Threatened Species

As with most governments worldwide, Australian governments list threatened species and proffer commitments to recovering them. Yet most of Australia's imperiled species continue to decline or go extinct and a contributing cause is inadequate investment in conservation management. However, this has been difficult to evaluate because the extent of funding committed to such recovery in Australia, like in many nations, is opaque. Here, by collating disparate published budget figures of Australian governments, we show that annual spending on targeted threatened species recovery is around U.S.$92m (AU$122m) which is around one tenth of that spent by the U.S. endangered species recovery program, and about 15% of what is needed to avoid extinctions and recover threatened species. Our approach to estimating funding needs for species recovery could be applied in any jurisdiction and could be scaled up to calculate what is needed to achieve international goals for ending the species extinction crisis.

Grasslands, and species dependent on them, have been declining throughout New England since large-scale farm abandonment began in the 19 th century. Several avian grassland obligates are now considered threatened within New England. During the summer of 2009, we inventoried breeding birds at the 10.5-ha National Guard training site in Strafford, NH using systematic surveys. Dolichonyx oryzivorus (Bobolinks), Sturnella magna (Eastern Meadowlarks), and Passerculus sandwichensis (Savannah Sparrows) were found breeding at the site. Bobolinks were the most abundant grassland obligate, and their nesting success on this site indicates that small grasslands may be just as useful in grassland bird conservation as larger habitat patches. Because large grasslands in New England are few and usually consist of hay elds and pasture, blueberry barrens, military and commercial airports, and land lls, focusing conservation efforts on smaller grasslands as well as large ones seems warranted.

The herpetofauna of Mutawintji (previously Mootwingee) National Park (31°17' S, 142°15' E) was surveyed on five occasions from 1994 to 1996. From these surveys and other sources, a total of 49 reptile species and 5 amphibian species were recorded, or probably occur in the region. Five species, now listed under the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, were recorded during the surveys. Two of these species, Egernia margaretae (endangered) and Ramphotyphlops endoterus (endangered), were confirmed in NSW for the first time. Egernia margaretae and Antaresia stimsoni (vulnerable) were recorded only from the rocky gorges, which are a feature of the Bynguano Range in the Park, and the agamid species Ctenophorus decresii (endangered) and varanid Varanus tristis tristis were also restricted to this habitat type. Five species (Diplodactylus steindachneri, Nephrurus levis, Lerista labialis, Ramphotyphlops endoterus and Brachyurophis fasciolatus (vulnerable)) were recorded only from the adjacent red soil grasslands and shrublands, and did not occur in the gorges or on the rocky ridges.

One of the impacts of climate change is an increase in the frequency and intensity of hydrometeorological disasters such as prolonged droughts. Borneo is one of the areas that is threatened by drought due to climate change, so it is important to know the mitigation and adaptation measures. In this study, the dynamical downscaling method by Conformal Cubic Atmospheric Model (CCAM) will be used to find out the potential for drought events in Borneo based on the RCP 4.5 scenario. As a result, in total, the annual rainfall in Borneo in 2021-2050 will increase when compared to 1991-2020. This means that, on average, the rainfall in Borneo will increase. However, the increase on the annual rainfall amount does not make Borneo free from possibilities of drought disasters in the future. Areas in southern Borneo such as Banjarmasin, Pangkalan Bun, and Pontianak are estimated to have experience more frequent meteorological drought events in 2021-2050 compared to 1991-2020. The southern part o...

Wetlands constructed primarily for the treatment of wastewaters have been shown to have a role in enhancing biodiversity. However, while most biodiversity studies of constructed wetlands focus on the larger, more iconic animal groups, there is a paucity of information on the aerial phases of wetland invertebrate species associated with constructed wetlands. This study compares Sciomyzidae (Diptera) assemblages, established indicators of wetland dipteran communities, in Irish constructed and natural wetlands, in addition to determining the impacts of water quality and surrounding habitats on Sciomyzidae community structure. Natural wetlands had significantly greater species richness, abundances and diversity (measured as Shannon's entropy) of sciomyzid flies than constructed wetlands. Nevertheless, although concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in waters were significantly greater in constructed wetlands, seven of the eight constructed wetlands examined hosted species of Sciomyzidae listed as scarce or threatened in Britain. In addition, sciomyzid species richness increased as areas of semi-natural habitat immediately surrounding constructed and natural wetlands increased. Composition of Sciomyzidae assembalges in both natural and constructed wetlands were analysed. The results of this study demonstrate that constructed wetlands can be important contributors to biodiversity particularly in the context of current losses of natural wetlands worldwide. The importance of habitats immediately surrounding constructed wetlands also highlights the need for relatively simple design recommendations (e.g. wet grassland creation or judicious planting of wetland trees) that could enhance the biodiversity of existing and future constructed wetlands.

Drawing on a random sample of 228 farm households from two regions in the Western Ghats of south India, this study assesses factors influencing farmers' willingness to conserve traditional rice varieties of low survivability, contingent on three policy scenarios or incentives. The empirical results indicate that factors influencing decisions to conserve these varieties on-farm depend mainly on farmers' socioeconomic characteristics and farming systems, and vary between the two regions and among the tested or assumed policy scenarios. There are also synergies and trade-offs between the application of other rural development policy interventions and the demand for the tested policy incentives. The study concludes that on-farm conservation of traditional rice varieties threatened with extinction necessitates appropriate choices of policy incentives and proper targeting in both regions.

