Priority Sites For Conservation Research Articles

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.

Seasonal Variation in a Small-Mammal Assemblage in a Priority Site for Conservation in South-Central Chile

Diversity of rodents were compared in a priority site of conservation in southern-central Chile through two seasons (winter and spring). Through the use of Sherman traps, the richness and abundance of species present in both the priority site (native forest) and its adjacent habitat (commercial plantation of Eucalyptus globulus) was assessed. There were significant differences in terms of diversity between both habitats, the composition was significant only for the case of the native forest; however, the seasonal effect was only significant in this same habitat. The ecological aspects linked in this pattern are discussed, which involved both the particularities of the recorded species and the microhabitat.

Turnover, richness difference and nestedness of rodent assemblages along the southern Andes elevation gradient

AbstractBeta diversity in ecological communities can reflect adaptations of species to differences in climate, environmental characteristics and site history, as well as local ecological dynamics. These dissimilarities among communities may reflect different processes as species replacement and richness difference or nestedness, which can be generated by different factors. Assemblages in mountain regions are expected to exhibit high beta diversity due to sharp environmental variation and historical events promoting isolation. Diversity patterns of small mammals along elevation gradients in the southern dry Andes exhibit high richness among high elevations and a humped shape pattern for abundances. However, it is not clear how beta diversity changes along this gradient, or the processes involved in this variation. Here we aim to evaluate small mammal beta diversity patterns along the elevation gradient. Therefore, we decomposed beta diversity into spatial turnover, richness differences and richness differences as a result of nestedness. Assemblage structure variation was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. Also, we evaluate the local contribution of beta diversity (LCBD) and species contribution to beta diversity, to identify priority conservation sites and species. Our results show contrasting patterns among qualitative and quantitative beta diversity components. The former was mainly explained by species turnover, while the latter showed a higher contribution of richness difference than species turnover. Most components of beta diversity decreased with elevation, except for abundance turnover that showed an opposite trend. Furthermore, LCBD was higher at lower and mid‐elevation sites and exhibited a negative relationship with species richness and abundance.

Functional Traits of Bats Associated with the Use of Wetlands in Colombian Tropical Dry Forests

Bats have a major functional role in wetlands; understanding how functional traits of bats depend on environmental characteristics can facilitate management of ecosystems and their services. In this study, we investigated how bat functional diversity has been affected by different anthropogenic impacts in wetlands of the Trans-Andean tropical dry forest of Colombia. Specifically, we analyzed how different functional traits responded to changing environmental conditions and land use and land cover patterns. We sampled six wetlands during the dry periods of the hydrological cycle from 2014 to 2018 and modeled the functional diversity as a function of environmental variables. To understand the association of bat community structure with environmental variables and biotic factors, we combined the RLQ analysis and the fourth-corner approach to relate environmental characteristics and species traits. The percentages of water surface area and pasture land were found to be associated with the general traits of bats when analyzed using the relative abundance of species. In addition, changes in functional diversity appeared to be driven mainly by larger species (e.g., Phyllostomus hastatus, Artibeus lituratus), whose presence was primarily associated with heterogeneous areas. The fourth-corner analysis revealed that the greatest length of skull is the trait that best describes the presence of bats in landscapes of pastures, water bodies, and high abundance of the shrubs Vismia sp. and Cecropia sp. These results suggest that combinations of specific features are important drivers of variation in functional diversity between wetlands. Considering the high vulnerability of Colombian wetlands, our findings provide fundamental information for the development of strategies for monitoring wetland biodiversity. The results can help identify priority conservation sites and improve environmental decision making.

Intraspecific Variations in Functional and Molecular Traits of Near-Endemic Onopordum alexandrinum Boiss. in Natural and Anthropogenic Habitats along the Western Mediterranean Coast of Egypt: Implications for Conservation.

