List Of Protected Species Research Articles

Barcoding (COI) Sea Cucumber Holothuria mammata Distribution Analysis: Adriatic Rare or Common Species?

The overexploitation of the western Pacific Ocean has expanded the sea cucumber fishery into new regions to supply the Asian market. In 2013, sea cucumbers were removed from the Croatian marine protected species list, and commercial fishery took place for a short period (2017-2018) in the Eastern Adriatic Sea. However, holothuroid species are difficult to distinguish. Holothuria mammata is a species that has rarely been reported in this region and strongly resembles the common species Holothuria tubulosa. This is the first study to assess the genetic diversity of sea cucumbers in the Adriatic Sea using genetic barcoding of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI). Specimens for barcoding were collected from the northern and central Adriatic, along with a specimen that had been previously identified as H. sp. cf. mammata based on its morphological characteristics. While genetic analyses showed identified this specimen as H. tubulosa, 30% of the collected specimens were genetically identified as H. mammata. These results call into question the historically accepted sea cucumber assemblage in the Adriatic Sea, which regarded H. mammata as a rare species and generally disregarded its presence in large census studies. Such species distribution data are extremely important in developing and monitoring a sustainable fishery.

Plant Conservation in the Midst of Energy Transition: Can Regional Governments Rise to the Challenge?

Within the expanding wind energy projects context, this study explores the intricate relationship between biodiversity conservation and wind power development in the Cantabrian Mountains. By analyzing data from 1107 UTM grids measuring 10 × 10 km, we have identified 378 endangered vascular plant taxa and 36 bryophytes, including 135 that are regional endemics. Wind power complexes pose a significant risk of irreversible impacts on plant conservation zones and their integrity if proper management informed by the best available scientific knowledge is not implemented. This study introduces the concept of very important plant areas (VIPAs) as a crucial tool for identifying priority conservation areas. A total of 60% of the UTM grids were classified in the “high conservation value” category. Among the endangered species within the region, only 11% are afforded protection at the European level and 17% at the national level, leaving a key role for regional governments with heterogeneous lists. Our findings highlight the urgent need for legislation that accommodates updates to protected species lists, ensuring the inclusion of high-risk taxa and legally binding mechanisms at various administrative tiers. The proposed method relies on quantifiable and repeatable criteria, making it adaptable for application in other territories and for broader land use planning purposes.

Making sense of domestic wildlife and CITES legislation: The example of Nepal's orchids

Governing wildlife resources is a global challenge, with illegal domestic and international trade emerging as a leading threat to biodiversity. This has prompted a range of international conservation commitments and domestic legislation, including protected species lists and legislation associated with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Despite their importance, heavy focus on national-level legislation potentially belies the complex networks of sub-national legislation that often inform on-the-ground wildlife management decisions. We highlight the need for a detailed understanding of sub-national legislation in order to meaningfully understand legal and illegal wildlife trade. We demonstrate this using the example of orchids – representing >70 % of all CITES-listed species – and focus on Nepal, a wildlife trade hotspot. We describe the available evidence on the country's overlapping legal and illegal orchid trade and provide a structured analysis of 55 pieces of domestic legislation that govern the country's orchid resources. It is likely that other countries and taxa face similar levels of complexity, and we propose an approach for more thorough and systematic evaluations of sub-national legislation – across areas of law, hierarchical levels of governance, and types of legislation.

Encounters with threatened batoids from the perspective of a spearfisherman suggesting an aggregation site in southeastern Aegean Sea, Turkey