Mediterranean vernal pools are threatened habitats that support a number of endangered/ rare plant and invertebrate species. Conservation management of these important habitats is limited by a lack of knowledge, especially concerning their past and present ecological dynamics. A multidisciplinary palaeoecological investigation was conducted on one of the last alkaline vernal pools of the Rhone delta (southern France). Results highlighted the value of a multidisciplinary approach based on several complementary methods, and provide direction for subsequent palaeoecological studies in temporary wetlands. Despite some degradation, fossil assemblages provides an accurate reconstruction of the past ecological dynamics of the vernal pool studied. The pool originated c. 1100 years ago from the infilling of an abandoned palaeochannel and its subsequent fragmentation. It may thus be considered as a legacy of past natural fluvial activity, which ended with the complete channelization and confinement of the River Rhone in 1869 AD. With natural processes disrupted, new pools may need to be artificially constructed in order to preserve the biological communities of alkaline vernal pools of the Rhone delta.

Rhododendron is one of the largest and most valuable genera of woody plants. Species in this genus are often dominant shrubs in their habitats. However, many of these species are often narrowly distributed. Their current status calls for extensive scientific and social attention. In this study, nine microsatellite markers were used to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of Rhododendron jinggangshanicum, a threatened Rhododendron species endemic to Mount Jinggangshan, Jiangxi, China. A total of 119 individuals were collected from five populations. The results showed that R. jinggangshanicum harbors a high level of genetic diversity (A R ¼ 4.760 ± 1.638, H E ¼ 0.642 ± 0.200) and that its genetic diversity is partitioned primarily within populations. AMOVA results demonstrated weak yet significant differentiation among the populations (4.60%, P < 0.001), which was consistent with the results of the pairwise F ST. A marginally significant correlation was found between genetic differentiation and geographic distance, indicating that the genetic differentiation among the populations roughly follows a pattern of isolation by distance. STRUCTURE analysis showed that all of the individuals could be divided into two gene pools, which may be related to the local complex topography of Mount Jinggangshan. These results suggest that proper measures should be taken for the conservation of this threatened species.

Wetlands in Kenya face continuous threat of destruction by agricultural activies, urbanization and pollution. However, their floristic compositions remain unkown since research remains restricted to wetlands of national importance because of their touristic values. A study was conducted in 2006 to determine the species composition and diversity of the vegetation in four swamps within Uasin Gishu County.Data on species composition and diversity were collected using belt transects method and analyzed using cluster analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Two hundred and eighty six plant species belonging to 70 families were enumerated in the four wetlands, with Leseru swamp having the highest species number (176) and diversity (4.02). Families Poacea and Asteracea were represented by the highest number of species (41 each). The four swamps exhibited significantly different levels of human activity and impact; where Chepkongony was the most and Marula the least affected. It is recomm...

Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) mandates federal agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to insure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by such agencies is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of habitat of such species which is determined by the secretary of the interior. ESA, therefore, has a significant effect on the selection of a roadway alignment and consequently the cost of the entire highway project. As evident in many parts of the country, developments experienced in the transportation industry have had a considerable impact on the environment and the general populace. This has resulted in significant changes in the use of land in many metropolitan regions in the country. Among the many environmental issues that transportation officials have to deal with is the issue of threatened and endangered species (TES). The study involved a review of best practices of TES issues as they relate to transportation. Three of such examples from the State of Georgia are presented as case studies in this paper. Geographic information system (GIS) applications were developed for all the projects used in the case studies, some of which are presented in this paper. The paper concludes by noting the influence of ESA on transportation projects.

Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) mandates federal agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to insure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by such agencies is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of habitat of such species which is determined by the secretary of the interior. ESA, therefore, has a significant effect on the selection of a roadway alignment and consequently the cost of the entire highway project. As evident in many parts of the country, developments experienced in the transportation industry have had a considerable impact on the environment and the general populace. This has resulted in significant changes in the use of land in many metropolitan regions in the country. Among the many environmental issues that transportation officials have to deal with is the issue of threatened and endangered species (TES). The study involved a review of best practices of TES issues as they relate to transportation. Three of such examples from the State of Georgia are presented as case studies in this paper. Geographic information system (GIS) applications were developed for all the projects used in the case studies, some of which are presented in this paper. The paper concludes by noting the influence of ESA on transportation projects.

Overfishing of wedgefish greatly affects its population and the balance of the marine ecosystem. This is exacerbated by their relatively low fecundity, slow growth, and late maturity results in one of the lowest population growth rate within elasmobranch species. However, lacking database information results in insufficient regulations and surveillance of wedgefish fishing. The current situation is feared to the risk of wedgefish’s survival, especially in Bangka Belitung Islands, Indonesia. Fundamental to a database is the accurate identification of wedgefish species based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis. This study aimed to use DNA barcodes to identify, determine the conservation status, and the status according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). We collected samples including unidentified fin samples from confiscated illegal fishing catches, the traditional markets and fishing docks, South Bangka. In this research,...

