Implications For Conservation Research Articles

Phylogeographic analyses of an endemic Neotropical fox (Lycalopex vetulus) reveal evidence of hybridization with a different canid species (L. gymnocercus).

The hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus) is the only species of the Canidae (Mammalia: Carnivora) endemic to Brazil, and so far has been the target of few genetic studies. Using microsatellites and mtDNA markers, we investigated its present genetic diversity and population structure. We also tested the hypothesis that this species currently hybridizes with the pampas fox (L. gymnocercus), as suggested by previous mtDNA data from two individuals. We collected tissue and blood samples from animals representing most of the two species' distributions in Brazil (n = 87), including their recently discovered geographic contact zone in São Paulo state. We observed that the hoary fox exhibits high levels of genetic diversity and low levels of population structure. We identified six individuals from São Paulo state with clear evidence of hybridization based on introgressed pampas fox mtDNA and/or admixed microsatellite genotypes (three individuals bore both types of evidence). These results demonstrate the existence of admixed individuals between hoary and pampas foxes in southeastern Brazil, representing the first identified case of inter-species admixture between native South American canids. We discuss our findings in the context of the evolutionary history of these foxes and address potential conservation implications of this interspecies hybridization process.

Greenery hypothesis: An evolutionary explanation for why presence/absence of green affects humans

Abstract A growing body of empirical evidence shows that experiences of nature provide people with diverse psychological benefits, including improved cognitive function and mental health. While our understanding of the proximate causes of these positive psychological responses of humans to nature has advanced, the ultimate (evolutionary) drivers behind them remain poorly understood. In this study, we provide a summary of several widely accepted evolutionary hypotheses originating from Biophilia, reviewing their challenges and limitations. Subsequently, we propose a new evolutionary psychological hypothesis—the greenery hypothesis—that integrates recent findings in evolutionary psychiatry with many experimental results unexplained by existing hypotheses/theories. Our proposed hypothesis states that humans have adapted to periodic severe drought and re‐watering cycles by developing both negative and positive psychological responses to the absence or presence of greenery within the landscape as cues to optimise their own behavioural activity. The greenery hypothesis holds the potential to yield several insights into the fundamental understanding of human psychological responses to nature exposure with significant implications for various related fields, including psychiatry, urban planning, and biodiversity conservation and restoration. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Strands of connection: unraveling livestock grazing effects on orb-weaver spiders

AbstractStudies on the effects of grazing disturbances in grasslands have shown mixed results for spider diversity, mainly regarding their guilds. While ungrazing, low, and moderate grazing potentially enhance the diversity of orb-weavers in spider communities, heavy grazing seems to reduce species’ richness. On the population level though, studies of orb-weavers are scarce, and the effects of grazing in natural grasslands are unknown. In this way, we investigated the effects of different grazing levels on population persistence of orb-weaver spiders, hypothesizing that low to intermediate disturbances benefit populations. We predict that high grazing, due to the removal of vegetation structure, will negatively affect the occupancy and abundance of orb-weavers. For that, we experimentally controlled grazing pressure and obtained population occurrence and counts of two orb-weaver spider species, Argiope argentata and Alpaida quadrilorata. We found that A. argentata was negatively affected by grazing, as it relies on higher vegetation for web-building. In contrast, A. quadrilorata, which occurs in cattle-resistant rosette plants, showed no effects of grazing. Implications for insect conservation: Our study emphasizes the need for balanced grazing practices and habitat conservation to protect orb-weaver spiders and other arthropods, as well as species-specific effects for species from the same guild, underscoring their ecological significance in maintaining ecosystem stability.

Cloud-Based Remote Sensing and Analysis of Vegetation Cover Changes in Key Regions of Oceania

The main objective of this research is to use cloud platforms to conduct a shallow survey of vegetation cover variations in Oceania. It is well-known that compared with the northern hemisphere, Oceania has a more unique ecosystem. The geographic position of Oceania is close to the equator. Therefore, the climate of some regions in Oceania is warm and has full precipitation, which is different from that in the Northern Hemisphere. This considerably influences changes in vegetation cover and makes comprehending vegetation cover tendency important for environmental protection measures. The change in vegetation cover from 2015 to 2022 was analyzed using cloud technology and remote sensing data. My findings mainly include the expansion and reduction of vegetation cover in major regions of Oceania. These results provide valuable insight into the dynamic properties of Oceanian ecosystems. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the ecological environment in Oceania and highlights the potential of cloud platforms in remote sensing and ecological monitoring. These findings have important implications for environmental policies, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable resource management in the region.

