Habitat Fragmentation Research Articles

Forest fragmentation effects on plant-animal interaction do not always show consistent patterns – Evidence from a seed removal experiment of 31 woody species

Forest fragmentation often leads to changes in the abundance and composition of various organisms, thereby affecting biotic interactions. Currently, many studies lack consensus on the magnitude or direction of the impact of forest fragmentation on plant-animal interactions. Here, we employed seed-rodent interaction as a case study and assessed the removal by rodents of 66,960 seeds belonging to 31 woody species in 18 fragmented forests with areas of 1.05–14,517.63 ha, in a seriously fragmented tropical area in Southwest China for two consecutive years. Our study provided strong evidence that forest fragmentation affected seed-rodent interactions but did not follow a consistent pattern between years. Forest size and edge effects on seed removal were mainly due to variations in seed availability but not rodent activity. Interestingly, the effect of fragment size on seed removal was species-specific with monotonic decreases as well as U-shaped and humped-shaped patterns. These remarkable spatiotemporal and interspecific variations pertaining to forest fragmentation impact on seed removal may translate into subsequent seed germination and seedling regeneration processes, which may further influence the species composition in different fragmented forests. This complexity in responses among plant species reiterates the need to consider the interspecies specificity in conservation and management initiatives of fragmented forests. Additionally, we recommend that multiple field surveys involving multiple species be conducted in future studies focusing on forest fragmentation to help us better understand fragmentation effects on ecological processes.

Measurement and modelling of kinetic energy and erosivity of rainfall and throughfall in a tropical semiarid region

Empirical relationships have been widely used to estimate kinetic energy of rainfall (KE) and its erosivity potential (EI30) due to scarcity of direct and continuous measurements. Two disdrometers were installed − one in an open field and another under the canopy − in a fragment of Tropical Dry Forest (TDF) in a semiarid region, Northeast of Brazil, to quantify the role of the canopy on attenuating rain kinetic energy and erosivity potential, for all events and at the seasonal scale. The data was also used to test available KE and EI30 models, as well as to recalibrate the models for the study area. Data were collected from December/2019 to July/2021, totaling 95 events. Rainfall (R) was higher than throughfall (TF) due to canopy interception, but rainfall duration and the total number of drops were higher under the canopy. The TDF canopy reduces rainfall kinetic energy by 30% and its erosivity potential by 39%, with higher KE and EI30 attenuation being observed during the high leaf density stage, which highlights the major seasonal role of this vegetation in protecting the soil surface from the impact of raindrops and, consequently, against erosion. The relationship between KE and mean intensity of R and TF is best expressed as a function of time (J m−2 h−1), by a linear model (r2 > 0.98 – p-value = 0.000). The Wischmeier and Smith-WS model for KE and EI30 was recalibrated for the semiarid region, underestimating KE of open field rainfall by 2% and overestimated TF KE by 1%, against underestimations of 24% and 20% of the original model for R and TF, respectively. The results presented here contribute to understanding the role of dry forests in attenuating the erosivity potential of the rainfall in semiarid environments, as well as to improving the capacity on predicting rainfall and throughfall erosivity under such conditions.

Museomics reveal origins of East African Pleophylla forest chafers and Miocene forest connectivity

Here we present a nearly complete species-level phylogeny including 23 of the 25 known species of the forest-dwelling herbivorous scarab chafer beetle genus Pleophylla (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericinae), based on the analysis of 950 nuclear genes (metazoan-level universal single-copy orthologs; mzl-USCOs). DNA sequences were obtained from freshly collected, ethanol-preserved samples and from dried museum specimens by target enrichment or genome shotgun sequencing. Alignment completeness of mzl-USCOs newly obtained here by target DNA enrichment of ethanol samples were very heterogenous and lower (29–62 %) than in Dietz et al. (2023a), while that of sequences recovered from dried samples was even lower (∼19 %). Alignment completeness of the sequences obtained from low coverage shotgun sequencing was highest (∼92 %), although the average coverage was much lower than for the target enrichment samples. We used the resulting phylogeny to reconstruct the historical biogeography of the group. To estimate a time-calibrated tree, we combined the mzl-USCO data of Pleophylla with a nucleotide alignment from an available transcriptomic dataset of Scarabaeoidea and used two different sets of secondary calibration points. Despite the problems associated with the capture rate of mzl-USCO sequences from museum specimens, we were able to infer a well-resolved phylogeny of the genus Pleophylla that also provided reliable estimates of the phylogenetic position of species for which we had little sequence data. Our study clearly identified South Africa as the geographic origin of Pleophylla. Timing and biogeographic history confirm a persistent fragmentation of forests since the Eocene. The occurrence of only one long-distance dispersal event from southern Africa to the Eastern African Arc even during the Miocene highlights the limited dispersal possibilities for these forest-adapted chafers, which do not seem to have had important northerly range expansions along hypothetical forest corridors during the Pleistocene.

