Implementation Of Management Actions Research Articles

Alien plant species distribution in Romania: a nationwide survey following the implementation of the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species

Biological invasions pose an increasing risk to nature, social security and the economy, being ranked amongst the top five threats to biodiversity. Managing alien and invasive species is a priority for the European Union, as outlined in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Alien plant species are acknowledged to impact the economy and biodiversity; thus, analysing the distribution of such species provides valuable inputs for the management and decision-making processes. The database presented in the current study is the first consolidated checklist of alien plant species that are present in Romania, both of European Union concern and of national interest. This database complements a prior published distribution, based only on records from literature, bringing new information regarding the occurrence of alien plants in Romania, as revealed by a nationwide field survey. We consider this database a valuable instrument for managing biological invasions at both national and regional levels, as it can be utilised in further research studies and in drafting management and action plans, assisting stakeholders in making informed decisions and implementing management actions. We present the results of the first nationwide survey of alien plant species in Romania, conducted between 2019 and 2022, in the framework of a national project coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests and the University of Bucharest. The present database complements and updates the database published by Sirbu et. al (2022), which included occurrence records published until 2019. The new database includes 98323 occurrence records for 396 alien plant species in 77 families, with most species belonging to the Asteraceae family. One alien plant species in our database, the black locust Robinia pseudoacacia L., had more than 10,000 occurrence records. The distribution database also includes information on newly-reported invasive alien plant species of European Union concern in Romania (i.e. the floating primrose-willow Ludwigia peploides (Kunth) P.H.Raven) and documents the presence of plants in 44 additional families compared to Sirbu et al. (2022). Each entry includes information on species taxonomy, location, year, person who recorded and identified the alien plant, geographical coordinates and taxon rank.

Organizational learning capability: A bibliometric and content analysis based on Scopus data (1978–2023)

BACKGROUND: Organizational learning capability research has been gaining more attention. OBJECTIVE: Specifically, this paper examines annual trend publication, active journals, authors, institutions, nations, keywords, citation pattern and top cited articles over the past 45 years. It decides the frequent organizational learning capability topics and highlights future research directions. METHODS: A bibliometric was performed on 149 papers published between 1978–2023 from the Scopus database. A content analysis was also performed. RESULTS: Publication trends have exhibited growth over time. Learning Organization and Industrial Marketing Management are two key journals that publish organizational learning capability. Publications are contributed by Chiva, R. and Alerge, J. Universidad Jaume I and Universitat de València are the two main institutions that exert the influence over the publication. Spain has been contributing more publications. Citations pattern analysis revealed 158.78 citations per year and 7145 citations for 149 papers. Sixthly, publications use keywords such as “organizational learning”, “innovation”. Both highly cited articles accumulated 442 citations. CONCLUSIONS: The findings are useful for policy-makers seeking reference and evidence to guide them in designing organizational learning capability policies, implementing management actions and programs.

Ups and downs: An insight on the stranding pattern of Guiana dolphins, Sotalia guianensis, in the Amazon Estuary, Northern Brazil

Abstract Long‐term systematic records of cetacean strandings are valuable indicators of temporal responses of specific cetacean populations and communities to natural or anthropogenic pressures. They also help guide management objectives and conservation actions. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to analyse 10 years of systematic and opportunistic surveys of Guiana dolphin strandings in the Amazon Estuary region, Northern Brazil. The spatial distribution of strandings was assessed through kernel density maps, and age‐at‐death structure of this population was described. The model results revealed marked seasonality in the strandings and, by extension, the mortality of Guiana dolphins in the Amazon Estuary. This seasonality varied between the inner estuarine regions and Atlantic coastal area, reflecting the environment's characteristics. Long‐term decline of strandings in the Amazon Estuary inner region and unusual high mortality of young sexually mature individuals were detected. These results, besides the high stranding rate detected for the species, are mostly attributed to the species' interaction with intense fishing activity in the region. Conservation efforts should consider the seasonality of Guiana dolphin strandings in the Amazon Estuary. The systematic monitoring of strandings, especially in high‐frequency areas, is recommended for assessing long‐term species mortality. Additionally, implementing management actions related to the species' interaction with fishing activities, such as regulatory enhancements, gillnet modifications and seasonal no‐fishing zones, is advised. Educational campaigns targeting fishermen and riverine communities are essential to reduce bycatch and the folkloric use of the species. This study underscores the effectiveness of stranding data as a source of biological and ecological information, and as a tool for understanding human actions affecting coastal populations of aquatic mammals. It emphasizes the need for urgent studies to characterize this population, clarify the influence of bycatch as an anthropogenic pressure and implement effective conservation actions to preserve the Guiana dolphin population.