Onopordum alexandrinum is a near-endemic to Egypt and neighboring countries. Its habitats are designated as priority sites for conservation in the south and east Mediterranean regions. We hypothesize that variation in morphological, reproductive, and molecular traits could provide a survival strategy that allows the species to occupy landscapes including anthropogenic habitats (barley and abandoned fields) and natural habitats (sand dunes and desert plateau) with different soil resources along the western Mediterranean coast of Egypt. The results indicated that plant functional traits associated with high rates of resource acquisition and growth (e.g., high values of vegetative height and specific leaf area, and low values of leaf dry matter content) occurred in populations located in abandoned fields with high soil resources. The genetic diversity analyses indicated similarity in genetic diversity of the present populations of O. alexandrinum in barley and abandoned fields with those of sand dunes. However, the genetic structures of these populations were different from those of natural desert plateau, which suggests reduced rates of gene flow. In this framework, it is essential to monitor and reduce the anthropogenic activity which will not only support the conservation of genetic diversity within populations but will also help ensure the resilience of O. alexandrinum in the face of environmental and climatic changes.

Land Use Planning in Drylands: Participatory Processes in Diagnosing the Physical-Biological Subsystem

Land Use Planning (LUP) is a central tool of public policy for promoting Sustainable Land Management (SLM) in social-ecological systems of drylands, considering the strong dependence between local communities and their natural resources. This work highlights the collective process carried out for achieving the Diagnosis of the physical-biological subsystem and for formulating conservation and SLM strategies in La Paz department, Argentina, within the framework of the LUP Municipal Plan (LUPMP). To do so, a methodology that combines participatory techniques, like collective mapping, with use of geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing. The collective construction of knowledge, through interaction among the scientific, governmental and local communities, allowed to define and validate eight Territorial Integration Units, priority sites for conservation of the natural and cultural heritage, SLM practices and LUP programs. The resulting Diagnosis constitutes a key information input for making decisions aimed at sustainability, replicable in other drylands.

Spatial prioritization of selected mining pitlakes from Eastern Coalfields region, India: A species distribution modelling approach

AbstractPitlake conservation is still a naive idea in a developing country. Species distribution modelling approaches can prove to be a useful tool in protecting biodiversity. The current study considers the ecological health of pitlakes through models of three winter migratory waterfowl species, namely Anser indicus (bar‐headed goose), Nettapus coromandelianus (cotton pygmy goose) and Netta rufina (red‐crested pochard), providing practical information for conservation setups in and around selected pitlakes in Eastern India. The AUC ± SD (Standard deviation) values of MaxEnt models of target species, viz. A. indicus, N. coromandelianus, and N. rufina are 0.729 ± 0.026, 0.772 ± 0.012, and 0.732 ± 0.024, respectively. Thus through the evaluation of the respective models and ground truth verification criteria, three pitlakes have proven to hold excellent conditions for the survival of these winter migratory birds as compared to the 20 studied ones. Three zones were created in these three lakes based on their characteristics to support these species and their associates. A large chunk of the region falls under the proposed zone of conservation priority sites from each of the three pitlakes. The need of the hour is to fulfill the voids between researchers, policymakers, and Eastern Coalfield's administration and work towards implementing the proposed idea.

Distribution and conservation status of Boutourlini's blue monkey (Cercopithecus mitis boutourlinii), a Vulnerable subspecies endemic to western Ethiopia.

Reliable data on the distribution and threats facing primate species are crucial to identifying priority sites for conservation and designing effective management plans. Boutourlini's blue monkey (Cercopithecus mitis boutourlinii) is a little-known arboreal primate endemic to the forests of western Ethiopia. This subspecies is categorized as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and the distribution of extant populations is largely unknown. To increase our knowledge of the spatial distribution and conservation status of Boutourlini's blue monkey, we carried out intensive reconnaissance surveys from January 2010 to May 2011 across approximately 40% of its potential range and conducted interviews with local people at each of the survey locations. We carried out geospatial analyses and mapped the distribution of Boutourlini's blue monkey localities with respect to elevation, protected area status, and changes in forest cover over time using ArcGIS10.4.0. Through our surveys, we discovered 30 previously unknown Boutourlini's blue monkey populations in three administrative regions of western Ethiopia (Amhara, Oromia, and Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Regions). A total of 34 different groups were sighted and counted at the survey sites, averaging 14.7 members (range 8-23) per group. There are now 32 Boutourlini's blue monkey populations of recently confirmed occurrence at altitudes ranging from 1039 to 2780m asl, seven in forests of greater than 50km2. Crop feeding by Boutourlini's blue monkeys was reported by people at seven sites and confirmed through direct observation at three of these sites. None of the known extant populations of Boutourlini's blue monkeys occur within a strictly protected area (e.g., national park) where exploitative human activities are outlawed. A complete reassessment of the distribution and conservation status of Boutourlini's blue monkey will require further surveys across the remaining approximately 60% of its potential range.

