Conservation Management Actions Research Articles

An Invasive Predator Substantially Alters Energy Flux Without Changing Food Web Functional State or Stability

ABSTRACTUnderstanding how invasive species affect the stability and function of ecosystems is critical for conservation. Here, we quantified the effect of an actively suppressed invasive species on the Yellowstone Lake ecosystem using a food web energetics approach. We compared energy flux, functional state, and stability of four food web states: a pre‐invasion network and three post‐invasion networks undergoing active invasive species suppression, namely, initial invasion, expansion, and decline. Invasion caused ≥ 25% change (±) in energy flux for most consumers, and total flux increased twofold post‐invasion. Flux to the species of conservation concern, Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus virginalis bouvieri), was 2.8 times less post‐invasion versus pre‐invasion, whereas invasive lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) flux was up to 17.3 times higher compared to the initial invasion network. The dominant functional state and food web stability did not change post‐invasion, likely due to introduction of a generalist predator and the stabilizing effect of suppression. Lake trout invasion in Yellowstone Lake caused large changes to energy flux, shifting dominant fluxes away from the species of conservation concern, despite not changing functional state or stability. We demonstrate that changes in energy flux may signal invasions in ecosystems, but functional state or stability may not necessarily reflect the magnitude of invasion influences. For invaded fish communities, a better understanding of how the invasive species control the food web beyond just the direct influence on prey can be achieved by investigating energy flux, functional state, and food web stability. Furthermore, evaluating the effect of suppression beyond the invasive species can demonstrate the far‐reaching value of suppression management actions for conservation.

Foraging habitat use by sympatric Cuvier’s Gazelle, Dama Gazelle, and Dorcas Gazelle on a private reserve in Morocco

Abstract Habitat use influences the survival and fitness of animals. Habitat quality and food availability in spring and summer are crucial determinants of ungulate population dynamics, peaking in spring and drastically decreasing in summer in Mediterranean region. Here, over a 2-year period we examine foraging habitat use in both spring and summer of 3 threatened gazelle species living in sympatry in a private reserve in Morocco: Cuvier’s Gazelle (Gazella cuvieri), Dama Gazelle (Nanger dama), and Dorcas Gazelle (G. dorcas). We observed differences among species—Cuvier’s Gazelle foraged in woodland, Dama Gazelle in grassland, and Dorcas Gazelle in scrubland—with differences being mediated by seasonal effects as all species broadened their foraging habitat use in summer. We observed differences between years in foraging patterns of Dama Gazelle and Dorcas Gazelle, reflecting greater herb and scrub cover in 2018, potentially related to greater rainfall. Given the seasonal and annual differences observed, reductions in rainfall predicted with the progression of changing climatic conditions in the Mediterranean basin would reduce the availability of food resources and heighten the vulnerability of these species. The study illustrates interspecific coexistence through food resource partitioning of the 3 species, contributing to support conservation management actions of their populations in setting up structured reintroduction programs within their range.

Remote sensing for rangeland conservation monitoring: Impacts of livestock removal after 15 years

Abstract Degradation from overgrazing of global arid rangelands is of significant concern for this widespread terrestrial ecosystem, and the people who rely on its sustainable use. Addressing this degradation requires a better understanding of how livestock removal and conservation management actions affect the rehabilitation of land condition. However, the dominant effect of climate and meteorological variability on arid vegetation makes isolating management‐induced change a difficult task. We present an analytically simple method for measuring relative land condition by assessing differences in remote‐sensing‐derived persistent fractional vegetation between adjacent stocked and destocked regions over time. The 22‐year observation period focusses on vegetation recovery at a long‐established sheep station after the removal of livestock and the introduction of conservation‐focussed management. The study region, in the southern Australian arid rangelands, comprises sparsely vegetated chenopod shrublands and acacia woodlands across low‐lying plains. Comparison is made to immediately surrounding stocked properties in a spatial design where climate and biogeographic variables remain consistent across the study area. We found an unequivocal relative increase in vegetation cover, and reduction of bare ground cover at the destocked property that became evident approximately 8 years after a reduction in grazing pressure. Distinctly higher persistent vegetation cover was maintained, even during periods of drought. Non‐photosynthetic vegetation cover was most indicative of long‐term change and increased by 1.1% relative to surrounding areas. Photosynthetic vegetation cover increased by 0.5%, while bare ground cover decreased by 2.1%. These cover changes, particularly in the non‐photosynthetic vegetation and bare ground components spatially coincide with the fenced boundary of the destocked property. Synthesis and applications: The ability to quantify management‐related impacts in land condition using freely available remote sensing data could support improved management by all stakeholders in these regions. The method leverages readily available satellite remote sensing data in a study design that is not dependent on large geospatial and climatic datasets that are not necessarily available in remote regions.