Understanding Landowner Education Needs for Invasive Disease Prevention and Restoration Planting in Southern Oregon

Abstract Understanding the knowledge and behavior of nonindustrial private forest landowners towards Port-Orford cedar (POC) root disease (Phytophthora lateralis), sudden oak death (Phytophthora ramorum), and disease-resistant seedlings can help target effective education and outreach programs. We surveyed two counties in Southern Oregon to gain knowledge about these pathogens, disease-resistant seedlings, landowner behavior, and landowner preferences regarding planting disease-resistant seedlings. Amenity-based management objectives were more associated with planting disease-resistant POC. Respondents were more likely to plant disease-resistant conifers than hardwoods. Disease-resistant planting preferences were associated with years owned and acres of ownership. Designing targeted education and outreach programs will be necessary to achieve broad scale adoption of disease management and restoration practices. Study implications: We present results from a survey of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners in two counties in Southern Oregon to determine general landowner characteristics and knowledge of two nonnative diseases, Port-Orford cedar root disease, caused by Phytophthora lateralis, and sudden oak death, caused by Phytophthora ramorum. NIPF landowners play meaningful roles in invasive disease management: recognizing and reporting symptoms of nonnative plant diseases with the objective of early detection and control, implementing management actions to help mitigate disease spread, and planting disease-resistant seedlings during restoration efforts. Understanding landowner knowledge about diseases is important for engaging them in insect and disease mitigation.

MFishBT: A global database of biogeochemical tags in migratory fish.

Humans have long been fascinated by the mysteries surrounding fish migrations and addressing these complex behaviors often requires large data sets. Biogeochemical tags, including trace elements and stable isotopes, are the most accessible biomarkers for tracking fish migrations. However, access to standardized biogeochemical tag data is rarely available for migratory fish, which limits our understanding of the evolutionary origins, drivers, timing, and corridors of migration. This precludes the development of conservation strategies and the implementation of management actions. Here, we present MFishBT, a global, open-access database of Migratory Fish's Biogeochemical Tags. As of April 2023, the MFishBT contains biogeochemical records from 1,305 studies, of which 53% used element-to-calcium (E/Ca) ratios, 34% used isotopic ratios, and 13% used both. The database covers 17,413 field sampling locations (inland 47% vs. marine 53%) around the globe, comprising 490 migratory fish species of four classes, 44 orders/suborders, and 137 families. In total, 77 trace elements and 11 isotope systems were measured across various fish biological archives, including otoliths, scales, eye lenses, and vertebrae. E/Ca ratios were examined more frequently than isotopic ratios, led by Sr/Ca, Mg/Ca, Ba/Ca, and 87 Sr/86 Sr, δ13 C, and δ18 O. The MFishBT compiles 27,030, 16,222, and 2,481,714 records with biogeochemical data detected in the core, edge, and core-to-edge transects for biological archives of migratory fish. This is the most globally comprehensive open-access database on biogeochemical tags in migratory fish to date, and can serve a variety of needs in scientific research, conservation, and management. We encourage researchers to add more data sets to this database in the future. This database is released for noncommercial use only. There are no copyright restrictions, and please cite this paper when using these data, or a subset of these data, for publication.

