Global Conservation Concern Research Articles

Protected and Unprotected Areas as Refuges for Bird Conservation in Southeastern Coahuila, Mexico

Information gaps about the distribution of species hamper the evaluation of conservation status and decisions on biodiversity conservation, affecting areas with high species richness and endemism to a greater extent. In this context, carrying out biological inventories in protected and unprotected areas is an important tool to fill these gaps by providing data on the composition, richness, and abundance of species in each locality. The southeastern region of Coahuila (northeast Mexico) is a region where biodiversity research is required, as anthropogenic activities pose a serious threat to the avian diversity of this region. The present study aimed to compare the capacity of protected and unprotected areas to support the richness, abundance, and composition of bird species, as well as providing a list of bird species from eight areas located in this region. The point count method was conducted at the sites, and one-way ANOVA was used to determine the effect of area type on species richness and abundance. Based on our field observations, literature review, and digital databases, the avifauna of these eight areas includes 388 species in 63 families. Of these, 5 species are endemic to Mexico, 6 species are of global conservation concern, and 35 species are of regional conservation concern. The species richness found in this study supports the importance of protected and unprotected areas in southeastern Coahuila. The results of our study highlight the need for further assessment to conserve the avian community, especially considering the increasing threats of anthropogenic disturbance, as well as additional studies that will allow for better characterization of the avifauna of the region. This will help to ensure the conservation of the birds currently threatened by strong anthropic pressure due to the conversion of semiarid ecosystems to agricultural and livestock areas as well as increasing urbanization.

Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) persists in tissues of asymptomatic wild Crimson Rosellas

Infectious diseases can drive populations and species to extinction. Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) is a circovirus of global conservation concern that can infect all Psittaciformes and some other species. Yet some parrot species, such as Crimson rosellas (Platycercus elegans), can live successfully with high BFDV prevalence (>40%) with no clinical signs reported in infected individuals. We assessed BFDV load in 10-12 tissues per bird, from n = 66 P. elegans, to reveal tissue tropism and BFDV persistence in tissues. Here we show that in 94% of individuals, BFDV was detected in one or more tissues. While BFDV replicated to high levels in subadults, in adults (some confirmed seropositive) the virus persisted in various tissues at much lower levels. Our findings reveal that BFDV is much more common in wild P. elegans than previously thought and suggest that current screening practices (mostly on blood) may substantially underestimate BFDV infection estimates, with implications for biosecurity and conservation programs globally.

Rethinking livestock encroachment at a protected area boundary

The presence of livestock inside protected areas, or "livestock encroachment," is a global conservation concern because livestock is broadly thought to negatively affect wildlife. The Maasai Mara National Reserve (MMNR), Kenya, exemplifies this tension as livestock is believed to have resulted in the declining wildlife populations, contributing to the strict and sometimes violent exclusion measures targeting Maasai pastoralists. However, research embedded in the real-world setting that draws insights from the social-ecological contexts is lacking. In this study, we conducted 19 mo of ecological monitoring covering 60 sites in MMNR and found that cattle presence inside the reserve did not significantly impact most co-occurring wild herbivores at the current intensity. Using the Hierarchical Modeling of Species Communities and Gaussian copula graphic models, we showed that cattle had no direct associations-neither negative nor positive-with nearly all wild herbivores despite frequently sharing the same space. Moreover, we did not detect resource degradation correlated with cattle presence near the MMNR boundary. Given the colonial legacy and land use history of Mara, entering MMNR becomes the only viable option for many herders. These results corroborate the emerging perspective that the ecological impacts of extensively herded livestock on wildlife might be more nuanced than previously thought. To effectively balance the needs of people, livestock, and wildlife, the current rigid livestock exclusion measures need to be reassessed to holistically consider herbivore ecology, local land use history, and modern politics of protected area management.

