Implications For Conservation Research Articles

Waste reduction decreases rat activity from peri-urban environment.

Globally, species in the genus Rattus (specifically Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus), are some of the most influential invasive taxa due to their high rates of competitive exclusion and large dietary breadth. However, the specific foraging strategies of urban-adjacent populations remain largely unknown. We examined Rattus spp. dependency on human food supplementation in a population on adjacent non-developed (or peri-urban) land. Via linear regression modeling, we measured rodent activity changes between native and invasive species before and after a decrease in human supplementation due to the COVID-19 lockdown in Santa Cruz, California, USA. We documented invasive rat activity via camera traps in normal (pre-COVID lockdown) conditions near dining halls and similar waste sources, and again under COVID lockdown conditions when sources of human supplementation were drastically decreased. After 120 trap nights we found a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in Rattus activity after the removal of human refuse, while native small mammal activity remained unchanged (p = 0.1). These results have strong conservation implications, as they support the hypothesis that proper waste management is an effective, less-invasive form of population control over conventional rodenticides.

Combining LiDAR, SAR, and DEM Data for Estimating Understory Terrain Using Machine Learning-Based Methods

Currently, precise estimation of understory terrain faces numerous technical obstacles and challenges that are difficult to overcome. To address this problem, this paper combines LiDAR, SAR, and DEM data to estimate understory terrain. The high multivariable-precision spaceborne LiDAR ICESat-2 data, validated by the NEON, are divided into training and validation sets. The training dataset is used as a dependent variable, the SRTM DEM and Sentinel-1 SAR data are regarded as independent variables, a total of 13 feature parameters with high contributions are extracted to construct a Multiple Linear Regression model (MLR), BAGGING model, Random Forest model (RF), and Long Short-Term Memory model (LSTM). The results indicate that the RF model exhibits the highest accuracy among the four models, with R2 = 0.999, RMSE = 0.701 m, and MAE = 0.249 m. Then, based on the RF model, the understory terrain at the regional scale is generated, and an accuracy assessment is performed using the validation dataset, yielding R2 = 0.999, RMSE = 0.847 m, and MAE = 0.517 m. Furthermore, this paper quantitatively analyzes the effects of slope, vegetation coverage, and canopy height on the estimation accuracy of understory terrain. The results show that as slope, and canopy height increase, the estimation accuracy of the RF model for understory terrain gradually decreases. The accuracy of the understory terrain estimated by the RF model is relatively stable and not easily affected by slope, vegetation coverage, and canopy height. The research on the estimation of understory terrain holds significant practical implications for forest resource management, ecological conservation, and biodiversity protection, as well as natural disaster prevention.

Host trees partially explain the complex bacterial communities of two threatened saproxylic beetles.

Microorganisms are integral to ecosystem functioning and host adaptation, yet the understanding of microbiomes in diverse beetle taxa remains limited. We conducted a comprehensive study to investigate the microbial composition of two red flat bark beetle species, Cucujus haematodes and C. cinnaberinus, and assessed the influence of host taxonomic relatedness and host tree species on their microbiomes. We sampled 67 larvae of two Cucujus taxa taken from 11 host tree species. 16S rRNA V4 fragment sequencing revealed distinct microbial communities associated with each Cucujus species, with host tree species significantly influencing microbiome composition. Alpha and beta diversity metrics indicated significant differences between microbial communities in both beetle and host tree species. Principal component analysis indicated distinct clustering based on host tree species but not for beetle species. This overlap could be attributed to the similar ecology of both Cucujus species. The detection of various bacteria, among which some have already been reported in saproxylophagous beetles, suggests that the red flat bark beetles ingest the bacteria via foraging on other wood-dwelling invertebrates. Our findings show the complex interplay between host taxonomy, microhabitat and microbial composition in Cucujus, providing insights into their ecological roles and conservation implications. This research helps to fill the gap in understanding the microbial dynamics of saproxylic beetles, sheds light on factors shaping their microbiomes and highlights the importance of considering both host species and environmental conditions when studying insect-microbe interactions in forest ecosystems.

