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Mallett MC, Thiem JD, Butler GL, Kennard MJ. A systematic review of approaches to assess fish health responses to anthropogenic threats in freshwater ecosystems. Conserv Physiol 2024; 12:coae022. [PMID: 38706739 PMCID: PMC11069195 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coae022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Anthropogenic threats such as water infrastructure, land-use changes, overexploitation of fishes and other biological resources, invasive species and climate change present formidable challenges to freshwater biodiversity. Historically, management of fish and fishery species has largely been based on studies of population- and community-level dynamics; however, the emerging field of conservation physiology promotes the assessment of individual fish health as a key management tool. Fish health is highly sensitive to environmental disturbances and is also a fundamental driver of fitness, with implications for population dynamics such as recruitment and resilience. However, the mechanistic links between particular anthropogenic disturbances and changes in fish health, or impact pathways, are diverse and complex. The diversity of ways in which fish health can be measured also presents a challenge for researchers deciding on methods to employ in studies seeking to understand the impact of these threats. In this review, we aim to provide an understanding of the pathway through which anthropogenic threats in freshwater ecosystems impact fish health and the ways in which fish health components impacted by anthropogenic threats can be assessed. We employ a quantitative systematic approach to a corpus of papers related to fish health in freshwater and utilize a framework that summarizes the impact pathway of anthropogenic threats through environmental alterations and impact mechanisms that cause a response in fish health. We found that land-use changes were the most prolific anthropogenic threat, with a range of different health metrics being suitable for assessing the impact of this threat. Almost all anthropogenic threats impacted fish health through two or more impact pathways. A robust understanding of the impact pathways of anthropogenic threats and the fish health metrics that are sensitive to these threats is crucial for fisheries managers seeking to undertake targeted management of freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell C Mallett
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Jason D Thiem
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Narrandera Fisheries Centre, 70 Buckingbong Road, Narrandera, NSW 2700, Australia
| | - Gavin L Butler
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Grafton Fisheries Centre,16 Experiment Farm Road, Trenayr, NSW 2460, Australia
| | - Mark J Kennard
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
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Wani BA, Magray JA, Ganie AH, Rashid S, Roof-Ul-Qadir, Javid H, Nawchoo IA. Seed biology imperative for conservation and restoration of Swertia thomsonii C.B. Clarke-an endemic medicinal plant of Himalaya. Environ Monit Assess 2024; 196:472. [PMID: 38662176 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12632-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Endemic medicinal plants deserve immediate research priorities as they typically show a limited distribution range, represent few and fragmented populations in the wild and are currently facing anthropogenic threats like overharvesting and habitat degradation. One of the important aspects of ensuring their successful conservation and sustainable utilization lies in comprehending the fundamental seed biology, particularly the dormancy status and seed germination requirements of these plants. Here, we studied the seed eco-physiology and regeneration potential of Swertia thomsonii-an endemic medicinal plant of western Himalaya. We investigated the effect of different pre-sowing treatments, sowing media and sowing depth on seed germination parameters of S. thomsonii. Seeds of S. thomsonii exhibit morphophysiological dormancy (MPD), i.e. when the embryo of the seed is morphologically and/or physiologically immature. Wet stratification at 4 °C for 20 days, pre-sowing treatment with 50 ppm GA3 and pre-sowing treatment with 50 ppm KNO3 were found ideal for overcoming dormancy and enhancing the seed germination of S. thomsonii. Furthermore, seed germination and seedling survival were significantly influenced by pre-sowing treatments, sowing media and sowing depth. The percentage of seed germination and seedling survival got enhanced up to 84-86% and 73-75% respectively when seeds were pre-treated with GA3 or KNO3 and then sown in cocopeat + perlite (1:1) at a depth of 1 cm. The information obtained in the present study outlines an efficient protocol for large-scale cultivation of S. thomsonii thereby limiting the pressure of overexploitation from its natural habitats and may also help in the restoration and conservation of this valuable plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal A Wani
- Plant Reproductive Biology, Genetic Diversity and Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190 006, J&K, India.
