High Conservation Priority Research Articles

Padrões ecológicos e biológicos de estudos de peixes de riachos da Bacia Piracicaba-Capivari-Jundiaí (Bacia PCJ, SP) avaliados por meio de uma revisão sistemática

Abstract Tropical streams are among the most threatened ecosystems in the world. As such, studies carried out and compiled over spatial and temporal scales can provide useful information to examine patterns of species diversity and threats to their survival. Here we conducted a systematic review of published research on biological and ecological aspects of stream fish fauna found in the Piracicaba-Capivari-Jundiaí Basin, an industrial watershed of São Paulo State. We aimed to detect main patterns, trends and gaps in studies related to species composition, distribution, spatial and temporal scales, as well as in the covered topics. Results were related to main land uses, biomes and Conservation Units. A constant increase in published articles occurred from 2003 until 2016 with an average of 1.8 articles/year. Twenty-six publications were considered for the present study, reporting on fish samples obtained in 67 sites and resulting in 89 species. A high proportion of studies were concentrated in the Corumbataí sub-basin, and rarefaction curves indicated that stream fish richness in the PCJ Basin may be considerably higher than that shown by the actual numbers. Basin studies were unevenly distributed and did do not include such highly preserved areas as the Camanducaia, Jaguari and Jundiaí sub-basins. We emphasize the importance of further surveys in these regions, as well as in high priority conservation areas, which may lead to new insights for developing appropriate conservation strategies for this basin.

Multi-gene insights into the taxonomy and conservation of Tasmania’s galaxiid fishes

Context Galaxiids are a widespread, southern hemisphere, radiation of mostly obligate freshwater fishes. Tasmania houses a diversity of endemic species of Galaxias and Paragalaxias. Of these, many are at risk of extinction, being landlocked, range-restricted and subject to anthropogenic threats, placing a high-conservation priority on the region. Aim Our aim was to synthesise historic and published molecular datasets to provide the sound systematic framework needed to underpin future conservation and taxonomic efforts for Tasmanian galaxiids. Methods Novel and published nuclear (allozyme) and matrilineal (cytb) datasets were generated and integrated for every putative Tasmanian galaxiid species lacking a comparable multi-gene assessment. Key results The Tasmanian galaxiids are phylogenetically diverse, with molecular data generally supporting the accepted taxonomy, but with potential species-level diversity noted within an alpine radiation of the Galaxias truttaceus complex and further support for synonymy of G. niger within G. brevipinnis. Conclusions This study highlights the value of multi-locus studies in both validating species-level taxonomy and resolving taxonomic ambiguities and conservation priorities within Tasmania’s galaxiids. Implications Our integrated genetic analyses provide a framework to underpin more in-depth genomic approaches to assess additional cryptic diversity and conservation planning, such as genetic rescue and ex situ population security.

Low‐elevation warm‐edge Fagus crenata populations in the core of the species range are glacial relicts with high conservation value

AbstractWarm‐edge populations, that is, those usually small and isolated populations at the boundary of species maximum temperature range limit, are of particular scientific and conservation interest. This is especially the case for those that have long been geographically isolated, possibly through multiple glaciations, as they can contribute significantly to species' overall genetic diversity. However, distinguishing between glacial relict and more recently established warm‐edge populations is difficult especially in the absence of a continuous fossil record. In this study, we investigate the origin of anomalously low‐elevation warm‐edge populations of the dominant cool temperate Japanese tree Fagus crenata in the northeast Kanto (NEK) region. We sought to determine whether these populations are glacial relicts or, rather, were established via dispersal in the Holocene using chloroplast and nuclear genetic data, species distribution modeling and comparison with populations in a well‐established glacial refugia (south‐central Kyushu [SCK]) and of mid‐late Holocene age (southern Hokkaido [SH]). Whole chloroplast genome “mining” revealed a similar amount of haplotype diversity in NEK and SCK while there was no chloroplast variation in SH. Populations in NEK, particularly the lowest elevation sites, harbored unique haplotypes providing evidence for their persistence since the Last Glacial Maximum as supported by species distribution models under two of three general circulation models. NEK populations also lacked the genetic signatures of recent expansion that characterize the most northern‐edge populations in SH. We conclude that warm‐edge populations in NEK are most likely relicts of glacial refugia and should be given high priority for conservation.