Original plant diversity and ecosystems of a small, remote oceanic island (Corvo, Azores): Implications for biodiversity conservation

Remote islands harbour many endemic species and unique ecosystems. They are also some of the world's most human-impacted systems. It is essential to understand how island species and ecosystems behaved prior to major anthropogenic disruption as a basis for their conservation. This research aims to reconstruct the original, pre-colonial biodiversity of a remote oceanic island to understand the scale of past extinctions, vegetation changes and biodiversity knowledge gaps.We studied fossil remains from the North Atlantic island of Corvo (Azores), including pollen, charcoal, plant macrofossils, diatoms and geochemistry of wetland sediments from the central crater of the island, Caldeirão. A comprehensive list of current vascular plant species was compiled, along with a translation table comparing fossilized pollen to plant species and a framework for identifying extinctions and misclassifications.Pollen and macrofossils provide evidence for eight local extinctions from the island's flora and show that four species listed as ‘introduced’ are native. Up to 23 % of the pollen taxa represent extinct/misclassified species. Corvo's past environment was dynamic, shifting from glacial-era open vegetation to various Holocene forest communities, then almost completely deforested by fires, erosion and grazing following Portuguese colonisation. Historical human impacts explain high ecological turnover, several unrecorded extinctions and the present-day abundance of vegetation types like Sphagnum blanket mire.We use Corvo as a case study on how fossil inventories can address the Wallacean and Hookerian biodiversity knowledge gaps on remote islands. Accurate baselines allow stakeholders to make informed conservation decisions using limited financial and human resources, particularly on islands where profound anthropogenic disruption occurred before comprehensive ecological research.

Impact of Climate Change on the Distribution of Three Rare Salamanders (Liua shihi, Pseudohynobius jinfo, and Tylototriton wenxianensis) in Chongqing, China, and Their Conservation Implications.

The Wushan Salamander (Liua shihi), Jinfo Salamander (Pseudohynobius jinfo), and Wenxian Knobby Salamander (Tylototriton wenxianensis) are rare national Class II protected wild animals in China. We performed MaxEnt modeling to predict and analyze the potential distribution and trends of these species in Chongqing under current and future climate conditions. Species distribution data were primarily obtained from field surveys, supplemented by museum collections and the existing literature. These efforts yielded 636 records, including 43 for P. jinfo, 23 for T. wenxianensis, and 570 for L. shihi. Duplicate records within the same 100 m × 100 m grid cell were removed using ENMTools, resulting in 10, 12, and 58 valid distribution points for P. jinfo, T. wenxianensis, and L. shihi, respectively. The optimization of feature class parameters (FC) and the regularization multiplier (RM) were applied using R package "ENMeval 2.0" to establish the optimal model with MaxEnt. The refined models were applied to simulate the suitable distribution areas for the three species. The results indicate that the current suitable habitat area for L. shihi accounted for 9.72% of the whole region of the Chongqing municipality. It is projected that, by 2050, the proportion of suitable habitat will increase to 12.54% but will decrease to 11.98% by 2070 and further decline to 8.80% by 2090. The current suitable habitat area for P. jinfo accounted for 1.08% of the whole region of the Chongqing municipality, which is expected to decrease to 0.31%% by 2050, 0.20% by 2070, and 0.07% by 2090. The current suitable habitat area for T. wenxianensis accounted for 0.81% of the whole region of the Chongqing municipality, which is anticipated to decrease to 0.37% by 2050, 0.21% by 2070, and 0.06% by 2090. Human disturbance, climate variables, and habitat characteristics are the primary factors influencing the distribution of three salamander species in Chongqing. The proximity to roads significantly impacts L. shihi, while climate conditions mainly affect P. jinfo, and the distance to water sources is crucial for T. wenxianensis. The following suggestions were made based on key variables identified for each species: (1) For L. shihi, it is imperative to minimize human disturbances and preserve areas without roads and the existing vegetation within nature reserves to ensure their continued existence. (2) For P. jinfo, the conservation of high-altitude habitats is of utmost importance, along with the reduction in disturbances caused by roads to maintain the species' ecological niche. (3) For T. wenxianensis, the protection of aquatic habitats is crucial. Additionally, efforts to mitigate the impacts of road construction and enhance public awareness are essential for the preservation of this species and the connectivity of its habitats.