Recording potential predators of herpetofauna in southern Mexico using camera traps and realistic models

ABSTRACT Knowledge of biotic predator–prey interactions is essential for understanding the role of species in the food web; however, information on these interactions is scarce for most species. Our aim in this study was to gather information on the potential predators of two species of herpetofauna abundant in the rainforest they inhabit, the frog Craugastor loki and the snake Ninia sebae. For this, realistic models of the two species were placed, and monitored using camera traps, in 13 sites located in a forest fragment belonging to a private protected natural area in southern Veracruz in three seasons (dry, rainy and windy) in 2019. In addition, the temporality and seasonality of the events and some behaviours of the potential predators are described. The recorded events were classified into four categories: presence, interest, contact and aggression. For C. loki, 159 events of appearances of potential predators were identified (32 with interaction: 18 events of interest, 2 contact and 12 aggressions). The aggressions were carried out by the mammals Didelphis marsupialis and Peromyscus sp. In the case of N. sebae, 201 appearances of potential predators were identified (75 with interaction: 36 events of interest, 7 contact and 32 aggressions). The aggressions were carried out by 10 species (seven birds and three mammals). Bird predation events towards models of both species occurred during daytime while the attacks by mammals occurred at night. Agonistic behaviours included pecking, biting and urine marking, previously unknown. Events of each category were recorded every season. Our results indicate that C. loki and N. sebae may have more predators than were previously known, and suggest that these species can be an important food resource for different species of birds and mammals in the environments where they live.

Spatio-temporal dynamic of forest cover distribution in Omo-Shasha-Oluwa Tropical Forest Complex, Nigeria, (2014 – 2022)

: Forest Reserves (FRs) constitute a significant portion of the forested lands within protected areas, and their conservation is essential for Nigeria to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our study conducted an analysis of the dynamics of forested lands in the study area to evaluate and rank management performance over the period of 2014-2022. The forest bloc in OSO witnessed an expansion by 1.39% (3,929.67 ha) from 27.73% to 29.12% forest cover in 2014 and 2022, respectively. Forest fragments declined from 16 to 10 units for the forest bloc (>201.1 ha) with a proportionate increase in the Largest Patch Index (LPI) from 5,815.53 ha to 39,234.15 ha, in the period 2014 -2022, respectively. Omo, Ago-Owu, Ife and Shasha FRs all witnessed negative changes in the percent forest cover representing a decline of about -0.43% (529.52 ha), -37.62% (9028.8 ha), -8.54% (1217.43 ha) and -0.29% (89.55 ha), respectively. Oluwa FR had an increase in the forest cover by 17.64% or 14,596.38 ha in the period 2014 - 2022. The forest cover retention rates in the period 2014 – 2022, ranks Oluwa FR ahead of other FRs in terms of Protected Area (PA) management efficiency. The results highlight the existence of a relatively better and effective forest management system in the reserve. Landsat data are capable of providing near real-time forest cover information that can be integrated into existing tracking tools for periodically gauging management efficiency and performances across the PAs of Nigeria.

Linking changes in landscape structure to insect herbivory in forest edges and interiors of Atlantic Forest remnants.