Feathers and faith: Sacred groves of semi-arid landscapes hold distinct avian richness and composition in Udaipur district, Rajasthan, India

Sacred groves have long been recognised for their critical role in biodiversity conservation, but research on their importance in avian conservation is limited. We conducted a comprehensive assessment of bird diversity, richness, and abundance within sacred groves and their surrounding areas in the semi-arid landscape of Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. We made 120 point counts (60 sacred groves and 60 random points) to record birds from March 2023 to July 2023. Our results revealed a greater number of bird species (n = 114) within sacred groves than random points (n = 100), including several species of global conservation concern. The species diversity remained consistent, while variations in species richness and abundance was observed. Moreover, we found that the overall composition of birds’ feeding guilds was similar in both groups. We observed noteworthy differences in the abundance of frugivores, granivores, insectivores, and omnivores. Species and guild-level abundance exhibited an even distribution. Species richness in both type of sites predominantly attributed to species turnover. Feeding guilds and bird species had varying associations to environmental variables. Our findings recommend the immediate protection of these sacred areas for bird conservation.

Tourist Values and Well-Being in Rural Tourism: Insights from Biodiversity Protection and Rational Automobile Use in Al-Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia

In response to the escalating significance of sustainable tourism and the growing global concern for environmental conservation, the current study sought to investigate the intricate dynamics of two pro-environmental behaviors (biodiversity protection and rational car use), personal values (altruistic, biospheric, and egoistic), farm tourists’ well-being, and environmental and activity attachment among farm tourists in the Al-Ahsa region of Saudi Arabia. Employing an online survey, our methodology involved partial least structural equation modeling to unravel the complex relationships among these variables. Based on responses retrieved from 309 farm tourists, results revealed that biodiversity protection significantly influenced altruistic values and the well-being of farm tourists. Additionally, rational automobile use exerted positive impacts on both altruistic and biospheric values. These results underscore the intricate dynamics shaping tourists’ attitudes and experiences in the Al-Ahsa region. The study contributes to the broader understanding of sustainable tourism practices, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions. The positive associations identified highlight the potential for farm tourism experiences to enhance both pro-environmental values and the well-being of tourists, thus offering valuable insights for future research and sustainable tourism initiatives.

The transcriptome assembly of the European freshwater mussel Unio elongatulus C. Pfeiffer, 1825

Freshwater mussels of the order Unionida are a global conservation concern. Species of this group are strictly freshwater, sessile, slow-growing animals and, extremely sensitive to environmental changes. Human-mediated changes in freshwater habitats are imposing enormous pressure on the survival of freshwater mussels. Although a few flagship species are protected in Europe, other highly imperilled species receive much less attention. Moreover, knowledge about biology, ecology, and evolution and proper conservation assessments of many European species are still sparse. This knowledge gap is further aggravated by the lack of genomic resources available, which are key tools for conservation. Here we present the transcriptome assembly of Unio elongatulus C. Pfeiffer, 1825, one of the least studied European freshwater mussels. Using the individual sequencing outputs from eight physiologically representative mussel tissues, we provide an annotated panel of tissue-specific Relative Gene Expression profiles. These resources are pivotal to studying the species’ biological and ecological features, as well as helping to understand its vulnerability to current and future threats.

Illuminating patterns of firefly abundance using citizen science data and machine learning models

As insect populations decline in many regions, conservation biologists are increasingly tasked with identifying factors that threaten insect species and developing effective strategies for their conservation. One insect group of global conservation concern are fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). Although quantitative data on firefly populations are lacking for most species, anecdotal reports suggest that some firefly populations have declined in recent decades. Researchers have hypothesized that North American firefly populations are most threatened by habitat loss, pesticide use, and light pollution, but the importance of these factors in shaping firefly populations has not been rigorously examined at broad spatial scales. Using data from >24,000 surveys (spanning 2008–16) from the citizen science program Firefly Watch, we trained machine learning models to evaluate the relative importance of a variety of factors on bioluminescent firefly populations: pesticides, artificial lights at night, land cover, soil/topography, short-term weather, and long-term climate. Our analyses revealed that firefly abundance was driven by complex interactions among soil conditions (e.g., percent sand composition), climate/weather (e.g., growing degree days), and land cover characteristics (e.g., percent agriculture and impervious cover). Given the significant impact that climactic and weather conditions have on firefly abundance, there is a strong likelihood that firefly populations will be influenced by climate change, with some regions becoming higher quality and supporting larger firefly populations, and others potentially losing populations altogether. Collectively, our results support hypotheses related to factors threatening firefly populations, especially habitat loss, and suggest that climate change may pose a greater threat than appreciated in previous assessments. Thus, future conservation of North American firefly populations will depend upon 1) consistent and continued monitoring of populations via programs like Firefly Watch, 2) efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change, and 3) insect-friendly conservation practices.