The genus Caladenia contains the largest number of threatened orchid species in Australia and improv- ing the success of re-introductions would allow exist- ing populations to be strengthened and new popula- tions to be established. Batty et al. (2006) showed that direct seeding of C. arenicola Hopper & A.P. Br. into habitat soil inoculated with mycorrhizal fungus resulted in a good in situ germination rates. 

Saline inland waters are globally threatened habitats harbouring many specialised endemic species, which often have restricted geographic ranges, and occur as highly isolated populations. We studied the genetic variation and phylogeography of Ochthebius glaber Montes and Soler, a rare and endangered water beetle endemic to hypersaline streams in the South and Southeast of the Iberian Peninsula. We used a 633 bp fragment of cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene to determine the genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure within this species, and interpret this in the light of the species' conservation requirements. Thirteen populations were sampled across the species' geographic range, and genetic diversity found to be very high, with 37 haplotypes across the 71 specimens examined (p-distance 0.2-7.3%, average 3.1-0.4). Phylogeographic analyses revealed a surprisingly high degree of geographical structure, detectable among populations separated by relatively short geographical distances, with three main groups of haplotypes which have apparently been isolated for significant periods of time. Past fragmentation and contiguous range expansion events were inferred as the main causes of the detected geographical associations of haplotypes. The establishment of independent evolutionary lineages as conservation units is particularly important for species inhabiting saline habitats such as O. glaber, which is endangered by habitat loss across most of its distribution. However, given the natural instability of hypersaline environments, the conservation of a network of populations and potential habitats would be necessary to enable the preservation of the process generating and maintaining the diversity of the species.

In East Africa, despite recognised tamarind declines and the threat this posed to sustainability of its livelihood benefits, no long term conservation strategies had yet been identified for implementation. The major constraint has been lack of knowledge on the species population structure. The objective of our study was to generate knowledge on tamarind population structure in different habitats. With prior knowledge that tamarind adapts well over diverse ecologies, we hypothesized given similar human interventions its population structure or density within growth stages would equal (1) in an agroecology (a) within habitats (b) among different habitats and (2) between agroecologies in similar habitats. Inventory of tamarind in 124 randomly sampled plots from on farm, woodlands and riverbanks in Livestock Millet agroecological zone 4 (LM4) and LM5 in Tharaka district in Kenya revealed 243 mature tamarind, 63 juveniles and 71 seedlings. Analyses of the data using MS Excel and PAST software revealed that mature tamarind density was higher in riverbanks (3.24) than on farm (1.06) and 0.30 in woodlands of LM5 and 3.5, 0.80, 0.95 respectively in LM4. Population structure had higher (P<0.05) density of mature tamarind (1.06) compared to seedling (0.26) and juveniles (0.16) on farm, 0.30, 0.00, 3.00 in woodlands, 3.5, 2.4, 0.00 in riverbanks respectively in LM4, 0.80:0.28:0.63 on farm, 0.95:0.00:0.00 in woodlands and 3.24:0.29:0.41 in riverbanks respectively in LM5. Evidently, tamarind enrichment planting and protection in woodlands and riverbanks and, density enhancement on farm will be needed to enable long term conservation. Similar tamarind density within growth stages in similar habitats between LM4 and LM5 exhibited also show that the species could do well in similar tropical agroecologies. This is also additional knowledge on its adaptability.

You are free to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work; make derivative works; make commercial use of the work under the condition that you give the original author and sponsor credit. For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license terms of this work. Any of these conditions can be waived if you get permission from the sponsor. Your fair use and other rights are in no way affected by the above.

There are strong potential benefits of incorporating assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) into conservation programs for the management of threatened amphibians as the global amphibian decline continues. As sperm cryopreservation and other ARTs advance in common species, focus on non-lethal sperm collection methods for threatened amphibians is imperative. We aimed to realise this goal by testing various doses of exogenous hormones for non-lethal induction of spermiation in a threatened frog (Litoria aurea) and develop cold storage and cryopreservation protocols following the recovery of urinic sperm. Our major findings include: (1) that sperm release could be induced in high concentrations with 20 IU/g bodyweight of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG); (2) high levels (>50%) of live, motile. CC-BY-NC-ND 4.

Mixophyes are large ground-dwelling myobatrachid frogs from eastern Australia and New Guinea. Several of the species found in mid-eastern and southeastern Australia are listed as threatened, due largely to declines presumably caused by the amphibian disease chytridiomycosis. Given the wide distribution of several of these species and that their distributions cross well-known biogeographic boundaries that often correspond to deep genetic breaks or species boundaries among closely related vertebrates, we undertook a molecular genetic assessment of population structure across the range of each species to determine the presence of undescribed species. Of the four species of Mixophyes subject to molecular population genetic analyses, one, the Stuttering Frog (Mixophyes balbus), showed a level of diversity consistent with the presence of two species. Morphometric, meristic and bioacoustic analyses corroborate these distinctions, and a new species is described for the populations south of the Macleay River valley in mid-eastern New South Wales to east Gippsland in Victoria. Applying the IUCN Red List threat criteria the new species meets the conservation status assessment criteria for Endangered 2B1a,b because its extent of occupancy and area of occupancy are below the threshold value and it has declined and disappeared from the southern two thirds of its distribution over the past 30 years.