Seasonal aggregations of batoids were observed in Güllük Bay (souteastern Aegean Sea) based on opportunistic underwater observations between the years of 2014–2022. Torpedo marmorata, Glaucostegus cemiculus, Dasyatis pastinaca, Gymnura altavela and Aetomylaeus bovinus were observed in the study area. The most observed species is G. altavela (n=65) and it constitutes 51.18 percent of the whole sample, and followed by A. bovinus (n=31, 24.4%), D. pastinaca (n=12, 9.44%), G. cemiculus (n=8, 6.29%) and T. marmorata (n=2, 1.57%). Based on the seasonal occurrence data of batoids observed during the research, it is seen that the species that occurred in the region from mid-spring to mid-autumn, and the aggregations peaked in July. Seasonal aggregations of batoids may have important implications for the conservation of these species. Among the observed batoids in the present study, only G. cemiculus is currently under protection in Turkey. According to EU Regulation 1343/2011 and Annex II of the Barcelona Convention, G. altavela is a prohibited species; thus, it should not be retained on board, transhipped, landed, transferred, stored, sold or displayed or offered for sale, and masters of fishing vessels shall record in the fishing logbook any event of incidental catch and release. Therefore, as an urgent measure, at least G. altavela and A. bovinus, which are considered as “critically endangered”, should be added to the list of protected species in Turkish waters, and the aggregation site in Güllük Bay should be declared as a no-take-zone during mid-spring and throughout the summer.

Importance, Tools, and Challenges of Protecting Trees

Trees are the most important landscape architects of our planet, not only in forests but also in countless other ecosystems, including human-fabricated habitats. Due to their significance in the majority of terrestrial ecosystems, trees play an important role in maintaining biodiversity and providing food and habitat for countless microorganisms, fungi, climbers, invertebrates, and vertebrates. Trees are also indispensable for the development of human societies and are important for our survival today and in the future. Trees therefore have an inestimable scientific, economic, social, cultural, and aesthetic value. In addition, they were and are playing an essential role in myths, rituals, and cultures of nearly all indigenous and modern societies. Despite these facts, the protection of trees is insufficient, both globally due to climate change and deforestation, but also locally, for example in the big cities through deterioration of soils or improper care. In industrialized countries, only recently has the need for targeted protection efforts for tree species or even for individual trees been recognized. Our review starts with the differentiation and definitions of forests and trees. Furthermore, we present the main categories and subcategories of trees, each of them possessing different functions in their ecosystems and for human societies and thus needing specific legal protection measures. The second part of our review presents the most important tools for improving the protection of trees. On the one hand, there exist a series of international initiatives, conventions, and agreements, and on the other hand, there are numerous legal tools, such as red lists, lists of protected species, and legislation for the protection of monument and habitat trees. The main challenge of the 21st century is to find a solution to make the development and growth of modern human societies compatible with the protection of natural resources such as forests. The large number of tree species, as well as the large proportion of threatened tree species, makes this problem even larger. Finally, the most recent and controversial approach of attributing trees the rights as legal persons is discussed.

Continued availability and sale of pangolins in a major urban bushmeat market in Cameroon despite national bans and the COVID-19 outbreak.

Continued availability and sale of pangolins in a major urban bushmeat market in Cameroon despite national bans and the COVID-19 outbreak.

Rediscovery of endangered species Laphangium luteoalbum (Asteraceae) in Lithuania

Laphangium luteoalbum (Asteraceae) is a widely distributed species native to Eurasia; however, it is rare or endangered in some regions of Europe and included into the lists of protected species. In Lithuania, Laphangium luteoalbum was recorded in the southern part of the country, mainly along the banks of the Nemunas River in the 20th century. In contrast, it was found only in the 19th century in the western part of the country. During the research in Curonian Spit National Park (Neringa, western Lithuania), a relatively large species population was found in the transition zone between the dune grassland and wet dune slack habitats. The total population in 2020 consisted of about 500 individuals distributed over an area of about 310 m2. We assume that the seeds of this wind-dispersed plant may have been transferred from other regions of Europe by the wind. However, it cannot be excluded that the plants found are descendants of populations previously recorded in the country. The species is most threatened by the loss of wet, open sandy habitats due to eutrophication of water bodies and subsequent changes in bank vegetation. Laphangium luteoalbum was classified as data deficient (DD) in the last assessment according to the IUCN criteria. Still, a reassessment based on the current data indicates that the species should be considered critically endangered (CR) in Lithuania.

