Habitat Loss Research Articles

Transformasi Pesisir Jakarta: Kajian Komprehensif Giant Sea Wall untuk Keberlanjutan Sosial, Ekonomi, dan Ekologis

Jakarta faces a serious flood threat due to a combination of sea level rise, land subversion due to groundwater exploitation, and extreme rainfall. The Giant Sea Wall project is proposed as a solution to reduce annual economic losses of Rp 2.1 trillion, while protecting the city from flash floods and river floods, as well as supporting the development of coastal business and tourism areas. However, this project is faced with major challenges, such as funding needs that require innovation in the form of Green Financing and public-private partnerships, social resistance due to lack of community involvement, as well as ecological impacts such as the loss of mangrove habitat and disruption of sedimentation patterns. Global studies, such as Delta Works in the Netherlands, highlight the importance of ecosystem-based approaches and integrated design to ensure sustainability. The success of this project depends on the integration of mangrove restoration, the use of advanced technology, inclusive policies, and the active involvement of local communities to ensure equitable socio-economic impact as well as long-term sustainability.

Range-wide understanding of genetic diversity and population structure of endangered Kashmir musk deer in North-Western Himalaya.

The endangered Kashmir musk deer (Moschus cupreus), native to high-altitude Himalayas, is an ecological significant and endangered ungulate, threatened by habitat loss and poaching for musk pod distributed in western Himalayan ranges of India, Nepal and Afghanistan. Despite its critical conservation status and ecological importance in regulating vegetation dynamics, knowledge gaps persist regarding its population structure and genetic diversity, hindering effective management strategies. We aimed to understand the population genetics of Kashmir musk deer in north-western Himalayas using two mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) regions and 11 microsatellite loci. Total of 63 consensus sequences were analyzed, revealing 10 haplotypes with high haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.906 ± 0.031) and moderate nucleotide diversity (π = 0.00539 ± 0.004) at mitochondrial markers. Microsatellite analysis indicated moderate genetic variability, with observed heterozygosity (Ho = 0.445 ± 0.049) and expected heterozygosity (He = 0.764 ± 0.039), comparable to the forest musk deer but relatively lower than that observed in other ungulates. Population structure analysis identified three potential genetic clusters, with evidence of genetic admixture in the Lahaul Valley, possibly due to gene flow from neighboring areas. Historical demographic analyses using Bayesian skyline plots and mismatch distribution curves indicated stable population sizes in the past, followed by recent declines in maternal effective population size. Our findings highlight the necessity of preserving the genetic diversity of the Kashmir musk deer to ensure its long-term survival. We recommend expanding the geographic range of sampling to include regions such as Chamba and Kinnaur districts in Himachal Pradesh, potential areas in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand, for more comprehensive population-level analysis. Such efforts will be crucial for developing targeted conservation strategies and mitigating the impacts of human activities on this endangered species.

Diversity patterns and knowledge gaps of Atlantic Forest epiphyllous bryophytes: a highly neglected group.

Epiphyllous bryophytes are a group of plants with complex adaptations to colonize the leaves of vascular plants and are considered one of the most specialized and sensitive groups to environmental changes. Despite their specificity and ecological importance, these plants represent a largely neglected group in relation to scientific research and ecological data. This lack of information directly affects our understanding of biodiversity patterns and compromises the conservation of this group in threatened ecosystems. Based on the compilation of data from a systematic review and virtual herbarium databases, we provide the first biogeographic assessment of diversity patterns of epiphyllous bryophytes in the Atlantic Forest hotspot. We also identify their phorophytes and assess sampling bias, knowledge gaps, and the current conservation state of epiphyllous bryophytes. The state of knowledge about epiphyllous bryophytes in the Atlantic Forest is still incipient and taxonomic and geographically biased. Sampling effort and climate variation highly influenced species richness patterns. Notably, Bromeliophila natans, a threatened and endemic species, has not been recorded in the past 20 years, possibly indicating extinction due to anthropogenic activities such as habitat loss. We found that the occurrence information, distributed across the domain, was positively influenced by the presence of protected areas, forest cover and density of cities, whereas it was negatively influenced by distance to access roads and research centers. More fieldwork and taxonomic and molecular studies are urgently needed to uncover biodiversity patterns and conservation priorities of this sensitive group. Without an increased collection effort, we may lose important species and their contributions to people.

