Implications For Conservation Research Articles

Genome of Halimeda opuntia reveals differentiation of subgenomes and molecular bases of multinucleation and calcification in algae

Algae mostly occur either as unicellular (microalgae) or multicellular (macroalgae) species, both being uninucleate. There are important exceptions, however, as some unicellular algae are multinucleate and macroscopic, some of which inhabit tropical seas and contribute to biocalcification and coral reef robustness. The evolutionary mechanisms and ecological significance of multinucleation and associated traits (e.g., rapid wound healing) are poorly understood. Here, we report the genome of Halimeda opuntia, a giant multinucleate unicellular chlorophyte characterized by interutricular calcification. We achieve a high-quality genome assembly that shows segregation into four subgenomes, with evidence for polyploidization concomitant with historical sea level and climate changes. We further find myosin VIII missing in H. opuntia and three other unicellular multinucleate chlorophytes, suggesting a potential mechanism that may underpin multinucleation. Genome analysis provides clues about how the unicellular alga could survive fragmentation and regenerate, as well as potential signatures for extracellular calcification and the coupling of calcification with photosynthesis. In addition, proteomic alkalinity shifts were found to potentially confer plasticity of H. opuntia to ocean acidification (OA). Our study provides crucial genetic information necessary for understanding multinucleation, cell regeneration, plasticity to OA, and different modes of calcification in algae and other organisms, which has important implications in reef conservation and bioengineering.

Modelling the Distribution and Habitat Suitability of the European Wildcat (Felis silvestris) in North-Western Spain and Its Conservation Implications.

Human activities have resulted in severe habitat degradation and fragmentation at a global scale. Despite this scenario, some carnivore species that adapted to the new conditions are expanding, leading to close coexistence with humans and the emergence of potential conflicts. In this work, we used a European wildcat (Felis silvestris) observations database of more than 350 sightings over 17 years in NW Spain to build suitability models based on environmental, topographic, climatic, and human impact variables. MaxEnt was used to analyse the availability of suitable habitats for the species at a regional scale. Our results showed that less than one third of the suitable area for the species had confirmed wildcat presence. Elevation, the percentage of forested area, and footpath density were the three main variables conditioning wildcat presence, with the first two variables having positive effects and footpath density negatively affecting wildcat presence. The selection of high areas and forest areas by the species seems to be related to food availability, while the avoidance of footpaths seems to be related to the fact that main mortality causes are linked to human disturbances. The results enhance the understanding of the European wildcat ecology and provide insight into potential management plans to ensure the conservation of one of the main populations of the species throughout its range.

Birds as sacred ‘children of god’, beholders of spirit and symbols of twinhood: Human–bird interaction among the Nuer in western Ethiopia

Abstract The deep connection between Indigenous communities and nature plays a pivotal role in biodiversity conservation. Ethiopia, one of Africa's priority countries for bird conservation, harbours 821 bird species and 83 ethnic groups of Indigenous people. However, cultural and spiritual ties between Indigenous peoples and bird species remain largely unexplored. This is particularly true for remote Indigenous communities such as the Nuer. Relying on preexisting bird survey data, we conducted focussed group discussions and semi‐structured interviews with Indigenous Nuer in western Ethiopia to explore human–bird interactions and documented associated traditional ecological knowledge and considered their conservation implications. We found that Nuers have strong ties with birds. In Nuer community, birds are collectively known by three interchangeable terms: ‘gaatkuoth’ to mean sacred children of god, ‘kuoth’ meaning bearers of spirit and ‘diit’ symbols of human twins (since birds nurture multiple offspring, they associate the incidence of twins in human with birds). We identified 71 culturally important bird species that were used in seven different use categories. Among these species, 10 were used as bushmeat, five for traditional medicine, eight as fish indicators, seven as omens (believed to indicate upcoming misfortunes), three as amulets (believed to protect against danger when bird's body parts are used as necklaces and bracelets), three as season indicators and 45 for their scenic beauty. An informant consensus factor for species in all use categories was >90%, except for the scenic value, indicating a high homogeneity of knowledge about species uses. Bird species with multiple uses have significant cultural values among locals, emphasizing the need to understand these values in conservation efforts. Nuer traditional systems regulate the direct use of birds including for bushmeat. Hunting is permitted only by impoverished households during severe food shortages and is prohibited for those with a history of twins in their ancestry. The Nuer people exhibit a profound cultural connection to birds, viewing them as sacred and spiritually valuable beings. This deep‐seated reverence and traditional knowledge highlight the importance of integrating Indigenous perspectives into bird conservation strategies to enhance their effectiveness and respect cultural values. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Quantifying species biases among multidata sources on illegal wildlife trade and its implications for conservation.