Genetic structuring of fishers in British Columbia, Canada: implications for population conservation and management

Abstract In the westernmost Canadian province of British Columbia, fishers (Pekania pennanti) occur in low-elevation forested ecosystems in the central and northern portions of the province, with several substantial mountain ranges and rivers bisecting this distribution. The effect of these geographic features on gene flow and population structuring is unknown and may contribute to fishers differentiating into 2 or more populations within the province. To better understand population structuring within the range of fishers in British Columbia, we collected tissue samples from 491 fishers from throughout the province and evaluated variation of neutral genetic markers using a 385-base pair section of the mitochondrial DNA control region and 13 microsatellite loci. Fishers appeared to be genetically structured as hierarchical stepping-stone populations where an upper hierarchical level of genetic partitioning resulted in 2 populations at the provincial scale, with 3 subpopulations occurring in the central interior region. We observed gene flow of 2 to 5 migrants per generation between the 2 upper populations, which was substantially less than the 90 migrants per generation estimated as needed to maintain genetic homogeneity. This resulted in differentiated upper populations (haplotype FST = 0.272, microsatellite FST = 0.049) characterized by relatively low Ne (Columbian population = 252, 95% CI = 185 to 332; Boreal population [British Columbia only] = 136, 95% CI = 92 to 234). The consequence of low gene flow and resultant population structuring is that the Columbian population likely receives relatively little genetic and demographic support from other populations and, combined with precipitous recent declines in its numbers, puts this population at heightened conservation risk. As a result, swift and effective actions are needed to conserve this vulnerable population of fishers.

A human–wildlife conflict: potential impacts of fatal harvesting approaches on medicinal plants in Free State Province, South Africa

ABSTRACT Human-wildlife conflict has taken center stage in global biodiversity degradation, yet researchers have mainly focused on animals. Medicinal plants are declining globally, partly because of over-harvesting which is considered a form of human-wildlife conflict in this study. Compared with other provinces in South Africa, Free State has limited information on the use of medicinal plants and the impacts of over-harvesting the species. We investigated the potential impacts of over-harvesting the plant species for medicinal purposes and determined the potential conservation implications of the harvesting methods in Free State Province, South Africa. We show that 89 plant species from 43 families were used for traditional medicine. The most-used species were Pachycarpus rigidus (12%; N=211), followed by Dicoma anomala (9%) with the common plant families being Asteraceae (13.5%; N=89), and Fabaceae (7.9%). The perennial herbs were substantially harvested (58.4%; N=89). The wild indigenous plant species were more preferred compared to alien species (79.2%; N=89). The roots and bulbs were mostly utilized for medicinal material (48.3%; N=89), followed by the leaves (20.2%). We found one ‘rare’ species (Schizoglossum montanum), and two ‘nearly threatened’ species (Merwilla plumbea and Eucomis bicolor). We recommend a socio-ecologically orientated policy intervention for the sustainable use of medicinal plants in South Africa.

Potentials of palynotaxa for apicultural entrepreneurships: Implication for conservation and policy

The contemporary global economic meltdown has devastating effect on the economy of most rural people in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. The frantic search for alternative source of national revenue aside from oil and gas has become imperative for economic emancipation of Nigerians. Knowledge of plants foraged by bees for pollen and nectar becomes a panacea to this challenge. This study analysed the pollen spectrum of four honey samples collected from Southern Nigeria in order to determine the richness of the honey plants in the area, and to highlight the potential of these species in apicultural entrepreneurship in Nigeria for green growth economy, using Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index after a standard acetolysis method. A total number of 39 palynotaxa belonging to 21 plant families and distributed in 39 genera were identified. Fabaceae had the highest plant species (11 species), followed by Euphorbiaceae (5 species). The study revealed that Elaeis guineensis Jacq, Anacardium occidentale L. Diospyros mespiliformis Hochist ex ADC, Alchornea cordifolia (Muell)Arg, Daniella oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch & Dalz, Irvingia wombolu Okafor ex Baill, Treculia africana Decne, Nauclea latifolia Smith and Crossopteryx febrifuga Afzil ex Benth, were the dominant honey plants. The palynotaxa spectrum did not vary greatly in the four samples; however, Shannon diversity index was low to moderate (H= 2.7 -3.1). This baseline information has provided opportunity and amazing potentials for apicultural enterprise in these areas. However, most of these honey plants are rare, threatened and endangered. This calls for urgent conservation strategies by all players. Policy programmes could increase production and productivity of hive products through capacity- building for local populace.