Human activities have triggered profound changes in natural landscapes, resulting in species loss and disruption of pivotal ecological interactions such as insect herbivory. This antagonistic interaction is affected by complex pathways (e.g., abundance of herbivores and predators, plant chemical defenses, and resource availability), but the knowledge regarding how forest loss and fragmentation affect insect herbivory in human-modified tropical landscapes still remains poorly understood. In this context, we assessed multi-pathways by which changes in landscape structure likely influence insect herbivory in 20 Atlantic forest fragments in Brazil. Using path analysis, we estimated the direct effects of forest cover and forest edge density, and the indirect effect via canopy openness, number of understory plants and phenolic compounds, on leaf damage in understory plants located in the edge and interior of forest fragments. In particular, plants located in forest edges experienced greater leaf damage than interior ones. We observed that landscape edge density exerted a positive and direct effect on leaf damage in plants sampled at the edge of forest fragments. Our findings also indicated that forest loss and increase of edge density led to an increase in the canopy opening in the forest interior, which causes a reduction in the number of understory plants and, consequently, an increase in leaf damage. In addition, we detected that phenolic compounds negatively influence leaf damage in forest interior plants. Given the increasing forest loss in tropical regions, in which forest fragments become stranded in highly deforested, edge-dominated and degraded landscapes, our study highlights the pervasive enhancement in insect herbivory in remaining forest fragments-especially along forest edges and canopy gaps in the forest interior. As a result, increased herbivory is likely to affect forest regeneration and accelerate the ecological meltdown processes in these highly deforested and disturbed anthropogenic landscapes.

Mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) alter activity and spatial cohesion across a continuous forest and forest fragment in Costa Rica.

Habitat loss due to deforestation is a primary threat to global biodiversity. Clearing tropical rainforests for agriculture or development leads to forest fragmentation. Forest fragments contain fewer large trees and provide lower food availability for primates compared to continuous forests. Mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) inhabit fragmented rainforests and may need to alter their activity budgets and spatial cohesion to mitigate competition and conserve energy in fragments where food quality is lower. We compared howler monkey activity and spatial cohesion across a small forest fragment (La Suerte Biological Research Station, LSBRS) and a large, continuous forest (La Selva Research Station) in Costa Rica. We predicted that monkeys at LSBRS would rest more, feed more, travel less, and be less spatially cohesive compared to La Selva to contend with fewer resources in the small fragment. Using instantaneous scan sampling at 2-min intervals during 30-min focal samples, we recorded activity and the number of individuals within 5m of the focal animal. We collected 1505h of data from 2017-2024. Monkey activity and spatial cohesion differed significantly across sites. As predicted, monkeys at LSBRS spent more time feeding than at La Selva, but contrary to our predictions, they rested less and traveled more. The mean number of individuals within 5m was significantly lower at LSBRS compared to La Selva. The ability to modify their activity and spatial cohesion in response to fragmentation provides insight into how primates can contend with fewer resources and higher competition in changing ecosystems worldwide.

Overlooked Bird Extinctions in Semideciduous Atlantic Forests.

The semideciduous forest is a prominent yet highly degraded phytophysiognomy within the Atlantic Forest. Historically, bird species inhabiting these forests occurred throughout central and western São Paulo state, south-eastern Brazil, until the mid-20th century. Many of these species have not been observed again or are nearing extinction within the state's inland forest fragments. This study reviews and compares historical and recent ornithological records, using museum specimens, literature, citizen science and recent field surveys to understand these species' current lack of records. In the early 20th century, extensive deforestation occurred statewide, resulting in the current forest fragments, which are currently in various stages of regeneration, conservation and isolation. Many of these fragments lack the specific habitats some species require, or they have not been recolonised due to insufficient connectivity with other forest fragments where these species still exist (particularly in the eastern Atlantic Forest). The non-detection of forest species in semideciduous forest fragments strongly suggests an unprecedented and largely unnoticed extinction scale. This pattern of defaunation, as predicted 30 years ago, may be prevalent across numerous Semideciduous Atlantic Forests in Brazil.

Effects of habitat fragmentation on ecosystem services and their trade-offs in Southwest China: A multi-perspective analysis

Exploring the relationships between habitat fragmentation on ecosystem services (ESs) is important for ecological conservation and spatial pattern optimisation. However, analyzing the influence of different habitat fragmentation processes on ESs and their trade-offs from a multiple perspective is still relatively lacking. Therefore, taking Southwest (SW) China as an example, this paper evaluated the dynamics and trade-off relationship of four main types of ESs (i.e., carbon storage (CS), grain production (GP), water retention (WR), soil retention (SR)) during 2000–2020, and analyzed the effects of four habitat fragmentation processes (i.e., decreasing habitat area, increasing habitat density, increasing habitat shape complexity and decreasing habitat cohesion) on ESs and their trade-offs by using geographically and temporally weighted regression model. The results showed that ESs showed a deterioration trend during 2000–2020, with GP, WR, CS, SR, and total ecosystem services (TES) declined by 66.45 %, 54.33 %, 41.68 %, 76.25 % and 65.83 %, respectively. The GP-SR, GP-CS and GP-WR pairs exhibited trade-offs, while other ES types pairs exhibited synergies with each other. Increasing habitat density and increasing in habitat shape complexity were the two strongest fragmentation processes influencing ESs and their trade-offs. The effects of various habitat fragmentation processes on ESs and their trade-offs have obvious spatial heterogeneity. With changes in terrain relief, proportion of karst area, habitat quality, and urbanization level, the association of habitat fragmentation-ESs and habitat fragmentation-ESs trade-offs existed different sensitivities. The results can provide effective guidance for landscape planning and ecosystem management in the SW.