Unsustainable wildlife consumption and illegal wildlife trade (IWT) threaten biodiversity worldwide. Although publicly accessible data sets are increasingly used to generate insights into IWT, little is known about their potential bias. We compared three typical and temporally corresponding data sets (4204 court verdicts, 926 seizure news reports, and 219 bird market surveys) on traded birds native to China and evaluated their possible species biases. Specifically, we evaluated bias and completeness of sampling for species richness, phylogeny, conservation status, spatial distribution, and life-history characteristics among the three data sets when determining patterns of illegal trade. Court verdicts contained the largest species richness. In bird market surveys and seizure news reports, phylogenetic clustering was greater than that in court verdicts, where songbird species (i.e., Passeriformes) were detected in higher proportions in market surveys. The seizure news data set contained the highest proportion of species of high conservation priority but the lowest species coverage. Across the country, all data sets consistently reported relatively high species richness in south and southwest regions, but markets revealed a northern geographic bias. The species composition in court verdicts and markets also exhibited distinct geographical patterns. There was significant ecological trait bias when we modeled whether a bird species is traded in the market. Our regression model suggested that species with small body masses, large geographical ranges, and a preference for anthropogenic habitats and those that are not nationally protected were more likely to be traded illegally. The species biases we found emphasize the need to know the constraints of each data set so that they can optimally inform strategies to combat IWT.

Analysing Micro-Level Rainfall Trends: Implications for Water Conservation in Paravanar River Basin

High-intensity, short-duration rainfall resulting in flood hazards is one of the significant challenges now. On the other hand, this basin is affected by drought in the subsequent years because of the lack of conservation of floodwater and high elevation difference. Rainfall analysis is the preliminary study for suggesting the type of water conservation measures. This study analyzes the trend and change point at a micro-scale with its village boundaries for the Paravanar River basin. One hundred forty-eight villages under six blocks have increasing trends, 28 towns in the summer season using rain gauge dataset show decreasing trends which are considered negligible, and the rest of the villages have no trends. It is identified that; trend analysis works well with the extended data record. 1991 is the trend change point for gridded data, and 1995 is for the rain gauge data. The main aim of this study is to analyze the rainfall trends and their change point at a micro level and suggest mitigation measures with the indigenous facilities.

Functional traits of ecosystem engineers as predictors of associated fauna

The ongoing combination of global warming and increased anthropogenic pressure is causing latitudinal shifts in marine species, potentially impacting community composition, local richness, and marine trophic webs. This study investigates the factors influencing the distribution and diversity of intertidal seaweed and associated peracarid communities, including their functional traits, and explores various facets of beta diversity (taxonomic and functional). We hypothesize that: 1) abiotic factors such as temperature and anthropogenic pressure significantly influence seaweed distribution and diversity shifts, and 2) changes in seaweed functional diversity have an impact on the diversity and functioning of its associated peracarid communities. The sampling was conducted along a wide latitudinal gradient in the NE Atlantic (27°N - 65°N), encompassing three distinct ecoregions: Northern European coasts, the Iberian Peninsula, and Macaronesia. The identified seaweed and peracarid species were classified functionally, and taxonomic and functional diversity were analysed on a large geographic scale. The northern region exhibited large brown canopy seaweeds and epibiotic isopods, while Macaronesia featured small red, highly branched, and calcareous crust seaweeds with burrower and tube-building tanaids. The Iberian Peninsula acted as a transitional zone, showcasing a mix of green, red, and brown seaweeds, along with Amphipoda peracarids found across all ecoregions. Our findings underscore the impact of geographic distance on total beta diversity, revealing distinct seaweed and peracarid communities across spatial gradients. Environmental variables, particularly pH and maximum sea surface temperature, emerged as significant factors influencing beta diversity patterns of seaweeds, indicating the potential impact of acidification and heat waves on community composition. In addition, seaweed functional traits were shown to be significant in shaping the diversity and abundance of associated peracarid assemblages, impacting both taxonomic and functional beta diversity. These findings provide crucial insights into the factors influencing the biogeography and biodiversity dynamics of intertidal seaweeds and associated peracarids, offering essential implications for conservation and management strategies amid ongoing environmental changes.