Impact of Climate Change on the Habitat Distribution of Decapterus macarellus in the South China Sea

This study examines the potential distribution of Mackerel scad (Decapterus macarellus) in the South China Sea under future climate scenarios (SSP 1.26, SSP 2.45, SSP 5.85) using an ensemble species distribution model (SDM). Key environmental variables included sea surface salinity (SSS), sea surface height (SSH), sea surface temperature (SST), mixed-layer depth (MLD), chlorophyll-a concentration (CHL), and sea-bottom temperature (SBT). Results show that SST and MLD are the primary drivers of habitat suitability, with current suitable habitats concentrated in the northern offshore areas. Projections for the 2050s and 2090s indicate a reduction in suitable habitats, particularly under high-emission scenarios, with more gradual reductions under low-emission scenarios. Habitat loss is most pronounced in the northern South China Sea, while the central region is projected to see an expansion of suitable habitats. These findings highlight the climate impact on D. macarellus distribution and inform sustainable management strategies for the species in the region.

Western Cattle Egrets’ (Bubulcus ibis) roosting colony size estimates in urban landscape mosaics of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with notes on habitat threats and features near roosts

Western Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis) persist through phenotypic plasticity in behaviour and undertaking various forms of migration to exploit available resources in the anthropogenic landscape mosaics. The degradation of natural habitats, with land conversion for agriculture and urbanisation means co-existing alongside humans. However, their persistence is affected by human-egret conflict, exacerbated by a growing human population. We investigated the size of Western Cattle Egrets roosting colonies within the uMgungundlovu (Pietermaritzburg) and eThekwini (Durban) Municipalities, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We observed landscape features within 30 km of roosts with notes on possible threats to urban persistence, from October 2018 to September 2019. These areas were both urban mosaic landscapes with some remaining natural green areas as well as managed green spaces with urban built. We conducted monthly roosting or nesting population estimates of Western Cattle Egrets in these municipalities and identified characteristics which allow their urban roost persistence. An increase in roosting population from under 500 individuals in 2018 to over 600 individuals in the post-breeding season in 2019 was observed; however, no significant difference in roosting population size between the breeding and the post-breeding seasons was found. All Western Cattle Egret roosting and nesting colonies were within 10 km of a landfill, wetland, major road, river, or grassland. In addition, nesting sites were more likely to be near a wastewater treatment facility than roosts without nests. Roosting and nesting sites had varying levels of disturbance, and they require protection for continued Western Cattle Egret persistence in urban mosaic landscapes.

Subfossils suggest worse-than-realised losses of small-bodied mammals in northern Australia

Context Examining Australia’s late Quaternary subfossil record can be valuable in assessing whether the current diversity of small-bodied mammals seen across some parts of northern Australia is ‘normal’. Such records are important for establishing baselines for measuring historic changes in communities today and into the future. These datasets are becoming increasingly important, given trajectories in current global climate change, and predicted habitat losses and other potential anthropogenic impacts. Aims The main aim of this study is to utilise the local subfossil record from north-eastern Australia to establish a natural baseline for assessing changes in small mammal communities post-European colonisation. Methods Subfossils of vertebrates and other taxa were recovered from surface deposits adjacent to cave entrances at Broken River, near Greenvale in north-eastern Queensland, and were subjected to taxonomic, taphonomic and statistical analyses. These were then compared with local faunal records from modern surveys to compare differences in faunal communities between past and present. Key results Radiocarbon dating showed that these subfossils are geologically young, dating to approximately the time of European colonisation. We provide evidence for the former presence of extinct species of hopping mice (Notomys spp.) and rabbit rats (Conilurus spp.) in the region. Additional locally extirpated taxa such as Cape York bandicoot (Isoodon peninsulae) and Shark Bay mouse (Pseudomys gouldii) demonstrated considerable range contractions since the deposits accumulated, compared with their current distribution. Independent evidence from subfossil land snails recovered from these deposits is, with two exceptions, all modern-day vine thicket, karst-dwelling species indicating a long-term maintenance of vine thicket habitat. Thus, the loss of several mammal species is unlikely to be the result of habitat loss. Conclusions Analysis of the surface deposits showed that local historic small-mammal communities were much more diverse than are the region’s extant faunas recorded by modern surveys. Many extinctions and extirpations evidently occurred prior to such faunas being recorded as local inhabitants of the region. Implications Our data suggested that post-European colonisation small-mammal losses are likely to be substantially worse than previously realised.