Gellan residues on paper: quantification and implication for paper conservation

Gels prepared from the polysaccharide gellan are used for aqueous poulticing treatments in paper conservation when the application of water must be restricted. Optimal use of the rigid, yet shapeable gel requires direct contact with the paper surface, which carries the risk of gel residues on the treated surface. We used acid methanolysis as a destructive analytical method to detect rhamnose as a component of gellan, which was undetectable with ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. We show that there is a significant probability of leaving gellan residues on the paper. Conservators should be aware of this potential side effect when considering the use of gellan poultices in direct contact with paper objects.

Reimagining Extinction in Australia and Japan: ‘Voices’ of the Tasmanian Tiger and Hokkaido Wolf

ABSTRACT This is a comparative, cross-cultural, and multi-disciplinary study of two extinct animals, the Tasmanian tiger in Australia and the Hokkaido wolf in Japan, and their ongoing cultural ‘presence’. The thylacine was last documented in captivity in 1936, and the Hokkaido wolf became extinct around 1900. Both faced rapid extinction due to anthropogenic factors associated with colonisation and modernisation, including eradication policies. Nonetheless, both animals have ongoing cultural and conservation significance. In Australia, the thylacine has become a symbol of redemption and conservation advocated for by devoted citizens who do not believe the animal is extinct. In Japan, the story of the Hokkaido wolf has been kept alive by Tezuka Osamu, a legendary manga/anime artist. Tezuka’s life project was to change anthropocentric human-nature relationships through his work. These two animals have significant ongoing implications for conservation and sustainability. The Tasmanian tiger offers a new approach to conservation through the pursuit of ‘Lazarus species’. The Hokkaido wolf provides an alternative ontology useful for rethinking human-nature relationships. Both point to the significant roles that different worldviews and emotional commitments can play for sustainable futures. They present new possibilities for reimagining extinction in the Anthropocene, showing that even extinct animals can give us hope.

Fatal leptospirosis in endangered Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) kept in captivity: Assessing the role of sympatric rodents

Between December 2020 and January 2021, an outbreak of acute mortality in endangered Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) kept in captivity was detected in a zoo in Spain. The main findings observed in the two fatally affected animals at post-mortem evaluation were jaundice, renal tubular necrosis and interstitial nephritis. Leptospira spp. infection was confirmed by real time PCR (qPCR) in different tissues in both individuals. Analyses of secY gene from a positive individual showed 100% homology with a previously published sequence corresponding to Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni. Free-living sympatric brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) from the affected zoo were also analyzed, and showed a prevalence and seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. of 18.2% (4/22; 95% CI: 2.1–34.3) and 41.9% (26/62; 95% CI: 29.7–54.2), respectively. We detected seropositive sera to five different serovars of Leptospira spp. (Copenhageni, Grippotyphosa, Pomona, Canicola and Hardjo) in the rodent population, with L. Copenhageni being the predominant one. This study describes for first time an outbreak of fatal leptospirosis in captive non-human primates in Europe. Our results show that Barbary macaques, an endangered species, are highly susceptible to Leptospira spp. infection, with sympatric wild rodents being the most likely reservoir animals involved in transmission in this outbreak. Our results suggest that rodent control could be an effective measure for minimizing exposure to Leptospira spp. in zoological collections. Given the potential implications for conservation, animal and public health, non-human primates and rodents should be included in surveillance programs for Leptospira spp. in zoos.

Breeding behavior analysis in a large captive colony of African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) and its implications for population management and conservation

The African penguin Spheniscus demersus, frequently housed in zoos, holds potential for future reintroduction efforts due to its declining wild population. This paper aims to explore various aspects of reproductive performance in African penguins within a large ex situ colony at Zoo Wrocław in Poland, covering 9 years of breeding behaviors. The analysis reveals parallels in colony growth and partner change patterns with those observed in the wild. Positive correlations were found between breeding success and pair-bond duration, with the increasing colony size influencing reproductive performance. Contrary to their wild counterparts, captive African penguins initiate breeding attempt and produce a fertilized egg at a younger age. However, successful breeding still requires gaining experience or forming pairs with more experienced partners. Our research indicates that providing captive African penguins with unlimited food resources and sufficient nesting space results in rapid colony growth. The increased colony size facilitates breeding behaviors that positively influence population dynamics, particularly through the maintenance of long-term pair bond relationships and the potential for partner changes when necessary or desirable to enhance breeding success. We present compelling case studies in pair fidelity, offering valuable insights and implications for the management of captive populations and conservation efforts.