Density, occupancy and detectability of tortoise species (Chelonoidis spp.) in the Atlantic Forest: implications for conservation and management

ABSTRACT Understanding the distribution, abundance and detectability of species is pivotal for effective conservation and management strategies. This study investigated the populations of Chelonoidis denticulatus and Chelonoidis carbonarius within one of the largest remnants of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil (Vale Natural Reserve). The aim was to evaluate species abundance, factors influencing occupancy and detectability, and implications for conservation. Sampling occurred from 2015 to 2018 across 24 line transects. We measured climate and landscape variables potentially associated with species occurrence in each transect. We used the Royle–Nichols model to estimate abundance, while occupancy modelling assessed occupancy, detectability, and the effects of variables. The estimated population size of both species (C. denticulatus: 153 individuals, C. carbonarius: 105 individuals) was notably lower than in Amazonian areas. Detectability surged after rainfall, exceeding 70% with at least 55 mm of rain on the prior day. Occupancy of C. denticulatus correlated positively with forest cover, while both species were negatively affected by distance from water. The study’s findings signal potential critical conditions for Chelonoidis species in the Atlantic Forest. The small estimated populations, coupled with their reliance on water availability and forest cover for occupancy and detectability, pose significant conservation challenges. As climate change threatens the planet, these factors assume heightened significance. Given the alarming scenario of potentially critical population status within the Atlantic Forest, urgent attention is needed for robust conservation strategies. Strengthening ecological knowledge specific to this biome is essential to developing effective measures that counter the impacts of habitat loss, climate change and other threats. This study underscores the importance of preserving water resources and forest cover within the Atlantic Forest to secure the future of Chelonoidis species and highlights the need for comprehensive, targeted conservation efforts.

Exploration of Genetic Variation and Population Structure in Bergenia ciliata for its Conservation Implications.

Bergenia ciliata (Haw.)Sternb. is a perennial medicinal herb distributed in Indian Himalayan Region(IHR). A total of eight populations of B.ciliata were collected from diverse locales of IHR, and 17 EST-SSR markers were used in this study. The present study revealed moderate genetic diversity at the locus level with the mean number of alleles (Na = 7.823), mean number effective of alleles (Ne = 3.375), mean expected heterozygosity (He = 0.570), and meanShannon's diversity index (I = 1.264). The MSR (He = 0.543, I = 1.067) and DRJ populations (He = 0.309, I = 0.519) revealed the highest and lowest genetic diversity at the population level, respectively. AMOVA analysis showed that 81.76% of genetic variation was within populations, 10.55% was among populations, and 7.69% was among the regions. In addition, a moderate to high level of differentiation was found among the populations (FST = 0.182), which could be indicative of low to moderate gene flow (Nm = 0.669) in the B. ciliata populations. UPGMA and PCoA analysis revealed that eight populations could be differentiated into two groups, while the structure analysis of the 96 individuals differentiated into three groups. The Mantel test showed a positive relationship between genetic and geographical distance. The findings of this study will provide the development of conservation and germplasm management strategies for this valuable medicinal species.