Genetic Diversity and Structure of Physaria on the Kaibab Plateau: Implications for Conservation.

Assessing patterns of genetic diversity within and among closely related congeners is important for evaluating the conservation status of rare plant taxa. We used nuclear microsatellite genotyping to examine the genetic relatedness among three Physaria taxa on the Kaibab Plateau in northern Arizona. Over 100 species of Physaria are recognized, and are widely distributed in Western North America. On the Kaibab Plateau several taxa occur, including Physaria arizonica and two subspecies of P. kingii, P. kingii subsp. latifolia and P. kingii subsp. kaibabensis. The latter subspecies, the Kaibab bladderpod, is rare and endemic to the Kaibab Plateau and is a potential candidate to be listed under the Endangered Species Act. Morphological characters, primarily flower color, have been used to distinguish P. kingii subsp. kaibabensis from other subspecies. Here we aim to assess its genetic diversity and differentiation as compared to congeners on and around the Kaibab Plateau. We genotyped DNA obtained from leaf samples from 463 individuals collected from 26 sites representing the three putative taxa (12 P. kingii subsp. kaibabensis, 8 P. kingii subsp. latifolia, and 6 P. arizonica). Our results showed that all samples initially identified as P. kingii subsp. latifolia and P. kingii subsp. kaibabensis on the Kaibab Plateau form a single genetic cluster that is well-differentiated from P. kingii subsp. latifolia sampled from sites off the plateau or P. arizonica on or off the plateau. For P. kingii on the plateau, our findings do not support the previous subspecies designations based on morphological characters. While additional studies of P. kingii will further resolve taxonomic uncertainties within this species, our findings indicate that the Kaibab Plateau population is genetically diverse and genetically distinct, and federal protection is justified in light of the threats faced on the Kaibab Plateau and its limited range.

A non-intrusive fine-grained load identification method based on three-dimensional voltage–current trajectories

Addressing issues such as high hardware costs, low recognition accuracy, and the inability to achieve fine-grained equipment classification, a non-invasive load fine-grained recognition system based on FPGA was developed and tested on a Linux system for online training. A three-dimensional (3D) image construction method based on color coding of voltage–current (V-I) trajectories is proposed to preprocess the collected voltage and current data, allowing for the distinction of features of various electrical equipment in multiple dimensions. First, high-frequency sampling data is preprocessed to extract the V-I trajectory and higher harmonic characteristics of the load. Then, the V-I trajectory is processed using RGB color coding and fused with higher-order harmonic features to construct a 3D image. This results in a 3D color V-I trajectory image that incorporates both color and harmonic features. Finally, the improved ResNet50 network is employed to identify the load characteristics, and the method is validated using the PLAID dataset and measured data. The load identification method achieves an accuracy rate of over 98%, enhancing the information conveyed by the V-I trajectory and improving the uniqueness of load characteristics, thereby enabling fine-grained equipment identification. This advancement holds significant implications for energy conservation and emission reduction in household electricity consumption, as well as for eliminating potential safety hazards associated with electrical equipment.

Potential of Ex Situ Conservation Strains Revealed by Genetic Analysis of Oceanic Islands' Endangered Species Pittosporum parvifolium.

The Ogasawara Islands, representing an oceanic island ecosystem in Japan, have a notably high rate of endemic species akin to other oceanic islands globally. Pittosporum parvifolium is a critically endangered shrub with only four remaining individuals in its natural habitat on the Ogasawara Islands. Current conservation efforts encompass both insitu and ex situ approaches for P. parvifolium. However, these efforts face challenges stemming from the lack of critical conservation information. Therefore, we explored P. parvifolium's genetic diversity and implications for conservation. We utilized simple sequence repeat markers to scrutinize genetic diversity within both insitu and ex situ populations, revealing notably rich diversity among both. The insitu genetic diversity was significantly high despite the few extant individuals. In addition, many of the ex situ peculiar genotypes were absent in individuals conserved insitu. This investigation also provides insights into the reproductive strategies and combinations of selfing and outcrossing. The results of the present study recommend conservation to maximize genetic diversity in P. parvifolium by promoting cross-pollination among insitu individuals and by introducing individuals with unique genotypes into ex situ stocks.

