Local Conservation Research Articles

Characterization among and within Sicilian Tetraploid Wheat Landraces by Gluten Protein Analysis for Traceability Purposes.

The criteria of "Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability" as well as a high "overall quality index" are used to register the Italian modern varieties to the national register. Differently, local conservation varieties can be certified under different EU Directives that facilitate, as an overall objective, the preservation of biodiversity and the containment of genetic erosion. In recent years, products derived from ancient grains are perceived to be healthier and more sustainable by consumers, especially in Italy, with consequent higher market prices. The ancient tetraploid wheat varieties registered in the national register of conservation varieties amount to 28, 24 of which are Sicilian. They are supposed to have wide genetic variability compared to modern ones, making them vulnerable to fraud because they are difficult to trace. It is therefore important to have tools able to discriminate between autochthonous Sicilian varieties. This can be completed by gluten proteins composition, which also provides information on the technological properties of derived products. Fifty-one accessions belonging to twenty-two ancient varieties of Sicilian tetraploid (mostly durum) wheat were analyzed. Although wide intra-accession and intra-varietal variability measurements were assessed, the gliadin pattern of bulks of seeds belonging to each variety was discriminatory. Moreover, differences in technological attitudes were found between landraces. This paves the way to use gluten protein patterns for traceability, allowing local farmers and producers to valorize their products and assure consumers regarding the transparency of the entire supply chain.

Staggered finite element and finite volume method for suffusion simulation based on local conservation

Staggered finite element and finite volume method for suffusion simulation based on local conservation

Is the Local Energy Conservation Law Valid inside the Electronic Device of Charged Capacitors?

The energy conservation is one of the most fundamental and well established principles in physics. Emmy Noether extended the energy conservation principle to the quantum field theoretical domain in empty space by relating the time translation invariance of the universe with energy conservation. While this is the case in open empty space, it seems that the local space enclosed by conducting metallic plates has unexpected property suggesting that the energy conservation principle does not necessarily apply to localized bound system of capacitors in electrodynamics. This point of view was raised by noticing the fact that the spherical capacitor has calculable electrostatic self-potential energy in both the inner and outer shells respectively which was not taken into account in the conventional consideration of the total energy stored in the capacitors. It seems like the concept of moving charges one by one into the capacitor plates has blindsided the investigators to bypass the necessary steps to account for the additional repulsive self-potential energy that accumulates simultaneously in both of the capacitor plates in the process of charging the capacitor. The investigation shows that the repulsive self-potential energies from both of the capacitor plates have indeed been omitted in the conventional calculation of the stored energy in the capacitors. We present the dynamics of the stored potential energy in capacitors and discuss its physical consequences in relation to the anomalous energy devices reported in the past.

Estimating multivariate ecological variables at high spatial resolution using a cost‐effective matching algorithm

AbstractSimulation models are valuable tools for estimating ecosystem response to environmental conditions and are particularly relevant for investigating climate change impacts. However, because of high computational requirements, models are often applied over a coarse grid of points or for representative locations. Spatial interpolation of model output can be necessary to guide decision‐making, yet interpolation is not straightforward because the interpolated values must maintain the covariance structure among variables. We present methods for two key steps for utilizing limited simulations to generate detailed maps of multivariate and time series output. First, we present a method to select an optimal set of simulation sites that maximize the area represented for a given number of sites. Then, we introduce a multivariate matching approach to interpolate simulation results to detailed maps for the represented area. This approach links simulation output to environmentally analogous matched sites according to user‐defined criteria. We demonstrate the methods with case studies using output from (1) an individual‐based plant simulation model to illustrate site selection, and (2) an ecosystem water balance simulation model to illustrate interpolation. For the site selection case study, we identified 200 simulation sites that represented 96% of a large study area (1.12 × 106 km2) at a ~1‐km resolution. For the interpolation case study, we generated ~1‐km resolution maps across 4.38 × 106 km2 of drylands in North America from a 10 × 10 km grid of simulated sites. Estimates of interpolation errors using cross validation were low (<10% of the range of each variable). Our point selection and interpolation methods, which are available as an easy‐to‐use R package, provide a means of cost‐effectively generating detailed maps of expensive, complex simulation output (e.g., multivariate and time series) at scales relevant for local conservation planning. Our methods are flexible and allow the user to identify relevant matching criteria to balance interpolation uncertainty with areal coverage to enhance inference and decision‐making at management‐relevant scales across large areas.

