Conservation Action Plan Research Articles

Birds along the Bagmati river corridor in urban areas and factors affecting their abundance

Bagmati River is considered a potential biodiversity conservation area due to its unique and diversified habitat in urban area. However, little information is available on the bird diversity, their abundance and factor affecting on bird species. We aimed to explore the bird diversity and factors affecting their abundance along the Bagmati River corridor in urban areas of Nepal. This study generated data using a point count method along the Bagmati River corridor between October 2021 and April 2022. We identified 67 bird species belonging to 11 orders and 28 families. Passeriformes and Muscicapidae were the most prevalent orders and families among the birds that were observed. Among the feeding guilds, insectivore birds were recorded as the highest bird species and followed by omnivores, carnivores, frugivores and granivores. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index of bird species was 3.35, while the Pielou's evenness index was 0.796. The bird abundance was increased in presence of tree, near the settlement, nearer to sewage, at low temperatures, increasing distance to water source and road whereas decreased with the distance to open land and at a higher elevation. Bagmati River corridor at urban area is rich in biodiversity as it supports more number of various bird species and their abundance is affected by presence of tree, distance to the water source, road, settlement, open land, sewage, temperature and elevation. Thus, knowledge on the conservation of habitat and minimizing the factors that affect the bird's abundance helps in protecting the status of avian species by developing site specific conservation action plan.

In a rough spot: Declines in Arthroleptella rugosa calling densities are explained by invasive pine trees

AbstractBasing conservation interventions on evidence is important for justifying their associated cost and gauging their effectiveness. For amphibians, the number of studies available to support conservation action plans is limited. Here, we sought to determine the effect of invasive pine trees on the calling densities of a Critically Endangered frog species, endemic to the Western Cape province in South Africa. The Rough Moss frog, Arthroleptella rugosa, is an anuran restricted to a small patch of fire‐driven fynbos habitat prone to invasion by Cluster Pines, Pinus pinaster. We use acoustic spatially explicit capture–recapture methods to estimate frog densities at multiple sites (n = 12) over ten years. Sites were classified as invaded or uninvaded by P. pinaster, and this information, along with the time since the last fire, were used as explanatory variables for frog density in a generalized linear mixed model. Frog densities were found to be significantly affected by P. pinaster invasion status. At invaded sites, there was a negative relationship between call densities and time since fire, while at uninvaded sites the same relationship was positive. These results confirm previous suggestions that invasive pine trees cause population declines in A. rugosa. Our findings can be used to support conservation interventions for A. rugosa, specifically the use of fire in an adaptive management context to control pine invasion across its range.

Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) monitoring in Bokan Kepulauan (2017-2021) highlights the need for the “BCF Garden” approach

The Banggai cardinalfish Pterapogon kauderni is a restricted range marine fish classified as Endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. Traded as an ornamental fish, the Banggai cardinalfish (BCF) is of national and international conservation concern. The “BCF Garden” concept aims to replenish depleted BCF stocks through community-based habitat and microhabitat rehabilitation. Under the National Action Plan for Banggai cardinalfish conservation, selected BCF populations have been monitored annually since 2017. Eight endemic BCF populations in the Bokan Kepulauan District, Banggai Laut Regency, Central Sulawesi Province, were monitored using a standardized belt transect method in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. Data were collected on BCF abundance, size/age structure and microhabitat association, and critical microhabitat abundance (sea urchins, mainly Diadema and sea anemones). Despite the inter-site variation, overall abundance declined significantly for BCF (p = 0.02) and sea urchins (p=0.02). Total counts of BCF (4646) and urchins (498) in 2021 were 31% and 11%, respectively, of 2017 values (4921 and 4460); sea anemone count increased (61 to 87) but remained well below historical abundance levels. These results confirm the need for targeted measures to promote the recovery of BCF populations in Bokan Kepulauan. The holistic BCF Garden approach is recommended, especially at sites where Diadema urchins are heavily exploited.