Chilli Cakes: A Nature-Based Solution for Enhancing Human-Wildlife Coexistence and Socio-Economic Resilience in Zimbabwe

Abstract Gonarezhou National Park (GNP) in Zimbabwe is home to a thriving population of African elephants ( Loxodonta africana ). However, this population faces constant threats stemming from human encroachment and habitat degradation, exacerbated by unplanned cultivation and a growing number of domestic livestock. As human and elephant interactions increase, so does the incidence of human-elephant conflict (HEC), posing a significant risk to both communities and elephants alike. This conflict jeopardizes the survival of elephants that venture beyond the confines of the protected area. In defence, the farmers employ various strategies to minimize HECs, including burning chilli peppers, beating drums and fire, deploying bee hives, employing dogs, and utilizing other defensive measures. A study conducted in 2019 identified HEC hot spots through GPS-tracking elephants. A collaboration with affected farmers was then sought in developing a more sustainable solution for mitigating HEC. As a result, a novel product named “Chilli Cake” was developed, drawing upon traditional knowledge and innovative science techniques to deter elephants from raiding crops. The chilli cake initiative successfully reduced HECs and improved crop protection for farmers in Malipati. These findings carry significant implications for elephant conservation through the promotion of coexistence between wildlife and people while promoting community resilience which is the basis for sustainable development in Zimbabwe and beyond. Information © The Authors 2024

Environmental DNA as Early Warning for Alien Species in Mediterranean Coastal Lagoons: Implications for Conservation and Management

Non-indigenous species (NIS) introduction notoriously threatens the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, Mediterranean coastal lagoons play a crucial role as nurseries for marine species, which new NIS arrivals can threaten. Therefore, monitoring and early warning of NIS presence is essential in preserving biodiversity. An innovative technique for rapid and accurate species identification and biodiversity screening is the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. In this research, different Penaeidae (Arthropoda, Crustacea, Decapoda) NIS specimens were collected from a Mediterranean coastal lagoon after an early warning about a potentially invasive NIS arising from next-generation sequencing data. DNA barcoding of the DNA extracted from tissue samples and amplified with specifically designed primer pairs led to the recognition of Penaeus aztecus in this NATURA 2000 protected ecosystem for the first time. DNA barcoding from DNA isolated from the water where the living specimens were stored further validated the possibility of identifying P. aztecus starting from eDNA. This approach demonstrated the validity of environmental DNA analysis in the early screening of potentially invasive NIS presence in Mediterranean protected areas and ecosystems. This work describes an applicative example of the efficacy in improving the biomonitoring of lagoon ecosystems using molecular tools and it represents a guideline for the validation of eDNA metabarcoding data for the presence of potentially invasive species.

Phyto-sociological changes in the Goima Forest, Gujarat due to human disturbances and their implications for conservation

Aim: The study aimed to understand the phytosociological changes by the impact of forest fringe human disturbance on the Goima forest of Valsad district in Gujarat. Methodology: The study area was classified into different tree canopy density and disturbance classes, and ecological indices were calculated for each class following the quadrate survey method. Results: A total of 772 individual plants of 141 species from 53 families were recorded during quadrate sampling, with variations in aspects being especially important predictors of biotic diversity. The study found that the maximum taxa of trees (30), herbs (24), and grasses (7) were reported in the high-disturbance class, while for shrubs (16) and climbers (10), it was in the middle-disturbance class. Dominance (D)was higher in the moderately dense forest as well as in the moderate disturbance class for trees (0.11, 0.13), shrubs (0.24, 0.21), herbs (0.13, 0.12), but for climbers, D was higher in dense forest (0.40) and in moderate disturbance class (0.22), and for grasses, it was higher in the moderately dense forest (0.69) and less disturbed class (0.58). Shannon's index (H) for trees (2.93), herbs (2.85), and grasses (1.68) was maximum in the higher disturbance class, while for shrubs (2.23) and climbers (2.10), it was highest in the low disturbance class. Interpretation: The study highlights that the phytosociology of the Goima forest changes due to human disturbances. The importance of understanding and conserving biodiversity in the Goima forest, especially given its unique flora and its critical role in supporting local communities. The research provides valuable scientific information that can aid in the better management and protection of the forest area. Key words: Canopy class, Goima forest, Human disturbance, Phytodiversity, Species distribution

Whole-Genome Analyses Reveal the Distinct Taxonomic Status of the Hainan Population of Endangered Rucervus eldii and Its Conservation Implications.