The status of many amphibian populations remains unclear due to undetected declines driven by disease and difficulties in obtaining accurate population estimates. Here, we used genetic data (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) to investigate Australia’s poorly understood Littlejohn’s treefrog, Litoria littlejohni across its fragmented distribution. We detected five identifiable genetic clusters, with moderate to strong genetic isolation. At a regional scale, population isolation likely of population crashes, resulting in small populations with evidence of founder effects. Moderate genetic isolation was detected among populations on the Woronora Plateau despite short distances between population clusters. Evidence of recent declines was apparent in three populations that had very small effective population size, reduced genetic diversity and high inbreeding values. The rates of inbreeding detected in these populations combined with their small size leave these populations at elevated ri...

Biodiversity is in global decline during the Anthropocene. Declines have been caused by multiple factors, such as habitat removal, invasive species, and disease, which are often targets for conservation management. However, conservation interventions are under threat from climate change induced weather extremes. Weather extremes are becoming more frequent and devastating and an example of this was the 2019/2020 Australian drought and mega-fires. We provide a case study the impacts of these extreme weather events had on a population of the threatened frog Litoria aurea that occurs in a constructed habitat which was designed to reduce the impact of introduced fish and chytrid-induced disease. We aimed to determine what factors influenced persistence so that the design of wetlands can be further optimised to future-proof threatened amphibians. We achieved this with 4 years (2016–2020) of intensive capture–recapture surveys during austral spring and summer across nine wetlands (n = 94 r...

AimAfter environmental disasters, species with large population losses may need urgent protection to prevent extinction and support recovery. Following the 2019–2020 Australian megafires, we estimated population losses and recovery in fire‐affected fauna, to inform conservation status assessments and management.LocationTemperate and subtropical Australia.Time period2019–2030 and beyond.Major taxaAustralian terrestrial and freshwater vertebrates; one invertebrate group.MethodsFrom &gt; 1,050 fire‐affected taxa, we selected 173 whose distributions substantially overlapped the fire extent. We estimated the proportion of each taxon’s distribution affected by fires, using fire severity and aquatic impact mapping, and new distribution mapping. Using expert elicitation informed by evidence of responses to previous wildfires, we estimated local population responses to fires of varying severity. We combined the spatial and elicitation data to estimate overall population loss and recovery tra...

Context Knowledge on the drivers of breeding behaviour is vital to understand amphibian ecology and conservation. Proposed drivers of amphibian reproductive behaviour include selection of optimum water quality, and avoidance of tadpole predators and competition. These hypotheses are underpinned by the logic that amphibians will choose breeding habitat that will result in enhanced metamorph output. Aims We aimed to infer key drivers that influence metamorph output in the threatened green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea). We hypothesised that (1) metamorph output would be higher in recently refilled wetlands than in wetlands with a longer hydroperiod, (2) metamorph output would be negatively correlated with tadpole predator abundance, and (3) waterbodies with long hydroperiods would have higher abundances of aquatic predators and lower abundances of L. aurea tadpoles. Methods We tested these hypotheses by monitoring breeding, tadpole and predator abundances in a wild population of...

More than a third of the world’s amphibian species are listed as Threatened or Extinct, with a recent assessment identifying 45 Australian frogs (18.4% of the currently recognised species) as ‘Threatened’ based on IUCN criteria. We applied structured expert elicitation to 26 frogs assessed as Critically Endangered and Endangered to estimate their probability of extinction by 2040. We also investigated whether participant experience (measured as a self-assigned categorical score, i.e. ‘expert’ or ‘non-expert’) influenced the estimates. Collation and analysis of participant opinion indicated that eight species are at high risk (&gt;50% chance) of becoming extinct by 2040, with the disease chytridiomycosis identified as the primary threat. A further five species are at moderate–high risk (30–50% chance), primarily due to climate change. Fourteen of the 26 frog species are endemic to Queensland, with many species restricted to small geographic ranges that are susceptible to stochastic e...

The smalltooth sawfish Pristis pectinata is threatened with extinction throughout its range and has been designated as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. In the USA, the species historically ranged from Texas to North Carolina, but mortality in fisheries and habitat loss have reduced the range to primarily southwest Florida. The US population was listed as endangered under the US Endangered Species Act in 2003. At that time, data on the biology and ecology of the species were limited. Research and outreach efforts have since expanded, and the quality and quantity of information has increased such that the US population is now one of the most wellstudied sawfish populations worldwide. Smalltooth sawfish are born in litters of 7−14 individuals at lengths of 64−81 cm stretched total length (STL), reach maturity in 7−11 yr at approximately 340 cm STL for males and 370 cm STL for females, grow to a maximum size of about 500 cm STL, and live an estimated 30 yr in the wild. Smalltooth sawfish are piscivorous and shift from shallow estuarine waters as small juveniles to a broader array of coastal habitats as large juveniles and adults. The species is physiologically resilient to anthropogenic stressors, but preserving habitat and reducing fishing effects remain priorities. Data synthesized in this review have advanced our understanding of smalltooth sawfish life history and habitat needs, as well as the threats that continue to affect the population. Cumulatively, these data support optimism for recovery of the smalltooth sawfish in the USA and potentially beyond, though recovery will still require decades.