Containing alien plants in coastal dunes: Evidence from a soil manipulation experiment

Biological invasion is recognised as one of the major threats to biodiversity, particularly in disturbance-prone ecosystems such as costal dunes. Many studies have associated alien plant invasion of dune ecosystem to human disturbances, but less is known about the role of soil properties in invasion after disturbance. Soil properties are crucial filters during plant succession and soil-related changes in the initial stage of species colonization might shape the final success of the invaders.We performed a manipulative experiment aimed at elucidating the effects of soil properties on plant colonization processes in highly invaded dune systems, as a proxy for plausible management actions to curb the success of exotic plant species over native ones, which was measured through species richness and abundance.In a barrier island of the Marano and Grado lagoon, Northern Adriatic Sea, we mechanically removed all the native and alien vegetation present in the back dune (also known as secondary dune), triggering a new ecological succession and further altered, for the following three months, soil properties by adding salt, nitrogen, and organic matter in a full factorial design with randomized blocks.The soil treatments reduced the overall species richness and abundance of alien plants. Further, soil treatment interactions strongly shaped community evenness and species richness. Soil salinity had a positive effect on native cover while decreasing the overall number of alien species, especially in soil with added organic matter.Our findings suggest that soil salinity, and its interplay with organic matter, might significantly reduce the initial success of alien species propagule pressure (i.e. alien plant germination), with likely implications for the trajectories of future plant communities. This study highlights that alien plant containment should be focused on early stages of succession, giving new perspective on future environmental management actions for dune restoration and conservation.

Conservation-oriented management benefits the Black-faced Spoonbill, an endangered migratory waterbird

Active conservation management is crucial for maintaining and recovering populations of threatened species. Yet, there are remarkably few studies quantifying the benefits of conservation management and comparing ecological and anthropogenic influences on populations. We investigate these issues using the Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor as a case study. This species is an endangered migratory waterbird that garnered significant conservation attention along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Its global population has shown an upward trend recently, yet the speed of recovery has varied spatially. Understanding the species’ occurrence across wintering sites and the factors driving the geographical variation in recovery is vital for examining the benefits of management. In winter 2021–2022, we surveyed the occurrence and abundance of Black-faced Spoonbills and gathered data on environmental conditions across six important wintering sites in Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. Our results indicated a preference for larger wetlands with water depths of 10–20 cm. Birds were more likely to be present in wetlands receiving conservation management interventions. Wetlands with vegetated bunds and fewer artificial materials tended to attract larger flocks. The contribution of wetland size and conservation management aimed at increasing spoonbill abundance varied across regions, with a more significant positive effect of conservation management observed in Taiwan. Our results serve as a valuable reference for regional conservation planning and wetland management in wintering areas, aiding their long-term conservation. In line with this, we recommend increased conservation management efforts informed by our findings, particularly in regions with relatively slow recovery rates.