Vertical Stratification of Butterfly Assemblages Persists in Highly Disturbed Forest Fragments of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Vertical stratification is a property of forest habitats related to the differential distribution of organisms according to the variation in the conditions, from the understory to the canopy. Here, we aimed to test whether butterfly assemblages from highly disturbed forests maintain the pattern of vertical stratification. We hypothesized that degraded forests would not exhibit vertical stratification due to the low variation in the microhabitat conditions along the vertical gradient, resulting from the canopy openness. To test this, we sampled fruit-feeding butterflies with bait traps, alternately disposed between the understory and canopy of three secondary forest fragments in a very fragmented Atlantic Forest landscape, for one year. We found that the vertical strata differed in terms of species composition, with a high contribution by the nestedness component on the beta diversity spatial variation. The understory assemblages had a higher abundance and were more diverse than the upper stratum. We demonstrated that vertical stratification is maintained even in disturbed forests; however, this does not necessarily provide support for a good quality and functioning ecosystem in these habitats. The butterfly assemblages recorded here are a subset of the species pool that inhabits conserved remnants. Thus, even being represented by species commonly found in disturbed habitats, the dynamic of vertical stratification of assemblages remains.

Phylogeography and population genetics of the endemic Italian water voles, Arvicola italicus

The genus Arvicola has a wide palearctic distribution and present two ecological forms – terrestrial and aquatic – characterizing the genus. In Europe two species are present: the most widespread, A. amphibius and A. italicus, endemic to Italy. The aim of the study was to describe the genetic structure and variability in A. italicus and the genetic identity of populations in northeast Italy, an area of biogeographic importance as contact zone for small mammal species.Thirty-six Italian water voles, displaced in population from south to north of Italy, were analyzed by two mitochondrial markers and 8 autosomal microsatellite loci. The phylogenetic analysis on the genus confirmed the presence of major groups mostly corresponding to the species and clades already described. About the Italian specimens, the individuals from one population in northeastern Italy resulted included in A. amphibius revealing the presence of this species in Italy and, in consequence, the possible presence of a putative contact zone between A. italicus and A. amphibius in the northeast. The phylogeny includes a second population from northeast Italy within A. amphibius, but in basal position and with a low support. The values of divergence of this lineage from A. italicus and A. amphibius lie on the threshold between intraspecific and interspecific divergence. Conversely, microsatellite data support a clear distinction between A. amphibius and A. italicus and includes the ambiguous mitochondrial lineage in this latter species. Furthermore, this northeastern population shows evidence of admixture of nuclear loci with the southcentral A. italicus populations, supporting the attribution of these specimens to A. italicus. This pattern could suggest that A. italicus in northeast Italy retained an ancestral haplotype and undergone a long period of isolation respect to the southern populations, without genetic exchange until recent times. Within A. italicus, the admixture shows northern population as the most differentiated showing limited evidence of admixture with the most diverse southcentral. The intraspecific diversity decreases from south to north as expected for an endemic small mammal in Italy. Finally, the low genetic diversity observed in the northern population can be challenging for a species as Arvicola living in fragmented habitats and susceptible to habitat loss; consequently, became important identifying suitable conservation measures for this barely known endemic small mammal.

The moon's influence on the activity of tropical forest mammals.

