Priority Sites For Conservation Research Articles

Diversity and growth patterns of woody species in the Mediterranean Coastal range of Chile: A case study in Altos de Cantillana

Background: The Altos de Cantillana mountain range (ACMR) in central Chile is composed of different vegetation communities, and is currently a priority site for conservation, due to its high endemism, high anthropogenic pressure and vulnerability to climate change. Research on biodiversity and carbon stocks in ACMR is essential to comprehend the resilience of these forests and to define conservation strategies. This study examines the spatial variability of biodiversity and tree biomass patterns along the entire altitudinal gradient of the ACMR. Methods: Six tree species communities were studied in Altos de Cantillana Nature Sanctuary, along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 415 to 2010 m. Woody species regeneration and inventory plots, as well as dendrochronological sampling in ~150 trees were carried out. Diversity patterns were analyzed using the Jaccard index and alpha index. Growth patterns of dominant trees species were analyzed by ring-width and trunk biomass chronologies, focusing on the recent megadrought period since 2010. Results: The forest inventory revealed a notable decline in alfa diversity patterns with increasing elevation. The moist sclerophyllous forest exhibited the highest diversity. However, we did not find a pattern between elevation and diversity (and abundance) at the seed regeneration inventory level. Additionally, we identified three clusters of woody species similarity: (i) sclerophyllous, shrubs and hygrophilous forest (<1,000 m.a.s.l.); (ii) high-elevation sclerophyllous forest (>1,500 m.a.s.l); and (iii) deciduous forests (~ 2,000 m.a.s.l). Furthermore, declining growth rates were observed in all communities studied beginning in the 1980s, with even a stronger reduction in radial growth (35% on average) and biomass accumulation (56% on average) when comparing the megadrought with six decades earlier. Conclusions: We concluded that there is a negative correlation between woody species diversity and elevation. However, there are no altitudinal patterns in seedling regeneration diversity and abundance, which puts the natural succession in ACMR at risk. Additionally, we have determined that the accumulation of trunk biomass in dominant woody species has been significantly impacted by the recent megadrought period. This has affected the sink capacity of forest communities in ACMR. Therefore, our findings can significantly contribute to more efficient and timely decision-making processes regarding the conservation and restoration of this globally unique ecosystem.

Integrating spatiotemporal hydrological connectivity into conservation planning to protect temporary rivers

Abstract Temporary rivers (TRs) have been largely overlooked in conservation assessments. Because TRs are such dynamic ecosystems, spatial and temporal aspects of their hydrology and ecology need to be taken into account when designing conservation plans. The aim of this paper is to propose a set of recommendations that could be useful for managers to do this, using seasonal diatom and macroinvertebrate data from north‐eastern Spain as a case study. Beta diversity was partitioned into local and species contributions to beta diversity (LCBD and SCBD). Additionally, priority conservation sites covering the spatial distribution of all species were identified using Marxan and the selection frequency (MSF) of the sites served as a measure of the relative irreplaceability of each site. Using both approaches (beta diversity and Marxan), the effects of changing spatiotemporal connectivity and habitat heterogeneity on the selection and prioritization of sites to be conserved were assessed. It was found that LCBD and MSF ranged widely both in space and time. However, LCBD and MSF were weakly related. Marxan adequately represented all taxa by selecting a few sites, while LCBD selected communities with higher differentiation but not necessarily those with rare species. In addition, SCBDs assigned low values to rare taxa, thus care must be taken when using this index for conservation planning. Spatiotemporal connectivity and local habitat heterogeneity played a critical role at the regional and local scales, driving site prioritization. Overall, we recommend: 1) monitoring multiple hydrological phases to encompass the different community types and capturing total diversity; 2) using Marxan and LCBD in combination, to benefit from their complementary insights; and 3) integrating spatiotemporal isolation and habitat heterogeneity into conservation plans, since they are the main drivers of community variation over space and time in TRs.