Large-scale factors controlling biological communities in the Iberian Peninsula: an insight into global change effects on river ecosystems

The ongoing global environmental change poses a serious threat to rivers. Comprehensive knowledge of how stressors affect biota is critical for supporting effective management and conservation strategies. We evaluated the major gradients influencing spatial variability of freshwater biodiversity in continental Spain using landscape-scale variables representing climate, land use and land cover (LULC), flow regime, geology, topography, and diatom (n = 117), macroinvertebrate (n = 441), and fish (n = 264) communities surveyed in minimally impacted streams. Redundancy analysis identified the environmental factors significantly contributing to community variability, and specific multivariate analyses (RLQ method) were used to assess trait–environment associations. Environmental variables defined the major community change gradients (e.g., mountain–lowland). Siliceous, steep streams with increased precipitation levels favored stalked diatoms, macroinvertebrates with aquatic passive dissemination, and migrating fish. These traits were replaced by adnate diatoms, small macroinvertebrates, and non-migratory fish in lowland streams with warmer climates, calcareous geology, agriculture, and stable flow regimes. Overall, landscape-scale environmental variables better explained fish than diatom and macroinvertebrate community variability, suggesting that these latter communities might be more related to local-scale characteristics (e.g., microhabitat structure, substrate, and water physicochemistry). The upslope environmental gradient of river networks (e.g., slope, temperature, and LULC changes) was paralleled to the observed taxonomy-based and trait-based spatial variability. This result indicates that global change effects on riverine biodiversity could emerge as longitudinal distribution changes within river networks. Implementing management actions focusing simultaneously on water temperature, hydrological regime conservation (e.g., addressing LULC changes), and river continuity might be the best strategy for mitigating global change effects on river biodiversity.

Incentives, Rewards or Both in Payments for Ecosystem Services: Drawing a Link Between Farmers' Preferences and Biodiversity Levels

Agri-environmental-climate schemes provide payments for ecosystem services by compensating farmers to implement management actions or obtain ecological results. To compare farmers' preferences for action-based schemes, result-based schemes, or a hybrid, we conduct a discrete choice experiment in a case study from Germany. We elicited farmers' preferences for alternative grassland biodiversity payments through an in-person survey and measured farm ecological performance using a biodiversity index. Our findings indicate that farmers are more reluctant to accept action-based schemes. However, the payment mechanism is not the only driver of farmers' decision-making. The applicability of the prescribed management practice to the farming system, and the achievability of the outcome, are also key for adoption. Intensive farmers are more likely to choose hybrid solutions than extensive farms, which prefer a result-based approach. Farms with higher biodiversity tend to accept result-based schemes more frequently and are willing to enrol a greater share of their land. Our findings suggest a potential lack of additionality, but also that farmers' awareness about their farms' ecological potential influences the adoption of result-based payments. To encourage farmers to participate and enrol more land in these schemes, policy-makers should tailor the payment-mechanism to different farmers and provide on-site technical advice.

A Standardized, Large-Scale Ecosystem Assessment for the Southern Ocean and the Underpinning Role of Biodiversity Data

Assessments of change in ecosystems and their drivers are central for meeting the challenge of conserving biodiversity in the long term. Such assessments support national and international agencies to implement management actions that sustain natural systems and maintain the delivery of ecosystem services. Change in marine systems may arise directly from human activities (e.g., fisheries), indirectly from local or global activities (cascading effects through food webs from fisheries or changing environments from climate change and/or ocean acidification), or from naturally varying processes. A particular challenge for managers is to understand the likely impacts of future climate change on ecosystems, and to consider what actions might be needed (climate change mitigation and adaption) to continue to meet conservation requirements into the future. For large regions such as the Southern Ocean, which have the attention of many management or policy-oriented bodies, a standardized process is needed to harmonize the scientific information on the status and trends in ecosystems used by the different bodies. That process also needs to ensure the information is available in a timely manner. The Marine Ecosystem Assessment for the Southern Ocean (MEASO) is the first circumpolar interdisciplinary assessment of Southern Ocean ecosystem status and trends. It is a core activity of the program Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics in the Southern Ocean (ICED) (a regional program of Integrated Marine Biosphere Research), and co-sponsored by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). MEASO is a spatially-structured circumpolar ecosystem assessment that has drawn on a broad range of data, including biodiversity data. It has been a 5-year inclusive international activity, modelled on a working group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, providing a forward-looking assessment of status and trends in Southern Ocean ecosystems. To date, it has involved over 200 scientists from across the Antarctic and Southern Ocean scientific community (18 countries, >50% identifying as women, >40% early career), contributing to 25 research articles published in a special research topic in Frontiers journals*1. This presentation will describe the MEASO process and highlight over-arching findings and key messages for Southern Ocean ecosystems. It will highlight the underpinning importance of biodiversity data and standards, and will provide an overview of priorities for improving future assessments and policy-relevant advice, including those that relate to data standards and FAIR principles (the Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reuse of digital assets).