Amphibian Diversity Associated With High-Elevation Wetlands Within the Cumberland Mountains Physiographic Province

High-elevation wetlands of the Cumberland Mountains physiographic province hold high conservation priority due to their relative rarity, with little knowledge in the literature related to amphibians' use of these high-elevation habitats. Therefore, forest and wildlife managers have few data to use when designing management guidelines for these habitats. We sampled five high-elevation wetlands across Pine and Cumberland mountains along the Virginia-Kentucky border, United States of America to address gaps in knowledge about these habitats and their use by amphibians. We inventoried amphibian diversity at five wetlands using visual encounter and auditory surveys. We used standardized, area-constrained visual encounter surveys that consisted of searches of all available cover objects within a 10 m buffer of the wetland margin to inventory amphibian taxa at each site. We also used automated digital recorders to record auditory call data from anuran (frogs and toads) taxa. We encountered 18 total amphibian species (eight anuran and ten salamander species), recording numerous occurrences of some species, such as Mud Salamanders (Pseudotriton montanus Baird), that have previously been assumed to be absent from high-elevation wetlands in the Appalachian region. Statistical analyses further indicated high disparity in amphibian biodiversity between sites. Our results indicate that these wetlands should be of high conservation concern and should be given priority in regional habitat management efforts.

Diversity and Phylogenetics of Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) from Southern Thailand with the Description of One New Genus and Five New Species-Group Taxa

Southern Thailand represents a region of unique freshwater biodiversity with many endemic taxa, including a number of freshwater mussel species (Bivalvia: Unionidae). In this study, we recognize 13 taxa in the tribes Contradentini, Rectidentini, Pseudodontini (subfamily Gonideinae), and Indochinellini (subfamily Parreysiinae) that inhabit different localities in the Songkhla Lake, Tapi River, and Tha Taphao River basins. Based on the results of morphological and phylogenetic analyses, we discovered among these mussels six taxa new to science, including one genus, three species, and two subspecies. New taxonomic names are introduced here as follows: Songkhlanaiagen. nov.; S. tamodienicagen. & sp. nov.; Sundadontina plugpomenicasp. nov.; Monodontina vondembuschiana tapienicassp. nov.; M. vondembuschiana thasaenicassp. nov. (Pseudodontini); and Trapezoideus thachiadensissp. nov. (Contradentini). These new taxa confirm the high conservation priority of the Southern Thai freshwater mussel fauna.

Prioritizing Water Resources for Conservation in a Land of Water Crisis: The Case of Protected Areas of Iran

This study examines the distribution of water resources in Protected Areas in Iran and their priority for conservation. The results show that most of the water resources are located in the north and northwest of Iran due to favorable climatic conditions, topography, ambient temperature, and annual rainfall levels. Conversely, the lowest amount of water resources are located in the center and southeast of the country. Water resources were prioritized based on expert ratings of indicators to determine their value for conservation. The wetland with the highest priority for conservation is the Anzali Wetland (Gilan province), which is an international Ramsar Wetland. Conversely, Namak Lake (Qom province) was deemed the least important due to its geographical location, biological sensitivity, and conservation status. Protected Areas were found to support more surface water resources and provide space for the largest percentage of water resources, demonstrating their great value for protecting water resources in Iran. However, the level of protection of these critical resources, although located in Protected Areas, was shown to be insufficient. Therefore, appropriate planning and integrated management approaches are urgently needed to protect water resources and aquatic habitats in Protected Areas in Iran to address the current water crisis.