Climatic niche modelling and genetic analyses highlight conservation priorities for the Spotted Softshell Turtle (Pelodiscus variegatus)

The Spotted Softshell Turtle (Pelodiscus variegatus) has been recognised since 2019 from Vietnam and Hainan Island, China, but little information about its population status and distribution range is currently available. The species has been provisionally listed as Critically Endangered by the Turtle and Tortoise Working Group, although the status has not been officially accepted by the IUCN, due to the threats the species is facing, including habitat loss and degradation, overexploitation for food, competition with other non-native softshell turtles and pollution. To identify conservation priority sites for P. variegatus in mainland Indochina, this study combines molecular analyses and species distribution modelling. Our results show that, in Vietnam, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has the largest suitable area and high probability of species occurrence, followed by Vu Quang National Park and Song Thanh and Ke Go Nature Reserves. In addition, the central provinces, from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien Hue in Vietnam, constitute a key part of the species distribution and should be prioritised for conservation actions. According to the study’s findings, although P. variegatus is possibly found in Laos, the probability decreases sharply at the border between both countries and there is also a gap in the occurrence of wetlands, arguing for strong natural barriers. Unfortunately, to date, only part of the species potential distribution is protected, while no records are known from protected areas, highlighting the need for extended or even new reserves. To recover natural populations of the species and following the IUCN’s One Plan Approach to Conservation, breeding programmes have been established in Vietnam with a potential to expand to other facilities in the country and abroad. Once suitable sites are identified, offspring can be released into the protected areas to improve the current conservation status of this highly-threatened softshell turtle.

Fine-Scale Species Distribution Modeling of Abies koreana across a Subalpine Zone in South Korea for In Situ Species Conservation

Severe declines in the population of Abies koreana, a conifer native to the subalpine regions of South Korea, are likely a consequence of climate change. However, local-scale modeling of the species’ spatial distribution has seen limited application to in situ conservation policies. Therefore, we intended for this study to examine the applicability of fine-scale species distribution modeling of A. koreana in the Mt. Jiri National Park area in S. Korea in order to explore candidate areas for its in situ conservation. We simulated the potential habitat of the species in the area with four separate models using different dominance patterns, then created an index based on habitability probabilities and residual durations to determine priority conservation areas. Under the highest sensitivity of potential habitats to temperature (spatially downscaled based on geomorphological characteristics), rapid habitat reduction occurred under climate warming in all experiments. At the regional scale, hydrological characteristics such as precipitation and slope characterized different secondary habitat distributional patterns among the experiments. Final conservation priority sites were identified based on specified criteria for the designed index. Our results suggest that a fine-scale modeling system with adequate spatial resolution of environmental inputs is advantageous in representing local habitat characteristics of A. koreana and can be applied to in situ conservation strategies.

Species-level dataset is required for setting biodiversity conservation priorities for freshwater macroinvertebrates in Melbourne streams

Family-level identification of freshwater macroinvertebrates is often used to monitor the health of streams due to the lower cost and higher accuracy of identification compared to identifying species. While data on the presence of families from stream monitoring programs can also be used for biodiversity conservation planning, the ability of family-level datasets to accurately reflect regional biodiversity patterns for freshwater macroinvertebrates in Australia remains untested. This study compares family-level and species-level datasets for freshwater insects identified using morphological features and collected over 16 years from 140 sites in Greater Melbourne, Australia. Similar to the results of other studies, our results show a strong positive relationship between family- and species-level taxon richness. However, using the planning software Marxan to compare conservation priorities in our study region, we found that a data analysis of the family-level dataset underestimated the minimum sampling effort required to accurately reflect species diversity. It also identified sub-optimal conservation priority sites and overlooked regionally rare species. We recommend that aquatic macroinvertebrate monitoring programs aimed at understanding regional biodiversity patterns and conservation priorities should routinely include species-level identification, which is now becoming feasible with advances in molecular methods.

Identifying key conservation sites for the reptiles of the Tandilia mountains in Pampas highlands

