Field Of Conservation Biology Research Articles

Amphibians in Spanish popular medicine and the pharmacopoeia of Pliny and Dioscorides

This article presents a list of medical remedies based on the use of amphibians in Spanish popular medicine and in the classical world. It provides an overview of bibliography relative to folklore studies, ethnographic work and research on social or medical anthropology. It documents a total of 113 remedies and the use of nine species of amphibians, two from the family of caudates (urodeles) and seven anurans. Most of these remedies are based on the popular "preconception" about the influence of amphibians and healing by transmitting an illness to a living creature. The traditional use of certain threatened species is emphasized, an issue to bear in mind in decision-making in the field of conservation biology and environmental education.

Evolutionary rescue: linking theory for conservation and medicine.

Evolutionary responses that rescue populations from extinction when drastic environmental changes occur can be friend or foe. The field of conservation biology is concerned with the survival of species in deteriorating global habitats. In medicine, in contrast, infected patients are treated with chemotherapeutic interventions, but drug resistance can compromise eradication of pathogens. These contrasting biological systems and goals have created two quite separate research communities, despite addressing the same central question of whether populations will decline to extinction or be rescued through evolution. We argue that closer integration of the two fields, especially of theoretical understanding, would yield new insights and accelerate progress on these applied problems. Here, we overview and link mathematical modelling approaches in these fields, suggest specific areas with potential for fruitful exchange, and discuss common ideas and issues for empirical testing and prediction.

Pleistocene range dynamics and episodic rarity in an extinct bird.

In an influential report in the field of conservation biology, Rabinowitz et al. (1) described seven ways in which species may show rarity, based on different combinations of range size, ecological amplitude, and local abundance; this paper has guided many avenues of thought in the field of conservation biology. To a conservation biologist in the 17th century, however, the passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) would not have qualified as “rare” under any of the seven categories; quite simply, the species had a broad range (eastern North America), was not particularly limited to any one set of conditions, and was massively locally abundant. Still, this species disappeared entirely by the early 20th century for reasons that have never been entirely clear. A report in PNAS by Hung et al. (2) sheds an initial glimmer of insight into this question.

The 2015 IBS Alfred Russel Wallace Award

Announcements ISSN 1948-6596 The 2015 IBS Alfred Russel Wallace Award The IBS Board is pleased to announce that Daniel Simberloff will be the next to join the distinguis- hed list of recipients of the Alfred Russel Wallace Award. The Wallace Award will be given at the upcoming IBS biennial meeting in Bayreuth, Ger- many (January 8 th to 12 th , 2015), and was establis- hed by the IBS in 2004 to recognize a lifetime of outstanding contributions by an eminent scholar in any subdiscipline of biogeography. Daniel Simberloff received his A.B. at Har- vard College in 1964 (with magna cum laude) and his Ph.D. in Biology at Harvard University in 1969, and is currently a Professor at the University of Tennessee (1997-present). His work on island bio- geography, reserve design, null models, plant- insect interactions, character displacement, biolo- gical invasions, etc., is cited in every single textbo- ok on our shelves and his early experimental pa- pers with E.O.Wilson are textbook classics. Througout his career, Simberloff has never shied away from controversies in ecology and bio- geography, publicly challenging the most impor- tant paradigm in ecology, biogeography and the growing field of conservation biology with his 1976 Science paper, which cautioned against ma- king broad generalizations without sufficient data. A former student of E.O. Wilson, and having had Robert MacArthur on his committee, Simberloff is arguably a perfect hybrid of the two – exceptiona- lly quantitative and rigorous, while displaying a love of organisms and a passion for the preserva- tion of biodiversity. Simberloff’s lifelong contribu- tions to the field have forever changed the face of biogeography, making the field as a whole, a much more rigorous science for his efforts. The IBS Board notes with thanks the work of the Wallace Award Committee: Felisa Smith, Catheri- ne Badgley, Jens-Christian Svenning, Pablo A. Mar- quet, and Carsten Rahbek (chair). Carsten Rahbek Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Uni- versity of Copenhagen, Denmark and Imperial College London at Silwood Park, UK President Elect of the International Biogeography Society Chair of the 2015 IBS Alfred Russel Wallace Award Committee If your department is searching for a new faculty position this year in biogeography, ecology, evolution, geography and related disciplines, consider advocating for an advert to be placed in Frontiers of Biogeography. A quarter-page advertisement (~150 words, with formatting) will re- ach approximately 1000 active biogeographers (including many students and postdocs) globally via the journal and additional free advertisement on the IBS blog and an highlight on Facebook at a cost of only $50; half- and full-page advertisements are available for proportional cost. In addition, you will be helping our junior members and supporting the society's journal. frontiers of biogeography 6.2 2014 — © 2014 the authors; journal compilation © 2014 The International Biogeography Society