Invasion by Cedrela odorata threatens long distance migration of Galapagos tortoises.

Invasive alien species are among the most pervasive threats to biodiversity. Invasive species can cause catastrophic reductions in populations of native and endemic species and the collapse of ecosystem function. A second major global conservation concern is the extirpation of large-bodied mobile animals, including long-distance migrants, which often have keystone ecological roles over extensive spatial extents. Here, we report on a potentially catastrophic synergy between these phenomena that threatens the endemic biota of the Galapagos Archipelago. We used GPS telemetry to track 140 migratory journeys by 25 Western Santa Cruz Island Galapagos tortoises. We plotted the spatial interaction between tortoise migrations and recently established non-native forest dominated by the invasive tree Cedrela odorata (Cedrela forest). We qualified (a) the proportion of migratory journeys that traversed Cedrela forest, and (b) the probability that this observed pattern occurred by chance. Tortoise migrations were overwhelmingly restricted to small corridors between Cedrela forest blocks, indicating clear avoidance of those blocks. Just eight of 140 migrations traversed extensive Cedrela stands. Tortoises avoid Cedrela forest during their migrations. Further expansion of Cedrela forest threatens long-distance migration and population viability of critically endangered Galapagos tortoises. Applied research to determine effective management solutions to mitigate Cedrela invasion is a high priority.

Variation in avian responses to rice intensification in the central plains of Thailand guides conservation opportunities

Multiple studies indicate that grassland and farmland birds are declining in temperate zones, but few have been conducted in the tropics. Here we examined effects of rice intensification on landbird communities and estimated habitat-specific densities of eight songbird species of national and/or global conservation concern in the central plains of Thailand where rice is intensively cultivated often with triple annual rice crops. From 1410 point-counts, we observed 236 species including 26 landbirds of conservation concern. The landbird species community was significantly associated with different intensification levels, with eleven species of concern primarily found in single-cropped fields. Three of the eight focal species (i.e., Horsfield's bushlark Mirafra javanica, Oriental skylark Alauda gulgula, and striated grassbird Megalurus palustris) had lower densities with increased intensification. Natural habitat features (i.e., field margins, reedbeds, and scattered trees) positively influenced densities of all species, even those unaffected by intensification. Densities of Manchurian reed warbler Acrocephalus tangorum, streaked weaver Ploceus manyar, and Asian golden weaver P. hypoxanthus were positively correlated with increases in field margins and reedbeds. Plain-backed sparrow Passer flaveolus density was positively related to presence of scattered trees. Long-tailed shrike Lanius schach density appeared to have a positive correlation with field margins and was significantly negatively correlated with urbanization. Our findings underscore the necessity of adopting policies that encourage wildlife-friendly land management in Southeast Asia, reducing intensification of agricultural landscapes that support species of conservation concern and preserving natural habitat features. Long-term population monitoring is also needed to better understand trends and judge management efficacy.

Species Diversity and Relative Abundance of Birds of Prey in North Western Region of Nigeria

The study aimed to determine the abundance of birds of prey in in North Western Region of Nigeria, carried out between September, 2022 and January 2023, with a view to providing information in a bid to establish a baseline for conservation for this group of birds. Road transect line method was used to collect data on bird diversity, abundance and distribution and each site was surveyed twice every month during the study period. Bird observation was carried out twice daily; morning between 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. and evening between 4:00 to 6:30p.m. The species relative abundance index was used to find the relative abundance in the region, whereas Shannon- Wiener diversity index (H′) was used to determine species diversity. A total of thirty two (32) species of 3 families were recorded including species of global conservation concern during this study, indicating that the North western region of Nigeria is an important breeding, roosting, and feeding habitat for several raptor species. The findings from this study provide evidence that the areas can serve as a refuge for birds. Therefore, conservation efforts should as well be directed towards making communities view human occupied areas as a habitat for birds, and not as a lost habitat.