| | - Junaid A Magray
- Plant Reproductive Biology, Genetic Diversity and Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190 006, J&K, India
| | - Aijaz H Ganie
- Plant Reproductive Biology, Genetic Diversity and Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190 006, J&K, India
| | - Sufiya Rashid
- Plant Reproductive Biology, Genetic Diversity and Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190 006, J&K, India
| | - Roof-Ul-Qadir
- Plant Reproductive Biology, Genetic Diversity and Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190 006, J&K, India
| | - Hanan Javid
- Plant Reproductive Biology, Genetic Diversity and Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190 006, J&K, India
| | - Irshad A Nawchoo
- Plant Reproductive Biology, Genetic Diversity and Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190 006, J&K, India
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Quevedo JMD, Uchiyama Y, Kohsaka R. Community perceptions of long-term mangrove cover changes and its drivers from a typhoon-prone province in the Philippines. Ambio 2022; 51:972-989. [PMID: 34426946 PMCID: PMC8847476 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01608-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mangrove forests are among the most productive ecosystems with important services such as food and livelihood provisions, recreations, and regulations (e.g., coastal protection) in local scales. At global scale, they are gaining salience for their carbon sequestration capacities, currently conceptualized as "blue carbon." However, their essential benefits are reduced or lost when degraded. There is, therefore, a need to explore long-term mangrove cover change (MCC) and its underpinning drivers to develop sustainable management strategies. MCC has been analyzed extensively, including satellite images and field surveys, with drivers of changes frequently embedded in local contexts. Thus, in this study, MCC and the causal factors are evaluated at the local scale by gathering community perceptions in Eastern Samar, a typhoon-prone province in the Philippines, with a timeframe since the 1970s until the present. Results show that mangrove cover loss was observed following the occurrence of Typhoon Agnes in 1984 and Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 while conversion of mangrove areas to residential spaces was identified as a recurring driver of mangrove depletion from the early 1970s to 1990s. Study participants perceived that natural threats and lack of law enforcement were the leading proximate and underlying drivers of degradation, respectively. Respondents perceived that mangrove cover is increasing mainly due to successive reforestation programs coupled with stricter implementation of local ordinances in the sites. The results indicate the increased role of mangrove forests in disaster risk reduction and climate change mitigation strategies, while the perceptions of drivers change in long terms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay Mar D. Quevedo
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuta Uchiyama
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ryo Kohsaka
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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Pandit PS, Bandivadekar RR, Johnson CK, Mikoni N, Mah M, Purdin G, Ibarra E, Tom D, Daugherty A, Lipman MW, Woo K, Tell LA. Retrospective study on admission trends of Californian hummingbirds found in urban habitats (1991-2016). PeerJ 2021; 9:e11131. [PMID: 33954034 PMCID: PMC8051342 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hummingbirds are frequently presented to California wildlife rehabilitation centers for medical care, accounting for approximately 5% of overall admissions. Age, sex, and reason for admission could impact hummingbird survivability, therefore identification of these factors could help maximize rehabilitation efforts. Methods Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to identify specific threats to the survival of 6908 hummingbirds (1645 nestlings and 5263 non-nestlings) consisting of five species (Calypte anna, Calypte costa, Selasphorus rufus, Selasphorus sasin, Archilochus alexandri), found in urban settings, and admitted to California wildlife rehabilitation centers over 26 years. Results In total, 36% of birds survived and were transferred to flight cage facilities for further rehabilitation and/or release. Nestlings were more likely to be transferred and/or released compared to adult hummingbirds. After accounting for age, birds rescued in spring and summer were twice as likely to be released compared to birds rescued in the fall. A high number of nestlings were presented to the rehabilitation centers during spring, which coincides with the nesting season for hummingbirds in California, with the lowest number of nestlings presented in fall. Reasons for presentation to rehabilitation centers included several anthropogenic factors such as window collisions (9.6%) and interactions with domesticated animals (12.9%). Survival odds were lower if a hummingbird was rescued in a “torpor-like state” and were higher if rescued for “nest-related” reasons. Evaluation of treatment regimens administered at wildlife rehabilitation centers identified supportive care, including providing commercial nutrient-rich nectar plus solution, to significantly increase hummingbird survivability. Discussion Our results provide evidence of threats to hummingbirds in urban habitats, based on reasons for rescue and presentation to rehabilitation centers. Reasons for hummingbird admissions to three California wildlife rehabilitation centers were anthropogenic in nature (i.e., being associated with domestic animals, window collisions, and found inside a man-made structure) and constituted 25% of total admissions. There was a clear indication that supportive care, such as feeding a commercial nectar solution, and medical treatment significantly increased the odds of survival for rescued hummingbirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranav S Pandit