Survival rates of wild and released White‐rumped Vultures (Gyps bengalensis), and their implications for conservation of vultures in Nepal

Beginning in the mid‐1990s, populations of three species of Gyps vultures declined by more than 97% in South Asia in little more than a decade, caused by unintentional poisoning by the non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac. This led to a ban on the veterinary use of the drug, and establishment of conservation breeding programmes, throughout the region. Once much of Nepal had been confirmed as being free from diclofenac, beginning in 2017 White‐rumped Vultures Gyps bengalensis were released from the captive breeding population. A total of 99 birds (n = 50 wild and n = 49 released) were fitted with GPS transmitters between 2017 and 2022 and monitored daily. Tag fixes suggesting death or ill‐health were followed up and dead vultures were retrieved for post‐mortem analysis. The estimated annual survival of wild adult vultures was 0.974 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.910–0.997), while that of wild subadults was 0.880 (95% CI 0.721–0.966). Survival rates of released birds were lower than those of wild birds, being 0.644 (95% CI 0.490–0.778) for adults and 0.758 (95% CI 0.579–0.887) for subadults. Post‐mortem analysis of dead vultures indicated several possible causes of death, including predation, infection and electrocution. There was no evidence that any birds died of NSAID poisoning. The high survival rates of wild birds, especially adults, and the lack of evidence for NSAID‐caused mortality, suggest that vulture habitat in the Nepal Vulture Safe Zone is free from diclofenac and that other hazards are sufficiently infrequent to allow the vulture population to recover. The lower survival of released birds compared with their wild counterparts suggests a need to improve the conservation breeding programme and release protocol.

Correction to “Conservation implications of range dynamics in endangered populations: An example with brown bears”

Correction to “Conservation implications of range dynamics in endangered populations: An example with brown bears”

Mapping the potential distribution of Asian elephants: Implications for conservation and human–elephant conflict mitigation in South and Southeast Asia

Asian elephants play a pivotal role in their ecosystem. Understanding the potential distribution area of this species is vital for effective conservation efforts and mitigation of human-elephant conflicts. In this study, we used the maximum entropy to simulate the potential distribution area of Asian elephants across South and Southeast Asia, leveraging Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) and presence data sourced from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). The analysis revealed that the potential distribution area of Asian elephants spans 530,418 km2 (10.59% of the study area), with significant potential distribution areas observed in Indonesia (136,890 km2) and Malaysia (119,497 km2). Vegetation type emerged as the dominant environmental factor influencing model outcomes, encompassing aspects such as broadleaved evergreen tree coverage, broadleaved deciduous closed tree coverage and EVI. The potential distribution area of Asian elephants overlaps with regions inhabited by 55.25 million people, with 6.07 million people residing in highly suitable habitats. India and Malaysia have high potential for human-elephant conflict (HEC) due to the high number of people living in potential and highly suitable habitats for elephants. Bangladesh and Nepal, on the other hand, have fewer people living in these habitats suitable for elephants, but they face relatively high human population density in these areas.

Trends of Land Cover Change and Conservation Challenges of Grevy’s Zebra (Equus grevyi, Oustalet 1882) in Hallaydeghe Asebot Proposed National Park, Southeast Ethiopia

Large parts of biodiversity in protected areas (PAs) and their ecosystem services have been deteriorated due to land cover change over time. To reverse these effects, analysis of land cover change is essential. One of the protected areas, Hallaydeghe Asebot Proposed National Park (HAPNP), was assumed its land cover change and was undergone from one habitat type to others during the last three decades. As a result, wildlife species particularly Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) in HAPNP are facing conservation challenges. Here, we aimed to examine the land cover changes of HAPNP for the period of 1990–2021 and assess Grevy’s zebra conservation challenges so as to improve the protection of the park and conservation of the species. Landsat images for the years 1990, 2006, and 2021 were generated to analyze land cover change of the study area. In addition, ground control points and information from elder and knowledgeable informants were collected to substantiate the result. Household survey, key informant interviews, and field observation checklist were utilized to collect data on conservation challenges. To generate land cover change maps, the satellite image for each period was classified using supervised classification. Content analysis was used to analyze conservation challenges of the species. The findings of this study revealed that 12.2% of grassland cover lost from 1990 to 2021 (i.e., an estimated annual average loss 0.4%). The remaining grassland cover in the HAPNP was aggregated in a small land area. On the other hand, the size of bushland increased by 26.4% during the same year (i.e., an estimated annual average gain 0.9%). These findings have implications for conservation and management of grazers. Major drivers for conservation challenges of Grevy’s zebra were habitat degradation, unintegrated development, and poor law enforcement practices. Grassland restoration program and species conservation challenges’ intervention strategy should be designed and implemented to safeguard the natural habitat and the species that occur in the HAPNP.