Current data and modeling bottlenecks for predicting crop yields in the United Kingdom

Identifying and implementing management actions that can mitigate the impacts of climate change on domestically grown crops is crucial to maintaining future food security for the United Kingdom (UK). Crop models serve as critical tools for assessing the potential impacts of climate change and making decisions regarding crop management. However, there is often a gap between yields predicted by current modeling methods and observed yields. This has been linked to a sparsity of models that investigate crop yield beyond field scale or that include data on crop management or crop protection factors. It remains unclear whether the lack of available data imposes these limitations or if the currently available data presents untapped opportunities to extend models to better capture the complex ecosystem of factors affecting crop yield. In this paper, we synthesize available data on plant physiology, management, and protection practices for agricultural crops in the UK, as well as associated data on climate and soil conditions. We then compare the available data to the variables used to predict crop yield using current modeling methods. We find there is a lack of openly accessible crop management and crop plant physiology data, particularly for crops other than wheat, which could limit improvements in current crop models. Conversely, data that was found to be available at large scales on climate and soil conditions could be used to explore upscaling of current approaches beyond the field level, and available data on crop protection factors could be integrated into existing models to better account for how disease, insect pest and weed pressures may impact crop yield under different climate scenarios. We conclude that while a lack of available data on crop management, protection, physiology, at scales other than field level, and for species other than wheat currently hampers advancement of modeling methods for UK crops, future investment into data collection and management across a broader range of factors affecting crops, at larger scales and for a broader range of crop species could improve predictions of crop plant development and yield.

Impacts and uncertainties of climate-induced changes in watershed inputs on estuarine hypoxia

Abstract. Multiple climate-driven stressors, including warming and increased nutrient delivery, are exacerbating hypoxia in coastal marine environments. Within coastal watersheds, environmental managers are particularly interested in climate impacts on terrestrial processes, which may undermine the efficacy of management actions designed to reduce eutrophication and consequent low-oxygen conditions in receiving coastal waters. However, substantial uncertainty accompanies the application of Earth system model (ESM) projections to a regional modeling framework when quantifying future changes to estuarine hypoxia due to climate change. In this study, two downscaling methods are applied to multiple ESMs and used to force two independent watershed models for Chesapeake Bay, a large coastal-plain estuary of the eastern United States. The projected watershed changes are then used to force a coupled 3-D hydrodynamic–biogeochemical estuarine model to project climate impacts on hypoxia, with particular emphasis on projection uncertainties. Results indicate that all three factors (ESM, downscaling method, and watershed model) are found to contribute substantially to the uncertainty associated with future hypoxia, with the choice of ESM being the largest contributor. Overall, in the absence of management actions, there is a high likelihood that climate change impacts on the watershed will expand low-oxygen conditions by 2050 relative to a 1990s baseline period; however, the projected increase in hypoxia is quite small (4 %) because only climate-induced changes in watershed inputs are considered and not those on the estuary itself. Results also demonstrate that the attainment of established nutrient reduction targets will reduce annual hypoxia by about 50 % compared to the 1990s. Given these estimates, it is virtually certain that fully implemented management actions reducing excess nutrient loadings will outweigh hypoxia increases driven by climate-induced changes in terrestrial runoff.