Snakes of the Volga basin in the Red Data Books of Differnt Levels

Currently, 11 species of snakes are reliably known to be found in the Volga River basin. Vipera renardi has been assigned the Vulnerable (VU) category on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The authors analyze the representation of snakes in the Volga basin in the latest editions of the Red Data Book (RDB) of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the RDB of the Russian Federation and the RDBs of Russian Oblasts, which are fully or partially related to the Volga basin. The species Hierophis caspius is included in the list of protected species in the RDB of Kazakhstan in the interfluve of the Volga and the Urals. The RDB of the Russian Federation considers rare and threatened three ophidiofauna species of the Volga basin: Eryx jaculus, Eryx miliaris, and Elaphe sauromates. Coronella austriaca is the most listed species in the Red Data Books of the constituent entities of Russia in the Volga Basin (35 Red Data Books); it is widespread but rare. The RDB of the Republic of Kalmykia protects the world’s northernmost population of Eryx jaculus. The RDBs of the Republic of Bashkortostan and Samara Oblast protect the world’s northernmost populations of Natrix tessellata, the RDB of Tatarstan protects the world’s northernmost population of Vipera renardi. The RDB of Volgograd Oblast protects the world’s northernmost population of Hierophis caspius, and the RDB of Samara Oblast – the northernmost population of Elaphe dione in Europe. Anthropogenic transformation of habitats, traffic-related deaths and actual killing of snakes are the main limiting factors in the RDBs. The authors believe that an effective measure of conservation is the creation of protected areas in the habitats of species, and, first of all, the preservation of winter brumation sites.

Species and habitats of conservation interest in the Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area of the Strait of Sicily: a contribution towards the creation of a Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance

In 2015, the Strait of Sicily, which includes several banks, was candidate as a future Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI) by the Contracting Parties of the Barcelona Convention. In this context, the present study aims to provide the first biological and ecological characterisation of this poorly known area, focusing on habitats and species of conservation concern. Surveys were carried through a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and allowed the identification of 19 habitat types, mostly considered of priority interest by the SPA/BD Protocol of the Barcelona Convention. A total of 269 taxa were also identified, mostly Porifera, Cnidaria and Pisces, among which 115 species are of conservation concern according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Lists, the Habitats Directive, the Bern Convention, the SPA/BD Protocol and CITES. ROV surveys allowed some interesting observations on poorly known species and habitats. Results underlined that remarkable discrepancies in species conservation status assessment that exist between the several lists of protected species considered. The IUCN Red Lists, although not legally binding for European States, are the most complete, but, in spite of this, the conservation policies in the EU are largely focused on the Habitats Directive, which is really not exhaustive. An exhaustive and legally binding instrument to protect species of conservation concern at European scale is highly recommended. Acquired results could be useful for the delimitation of a future SPAMI or a network of Marine Protected Areas (including the investigated banks) and the identification of zones within them suitable for different area-based management measures.

Why do we need a wildlife consumption ban in China?

The COVID-19 pandemic is an alarm call to all on the risks of zoonotic diseases and the delicate relationship between nature and human health. In response, China has taken a proactive step by issuing a legal decision to ban consumption of terrestrial wildlife. However, concerns have been raised and opponents of bans argue that well-regulated trade should be promoted instead. By analyzing China’s legal framework and management system regulating wildlife trade, together with state and provincial-level wildlife-trade licenses and wildlife criminal cases, we argue that current wildlife trade regulations do not function as expected. This is due to outdated protected species lists, insufficient cross-sector collaboration, and weak restrictions and law enforcement on farming and trading of species. The lack of quarantine standards for wildlife and increased wildlife farming in recent years pose great risks for food safety and public health. In addition, wildlife consumption is neither required for subsistence nor an essential part of Chinese diets. All these facts make the ban necessary to provoke improvement in wildlife management, such as updating protected species lists, revising laws and changing consumption behaviors. Nonetheless, the ban is not sufficient to address all the problems. To sustain the efficacy of the change, we propose that a long-term mechanism to reduce the demand and improve effective management is needed.