Editorial Wetlands for human well-being

Editorial Wetlands for human well-being

Anthropogenic and climatic drivers of population densities in an African savanna ungulate community

AbstractMany ungulate species in Africa range in habitats that vary in type and quality over space and time, but ongoing environmental change is substantially altering their habitats. Identifying key environmental variables that regulate ungulate population densities can guide management actions for effective conservation. We studied the local population density responses of a community of sympatric ungulate species in the Tarangire Ecosystem of northern Tanzania, to a suite of environmental factors that vary over space and time, to quantify population trends, determine the primary environmental correlates of densities, and identify covariation in densities among species. We estimated seasonal densities of five commonly detected species (impala, dik–dik, Grant's gazelle, eland, and waterbuck) based on 7 years of distance‐sampling data from 41 replicate surveys of 237 line transects. We systematically analyzed the effects of spatial, seasonal, and annual environmental covariates on variation in transect species‐specific densities across space and time. Large fluctuations in climatic factors mediated highly synchronous temporal density variation among all species. We documented more spatial than temporal variation in four of the five species, suggesting that spatial heterogeneity may provide some buffer against temporal variation in the environment. Protection of sufficient habitats and water sources should allow ungulates to respond to a temporally changing world by moving across space. Further, among‐species covariation patterns identified two potential ungulate guilds (impala—dik–dik—waterbuck; eland—Grant's gazelle) that should aid in developing efficient and coordinated management actions.

Delineating important killer whale foraging areas using a spatiotemporal logistic model

Conservation management planning for highly mobile species requires an understanding of the distribution of areas that are biologically important to the species of concern. Collecting data on the locations of animal behaviors linked to biological characteristics, such as foraging, can be used to spatially describe biological important areas. However, spatial modeling of free-ranging animal behavior can be challenging, as behavioral observations of animals are often clustered, and sampling is commonly conducted at a higher frequency than changes in behavioral states, resulting in data that are usually highly autocorrelated in space and time. Here, we fit latent Gaussian process models to observational behavioral data to generate spatially-explicit predictions of foraging behavior within the critical habitat of an endangered population of fish-eating killer whales (Orcinus orca) in southern British Columbia, Canada, and northern Washington State, USA. We compare spatial models treating temporal autocorrelation in behavior in three ways: (1) ignoring temporal autocorrelation entirely; (2) traditional data-thinning to remove temporal autocorrelation, and; (3) using a temporal Gaussian process to account for temporal autocorrelation. Comparisons of autocorrelative structures for each model and visual comparison of broad spatial patterns demonstrate that our third approach yields more accurate results than when ignoring temporal autocorrelation entirely and higher precision results than when applying data-thinning methods. Within the identified areas of critical habitat, our models indicate two primary regions of intense killer whale foraging activity, and we delineate areas wherein the probability of foraging was particularly high as candidate locations for conservation management actions. This study underscores the value of refining our understanding of high-use areas for at-risk species by incorporating animal behavior data to inform area-based conservation measures.

An integrated methodological framework for the durable conservation of freshwater ecosystems: a case study in Colombia’s Caquetá River basin

Introduction: Although freshwater ecosystems encompass 12% of all known species, their study has achieved less progress in systematic conservation planning exercises compared with terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Moreover, little attention has been given to ecosystem services and cultural and spiritual values, which are pivotal in the long-term preservation of freshwater ecosystems. Conservation, restoration, and sustainable management actions within freshwater systems are currently addressed individually, underscoring the necessity of comprehensive methodological frameworks that holistically address the questions of where and how to conserve while integrating ecosystem services and cultural factors as conservation values.Methods: We propose a new methodological framework for the conservation of freshwater ecosystems that incorporates these elements and fulfills six prioritization criteria: 1) representativeness, 2) integrity, 3) importance, 4) rarity, 5) complementarity, and 6) connectivity. To illustrate the application of this approach, we conducted a regional study in the Caquetá River basin in Colombia.Results: By applying our methodological framework, we demonstrated that the Caquetá River basin hosts 518 distinct freshwater groups with unique characteristics that contribute to the maintenance of ecosystems and the preservation of their inherent values. Additionally, our analysis revealed that protection is the most effective conservation strategy for 77.4% of the Caquetá River basin, whereas restoration and sustainable management are suitable for 4.7% and 17.9% of the basin, respectively. The prioritized portfolio for the Caquetá River basin encompasses 80.1% of all freshwater groups, effectively meeting The Nature Conservancy’s proposed conservation objectives.Conclusion: This novel methodological framework provides a pragmatic approach to systematic conservation planning and answers the questions of both where and how to conserve.