Can we predict visitor movement? Using step selection function analysis to map high probability camping areas in a remote Alaskan wilderness

Recreational use of parks and protected areas (PPAs) can have significant impacts to resources that can be difficult to mitigate. Cost-effective planning tools are needed to help managers anticipate where recreation disturbance is likely to occur. Tools from wildlife ecology may be helpful in meeting this information need, especially for large, remote PPA that experience sporadic use. We employed step selection function (SSF) analysis as a novel and flexible tool to identify areas with high probabilities of recreational disturbance. We fit SSFs to model environmental and experiential factors associated with campsite selection among backcountry kayakers in two regions of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (GLBA) in Alaska, USA. We hypothesized campers would select sites that offer bare, flat ground, are close to freshwater sources, and maximize experience-related attributes of glacier and scenic viewing while minimizing exposure to large vessels. Campers in both regions selected sites offering a combination of experiential and environmental site characteristics; however, not all factors were significant in the best fitting models. Site selection probabilities increased with increases in bare, flat ground and as distance to the nearest glacier decreased. In one region, selection probability also increased with increases in scenic viewshed. Using modeled relationships, we generated predictive maps of relative selection strength to locate areas within GLBA with high potential for camping based on site characteristics. Our results can be used to prioritize monitoring, target restoration efforts, or implement management actions to prevent camping-related resource impacts.

Detecting trends in seagrass cover through aerial imagery interpretation: Historical dynamics of a Posidonia oceanica meadow subjected to anthropogenic disturbance

Over the last century, P. oceanica meadows have undergone significant regression along Mediterranean coasts due to anthropogenic disturbances. Using an integrated approach based on historical aerial photography interpretation in GIS environment and Bayesian modelling, we mapped the upper limits of a P. oceanica meadow and identified the most influential disturbance factors acting along the coast of Giglio Island, where several local human-mediated impacts have historically co-occurred from 1968 to 2013. Model selection based on the DIC criterion suggested that the presence of the impacts is suitable for describing the seagrass coverage variation. Similarities in P. oceanica cover within 13 investigated zones were highlighted when considering the most relevant impacts, such as harbour expansion, mining, and anchoring. The detected adverse effects indicate the need for implementing management actions focusing on the present and past sources of impact to reduce their effect on P. oceanica beds actively.

The impact of predation by South Island Pied Oystercatchers (Haematopus finschi) on a protected shellfish, the toheroa (Paphies ventricosa), in northern New Zealand

ABSTRACT In northern New Zealand, there is speculation that predation by a recovering shorebird, the South Island Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi), has caused the continuing decline of an endemic surf clam, the toheroa (Paphies ventricosa). Consequently, there have been requests by the public for these protected birds to be culled to protect and restore the toheroa. To better inform management and decision-making for these species we set out to understand the impact of oystercatcher predation on toheroa at Ripiro Beach in New Zealand. A study was conducted to establish the spatio-temporal overlap of toheroa and oystercatcher distributions, determine oystercatcher prey selection, and assess the impacts of oystercatcher predation on toheroa population size structure. Monthly surveys over a 12-month period indicated limited spatial overlap between the two species, and that most toheroa beds on Ripiro Beach are not subjected to oystercatcher predation. In areas where oystercatchers and toheroa co-occurred, oystercatchers consumed a variety of prey including polychaetes, small and medium-sized toheroa and a non-threatened surf clam (P. subtriangulata). While oystercatchers do feed on toheroa (and may be capable of locally reducing abundance of small toheroa in a population), feeding on larger individuals (>50 mm in length) was not observed. These results suggest that culling of oystercatchers would be of no benefit for the recovery of toheroa populations. It is likely that less obvious factors are impeding the recovery of toheroa in New Zealand. This study highlights the importance of understanding predator-prey interactions before implementing management actions such as lethal control.

О некоторых проблемах применен ия принципа справедливости во внутренней деятельности хозяйственных обществ

Achieving farness in the internal activities of business corporation requires a combination of both organizational and contractual mechanisms, which is due to the dualistic (statutory and contractual) nature of the business corporation. Effectively applied for asset allocation the principle of proportionality cannot fully guarantee fairness in the implementation of management activities, since consolidation of corporate power is required for managerial decision-making. The exercise of power functions by majority shareholders may lead to infringement of the investment interests of minority ones. The solution to the problem is the redemption of the share by the business corporation at the request of the stockholder upon the occurrence (non-occurrence) of certain circumstances, which can be considered as the redemption of an unspecified rent in advance. Despite the existence of special rules in corporate legislation governing the repurchase of shares at the request of a shareholder in order to achieve fairness it is advisable to fix the general rule on the right of a shareholder of a business corporation, taking into account the conditions provided for by law and the charter, to demand the repurchase by a business corporation of his shares in case of violation by the corporation of his reasonable investment expectations.