Global habitat suitability modeling reveals insufficient habitat protection for mangrove crabs

Mangrove crabs are important components of mangrove forests however their large scale habitat suitability and conservation received little attention. The Metopograpsus thukuhar/cannicci species complex is a mangrove dwelling species occurs in the Indo-Pacific mangrove forests. Since identifying the complex suitable habitat is critical for its conservation, we modeled global habitat suitability of the complex within marine biogeographic realms and estimated representation of the complex suitable habitats within marine protected areas. We found that the complex’ largest and smallest suitable ranges are located in Central Indo-Pacific and Temperate Southern Africa realms, respectively. Only 12.5% of the complex suitable habitat is protected. The highest proportion of the complex’ protected suitable habitat (22.9%) is located in Western Indo-Pacific realm while the lowest proportion of the complex’ protected suitable habitat (1.38%) is located in Central Indo-Pacific realm. Suitable unprotected habitats of the complex identified in this study have high priority for conservation and should be included in marine protected areas to ensure species conservation. Our results show that species distribution models are practical tools to study marine species distribution across large spatial scales and help marine conservation planning.

Predation of Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825) by Philodryas natteri (Steindachner, 1870) in the Caatinga.

Here, we describe the sighting of Philodryas nattereri preying on a Tropidurus hispidus lizard in Sento-Sé – Bahia, Brazil, located in the central portion of the Caatinga, in a high priority conservation area of the biome. The event was observed in April 2021. This study provides information on the diet of this animal in the Caatinga biome. It thus provides another account of the natural history of snakes, which in itself is a valuable contribution to scientific knowledge since little is known about these animals due to their rarity in nature.

The direct and indirect effects of damming on the Hippopotamus amphibius population abundance and distribution at Bui National Park, Ghana

Landscape changes resulting from human activities have resulted in range restrictions and substantial reductions in population sizes of most animals. The construction of hydroelectric dams has the same effect on species, but the study of their impact on semi-aquatic megafauna species is limited. We examined the response of a Hippopotamus amphibius population to the inundation of their habitat after the construction of a hydroelectric dam in Bui National Park, Ghana. We conducted an abundance and distribution survey of H. amphibius and compared the population size from our results with a pre-dam construction survey to determine changes in the abundance and distribution of the species within the focal area. Furthermore, we conducted a landscape analysis to estimate land cover before and after the dam construction and determined if the changes in land cover were related to the changes in population of H. amphibius. Finally, we conducted selected interviews to understand additional threats to the species perceived by the local population, as indirect effects of the dam construction. Contrary to our original hypothesis on an increase in the abundance of H. amphibius in the medium term (within a decade) through population recovery after the disturbances caused by the construction of the dam, we found lower numbers of H. amphibius after the dam construction, compared to the pre-dam results. The results indicated a reduced abundance from 209 H. amphibius individuals in 2003 to 64 H. amphibius individuals in 2021. Some individuals may have migrated to areas outside the reserve during damming when their habitat was disturbed. The amount of land covered by water increased from 0.41% before damming to 19.01% after damming, which flooded the resting and grazing sites of the H. amphibius. We conclude that the abundance and distribution of H. amphibius significantly and negatively decreased after the construction of the dam at the Bui National Park. We tentatively relate this decrease to the species’ semi aquatic ecology and sensitivity to changes in both the terrestrial and aquatic environment. The activities of human settlement encroachment such as poaching, as well as associated land cover changes, affected the stability of the H. amphibius population. However, as the species can survive in the medium to long term when effective management plans are implemented, we recommend H. amphibius to be given high conservation priorities by enhancing strict laws for habitat protection.

Climate Change and Dispersal Ability Jointly Affects the Future Distribution of Crocodile Lizards.