Changes in lunar illumination alter the balance of risks and opportunities for animals, influencing activity patterns and species interactions. We examined if and how terrestrial mammals respond to the lunar cycle in some of the darkest places: the floors of tropical forests. We analysed long-term camera trapping data on 86 mammal species from 17 protected forests on three continents. Conservative categorization of activity during the night revealed pronounced avoidance of moonlight (lunar phobia) in 12 species, compared with pronounced attraction to moonlight (lunar philia) in only three species. However, half of all species in our study responded to lunar phases, either changing how nocturnal they were, altering their overall level of activity, or both. Avoidance of full moon was more common, exhibited by 30% of all species compared with 20% of species that exhibited attraction. Nocturnal species, especially rodents, were over-represented among species that avoided full moon. Artiodactyla were more prominent among species attracted to full moon. Our findings indicate that lunar phases influence animal behaviour even beneath the forest canopy. Such impacts may be exacerbated in degraded and fragmented forests. Our study offers a baseline representing relatively intact and well-protected contexts together with an intuitive approach for detecting activity shifts in response to environmental change.

Effects of sown and spontaneous inter-row vegetation on weeds and beneficial arthropods in vineyards

The intensification of crop management has resulted in a decline of biodiversity in the last decades, in particular through habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation. Semi-natural habitats within agricultural landscapes such as hedges, grasslands or herbaceous field margins, provide resources and refuge to beneficial arthropods. In vineyards, extensively used inter-row vegetation may be functionally equivalent to such semi-natural habitats and sowing of plant species rich in floral resources may improve habitat functions. In this study, three types of vineyard inter-row vegetation treatments were compared in 15 vineyards of South-eastern France: (1) sowing a high-diversity seed mixture (HD) with a high number of nectariferous plant species, (2) spontaneous vegetation, and (3) tilled inter-rows. We monitored the inter-row vegetation including problematic weeds, the abundance of beneficial arthropods, and the predation of sentinel prey. The invasive weedy grass species Cynodon dactylon showed a lower cover in HD inter-rows than in spontaneous vegetation, whereas no differences were found for the invasive herb Erigeron sumatrensis. Both weed species were still best controlled in tilled inter-rows. Beneficial arthropods were less abundant in tilled than in spontaneously vegetated and sown inter-rows. Day predation was higher in HD inter-rows than in spontaneous vegetation although no significant differences were found for observed predators. Over all treatments, plant species richness, flower and grass cover had a positive influence on several beneficial arthropod groups. Our results highlight the positive effects of species-rich inter-row vegetation on weed control, beneficial arthropod abundance and predation but also showed that further research is needed to improve the efficiency beyond services already provided by spontaneous vegetation.

Multi-method approach to assessing the floral-visiting insect assemblage of rare, abophilous plant Baccharis vanessae in Southern California.

Insects are the major pollination vectors for angiosperms, and insects native to a given habitat can play an irreplaceable ecological role in food webs and plant reproduction. With precipitous declines in insect species over the last decades, it is urgent to document insect assemblages in native plant communities to support conservation efforts. Identifying pollinators and their pollination activity is challenging; however, emerging technological methods are providing new monitoring capabilities. In this study, we compare the accuracy of two different methods of monitoring to assess the flower-visiting insect assemblage and likely pollinators of Encinitas baccharis (Baccharis vanessae): focal observations and video recordings from camera traps. B. vanessae is a rare, endemic species found in Coastal Sage Scrub communities in San Diego County. This federally listed species is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, which may also be affecting the availability of its insect pollinators. Results indicate that B. vanessae supports and is supported by a variety of flower-visiting insect groups. The diversity of insect visitors at male and female plants were similar across all diversity measurements. The insect vectors identified were as expected given B. vanessae pollination syndrome. This syndrome also aligns with wind as a pollination vector, providing evidence of ambophily. While focal observations underreported insect activity by approximately half, the proportions of common diurnal visitors were similar with both methods. Camera traps were unable to provide sufficient detail to discern visually similar groups, but were able to record nocturnal insect activity, which was dominated by moths (Lepidoptera, 82%). While collection protocol in this study did not record the time an insect spent interacting with a flower, we anecdotally observed moths spent notably longer periods in contact with flowers than most diurnal insects. This study has implications for effective monitoring and conservation of endangered plant species and their affiliated pollinators.