Eld's deer Rucervus eldii (McClelland, 1842) is an ungulate that lives in tropical lowland forests in several countries of Indochina and Hainan Island of China. Its remaining population is small and scattered, and the species is listed as an Endangered species on the IUCN Red List. The debate over the taxonomic status of the Hainan population has persisted for over a century-as an island-endemic subspecies R. e. hainanus, or an insular population of the subspecies R. e. siamensis, would have significant conservation implications. And, given the Hainan population had experienced both population bottleneck and multiple translocations in the past, conservation genomics would be a powerful tool to evaluate the genetic impacts of these events. In this study, we used conservation genomics assessment to study population differentiation and genetic diversity of R. e. siamensis in Cambodia and three Eld's deer subpopulations on Hainan Island. Based on the unique genetic profile and demographic analysis, this study corroborated previous studies using genetic markers that the Hainan Eld's deer warrants the taxonomic status of a distinct subspecies. The Hainan population exhibits a reduction in genetic diversity and an increase in the level of inbreeding when compared to the population of Cambodia. The signs of purifying selection were found against homozygous loss-of-function mutations to decrease the deleterious burden in the Hainan population. However, there was an accumulation of more deleterious missense mutations. Furthermore, significant differences in genetic diversity and level of inbreeding found among the three Hainan subpopulations indicated population isolation and suboptimal translocation strategies, which calls for urgent, coordinated, and science-based genetic management to ensure the long-term viability of the endemic subspecies hainanus. This study provides guidance for the conservation and management of Eld's deer.

The complete chloroplast genome of Elaeagnus bambusetorum hand.-mazz. 1933 and its implications for phylogenetic relationships in the Elaeagnus genus

Elaeagnus bambusetorum Hand.-Mazz. is a rare plant from China in the Elaeagnaceae family. In this study, we sequenced its complete chloroplast genome. The whole chloroplast genome was 152,265 bp in length, containing a pair of inverted repeats of 25,897 bp, separated by large single copy and small single copy regions of 82,291 bp and 18,180 bp, respectively. The complete genome contained 113 genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. The overall GC content was 37.1%. Phylogenetic analysis using the whole chloroplast genome revealed that E. bambusetorum is sister to E. loureirii and E. conferta. Our study provides valuable insights into the genetic information of E. bambusetorum, which may have important implications for species conservation.

Redistribution of vocal snapping shrimps under climate change

A variety of marine organisms can produce sounds that are important components of the marine soundscape and play a critical role in maintaining marine biodiversity. Climate change has greatly altered the geographical ranges of many marine species, including sound-producing organisms. However, the direction and the magnitude of the potential impact of climate change on the geographical distribution of sound-producing marine organisms in future remain largely unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we selected snapping shrimp, one of the most well-known marine sound-producing organisms, as a model species and explored their redistribution under climate change via species distribution models. We aimed to predict the redistribution of snapping shrimps under climate change and identify the influencing factors, which have important implications for marine conservation. Our models exhibited good discrimination abilities and identified maximum temperature as the most influential predictor of snapping shrimp distribution. Model predictions suggested that species richness is higher in tropical and temperate coastal waters and peaks in the Indo-Pacific region. The majority of snapping shrimp species are expected to respond to the changing climate by shifting their geographical ranges to deeper waters and higher latitudes. Our results showed that, in the future, high-latitude species were more likely to experience range expansion, whereas low-latitude species might experience range contraction. Moreover, the Central Indo-Pacific are predicted to suffer the biggest decline in species richness, whereas areas such as the coastal waters of southern Australia and northern China might serve as climate refuges for snapping shrimps in the future. In summary, this study highlights the potential effects of climate change on the distribution of sound-producing snapping shrimps, which may result in cascading effects on marine ecosystems.