Simple SummaryClimate change is one of the most significant global challenges we face this century, and all species will likely be affected by it. Climate change may cause organisms to advance their phenology, delay reproduction, shift their ranges northwards, or even reduce their range. Reptiles, as typical ectotherms, are more sensitive to climate change, mainly in the form of range shifts. The crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus Ahl, 1930) belongs to a monophyletic family and genus and is a relict species from the late Quaternary glacial period. Given its unique evolutionary history, it arguably has greater conservation value. The overall population size of this species is decreasing due to habitat destruction and over-exploitation (e.g., traditional medicine, food, and pet trade). This study evaluated the effect of climate change and dispersal capacity on the potential distribution range of crocodile lizards. Temperature and precipitation interact to affect the distribution of crocodile lizards. Historical climate has seen a large expansion in the range of the crocodile lizard. However, in a future global warming scenario, the potential range of crocodile lizards will continue to shrink. The same results were obtained for different migration scenarios. However, to better predict future changes to the distribution range of the crocodile lizard we need more fieldwork and ground truthing. All we can do currently is try to protect the lizard and its habitat to ensure their continued survival.Crocodile lizards (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) are an endangered, ‘living fossil’ reptile from a monophyletic family and therefore, a high priority for conservation. We constructed climatic models to evaluate the potential impact of climate change on the distribution of crocodile lizards for the period 2000 to 2100 and determined the key environmental factors that affect the dispersal of this endangered species. For the construction of climatic models, we used 985 presence-only data points and 6 predictor variables which showed excellent performance (AUC = 0.974). The three top-ranked factors predicting crocodile lizard distribution were precipitation of the wettest month (bio13, 37.1%), precipitation of the coldest quarter (bio19, 17.9%), and temperature seasonality (bio4, 14.3%). Crocodile lizards were, just as they are now, widely distributed in the north of Guangdong Province in China and Quảng Ninh Province in Vietnam at the last glacial maximum (LGM). Since the LGM, there has been an increase in suitable habitats, particularly in east-central Guangxi Province, China. Under future global warming scenarios, the potential habitat for crocodile lizards is expected to decrease significantly in the next 100 years. Under the most optimistic scenario, only 7.35% to 6.54% of suitable habitat will remain, and under the worst climatic scenario, only 8.34% to 0.86% of suitable habitat will remain. Models for no dispersal and limited dispersal showed that all crocodile lizards would lose habitat as temperatures increase. Our work contributes to an increased understanding of the current and future spatial distribution of the species, supporting practical management and conservation plans.

Considering counterfactual scenarios in conservation planning: Perspectives from a biodiverse mining area in the Atlantic Forest

Mining and associated infrastructure have been driving land use changes, affecting important biodiversity values and ecosystems services. To balance these impacts, some mining companies implement biodiversity offsets and conservation actions. By simulating a counterfactual land use scenario, this study quantifies the cumulative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services resulting from land use and land cover change in a biodiverse region in the Atlantic Forest after implementation of a new mine and its offsets. Our results show that conservation actions at the project scale should be planned considering the regional context, which may influence impacts on areas with high conservation priority as well as the ecosystem services budget. The comparison among scenarios reveals that raw materials and carbon storage are the least affected budgets, while fresh water, pollination, and local climate and air quality regulation are most impacted. Areas with high conservation priority could be benefited with increased forest cover in future, whilst the demand for some ecosystem services can be affected. Counterfactual baselines could support conservation targets by prioritizing protection and restoration measures – especially offset planning – for halting pressures on biodiversity and balancing ecosystem services supply and demand.

Soil loss and erosion potential estimation of Jhimruk watershed, Nepal

Soil erosion will have impact in the land productivity, water resource and watershed as a whole. The loss of top soil leads to land degradation and for an agrarian area like Jhimruk which also known as “The rice bowl of Nepal”, it would be a huge consequence on the land productivity. Therefore, it is essential to know the spatial distribution of the areas susceptible to the degradation and assess the erosion potential to plan effective mitigation measures. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model was used in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to estimate the soil loss of the Jhimruk watershed, Lumbini Province, Nepal. This research aimed to calculate the erosional soil loss status of the local governments lying inside the watershed. For this, remote sensing data obtained from various sources were used to generate the factor maps to calculate the soil loss through RUSLE. A 13-year mean annual precipitation data from the 8 meteorological stations in and around the watershed were used. The mean annual soil loss of the watershed was found to be 13.4 tons per hectare per year (t/ha/yr). However, the soil loss was calculated to be as high as 182 t/ha/yr. 68.82% of the total area of the watershed lie under very low erosion class and thus, have low conservation priority. On the other hand 7.73% of the total area of the watershed lie under extremely high erosion class and, thus, have a high conservation priority class. The mean erosion rate from the barren land was found to be highest (23.179 t/ha/yr) followed by agricultural (21.40 t/ha/yr) and forest area had the lowest erosion rate, i.e., 7.90 t/ha/yr.