One Health, One Forest: Harnessing Reclaimed Wood as a Sustainable Solution

Deforestation is a multifaceted and wicked problem characterized by its complexity and resistance to straightforward solutions. The issue is driven by human activities and has severe ecological, socio-economic, and climatic consequences. Between 1990 and 2015, approximately 129 million hectares of forest were lost globally, a trend contributing to biodiversity loss, increased carbon dioxide emissions, and climate change. In Canada, deforestation due to logging significantly impacts the boreal forests, with consequences such as habitat fragmentation affecting species like the threatened boreal caribou. The Canadian logging industry aims to provide essential raw materials while fostering economic growth and employment, supplying critical resources for sawmills, planing mills, shingle mills, and pulp and paper industries. Despite economic benefits, logging, particularly clearcutting, disrupts natural forest regeneration, soil composition, and water cycles, leading to long-term ecological consequences. The One Health approach, integrating human, non-human animal, and environmental health, is proposed to address this issue sustainably. Actions like those by Forests Ontario and Evergreen focus on reforestation and urban greening, while companies like Consolidated Pallet Co. promote wood recycling. This action plan showcases the potential for community-driven solutions to reduce environmental footprints, enhance sustainability, and foster economic and social well-being.

Genetic study of an isolated population of adders Vipera berus founded by historic translocation: implications for conservation

Adder Vipera berus populations in Great Britain have undergone substantial declines in recent decades. Isolation due to habitat fragmentation particularly threatens the demographic and genetic health of small populations. Despite the potential benefit of population supplementation in the conservation management of affected populations, there are currently no consensus guidelines for conservation-motivated translocations of this species. Translocations of adders for ecological mitigation of land development are more frequently undertaken, although these are typically poorly documented and insufficiently monitored, representing a wasted opportunity for strategic learning and improvements. We studied an isolated adder population on a protected site in eastern England, founded in 1999 by the translocation of adders from a development site. With known numbers, age and sex of released individuals, this represented an opportunity to improve our understanding of the genetic outcome of a newly created population. Although apparently thriving despite a low founder number, the finding in 2015 of a stillborn clutch of adders raised the possibility of inbreeding in the population. We sampled adders from the translocated population in 2017, and two individuals from the donor site in 2018. Although we found no increase in homozygosity, relatedness and maximum likelihood sibship analysis revealed high levels of consanguinity, especially within the subgroup of adults. Demographic modelling with Approximate Bayesian Computation supported the known origin of the population, but also a subsequent, undocumented adder release to the site, accounting for the observed healthy proportion of young adders with lower levels of consanguinity. Despite the protected habitat site, the population remains isolated, and thus demographically and genetically vulnerable. We highlight the importance of careful post-translocation monitoring including targeted genetic analyses. Strategic data gathering coupled with careful management of translocations, whether for ecological mitigation or conservation rescue, could support significant improvements to the conservation management of this species, including reintroduction initiatives. Keywords: relatedness, inbreeding, stillbirth, foundation bottleneck, population supplementation

GIS and remote sensing-based wildlife habitat suitability analysis for mountain nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni) species mapping at Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

Ethiopia's Bale Mountains National Park protects the continent's largest remaining alpine environments. This park was first suggested in 1973 to safeguard its great biodiversity, including the endangered Mountain Nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni) and Red Foxes. Despite these conservation measures, the lack of infrastructure and the enormous area projected have resulted in significant wildlife habitat fragmentation. The purpose of this study is to analyse the habitat appropriateness of the Mountain Nyala in Bale Mountains National Park using GIS and remote sensing technologies in order to inform conservation efforts and assist park managers in making decisions. To identify potential habitats for the Mountain Nyala, the study employed GIS spatial analyst techniques such as the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and Landsat 9 (OLI/TIRS) data, as well as key environmental factors such as vegetation types, soil types, topographic factors (elevation and slope), climate factors (temperature), and proximity factors (distance to settlements, roads, and rivers). The Weights of these factors was calculated using IDRISI32 Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) with the pair-wise comparison method. These weighted factor maps were then integrated through weighted overlay analysis to model wildlife habitat suitability. The analysis revealed five classes of habitat suitability; of the total land area studied, 1326.7 km2 (60%) was deemed suitable for the Mountain Nyala while 881.3 km2 (40%) was unsuitable. Specifically, 327.4 km2 (15%) was classified as highly suitable, 240.7 km2 (11%) as moderately suitable, 758.6 km2 (34%) as marginally suitable, 352.4 km2 (16%) as currently not suitable, and 528.9 km2 (24%) as permanently not suitable. The majority of suitable habitats are concentrated in the northern part of the park, along the western border, and in the Harrena forest area. This study provides vital insights into habitat suitability that are crucial for the conservation of the Mountain Nyala and the overall management of the park.