Socio-environmental conflicts: An underestimated threat to biodiversity conservation in Chile

Biodiversity is vital in the functioning of ecosystems, but it’s permanently being threatened by anthropic impacts derived from productive activities. Thus, conservation has become a global challenge. In Chile, the dissociation between economic activities and conservation has triggered numerous socio-environmental conflicts in recent decades. This work explores how different projects that give rise to these conflicts can represent an underestimated threat to biodiversity.We identified socio-environmental conflicts in Chile and their associated projects by carrying out an online review of 1035 news articles published between 2004 and 2018 using the key words “environmental conflict”. We selected articles describing a socio-environmental conflict between parties caused by a project or productive sector. Conflict-generating projects were classified by productive sector and capital origin. In addition, their geographical distribution with respect to High Conservation Value Areas (HCVAs, protected areas and priority sites for conservation) was determined.A total of 283 projects were identified from 14 different productive sectors, most of them related to energy and mining, which threaten biodiversity and human well-being mainly due to pollution and habitat destruction. Chilean companies finance most of the projects, but international companies finance over half of the energy and mining projects. Moreover, 37 % of the projects were located within HCVAs either for the establishment of future protected areas or where protected areas are currently established. As countries make new efforts to maintain and recover biodiversity, it is contradictory not to consider the threats posed by conflict-generating projects to key areas for conservation, both in public policies and in spatial planning instruments.

Montañas: cómo se definen y su importancia para la biodiversidad y la humanidad

Las montañas cubren un 12% de la superficie terrestre y un 23% del territorio de México. Tomando como base lo anterior, el objetivo es poner al alcance de los lectores una definición actual y objetiva de lo que es una montaña, así como informarles de manera simple acerca de su importancia biológica como guardianas de la biodiversidad y proveedoras de servicios ecosistémicos. Para esto, realizamos una búsqueda documental sobre el tema ecología de montaña. Nuestro principal interés es que se reconozcan a las montañas como sitios prioritarios para la conservación debido a los múltiples beneficios que suministran a la humanidad. Desafortunadamente, muchas de las montañas en el mundo y en México se encuentran bajo diferentes amenazas.

A framework for evaluating the impact of the IUCN Red List of threatened species.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, a species extinction risk assessment tool, has been guiding conservation efforts for over 5 decades. It is widely assumed to have been instrumental in preventing species from moving closer to extinction and driving recoveries. However, the impact of the IUCN Red List in guiding conservation has not been evaluated. We conducted, transcribed, and coded interviews with experts who use the IUCN Red List across a range of sectors to understand how the list is used in conservation. We developed a theory of change to illustrate how and why change is expected to occur along causal pathways contributing to the long‐term goal of the IUCN Red List and an evaluation framework with indicators for measuring the impact of the IUCN Red List in generating scientific knowledge, raising awareness among stakeholders, designating priority conservation sites, allocating funding and resources, influencing development of legislation and policy, and guiding targeted conservation action (key themes). Red‐list assessments were the primary input leading to outputs (scientific knowledge, raised awareness), outcomes (better informed priority setting, access to funding and resource availability, improved legislation and policy), and impact (implemented conservation action leading to positive change) that have resulted in achievement of IUCN Red List goals. To explore feasibility of attributing the difference made by the IUCN Red List across themes, we studied increased scientific knowledge, raised awareness, access to funding and resource allocation, and increased conservation activity. The feasibility exploration showed increased scientific knowledge over time identified through positive trends in publications referring to the IUCN Red List in the literature; raised awareness of the list following high IUCN activity identified by peaks in online search activity; an increased proportion of conservation funding bodies requesting IUCN Red List status in the application process; and, based on interviews with Amphibian Specialist Group members, red‐list assessments were essential in connecting relevant stakeholders and ensuring conservation action. Although we identified the IUCN Red List as a vital tool in global conservation efforts, it was challenging to measure specific impacts because of its ubiquitous nature. We are the first to identify the influence of the IUCN Red List on conservation.