Turtles and tortoises losing the race: Ecology and conservation of Testudines in Indawgyi Lake, Myanmar

AbstractTestudines (turtles and tortoises) rank among the most threatened vertebrates globally, with species in Asia particularly vulnerable due to exploitation, unregulated trade, habitat loss, and degradation. This study aimed to understand the ecology and conservation status of turtles and tortoises in the Indawgyi Lake basin. We conducted surveys along 47 transects, each 1–2 km in length, across four sampling periods (total distance covered = 74.9 km). Additionally, we also deployed four traps at three different locations to capture turtles during two of these sampling periods. In addition, we analyzed 14 soil samples collected from five locations to determine the nesting conditions of soft‐shell turtles. Finally, we identified conservation concerns through semi‐structured interviews with 146 local households, including fishermen and hunters, to gather local ecological knowledge (LEK) on the abundance, habitats, and breeding ecology of turtles and tortoises, as well as local conservation perspectives. Seven turtle and tortoise species were identified within the Indawgyi Lake basin. To our knowledge, two of these species, the Myanmar brown leaf turtle (Cyclemys fusca) and Oldham's leaf turtle (Cyclemys oldhamii), have yet to be officially documented in this area. Furthermore, an Amyda sp. (collected on 10 March 2019), known by the vernacular name “Late Par Tate,” is hitherto undescribed and is likely a newly discovered species. Our results showed disturbance (SW = 1.0) and higher organic matter (SW = 0.52) as the main estimators explaining the difference in nest observation frequency. Animal grazing areas had more nests than other sites affected by greater human disturbances. The local community identified hunting (44%), fishing (28%), and deforestation (13%) as the main activities threatening turtle and tortoise populations. The majority of turtles hunted were either consumed (over 43%) or sold to middlemen, who at times sold them on to foreign traders (less than 51%). Alarmingly, 99% of those interviewed expressed a notable deficiency in protection and conservation efforts by the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division and NGOs. We advocate for enhanced conservation efforts, mainly through stronger enforcement, increased awareness, and the establishment of protection zones with restricted human access to facilitate the recovery of these populations, especially at nesting sites.

Five years of data collection, student theses, and disseminating information soundscape studies in the Gulf of Tribugá, Colombia

In 2018, the Ports, Humpbacks, y Sound In Colombia (PHySIC) Project began to record soundscapes in the Gulf of Tribugá, Northern Colombian Pacific, for the first time. This was of interest to local conservation groups who were against building a megaport in the native mangrove habitat that provides livelihoods for the people of Chocó. Five years later, no port has been built, documentaries about the ecosystem have won awards, before-after/control-impact studies have been done on fish and humpback whale acoustic behavior, delphinid call catalogs have been assembled, propagation modeling has mapped acoustic connectivity, and a new vocalization category for humpback whales has been discovered. The work has been executed through internships, and undergraduate and masters theses at various universities. This project has a variety of data-to-information challenges: storing data for access across various countries, navigating data analysis and dissemination in two languages, transferring knowledge as students graduate, and tailoring results for general conservation groups and policymaking audiences. To celebrate the colleagueship and academic successes of the first five years of PHySIC, this talk will describe the list of discoveries and studies done in the Gulf of Tribugá, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in the summer of 2023.

Perceived Organizational Support and Well-being of Housekeeping Staff through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: An Ethnographic Study

Martin Seligman examines the dynamics of learned helplessness and the development of a growth mindset in his ground-breaking study on the positive psychological drivers of human endeavor and identity. An ethnographic approach is used in this paper to examine the individual and collective existential affirmations that local conservancy staff members of a large educational institution, nestled in the Lavasa Valley grapple with, in their work life and their community socialization. Interest in the impact of employee wellness models of engagement at work has recently grown. The term 'Well-Being' commonly refers to the overall quality of life. Concepts of health, satisfaction with life experiences, work and prosperity are constituent units of experience commonly used to describe 'Well-Being' which also provides the endurance to engage constructively with distress, dissatisfaction, and worry. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) provides a primary model for occupational therapy that has been actively adopted in the training and development of sanitation workers. CBT is a therapeutic strategy that helps people to identify and change negative beliefs behaviours that contribute to anxiety and worry. A meta-review has found that stress-management interventions based on CBT have the strongest evidence for effectiveness in reducing work-related stress. This paper draws on the principles of positive psychology, where the researchers examine the collective experiences of the conservancy staff members by applying working principles from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to examine their perception of well-being and happiness.