Species action plan for conservation of an isolated Steppe Eagle population in Turkey

Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) is a globally Endangered (EN) species according to IUCN Red List, with a breeding range extending through the arid zones of southern Russia and Kazakhstan, from Kalmykia in the west to Dauria in the east. There is a small, isolated breeding population in Turkey, discovered in 2003, which lost contact with the main breeding range. Although there are studies carried out between 2015 and 2021, the size of the isolated population is not exactly known. To protect this small population on the brink of extinction, the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks (GDNCNP), which is officially responsible for wildlife conservation, programmed to prepare a species action plan in 2021. As part of the “Preparation, Implementation and Monitoring of Species Action Plans for Endangered Species in Turkey within the Concept of a New Methodology”, shortly “Endangered Species” project, Steppe Eagle was selected, based on a prioritization study, to be one of the pilot species for which species actions to be prepared. Field studies were conducted in the 2022 breeding season to identify threats causing stress to the Steppe Eagle. During the breeding studies in 2022, it was determined that 4 pairs of Steppe Eagles were confirmed to be breeding in Central Anatolia, and 4 pairs attempted to breed. During the field studies, threat factors were listed based on direct observations, indirect observations (nest records, mortality records, etc.), and bilateral discussions with local communities. Using the threat analysis adopted by IUCN and adapted to Turkey within the framework of the same project, a national-level threat analysis was conducted. Direct threat factors causing stress to the species were listed as conversion of grasslands into agricultural areas, excessive use of groundwater and surface water leading to the drying of wetlands, power transmission lines, human activities and grazing pressure on breeding islands in wetlands, illegal hunting, predation, researcher pressure, hybridization with Eastern Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca), and artificial materials in nests. Additionally, the use of rodent poisons was also identified as a potential threat. As a result of the threat analysis, the threats with the highest level of impact on the species were identified as the conversion of grasslands into agricultural areas and excessive water usage. These threats result in the transformation of steppe habitat and decrease in the species' food sources. Another high-level threat is illegal hunting. The identified threats were transferred to a problem tree and, following the method generated in the “Endangered Species” project, problem tree was transformed to a result chain. In the result chain, the selected results for eliminating/reducing threats were defined by identifying intervention points and transforming them into objectives. Activities were defined to achieve the identified objectives. Within the scope of the 10-year action plan a total of 34 activities were designed under 9 objectives to be achieved. Eight out of the 9 objectives involve conservation, and one involves research-related activities. The aim of the 10-year plan is to conserve and support the breeding population of the species in Turkey.

Action plans for species conservation are an important tool to meet global and national biodiversity targets – A study case in Brazil

National action plans for the conservation of threatened fauna species (PANs) are instruments to promote the implementation of global biodiversity targets on a national scale. In Brazil, 74.8% of threatened animal species were covered with PANs by the end of 2019. In this study we evaluate the contribution of these PANs as tools for species conservation and for attaining Aichi targets. Between 2004 and 2019, 38 PANs were concluded, and 42.76% of the 2,044 actions, included in the PANs, were achieved. These actions promoted a series of conservation measures that contributed to 10 of the 20 Aichi targets, resulting in direct benefits for the target species.

An assessment of the herpetofauna of the Oriental Sweetgum forests in southwestern Anatolia, Turkey


 
 
 
 Oriental Sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis) is a threatened tree species restricted to Rhodes Island (Greece) and southern Anatolia (Turkey), best known for its rare riparian forests. These small patches of forests are severely fragmented and scattered, and are rarely found in southwestern Turkey. Based on field sampling and data compilation, we performed an assessment of the herpetofauna in these forests in southwestern Turkey during the spring of 2019 and 2021. Sampling was carried out using a line-transect method in 13 forests with various habitats, resulting in data at the community and population levels. Sixteen families, including 26 amphibian and reptile species (four anurans, four turtles, nine lizards, and nine snakes), were recorded from these unique forests, based on 1440 individuals. Twenty-two species were recorded for the first time from these forests; in addition, Emys orbicularis and Elaphe sauromates were recorded for the first time from the region. Richness in the forest patches, habitat use by the recorded species, and interspecific interactions are discussed to explain the conspicuous patterns observed in the species distributions. The unique distribution pattern of Phoenicolacerta laevis among the existing forest patches represents the most prominent finding, with implications for a recent introduction. The fossorial species Xerotyphlops vermicularis, Blanus strauchi, and Eryx jaculus are unlikely to occur in the Oriental Sweetgum forest due to annual flooding. The data obtained during this study will be transferred to the Oriental Sweetgum forest conservation action plan (2019–2024) as part of the biodiversity monitoring tools for use in the long-term conservation of these forests.
 