Functional traits as an indicator of urbanization impact on the scorpion assemblage in Neotropical forest

Currently, natural forests face significant loss of vegetation cover linked to habitat loss due to urban expansion. Therefore, we investigated the effects of changes in different land uses and land cover at the landscape scale resulting from the urbanization process on the functional traits of the body of scorpions in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. In 10 forest fragments in Paulista, Pernambuco, we observed that forest cover had a statistically significant negative relationship with the average functional body traits of the scorpion assemblage. Distinct functional body traits were associated with the conditions of the surrounding landscape. Forest units with lower forest cover harbored species with higher average functional body traits, indicating adaptation to the urban scenario. Conversely, in areas with greater forest cover, species with smaller functional body traits predominated, suggesting habitat sensitivity and dependence on less disturbed environments. Our results indicate that scorpions may be indicators of changes in functional body traits due to land use change. These findings highlight significant implications for biodiversity conservation in the Atlantic Forest in the face of urban expansion, emphasizing the role of scorpions as key indicators of changes in functional body traits in response to the altered landscape.

Opportunities and challenges in the implementation of the Community Environment Conservation Fund: Implications for conservation of endangered tree species

AbstractThe shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), one of the indigenous tree species in sub‐Saharan Africa, is facing extinction because of its hardwood, which provides the best fuel wood, and its charcoal is the best amongst all tree species in Uganda. To conserve these trees in Northern Uganda, the Community Environment Conservation Fund was implemented to help communities harness its benefits, such as carbon sequestration, microenvironment regulation and income generation through the sale of shea nuts and shea butter. As a result, there was a need to understand the opportunities and challenges in the implementation of the Community Environment Conservation Fund. Qualitative methods like the key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used and a participatory process mapping tool called the Process Net‐Map was applied to identify the actors involved and assess their level of influence in the implementation process, eliciting the opportunities and challenges faced. The research findings showed multiple opportunities in the conservation efforts, including enhanced adoption of community‐conservation by‐laws, positive mindset change towards shea tree and environmental conservation, improved credit access, diversification of income‐generating alternatives and asset creation. However, some challenges existed during the implementation phase, including moral hazard, strategic defaulting, free riding and limited financial resources. Each of these challenges significantly impacted the effectiveness and sustainability of the fund, enlightening the need for adaptive strategies. Some strategies identified were enhancing training, especially regarding fund management and enterprise selection; increasing the startup funds to at least UGX 3,000,000 ($790) per group; incorporating the declining balance approach; and lengthening the gestation period to at least 6 months. By addressing these challenges, more resilient and sustainable conservation efforts can be made, safeguarding the invaluable shea trees for future generations.

Rainfall Patterns and Groundwater Dynamics: Implications for Soil and Water Conservation in Kodihalli Sub-Watershed, Haveri District, Karnataka, India

The Kodihalli sub-watershed (4D4D2f) is lies between 14028’23.68”-14034’20.103” North latitudes and 75026’49.224”-75031’44.208” East longitudes and covers an area of about 4398.83 ha. with an average annual rainfall of 783.0 mm (2014-2021). The maximum rainfall of 439.0 mm is received from June to September, 226.0 mm from October to early December and the remaining 118.0 mm is received during the rest of the year. The number of rainy days (&gt;2.5 mm) varied from 13-24 days per year. On an average, the number of rainy-day events likely to produce runoff (20 to 30 mm) are about 2 to 8 rainy days per year with moderate variation across the years. The Actual Evapotranspiration (AET) over the years 2014 - 2021 in the Kodihalli sub-watershed varied from 383.0 to 770.0 mm. During 2014 - 2021, the average annual AET (621.0 mm) was less than the average rainfall (783.0 mm). The average AET/P ratio between 2014-2021 was about 0.79 which is less than the sustainable limit of about 0.80. The soils of watershed viz., sandy clay loam (IR 10 mm/hr) and sandy clay (IR 14 mm/hr) resulted in more infiltration rate than clay (2 mm/hr) and clay loam soils (7 mm/hr). Soil infiltration during a rainstorm is closely related to a number of factors such as the intensity and kinetic energy of the rainfall, soil surface conditions and soil properties such as those related to aggregate stability. For effective soil and water conservation, maximum area of about 3769 ha (85.7%) requires graded bunding and 267 ha (6.06%) area requires contour bunding.