Distribution of Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus Tetraspis Cope, 1861) Populations on the Outskirts of the Ebo Forest: Implications for Conservation

Purpose: The study was carried out in three riparian areas of the Ebo forest (Iboti, Lognanga and Ndokmem-North zones) to determine the distribution and status of dwarf crocodiles, and environmental factors influencing their distributions. 
 Materials and Methods: Survey on the various listed sites were carried out during the months of April, May and June 2023. The Qgis software was used to produce the distribution map of dwarf crocodiles in the periphery of the Ebo forest from the coordinates recorded at 11 water points using a GPS and 37 fishermen/ hunters were interview.
 Findings: The species were classified according to their status defined according to the IUCN red list protocol. The study showed that of the 11 water points studied, 6 were home to dwarf crocodiles, representing a proportion of 54.54%. Although we did not observed dwarf crocodiles in the watercourses in the Iboti zone, their presence is more established in the Lognanga zone (60%) than in the Ndokmem-north zone (40%). The average density of dwarf crocodiles in the periphery of the Ebo forest is around 0.50 crocodiles/km of riverbank covered. This implies that the population of dwarf crocodiles is decreasing and there is high need to increase conservation efforts to protect it from disappearing within the Ebo forest area.
 Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: To guarantee the survival and viability of crocodiles in the periphery of the Ebo forest, it is necessary to opt for organic agriculture, monitoring the quality of rivers and water bodies and regular ecological monitoring of crocodiles.

Efficient border biosecurity inspection leverages superspreading to reduce biological invasion risk

AbstractBiological invasions are a growing threat to biodiversity, food security, and economies. Rising pressure from increased global trade requires improving border inspection efficiency. Here, we depart from the conventional consignment‐by‐consignment approach advocated in current inspection standards. Instead, we suggest a broader perspective: evaluating border inspection regimes based on their ability to reduce propagule pressure across entire pathways. Additionally, we demonstrate that most biosecurity pathways exhibit superspreading behavior, that is, consignments from the same pathway have varying infestation rates and contain rare right‐tail events (also called overdispersion). We show that greater overdispersion leads to more pronounced diminishing returns, with consequences on the optimal allocation of sampling effort. We leverage these two insights to develop a simple and efficient border inspection regime that can significantly reduce propagule pressure compared to current standards. Our analysis revealed that consignment size is a key driver of biosecurity risk and that sampling proportional to the square root of consignment size is near optimal. In testing, our framework reduced propagule pressure by 31 to 38% compared to current standards. We also identified opportunities to further improve inspection efficiency by considering additional pathway characteristics (i.e., overdispersion parameters, zero inflation, relative risk, sampling cost, detectability) and developed solutions for these more complex scenarios. We anticipate our result will mitigate biological invasion risk with significant implications for biodiversity conservation, food security, and economies worldwide.

Assessing Niche Dynamics and Population Connectivity in an Endangered Tree Species, Emmenopterys henryi: Implications for Conservation and Management

Understanding the niche dynamic among distinct populations and delineating the dispersal corridors that exist between them under current climates is critical for elucidating the contemporary forces driving genetic divergence, facilitating population connectivity, and informing targeted conservation efforts, particularly for species exhibiting pronounced intraspecific lineages. In this study, we focus on evaluating the range and niche dynamics of the intraspecific lineages of Emmenopterys henryi and exploring potential patterns of population connectivity both within and across these lineages. Our findings unveiled a significant niche divergence between the two intraspecific lineages, characterized by limited overlap in climatic conditions and suitable ranges. Furthermore, our analysis of population connectivity revealed the presence of dispersal routes with varying degrees of connectivity within each lineage, while low connectivity was observed between the two lineages. Our results highlight the critical role of fine-scale ecological niche models (ENMs) and genetic connectivity analyses in elucidating the complexities of niche evolution and genetic connectivity, particularly for species with discrete intraspecific lineages. In addition, given the fact that rapid genetic erosion of species inhabiting the regions we focus on in this study is often associated with habitat loss and fragmentation, our findings will also offer valuable insights for designing targeted conservation strategies aimed at restoring connectivity and increasing local population sizes for this endangered species.