The relevance of Italian museum collections for research and conservation: the case of mammals

The twentieth century saw the decline of interest toward museum collections and an increased support to ‘experimental’ and ‘evolutionary’ biology, implicitly recognising the opposite nature of the ‘old’ museum-based taxonomy. With few exceptions, such as those of Florence and Verona, Italian museums after World War II were pushed at the border of scientific activity by the academic world and had to fight for their survival. Examples from the USA and elsewhere show the increased relevance of modern mammal collections to several fields of research. Despite an increased and welcomed attention to the value of historical collections, there is still scarce awareness of the need and relevance of maintaining and implementing mammal collections in museums as a valuable, long-term, source of data in the field of conservation biology, faunistic, taxonomy, molecular biology and health monitoring. In the present paper we suggest to create a network between mammalogists and a number of mammal collections, with one museum serving as focal point for a national mammal collection.

生态系统保护现状及保护等级评估——以江西省为例

The ecosystem based protection,an effective way to prevent the loss of biodiversity,is a hot topic in the field of conservation biology. As resources are always inadequate to monitor all components of biodiversity,criteria must be applied to prioritize both species and ecosystem for conservation and management plan. While there are many methods for prioritizing species,criteria for prioritizing ecosystem are not well developed. To provide the basis for the development of ecosystem protection plan,International Conservation Organization and researchers have been dedicated to working over theecosystem conservation priority by developing quantitative criteria and methods for local,regional and global level ecosystem protection. The first step for assessing ecosystem conservation priority is properly defined and classified ecosystem as unit of analysis. Then,we select criteria and methods that the conservation priority can be assessed quantitatively. Finally,based on the above outcomes,the ecosystem conservation priority can be ranked in low,medium,and high priority. The criteria used for assessment are grouped into three classes: ecosystem area loss rate,ecosystem extent( area),and ecosystem representativeness. In this paper,we take ecosystems in Jiangxi Province as a case to show the process for ecosystem conservation priority assessment. We explain the use of these criteria for assessing ecosystem conservation priority,the vegetation digital map in 1980s,land-use map in 2010 and national nature reserves map are used to evaluate the ecosystem conservation priority by overlying,reclassing,normalizing and quantitative assessing in GIS. The conservation priority of nature ecosystems in Jiangxi Province is ranked in low,moderate and high level,respectively. The result shows that a total area of nature ecosystems reduced by 82613. 83km2which account more than 60% of its area. There are 19 ecosystem types among the total 37 ecosystem types in Jiangxi province have been protected by National Nature Reserves,but the ratio of protection area for each of these ecosystems is still low. The ratio to the total area of Jiangxi Province for forest ecosystems ranking in high,moderate and low priority is 16. 7374%,5. 5310%,and 3. 8242%; the ratio for shrub ecosystems is0. 0975%,0. 9335%,and 0. 0100%; the ratio for grassland ecosystems is 0. 2647%,0. 0005%,and 0. 1064%; and the ratio for wetland ecosystems is 0. 3532%,0. 1127%,and 1. 5650%,respectively. The ratio of protected area by national nature reserves for forest ecosystems ranking in high,moderate,and low priority level is 0. 51%,3. 73%,and 5. 76%;the ratio for shrub ecosystems is 1. 72%,0. 17%,and 0. 70%; the ratio for grassland ecosystems is 0. 21%,0. 00%,and3. 49%; and the ratio for wetland ecosystems is 1. 87%,0. 00%,and 18. 01%,respectively. The spatial pattern for the ecosystems in different conservation priority level shows that the ecosystems in high conservation priority ranking are mainly distributed in the south-east and north-west part,the ecosystems in moderate conservation priority ranking are mainly distributed in north-east and north-west part,and the ecosystems in low conservation priority ranking are mainly distributed in the north part. Due to the economic growth and social development in the past 30 years,most of the ecosytem types which distributed in the central part of Jianxi province are changed to agricultural and city ecosystems. Combined with the present status of the nature ecosystems in Jiangxi province,the ecosystems ranking in high conservation priority which account for 17. 46% of the total area of Jiangxi province are suggested to protect first. These results have practical value for ecosystem level conservation,especially in the ecosystem conservation planning.