Implications for Paleontological Heritage Conservation: The Spatial Distribution and Potential Factors Controlling the Location of Fossil Sites of Shandong Province in China

Shandong Province in China is rich in paleontological fossils and has a long history of fossil research. However, research on the distribution characteristics and potential factors of discovered fossil sites in Shandong Province is limited and insufficient, making it difficult to comprehensively plan for the protection and utilization of fossil sites in Shandong Province. The study constructs a basic geographical information system (GIS) database with 133 discovered fossil sites and geological and socio-economic data of Shandong Province and studies fossil sites’ spatial distribution characteristics and the spatial relationship with potential factors at a regional scale. The results are as follows: (1) The fossil sites in Shandong Province are concentrated in the mountainous area of central Shandong and the hilly area of the Shandong Peninsula, with significant uneven distribution characteristics, including two agglomeration areas and seven sub-agglomeration areas. (2) Natural geographical conditions, such as topography, paleogeography, and stratigraphy, play a positive role in the distribution of fossil sites, and there are apparent concentrations in the following areas: at an altitude greater than 100 m; the Lower Paleozoic and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks; and the active areas of paleo-tectonics. (3) A certain degree of negative correlation exists between socio-economic conditions, such as roads and population density, and the number of fossil sites, and a positive correlation exists between disposable personal income and those fossil sites. The operational procedure presented here is a simple, objective, applicable method that can enhance our understanding of the spatial distribution patterns and influencing factors of the discovered fossil sites of Shandong Province and support more effective and appropriate planning for paleontological heritage conservation.

Remote Sensing of Residential Landscape Irrigation in Weber County, Utah: Implications for Water Conservation, Image Analysis, and Drone Applications

Analyzing irrigation patterns to promote efficient water use in urban areas is challenging. Analysis of irrigation by remote sensing (AIRS) combines multispectral aerial imagery, evapotranspiration data, and ground-truth measurements to overcome these challenges. We demonstrate AIRS on eight neighborhoods in Weber County, Utah, using 0.6 m National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) and 0.07 m drone imagery, reference evapotranspiration (ET), and water use records. We calculate the difference between the actual and hypothetical water required for each parcel and compare water use over three time periods (2018, 2021, and 2023). We find that the quantity of overwatering, as well as the number of customers overwatering, is decreasing over time. AIRS provides repeatable estimates of irrigated area and irrigation demand that allow water utilities to track water user habits and landscape changes over time and, when controlling for other variables, see if water conservation efforts are effective. In terms of image analysis, we find that (1) both NAIP and drone imagery are sufficient to measure irrigated area in urban settings, (2) the selection of a threshold value for the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) becomes less critical for higher-resolution imagery, and (3) irrigated area measurement can be enhanced by combining NDVI with other tools such as building footprint extraction, object classification, and deep learning.