As the number of threatened wildlife species increases globally, captive rehabilitation and release of wild caught animals plays an increasingly signi cant role in conservation efforts, particularly where poaching threatens wild populations. Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) populations are decreasing globally, with habitat loss and fragmentation and poaching as key threats to the species. This study aimed to assess post-release behaviour of rehabilitated Sun bears (n = 12) using GPS-collar data to inform ongoing efforts to rehabilitate wild caught bears. We assessed spatial patterns of movement using kernel density estimates and utilisation distributions. We utilised an information theory (IT) and generalised linear modelling approach to assess temporal patterns of sun bear movement (n = 9). Home range estimates (mean = 56.68 km 2 , range:1.9-202.4) and post-release behaviour varied widely between bears, with no signi cant difference in home range size between males (n = 3) and females (n = 6). Home ranges of most bears stabilised within the rst month and bears that were rehabilitated and released together did not spend a signi cant amount of time together following release. Bears were most active during daytime hours and most established a home range encompassing the riverside. The ultimate success of the releases is unknown, due to collar malfunction and damage, and the inaccessibility of the study terrain. We nd that future releases of Sun bears would bene t from soft-release and in-situ rehabilitation techniques. This study provides important insights into the complexity of bear reintroductions informing future rehabilitation and releases for threatened bear species.

Brazilian protected areas are essential for plant conservation in the Atlantic Forest domain, one of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots. A major challenge for improving conservation actions is to know the plant richness, protected by these areas. Online databases offer an accessible way to build plant species lists and to provide relevant information about biodiversity. A list of land plants of “Parque Nacional do Caparaó” (PNC) was previously built using online databases and published on the website &quot;Catálogo de Plantas das Unidades de Conservação do Brasil.&quot; Here, we provide and discuss additional information about plant species richness, endemism and conservation in the PNC that could not be included in the List. We documented 1,791 species of land plants as occurring in PNC, of which 63 are cited as threatened (CR, EN or VU) by the Brazilian National Red List, seven as data deficient (DD) and five as priorities for conservation. Fifity-one species were possible new oc...

The Guigna (Leopardus guigna) is a felid with one of the smallest geographical distributions. In Argentina, this species occurs in four national parks: Los Alerces National Park (LANP), Lago Puelo National Park, Nahuel Huapi National Park and Lanín National Park. However, because estimations suggest that, by 2050, human land use and climate change will negatively affect 40 per cent of its potential distribution, LANP is very important to the conservation of the species. With the aim to help the Argentine Administration of National Parks to define strategies to protect the Guigna, the present study aimed to: (1) map sightings reported in LANP over the last 45 years and determine the areas with confirmed presence and probable absence of Guignas, taking into account the possibility of observation in different areas of the park; (2) map the park's suitable habitats; and (3) map potentially optimal areas for the Guigna's conservation. The results identified four valleys as potentially optimal areas for the conservation of Guignas within LANP and another two as secondary suitable areas. The results also indicated that to maintain a healthy population of Guignas within LANP, the understorey structure of forest strips that connect the valleys should also be conserved, and that the main threat to this structure is the expansion of Wild Boars.

Bycatch (the unintentional catch of non-target species or sizes) is consistently ranked as one of the greatest threats to marine fish populations; yet species-specific rates of bycatch survival are rarely considered in risk assessments. Regulations often require that bycatch of threatened species be released; but, if animals are already dead, their release serves no conservation purpose. We examined the survival of 12 shark species caught as bycatch in the US Atlantic pelagic longline fishery. Shark survival was evaluated in relation to fishery target (swordfish versus tuna) and four operational, environmental, and biological variables to evaluate the underlying mechanisms affecting mortality. Survival estimates ranged from 33% (night shark) to 97% (tiger shark) with seven of the 12 species being significantly affected by at least one variable. We placed our survival results within a framework that assessed each species' relative vulnerability by integrating survival estimates with reproductive potential and found that the bigeye thresher, dusky, night, and scalloped hammerhead shark exhibited the highest vulnerabilities to bycatch. We suggest that considering ecological and biological traits of species shows promise for designing effective conservation measures, whereas techniques that reduce fisheries interactions in the first place may be the best strategy for highly vulnerable species.

Wanniyagama forest complex situated within Wanniyagama-Werakkodicholai forest reserve in Puttalam district. A survey was conducted to identify the richness of faunal groups, endemic and threatened fauna and factors affecting to the loss and threats of biodiversity. Line transect surveys were performed Wanniyagama forest complex comprises rich faunal diversity according to the survey results. A total of 272 faunal species were reported with birds, butterflies and odonates being high abundant faunal groups. Amongst nationally threatened species two (02) critically endangered species and five (05) endangered species including two (02) endemic species were recorded. Ten (10) migrant and nine (09) endemic bird species were identified. Three (03) invasive species were recorded. Through removal or proper management of invasive species in the area, biodiversity of Wanniyagama forest complex can be conserved.