Analisis Akuntabilitas dan Pengelolaan Keuangan Masjid Melalui Pendekatan Fenomenologi Studi Komparatif

This research aims to compare patterns of accountability and financial management of the Mosque through a comparative study phenomenological approach. Type of field research with a qualitative descriptive approach. The analysis technique uses comparative study phenomenology. The results of the study, Al-Mashun Grand Mosque and Medan Great Mosque have not fully implemented the accountability of their financial management, although they do not have a written SOP, but the implementation of management activities follows the laws and traditions of the previous mosque management. The Great Mosque's financial statements are audited by a public accountant every 2 months, while the Al-Mashun Grand Mosque's financial statements have never been audited, but the fairness of the report can be evaluated by Jama'ah exclusively. there is a separation of functions in the Mosque's cash expenditure which is kept in a bank account. The financial management of the Mosque has been transparent with the accessibility of the Mosque report by the Jama'ah.

In the Riptide of Control and Trust: Emergence of Control Practices, Suspicion, and Distrust in New Technology Deployment

AbstractIn this study, we focus on the unintended consequences of new technology deployment for control‐trust dynamics. When addressing these dynamics, managers and management researchers often focus on consciously designed and implemented controls and management actions that build, repair, or preserve trust. At the same time, unowned processes – processes that have no single source or purpose – easily go unnoticed. These processes may have effects that are inadvertent and sometimes detrimental. A close‐up ethnographic study of a technology deployment provides insight into the emergence of unintended control practices and shifts in trust. Our findings demonstrate how deployment of new technology prompted a shift in the loci and forms of control and how trust, suspicion, and distrust surfaced asymmetrically as organizational members interpreted in different ways how others were using the new technological features. These developments contributed to the emergence of four unintended control practices: incidental monitoring, organizational surveillance, individual concealment, and collective resistance. Our study highlights the role of unowned processes in the control‐trust dynamics and emphasizes that whether or not control and trust are consciously addressed, both play interactive and evolving roles in organizations.

The effects of an invasive soft coral on the structure of native benthic communities

Species invasion is a major threat to marine biodiversity and function; thus, studying the effects of recently reported exotic species is extremely important. Several soft coral species (Alcyonacea) have invaded the Atlantic Ocean but their effects are poorly known. Here, we investigated the effects of the invasive species Sarcothelia sp. (Alcyonacea, Xeniidae) on native benthic shallow reef communities in Brazil. We hypothesized that increasing Sarcothelia sp. abundance would be related to species richness decreases and native community structure changes. Multivariate analysis showed significant dissimilarity between invaded (high Sarcothelia sp. abundance) and non-invaded areas (high abundance of the octocoral Neospongodes atlantica and zoantharians). The invaded area showed less species composition variability (i.e., homogenization) than non-invaded ones. Within the invaded area we observed that Sarcothelia sp. abundance reduced species richness. The lowest native benthic richness (10 taxa) was observed in a transect with the highest invader cover, while the transect with the lowest Sarcothelia sp. cover presented 26 native taxa. These findings are likely related to the invasive novel functional traits, i.e., invader growth form and allelochemicals. A clear inverse abundance pattern between invasive Sarcothelia sp. and N. atlantica, indicated an intense competition between octocorals. Our study showed remarkable evidence of negative impacts of invasive soft corals on reef biodiversity. There is an urgent need for experiments evaluating changes in different ecological processes and to implement management actions.