Rove beetle species diversity and the patterns of interactions with their host plants in primary and secondary tropical forests

In tropical disturbed forests, it is relatively unknown the extent insect communities are experiencing shifts in species diversity and the consequences for ecosystem functions and services. In southern Mexico, we used the rove beetle community associated to Heliconia wagneriana bracts, as a model system, to investigate differences in community attributes and feeding habits between old-growth and human induced secondary forests. We tested if the beta diversity components of rove beetle communities were influenced by forest type and bract traits. Furthermore, we described the topology of individual-based heliconia-rove beetle ecological networks. Overall, we recorded 26 rove beetle species with significantly greater abundance in secondary forests. High compositional dissimilarity between forest types was observed with saprophagous species being more likely detected in old-growth forests; whereas predatory species in secondary forests. Heliconia-rove beetle networks showed a significant nested pattern with incidence data for old-growth forests and incidence and abundance data for secondary forests. Compared to old-growth forests, the rove beetle community in secondary forests showed strong shifts in species composition, diversity and differences in the detection probability of feeding habits, with consequences for ecosystem functioning. We further discuss these findings according to the forest disturbance and phytotelm systems. Implications for insect conservation: Individuals of H. wagneriana represent biodiversity reservoirs for invertebrates, especially in human-modified landscapes.

A New Aspect of Predator–Prey Dynamics: The Case of a Livestock Guardian Dog Predating upon an Invasive Coypu in Lake Kerkini, Greece

Invasive alien species frequently encounter limited natural predation pressure in their non-native ranges, which can contribute significantly to their unchecked proliferation and adverse ecological impacts. Here, we document a novel instance of a livestock guardian dog preying upon an adult coypu (Myocastor coypus) in Lake Kerkini, Greece—a significant observation given the coypu’s status as a prominent invasive species with few natural predators in Europe. The coypu’s presence in the region, coupled with the absence of effective predation among others, has allowed it to establish a robust population and exert considerable pressure on local ecosystems. This novel observation not only highlights an unusual predator–prey interaction involving a domestic mammal traditionally used for livestock management but also provides insights into understanding how domestic animals might inadvertently influence the dynamics of invasive species, potentially serving as a complementary tool in conservation management. By demonstrating that domestic dogs could play a role in controlling invasive species populations, our findings introduce a previously unconsidered aspect of invasive species management with conservation implications.

Cryo-EM structure of a natural prion: chronic wasting disease fibrils from deer

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a widely distributed prion disease of cervids with implications for wildlife conservation and also for human and livestock health. The structures of infectious prions that cause CWD and other natural prion diseases of mammalian hosts have been poorly understood. Here we report a 2.8 Å resolution cryogenic electron microscopy-based structure of CWD prion fibrils from the brain of a naturally infected white-tailed deer expressing the most common wild-type PrP sequence. Like recently solved rodent-adapted scrapie prion fibrils, our atomic model of CWD fibrils contains single stacks of PrP molecules forming parallel in-register intermolecular β-sheets and intervening loops comprising major N- and C-terminal lobes within the fibril cross-section. However, CWD fibrils from a natural cervid host differ markedly from the rodent structures in many other features, including a ~ 180° twist in the relative orientation of the lobes. This CWD structure suggests mechanisms underlying the apparent CWD transmission barrier to humans and should facilitate more rational approaches to the development of CWD vaccines and therapeutics.

Coinfection with Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) and Gammaherpesvirus in a Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) Stranded in Sri Lanka.

Following the X-Press Pearl maritime disaster off the coast of Sri Lanka, a stranded spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) was recovered, and the cause of death was investigated. Post-mortem examinations revealed evidence of by-catch, but a natural coinfection with dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) and gammaherpesvirus was detected by further analyses, marking the first documented case of a dual viral infection in this species within the region. Molecular diagnostics, including PCR and sequencing, were performed on tissue imprints collected on FTA® cards, confirming the presence of DMV in the prescapular lymph node and gammaherpesvirus in the lesions in the oral cavity. The concurrent detection of DMV and gammaherpesvirus raises significant concerns regarding the potential impacts of environmental stressors, such as chemical pollutants from the X-Press Pearl maritime disaster, on exacerbating susceptibility to viral infections in marine mammals. These findings highlight the need for ongoing surveillance of cetacean populations in the Indian Ocean to better understand pathogen circulation and health and conservation implications of anthropogenic activities on the marine ecosystem.