Warnagala forest complex in Kuruwita, Ratnapura District has a lowland wet evergreen vegetation. A survey was conducted to identify the richness of faunal and floral groups and to identify endemic and threatened species in the area. Line transect surveys were used. A total of 383 species consisting 219 fauna and 164 flowering plants were recorded within the study period. The point endemic orchid Podochilus warnagalensis was recorded. A high richness of threatened species was reported with fourteen (14) critically endangered species including eleven (11) fauna and three (03) flora. Webless Shrub Frog (Pseudophilautus hypomelas) which has been classified as extinct in 2012 National IUCN Red List and rediscovered in 2013 was abundantly observed. Declaring Warnagala forest complex as a protected area is suggested to benefit the country with conservation of unique biodiversity and enhanced ecosystem services.

Natural areas within cities are important as they contribute to maintain biodiversity and the functioning of ecosystems. In Ceará state, inventories of birds in human-impacted areas are still scarce. Here, we inventory bird species and estimate the species richness at Parque Ecológico Lagoa da Fazenda, an urban park in the municipality of Sobral, in northeastern Brazil. We found 82 bird species, of which 16 breed in the area, three are endemics, and three others are introduced. Despite the moderate species richness detected, richness estimators revealed that sampling was sufficient to detect most species. To maintain or even increase local species richness, we suggest the cessation of urban expansion within the park, sewage dumping, and filling of the wetland, as well as further planting of native vegetation.

The magnitude of anthropogenic landscape change in tropical montane biodiversity hotspots and its relationship with biodiversity is a global issue that remains 'locked-in' in the broad narrative of tropical change in Africa. Over a montane biodiversity hotspot of Madagascar highlands (Ankaratra Massif), we conducted analysis on land cover change with Landsat satellite sensor data to identify the magnitude of change (1995-2016) and on the habitat change-amphibian diversity relationship to understand links with biodiversity. The results evidenced that 17.8% of the biodiversity hotspot experienced change in land cover in only 20 years. That pressured the already threatened forests, particularly since 2005. Of the total forest area in 1995 (2062.7 ha), 21.5% was cleared by 2016 (1618.3 ha). Changes in forest cover followed a bidirectional pattern. While in the period 1995-2005, forests expanded at a rate of 2.0% year −1 (from 2062.7 to 2524.8 ha), the area declined between 2005 and 2016 at a rate of − 4.1% year −1 , fourfold the rate reported nationally for Madagascar (− 1.1% year −1). Forest-to-shrubland transitions emerged as being of increasing concern to forest integrity. We identified a significant link between habitat change and amphibian diversity, but only for species richness. Counter to expectations, no significant relationship was found between species richness and deforestation rates, and between microendemism rates and any of the habitat change variables. Species richness responded to the spatiotemporal variability in vegetation dynamics represented by the standard deviation of the Normalized Differenced Vegetation Index (NDVI_std). Species richness was strongly negatively related to NDVI_std in the short-term (R 2 = 0.91, p = 0.003) and long-term (R 2 = 0.69, p = 0.03), increasing where the spatiotemporal variability in NDVI was lower. The magnitude of changes in this biodiversity hotspot suggests that region-specific assessments are necessary in the context of the tropical change narrative in Africa and should consider conservation policies tailored for local conditions. Reducing deforestation and land conversion rates through a management plan codesigned with local communities is urgent. Habitat change appears to impact on amphibian diversity by altering the functional attributes of the habitat and not just by reducing habitat extent. NDVI_std seems a relevant indirect metric for monitoring such change although other biophysical attributes obtained from satellite sensor data should be integrated and explored.

Carnivores are threatened across Sub-Saharan Africa mostly due to retaliatory killing by people, the loss of prey species and their habitats. Due to their food and space requirements, they regularly come into conflict with humans. In many regions, information about carnivore occurrence and human-carnivore conflict remains poorly known particularly in parts of West-and Central Africa. Here, we assessed the local ecological knowledge on carnivores and associated conflicts in the forest-savannah transition zone in Cameroon. We conducted a semi-structured questionnaire survey with 649 local inhabitants from 23 villages around the Tchabal Mbabo Mountain Range, Yoko Council Forest and Mpem et Djim National Park. The majority of local people could easily identify the lions (73.8%, n=479) and correctly named (90.2%, n=432), whereas other species (e.g. leopards, cheetahs,

This paper reports the first ever investigation of the chemical components/composition of the seeds of Amaranthus pumilus (a threatened amaranth species) and compares the results to those of the more commonly cultivated Amaranthus hypochondriacus (Plainsman). This study clearly revealed that much genetic diversity exists between these species, indicating that potential breeding possibilities for the improvement of more commonly cultivated amaranth lines do exist. A. pumilus offers a much larger and more desirable seed size and weight (2-3-fold higher), permitting greater biomass production, in addition to lower levels (half) of free carbohydrate for improved value/ performance in diabetic-type diets. In addition to the higher edible oil content found in A. pumilus, its lower saturated/unsaturated ratio (one of the lowest thus far measured) makes it potentially a better source of nutritional oil. In addition to the 2-fold-higher quantity of vitamin E found in A. pumilus, the higher levels of squalene also found may one day serve as a renewable crop source of this compound and may diminish the world's dependence upon marine animals. Considering the imminent danger posed to the survival of the seabeach amaranth in its native environment, it is hoped this study will raise public awareness of the importance of this species and thereby protect it from reaching extinction.