Ecological niche modeling, niche overlap, and good old Rabinowitz’s rarities applied to the conservation of gymnosperms in a global biodiversity hotspot

ContextBiodiversity hotspots harbor 77% of endemic plant species. Patagonian Temperate Forest (PTF) is a part of a biodiversity hotspot, but over the past centuries, has been over-exploited, fragmented and replaced with exotic species plantations, lately also threatened by climate change.ObjectivesOur aim is to better understand patterns of habitat suitability and niche overlap of nine endemic gymnosperm species, key elements of the PTF, complementing traditional approaches of biodiversity conservation.MethodsUsing R packages and 3016 occurrence data, we deployed ecological niche models (ENM) in MaxEnt via kuenm, and classified species according to Rabinowitz’s types of rarity. We then overlapped their niches calculating Schoener's D index, and considered types of rarity in a spatial ecological context. Finally, we overlay high species’ suitability and protected areas and detected conservation priorities using GapAnalysis.ResultsWe generated simplified ENMs for nine Patagonian gymnosperms and found that most niches overlap, and only one species displayed a unique niche. Surprisingly, we found that three species have divergent suitability of habitats across the landscape and not related with previously published geographic structure of neutral genetic variation. We showed that the rarer a species is the smaller niche volume tend to have, that six out of nine studied species have high conservation priority, and that there are conservation gaps in the PTF.ConclusionOur approach showed that there are unprotected suitable areas for native key species at high risk in PTF. Suggesting that integrating habitat-suitability models of multiple species, types of rarity, and niche overlap, can be a handy tool to identify potential conservation areas in global biodiversity hotspots.

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Shorebird Assemblages in Select Estuaries along the India's West Coast

The Indian coast and its adjacent wetlands host large congregations of shorebirds, including winter and passage migrants of high conservation priority, along the Central Asian Flyway. Identifying crucial wintering and stopover sites and seasons is an important step toward conserving shorebirds and their habitats along the Indian coast. We assessed spatial and temporal patterns of shorebird composition from January 2015 to December 2016 at seven estuaries along Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district, which is located on India's west coast, a coastal zone of international importance for shorebirds. Three potential shorebird habitats –mangroves, mudflats, and sandy beaches – were selected at each of the estuaries chosen for the study. We established three vantage points, one each in the mangrove, mudflat, and sandy beach areas, to count birds during low tide. The total count method was followed to count birds, and occasional photograph-based counts were also made when flock size was big or the flocks kept changing. We recorded 31 species of migratory shorebirds, of which 68% wintered and 32% used the Sindhudurg coast as migratory stopover site. We found significantly high richness and abundance of shorebirds during winter and in the mudflats. nMDS was used to determine species composition of shorebird across habitats and months and revealed distinct patterns of composition in five unique phases: arrival, wintering, early departure, departure, and breeding. Our results revealed that the species composition of shorebirds is not homogenous across sites and months, and is largely driven by the habitat heterogeneity of estuaries, seasonality, and anthropogenic disturbances. These results provide baseline information on shorebirds along a stretch of India's west coast and highlight the importance of mudflats and non-protected coastal wetlands for shorebirds.

From cradle to grave? A global hotspot and new species of the genus Lobaria discovered in the Himalayas and the Hengduan Mountains.