You cannot conserve a species that has not been found: The case of the marine sponge Axinella polypoides in Liguria, Italy

Abstract Detailed knowledge about the distribution of species in need of protection is required for the management of Marine Protected Areas, a major tool to reduce marine biodiversity loss. Such knowledge is deficient for most marine invertebrates. Axinella polypoides is a marine sponge included on the list of protected species by the Barcelona Convention (1976) and the Bern Convention (1987). This large and erect species has an important ecological role in habitat forming and benthic–pelagic coupling. Bathymetrical, geographical and ecological data over the last 60 years were collated from publications and reports, together with new surveys to assess the distribution and protection status in Liguria of A. polypoides. It identified a more widespread distribution than previously thought, which points at a general need for dedicated investigations on the occurrence of species that require protection. Bathymetrical distribution was trimodal, with peaks corresponding to different geomorphological settings: coastal cliff bases (around 38 m depth), inner shelf shoals (52 m) and rocks amidst coarse sediment on the outer shelf (79 m). Density was significantly greater at the shallowest depths. The species was mostly found in the coralligenous biocoenosis, in association with other characteristic species or forming a monospecific facies. On (sub)vertical cliffs, A. polypoides often exhibited an unusual cane shape, rather than the typical bushy morphology, thus causing confusion with the congeneric A. cannabina, a more southern species. Records of the latter in the Ligurian Sea therefore need confirmation. Only a minority (22.6%) of A. polypoides records were in Marine Protected Areas, the remainder being located in areas with no current environmental protection plans in place. While the occurrence of this species in MPAs remained stable over the decades, the only quantitative historical data available indicated that populations in non‐protected areas were declining owing to anthropogenic impacts (fishing and anchoring).

AN ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF THE VASCULAR PLANTS OF MULEGÉ, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO

The arid Central Gulf Coast ecoregion, characterized mainly by sarcocaulescent scrub, is a poorly studied area. This paper addresses this knowledge gap with an annotated checklist of the vascular plants of the Mulegé area (Bahía Concepción to Punta Chivato; 397 km2), which was compiled over at least 267 field days during 15 field seasons between 2003 and 2019. The inventory presents 411 taxa (330 species, 81 infraspecies) in 82 families and 288 genera. There are 342 taxa native to the peninsula, of which 78 are endemic or near-endemic taxa. Six species are included on Mexico's protected species list (NOM-059) and two are on the IUCN Red List. The extensive loss of the mangrove thickets along the Mulegé estuary and the rapid spread of the invasive species Cenchrus ciliare L. (Poaceae) are immediate ecological concerns compounded by the more long term effects of climate change, sea level rise and development. While this study shares up to 74% of families and 66% of the genera of several other regional floras for the peninsula, at the species level it shares between just 23% and 63% with them, highlighting Mulegé's local floristic diversity.

Flora of the natural monument «Cape Plaka» (Southern Coast of the Crimea): preliminary analysis

As a result of long standing research, 116 species from 88 genera of 36 families of vascular plants have been registered on the territory of the “Cape Plaka” nature monument. A preliminary analysis of the systematic, geographic and biomorphological structure of the flora was carried out, which showed that it belongs to the flora of the Mediterranean type. A list of habitats of the Cape has been compiled according to the EUNIS habitat classification. It was found that six native plant species ( Asphodeline lutea , Avena barbata , Hedypnois rhagadioloides , Juniperus excelsa , Pistacia mutica , Rhus coriaria ) and five types of biotopes have a conservation status, which confirms the high conservation value of the territory. It is proposed to include two more rare taxa in the list of protected species in the Crimea: Fumaria petteri and Misopates orontium . High invasive activity of Cheiranthus cheiri and two representatives of the genus Opuntia was revealed. It is recommended to combine two natural monuments - “Cape Plaka” and “The Coastal Aquatic Complex at Cape Plaka” - into a single protected area.

Wolf Delisting Challenges Demonstrate Need for an Improved Framework for Conserving Intraspecific Variation under the Endangered Species Act.