Googling Trends in Conservation Biology

Web-crawling approaches, that is, automated programs data mining the internet to obtain information about a particular process, have recently been proposed for monitoring early signs of ecosystem degradation or for establishing crop calendars. However, lack of a clear conceptual and methodological framework has prevented the development of such approaches within the field of conservation biology. Our objective was to illustrate how Google Trends, a freely accessible web-crawling engine, can be used to track changes in timing of biological processes, spatial distribution of invasive species, and level of public awareness about key conservation issues. Google Trends returns the number of internet searches that were made for a keyword in a given region of the world over a defined period. Using data retrieved online for 13 countries, we exemplify how Google Trends can be used to study the timing of biological processes, such as the seasonal recurrence of pollen release or mosquito outbreaks across a latitudinal gradient. We mapped the spatial extent of results from Google Trends for 5 invasive species in the United States and found geographic patterns in invasions that are consistent with their coarse-grained distribution at state levels. From 2004 through 2012, Google Trends showed that the level of public interest and awareness about conservation issues related to ecosystem services, biodiversity, and climate change increased, decreased, and followed both trends, respectively. Finally, to further the development of research approaches at the interface of conservation biology, collective knowledge, and environmental management, we developed an algorithm that allows the rapid retrieval of Google Trends data.

Ecology in Africa: a view from the past for informing the future

book reviews ISSN 1948‐6596 Ecology in Africa: a view from the past for informing the future African Ecology – Benchmarks and Historical Perspectives. Clive A. Spinage, 2012, Springer. 1562 pp. £180 (hardback) / £180 (ebook). ISBN 978‐3‐642‐22871‐1. http://www.springer.com/ “Africa’s natural habitats are disappearing at a rapid rate accelerating markedly since the 1970s. A continent outstanding for its exuberance of life, both in numbers and variety of flora and fauna, this largely historical treatment provides bench‐ marks against which change can be assessed and man’s role in shaping the ecology of Africa…”. These opening sentences from the preface to Spi‐ nage’s grand synthesis of African ecology hint at the scope and breadth of material covered in this book. It is one of the best recent synthetic works, drawing widely from the historical literature, and presents a wealth of past and current information in an accessible and highly readable format. This book is an incredible feat and brings together decades of work in a superbly well‐ written and thoroughly researched volume. The book is built around major themes, including cli‐ mate, fire, vegetation, populations of animals (such as elephants or locusts) and a stunning re‐ view of diseases and their ecological roles, includ‐ ing both zoonoses and epidemics that have af‐ fected humans over time. The book builds on the previous works by the author that focus on ecol‐ ogy and disease, such as Cattle plague: a history (Spinage, 2003), which is a synthesis of the history and ecology of rinderpest. It is the inclusion of disease and vector biol‐ ogy that makes this an innovative and timely work. Traditionally, most African ecology has been focused on the charismatic mega‐fauna (Shorrocks, 2007), which is an important conser‐ vation focus, but also part of a complex and dy‐ namic system. Given the rapid ecological changes being experienced across Africa through both di‐ rect anthropogenic disturbances and global cli‐ mate change, the chapters examining disease ecology are timely and should stimulate scientists to take a closer look at these issues. With the syn‐ thesis of information on specific ecological pat‐ terns, this work sets a valuable historical baseline for those interested in regional biogeography and especially for those currently working in this area—developing new range maps, distributional analyses or other studies. Each chapter in this book could stand as a work on its own; the breadth of material covered in each one is substantial. At the same time, the vast amount of technical information, bio‐ geographical