, Tingley MW. Using unstructured crowd-sourced data to evaluate urban tolerance of terrestrial native animal species within a California Mega-City. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0295476. [PMID: 38809860 PMCID: PMC11135677 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
In response to biodiversity loss and biotic community homogenization in urbanized landscapes, there are increasing efforts to conserve and increase biodiversity within urban areas. Accordingly, around the world, previously extirpated species are (re)colonizing and otherwise infiltrating urban landscapes, while other species are disappearing from these landscapes. Tracking the occurrence of traditionally urban intolerant species and loss of traditionally urban tolerant species should be a management goal of urban areas, but we generally lack tools to study this phenomenon. To address this gap, we first used species' occurrences from iNaturalist, a large collaborative dataset of species observations, to calculate an urban association index (UAI) for 967 native animal species that occur in the city of Los Angeles. On average, the occurrence of native species was negatively associated with our composite measure of urban intensity, with the exception of snails and slugs, which instead occur more frequently in areas of increased urban intensity. Next, we assessed 8,348 0.25 x 0.25 mile grids across the City of Los Angeles to determine the average grid-level UAI scores (i.e., a summary of the UAIs present in a grid cell, which we term Community Urban Tolerance Index or CUTI). We found that areas of higher urban intensity host more urban tolerant species, but also that taxonomic groups differ in their aggregate tolerance of urban areas, and that spatial patterns of tolerance vary between groups. The framework established here has been designed to be iteratively reevaluated by city managers of Los Angeles in order to track the progress of initiatives to preserve and encourage urban biodiversity, but can be rescaled to sample different regions within the city or different cities altogether to provide a valuable tool for city managers globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph N. Curti
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Michelle Barton
- LA Sanitation and Environment, Los Angeles City, CA, United States of America
| | - Rhay G. Flores
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Maren Lechner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Alison Lipman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Graham A. Montgomery
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Albert Y. Park
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Kirstin Rochel
- LA Sanitation and Environment, Los Angeles City, CA, United States of America
| | - Morgan W. Tingley
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
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