In this study, the East Asian diversity of green-algal Lobaria was evaluated by applying both morphological and phylogenetic approaches. A multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of 72 green-algal Lobaria specimens was performed using a three-locus and time-calibrated species-tree approach. The analyses demonstrate that pairs of sexually and vegetatively reproducing lineages split into highly supported monophyletic clades. Taxonomically, 11 green-algal Lobaria species were identified as new to science, while 10 were previously described species. The species differentiated during the Pliocene and Pleistocene. The coincidence of paleoclimatic events with estimated dates of divergence support a bioclimatic hypothesis for species evolution in the green-algal Lobaria. Molecular phylogenies, a summary of diversity, detailed new species descriptions and geographical analyses are provided. Special recognition of species with a long evolutionary history, which merit high conservation priority, will be critical for preserving geographically restricted endemics in the Himalayas and the Hengduan Mountains, where habitat loss is driving rapid declines.

From cradle to grave? A global hotspot and new species of the genus Lobaria discovered in the Himalayas and the Hengduan Mountains

In this study, the East Asian diversity of green-algal Lobaria was evaluated by applying both morphological and phylogenetic approaches. A multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of 72 green-algal Lobaria specimens was performed using a three-locus and time-calibrated species-tree approach. The analyses demonstrate that pairs of sexually and vegetatively reproducing lineages split into highly supported monophyletic clades. Taxonomically, 11 green-algal Lobaria species were identified as new to science, while 10 were previously described species. The species differentiated during the Pliocene and Pleistocene. The coincidence of paleoclimatic events with estimated dates of divergence support a bioclimatic hypothesis for species evolution in the green-algal Lobaria. Molecular phylogenies, a summary of diversity, detailed new species descriptions and geographical analyses are provided. Special recognition of species with a long evolutionary history, which merit high conservation priority, will be critical for preserving geographically restricted endemics in the Himalayas and the Hengduan Mountains, where habitat loss is driving rapid declines.

Dynamic river basins and hypsometric analyses: implications to land management and prioritization in Bohol, Central Philippines

ABSTRACT The study presented a method of characterizing landform dynamics that integrates a divide stability metric and hypsometric analysis. Chi (χ) - a proxy for steady-state river channel elevation - indicated a drainage divide stability. Simultaneously, the hypsometric analysis provided information on a basin's geologic development stage and erosion proneness. The study used a 30 m SRTM digital elevation data, the DivideTool/TopoToolbox of MATLAB, and the SWAT model. The tool computed χ values following the stream network, enabled the selection of divide sections, extracted channel head's χ values, determined divide stability by predicting migration direction for unstable divides, and produced histograms of χ values for each divide section. Equal χ values at the channel heads of opposing river networks indicated a stable divide. In contrast, a difference in χ values suggested an unstable divide and a potential to migrate from low χ values towards the divide's high χ values side. The study proposed the mean χ difference (χmd ) metric to indicate the degree of divide mobility. Meanwhile, the SWAT model defined the basins and subbasins and set the hypsometric analysis parameters. Each subbasin's hypsometric integral (HI) was used to create a continuous surface of HI values. The combination of χmd and HI analysis revealed nine subbasins with highly mobile divides and high erosional areas, identifying them as high-priority conservation zones. River basin characterization can utilize the new approach to target areas for location-specific land and water conservation measures and other developmental goals.

Erosion hotspot mapping using integrated morphometric parameters and Land use/land cover of Jigjiga Watershed, Ethiopia

Integration of morphometric parameters (MPs) and Land use/land cover (LU/LC) is crucial to prioritise the sub-watershed for conservation management to control soil erosion. The main objective of this study is to develop erosion hotspot mapping using integrated MPs and the LU/LC of Jigjiga Watershed further precisely to map soil erosion hotspots using MPs, LU/LC types and mapping of erosion hotspots by average weightage of MPs and LU/LC types. The study used the digital elevation model data for MPs analysis to extract the areal, linear and relief aspects to determine erosion risk mapping further using ArcGIS 10.5 software. The Jigjiga watershed was sub-divided into fifteen sub-watersheds and coded as JSW-1 to JSW-15. The MPs and LU/LC types computed values were used to rank and prioritise the sub-watersheds. Jigjiga Sub-watershed, LU/LC types were analysed for erosion risk area mapping using the Compound Priority method. The degree of prioritisation used for this study for the MPs and LU/LC types was very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. Accordingly, the erosion hotspots mapping results showed that the sub-watersheds JSW-15 and JSW-14 were categorised under a high priority based on MPs, whereas the JSW-14 was put under a very high priority by LU/LC. The JSW-1, JSW-5, JSW-9 and JSW-13 need high priority for natural resources conservation, both methods of MPs and mean weightage of LU/LC and MPs. The integration of erosion hotspot mapping from MPs and LU/LC parameters correlated for JSW-2, JSW-3, JSW-10, JSW-11, JSW-13 and JSW-14 common values of final erosion prioritisation. This research has provided information on land degraded areas for watershed managers, urban planners and decision-makers to manage the natural resources for sustainable watershed development.