 
 

Clinical Hematology of the Nose-Horned Viper, Vipera ammodytes (Linnaeus 1758)

The establishment of hematological profiles of animals taken from their natural environment or kept in captivity has great importance in determining the health status and biology of these species. Pollution in the habitat of reptiles and the impact of various diseases can be determined by analyzing blood parameters. In this study, the clinical hematology (erythrocyte and leukocyte count, erythrocyte types, differential blood formula, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) of three Nose-horned Vipers (Vipera ammodytes) captured from Vize (Kırklareli, Türkiye) were examined. We detected the frequency of nuclear abnormalities in this species for the first time. We also provide the first erythrometric measurements of Vipera ammodytes, and found that the erythrocyte sizes of this species were larger compared to other species in Viperidae. Knowledge of the general health status of animals is important in species conservation action plans and monitoring studies.

Hidden Hippos: Using Photogrammetry and Multiple Imputation to Determine the Age, Sex, and Body Condition of an Animal Often Partially Submerged

Demographic Information on threatened species is important to plan conservation actions. Due to their aquatic lifestyle, the subtle nature of hippo sexual dimorphism, and their occurrence in inaccessible areas, it is difficult to visually determine hippo ages and sexes. Previously, hippo body lengths have been measured from drone images and used to estimate age. However, due to hippos’ propensity to be partially submerged, it is often difficult to obtain the required measurements. We used the novel technique of multiple imputation to estimate missing body measurements. Further, we explored if male and female hippos could be differentiated in drone images based on body proportions, also examining body condition indices and how these varied seasonally. Multiple imputation increased the number of hippos that we aged threefold, and the body lengths we obtained fell within the range provided in literature, supporting their validity. We provide one of the first age structure breakdowns of a hippo population not from culled hippos. Accounting for overall size, males had wider necks and snouts than females. Hippo body condition varied seasonally, indicating responses to resources and reproduction. We provide a new technique and demonstrate the utility of drones to determine age and sex structures of hippo populations.

BIRD COMPOSITION IN FOREST AND COASTAL ZONE OF PULAU TINGGI, JOHOR, MALAYSIA

Documentation of bird composition on the islands around Peninsular Malaysia is scarce and the attention is mainly focused on Malaysia’s Borneo Islands. Therefore, this study aims to fulfil this knowledge gap by documenting the bird composition in Pulau Tinggi. The study was conducted from March to August 2019 using mist-netting and direct observation methods. A total of 39 bird species belonging to 24 families were recorded. Among these, 28 species were residents, four species were residents migrants and seven were migrants. Migrant species include Wood sandpipers (Tringa glareola), Common Sandpipers (Actitis hypoleucos), Malay Hawk-cuckoo (Hierococcyx fugax), Arctic- Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis), Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus), Siberian Blue Robin (Luscinia cyane) and Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Regarding conservation status, only one species was listed as Near Threatened: The White-chested Babbler (Trichastoma rostratum). Our result shows that the coastal area is more diverse (H=2.252) than the forest area (H=1.933). However, birds in the forest area were more evenly distributed with an evenness index score (forest = 0.5759) over (coastal=0.3806). Thus, we conclude that despite its small size, Pulau Tinggi accommodates a variety of bird species, where the conservation action plan for the continued survival of birds on this island needs to be implemented.

Daily behavioral research on Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii) mothers and offsprings at Suaq Balimbing Research Station, Gunung Leuser National Park, Aceh Province, Indonesia

Abstract. Sutekad D, Jannah M, Fitri L, Fauziah F. 2022. Daily behavioral research on Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii) mothers and offsprings at Suaq Balimbing Research Station, Gunung Leuser National Park, Aceh Province, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 5108-5121. Discovering the daily behavior of female orangutan mothers and their offspring can provide information for use as a recent reference in orangutan conservation action plans. This research aims to determine the daily behavioral patterns of mother and offspring Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) at the Suaq Balimbing research station. This study was conducted between June 2019 and March 2020 and used focal animal sampling as the method. The method used consists of searching and daily behavioral logging. The results of the research showed that six orangutan mothers and offsprings (three mother-offspring pairs) showed different behavioral patterns. The distinction was felt in the distribution of time spent on activities. Eating, moving, resting, nesting, and social activity are all part of an orangutan's daily behavior. The proportion of time allocation used in the daily activities of female mother and Sumatran orangutan pairs (Pongo abelii) that is successfully observed in the Suaq Balimbing research station are eating (68.79%), resting (11.59%), moving (11.02%), nesting (1.11%), others (5.04%) and unknown (2.45%). Orangutans' diet plants in Suaq Balimbing consist of 30 species from 25 families, including the liana diet, plants consumed with the seeds, and plants consumed by the bark. According to the findings of this study, the behavior of a mother Sumatran orangutan, while it is with its offspring can be described.