Reptile populations are facing a global decline as a consequence of anthropic disturbs. For its conservation, it is necessary to know its geographical distribution and the main factors influencing it. Tandilia Mountains are located in the centre of Buenos Aires province, Argentina. These mountains contain high biodiversity and several endemic species, but the current Natural Protected Areas network covers a low area of ​​0.12 %. In this work, we modelled the geographic distribution of reptiles in the Tandilia Mountains to: a) explore the environmental factors affecting the distribution of reptiles on the highland grasslands of the Tandilia Mountain System and (b) identify the key biodiversity areas. We used ten environmental variables and several sources of records (fieldwork, scientific literature, museum collections, and an online database) to model the distribution of each reptile species. The best sites to propose natural reserves were determined in Zonation software. We determined the representativeness of the current system of Natural Protected Areas in the Tandilia Mountain range by overlapping the sites with the Zonation results. We obtained 20 species distribution models with two general patterns: continuous and patched. In most species, the two most informative variables were growing degree-days below 0 °C and precipitation of the wettest quarter. The current system of Natural Protected Areas of the Tandilia Mountains covers 0.35 % of the conservation priority sites (4341 km2) and therefore is insufficient in protecting reptile biodiversity.

Ecological relevance of non-perennial rivers for the conservation of terrestrial and aquatic communities.

River conservation efforts traditionally focus on perennial watercourses (i.e., those that do not dry) and their associated aquatic biodiversity. However, most of the global river network is not perennial and thus supports both aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity. We assessed the conservation value of nonperennial rivers and streams (NPRS) in one of Europe's driest regions based on aquatic (macroinvertebrates, diatoms) and terrestrial (riparian plants, birds, and carabid beetles) community data. We mapped the distribution of taxa at 90 locations and across wide environmental gradients. Using the systematic planning tool Marxan, we identified priority conservation sites under 2 scenarios: aquatic taxa alone or aquatic and terrestrial taxa together. We explored how environmental factors (runoff, flow intermittence, elevation, salinity, anthropogenic impact) influenced Marxan's site selection frequency. The NPRS were selected more frequently (over 13% on average) than perennial rivers when both aquatic and terrestrial taxa were considered, suggesting that NPRS have a high conservation value at the catchment scale. We detected an underrepresentation of terrestrial taxa (8.4-10.6% terrestrial vs. 0.5-1.1% aquatic taxa were unrepresented in most Marxan solutions) when priority sites were identified based exclusively on aquatic biodiversity, which points to a low surrogacy value of aquatic taxa for terrestrial taxa. Runoff explained site selection when focusing on aquatic taxa (all best-fitting models included runoff, r2 =0.26-0.27), whereas elevation, salinity, and flow intermittence were more important when considering both groups. In both cases, site selection frequency declined as anthropogenic impact increased. Our results highlight the need to integrate terrestrial and aquatic communities when identifying priority areas for conservation in catchments with NPRS. This is key to overcoming drawbacks of traditional assessments based only on aquatic taxa and to ensure the conservation of NPRS, especially as NPRS become more prevalent worldwide due to climate change and increasing water demands.

Small patches play a critical role in the connectivity of the Western Tianshan landscape, Xinjiang, China

More in-depth knowledge is required regarding the identification of priority conservation sites (patches) to improve the efficiency of their protection in increasingly fragmented landscapes. Priority site-selection efforts typically focus on large and well-connected patches, while the role of small patches is often ignored and poorly understood. In this paper, we use the forest in Kalajun-Kuerdening, Xinjiang, China, as a case study, to assess the potential role of small patches in landscape connectivity, and to determine which of these sites should be prioritized for conservation/protection. We ranked the patches according to their importance in maintaining overall connectivity. Thirteen patches were classified as critical and fourteen as important patches for landscape connectivity, which we propose should be recognized as priority sites. Based on their contributions to maintain overall connectivity, seven small (<5 ha) patches and fifteen small patch clusters were identified as connectors between large patches, which could be used as stepping stones by some species. Some small patches provide critical habitat and protection for species with small home ranges and short dispersal distances, and thus should be prioritized for conservation and management of landscape connectivity. Our study offers an approach to identify priority sites for biodiversity conservation.