datasets, historical accounts and bio‐ logical details, including the details of life‐history strategies of many less well‐known or researched organisms, is presented in a clear and accessible style. This book therefore will be of use not just to students and scientists in the field of ecology, but to anyone interested in African history, wildlife conservation and development. The author has very thoroughly researched all the topics covered and presents a balanced historical perspective, including when discussing potentially controversial issues, such as the use of fire as a management tool, or the control (or lack thereof) of populations of elephants. Wherever these topics are discussed, the author has been careful both to document the historical aspects of the issue and to present different points of view. This is especially important because many conser‐ vation issues today have far‐reaching impacts in social and political spheres beyond the basic sci‐ ence. Given that conservation is ultimately about populations and interactions, sustained within landscapes, the historical works reviewed by Spi‐ nage are an important reference for current deci‐ sion‐makers in the field of conservation biology in Africa. One example discussed in detail in the book is that of the biology, impact and control of the tsetse fly. Today the ecological consequences of these interventions continue to have ramifications for both conservation and livestock management across Africa. The chapters looking at diseases and epidemiology are perhaps the most poignant in the book; the author points out that many of the data are historical, yet new information is not be‐ ing generated as rapidly, for reasons ranging from lack of support for basic research to political insta‐ frontiers of biogeography 5.1, 2013 — © 2013 the authors; journal compilation © 2013 The International Biogeography Society

Conservation genomics of threatened animal species.

The genomics era has opened up exciting possibilities in the field of conservation biology by enabling genomic analyses of threatened species that previously were limited to model organisms. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and the collection of genome-wide data allow for more robust studies of the demographic history of populations and adaptive variation associated with fitness and local adaptation. Genomic analyses can also advance management efforts for threatened wild and captive populations by identifying loci contributing to inbreeding depression and disease susceptibility, and predicting fitness consequences of introgression. However, the development of genomic tools in wild species still carries multiple challenges, particularly those associated with computational and sampling constraints. This review provides an overview of the most significant applications of NGS and the implications and limitations of genomic studies in conservation.

Monitoring behavior: assessing population status with rapid behavioral assessment

AbstractDespite years of effort from behavioral ecologists, animal behavior has not been fully integrated into the field of conservation biology. We propose a novel framework to join these fields through the use of demographic models. We present three strategies for incorporating behavior in demographic models, outline the costs of each strategy through decision analysis, and build on previous work in behavioral ecology and demography. We then provide practical recommendations for applying this framework to management programs. First, relevant behavioral mechanisms should be included in demographic models used for conservation decision making. Second, rapid behavioral assessment is a useful tool to approximate demographic parameters through regression of demographic phenomena on observations of related behaviors. Behaviorally estimated parameters may be included in population viability analysis for use in management. Finally, behavioral indices can be used as indicators of population trends. Rapid behavioral assessment holds promise as a cost‐effective tool, but also represents a cost to model accuracy. We provide a framework for implementing rapid behavioral assessment through case studies of reproductive, foraging, and antipredator behaviors. We use a decision‐theoretic approach to provide quantitative rules for identifying when metrics of animal behavior may be more meaningful than traditional population assessment.