Recent advances in genomics have increased our understanding of geographic patterns of intraspecific variation and the importance of this variation in enhancing species’ potential to adapt to novel threats. However, as part of an effort to limit the scope of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the US government has proposed the removal of the gray wolf from the list of protected species on the basis of a claim that the statute permits a species to be declared recovered given the existence of a single presently secure population. We rebut this interpretation and propose a framework for the conservation of adaptive potential that builds on current agency practice in delineating subspecific recovery units and reconciles the definition of significance in the statute's “distinct population segment” and “significant portion of range” clauses. Such a coordinated policy would enhance the ESA's effectiveness in stemming loss of biodiversity in the face of climate change and other factors altering Earth's ecosystems.

Ex-situ conservation of single-country endemic plants of Tunisia and northern Morocco (Mediterranean coast and Rif region) in seed banks and botanic gardens worldwide

The objective of this study is two-fold: firstly, to review the local endemic plants of Tunisia and northern Morocco (Mediterranean coast and Rif region) and the extent to which extinction risk status characterisations have been assigned to date to the endemic plants of these areas; and secondly, to identify which of these unique taxa are conserved ex-situ around the world. For the first aim, five major online databases as well as widely scattered literature sources were consulted; for the latter, the PlantSearch facility of Botanic Gardens Conservation International was used, followed by communication with domestic institutions. The examination of the extent of the ex-situ conservation of endemic plants of the Mediterranean part of northern Morocco (n=94 taxa) showed that only six of them are conserved in one conservatory, four arboretums and 18 botanic gardens of 10 countries, totalling only 25 accessions, with 40% of these in UK institutions. The threatened and near threatened flora of northern Morocco (Mediterranean coast and Rif region) is estimated at 64 taxa; only five of these are preserved ex-situ, among which only Abies marocana and Rhodanthemum hosmariense are assessed as effectively conserved. For the endemic flora of Tunisia which is estimated at 83 taxa, we have found only one taxon (Calendula suffruticosa subsp. suffruticosa) conserved ex-situ. With scarce evaluations made to date, the threatened endemic flora of Tunisia is limited to one taxon only (Rumex tunetanus). This study presents comprehensive and evaluated lists of the endemic plant taxa found in the studied countries/regions, indicating that consensus is compromised among the widely used taxonomic/phytogeographical online sources. Additionally, it is suggested that more coordinated efforts are needed to conserve the plant heritage of these countries, through integrated management, species-prioritisation, restoration of populations of threatened taxa, inclusion of threatened species in national lists of protected species, and establishment of seed banks focused on the wild flora.

Integrating and updating wildlife conservation in China

China has about 11% of the world’s total wildlife species, so strengthening China’s wildlife conservation is of great significance to global biodiversity. Despite some successful cases and conservation efforts, 21.4% of China’s vertebrate species are threatened by human activities. The booming wildlife trade in China has posed serious threat to wildlife in China and throughout the world, while leading to a high risk of transmission of infectious zoonotic diseases. China’s wildlife conservation has faced a series of challenges, two of which are an impractical, separated management of wildlife and outdated protected species lists. Although the Wildlife Protection Law of China was revised in 2016, the issues of separated management remain, and the protected species lists are still not adequately revised. These issues have led to inefficient and overlapping management, waste of administrative resources, and serious obstacles to wildlife protection. In this article, we analyze the negative effects of current separated management of wildlife species and outdated protected species lists, and provide some suggestions for amendment of the laws and reform of wildlife management system.

Discovery of the Only Living Population of Pupoidopsis hawaiensis (Gastropoda: Pupillidae) in the Last 50 Years

Pupoidopsis hawaiensis Pilsbry & C.M. Cooke, 1921, and its monospecific genus, is the only representative of Pupillidae in tropical Pacific Islands. Although most of native species from that region are single island endemics, P. hawaiensis has been recorded from Hawaii to the Tuamotus. However, it has not been recorded alive since 1965. Here we report the only modern living population of that species from a single site in Anaa (Tuamotu archipelago). A single COI haplotype and a single 28S allele support the hypothesis of self-fertilization. The species should be listed as Critically Endangered, and included in the list of protected species of French Polynesia. An Action Plan for its conservation should be undertaken, with protection status given to its last known stronghold in Anaa.