Modeling the emergence of migratory corridors and foraging hot spots of the green sea turtle.

Environmental factors shape the spatial distribution and dynamics of populations. Understanding how these factors interact with movement behavior is critical for efficient conservation, in particular for migratory species. Adult female green sea turtles, Chelonia mydas, migrate between foraging and nesting sites that are generally separated by thousands of kilometers. As an emblematic endangered species, green turtles have been intensively studied, with a focus on nesting, migration, and foraging. Nevertheless, few attempts integrated these behaviors and their trade‐offs by considering the spatial configurations of foraging and nesting grounds as well as environmental heterogeneity like oceanic currents and food distribution. We developed an individual‐based model to investigate the impact of local environmental conditions on emerging migratory corridors and reproductive output and to thereby identify conservation priority sites. The model integrates movement, nesting, and foraging behavior. Despite being largely conceptual, the model captured realistic movement patterns which confirm field studies. The spatial distribution of migratory corridors and foraging hot spots was mostly constrained by features of the regional landscape, such as nesting site locations, distribution of feeding patches, and oceanic currents. These constraints also explained the mixing patterns in regional forager communities. By implementing alternative decision strategies of the turtles, we found that foraging site fidelity and nesting investment, two characteristics of green turtles' biology, are favorable strategies under unpredictable environmental conditions affecting their habitats. Based on our results, we propose specific guidelines for the regional conservation of green turtles as well as future research suggestions advancing spatial ecology of sea turtles. Being implemented in an easy to learn open‐source software, our model can coevolve with the collection and analysis of new data on energy budget and movement into a generic tool for sea turtle research and conservation. Our modeling approach could also be useful for supporting the conservation of other migratory marine animals.

High density, early maturing, and morphometrically unique Hippocampus erectus population makes a Bahamian pond a priority site for conservation

High density, early maturing, and morphometrically unique Hippocampus erectus population makes a Bahamian pond a priority site for conservation

Key Biodiversity Areas of Iraq: Priority Sites for Conservation and Protection Nature Iraq

Key Biodiversity Areas of Iraq: Priority Sites for Conservation and Protection Nature Iraq

Living on the Edge: Current Status of Rare Sulu Endemic Avifauna

The Sulu Archipelago, consisting of hundreds of islands, harbors unique and distinct endemic avian fauna. Due to the relatively small size of the islands and the rapid deforestation, many of these species are in danger of extinction. Some of the endemic bird species in the Sulu Archipelago have not been observed in the wild for decades and may already have gone extinct without being noticed. This study uses available information to describe the current status of endemic bird species in the area. Most of the information were gathered from anecdotal reports of birdwatchers who visited the area since very few scientific surveys have been done there. All of the Sulu endemic bird species are forest dependent and categorized as threatened on the IUCN Red List. The Sulu Bleeding-heart Gallicolumba menagei has not been recorded for over a century. The Sulu Hornbill Anthrococeros montani may have no more than 20 pairs left in the wild and not much more is known of the Sulu Hawk-Owl Ninox reyi apart from its name and call. The rapidly disappearing forests, combined with hunting and mining, make the Sulu Archipelago arguably one of the highest priority sites for conservation in the country. The Sulu Archipelago is not only located at the geographical edge of the Philippines, but it is also where unique species are on the edge of extinction. Immediate in situ conservation and comprehensive surveys of the avifaunal diversity in the Sulu Archipelago are urgently needed.