Combined spatio-temporal impacts of climate and longline fisheries on the survival of a trans-equatorial marine migrant.

Predicting the impact of human activities and their derivable consequences, such as global warming or direct wildlife mortality, is increasingly relevant in our changing world. Due to their particular life history traits, long-lived migrants are amongst the most endangered and sensitive group of animals to these harming effects. Our ability to identify and quantify such anthropogenic threats in both breeding and wintering grounds is, therefore, of key importance in the field of conservation biology. Using long-term capture-recapture data (34 years, 4557 individuals) and year-round tracking data (4 years, 100 individuals) of a trans-equatorial migrant, the Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea), we investigated the impact of longline fisheries and climatic variables in both breeding and wintering areas on the most important demographic trait of this seabird, i.e. adult survival. Annual adult survival probability was estimated at 0.914±0.022 on average, declining throughout 1978–1999 but recovering during the last decade (2005–2011). Our results suggest that both the incidental bycatch associated with longline fisheries and high sea surface temperatures (indirectly linked to food availability; SST) increased mortality rates during the long breeding season (March-October). Shearwater survival was also negatively affected during the short non-breeding season (December-February) by positive episodes of the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). Indirect negative effects of climate at both breeding (SST) and wintering grounds (SOI) had a greater impact on survival than longliner activity, and indeed these climatic factors are those which are expected to present more unfavourable trends in the future. Our work underlines the importance of considering both breeding and wintering habitats as well as precise schedules/phenology when assessing the global role of the local impacts on the dynamics of migratory species.

Establishment probability in newly founded populations

BackgroundEstablishment success in newly founded populations relies on reaching the established phase, which is defined by characteristic fluctuations of the population’s state variables. Stochastic population models can be used to quantify the establishment probability of newly founded populations; however, so far no simple but robust method for doing so existed. To determine a critical initial number of individuals that need to be released to reach the established phase, we used a novel application of the “Wissel plot”, where –ln(1 – P0(t)) is plotted against time t. This plot is based on the equation , which relates the probability of extinction by time t, P0(t), to two constants: c1 describes the probability of a newly founded population to reach the established phase, whereas ω1 describes the population’s probability of extinction per short time interval once established.ResultsFor illustration, we applied the method to a previously developed stochastic population model of the endangered African wild dog (Lycaon pictus). A newly founded population reaches the established phase if the intercept of the (extrapolated) linear parts of the “Wissel plot” with the y-axis, which is –ln(c1), is negative. For wild dogs in our model, this is the case if a critical initial number of four packs, consisting of eight individuals each, are released.ConclusionsThe method we present to quantify the establishment probability of newly founded populations is generic and inferences thus are transferable to other systems across the field of conservation biology. In contrast to other methods, our approach disaggregates the components of a population’s viability by distinguishing establishment from persistence.

Biodiversity hotspots: distribution and protection of conservation priority areas

Biodiversity and its conservation are among the main global topics in science and politics and perhaps the major challenge for the present and coming generations. This book written by international experts from different disciplines comprises general chapters on diversity and its measurement, human impacts on biodiversity hotspots on a global scale, human diversity itself and various geographic regions exhibiting high levels of diversity. The areas covered range from genetics and taxonomy to evolutionary biology, biogeography and the social sciences. In addition to the classic hotspots in the tropics, the book also highlights various other ecosystems harbouring unique species communities including coral reefs and the Southern Ocean. The approach taken considers, but is not limited to, the original hotspot definition sensu stricto and presents a chapter introducing the 35th hotspot, the forests of East Australia. While, due to a bias in data availability, the majority of contributions on particular taxa deal with vertebrates and plants, some also deal with the less-studied invertebrates. This book will be essential reading for anyone involved with biodiversity, particularly researchers and practitioners in the fields of conservation biology, ecology and evolution.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in national parks, nature reserves and protected areas worldwide: a strategic perspective for their in situ conservation