Contrasting patterns of genetic diversity and population discontinuity in the common red seaweed Gracilaria salicornia (Gracilariaceae) along the coasts of Thailand

ABSTRACT For long-term management and conservation of marine resources an understanding of their genetic diversity and geographic distribution is necessary. The red alga Gracilaria salicornia is widely distributed along the coasts of Thailand and has been used as food and as fertilizer. However, there have been no studies examining the genetic diversity of this alga. The present research aimed to employ two different genetic markers, mitochondrial (COI-5P) and chloroplast (RuBisCO spacer) for exploring the genetic diversity and phylogeography of G. salicornia in Thailand. Our analyses, inferred from both markers, revealed different levels of genetic diversity between the two coasts of Thailand, and the recognition of seven new COI haplotypes. Gracilaria salicornia in the Andaman Sea had higher genetic diversity than in the Gulf of Thailand. Significant genetic divergence was found between populations in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, likely due to the geographic barrier of the Thai-Malay Peninsula and the complex ocean currents. No genetic structuring was detected in the Gulf of Thailand, whereas low to moderate genetic differentiation was found between populations in the Andaman Sea, suggesting a possible break between the northern and southern Andaman Sea. This break could be explained by ocean circulation patterns around the Malacca Strait. These findings provide further evidence supporting the Thai-Malay Peninsula and oceanographic currents as strong barriers to dispersal, leading to genetic differentiation and population structuring of G. salicornia and other marine species. These results can be used to guide conservation management actions and exploitation of this marine resource.

Preferred nesting habitat of the slow-breeding Superb Lyrebird is rare and was disproportionately impacted by Australia’s “Black Summer” megafires (2019–2020) within a World Heritage Area

Abstract Understanding nest site selection is critical to developing effective conservation management actions. The Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) is one of many endemic species extensively impacted by Australia’s unprecedented 2019–2020 megafires. Over a period of 5 months, an estimated 43% of the entire range of this slow-breeding species was burnt, with the biggest impact on the central subspecies M. n. novaehollandiae (55%). Four months prior to these megafires, we conducted a field study of nest site habitat selection in the Superb Lyrebird within the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (15,400 km2): a key stronghold of the central subspecies of the Superb Lyrebird. We found that at the local scale, lyrebird nest sites were more likely to be found in habitats characterized by dense canopy trees and rich in rainforest elements such as vines and treeferns. At the landscape scale, lyrebird nests were most likely to be constructed in rainforest; this fire-sensitive habitat type made up only 1% of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The probability of nest occurrence also increased with slope. We also found that >74% of all nesting habitat within the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area burned in the 2019–2020 megafires, including 80% of areas of high suitability for nesting. These results suggest that the impact of these megafires on Superb Lyrebirds may be greater than currently thought. Given the importance of rainforest as nesting habitat for the Superb Lyrebird, managers should prioritize its restoration and protect it from future fire events. More broadly, our results illustrate how large-scale catastrophic events—such as megafires—can disproportionately affect habitats critical to specific points within an organism’s life cycle.

Integrating suitable habitat dynamics under typical hydrological regimes as guides for the conservation and restoration of different waterbird groups