Emerging spatial prioritization for biodiversity conservation indicated by climate change velocity

Anthropogenic climate change is challenging biodiversity conservation worldwide. Climate change metrics derived from future climate predictions help to assess potential impacts of climate change on biodiversity. Here we calculated future climate change velocities across biogeographical regions of terrestrial Europe and the Natura 2000 protected area network, the largest protected area network on Earth. We applied climate projections for the year 2070, considering two emission scenarios, six global climate models and a fine spatial resolution. Areas with very high climate change velocity were identified as climate change hotspots, while areas with very low velocity were recognized as coldspots. We further revealed where and to what extent climate change hotspots and coldspots coincide with Natura 2000 sites. We found that climate change velocities are projected highest in the Continental and Boreal regions, and lowest in the Mediterranean and Anatolian regions. However, the Alpine region will likely contain largest areal proportions of climate change hotspots, while areal proportions of coldspots are projected largest in the Mediterranean region. High mountain regions such as the Alps show a high proportion of Natura 2000 sites that coincide with climate change hotspots. Both, hotspots and coldspots, are geographically associated with areas of topographic diversity. Low topographical diversity indicates high climate change exposure. The impact of hotspots increases with spatial isolation. Oceanic climate buffers climate change exposure in contrast to continental climate. However, continental regions of Europe tend to exhibit less spatial isolation. We recommend conservation action in climate change hotspots and coldspots to simultaneously protect the most climate-exposed biodiversity as well as climate change refugia. Climate change hotspots and coldspots overlapping with Natura 2000 sites should be considered priority conservation sites because new protected areas are hard to realize in densely populated landscapes of Europe. This study directs European conservation management and policy towards meeting international conservation goals in a climate-smart way.

Conserving unprotected important sites for shorebirds on China's coasts

AbstractThe loss of natural wetland habitats along China's coasts has contributed to population declines in waterbirds, especially migratory shorebirds. Identifying important shorebird sites is important for habitat conservation and management. We integrated shorebird survey datasets from multiple sources (bird‐watching websites, survey reports, and published literature) for coastal wetlands in China and used the criterion of 1% of the global or flyway population (hereafter, Ramsar 1% criterion) and priority index Pi to identify conservation priority sites and corresponding prioritization rank. We used gap analysis to identify the conservation status of natural protected areas. Forty‐eight conservation priority sites, where 31 shorebird species met the Ramsar 1% criterion. The prioritization rank was very high priority for six sites, high priority for five sites, and priority for 37 sites. There were 28 conservation priority sites for shorebirds with conservation gaps, and these accounted for 58.33% of all 48 conservation priority sites. Of these unprotected sites, the prioritization ranks were very high priority or high priority for six sites, which were mainly concentrated in Jiangsu province. We recommend prioritizing the protection of these sites by creating new protected areas or incorporating these areas into the existing system.

Present and historical landscape structure shapes current species richness in Central European grasslands

ContextCurrent diversity and species composition of ecological communities can often not exclusively be explained by present land use and landscape structure. Historical land use may have considerably influenced ecosystems and their properties for decades and centuries.ObjectivesWe analysed the effects of present and historical landscape structure on plant and arthropod species richness in temperate grasslands, using data from comprehensive plant and arthropod assessments across three regions in Germany and maps of current and historical land cover from three time periods between 1820 and 2016.MethodsWe calculated local, grassland class and landscape scale metrics for 150 grassland plots. Class and landscape scale metrics were calculated in buffer zones of 100 to 2000 m around the plots. We considered effects on total species richness as well as on the richness of species subsets determined by taxonomy and functional traits related to habitat use, dispersal and feeding.ResultsOverall, models containing a combination of present and historical landscape metrics showed the best fit for several functional groups. Comparing three historical time periods, data from the 1820/50s was among the most frequent significant time periods in our models (29.7% of all significant variables).ConclusionsOur results suggest that the historical landscape structure is an important predictor of current species richness across different taxa and functional groups. This needs to be considered to better identify priority sites for conservation and to design biodiversity-friendly land use practices that will affect landscape structure in the future.

GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Evaluation to Identify Areas for Soil and Water Conservation in Lower Lake Bogoria Landscapes, Baringo County, Kenya

This study was meant to ensure that there is proper and efficient conservation of soil and water using geospatial tools to enable us identify priority areas to carry out conservation. Over the past years, various fields of study have established how critical it is to conserve these natural resources in the ecosystem and to ensure sustainability in not only green livelihoods but also to enhance living conditions of the life on earth. The aim of this research was to generate high priority sites for establishing soil and water conservation techniques in the Lower Bogoria Landscapes in Baringo, Kenya using GIS-based multicriteria decision analysis. Various criteria were analyzed to generate the final conservation priority sites, such as land use land cover, rainfall runoff, soil erosion and slope. The criteria were assigned weights using the AHP technique and overlayed using the weighted overlay tools to produce the final outputs. Land use land cover maps were generated using supervised maximum likelihood technique, rainfall run-off maps were generated using the SCS-CN method and soil erosion maps were generated using RUSLE model. The final soil and water conservation maps showed that high and moderate priority areas requiring the establishment of techniques and mechanisms to control soil erosion and conserve water increased from 1990 to 2020. In 2020, more than 50% of the total study area was classified as moderate to high priority for water and soil conservation. Soil and water conservation structures such as water pans, percolation tanks, farm ponds and stop dams should be constructed in such areas.