Soil fungi play a crucial role in producing fundamental ecosystem services such as soil fertility, formation and maintenance, nutrient cycling and plant community dynamics. However, they have received little attention in the field of conservation biology. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial soil symbionts fulfilling a key function in the complex networks of belowground/aboveground biotic interactions as they live in association with the roots of most (80%) land plant families and influence not only soil fertility but also plant nutrition, diversity and productivity. The diversity of AMF communities can decline due to habitat loss and anthropogenic disturbance, especially in agro-ecosystems, and many valuable ecotypes could become extinct before they are even discovered. Consequently, long-term strategies are urgently needed to ensure their conservation in habitats where they naturally occur and have evolved. Protected areas, where living organisms are under the care of national and international authorities, represent an appropriate place for the in situ conservation of AMF, providing them with adapted situations together with established complex networks of interactions with different components within each specific ecosystem. Here, we review data available about the main present-day threats to AMF and the current state of knowledge about their occurrence in protected sites worldwide, providing a checklist of national parks and nature reserves where they have been reported. The aim was to offer a strategic perspective to increase awareness of the importance of conserving these beneficial plant symbionts and of preserving their biodiversity in the years to come.

Finding Balance between Human Need and Global Stewardship

Finding Balance between Human Need and Global Stewardship

Insect Conservation and Diversity- making an impact

We are pleased to announce that Insect Conservation and Diversity (ICAD) has received its first Thomson Reuters ISI journal impact factor of 1.621, which is higher thanwe had earlier anticipated (Didham et al., 2010) and places the journal in 14th position within the entomology listing. This is a real achievement for the launch of a new journal in entomology and one of which our authors, Editorial Board members and publishers can be justifiably proud. Not only does this emphasise the high quality of our contributors but also demonstrates the importance of our subject area. Our papers are being cited far andwide and not just by entomologists. Our research areas are of broad relevance and have an impact across the fields of conservation biology and ecology. In 2009 we received almost twice as many submissions as in the previous year and the very high quality of those submissions has made the decision-making process very difficult. To those authors that have suffered disappointment, we offer our condolences but hope you understand that one rejection does not mean that we will not welcome your future submissions. Our goal is both to maintain the highest standards of excellence in published manuscripts, and to keep the time to publication as short as possible.We are, however, looking forward to increased page numbers for 2011 in order to ensure that we can accommodate the increasing number of high quality submissions. We have also produced our second Virtual Issue, this time on the responses of wood and litter arthropods to anthropogenic disturbance, highlighting the importance of those twomicrohabitats to biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Future themes will include the conservationmanagement of grassland habitats. Looking back at the 95 articles published by ICAD during its 3 years of existence, we noticed that only four articles (4%)were related to extreme environments as habitats for arthropods: one dealing with subarctic beetles in Argentina (Fergnani et al., 2010), one with canopy termites in Panama, one with the fauna of phytotelmata in Argentina (Montero et al., 2010), and one with canopy bees in USA (Ulyshen et al., 2010). We would appreciate submissions related to this theme, including marine, cave, arctic, desert, alpine environments, hot water sources, forest canopies, and so on. On the latter, may we remind our readers that submissions are certainly not limited to tropical forest canopies. The canopy of temperate forests represents a challenging environment formany arthropod species, which has been little studied to date, as a timely compilation attests (Floren & Schmidl, 2008). We welcome you to this first issue of 2011 and hope that you will continue to read and submit articles. We would also like to express our gratitude to the efforts of our Editors, Associate Editors, Editorial Board members, our referees and our authors, without whomwewould never have achieved this initial success.