Machine learning algorithms for the evaluation of risk by tick-borne pathogens in Europe

Background Tick-borne pathogens pose a major threat to human health worldwide. Understanding the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases to reduce their impact on human health requires models covering large geographic areas and considering both the abiotic traits that affect tick presence, as well as the vertebrates used as hosts, vegetation, and land use. Herein, we integrated the public information available for Europe regarding the variables that may affect habitat suitability for ticks and hosts and tested five machine learning algorithms (MLA) for predicting the distribution of four prominent tick species across Europe. Materials and methods A grid of cells 20 km in diameter was prepared to cover the entire territory, containing data on vegetation, points of water, habitat fragmentation, forest density, grass extension, or imperviousness, with information on temperature and water deficit. The distribution of the hosts (162 species) was modelled and included in the dataset. We used five MLA, namely, Random Forest, Neural Networks, Naive Bayes, Gradient Boosting, and AdaBoost, trained with reliable coordinates for Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus, Dermacentor marginatus, and Hyalomma marginatum in Europe. Results Both Random Forest and Gradient Boosting best predicted ticks and host environmental niches. Our results demonstrate that MLA can identify trait-matching combinations of environmental niches. The inclusion of land cover and land use variables has a superior capacity for predicting areas suitable for ticks, compared to classic methods based on the use of climate data alone. Conclusions Flexible MLA-driven models may offer several advantages over traditional models. We anticipate that these results may be extrapolated to other regions and combinations of tick-vertebrates. These results highlight the potential of MLA for inference in ecology and provide a background for the evolution of a completely automatized tool to calculate the seasonality of ticks for early warning systems aimed at preventing tick-borne diseases.

Black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) population status, reasons for decline and potential conservation measures from Western and Central Europe to Fennoscandia: a literature review

The long-term decline of the black grouse population throughout Europe is influenced by many factors that affect populations differently depending on the distribution range, from Central Europe to the Scandinavian countries. Therefore, we analyzed available literature sources to describe the main reasons for the population decline of this species and to suggest conservation measures. In total, 228 pieces of literature from 1955 to 2024 were analyzed for this study. Based on the literature analysis, it is clear that the drivers of population decline differ across the distributional range. In Central Europe, where the population is declining rapidly, habitat loss and forest fragmentation are crucial factors, as is the negative impact of tourism. In Scandinavia, where the population is gradually declining, decreasing breeding success and increasing chick mortality rates are generally considered the main negative factors. However, these factors also affect black grouse populations in Central Europe. It is crucial to acknowledge that a significant proportion of the contributing factors, such as predation and habitat loss, can be attributed to human activities. Therefore, it is necessary to emphasize that environmental protection should work hand in hand with wildlife managers to improve the situation.

The Role of Environmental NGOs (ENGOs) in Deforestation Issues in Endau-Rompin, 1970-2000

Tropical Rainforests in Peninsular Malaysia have a very important role in social, economic, and ecological development locally and transnationally. During the British colonial period, the forests in Peninsular Malaysia were heavily exploited until the idea of conservation came into existence to avoid the depletion of forest resources in the future. The colonial government subsequently established the Forestry Department by designating certain areas as forest reserves. However, after Independence, these forest areas continued to remain under threat to the extent that it has resulted in a decline in forest cover in addition to damage, fragmentation, and degradation of forests in favour of government policies that prioritized economic development. The rush for economic growth has created a conflict between forest stakeholders, particularly the state government and environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs). The objective of this paper is to present the role of ENGOs related to issues in deforestation and forest protection efforts within Endau-Rompin between 1970 where the EndauRompin controversy began until the establishment of Endau-Rompin State Park (Pahang) in 2000. This study used a qualitative approach, that is primary sources such as Parliamentary Hansard and newspapers, and secondary sources such as books and journal articles. In addition, field research was carried out through the observation of forest-related activities organized by several ENGOs. The findings of the study showed that one of the most critical roles of ENGOs in dealing with the issue of deforestation is to prevent activities that damage the forest, especially legal activities that involve decisions made by the state government. The involvement and role of ENGOs can only delay or prolong the process of losing forest cover. This happens because the state government has authority over the land (forest) matters according to the Federal Constitution which cannot be disputed from a legal point of view. The efforts to save the forest can only depend on the political will on whether the state government wants to address or ignore the concerns voiced by ENGOs in issues related to deforestation.