Generalist species exhibit more genetic structure in comparison to a habitat specialist: Evidence from a phylogeographic study of two freshwater crabs (Decapoda: Potamonautidae: Potamonautes), implications for habitat conservation.

During the present study, the phylogeography of the wetland specialist, freshwater crab, Potamonautes flavusjo, was investigated and compared to that of the ubiquitous, generalist, P. sidneyi, using DNA sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit one (COI). We inferred the evolutionary history of each species and compared their population-level genetic structure by constructing haplotype networks and using an analysis of molecular variation. Additionally, we explored the evolutionary relationship between southern African lentic and lotic freshwater crab species by examining the usefulness of carapace attributes in relation to genetic indices and a species' assumed dispersal capacity. In the lentic species, P. flavusjo, a single interconnected haplocluster characterized by shared haplotypes was observed, suggesting marked maternal dispersal, a result corroborated by the low F ST values. In contrast, for the lotic species, P. sidneyi two distinct haploclusters and marked genetic differentiation was observed indicating the absence of maternal dispersal, a result corroborated by the high F ST values. The phylogenetic relationship in P. sidneyi was further investigated using a maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses with the addition of sequence data from the mitochondrial 16S rRNA locus to estimate divergence times. Three species delimitation methods (ASAP, PTP, and bGMYC) were used to explore the presence of distinct lineages in P. sidneyi. The phylogenetic results indicated that within P. sidneyi two clades were present, while divergence time estimates suggest cladogenesis during the middle to late Pleistocene. The species delimitation methods used showed moderate congruence, however all oversplit the number of putative lineages. Our results indicated that P. sidneyi is a species complex comprised of two cryptic lineages, occurring in sympatry contemporarily possibly alluding to secondary contact. Carapace height was found to have no discernible influence on the genetic indices and presumed dispersal capabilities of mainland southern African freshwater crab species. The importance of our results are discussed in terms of conservation of freshwater habitats.

Governance Practices in Mitigating Human-Elephant Conflicts in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam

Abstract Human-elephant conflicts (HEC) have become a significant concern due to their implications for both biodiversity conservation and human livelihoods. It has become a serious issue in Asian countries, particularly in Vietnam. This paper explores the effective governance strategies and good practices to mitigate human-elephant conflict in Dong Nai province, Vietnam. Through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and secondary data analysis, this article aims to identify and evaluate the practices that have been employed to mitigate these conflicts. The participatory observation was conducted over ten years, from 2013 to 2023, and 28 interviews were carried out with conservation experts, local government officials and residents. As a result, the study identified the causes, solutions, and outcomes of 10 years of governance practices addressing HEC. It also found an increase in the elephant population and improvement in their health status in Dong Nai. Importantly, the study found that good governance practices have reduced conflict and improved local livelihoods. Finally, this article proposes a governance model for human-elephant conflict mitigation operated by a triangular connection between the state, the community, and conservation groups in initial strategies related to minimizing human-elephant conflict. This model aims to achieve two main goals: protecting elephant herds, increasing their population, and safeguarding agricultural production areas. These findings provide insights for policymakers, conservationists, and local communities in their efforts to achieve harmonious coexistence between humans and elephants.

Measuring standardized functional leaf traits of aquatic carnivorous plants – challenges and opportunities