Piloting development of species conservation action plans in Guinea

AbstractConservation action plans need to be devised and implemented if we are to reduce the extinction risk faced by globally threatened plants. However, most plant species categorized as threatened globally on the IUCN Red List lack conservation action plans. In West Africa, Guinea is one of the most diverse countries in terms of botanical species. In total, 273 plant species in Guinea have been assessed as being threatened globally, reflecting increasing pressure from the extractive industry and a growing population requiring food and fuel. In parallel with the implementation of an Important Plant Area programme in Guinea, we developed conservation action plans for 20 threatened plant species through a pilot study. We outline the methods we used and demonstrate the importance of adopting a collaborative approach and having up-to-date field information. The need for such plans is urgent, with recent estimates suggesting that one-third of African plants are threatened with extinction. Based on our experience with the first 20 conservation action plans for Guinea species, we suggest that the preparation of multi-species conservation action plans would be an efficient use of the limited resources available for species conservation.

High genetic connectivity among large populations of Pteronotus gymnonotus in bat caves in Brazil and its implications for conservation

Bat caves in the Neotropical region harbor exceptional bat populations (> 100,000 individuals). These populations play a wider role in ecological interactions, are vulnerable due to their restriction to caves, and have a disproportionate conservation value. Current knowledge of bat caves in Brazil is still small. However, systematic monitoring of some bat caves in northeastern Brazil shows that they experience strong population fluctuations over short periods of time, suggesting large-scale movements between roosts and a much broader use of the landscape than previously considered. Spatio-temporal reproductive connectivity between distant populations would change our understanding of the use of roosts among bat species in Brazil, and important gaps in knowledge of long-distance bat movements in the country would be filled. Here, we used ddRADseq data to analyze the genetic structure of Pteronotus gymnonotus across nine bat caves over 700 km. Our results indicate the lack of a clear geographic structure with gene flow among all the caves analyzed, suggesting that P. gymnonotus uses a network of bat caves geographically segregated hundreds of kilometers apart. Facing strong anthropogenic impacts and an underrepresentation of caves in conservation action plans worldwide, the genetic connectivity demonstrated here confirms that bat caves are priority sites for bat and speleological conservation in Brazil and elsewhere. Moreover, our results demonstrate a warning call: the applied aspects of the environmental licensing process of the mining sector and its impact must be reviewed, not only in Brazil, but wherever this licensing process affects caves having exceptional bat populations.

Structure of a Semideciduous Seasonal Forest in the National Forest of Ipanema, Brazil: Contributing to the Floristic Knowledge of a Poorly Studied Protected Area

Studies on composition and structure generate crucial information for characterizing plant communities and planning conservation actions. There are still substantial knowledge gaps in Brazilian protected areas, preventing design programs to mitigate biodiversity loss. This is the case of the National Forest of Ipanema (Ipanema NAFO) in São Paulo state, Brazil, where plant diversity remains uncalculated. To help fill this gap, in 1-ha of a seasonal semideciduous forest (SSF) stand on the Araçoiaba hill, the authors sampled all woody stems with dbh ≥ 5 cm in a total of 103 dead and 1,301 living plants representing 65 species, 57 genera, and 31 families. The number of species and families was lower than old-growth SSF and, together with the land-use history, which suggests the community is a secondary stand. The initial species Guazuma ulmifolia, Machaerium stipitatum, Croton floribundus, and Aloysia virgata totalized 50% of the living stems, whereas 37% of the other species summed up only 1.8%. The high abundance of these initial species and the presence of the climax species Cariniana legalis, Holocayx balansae, Myroxylon peruiferum, Zanthoxylum caribaeum and others indicate that the community is in an intermediate to advanced successional stage. Three species are considered vulnerable to extinction and 27 of least concern. Ipanema NAFO is an important conservation unit, sheltering some plants vulnerable to extinction and others locally rare. This study adds to other few studies about the flora of Ipanema NAFO, helping to estimate its biodiversity and planning conservation actions. Additionally, it is a source for defining reference values for ecological restoration in the Atlantic forest.