Vulnerability assessment of elasmobranch species to fisheries in coastal Kenya: Implications for conservation and management policies

Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) of species is useful for making informed management decisions based on relative vulnerability of species to fisheries. Understanding the vulnerability of species to fishing gears is important for targeted management measures especially for species known to have delicate life-history strategies such as the elasmobranchs. Productivity and Susceptibility Analysis (PSA), an ERA approach, was applied to 61 elasmobranch species (32 shark and 29 ray species) to assess their relative vulnerability (low, medium and high) to fishing by artisanal, prawn trawl and tuna longline fisheries in Kenya’s coastal waters. Overall, results showed 28 % of rays and 31 % of sharks were highly vulnerable to the fisheries, with the pelagic longline tuna fishery having the largest proportions of rays (50 %) and sharks (54 %) being highly vulnerable. Most of the species were in the medium vulnerability category. Among the artisanal gears, only gillnets had species that were highly vulnerable to the fishery, while relatively fewer species (n = 9) of both sharks and rays were highly vulnerable to the prawn trawlers compared to those in the medium vulnerability category (n = 25). Seventeen species classified as High Vulnerability Species Assemblage (HVSA), were assessed to be at high risk of overfishing by different gears, and are recommended for management as a complex. Of the HVSA group, two species; Pseudoginglymostoma brevicaudatum and Rhina ancylostoma are classified by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Critically Endangered (CR), while another four; Rhinoptera jayakari, Mobula birostris, Stegostoma tigrinum and Carcharhinus plumbeus are Endangered (EN), with the rest being either Vulnerable (Gymnura poecilura, Pastinachus ater, Pateobatis jenkinsii, Taeniurops meyeni, Triaenodon obsesus, Carcharhinus falciformis, and Carcharhinus carcharias), Near Threatened (Maculabatis ambigua, Mustelus mosis, Prionace glauca) or classified as Data Deficient (Pliotrema warreni). Although majority of the species have been placed in the medium vulnerability category, some of them are those that are threatened with extinction globally, calling for a more precautionary management approach. A validation approach has been used to mitigate the problems of PSAs associated with data quality and uncertainty around estimated vulnerability indices. More robust application of PSA will require continuous updating of life-history attributes to improve on sensitivity. A precautionary Shark and Ray Management Plan (SRMP) that takes into account the outputs of the PSA is recommended for management and conservation of the elasmobranch stocks in Kenya’s marine waters.

Comparative analysis of intestinal flora community composition and diversity of Anas platyrhynchos and Anser fabalis in the Yellow River Delta

Abstract The Yellow River Delta wetland is a habitat for wintering waterfowl, where mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and tundra bean goose (Anser fabalis) are commonly observed. Although the intestinal flora plays a pivotal role in maintaining host health and promoting nutrient absorption, it remains unclear whether the same overwintering habitat and challenging feeding conditions specifically affect the composition and diversity of intestinal flora in both species. Here, high-throughput sequencing was used to compare the intestinal bacterial communities of mallard and tundra bean goose from the same region. There was no significant difference in alpha diversity and beta diversity between the two species. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the two predominant phyla, accounting for more than 50.00% of the total. They enhanced the nutrient absorption and metabolic efficiency during overwintering. Catellicoccus was the most dominant genus in the intestinal flora of tundra bean goose, accounting for 33.91%, whereas Clostridium sensu stricto 1 was the most dominant genus in mallard, accounting for 7.34%. This difference is considered to be related to the feeding habits of these two species. No significant differences in the structure and diversity of intestinal bacterial communities were observed between mallard and tundra bean goose, and the similarity of intestinal flora between them was high. This study deepens our understanding of the intestinal flora of two coexisting species with different dietary preferences in the Yellow River Delta. It also lays the foundation for waterfowl disease prevention in this area, carrying significant scientific and practical implications for biodiversity and ecosystem conservation.

Growing older, growing more diverse: Sea turtles and epibiotic cyanobacteria.