- EpiCenter for Disease Dynamics, One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Ruta R Bandivadekar
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Christine K Johnson
- EpiCenter for Disease Dynamics, One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Nicole Mikoni
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Michelle Mah
- Department of Wildlife Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Elaine Ibarra
- Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.,Wild Neighbors Database Project, Middletown, Middletown, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Max W Lipman
- Lindsay Wildlife Experience, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
| | - Krystal Woo
- Lindsay Wildlife Experience, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
| | - Lisa A Tell
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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Wraith J, Norman P, Pickering C. Orchid conservation and research: An analysis of gaps and priorities for globally Red Listed species. Ambio 2020; 49:1601-1611. [PMID: 31960279 PMCID: PMC7413930 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01306-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Orchids are among the most threatened taxa globally due to increasing anthropogenic threats, inherent rarity and specific conservation needs. But what are the global research and conservation priorities for this charismatic group of plants? Using information for 595 orchids on the IUCN Red List, we reviewed past research and identified key research and conservation priorities. These included understanding threats, monitoring orchid populations and habitats, species management in ex situ conservation, genome resource banks and artificial propagation, land and habitat protection and education and awareness through communication. Based on the available data, we recommend future orchid conservation and research should focus on the current gaps in knowledge and practice including monitoring population trends and distributions, ecology, threats, protection and management of species and their habitats and increasing education and awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna Wraith
- Griffith School of Environment, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast, QLD 4222 Australia
| | - Patrick Norman
- Griffith School of Environment, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast, QLD 4222 Australia
| | - Catherine Pickering
- Griffith School of Environment, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast, QLD 4222 Australia
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Sharma P, Panthi S, Yadav SK, Bhatta M, Karki A, Duncan T, Poudel M, Acharya KP. Suitable habitat of wild Asian elephant in Western Terai of Nepal. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:6112-6119. [PMID: 32607217 PMCID: PMC7319151 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is currently very little available research on the habitat suitability, the influence of infrastructure on distribution, and the extent and connectivity of habitat available to the wild Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). Information related to the habitat is crucial for conservation of this species. METHODS In this study, we identified suitable habitat for wild Asian elephants in the Western Terai region of Nepal using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) software. RESULTS Of 9,207 km2, we identified 3194.82 km2 as suitable habitat for wild Asian elephants in the study area. Approximately 40% of identified habitat occurs in existing protected areas. Most of these habitat patches are smaller than previous estimations of the species home range, and this may reduce the probability of the species continued survival in the study area. Proximity to roads was identified as the most important factor defining habitat suitability, with elephants preferring habitats far from roads. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that further habitat fragmentation in the study area can be reduced by avoiding the construction of new roads and connectivity between areas of existing suitable habitat can be increased through the identification and management of wildlife corridors between habitat patches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saroj Panthi
- Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest, and EnvironmentPokharaNepal
| | | | - Manoj Bhatta
- Research Institute for Environment and LivelihoodsCharles Darwin UniversityDarwinNTAustralia
| | - Ajay Karki
- Ministry of Forests and EnvironmentKathmanduNepal
| | - Tom Duncan
- Research Institute for Environment and LivelihoodsCharles Darwin UniversityDarwinNTAustralia
| | - Megharaj Poudel