Studies on the distribution of species and community structure are essential to understand the effects that environmental change may have on them, regardless of whether it was climatic or human-induced. These studies are particularly important in the case of rodent communities, as they are highly diverse and can often serve as biodiversity indicators. The study area, Union Ipiri (La Paz, Bolivia) is a representative of several communities at the front end of human disturbance. The objective of the study was to determine the composition and diversity of rodent communities in two types of habitats, native forest and agroforestry crop, the latter as an anthropogenic disturbed habitat, during the dry season of 2014. We collected 256 individuals, belonging to 10 species of rodents and three species of marsupials. The most abundant species were Oligoryzomys microtis chaparensis, Oligoryzomys sp., Euryoryzomys nitidus and Akodon dayi. Both the richness and diversity showed no significant differences between the two habitats, while the abundance of rodents was higher in the agroforestry crops. Oligoryzomys sp. was the species with the highest proportion of males. And all the above-mentioned four species showed more adults individuals, as expected for the sampled season.

This study focused on the rare and threatened plant species eastern turkeybeard (Xerophyllum asphodeloides (L.) Nutt.) and its presence or absence in the Talladega National Forest in Alabama, USA. An ensemble suitable habitat map was developed using four different modeling methods (MaxEnt, Generalized Linear Model, Generalized Additive Model, and Random Forest). AUC evaluation scores for each model were 0.99, 0.96, 0.98, and 0.99, respectively. Biserial correlation scores for models ranged from 0.71 (GLM) to 0.94 (RF). The four different models agreed suitable habitat was found to cover 159.57 ha of the land. The ground slope variable was the most contributive variable in the MaxEnt and RF models and was also significant in the GLM and GAM models. The knowledge gained from this research can be used to establish and implement habitat suitability strategies across the Talladega National Forest and similar ecosystems in the southern United States.

Gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) are candidates for range-wide listing as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Reliable population estimates are important to inform policy and management for recovery of the species. Line transect distance sampling has been adopted as the preferred method to estimate population size. However, when tortoise density is low, it can be challenging to obtain enough tortoise observations to reliably estimate the probability of detection, a vital component of the method. We suggest a modification to the method based on counting usable tortoise burrows (more abundant than tortoises) and separately accounting for the proportion of burrows occupied by tortoises. The increased sample size of burrows can outweigh the additional uncertainty induced by the need to account for the proportion of burrows occupied. We demonstrate the method using surveys conducted within a 13,118-ha portion of the Gopher Tortoise Habitat Management Unit at Fort Gord...

Avian communities maintain ecological balance by eliminating pests, providing ecosystem services, and acting as biological indicators, thereby playing a pivotal role in conserving agricultural landscapes’ integrity and stability; thus from an environmental monitoring standpoint, assessment of bird aggregations in various landscapes is necessary. A two-year bird survey was conducted from May 2020 and 2021 to October 2020 to 2021 to document the checklist, density, and diversity of bird species assemblage of agricultural landscapes in the Sirsa district of Haryana, India, to obtain the richness of birds in two different agricultural habitats. A total of 87 bird species from 39 families and 16 orders were recorded; four bird species (Alexandrine Parakeet, Asian Woollyneck, Black-Headed Ibis, and Painted Stork) are listed as Near Threatened in the ‘IUCN’ (2010) category. Surprisingly, 13 species with global declining population trends are rare in the study area. The Passeriformes order,...

Although Eurasia’s Caspian basin once supported the world’s richest and most diverse complex of sturgeon species, recent human activities have decimated populations of these ecologically and economically important fish. All five anadromous Caspian sturgeon species are critically endangered, and the potamodromous sterlet is also threatened. The precipitous decline of these species is due to a combination of factors that includes illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; destruction of feeding and spawning habitat; water pollution; and the environmental consequences of climate change. International efforts are currently underway to re-establish sustained naturally reproducing sturgeon populations in the basin. Here, we update and review the status of sturgeon in the Caspian Sea with emphasis on the northern basin and the inflowing Volga and Ural rivers. We then focus on efforts to restore sturgeon in the Ural, which originates in Russia and flows through Kazakhstan before en...

Migratory birds are threatened by habitat loss and degradation, illegal killings, ineffective conservation policies, knowledge gaps and climate change. These threats are particularly troubling in the Procellariiformes (Aves), one of the most endangered bird groups. For “storm-petrels”, their cryptic breeding behavior, asynchrony between populations, and light pollution pose additional threats that contribute to increased mortality.Markham’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates markhami), a poorly known migratory species, is a pelagic bird that breeds in dispersed colonies in the Sechura and Atacama Deserts, with asynchronous reproduction between colonies, and is highly affected by artificial lights. Considering its complex conservation scenario and singular breeding, we expected to find narrow habitat distribution conditions, strong geographic genetic structure, and spatially differentiation related to human population activities (e.g., light pollution) and the climate global change. To evaluat...