Mammals in urban centers: a dataset from the perspective of the media in Brazil

The continuous growth of the urban population, coupled with habitat loss, has resulted in unanticipated interactions between animals and humans in urban centers. In this study, we investigated the presence of mammals in urban centers through newspaper reports on websites. Specifically, we examined: i) the frequency of photographic records, ii) the temporal trends (2001 to 2021) and spatial trends (Brazilian Federative regions and states) of the records, and iii) the orders, families, and species most frequently reported in urban centers. On the Google platform (http://www.google.com.br), we used combinations of the keywords “mammals in urban centers,” “mammals found in the city”, and “mammals found in the municipality” to survey mammal records. We excluded repeated news items, sites that experienced technical problems during the search period, and those that did not cover the topic. We compiled a total of 733 websites. The records spanned from 2002 to 2021, with 73% occurring in the last four years. The Southeast, South, and Midwest regions stood out. The animals recorded belonged to 55 mammal species (16 vulnerable and 3 endangered), distributed in 22 families and 10 orders. The data indicate that the majority of mammal sightings in urban areas occur on streets, with some conflictual interactions. This is the first study that utilizes websites for diagnosing the mammal fauna present in urban centers in Brazil. The dataset generated here could aid in understanding the occurrence of mammal species in the urban environment.

Multi-temporal analysis of land use change using GIS and satellite imagery: Implications for sustainable urban planning

Urbanization is a significant driver of land use change, particularly in rapidly growing metropolitan areas. This research investigates Greenfield City land use change in the 20-year period (2000-2020) using GIS and satellite data. The mapping shows where the greatest land-use changes occurred, ranging from increased residential and commercial developments to the loss of agricultural fields and the omission of green space. The work applies multi-temporal analyses of Landsat satellite images taken in 2000, 2010 and 2020 to estimate land cover change and its effects on urban planning and sustainability. They indicate that theres a clear rise in housing and business developments, but also a steep decline in farming and greenspace. These transformations affect the environment, with habitat loss, biodiversity destruction and encroachment on natural resources. The paper wraps up by focusing on the issues of sustainability in urban planning and how better land use planning is required to reduce the negative environmental effects of urban sprawl.

Ecological insights on the feeding behaviour of waterbirds in an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area of South West Johor Coast, Malaysia

Mangroves and mudflats are essential intertidal habitats that support benthic communities, providing critical feeding grounds for waterbirds. However, the degradation of these habitats due to coastal reclamation poses significant threats to prey availability and waterbird populations along the South est Johor Coast. While most avian research in Johor focuses on forest birds, studies on coastal waterbirds, particularly their feeding ecology, remain scarce. Understanding the feeding ecology of waterbirds is crucial for strengthening conservation efforts in vulnerable intertidal habitats. This study investigated the feeding behaviour and diet composition of waterbirds along the South West Johor Coast, Malaysia. Fieldwork was conducted in three coastal mudflats from November 2020 to May 2021, employing the direct observation technique. A total of 576 hours of observation were recorded, averaging 2 hours and 19 minutes per focal observation. Of 17 waterbird species recorded, only 11 species were included in the analysis based on sufficient data. The results revealed that waterbirds primarily consumed fish, molluscs, worms, crabs and unidentified prey, with fish comprising 25% of their overall diet. Feeding behaviour varied significantly by morphology traits, with larger waterbirds demonstrating higher feeding efficiency. Despite lower feeding rates and shorter feeding durations, larger species had a greater percentage of successful feeding attempts, indicating their superior ability to meet energy requirements. These findings provide crucial baseline data for understanding waterbird feeding ecology and highlight the importance of conserving the intertidal habitats. This research contributes to the development of targeted conservation strategies for waterbirds in the Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) of the South West Johor Coast, Malaysia, an area increasingly at risk from habitat degradation.