Buried treasure: soil biodiversity and conservation

Soils are incredibly biodiverse habitats, yet soil-dwelling organisms have received little attention within the field of conservation biology. Due to difficulties involved in studying soil biota, and to taxonomic biases in conservation research, the full extent of soil biodiversity is not well understood, and soil-dwelling organisms are rarely candidates for conservation. The biogeography of soil biota differs significantly from that of plants or animals aboveground, and the taxonomic and functional diversity of soil-dwellers allows them to have a multitude of ecological effects on aboveground organisms. Soil organisms exhibit levels of biodiversity several orders of magnitude greater than those found in their aboveground counterparts on a per-area basis. The biodiversity of soils underpins many crucial ecosystem services which support the plants and animals typically targeted by conservation efforts. Strategies detailed in this paper provide practitioners with the ability to address many of the challenges related to incorporating soils and soil organisms into conservation planning.

A method for inferring extinction based on sighting records that change in frequency over time

AbstractIt is a very important, but also a very difficult task, to establish how long a certain species has to remain unregistered before we can declare it extinct. The wrong assumption regarding species extinction could result in a type I or type II statistical error, leading to inappropriate management actions or even species extinction. Recent development of the methods for inferring the threat of extinction, when the only available information is a record of sightings, has enabled a quantitative approach to the problem. In our study we present an index that infers extinction probability based on trends in sighting intervals. Our study comprises a description of the sighting trend index, a sensitivity analysis and an application of the index to the sighting record of the black‐footed ferret Mustela nigripes. The main advantage of this method could be its sensitivity to changes in sighting frequency within the sighting record. However, further testing of the method on different data sets could be important for gaining additional knowledge regarding its adequate application in the field of conservation biology.

Geo-political genetics: Claiming the commons through species mapping

Genetic techniques are increasingly employed in the field of conservation biology; our understanding of sea turtle biology, and particularly of sea turtle migrations and population structures, has increased through genetic analyses that ‘match’ turtles found in various and often widely distributed habitats (e.g. nesting beaches, foraging grounds, migratory corridors). This relatively recent technological development has implications for how sea turtles are conceived, both as resources and as objects of conservation. Traditionally, sea turtle populations have been identified with nesting beaches, and most conservation efforts have been focused on these discrete geographic locations and undertaken by the state. The more complete understanding of relationships among turtles found in geographically disparate areas, achieved via genetic analysis, can take conservation beyond the beaches and territorial waters of individual states; foraging populations can now be linked to nesting populations sometimes hundreds of kilometers distant. In this paper, we explore the implications of genetic analysis for sea turtle conservation, the scale at which it is undertaken, and the variety of actors with competing interests in it. We focus on the case of hawksbill sea turtles in the Caribbean, where genetic data are invoked in conservation conflicts. We are particularly interested in the way genetic data can support the scaling-up of sea turtle conservation, creating new ‘conservation territories,’ and we draw on political ecology and common pool resource theory to explore the implications thereof.

Hindrance of Conservation Biology by Delays in the Submission of Manuscripts

Timely dissemination of scientific findings depends not only on rapid publication of submitted manuscripts, a topic which has received much discussion, but also on rapid submission of research after the research is completed. We measured submission delay (time from the last date of data collection to the submission of a manuscript) for every paper from 14 journals in 2007 and compared these submission delays among four fields of biology (conservation, taxonomy, behavior, and evolution). Manuscripts published in leading journals in the field of conservation biology have the longest delays in publication of accepted manuscripts and the longest intervals between completion of research and submission of the manuscript. Delay in manuscript submission accounts for more than half of the total time from last date of data collection to publication. Across fields, the number of authors was significantly negatively correlated with submission delay, but conservation journals had the second highest number of authors and the greatest submission delay, so submission of conservation manuscripts was not hindered by a shortage of collaboration relative to other fields. Rejection rates were greater in conservation journals than in behavior and evolution, but rejection times were faster; thus, there were no obvious net differences among fields in the time papers spent waiting to be rejected. Publication delay has been reduced significantly in the last 7 years, but was still greater in conservation journals than in any of the other three fields we studied. Thus, the urgent field of conservation biology is hindered in both preparation and publication of manuscripts.