Human-Leopard Panthera pardus (Linnaeus, 1758) Conflict in Godawari Municipality, Lalitpur, Nepal

Leopard (Panthera pardus) is a globally vulnerable large cat, widely distributed in Nepal. It occurs in different protected and outside protected areas in the human-dominated landscape. We used semi-structured questionnaires to know the Human-Leopard Conflict (HLC) and people’s perception towards Leopard conservation in the conflict-prone areas of Godawari, Lalitpur. The signs survey was conducted to know the presence of Leopards in the study area. Households were sampled using the snowball sampling technique. The presence of signs such as scats, pugmarks, and scents marks in the forest and nearby settlement areas indicated that there was a frequent occurrence of leopards in the study area. The Leopard frequently attacked livestock and pets and sometimes humans. Local people believed that the major reasons behind HLC were insufficient prey species and human disturbances in the habitat of Leopards. The majority of the respondents were against the conservation of Leopards because of the frequent depredation of domestic animals in the study area. The research findings will be useful in making a conservation action plan for Leopards and conflict mitigation strategies in such human-dominated semi-urban and urban landscapes.

Central-place foraging poses variable constraints year-round in a neotropical migrant

Background“Central-place foragers” are constrained in their habitat selection and foraging range by the frequency with which they need to return to a central place. For example, chick-rearing songbirds that must feed their offspring hourly might be expected to have smaller foraging ranges compared to non-breeding songbirds that return nightly to a roost.MethodsWe used GPS units to compare the foraging behaviour of an aerial insectivorous bird, the purple martin (Progne subis), during the breeding season in three regions across North America, as well as the non-breeding season in South America. Specifically, we tested foraging range size and habitat selection.ResultsForaging range did not vary among regions during breeding (14.0 ± 39.2 km2) and was larger during the nonbreeding period (8840 ± 8150 km2). Purple martins strongly preferred aquatic habitats to other available habitats year-round and in the Amazon commuted from night roosts in low productivity sediment-poor water, where risk of predation was probably low, to daytime foraging sites in productive sediment-rich water sites.ConclusionsWe provide the first estimates for foraging range size in purple martins and demonstrate foraging preference for aquatic habitats throughout two stages of the annual cycle. Understanding foraging constraints and habitat of aerial insectivores may help plan conservation actions throughout their annual cycle. Future research should quantify foraging behaviour during the post-breeding period and during migration.

Analyzing Environmental Determinants of Tree Species Distributions and Regeneration Pattern in Western Himalaya via National Forest Inventory of India

ABSTRACT Tree distribution has been considered crucial to assess the relationships between species occurrence and changing climate across the globe, and accordingly in designing the conservation action plans. Therefore, it becomes imperative to understand the most influential parameters for tree species distribution and its regeneration pattern. We used National Forest Inventory data collected in Western Himalaya (WH) and environmental parameters to reveal the aforesaid relationship and pattern. Three topographical factors (altitude, aspect, and slope), four major climatic variables (temperature, temperature seasonality, precipitation and its seasonality) and four edaphic factors (soil depth, soil humus, soil consistency and soil coarse fragments) were considered. The results indicated that the altitude and temperature were the major determining factors followed by temperature seasonality in shaping the distribution of major tree species in WH. The study also indicated an upward shift of regenerating individuals of these tree species toward higher altitude. These information about the extent of current tree distribution and their regeneration over the last one and half decade might help in systematic conservation planning and monitoring tree range dynamics under climate change scenario.

Impact and Lessons Learned from A Half-Century of Primate Conservation Action Planning

Over the last half-century, the world’s human population has doubled, impacting almost all ocean and land areas. The threats facing primates in the wild have never been greater or more complex. Primatologists have long been aware of these threats and, since the 1970s, have coordinated efforts to safeguard these threatened species, through the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) Primate Specialist Group (PSG). In an effort to stem the threat of extinction to primates, this group of now 700 experts+ has published 17 conservation action plans since 1977. As we look toward the next half-century, we take stock of the history of primate action planning to better understand the costs and benefits of these plans as a conservation tool. Here, we reviewed all plans published by the IUCN SSC PSG. In total, they described USD 246 million in planned primate conservation programming and were cited 1657 times by others. We found that half of the plans had been assessed in regard to their implementation, although these assessments were not standardized. Those that had been assessed, showed evidence of positive impacts on awareness raising, collaboration, fundraising, project implementation and policy, although the impact varied by plan. For example, three of the plans directly resulted in USD 15.92 million in funds raised; four plans quantified implementation rates, which ranged from 38% to 74% of actions partially or completely achieved 5 years after plan publication; and four plans attributed the gazettement of 19 protected areas across 11 countries as indirect successes following the publication of plans. Considered together, we reflect on the ‘return-on-investment’ for developing these plans and consider a range of ‘lessons learned’ for future primate action planning efforts.