Farming of Indigenous Crayfish in Russia: A Mini-Review of Recent Studies

Natural populations of crayfish in Europe have experienced significant declines due to the spread of crayfish plague, overfishing, competition with invasive crayfish species, and habitat degradation. Consequently, crayfish farming has gained importance in meeting the increasing demand for crayfish products. Although Russia boasts abundant water resources, the development of crayfish aquaculture remains nascent. In this review, we consolidate recent studies by Russian researchers that focus on various aspects of crayfish cultivation. Extensive cultivation in open ponds is the most suitable method, owing to its accessibility and lower costs; however, it necessitates suitable environmental conditions within the water bodies. The production cycle encompasses pond preparation, stocking, exploration, restoration, and monitoring. Controlled cultivation of egg-bearing females is essential for producing high-quality seedstock for subsequent rearing. Experimental evidence suggests that crayfish exhibit high adaptability to artificial conditions, with formulated diets comprising artificial feeds for sturgeon and powdered dried beef by-products demonstrating promising results in terms of growth performance. Plastic tangled threads and mink shelters are recommended to reduce cannibalism. Short-term grow-out of juvenile crayfish can yield a profit margin of 17%, while a complete two-year production cycle is projected to achieve financial break-even over three years. The primary challenges confronting the industry include disease management, cannibalism, the need for skilled technical personnel, and insufficient financial and policy support.

Heterogeneity in Seed Samples from Vineyards and Natural Habitats Along the Eurasian Vitis vinifera Range: Implications for Domestication and Hybridization

By exploring seed samples from vineyards and natural habitats across the Eurasian range of Vitis vinifera, our analysis revealed substantial morphological variation within populations. Through the analysis of domestication index values, probabilities, and entropy, we assessed seed diversity. Samples with high domestication probability values—predominantly from vineyards—exhibited low heterogeneity and entropy, with similar patterns observed in natural habitats, suggesting the presence of feral vines. In parallel, seeds with low domestication index values, found mainly in natural habitats, also displayed low entropy and are likely associated with Vitis sylvestris or other wild Vitaceae species. Intermediate domestication values pointed to hybrid swarms, highlighting the crucial role of hybridization in the development of modern grapevine cultivars. The study identified mixed populations across the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, and the South Caucasus, which act as significant gene reservoirs. A domestication gradient is evident, with higher domestication rates in the South Caucasus compared to Western Europe and East Asia. The results demonstrate the significance of these mixed populations as repositories of genetic diversity, underscoring their conservation value, particularly considering the negative impact of habitat alterations, especially in riparian forests due to major public works.

Asynchronous effects of heat stress on growth rates of massive corals and damselfish in the Red Sea.

Climate change is imposing multiple stressors on marine life, leading to a restructuring of ecological communities as species exhibit differential sensitivities to these stressors. With the ocean warming and wind patterns shifting, processes that drive thermal variations in coastal regions, such as marine heatwaves and upwelling events, can change in frequency, timing, duration, and severity. These changes in environmental parameters can physiologically impact organisms residing in these habitats. Here, we investigate the synchrony of coral and reef fish responses to environmental disturbance in the Red Sea, including an unprecedented combination of heat stress and upwelling that led to mass coral bleaching in 2015. We developed cross-dated growth chronologies from otoliths of 156 individuals of two planktivorous damselfish species, Pomacentrus sulfureus and Amblyglyphidodon flavilatus, and from skeletal cores of 48 Porites spp. coral colonies. During and immediately after the 2015 upwelling and bleaching event, damselfishes exhibited a positive growth anomaly but corals displayed reduced growth. Yet, after 2015-2016, these patterns were reversed with damselfishes showing a decline in growth and corals rebounding to pre-disturbance growth rates. Our results reveal an asynchronous response between corals and reef fish, with corals succumbing to the direct effects of heat stress, and then quickly recovering when the heat stress subsided-at least, for those corals that survived the bleaching event. Conversely, damselfish growth temporarily benefited from the events of 2015, potentially due to the increased metabolic demand from increased temperature and increased food supply from the upwelling event, before declining over four years, possibly related to indirect effects associated with habitat degradation following coral mortality. Overall, our study highlights the increasingly complex, often asynchronous, ecological ramifications of climate extremes on the diverse species assemblages of coral reefs.