LDA 토픽모델링 기반 제주지역 관련 연구동향 분석

This study analyzes research trends related to the Jeju region, playing a crucial role for the local era, based on the operational experiences of special self-governance. The aim is to provide foundational data for future selection of research tasks and policy formulation for the Jeju region. To achieve this, we utilized the Python program (version 3.10.9) and the Web of Science (WoS) KCI-indexed research paper database. All fields of KCI research paper bibliographies were collected, and an analysis was conducted focusing on the keywords of the papers. An exploratory analysis of research papers over the past five years (2018 to 2022) containing the keywords 'Jeju', 'Seoul', and 'Busan' in their titles was prioritized for the three regions. Finally, LDA topic modeling was applied to the Jeju region, revealing that research in the area has focused on geographical and environmental characteristics. Three main topics were identified: 'Local community education and environmental conservation', 'Ecotourism', and 'Local autonomy and development'. The results suggest the need for diversification in research areas, complemented by the unique characteristics of Jeju, to lead the local era through enhancing local financial strength via the cultivation of various future industries and the restructuring of the industrial landscape.

Ethnobotanical study of traditional medicinal plants used by the local Gamo people in Boreda Abaya District, Gamo Zone, southern Ethiopia

BackgroundMedicinal plants have been used for centuries and are still relied upon by over 80% of the Ethiopian population. The people of Gamo, southern Ethiopia, have a rich cultural and traditional lifestyle with a long history of using plant resources for various uses including traditional herbal medicine. However, their traditional knowledge of traditional medicinal plants in Boreda Abaya District has not been explored Ethnobotanically yet, despite preserving diverse indigenous traditional medicinal plants. Hence, the study aimed to document and analyze traditional medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge and practices used by local people.Materials and methodsQuantitative ethnobotanical data were collected via semi-structured interviews, face-to-face conversations, group discussions, and guided field trips between September 2022 and February 2023. In total, 92 informants participated, of which 25 were key informants. Quantitative data indices (informant consensus factor—ICF—and use report—Ur) were computed by MS Excel spreadsheet software. Scientific names of medicinal plants were checked via World Flora Online.ResultsIn the present study, we recorded 188 traditional medicinal plant species belonging to 163 genera and 73 plant families. Lamiaceae (16 species), Asteraceae (16 species), Fabaceae (11 species), and Euphorbiaceae (8 species) contributed highest number of species and were found to be predominant family in the area. Leaves and seeds were most frequently used plant parts, and pounding (46%) was the main method to prepare remedies. The sudden sickness disease category scored the highest consensus (ICF: 0.35), followed by blood and circulatory-related disease categories (ICF: 0.33). The highest number of plant taxa (61 species) used to treat dermal disease has a 71-use report score, while fewer plant taxa (21 species) were utilized to treat genitourinary system-related disease category, having 25 use reports. Ocimum lamiifolium (Ur:56) and Moringa stenopetala (Ur:51) are widely used species and received highest use report value.ConclusionGamo people possess extensive traditional knowledge of ethnomedicine. The region's vegetation hosts diverse medicinal species, but deforestation, agriculture, and droughts threaten them. Local conservation practices require scientific support, prioritizing species having higher use reports (Ur), and in-depth investigations of promising species for drug development are essential.

A diverse portfolio of marine protected areas can better advance global conservation and equity

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are widely used for ocean conservation, yet the relative impacts of various types of MPAs are poorly understood. We estimated impacts on fish biomass from no-take and multiple-use (fished) MPAs, employing a rigorous matched counterfactual design with a global dataset of >14,000 surveys in and around 216 MPAs. Both no-take and multiple-use MPAs generated positive conservation outcomes relative to no protection (58.2% and 12.6% fish biomass increases, respectively), with smaller estimated differences between the two MPA types when controlling for additional confounding factors (8.3% increase). Relative performance depended on context and management: no-take MPAs performed better in areas of high human pressure but similar to multiple-use in remote locations. Multiple-use MPA performance was low in high-pressure areas but improved significantly with better management, producing similar outcomes to no-take MPAs when adequately staffed and appropriate use regulations were applied. For priority conservation areas where no-take restrictions are not possible or ethical, our findings show that a portfolio of well-designed and well-managed multiple-use MPAs represents a viable and potentially equitable pathway to advance local and global conservation.