The risk of invasion by angiosperms peaks at intermediate levels of human influence

Biological invasions are a growing threat to biodiversity. The control and eradication of exotic species established in earnest are of limited success despite high financial investments. Anticipating biological invasions based on species’ suitabilities is a cost-effective strategy given it helps identifying areas where exotic species can prosper, which can then translate in improving management and conservation efforts. Based on information from 191 invasive angiosperm species worldwide, we used ecological niche models to identify areas at high risk of invasion (cumulative predicted distribution of invasive species) in Mexico. Further, we explored the importance of bioclimatic and human influence variables as drivers of the distribution of invasive species and analyzed the status of the currently recognized priority conservation sites in Mexico. We found that areas with intermediate human activity scores had a high risk of invasion. Additionally, we found that many of the current priority conservation sites in Mexico had a high risk of invasion. Our findings contribute to disentangling the factors that drive environment susceptibility to invasions and urge management strategies to minimize the impacts of biological invasions in priority conservation sites.

Setting priorities for climate change adaptation of Critical Sites in the Africa-Eurasian waterbird flyways.

Despite their importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems globally. The conservation of many migratory waterbirds depends on the conservation of a network of key sites along their flyways. However, the suitability of these sites is changing under climate change, and it is important that management of individual sites in the network adapts to these changes. Using bioclimatic models that also account for changes in inundation, we found that projected climate change will reduce habitat suitability for waterbirds at 57.5% of existing Critical Sites within Africa‐Eurasia, varying from 20.1% in Eastern Europe to 87.0% in Africa. African and Middle East sites are particularly threatened, comprising 71 of the 100 most vulnerable sites. By highlighting priority sites for conservation and classifying Critical Sites into Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (CCAS) classes, our results can be used to support the climate change adaptation of both individual sites and the entire site network.

Combining a cumulative risk index and species distribution data to identify priority areas for marine biodiversity conservation in the Black Sea

The Black Sea remains one of the most fragile marine systems globally. The six countries that share the coastline of this semi-enclosed sea have declared, through the Convention on Biological Diversity and regional conventions, their intention to conserve biodiversity and increase the coverage of the protected areas. However, currently only a small proportion of the marine area is under protection. Here, we spatially delineated priority conservation sites that could ensure species protection under the impact of different threats. We developed a cumulative risk index, incorporating anthropogenic pressures related to pollution and fisheries. We then combined this information with distribution data of marine species to apply a systematic conservation planning approach. We identified eleven key areas that cover 10% of the Black Sea, the protection of which could attain realistic conservation targets. These sites are mainly located in neritic and coastal habitats, which also host a number of species that avoid the anoxic part of the ocean basin. The management and efficient protection of these key areas require international collaboration, representing the only way to alleviate the severe degradation of this sensitive, but valuable, marine system.

Developing an odonate-based index for prioritizing conservation sites and monitoring restoration of freshwater ecosystems in Rwanda