Cyanobacteria are known for forming associations with various animals, including sea turtles, yet our understanding of cyanobacteria associated with sea turtles remains limited. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by investigating the diversity of cyanobacteria in biofilm samples from loggerhead sea turtle carapaces, utilizing a 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing approach. The predominant cyanobacterial order identified was Nodosilineales, with the genus Rhodoploca having the highest relative abundance. Our results suggest that cyanobacterial communities become more diverse as sea turtles age, as we observed a positive correlation between community diversity and the length of a sea turtle's carapace. Since larger and older turtles predominantly utilize neritic habitats, the shift to a more diverse cyanobacterial community aligned with a change in loggerhead habitat. Our research provides detailed insights into the cyanobacterial communities associated with loggerhead sea turtles, establishing a foundation for future studies delving into this fascinating ecological relationship and its potential implications for sea turtle conservation.

Cultural and socio-demographic drivers shape seahorse uses in Malaysia: implications for conservation

Abstract Seahorses Hippocampus spp. are commercially and culturally important to many communities. Although seahorses are widely used in traditional medicine, as curios and as aquarium fishes in Southeast Asia, documentation on the current nature and extent of culturally motivated seahorse uses in Malaysia is lacking. To examine how ethnicity and other socio-demographic drivers shape traditional medicinal use and underlying cultural beliefs involving seahorses, we administered a questionnaire-based survey during March 2021–April 2022 to members of the general public and fishers in Malaysia. Approximately one-fifth (21.0%) of respondents reported consuming seahorses (34.4% of these used seahorses for medicinal purposes, 55.2% for other non-medicinal uses and 10.4% for both types). Consumers of seahorses were from all ethnic groups except for Indigenous groups. In the general public group, medicinal use was more common amongst the Chinese respondents, whereas in the fisher group, other uses were more common amongst the Malay respondents. Amongst the threats facing seahorses, which include overfishing, habitat destruction, bycatch and ocean plastic pollution, only bycatch was perceived as a major threat by most of the general public and fisher respondents. The relatively low prevalence of reported seahorse use amongst Malaysians is an encouraging finding from a conservation perspective. However, the high proportion of non-medicinal uses indicates the need to focus on such other uses to ensure the sustainability of seahorse use in Malaysia.

Mitochondrial genome of the Indian spot-billed duck and its phylogenetic and conservation implications.

The Indian spot-billed duck, Anas poecilorhyncha is a large dabbling and non-migratory breeding bird. The identification and phylogenetic relationship of A. poecilorhyncha remain uncertain due to the presence of overlapping meristic characters and hybridization with closely related species. Molecular data aids when there are challenges in morphological identification. However, genetic characterization of A. poecilorhyncha has been paid less attention. Apart from their functional and physiological role, mitochondrial genome can also be used for various purposes, including species identification, phylogenetic analysis, understanding the domestication history of species etc. Therefore, the present study aimed to sequence the mitochondrial genome of A. poecilorhyncha and its closely related domestic species A. platyrhynchos (mallard duck) to understand their mitochondrial genome structure and phylogenetic relationships. The length of mitochondrial genome of A. poecilorhyncha and A. platyrhynchos was 16,608 and 16,604bp respectively. Mitochondrial genome contained 37 genes and a non-coding control region. Overall, the characteristics of mitochondrial genome of both species were found to be conserved. The phylogenetic tree exhibited seven major clades (A to G) with a high bootstrap support. Notably, the Indian A. poecilorhyncha population formed a distinct clade (C) whereas the A. poecilorhyncha that were probably sampled from China grouped along with A. zonorhyncha (clade B). Besides, one of the A. poecilorhyncha probably sampled from China was placed in the clade A, which predominantly consisted of A. platyrhynchos. It suggests that Indian A. poecilorhyncha population is genetically different from Chinese A. poecilorhyncha population. Further, it sheds light on the importance of conducting a comprehensive phylogenetic study on these species. The newly sequenced mitochondrial genome of A. poecilorhyncha and A. platyrhynchos would be useful not only to have a better understanding of the phylogeny and evolution of Anas species but also to help in the conservation of A. poecilorhyncha which is under constant threat from rapid urbanization, interspecific hybridization and other human activities.