Use of biodegradable materials to reduce marine plastic pollution in small scale coastal longline fisheries

Pollution from lost, abandoned, or discarded fishing gear is recognized as a global nature conservation concern. Longlining with hooks is a commonly applied fishing method in fisheries around the world. The longline gear consists of a mainline with a number of baited hooks that are attached to it by thinner twine (snoods) which are often made of plastic material such as polyamide (nylon) or polyester that degrades very slowly in the marine environment. During longline fishing, some of the snoods are lost at sea contributing to marine macro- and micro-plastic pollution. The extent of the snood loss is often unknown and can vary between different longline fisheries and fishing grounds. In this study, we estimated and compared the risk for the biodegradable and nylon snood loss in an Adriatic small scale longline fishery. Further, we compared the catch composition and estimated catch efficiency between biodegradable and nylon snoods for capture of common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus), two-banded seabream (Diplodus vulgaris) and axillary seabream (Pagellus acarne). The risk for nylon snood loss in this longline fishery (3 % for each snood for each deployment), demonstrate that the use of more environmentally friendly materials is necessary for nature conservation. No significant differences between the performance of the two materials regarding snood loss rate, hook loss rate, catch efficiency and catch composition were found during short-term usage in the fishery. Based on these results, future long-term testing is encouraged to investigate whether this promising performance of the biodegradable snood material is persistent over longer fishing periods.

Species Diversity and Relative Abundance of Birds of Prey in North Western Region of Nigeria

The study aimed to determine the abundance of birds of prey in in North Western Region of Nigeria, carried out between September, 2022 and January 2023, with a view to providing information in a bid to establish a baseline for conservation for this group of birds. Road transect line method was used to collect data on bird diversity, abundance and distribution and each site was surveyed twice every month during the study period. Bird observation was carried out twice daily; morning between 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. and evening between 4:00 to 6:30p.m. The species relative abundance index was used to find the relative abundance in the region, whereas Shannon- Wiener diversity index (H′) was used to determine species diversity. A total of thirty two (32) species of 3 families were recorded including species of global conservation concern during this study, indicating that the North western region of Nigeria is an important breeding, roosting, and feeding habitat for several raptor species. The findings from this study provide evidence that the areas can serve as a refuge for birds. Therefore, conservation efforts should as well be directed towards making communities view human occupied areas as a habitat for birds, and not as a lost habitat.

Editorial for special issue on “Remote sensing in identifying degraded natural ecosystems and assessing the impact of ecological restorations”

The increasing degradation of natural ecosystems due to human activities has led to a global concern for conservation and restoration efforts. The large variety of ecosystems, theories, frameworks, models, and analysis methods, have made the evaluation of damaged natural ecosystems and their restoration effects the subject of much scientific investigation. Remote sensing techniques have proven to be valuable tools for monitoring and assessing the impact of ecological restorations. This special issue focuses on the use of remote sensing to identify degraded natural ecosystems and to assess the impact of ecological restorations.

Human dimensions of grizzly bear conservation: The social factors underlying satisfaction and coexistence beliefs in Montana, USA

AbstractCoexistence between large carnivores and humans is a global conservation concern. Montana (USA) is home to recovering grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) populations and increasing human–grizzly interactions. In 2019, we administered a survey of Montanans to investigate factors influencing normative beliefs about grizzly bear population sizes and quantify the relationship between these beliefs and satisfaction with grizzly management in the state. Using a linear regression (r2 = .61), we found that residents with positive attitudes and emotional dispositions toward grizzlies or who trusted the agency were more likely to believe grizzly populations were too low. Residents who believed hunting should be used to manage conflict, were themselves hunters, had vicarious wildlife experience with property damage, believed grizzly populations were expanding, or were older were more likely to believe populations were too high. We found a negative quadratic relationship between normative grizzly bear population size beliefs and satisfaction with management, suggesting an optimal “Goldilocks” zone where coexistence is most possible. In practice, if observed Goldilocks zones are incompatible with population numbers required to meet conservation goals, considering factors influencing these beliefs may help bolster acceptance of larger population sizes.