Quantum current and holographic categorical symmetry

We establish the formulation for quantum current. Given a symmetry group G, let \mathcal{C}𝒞:=Rep G be its representation category. Physically, symmetry charges are objects of \mathcal{C}𝒞 and symmetric operators are morphisms in \mathcal{C}𝒞. The addition of charges is given by the tensor product of representations. For any symmetric operator O crossing two subsystems, the exact symmetry charge transported by O can be extracted. The quantum current is defined as symmetric operators that can transport symmetry charges over an arbitrary long distance. A quantum current exactly corresponds to an object in the Drinfeld center Z_1(\mathcal{C})Z1(𝒞). The condition for quantum currents to be is also specified, which corresponds to condensation of anyons in one higher dimension. To express the local conservation, the internal hom must be used to compute the charge difference, and the framework of enriched category is inevitable. To illustrate these ideas, we develop a rigorous scheme of renormalization in one-dimensional lattice systems and analyse the fixed-point models. It is proved that in the fixed-point models, superconducting quantum currents form a Lagrangian algebra in Z_1(\mathcal{C})Z1(𝒞) and the boundary-bulk correspondence is verified in the enriched setting. Overall, the quantum current provides a natural physical interpretation to the holographic categorical symmetry.

Dipole symmetries from the topology of the phase space and the constraints on the low-energy spectrum

We demonstrate the general existence of a local dipole conservation law in bosonic field theory. The scalar charge density arises from the symplectic form of the system, whereas the tensor current descends from its stress tensor. The algebra of spatial translations becomes centrally extended in presence of field configurations with a finite nonzero charge. Furthermore, when the symplectic form is closed but not exact, the system may, surprisingly, lack a well-defined momentum density. This leads to a theorem for the presence of additional light modes in the system whenever the short-distance physics is governed by a translationally invariant local field theory. We also illustrate this mechanism for axion electrodynamics as an example of a system with Nambu-Goldstone modes of higher-form symmetries.

New quadratic/serendipity finite volume element solutions on arbitrary triangular/quadrilateral meshes

AbstractBy postprocessing quadratic and eight‐node serendipity finite element solutions on arbitrary triangular and quadrilateral meshes, we obtain new quadratic/serendipity finite volume element solutions for solving anisotropic diffusion equations. The postprocessing procedure is implemented in each element independently, and we only need to solve a 6‐by‐6 (resp. 8‐by‐8) local linear algebraic system for triangular (resp. quadrilateral) element. The novelty of this paper is that, by designing some new quadratic dual meshes, and adding six/eight special constructed element‐wise bubble functions to quadratic/serendipity finite element solutions, we prove that the postprocessed solutions satisfy local conservation property on the new dual meshes. In particular, for any full anisotropic diffusion tensor, arbitrary triangular and quadrilateral meshes, we present a general framework to prove the existence and uniqueness of new quadratic/serendipity finite volume element solutions, which is better than some existing ones. That is, the existing theoretical results are improved, especially we extend the traditional rectangular assumption to arbitrary convex quadrilateral mesh. As a byproduct, we also prove that the new solutions converge to exact solution with optimal convergence rates under and norms on primal arbitrary triangular/quasi–parallelogram meshes. Finally, several numerical examples are carried out to validate the theoretical findings.

Using IUCN Best Practice Principles to Evaluate National Park Management: A Zambia Case Study

Over the last three decades, a series of best practice principles have been advanced by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to guide national park management policy and practice. This study investigates how these best practice principles have informed the management of Zambia’s national parks. We performed qualitative and quantitative thematic content analysis on 23 park management documents and found that, for the most part, the reported performance of Zambia’s national parks is not well aligned with IUCN best practice principles. We argue that improved alignment with IUCN principles can provide a realistic and positive foundation to increase opportunities for national parks to meet their local and international conservation goals. Improved data collection, along with meaningful public access to information will enhance decision making and public participation in national park management. Strengthened public participation will ensure consideration of multiple perspectives and adoption of processes that enable national park authorities to address conservation challenges that span socio-ecological boundaries. Improved capacity building will provide the necessary technical skills and knowledge to ensure effective coordination and implementation. The results show that park management plans are duly submitted with little expectation of implementing them. More often than not, performance reality does not match policy rhetoric. The study highlights the urgent need for national park management to articulate clear goals and action steps with mechanisms to implement them.