Aquatic carnivorous plants (ACP) are an important component of humic nutrient-poor freshwater environments. However, these habitats are facing multiple impacts that ultimately lead to habitat degradation and declining ACP populations. Functional traits, particularly those within the leaf economics spectrum, are a valuable tool for studying plant adaptation strategies and plasticity. Given their unique morphological structure, ACP are essentially excluded from functional comparisons, which potentially limits our knowledge about the ecological roles of these species compared to non-carnivorous ones. In this study, we developed a protocol for measuring the leaf functional traits of ACP (leaf fresh and dry weight, leaf area, leaf dry matter content, specific leaf area, leaf pigment content, leaf phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon contents), and carnivory-related traits (number of traps and investment in carnivory). We measured 15 traits in seven ACP species (Aldrovanda vesiculosa, Utricularia australis, U. bremii, U. intermedia, U. ochroleuca, U. stygia, U. vulgaris), grown in the outdoor collection of aquatic and wetland plants of the Institute of Botany CAS at Třeboň, the Czech Republic. We used the functional traits of other macrophyte groups/species (lemnids, Nuphar lutea, Ceratophyllum demersum), collected with a similar methodology, to assess the comparability of ACP traits. We identified the “functional unit”, a modular structure, including one leaf node, plus an internode, which performs the function of a leaf in ACP, and selected its position along the stem to reflect species-specific growth rates. We collected 714 new trait records for the target ACP. Based on a multivariate trait space representation (PCA), ACP were distinct from the other macrophyte groups/species, which highlights these species’ structural and physiological peculiarities. Nonetheless, ACP entirely overlapped the comparison data along the first PCA axis, and most of the traits lay within the ranges observed for other macrophyte groups/species, which demonstrates the comparability of the ACP traits measured by the new protocol. Applying this protocol in ecological studies could shed light on the adaptations of ACP to environmental variability, with important conservation implications.

Analysis of the genetic diversity and population structure of Tilia amurensis from China using SSR markers: Implications for conservation

Tilia amurensis is a deciduous broad-leaved tree in the Malvaceae family. It is one of the second-class key protected wild plants in China. The evaluation of genetic polymorphisms of crucial protected species is necessary for conserving germplasm resources. In this study, 15 pairs of highly polymorphic SSR primers were used to analyse the genetic diversity of eight T. amurensis populations and the population structure of nine Tilia populations distributed in China. At the population level (Na = 6.050, Ne = 2.930, I = 1.123, HO = 0.485, HE = 0.523), there was a high level of genetic diversity. The AMOVA results showed that 12 % and 88 % of the total variation occurred among and within populations, respectively. The degree of genetic differentiation was moderate (FST = 0.124), and the level of gene flow was high (Nm = 1.763). The results of UPGMA cluster analysis, PCoA and structure analysis (ΔK = 2) revealed different degrees of gene introgression between the eight T. amurensis populations and Tilia japonica as the outgroup. These findings have important implications for formulating appropriate conservation strategies.

Fire effects on itacolomi quartzites from stonework historical buildings: implications for conservation of the cultural heritage

Fire effects on itacolomi quartzites from stonework historical buildings: implications for conservation of the cultural heritage

Changing the focus: The need for cross-scale dynamic management in the Southern Ocean and implications for holistic conservation of Antarctic marine living resources

The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) establishes the regulatory framework for fisheries management and the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in the Southern Ocean. Identifying foraging areas regularly used by penguins provides valuable information for the small-scale management of the krill fishery and the design of MPAs, currently under discussion in CCAMLR. We used geolocators to identify the areas used by Adélie penguins from Ardley Island (South Shetlands Islands) during the non-breeding season and Stable Isotope Analysis (SIA) (δ13 C and δ15 N) on feathers to study the trophic niche. Adélie penguins depended on resources available in CCAMLR subareas 48.1 and 48.5 during the post-breeding and molting stage, the subarea 48.5 during the post-molting stage and subareas 48.1, 48.2 and 48.5 during the pre-breeding stage, critical moments of the species’ annual cycle. The Domain 1, Weddell Sea and SOISS MPA proposal areas were extensively used. SIA results show the use of coastal and off-shore foraging areas in 2022, but principally off-shore areas in 2021. Adélie penguins dependence on resources from different subareas in different times of the year emphasizes the need of incorporating the temporal dimension of resources utilization when designing conservation measures in the Southern Ocean. With an increasing pressure on Adélie penguin colonies in the western Antarctic Peninsula, its long-term protection might depend on both 1) well designed and managed MPAs in the Domain 1 and the Weddell Sea, and 2) small-scale fisheries management that simultaneously consider activities undertaken in different small-scale management units.