Longevity, Philopatric Behavior, and Health Condition of the Mona Island Iguana Cyclura stejnegeri

The critically endangered Mona Island iguana, Cyclura stejnegeri, is threatened by nest predation by feral pigs, invasive plants that reduce nesting area, and high juvenile mortality. Even though studies in the last 45 years have been sporadic, they had led to different management actions such as protecting nesting areas from feral pig incursion and expanding suitable nesting sites by eradicating the Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia) and other invasive plant species. In addition, from 1999 to 2016 a head-start program (HST) was implemented, to increase the recruitment and survival of juvenile iguanas. In 2021, we conducted a 10-week mark-recapture study to survey the population. Data obtained suggest that the Mona iguana lifespans can exceed 32 years, iguanas are very philopatric staying in the same areas over many years, and that health parameters for HST individuals are similar to those of wild ones. These findings provide new information that should be considered when implementing management actions directed at guaranteeing the survival of the Mona iguana.

Survival of a small reintroduced griffon vulture population in the Apennines: Insights from Global Positioning System tracking

Conservation translocations ( e. g., restocking, reintroductions) represent efficient tools to prevent the extinction or favouring the return of previously extirpated populations into the wild. Evaluating demographic parameters of translocated populations is a key issue to assess and monitor their conservation status and to provide evidences useful to implement management actions aimed at long-term conservation results. We report first data on survival estimates and related mortality causes for a reintroduced population of Eurasian griffon vultures ( Gyps fulvus) in the central-southern Apennine, Italy, from satellite telemetry data. Twenty vultures have been fitted with solar-powered Global Positioning System (GPS) tags in Pollino National Park (PNP, southern Italy, N = 9) and Monte Velino Reserve (MVR, central Italy, N = 11). Survival has been estimated on a total amount of 173,568 GPS fixes from December 2016 to October 2020 (1415 days) using the Fleming-Harrington estimator. Five, out of 20 vultures, died by poisoning (40%), collision with wind turbines (20%) and of unknown causes (40%). Two birds dispersed from MVR to France (though they later came back) and one from PNP to Croatia. Estimated survival rate across the whole study period was 0.709 (±0.11, SE; 0.523–0.961, 95% CI), and annual survival rate was 0.915 (±0.06, SE; 0.846–0.990, 95% CI). No significant differences in survival rates have been detected according to sex or age. As mortality in our study was mainly human-caused, we urge relevant institutions and agencies to strengthen and effectively establish anti-poison strategies, as well as implementing mitigation and prevention measures for the existing and planned wind farms. The establishment of a long-term viable population in the central-southern Apennines will depend upon both lower levels of human-caused mortality and habitat preservation.

Optimizing ecological surveys for conservation

Abstract Conservation decisions must be made with limited funding and incomplete information. Ecological surveys can help reduce uncertainty and, in turn, potentially lead to better management decisions. However, conducting surveys can reduce funds available for implementing management actions and, in turn, can potentially lead to worse conservation outcomes. Here we develop a value of information framework to evaluate and optimize survey plans. Our framework evaluates survey plans based on their ability to improve how likely resulting protected area systems are to secure species of interest, and accounts for survey and land acquisition costs. Using an example of eight imperilled plant species in Middlesex County (Ontario, Canada), we assessed our framework against conventional approaches for designing survey plans that involve selecting places with (i) maximal geographic coverage, (ii) diverse environmental conditions, (iii) highly uncertain information, (iv) high imperilled species richness and (v) low protected area establishment costs. We found that optimized survey plans could improve the protected area system by, on average, 57.52% (0.21 SD) (up to 105.25%) over conventional survey approaches. These optimized plans could also improve the protected area system by, on average, 19.91% (up to 32.37%) over simply prioritizing based on existing information. Survey plans designed using conventional approaches, in many cases, led to a worse protected area system than simply using existing information. Such conventional approaches performed the worst when they allocated a large percentage of the available budget to data collection. Synthesis and applications. Our findings demonstrate that conventional approaches for designing ecological surveys can impede conservation efforts by squandering funds on data that have little chance of improving decision making. Indeed, conventional approaches for designing surveys had the poorest performance under limited budgets, which are typical in real world planning exercises. We recommend that conservation practitioners carefully consider how data collection efforts can potentially improve conservation decisions, and also the costs associated with data collection. By applying the principles of value of information, our framework enables conservation practitioners to cost‐effectively collect data in places that will maximize conservation outcomes.