Nature's contributions to human well‐being under climate change: Evidence from Central and Eastern Madagascar

Abstract Anthropogenic climate change has an unprecedented impact on ecosystems and their services, with severe consequences for human well‐being, particularly for the marginalised and vulnerable members of society in the Global South. The well‐being of communities relies not only on material and regulating services ecosystems provide but also on non‐material services. In this paper, we unravel the diverse ways that climate change impacts affect Nature's Contributions to People (NCP) and the well‐being of rural populations in four sites in Madagascar—a biodiversity hotspot but one of the economically poorest countries in the world. We conducted participatory community workshops, mapping and semi‐structured interviews with local residents across social subgroups to understand the mechanisms of climate‐related degradation and the resulting impacts on different dimensions of human well‐being through an NCP lens. We found that non‐material services are generally more often associated with well‐being effects. Climate change degrades material and non‐material services through sea level rise, biodiversity loss, drought, precipitation and temperature variability, with consequences for materials, companionship and labour, food and feed, and physical and psychological experiences. Loss of land and forests is expressed through ecological grief. The outcome of our research provides evidence‐based information to local policymakers, conservation practitioners, and climate change agencies. This information can help improve government efforts toward holistic conservation and climate change adaptation by addressing the impacts on the physical and mental well‐being of the most vulnerable communities. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Two new and endangered species of Paepalanthus sect. Diphyomene (Eriocaulaceae) from the Brazilian Cerrado

Two new species of Paepalanthus (Eriocaulaceae) from the Cerrado hotspot in central Brazil are described and illustrated. Paepalanthus avacanoeiro Trovó & R. Silva-Oliveira sp. nov. occurs in the Chapada dos Veadeiros region, growing on quartzite rocky soils. The species is similar to P. urbanianus, distinguished mainly by being a more robust species with pilose and patent leaves with blackish base and ciliated margin, by its reproductive axis covered by remotely disposed bracts with acuminate apex, and by its inflorescence with fewer scapes. It is currently known from two subpopulations occurring just outside of the local conservation units and is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR). Paepalanthus burle-marxii Trovó sp. nov. is distributed in the vicinities of Brasília, Pirenópolis, Luziânia, and Santo Antônio do Descoberto. It is known from many historical and recent collections inhabiting typical open grasslands, usually over argillaceous-rocky soils. It is distinguished from P. linearis, its most similar species, by its glabrous and wider leaves with membranaceous margin, its narrower capitula with few flowers and dark castaneous involucral bracts, and by the pilosity of the pistillate flower sepals. It is assessed as Vulnerable (VU). Line drawings, photos taken in the field, distribution maps, and comments are provided alongside its conservation status and IUCN red list categories.

Correlations between Local Institutional Capacity and Community Conservation Partnerships in Lore Lindu National Park

The Community Conservation Partnership (CCP) is a policy option for ensuring the sustainability of conservation functions while improving the local community's economy. The critical issue in implementing this policy is local institutional capacity. This study aimed to describe the correlation between local institutional capacity and the performance of community conservation partnerships in LLNP. This study was carried out in 10 villages that had established conservation partnership agreements with LLNP managers. This research adopted a quantitative descriptive method. This study revealed that CCP performance was significantly dependent on local institutional capacity. The CCP programme improved the function of conservation areas, but did not boost the local economy significantly. Trust and financial capacity are the essential organisational and management capacities that strongly correlate with CCP performance. The performance of CCP was more strongly correlated with the organisational and management capacity of the local institution than with individual capacity. The individual capacity of the local institution that strongly correlated with CCP performance was only the technical capacity in forestry. Therefore, strengthening capacity at organizational and management levels, such as building trust, communications, and funding support for local institutions, is crucial for improving and sustaining conservation partnerships.