Background The value of local and regional landscapes for avian conservation requires a thorough understanding of the diversity and structure of bird communities. Avifauna serves as an important biological indicator in monitoring the health of an ecosystem or environment. The present study was conducted to examine the relationship between avian diversity, richness, composition and habitat characteristics at the Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary. Results Using geographic information systems and remote sensing techniques, we analyzed habitat heterogeneity based on land use and land cover classification. For sampling birds, extensive surveys were conducted in different land-use types from 2019 to 2021, following the line transect method. During the study period, 102 bird species were recorded from the five studied vegetation types of the study area, including one near threatened (Bearded Vulture) and one vulnerable (Kashmir Flycatcher) bird species. The highest numbers of avian species were...

Assessments of biodiversity patterns and threats among African reptiles have lagged behind those of other vertebrate groups and regions. We report the first systematic assessment of the distribution, threat status, and climate change vulnerability for the reptiles of Tanzania. A total of 321 reptile species (including 90 Tanzanian endemics) were assessed using the global standard IUCN Red List methodology and 274 species were also assessed using the IUCN guidelines for climate change vulnerability. Patterns of species richness and threat assessment confirm the conservation importance of the Eastern Arc Mountains, as previously demonstrated for birds, mammals and amphibians. Lowland forests and savannah-woodland habitats also support important reptile assemblages. Protected area gap analysis shows that 116 species have less than 20% of their distribution ranges protected, among which 12 are unprotected, eight species are threatened and 54 are vulnerable to climate change. Tanzania's northern margins and drier central corridor support high numbers of climate vulnerable reptile species, together with the eastern African coastal forests and the region between Lake Victoria and Rwanda. This paper fills a major gap in our understanding of the distribution and threats facing Tanzania's reptiles, and demonstrates more broadly that the explicit integration of climate change vulnerability in Red Listing criteria may revise spatial priorities for conservation.

We present an analysis of changes of state, pressures and conservation responses over 20 years in the Tanzanian portion of the Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa biodiversity hotspot. Baseline data collected during 1989–1995 are compared with data from a synthesis of recently published papers and reports and new field work carried out across the region during 2010–2014. We show that biodiversity endemism values are largely unchanged, although two new species (amphibian and mammal) have been named and two extremely rare tree species have been relocated. However, forest habitat continues to be lost and degraded, largely as a result of agricultural expansion, charcoal production to supply cities with cooking fuel, logging for timber and cutting of wood for firewood and building poles. Habitat loss is linked to an increase in the number of species threatened over time. The government-managed forest reserve network has expanded slightly but has low effectiveness. Three forest reserves hav...

INTRODUCTION For a long time, man has relied on plants for the majority of his basic resources. Plants are used in healthcare since some ancient stages of human civilization and the ethnic communities residing in remote areas are still practicing such use of plants (Ayam and Nyitan 2017, Pattanayak 2021, Pradhan et al. 2021). Documentation of such uses and performing scientific studies on them is an important aspect in the field of development of new medicines (Ayam 2018, Patel et al. 2022, Paul et al. 2022). The people of Arunachal also obtain several essential items from the natural environment such as fruits and vegetables for consumption and for using it as medicine (Ayam 2017, Ayam and Hage 2017). Activities of the medicinal plants inside the body may follow different steps than laboratory-derived medicines (Pattanayak 2020). The Tangsa tribe of Changlang is not an exception and they also derive several essential items from the surrounding environment for their survival (Lungphi et al. 2022). 'Tangsa' is an ethnic Sino-Burmese community living in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh and the Tinsukia district of Assam in India, as well as in some areas of Myanmar. In India, they have mainly lived in the Patkai-Hills region since the early 13th century after migrating out

Ninety hybotid species are recognized in the Botanic Garden Jean Massart (Brussels), representing 52 % of the hybotids ever recorded in Belgium. Two species new to science are described:Platypalpus massartisp. nov. andP. pictitarsoidessp. nov. Following species are reported for the first time in Belgium:Drapetis infitialis(Collin, 1961),Platypalpus negroboviGrootaert, Kustov & Shamshev, 2012 andTrichina opacaLoew, 1864. In addition, comments are given on a selected number of species:Bicellaria intermediaLundbeck, 1910,Platypalpus aurantiacus(Collin, 1926),Platypalpus longimanus(Corti, 1907),Platypalpus nanus(Oldenberg, 1924),Platypalpus rapidoidesChvála, 1975,Platypalpus subtilis(Collin, 1926),Stilpon subnubilusChvála, 1988 and on the genusHybosMeigen, 1803. The holotype ofP. cryptospina(Frey, 1909) is revised.Only 30 species or 33% of the species present are in a ‘Safe/Low risk’ Red Data Book category meaning that the other 66% are in a more or less ‘Threatened’ category.