The operation of the Three Gorges Project (TGP) has influenced the wetland ecosystems downstream, thereby affecting the distribution of habitats suitable for waterbirds. However, dynamic studies on habitat distribution under different water regimes are lacking. Here, using data from three successive wintering periods representing three typical water regimes, we modelled and mapped the habitat suitability of three waterbird groups in Dongting Lake, which is the first river-connected lake downstream of the TGP, and a crucial wintering ground for waterbirds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. The results showed that the spatial pattern of habitat suitability varied among the wintering periods and waterbird groups. The analysis estimated the largest suitable habitat area for the herbivorous/tuber-eating group (HTG) and the insectivorous waterbird group (ING) under a normal water recession pattern, whereas early water recession had a more adverse effect. The suitable habitat area for the piscivorous/omnivorous group (POG) was higher under late water recession than under normal conditions. The ING was the most affected by hydrological changes among the three waterbird groups. Further, we identified the key conservation and potential restoration habitats. The HTG exhibited the largest key conservation habitat area compared to the other two groups, while the ING showed a potential restoration habitat area larger than its key conservation habitat area, indicating its sensitivity to environmental changes. The optimal inundation durations from September 1 to January 20 for HTG, ING and POG were 52 ± 7 d, 68 ± 18 d, and 132 ± 22 d, respectively. Therefore, the water recession starting in mid-October may be favourable for waterbirds in Dongting Lake. Altogether, our results can be used as guidance for prioritising certain management actions for waterbird conservation. Moreover, our study highlighted the importance of considering habitat spatiotemporal variation in highly dynamic wetlands when implementing management practices.

A demographic approach for predicting population responses to multifactorial stressors.

Populations face a suite of anthropogenic stressors acting simultaneously, which can combine additively or interact to have complex effects on population persistence. Yet we still know relatively little about the mechanisms underlying population-level responses to multifactorial combinations of stressors because multiple stressor impacts across organisms' life cycles have not been systematically considered in population models. Specifically, different anthropogenic stressors can have variable effects across an organism's life cycle, resulting in non-intuitive results for long-term population persistence. For example, synergistic or antagonistic interactions might exacerbate or alleviate the effects of stressors on population dynamics, and different life-history stages or vital rates might contribute unequally to long-term population growth rates. Demographic modelling provides a framework to incorporate individual vital rate responses to multiple stressors into estimates of population growth, which will allow us to make more informed predictions about population-level responses to novel combinations of anthropogenic change. Without integrating stressors' interactive effects across the entire life cycle on population persistence, we may over- or underestimate threats to biodiversity and risk missing conservation management actions that could reduce species' vulnerability to stress.

Coral assemblage structure and condition of the San Felipe Keys National Park, Cuba

Coral reefs provide ecosystem services to humans, essential to protection through different conservation strategies. However, planning and implementing marine conservation management actions must be based on the best available science. Information gaps have resulted in limited knowledge of conservation priorities and a weak conflict resolution and decision-making capacity. The San Felipe Keys National Park (SFKNP), located in the southwestern region of Cuba, is an understudied area with 40 km long forereefs, providing services mainly associated with fisheries (lobster and finfish). This work analyzed the hermatypic coral assemblage structure and condition within the SFKNP and the influence of geographic and environmental factors in its variation. Using stereo videos, we assessed nine coral reef sites between 2013 and 2015, generating 597 transects, in which 10341 colonies, 46 species, and 17 functional entities were found. The dominant species (Siderastrea siderea, Porites astreoides, Agaricia agaricites, and Orbicella faveolata) are mainly massive species with higher depth range, and that visibility in the bottom and habitat heterogeneity explained 57% of coral assemblages’ variation. Besides, the percentage of living coral cover (10%–15%), the prevalence of small-sized colonies (22 cm average), and the high incidence of recent mortality (2%–8% of colonies) indicate the presence of environmental stressors in the SFKNP, such as water turbidity, generated by the natural runoff from the Gulf of Batabanó. These results highlight the importance of enhancing the awareness of the competent authorities and promoting integrated management of the entire western region of the Gulf of Batabanó.

Arthropod Ectoparasites of Two Rodent Species Occurring in Varied Elevations on Tanzania’s Second Highest Mountain