Grazing-Induced Habitat Degradation: Challenges to Giant Panda Survival Resulting from Declining Bamboo and Soil Quality

Grazing is the primary human-induced disturbance affecting giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) habitats and has a severe impact on the long-term sustainability of the giant panda population. To address the lack of quantitative studies on grazing’s impact on habitat quality, we selected China’s most heavily grazed giant panda nature reserve. Utilizing the Maxent model and stoichiometric analysis, we investigated habitat quality degradation caused by grazing and quantified changes in bamboo nutritional quality and soil physicochemical properties. The results indicate that grazing has significantly reduced the suitable habitat area for giant pandas from 101.87 km2 to 80.64 km2. Specifically, high-suitability habitats declined by 14.14%, moderate-suitability habitats declined by 22.70%, and low-suitability habitats declined by 22.88%. Grazing has forced pandas to move to higher altitudes (2650–3057 m) with taller (12–20 m) trees, denser (28–55 plants) shrubs, and sparser (30–69%) bamboo. Additionally, the soil water content has decreased, while soil bulk density, total N, available N, and pH have significantly increased. Reductions in crude protein and ether extract, along with increased crude fiber and ash, have lowered bamboo’s nutritional value and palatability. This study elucidates how grazing degrades giant panda habitat quality and provides a scientific basis for its conservation management.

Leading the Way: Working Towards Heritage-Led Nature Recovery in Natural England

ABSTRACT The climate and biodiversity crises are an immediate and existential threat, risking the widespread loss and degradation of habitats across England. The UK Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan commits us to being the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we found it, and the long-term conservation and enhancement of the historic environment is an essential component of this commitment. However, as the pressure mounts to deliver nature recovery faster, at greater scale and within increasingly tighter budgets, does heritage run the risk of being overlooked? Natural England’s 2023 guidance Nature Recovery and the Historic Environment provides a best-practice framework to ensure appropriate integration of heritage into nature recovery, but it also goes further – exploring the correlations between our historic and natural environments and the ways in which heritage assets can provide added value to nature recovery projects. This paper will take this thinking a step further and consider how projects led by heritage can deliver across the full spectrum of environmental objectives: to inform, inspire and improve habitat restoration, species abundance, soil health, improved air and water quality, public access, landscape distinctiveness and rural placemaking.

Impacts of Land-use Change on Biodiversity of Tropical Forests

The tropics possess a higher level of biodiversity compared to other climatic regions on the Earth. The tropics have diverse ecosystems such as forests, savannas, mountains, wetlands, and coral reefs, which provide habitat for thousands of species of fauna and flora. Tropical forests are one of the important tropical ecosystems with high biodiversity. Humans modify tropical forest landscapes on a large scale and use them for different purposes, including logging, mining, agriculture, pastures, urbanization, and road construction. Humans attain resources and profits through transforming tropical landscapes while making negative impacts to biodiversity and the environment of tropical forest ecosystems. Land-use change further causes habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, climate change, pollution, and species invasion of the tropical rainforests. These drivers lead to ecosystem destruction and the biodiversity crisis in the whole tropical region.

Research on the Role of Biodiversity in Protecting the Ecosystem Against Climate Change

As climate change intensifies, its impact on ecosystems has become increasingly severe, threatening the survival of various species and leading to habitat destruction, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation. Biodiversity, encompassing the variety of life on Earth, plays a critical role in maintaining ecosystem stability, buffering against the effects of climate change, and enhancing ecosystem resilience. This study explores the multifaceted role of biodiversity in supporting ecosystem functionality amidst the challenges posed by climate change. By reviewing existing literature and case studies across different ecosystems, this research highlights biodiversity facilitates nutrient cycling and energy flow, which stabilizes the ecosystem, acts as a natural buffer against extreme weather events, and enhances ecosystem resilience by providing functional redundancy. The findings underscore the importance of biodiversity conservation as a strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and sustain the health and functionality of ecosystems worldwide.

Exploring freshwater soundscapes of tropical marshland habitats in Southeast Asia: insights into auditory sensory adaptation of wild Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens.