Prioritizing nationally endemic species for conservation

AbstractOver 90% of recent human‐caused extinctions are wild species known from only one nation. These nationally endemic species represent one of the greatest global conservation responsibilities for any country. To meet this responsibility, we must first identify nationally endemic species. We developed the first comprehensive inventory of the 308 plant, animal, and fungi species and infraspecies only found in Canada, of which approximately 90% are of global conservation concern. Our analysis also identified 27 spatial concentrations of endemic species, many of which are associated with glacial refugia, islands, coasts, and unique habitats. Nationally endemic species have not been the primary focus of endangered species conservation in Canada and other countries. Our analysis provides a case study on how national inventories of endemic species can be developed and applied to support species assessments and place‐based conservation. Prioritizing endemic species for conservation can build on sentiments of sense of place and national responsibility to foster public interest. We propose a species conservation framework that highlights the critical role of national endemism in preventing global extinctions. Greater conservation focus on endemic species will support national and international biodiversity conservation targets, including the post‐2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

Overlap between bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) and vessel traffic in the North American Arctic and implications for conservation and management

Collisions between vehicles and wildlife is a global conservation concern, and vessel strikes are a leading cause of serious injury and mortality for baleen whales. Yet vessel strikes have rarely been studied in the Arctic. Vessel traffic is increasing throughout the Arctic as sea ice is declining, leading to increased overlap between vessels and whales. We examined hypothetical vessel strike risk for the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort (BCB) and Eastern Canada-West Greenland (ECWG) populations of bowhead whales during the open-water shipping season. We used satellite telemetry and aerial survey data to calculate monthly relative density of both populations, and satellite vessel tracking data to calculate monthly vessel density and speed. We estimated vessel strike risk by multiplying whale density by vessel density corrected by vessel speed. For the BCB population, the highest relative risk was near Utqiaġvik and Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, USA, and near Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada. For the ECWG population, the highest risk was in the Gulf of Boothia, Cumberland Sound, and near Isabella Bay, Nunavut, Canada. Strike risk was highest in August and September, corresponding with monthly trends in vessel traffic. This study provides important information for focussed monitoring and to minimize/mitigate the threat of vessel strikes to bowhead whales. Although vessel strike risk is presently lower for these populations than for other temperate large cetacean populations, bowhead whale behaviour and projected increases in traffic elevates their risk in the Arctic. Measures to mitigate vessel strike risk to bowhead whales will likely benefit other Arctic marine mammals like beluga and narwhal.

Assessment of raptor species relative abundance in Hadejia Nguru Wetlands, Nigeria

Birds of prey are some of the most threatened vertebrate taxa, and in the last three decades many species have experienced severe population declines or faced extinction. The global loss of raptors per se is worrying, not just because of their charisma and flagship role, but also because reduced abundance of raptors can have cascading effects on ecosystem functioning. Raptor decline may also lead to loss of ecosystem services, sometimes acutely impacting human well-being. Therefore, population distribution, diversity and abundance of birds of prey demand investigation for potential conservation interventions. The study aimed to determine the abundance of birds of prey in Hadejia-Nguru wetlands, carried out in March to August, 2021, with a view to providing information in a bid to establish a baseline for conservation for this group of birds. Transect line method was used for the bird survey. This involved moving slowly along the transect line and recording all birds seen in and around the transect line. The survey was carried out for a period of six (6) months and each site was surveyed twice every month during the study period. Bird observation was carried out twice daily; morning between 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. and evening between 3pm to 6p.m. A pair of binoculars with magnification 7X50 was used for identification of birds visually alongside with field guide “Birds of West Africa” for identification of birds. Relative abundance and t-test were used for data analysis. The total number of birds was calculated as the number of birds seen. Transect line survey method detected a total of 1,562 individual birds of prey that belong to twenty four (24) species of 2 families. Accipitridae with 20 species and Falconidae with 4 species. The most abundant species, Yellow billed kite, black shouldered kite and gabar goshawk comprised 68.5% of all individuals seen in all wetlands in all seasons. Out of the 24 species recorded 16 are resident, 5 Palearctic migrant and 3 intra-African migrant. Four species of global conservation concern were also recorded; the Vulnerable Tawny eagle (Aquila rapax) the near threatened Red-necked falcon (Falco chicquera) and Pallid harrier (Circus macrourus) and the endangered Martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus ). Public awareness should be raised to inform the local populace about the importance of these species to the environment vis-à-vis protecting the man-made structures used by the bird species.