- Forest Research and Training CentreBabarmahal, KathmanduNepal
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Mattern T, Meyer S, Ellenberg U, Houston DM, Darby JT, Young M, van Heezik Y, Seddon PJ. Quantifying climate change impacts emphasises the importance of managing regional threats in the endangered Yellow-eyed penguin. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3272. [PMID: 28533952 PMCID: PMC5436559 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is a global issue with effects that are difficult to manage at a regional scale. Yet more often than not climate factors are just some of multiple stressors affecting species on a population level. Non-climatic factors—especially those of anthropogenic origins—may play equally important roles with regard to impacts on species and are often more feasible to address. Here we assess the influence of climate change on population trends of the endangered Yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) over the last 30 years, using a Bayesian model. Sea surface temperature (SST) proved to be the dominating factor influencing survival of both adult birds and fledglings. Increasing SST since the mid-1990s was accompanied by a reduction in survival rates and population decline. The population model showed that 33% of the variation in population numbers could be explained by SST alone, significantly increasing pressure on the penguin population. Consequently, the population becomes less resilient to non-climate related impacts, such as fisheries interactions, habitat degradation and human disturbance. However, the extent of the contribution of these factors to declining population trends is extremely difficult to assess principally due to the absence of quantifiable data, creating a discussion bias towards climate variables, and effectively distracting from non-climate factors that can be managed on a regional scale to ensure the viability of the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Mattern
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Stefan Meyer
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Ursula Ellenberg
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David M Houston
- Science and Policy Group, Department of Conservation, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Melanie Young
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Philip J Seddon
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Terrado M, Sabater S, Chaplin-Kramer B, Mandle L, Ziv G, Acuña V. Model development for the assessment of terrestrial and aquatic habitat quality in conservation planning. Sci Total Environ 2016; 540:63-70. [PMID: 25836757 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.03.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Revised: 03/17/2015] [Accepted: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing pressure of human activities on natural habitats, which leads to biodiversity losses. To mitigate the impact of human activities, environmental policies are developed and implemented, but their effects are commonly not well understood because of the lack of tools to predict the effects of conservation policies on habitat quality and/or diversity. We present a straightforward model for the simultaneous assessment of terrestrial and aquatic habitat quality in river basins as a function of land use and anthropogenic threats to habitat that could be applied under different management scenarios to help understand the trade-offs of conservation actions. We modify the InVEST model for the assessment of terrestrial habitat quality and extend it to freshwater habitats. We assess the reliability of the model in a severely impaired basin by comparing modeled results to observed terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity data. Estimated habitat quality is significantly correlated with observed terrestrial vascular plant richness (R(2)=0.76) and diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates (R(2)=0.34), as well as with ecosystem functions such as in-stream phosphorus retention (R(2)=0.45). After that, we analyze different scenarios to assess the suitability of the model to inform changes in habitat quality under different conservation strategies. We believe that the developed model can be useful to assess potential levels of biodiversity, and to support conservation planning given its capacity to forecast the effects of management actions in river basins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Terrado
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, Girona E-17003, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Sergi Sabater
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, Girona E-17003, Catalonia, Spain; Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Girona E-17071, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Becky Chaplin-Kramer
- The Natural Capital Project, Woods Institute for the Environment, 371 Serra Mall, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5020, USA.
| | - Lisa Mandle
- The Natural Capital Project, Woods Institute for the Environment, 371 Serra Mall, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5020, USA.
| | - Guy Ziv
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
| | - Vicenç Acuña
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, Girona E-17003, Catalonia, Spain.
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