Land use changes and the ways that natural resources are extracted and used pose severe threats to freshwater ecosystems globally. This is particularly pronounced in developing and densely populated countries, such as Rwanda. In-depth understanding of how ecosystems respond to threats could guide their restoration, conservation, and better management. The advancement of ecological monitoring tools is crucial for freshwater conservation. We developed and implemented an odonate-based tool, the Rwanda Dragonfly Biotic Index (RDBI), tailored to freshwater ecosystems in Rwanda as a metric to identify conservation priority sites and to monitor their restoration. The RDBI is determined based on three sub-indices: Distribution-Based Score (DBS), Threat-Based Score (TBS) and Sensitivity-Based Score (SBS). Species level-DBS increases from those that are widespread across all ecological zones to those that are restricted to only one ecological zone; TBS for a species ranges from those that are of least concern to those that are critically endangered, as per IUCN Red List; Species’ SBS increases from those thriving in a highly disturbed habitat to those occurring only in a relatively intact habitat. Using RDBI, we identified hotspot habitats for odonates in Rwanda and benchmark sites for restoration. Hotspots are defined based on species richness, presence of unique species, and RDBI scores. Benchmark sites for restoration are habitats with the highest RDBI in each ecological zone. The value of using RDBI in ecosystem monitoring rests on the fact that it can help identify priority sites for conservation, and it uses organisms that are charismatic and relatively easy to identify. This is essential for citizen engagement and drawing a long-term link between policymaking, on-the-ground practices, and impacts on freshwater ecosystems.

Using Endemic Rubiaceae of the Lower Guinea Domain to Locate the Priority Sites for Conservation in Cameroon

Using Endemic Rubiaceae of the Lower Guinea Domain to Locate the Priority Sites for Conservation in Cameroon

Two New Species of Pristimantis (Anura: Strabomantidae) from the Serranía de los Paraguas: A Priority Site for Conservation of Amphibians in Colombia

The Serrania de los Paraguas is a mountainous region situated in the central part of the Cordillera Occidental of Colombia. It rises some 2500 m above the wet forest and supports a high concentration of species richness and endemism for plants and terrestrial vertebrates (amphibians, birds, and mammals). In the case of amphibians, 61 named species occurring in The Serrania de los Paraguas are recognized in the literature, which are mostly the works of J.D. Lynch and P. Ruiz-Carranza in the 1990s. During a 9-d survey in the wet season (19–27 July 2019) on the Reserva Natural Comunitaria Cerro El Ingles (one of the hills of the Serrania de los Paraguas) on the frontier between Choco and Valle del Cauca departments, we discovered two new species of the genus Pristimantis. Both species share a divided palmar tubercle as well as a distinctive color pattern on the groin, of which both are distinctive within Pristimantis. The first new species is distinguished by its small size and having a distinctive carmine red color pattern on groin, uniform lateral fringes on fingers (no crenulated), palmar tubercle deeply bifid (or divided), advertisement call composed of a short single note distinctly pulsed, and absence of nuptial pads as well as hyperdistal tubercles, inner tarsal tubercle and fold, and partial fusion of Toe IV and V. The second new species is distinguished by having dermal ridges on scapular region, conical tubercle on upper eyelid and heel, palmar tubercle divided, differentiated tympanic membrane, males with vocal slits, orange spots on groin, advertisement call composed of distinctly pulsed 6–8 notes, and absence of dorsolateral folds as well as cranial crest, hyperdistal tubercles, and toe webbing. Considering these new species, the number of amphibians inhabiting the Serrania de los Paraguas has increased to 63 species. It is important to point out that within this outstanding species richness of amphibians, there are 10 endemic species and 17 threatened species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List (7 Critically Endangered, 5 Endangered, and 5 Vulnerable). Likewise, it is noteworthy that 29 terraranan species can be found in the Reserva Natural Comunitaria Cerro El Ingles. Thus, based on the species richness, endemism, diversity at higher taxonomic levels, and the number of threatened species, it seems reasonable to say that the Serrania de los Paraguas is a priority site for conservation of amphibians in Colombia.