Tools and Metrics for Species Prioritization for Conservation Planning and Action: Case Studies for Antelopes and Small Mammals

Given the scale of the current biodiversity loss, setting conservation priorities is essential to direct scarce resources to where they will be most effective. Many prioritization schemes have been described by using a wide range of criteria that vary across taxonomic groups, spatial scales, and ecological, socio-economic, and governance contexts. Currently, there is no single prioritization process applicable to all situations, nor is there a list of agreed metrics. The IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group and the Small Mammal Specialist Group recently performed species prioritization exercises based on a similar approach. The variables used included biological, socio-political, and feasibility criteria. The two exercises contained both common and some unique variables, arranged in a matrix for the target species (29 threatened antelopes and 19 critically endangered Mexican small mammals, respectively). The ASG framework provided a global summary of the antelope priorities, which can be updated and adapted to the national level. The SMSG matrix was applied in a regional workshop to select species for which the likelihood of implementing conservation actions was high and led to conservation action plans being developed for six species. The framework we jointly developed in theory can be applied to other taxa, certainly all mammals and perhaps most vertebrates.

Common hippopotamus in the upper Dhidhessa River and its conflicts with Arjo‐Dhidhessa Sugar Factory, Ethiopia

AbstractDue to the loss of wetlands, land‐use change, and confrontations with humans, the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is one of the largest land mammals currently threatened and classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The common hippo is found in protected and unprotected habitats, marshes, and inland major rivers of Ethiopia. However, little is known about the population status of hippos in the country. Hence, this study aimed to reveal the current population size of hippos and its conflicts with sugarcane plantation in Arjo‐Dhidhessa Sugar Factory. Data on population size, diet composition, and potential hippo conflicts was also collected from August 2020 to February 2021. The complete on‐foot count method was used to estimate the hippo population during the wet and dry seasons. The backtracking approach was used to determine the hippo's diet, which involved identifying and quantifying foraged species using quadrats. The total sugarcane stalk damage was counted in the sampled fields to determine sugarcane damage. Direct observation and interviews with sugarcane guards were used to identify mitigation methods employed to prevent hippo attacks. During the wet and dry seasons, a total of 96 and 182 hippos were documented in the upper Dhidhessa River, respectively. Hippos ate 23 plant species from 11 different families. The Poaceae family made up 51.32% of the hippo's diet. During the wet and dry seasons, a total of 662 (36.5%) and 1156 (63.5%) sugarcane stalks/ha were damaged, respectively. The best mitigation techniques against hippo assaults in the area were guarding, fencing, trenching, and burning fire. A sound conservation action plan for hippos along the Dhidhessa River and associated banks must be developed. Furthermore, while hippos are encircled by the Arjo‐Dhidhessa sugarcane irrigation scheme, modern mitigation measures and corridors for hippos should be implemented.

Taxonomic and geographic selectivity of spermatophytes' extinction risk in China

Concentrating limited resources to protect as many species as possible is the most effective way to improve conservation efficiency, of which identifying the clustering characteristics of species in urgent need of conservation is a prerequisite. In this study, selectivity was used to characterize the taxonomic and geographic clustering characteristics of extinction risk for threatened spermatophytes in China. Results showed that the number of threatened species was highly clustered in taxonomy, floristic regions, and at the county scale. Clustering of threatened species was detected in 18 orders, 53 families, and 201 genera, account for 15.0 %–32.8 % of the total and 52.5 %–71.3 % of the threatened spermatophyte species. 18 out of 57 floristic regions and subregions were over-threatened. 298 counties (10.1 % of China's territory) were over-threatened, covering 83.4 %, 79.3 % and 80.3 % of the total species, threatened species and endemic species, respectively. Counties with the top 10.0 % species richness (SR), threatened species richness (TR) and endemic species richness (ER) covered 79.5 %, 70.3 % and 75.0 % of the total species, threatened species and endemic species, respectively, while covering only 5.7 % of the area of China. More than half of the counties with the top 10.0 % SR, TR and ER, as well as those over-threatened, were outside the existing conservation strategy and action plan. Areas most at risk were also found to be moderately affected by human influence (evaluated by human influence index (HII)) in China. This study provides a new perspective for the study of conservation priority in taxonomic groups and geographical areas.