Wildlife corridor degradation and human‐wildlife conflict: A case study from Tanzania

AbstractIn many African countries, anthropogenic pressure and poor governance have led to the degradation of wildlife corridors, which are important for the long‐term viability of wildlife populations. Yet the nature of such degradation is poorly understood, hindering our ability to reverse these trends. We studied a deteriorating wildlife corridor between Katavi and Mahale National Parks in western Tanzania. Using satellite imagery, we found that the corridor still contains large areas of natural vegetation, diverse terrain and numerous water sources. There has nonetheless been increasing encroachment of the corridor by people between 1990 and 2017, exemplified by a 9% reduction in the area covered by miombo woodlands and a fourfold increase in the area covered by settlements and agricultural land. We used three additional methods to assess deterioration over the last three decades: elephants' movement routes, peoples' perception of animal populations and incidents of human–wildlife conflicts. Elephants were primarily found only in the parts of the corridor adjacent to the two national parks. Tracking of elephant spoor revealed a much‐diminished corridor use, suggesting that seemingly ‘healthy’ habitat within a wildlife corridor will not necessarily predict the presence of elephants or perhaps of other species. Other factors particularly the increasing presence of humans in the area are possibly more important for predicting elephant use of a corridor. Interviews with local residents and conservation experts suggested that, although use by some animal species has declined, many ungulates were still seen in the corridor and neighbouring villages, some of which were associated with human–wildlife conflict. All villages around the corridor were affected by the human–wildlife conflict; this comprised crop damage, livestock injury or killing and attacks on humans. We conclude that corridors could be restored if people were restricted from settling, but this would require governments to enact policies that balance the conservation of Natural Capital with survival of human populations; the latter may involve internal migration in response to growing population pressures.

Conservation genetics of Notelaea lloydii (Oleaceae) in south-eastern Queensland, Australia.

Habitat fragmentation can increase the chance of population bottlenecks and inbreeding, and may ultimately lead to reduced fitness and local extinction. Notelaea lloydii is a native olive species endemic to Australia and listed as vulnerable due to its restricted distribution. A recent molecular systematics study has revealed there might be some geographic structuring among N. lloydii populations. Therefore, we undertook a genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis to determine levels and patterns of genetic diversity, inbreeding and gene flow within and among N. lloydii populations in south-eastern Queensland. Furthermore, as the reproductive phase of a plant's life history has a profound influence on genetic diversity, life history reproductive traits were also studied. Our SNP analysis revealed low genetic diversity, inbreeding and significant genetic structuring even among proximate populations. Results of a flower and fruit bagging experiment in two consecutive seasons revealed that N. lloydii produced many flowers but only a few fruits survived to maturity. There were no differences in bagged and un-bagged flowering and fruiting rates, and therefore, we conclude that the high fruit abortion rate was probably due to inbreeding depression and/or suboptimal conditions, rather than pollinator availability and insect attack. Overall, results of this study indicate that the populations of N. lloydii are small, inbred and genetically isolated and represent unique management units that require local conservation management due to ongoing threats associated with urbanisation.

Phylogenetic, morphological and niche differentiation unveil new species limits for the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus).

Phylogeographic accounts of mammals across fragmented landscapes show high levels of genetic, morphological and ecological variation. The big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) widely spans mainland landmasses from Canada to Ecuador and Colombia, and the insular Caribbean through The Bahamas and Greater and Lesser Antilles. Given the distribution of E. fuscus, we hypothesized that insular lineages could represent a different species aided by isolation. We assessed species limits by capitalizing on available mitochondrial and genomic data. Novel morphological and spatial datasets were produced to examine limits phenotypically and whether ecological niches could be associated with differences between groups. Phylogenetics strongly supported the Caribbean as unique compared to the mainland. Genomic data indicated high levels of genetic structure within the Caribbean and no detectable admixture of the Caribbean with continental lineages. Similarly, the Caribbean group shows high phenotypic disparity, and niche models revealed differences in habitat suitability between groups, concordant with the phylogenetic results. This study uncovered signals of divergence supporting the Caribbean clade of E. fuscus as unique through an integrative framework. We endorse re-evaluating the taxonomic status of Caribbean big brown bats as Eptesicus dutertreus. This recognition can help promote local conservation plans for insular lineages of big brown bats.