Eliminating the dark matter of data deficiency by predicting the conservation status of Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea sharks and rays

Sharks and rays are threatened by overfishing, yet we have little idea of the conservation status of the hundreds of Data Deficient species. Here, we developed an ecological trait model to predict the categorical conservation status of 22 Northeast Atlantic and 13 Mediterranean Sea Data Deficient sharks and rays. We first developed an explanatory cumulative link mixed model based on regionally data-sufficient species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species™ using maximum body size, median depth, and reproductive mode, then predicted the statuses of Data Deficient species. Species exclusive to the Mediterranean were 3.8 times more likely to be threatened than species exclusive to the Northeast Atlantic. Over half of Northeast Atlantic (55%, n = 12 of 22), and two-thirds of Mediterranean (62%, n = 8 of 13) Data Deficient species were predicted to be threatened. When applied to all data-sufficient species, the mean predictive accuracy was 71% and 66% for the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean models, respectively. Overall, Northeast Atlantic Data Deficient species are predicted to be 1.4 times more threatened than data-sufficient species proportionally (39% assessed-threatened, n = 38 of 98), whereas threat levels in the Mediterranean Sea are similarly high for both (65% assessed-threatened, n = 39 of 60 data-sufficient). With the growing availability of vertebrate trait databases, trait-based, categorical prediction of conservation status is a cost-effective approach towards incorporating Data Deficient species into unbiased (i) estimates of lineage-wide extinction rates, (ii) protected species lists, and (iii) Red List Indices, thus preventing poorly-known species from reaching extinction unnoticed.

РАРИТЕТНИЙ ФІТОЦЕНОФОНД ПРИРОДНОГО ЗАПОВІДНИКА «ЄЛАНЕЦЬКИЙ СТЕП»

Due to the effects of negative factors on the phiocenoses, it is important today to protect not only individual species but also to ensure the coenotic integrity of ecosystems. The Green Paper of Ukraine (hereinafter ZKU), as a form of scientifically substantiated protection of plant communities, approves the list of rare phytocenos.  As a result of many factors that have a negative impact on vegetation, especially the anthropogenic factor is damaging for the stepic ecosystems, the problem of biodiversity conservation is emerging. But not only rare species but also phytocoenoses are to be protected. That is why for nature conservation agencies is important to have a list of rare communities that allows to monitor the vegetation changes. At the Yelanetsky Steppe Nature Reservephytocoenotic monitoring has been started in 1996. This article presents the results of continuing observation of the steppe vegetation in the nature reserve. A list of rare formations has already been determined for the studied area, but the list of associations has not been mentioned in the literature. Summarizing the information from the literature and using own data, the author has established that today the rare phytocoenoses of the reserve are represented by15 associations from 6 formations included to the Green Data Book of Ukraine. The structure and floristic composition of the communities are also described, and a list of protected species for each formation is given. The associations Stipetum (capillatae) botriochloosum (ischaemi), Stipetum (capillatae) festucosum (valesiacae), Stipetum (capillatae) stiposum (lessingianae), Stipetum (lessingianae) festucosum (valesiaca) are the most common on the reserve territory.Also was established, that Stipetum (tirsae) festucosum (valesiacae) communities are extremely rare, with only two localities recorded. It was found that the area of the Stipeta lessingianae and Stipeta capillatae communities were increased in compare with the original state. However, no syntaxa of formations Genisteta scythicae and Amygdalate nanae were detected. The species Caragana scythica and Amygdalus nana occur within the feather grass communities.

НОВЫЕ НАХОДКИ РЕДКИХ И ОХРАНЯЕМЫХ ЛИШАЙНИКОВ РЯЗАНСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ (РОССИЯ)

Monitoring studies of the last 10 years devoted to identifying the condition of rare and vulnerable lichen species in Ryazan Region allowed clarifying their distribution in the region and their status in the Red Data Book. This article provides information on 53 new locations of 26 rare lichen species, 14 of which were first recommended for inclusion in the main list of protected species for the 3rd edition of the Red Data Book of Ryazan Oblast.