Climate change threatens unique genetic diversity within the Balkan biodiversity hotspot – The case of the endangered stone crayfish

The stone crayfish Austropotamobius torrentium is globally endangered due to anthropogenic pressure on its habitats, climate change and the invasive crayfish species, particularly the signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus . Aiming to guide A. torrentium conservation within the hotspot of its genetic diversity in the western Balkan Peninsula, we combined population genetics and species distribution models (SDMs) to reveal the impact of climate change and the invasive P. leniusculus on A. torrentium diversity. Population genetic analyses based on newly developed microsatellites revealed moderate within-population genetic diversity and high differentiation among populations, reflecting isolated populations with limited gene flow. Alongside strong genetic structuring, we discovered high level of inbreeding coefficient indicating homozygote excess within the majority of populations. The SDMs results predicted substantial reductions of suitable habitats for A. torrentium by 2070; 80 % of its currently suitable habitat is predicted to be lost under high‐warming climate change scenario. Obtained results indicated that 44 % of populations with high and/or unique genetic diversity, including three highly divergent and geographically restricted evolutionary lineages, are located in the areas predicted to become unsuitable in the future, highlighting their vulnerability to extinction. Further, SDMs revealed considerable decrease of future habitat suitability for P. leniusculus , suggesting that climate change represents greater threat to A. torrentium . Our study highlights the importance of conserving remnant A. torrentium populations, among other, through assisted migration and population mixing that could help populations overcome the risks of inbreeding and maladaptation, and thus enabling A. torrentium to withstand the ongoing climate change. • Native freshwater crayfish decline is a global conservation concern. • The first study of Austropotamobius torrentium genetic diversity in its hotspot (Balkan Peninsula). • Climate change poses a higher risk to A. torrentium than invasive crayfish species. • Transboundary conservation actions needed for species long-term preservation. • . Conservation strategies should include assisted migration and population reinforcement.

The first record of an invasive reptile species, Pelomedusa cf. olivacea (Schweigger, 1812) (Pelomedusidae, Testudines), in the wild of South Korea

Invasive species are of global conservation concern. South Korea is also facing the same challenge, especially, due to the growing pet trade. Herein, we report Pelomedusa cf. olivacea (Schweigger, 1812) from the wild in South Korea, where it has been imported as a pet. This is the first record of Pelomedusa in the Asian continent. In October 2019, we found an individual of this species beside Hongje Stream in Seoul. We recommend immediate control measures and strict monitoring of the pet trade to avoid the introduction of more invasive species.

The call of the wild: a challenge to reveal the natural history of birds on the Tibetan plateau

<p indent="0mm">Knowledge on the natural history of organisms is the bedrock upon which ecology and evolutionary biology stand, and contributes to natural conservation, public health and human culture. With an average elevation of more than <sc>4000 m</sc> and a territory of <sc>2500000 km²,</sc> the Tibetan plateau is the highest and largest highland on earth. The extreme environments in the plateau have imposed strong selective pressures on the evolution of organisms’ life histories, leading to the biodiversity hotpots with global conservation concern. Of more than 700 bird species inhabiting the plateau, 90% are unknown with respect to natural history. Without such data, many important scientific and conservative questions cannot be fully understood. Chinese ornithologists are encouraged to full up the knowledge gap.