Assessing conservation priorities of endemic freshwater fishes in the Tropical Andes region

Abstract Assessing the effectiveness of protected areas for sustaining species and identifying priority sites for their conservation is vital for decision making, particularly for freshwater fishes in South America, the global centre of freshwater fish diversity. Several conservation planning studies have used threatened freshwater fishes or species that are vulnerable to climate change as conservation targets, but none has included both in priority‐setting analysis. The objectives of this study were to identify gaps in the coverage of the existing protected areas in representing the endemic freshwater fishes of the Tropical Andes region, and to identify conservation priority areas that adequately cover threatened species and species vulnerable to climate change. Data on 648 freshwater fishes from the Tropical Andes were used to identify gaps in the protected area coverage, and to identify conservation priority sites under three scenarios: (i) prioritize threatened species; (ii) prioritize species that are vulnerable to climate change; and (iii) prioritize both threatened species and species vulnerable to climate change. A total of 571 species (88% of all species) were not covered by any protected areas; most of them are restricted to ≤10 catchments. To represent both threatened species and species vulnerable to climate change in the third scenario, 635 catchments were identified as priority areas, representing 26.5% of the study area. The number of irreplaceable catchments for this scenario is 475, corresponding to 22.5% of the total area. The results of this study could be crucial for designing strategies for the effective protection of native fish populations in the Tropical Andes, and for planning proactive climate adaptation. It is hoped that the identification of priority areas, particularly irreplaceable catchments, will help to guide conservation and management decisions in the Andean region.

Using habitat models to identify marine important bird and biodiversity areas for Chinstrap Penguins Pygoscelis antarcticus in the South Orkney Islands

Tracking individual marine predators can provide vital information to aid the identification of important activity (foraging, commuting, rafting, resting, etc.) hotspots and therefore also to delineate priority sites for conservation. However, in certain locations (e.g. Antarctica) many marine mammal or seabird colonies remain untracked due to logistical constraints, and the colonies that are studied may not be the most important in terms of conservation priorities. Using data for one of the most abundant seabirds in the Antarctic as a case study (the Chinstrap Penguin Pygoscelis antarcticus), we tested the use of correlative habitat models (used to predict distribution around untracked colonies) to overcome this limitation, and to enable the identification of important areas at-sea for colonies where tracking data are not available. First, marine Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) were identified using a standardised, published approach using empirical data from birds tracked from colonies located in the South Orkney Islands. Subsequently, novel approaches using predicted distributions of Chinstrap Penguins derived from correlative habitat models were applied to identify important marine areas, and the results compared with the IBAs. Data were collected from four colonies over 4 years and during different stages of the breeding season. Results showed a high degree of overlap between the areas identified as important by observed data (IBAs) and by predicted distributions, revealing that habitat preference models can be used to identify marine IBAs for these penguins. We provide a new method for designating a network of marine IBAs for penguins in Antarctic waters, based on outputs from correlative habitat models when tracking data are not available. This can contribute to an evidence-based and precautionary approach to aid the management framework for Antarctic fisheries and for the protection of birds.

Floristic Diversity and Conservation Value of Tanoe-Ehy Forest in South-Eastern (Cote d’Ivoire)

The Tanoe-Ehy Forest, located in the South-Eastern of the Côte d’Ivoire is one of the rare forest cover of this type that still exists in the Country. These Forest was identified as a top priority site for conservation in West Africa. However, this important forest is subject to strong anthropogenic pressures which through poaching, uncontrolled takeoffs of natural resources and some agricultural clearing. A Botanical study based on plots, itinerant and linear inventory conducted in this forest intends to assess the plant species diversity and the conservation value for biodiversity of this forest. At the end of the study, 432 plant species were recorded. Among them, 14 are listed on endemic of Upper Guinea and 16 threatened and endangered list of species. Concerning the species threatened and endangering, 3 species are really in endangering (Hemandradenia chevalieri, Tieghemella heckelii, Irvingia gabonensis) and 13 others are a category of vulnerable species. A Sassandrian species of type II (Piptostigma fugax) was also observed. The dominant species of the forest are Symphonia globulifera and Uapaca paludosa. Concerning the vegetation condition, the swamp forest, the dry land forest and the raphiale vegetation have a high conservation value.