中国大陆沿海水鸟栖息地保护优先区及空缺分析

中国大陆沿海湿地是东亚-澳大利西亚候鸟迁徙的重要停歇地，自然湿地丧失与退化已经严重威胁到水鸟生物多样性的稳定性，急需开展物种及其栖息地的保护工作。识别中国大陆沿海水鸟保护优先区，针对保护优先区进行保护优先等级划分，确定目前尚存的保护空缺，是针对性开展水鸟栖息地保护的前提。以中国大陆沿海11省、自治区、直辖市沿岸湿地为研究区，整合鸟类网站、水鸟调查报告和文献中的水鸟调查数据，采用热点分析方法，确定水鸟保护优先区，将每个地块上满足水鸟保护优先区识别标准的物种数量占所有地块中满足标准的物种数量最大值的比例划分成0.5 ≤ P_i ≤ 1、0.25 ≤ P_i < 0.5、0 < P_i < 0.25三个区间，确定对应的I类、II类和III类水鸟保护优先区保护优先等级；结合国家自然保护地名录，确定水鸟保护优先区保护空缺。结果显示：共有65块中国大陆沿海水鸟保护优先区，记录到满足热点分析标准的水鸟物种共76种，其中受胁物种18种。水鸟保护优先区保护优先等级属于I、II、III类的分别有8块、10块、47块，且水鸟保护优先区保护优先等级属于I、II类的地块集中分布在上海以北的区域，水鸟保护优先区保护优先等级属于III类的地块主要分布在上海以南的区域。38块水鸟保护优先区存在保护空缺，占总数的58.46%，这些保护空缺地中保护优先等级属于I类和II类的地块共6块，建议针对这些地块单独建立保护机构或纳入现有周边的保护体系中。;Coastal wetlands in mainland China are home to rich fishery resources, mangroves and seagrass beds. They are recognized as key part of global biodiversity, providing natural eco-safety barrier for the development of economically developed coastal regions in China. They are not only known as precious natural resources, but also key components of a biotic community of mountains, rivers, forests, cropland, lakes and grasslands for their important ecological functions and values. These wetlands provide important stopover sites for migratory waterbirds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), supporting millions of migratory waterbirds of international importance along the EAAF. Since 1960, large areas of natural landscapes in mainland China's coastal zones have lost as a result of rapid economic development activities, such as over-exploitation of natural resources and land reclamation for construction and farmland. These activities have led to a dramatic decline in waterbird populations in the area, and the loss and degradation of natural wetlands have threatened the stability of species and population of waterbirds. For this reason, it is necessary to protect waterbirds species and their habitats. Identifying conservation priority sites, conservation priority levels and gaps for the migratory waterbirds are important preconditions for targeted habitat conservation. Integrated survey data were derived from birding websites, survey reports of waterbirds and published literature along the 11 provinces/municipalities in China. Then we used hot-spot analysis to identify conservation priority sites of the waterbirds. We also calculated the proportion of the species number of conservation gap sites to the maximum species number, and divided these proportions into three conservation priority levels (0.5 ≤ P_i ≤ 1, I; 0.25 ≤ P_i < 0.5, II; and 0 < P_i < 0.25, III). Based on the list of national natural protected areas, we defined the conservation gap of waterbirds. The results showed 65 conservation priority sites were identified along coastal wetlands in mainland China, and 76 species (including 18 threatened species) meeting the criterion of hot-spot analysis were recorded in these sites. The conservation priority levels of these sites belong to Levels I, II and III, which had 8 sites, 10 sites and 47 sites, respectively. The sites with conservation priority levels of I and II are mainly distributed in the north of Shanghai, while the sites with conservation priority Level III mainly occur in the south of Shanghai. 38 sites are yet to be put under protection, accounting for 58.46 percent of the total number of conservation priority sites, in which six sites belong to the conservation priority levels of I and II. To address this problem, we recommend that new protected areas should be established for the conservation gap sites with the conservation priority levels I and II, and be incorporated into the existing network of protected areas.

Investigaciones de la avifauna marina en aguas continentales ecuatorianas con énfasis en su distribución, diversidad, abundancia y estado de conservación

This investigation is part of a seismic prospection study within the project entitled Geophysics Research of the Ecuadorian Continental Shelf. The objectives of this study were to determine diversity, abundance and to learn the population and conservation status of seabirds in ecuadorian waters, as well as to identify sensitive areas and priority sites for conservation. During the field study we recorded a total of 27 speciesbelonging to 10 families. The family with the highest number of species was Laridae (gulls and terns) with eight species. The composition of species diversity included two different groups. A larger group of 17 migratory species and a group of eight resident species that reproduce in Ecuador. This study also accounts for important bird species for conservation such as Phoebastria irrorata, Puffinus creatopus, P. grisesus, Procellaria parkinsoni and confirms the presence of a previously not recognized species in Ecuador, Sula leucogaster. This investigation also reviews the conservation status of seabirds and their breeding colonies with emphasis on isla de La Plata and Sta. Clara, both of them considered Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and wildlife refuges for seabirds in mainland Ecuador.