Climate change causes organisms, including species that act as parasite reservoirs and vectors, to shift their distribution to higher altitudes, affecting wildlife infestation patterns. We studied how ectoparasite distributions varied with altitude using two rodent species, Montemys delectorum and Rhabdomys dilectus, at different elevations (1500-3500 m). The ectoparasites infesting the two rodent species were influenced by the host sex, species, and temperature. We expected host density to predict parasite infestation patterns, because hosts in higher densities should have more parasites due to increased contact between individuals. However, temperature, not host density, affected ectoparasite distribution. Since temperatures decrease with elevation, parasite prevalences and abundances were lower at higher elevations, highlighting that the cold conditions at higher elevations limit reproduction and development-this shows that higher elevation zones are ideal for conservation. The rodents and ectoparasite species described in this study have been reported as vectors of diseases of medical and veterinary importance, necessitating precautions. Moreover, Mount Meru is a refuge for a number of endemic and threatened species on the IUCN Red List. Thus, the parasitic infection can also be an additional risk to these critical species as well as biodiversity in general. Therefore, our study lays the groundwork for future wildlife disease surveillance and biodiversity conservation management actions. The study found a previously uncharacterized mite species in the Mesostigmata group that was previously known to be a parasite of honeybees. Further investigations may shed light into the role of this mite species on Mount Meru.

Population genetics of the African snakehead fish Parachanna obscura along West Africa's water networks: Implications for sustainable management and conservation.

An essential factor for aquatic conservation is genetic diversity or population divergence, which in natural populations reflects the interplay between geographical isolation with restricted gene flow and local evolution of populations. The long geological history of Africa may induce stronger among-population divergence and lower within-population divergence in fish populations of African watersheds. As an example, we studied population structure of the African snakehead fish Parachanna obscura. Our study aimed: (1) to develop a set of highly polymorphic microsatellite markers suitable for the analysis of genetic diversity among P.obscura and (2) to study the genetic diversity and structure of P.obscura populations from the West Africa region and mostly from Côte d'Ivoire, with respect to the effects of climate region and geographical distance on the genetic differentiation. A total of 259 specimens from 15 locations of P.obscura were collected over the West Africa region reflecting a high variability of pairwise geographical distances and variability of hydrological connectivity of the area. We developed a set of 21 polymorphic microsatellite markers for studying population genetics of the fish. The results showed relatively low intragenetic diversity for all the 15 locations, certainly attributable to confinement of fish in segregated catchments, resulting in limited gene flow. We also found evidence for local adaptation processes, suggested by five out of 21 microsatellite loci being under putative selection, according to BAYESCAN analysis. In turn, there was strong genetic differentiation (F ST> 0.5) among fish from most locations, reflecting the allopatric development in watersheds without hydraulic connectivity. Neighbor-joining dendrogram, Principal Coordinate Analysis, and analysis of ancestral groups by STRUCTURE suggested that the 15 locations can be divided into three clusters, mainly matching the dominant climate zones and the segregation of the watersheds in the region. The distinct genetic structure of the fish from the 15 locations obtained in this study suggests that conservation and sustainable management actions of this fish resource should avoid genetic mixing of potentially locally adapted populations.

Should the Christmas Island shrew (Crocidura trichura) be considered extinct?

The Christmas Island shrew (Crocidura trichura), endemic to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, was abundant at the time of the island’s settlement in the 1890s. However, since 1900, it has been reported only four times (twice in 1958, 1984 and 1985). It is currently considered Critically Endangered under Australian law. Using a recently developed IUCN protocol (the ‘Records and Surveys Model’), based on compilation and assessments of targeted and general sampling effort and detectability, we estimated that there is a 96.3% likelihood that the species is now extinct. However, although many general survey methods (including inspection of cat gut samples, ink cards, audio-recording, pitfall traps, spotlighting and camera traps) have been employed on Christmas Island, most recent sampling has not been targeted specifically to detect this species. Furthermore, there is considerable uncertainty about its likely detectability with different sampling techniques and hence much uncertainty about the estimate of likelihood of extinction. e-DNA sampling, use of detector dogs and refinements in audio-recording may help increase the likelihood of detection, if present. Most current conservation management actions, undertaken for other threatened species on Christmas Island, would provide benefit to the Christmas Island shrew, if it is extant.