Sitios prioritarios para la conservación de la riqueza florística y el endemismo de la Sierra Norte de Oaxaca, México

Antecedentes y Objetivos: Una de las principales estrategias para la protección de la diversidad biológica es el establecimiento de sistemas de áreas para su conservación, cuyo manejo minimice los riesgos de extinción. Actualmente, en México las áreas protegidas cubren aproximadamente 12% de la superficie del país. No obstante, es necesario incrementar los esfuerzos de conservación de la diversidad vegetal, especialmente en las altitudes medias de las zonas montañosas del país. Oaxaca es uno de los estados con mayor diversidad biológica y endemismos; sin embargo, las áreas naturales protegidas que se encuentran decretadas en el estado no son suficientes para conservar su riqueza biológica. Este estudio se plantea con el objetivo de definir una red de áreas de conservación en la Sierra Norte del estado de Oaxaca, región que es reconocida por su biodiversidad. Es una zona de amplio aprovechamiento forestal y a la fecha no existen áreas decretadas para la conservación de su biodiversidad.Métodos: Usando datos climáticos y la información sobre registros de presencia de las especies de la familia Asteraceae, se elaboraron modelos de nicho ecológico para determinar patrones de riqueza e identificar sitios prioritarios de conservación.Resultados: Se identifica una red de sitios prioritarios para la conservación, dentro de las zonas con aprovechamiento forestal, que ayudarían en la conservación de la riqueza florística del estado.Conclusiones: Los resultados indican las áreas importantes donde se podrían plantear estrategias de conservación en la Sierra Norte de Oaxaca. El uso de especies de Asteraceae como subrogados de la biodiversidad funcionaría como eje para concentrar futuros esfuerzos de inventario y de protección de la riqueza florística en tales sitios. La Red de Áreas de Conservación estructurada en este trabajo permitirá en un futuro detectar y seleccionar, con bases conceptuales más sólidas, áreas que se integren al Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas.

Integrating climate change and human impacts into marine spatial planning: A case study of threatened starfish species in Brazil

Network expansion of marine protected areas in a changing world is a difficult task for conservation planners. Brazil experiences a combination of low and uneven protection of marine environmets, increasing anthropogenic pressures, climate change, and gaps in information regarding the geographical distribution of many species (Wallacean shortfall). Here, we addressed these issues and present a strategy for identifying priority marine areas for conservation in Brazil that would contribute to increasing species representation and achievement of conservation targets. Within this strategy, we accounted for (i) species range shifts due to climate change and their influence on species distribution, (ii) the lack of species geographical distribution data, and (iii) anthropic pressures on oceans. First, we built ecological niche models (ENMs) for 12 threatened starfish species in both present and future (2100) times using Maxent. We also quantified and mapped species range shifts. Second, we developed three conservation spatial solutions and compared the 10% top-ranked areas. The results showed that ENMs had a good performance in representing the distribution of species, even those that had few occurrence records. Our models forecasted a significant range expansion for the majority of species (10 out 12) by 2100. We found that the priority sites covering the top-ranked 10% in the study area identified in ours conservation spatial solutions would protect between 10.41% and 15.88%, on average, of suitable areas for the starfish species. Our results indicated priority sites for conservation less affected by anthropic pressures (~2%) when data on human impacts on oceans were incorporated into the spatial prioritization process. We identified a network of priority marine sites for conservation that minimized human influence and considered the effects of climate change on species distribution. We used threatened starfish species as a case study for illustrating our approach; however, such an approach could be applied to any taxonomic group, which supports the development of more effective conservation actions that represent biodiversity under such threats.