While soundscapes shape the structure and function of auditory systems over evolutionary timescales, there is limited information regarding the adaptation of wild fish populations to their natural acoustic environments. This is particularly relevant for freshwater ecosystems, which are extremely diverse and face escalating pressures from human activities and associated noise pollution. The Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens is one of the most important cultured species in the global ornamental fish market and is increasingly recognized as a model organism for genetics and behavioural studies. This air-breathing species (Anabantoidei), characterized by the presence of a suprabranchial labyrinth organ that enhances auditory sensitivity, is native to Southeast Asia and inhabits low flow freshwater ecosystems that are increasingly threatened due to habitat destruction and pollution. We characterized the underwater soundscape, along with various ecological parameters, across five marshland habitats of B. splendens, from lentic waterbodies to small canals near a lake in Chiang Rai province (Thailand). All habitats exhibited common traits of low dissolved oxygen and dense herbaceous vegetation. Soundscapes were relatively quiet with Sound Pressure Level (SPL) around 102-105 dB re 1 µPa and most spectral energy below 1,000 Hz. Sound recordings captured diverse biological sounds, including potential fish vocalizations, but primarily insect sounds. Hearing thresholds were determined using auditory evoked potential (AEP) recordings, revealing best hearing range within 100-400 Hz. Males exhibited lower hearing thresholds than females at 400 and 600 Hz. This low-frequency tuning highlights the potential susceptibility of B. splendens to anthropogenic noise activities. This study provides first characterization of the auditory sensitivity and natural soundscape of B. splendens, establishing an important ground for future hearing research in this species. The information provided on the auditory sensory adaptation of B. splendens emphasizes the importance of preserving quiet soundscapes from lentic freshwater ecosystems.

Diversity of Ichthyofauna and their Abundance in Ghaghara River, Siwan District, Bihar, India

The Ghaghara River, a significant tributary of the holy River Ganga, travels across northern India., providing essential water resources for agriculture, communities and biodiversity. The river's fish diversity is vital for maintaining local ecological balance and supporting livelihoods. Fish biodiversity and different diversity indices were evaluated in the study area from August 2021 to July 2022. Data was collected from four locations namely Darauli (S-1), Rakauli (S-2), Phulwariya (S-3) and Semariya (S-4) of the Ghaghara River and we found 61 species belongs to 47 genera, 21 families and 07 orders. Cypriniformes were the most common order, accounting for 42% of fish species, followed by Siluriformes (31%), and Perciformes (18%). The most prevalent family is Cyprinidae, which accounts for 39.3% of the fish fauna (24 species), followed by Bagridae (06 species) and Sisoridae (4 species). Total number of individuals, relative abundance (percentage catch), minimum and maximum size of each species were calculated. However, the river’s aquatic ecosystems, particularly its fish populations are increasingly under threat due to human activities, including habitat degradation, pollution, overfishing and the construction of hydropower projects. This study aims to assess the fish diversity of the Ghaghara River and explore the current conservation challenges and opportunities.

Observations on the Composition and Diversity of Ant Communities in Different Habitats in a Campus Ecosystem

Ants are more sensitive to ecosystem changes and their fast response to habitat alterations enable them as a useful tool for natural areas restoration efforts. A preliminary investigation was conducted to determine the diversity and distribution of ants from various habitats selected across the campus of Sree Narayana College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State. A total of seventeen species belonging to four subfamilies, fourteen genera and 234 individuals were collected. The subfamily Myrmicinae is the most diverse followed by Formicinae, Ponerinae and Dolichoderinae. In the present study, Diversity Index, Dominance index and Evenness index of ant species were determined. Diversity varied from 0.49 to 0.82 indicating low diversity. Dominance index value ranged from 0.17 to 0.47 while Evenness index value from 0.63 to 0.92. The results showed low diversity and dominance of ant species in the campus area indicating the severity of human interference in the campus ecosystem.

The impact of free-roaming dogs on lemurs in Madagascar: a decade of research and intervention

Abstract Lemurs are the most endangered group of mammals on earth, and invasive species, including domestic dogs, are considered to be the second greatest threat to biodiversity after habitat loss. Here, we describe and summarize the challenges and results of a decade of research aimed at understanding the impact of dogs on lemurs, and efforts to humanely reduce dog populations in protected areas in Madagascar, to reduce their impact on lemurs and other wildlife, via the non-profit the Mad Dog Initiative. We have found that free-roaming domestic dog populations living in and around Madagascar’s protected areas both predate and displace native wildlife, and that the presence of dogs in forests drives a reduction of wildlife in forests. Additionally, dogs vector a number of pathogens that can have lethal consequences for lemur populations, as well as serving as important vectors of anti-microbial resistance. We propose several future directions for research, outreach, and capacity building in Madagascar and other low and middle income countries aimed at better quantifying the threat of domestic species on wildlife, and mitigating its impact.