Anthropogenically Created Alpine Pastures as Landscape Resources for the Alpine Chamois Population in the Western Carpathians Mountain Range: Ďumbier Tatras Case Study

This study analysed the history of anthropogenically created alpine pastures from the 15th century to the present, as landscape resources for the chamois reintroduction in the second half of the 20th century in the Western Carpathians mountain arc (Slovakia), using the example of the Ďumbier Tatras (the second highest mountain range of the arc). Analysis and reconstructions were carried out on the basis of detailed archival and field research, which showed that grazing herds in the mountain peaks from the Middle Ages to the 20th century created anthropogenically suitable and sufficiently extensive grassy habitats for the chamois reintroduction and the survival of its population. The native chamois population became extinct in the Ďumbier Tatras at the end of the last ice age (about 10,000 years ago). However, anthropogenic deforestation has once again created suitable conditions for its distribution. In the 20th century, a new factor emerged, namely nature conservation and the proclamation of a national park, which meant the end of grazing in the alpine environment and the onset of succession. In the second half of the 20th century, modern tourism became another negative factor for the relocated Alpine chamois population, from the High Tatras back to its quasi-original environment. Tourism development was related to the construction of extensive infrastructure and superstructure in the chamois habitats in the Chopok and Ďumbier massifs. At present, therefore, the preservation of these ‘anthropogenic’ habitats requires active conservation and landscape management.

Ecosystem Services and Vulnerability Assessments of Seagrass Ecosystems: Basic Tools for Prioritizing Conservation Management Actions Using an Example from Thailand

Seagrass habitats are among the most valuable coastal ecosystems. They provide a wide array of ecosystem services (ES) that support the livelihoods of many people. However, seagrass habitats worldwide are at risk of being lost due to the alteration of coastal areas by many causes. Seagrass meadows around Thailand were assessed to evaluate their ecosystem services and vulnerability (VU) status. The ES and VU analyses could be used as basic tools to assess the status of individual seagrass meadows and to prioritize the action needed among several meadows. From 82 seagrass sites, the ES of seagrass habitats tended to be varied based on the areas of the seagrass beds. The vulnerability of the seagrass habitats was mainly influenced by the threat of boating accidents and the incidence of sedimentation. The final combined analysis suggested that a seagrass site at Ban Don (BD), in Surat Thani Province, should be the priority for intervention due to the importance of the ES provided at the site and the existence of a degree of threat from poor land-use management. This work allows us to understand more about the targeted management of seagrass ecosystems, which is very important for conservation and restoration because of its significant potential carbon offset.

Cerrado native vegetation is a refuge for birds under the current climate change trajectory

AbstractClimate change is already seen as one of the biggest threats to biodiversity in the 21st century. Not many studies direct attention to its effects on whole communities of threatened hotspots. In this work, we combine climate niche modelling (ENM) with a future climate scenario of greenhouse gases emissions to study the future changes in alpha and beta diversity of birds of the Brazilian Cerrado biome, a hot spot of biodiversity with high velocity of climate change and agricultural expansion. We expected Southern Cerrado (highly modified) to present most negative changes. In general, we found heterogeneous results for changes in species richness, spatial and temporal taxonomic and functional beta diversity, and mean ecological distinctiveness. We analysed 1301 birds, 1115 Least Concern, 83 Near Threatened, 63 Vulnerable, 33 Endangered, five Critically Endangered and two Extinct in the Wild. Contrary to a previous study on Cerrado mammals, species richness is expected to increase in Northern Cerrado, where homogenization of communities (decreasing spatial turnover) is also expected to occur especially through local invasions. We show that biotic homogenization increasing (similarity among communities) will occur in two biological groups but through different subprocesses: local extinctions for mammals and local invasions for birds. Distinct conservation management actions should be directed depending on the outcomes of analyses of alpha and spatial and temporal beta diversity, for example controlling species invasions in Northern Cerrado. We also show species‐level priorities for Cerrado birds. Conservation studies should continue evaluating Cerrado in Brazil even under covid pandemic, as environmental situation in the country is not good and incentives for scientific studies are almost nonexistent. We also consider that Northern Cerrado could be seen as a potential refuge for other organismal groups (bats, butterflies, frogs, etc). Therefore, ambitious conservation actions by decision‐makers are now crucial.