Informing conservation decisions to target private lands of highest ecological value and risk of loss.

Natural habitats on private lands are potentially important components of national biodiversity conservation strategies, yet they are being rapidly lost to development. Conservation easements and other means of protecting these habitats have expanded in use and will be most effective if they target private lands of highest biodiversity value and risk of loss. We developed a Biodiversity Conservation Priority Index (BCPI) based on ecological value and risk of habitat loss for remaining areas of natural vegetation cover (NVC) in the northwestern United States and addressed two questions: (1) Which remaining NVC on private lands is the highest priority for biodiversity conservation based on ecological value and risk of development? And (2) are conservation easements in NVC placed preferentially in locations of high biodiversity conservation priority? Drawing on the concept of ecological integrity, we integrated five metrics of ecological structure, function, and composition to quantify ecological value of NVC. These included net primary productivity, species richness, ecosystem type representation, imperiled species range rarity, and connectivity among "Greater Wildland Ecosystems." Risk of habitat loss was derived from analysis of biophysical and sociodemographic predictors of NVC loss. Ecological value and risk of loss were combined into the BCPI. We then analyzed spatial patterns of BCPI to identify the NVC highest in biodiversity conservation priority and examined the relationship between BCPI and conservation easement status. We found that BCPI varied spatially across the study area and was highest in western and southern portions of the study area. High BCPI was associated with suburban and rural development, roads, urban proximity, valley bottom landforms, and low intensity of current development. Existing conservation easements were distributed more towards lower BCPI values than unprotected NVC at both the study area and region scales. The BCPI can be used to better inform land use decision making at local, regional, and potentially national scales in order to better achieve biodiversity goals.

Prioritizing conservation in sub-Saharan African lakes based on freshwater biodiversity and algal bloom metrics.

As agricultural land use and climate change continue to pose increasing threats to biodiversity in sub-Saharan Africa, efforts are being made to identify areas where trade-offs between future agricultural development and terrestrial biodiversity conservation are expected to be greatest. However, little research so far has focused on freshwaterbiodiversity conservation in the context of agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to identify lakes and lake areas where freshwater biodiversity is most likely to be affected by eutrophication and Harmful Algal Blooms (i.e., when algae multiply to the extent that they have toxic effects on people and freshwater fauna), some of the most important emerging threats to freshwater ecosystems worldwide, especially with the onset of climate change. Using novel remote-sensing techniques, we identified lakes that demonstrated high biodiversity and algal bloom levels. We calculated the richness of freshwater species and the normalized difference chlorophyll index (NDCI) to prioritize lakes in Ghana, Ethiopia, Zambia, and bordering countries, of high priority for conservation. We identified 169 priority lakes and lake areas for conservation, based on high levels of biodiversity exposed to potentially harmful algal blooms. Zambia had the most lakes identified as conservation priorities (76% of its small lakes and five 100-km2 areas in large lakes). Many of the conservation priority lakes and lake areas identified in this study were in transboundary watersheds; thus, collaborative water resource management and conservation at the watershed scale is needed. The use of remote-sensing tools to prioritize freshwater systems for conservation according to algal-bloom risk is vital in remote, undersampled world regions, especially given the increasing threat posed to freshwater biodiversity by rapidly expanding agriculture and climate change.