National Park Research Articles

Feeding ecology of two wild sympatric canids in protected areas of northeastern Argentina

AbstractThe role of mesocarnivores in wildlife communities tends to be overlooked, which has led to a large gap in natural history knowledge. In northeastern Argentina, two mesocarnivore foxes, Cerdocyon thous and Lycalopex gymnocercus, live in sympatry in noncompetitive coexistence. Their feeding habits have been studied in many occasions; however, the studies related to trophic variability in a wider spatial scale remain scarce. In this study, we aimed to analyze how the diet of these foxes varies in three protected areas in Argentina: the Mburucuyá National Park (MNP), the “San Nicolás Portal” (SN), and the Natural Reserve Rincón de Santa María (RSM). We collected fecal samples in each area, identified them using thin layer chromatography at species level, and classified the found feeding items to obtained two parameters: occurrence and relative frequency. Furthermore, we compared the diet of the two species in each site and between sites using chi‐square and estimated trophic niche breadth and overlap between the species. We found that both species consumed different food categories, with variable frequencies across study sites. We observed that in each area, the foxes differed in diet composition. However, we found no differences between the diet compositions of C. thous and L. gymnocercus, showing high niche overlap in each site. Here, we show the plasticity of both fox species in changing their diets even with small geographical variation. Both species can coexist even with a high diet overlap, possibly explained by their noncompetitive coexistence which may occur due to the current changes in the ecosystem interactions, or partitioning may exist but on a smaller niche level.

Social tolerance and success-biased social learning underlie the cultural transmission of an induced extractive foraging tradition in a wild tool-using primate

The last two decades have seen great advances in the study of social learning (learning from others), in part due to efforts to identify it in the wild as the basis of behavioral traditions. Theoretical frameworks suggest that both the dynamics of social tolerance and transmission biases (or social learning strategies) influence the pathways of information diffusion in social groups. Bearded capuchins ( Sapajus libidinosus ) inhabiting the semiarid seasonal caatinga biome of the Serra da Capivara National Park (SCNP) form highly tolerant societies that possess the largest “tool-kit” described for monkeys, a feat likely facilitated by social learning. Here, we used social network analysis and an open diffusion experiment using an extractive foraging task to identify the occurrence of social learning and describe the pathways of social transmission of information in two wild primate populations. The dynamics of social tolerance outside of task introductions predicted opportunities for social learning, but it was tolerance during task introductions that predicted the actual pathways of social information diffusion. Our results also indicated that the capuchins mainly learned from others via direct observation and naïve individuals exhibited an observation bias toward successful males. This study supports the claims of cultural transmission in robust capuchins and empirically supports the role of social tolerance and social learning strategies in human and nonhuman primate cultural evolution.

Implementation of augmented reality herbarium malangensis website tour to enhance conservation literacy

The biodiversity of Indonesia showed by the numerous of plant species, including one of the 89,326 species of spore plants. Along with the high diversity of various threat factors that will affect the status of a plant, knowledge about plants can be enhanced through conservation literacy using modern technology-based learning media, such as 3D modeling and augmented reality (AR) websites. AR acts as an interactive window that opens the view of conservation reality. The aim of this research is to produce a rare plant learning media product in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park that exists on the Malangensis Herbarium with the integration of 3D modeling websites. The method used is R&D, referring to the ADDIE model. The practicality test results obtained 91.54%, while the media effectiveness test showed with n-gain scores obtaining a result of 0.66 that media can improve conservation literacy skills in biology students of the State University of Malang. This research could provide a benchmark and literature for advanced media development on plant divisions other than Pteridophyte.

The Diurnal Lepidoptera Fauna in Buila-Vânturarița National Park: One-Season Survey

Diurnal Lepidoptera, mostly Papilionoidaea, is a well-studied group of organisms, and its faunas are usually relatively well-documented all over Europe. However, the Romanian Lepidoptera fauna still lacks species lists from various regions, including National or Natural Parks. Buila-Vânturarița National Park is one of the protected areas that previously benefited from the implementation of several EC-funded projects that produced a management plan in 2005 in preparation for legislative changes with Romania’s accession to the EU. However, the Lepidoptera species mentioned in this older management plan are just some of the few of the EC-Habitats Directive species, and there are still insufficient information about their distribution and conservation status. There are no checklists for the Lepidoptera from the Buila-Vânturarița National Park ever published. In this study, diurnal Lepidoptera from open or semi-open habitats were inventoried in the Buila-Vânturarița National Park. A method for efficiently sampling habitats is presented and analysed. The results produced a list of 64 diurnal Lepidoptera, representing approximately 80% of the species that should be found in the National Park Buila-Vânturarița. Additionally, three Natura 2000 species were found, not previously mentioned in the Management Plan.

Creating near real-time alerts of illegal gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon using Synthetic Aperture Radar

Abstract Peru’s Southeastern Amazon deforestation trends can be attributed to alluvial gold mining. Illegal mining occurring in forestry concessions, national parks, and the territories of Indigenous People Organizations is of particular concern. We present a methodology to create near real-time alerts of deforestation caused by alluvial gold mining. A time series of Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data from February to December 2022 is created in Google Earth Engine (GEE) and assessed using Morton Canty’s Omnibus Q-test change detection algorithm. Resulting detections are validated with high-resolution optical imagery from Planet NICFI’s monthly basemaps and Planet Scope daily imagery. The alerts identify the location and timing of large areas (group pixels of <1 ha) of forest loss due to gold mining activities within buffer zones of indigenous territories and protected areas. The overall accuracy of the forest loss analysis conducted with this change detection method was 99.98%, based on an independent accuracy assessment. This effort has resulted in a public web platform that displays the location of near real time alerts, so Peruvian enforcement agencies can more effectively allocate resources and staff to addressing active illegal mining operations. These results demonstrate the applicability of open-source SAR data to monitor forest loss over areas where cloud cover is more persistent and to improve tools that deliver timely, critical information to decision-makers. Future applications of our method could expand this approach to other drivers of deforestation.

Evaluating Machine Learning-Based Elephant Recognition in Complex African Landscapes Using Drone Imagery

Abstract This paper evaluates a machine learning-based approach for identifying and analyzing African bush elephants within complex terrains using high-resolution drone imagery. With human-wildlife conflict posing a significant threat to elephants worldwide, accurate and efficient monitoring techniques are crucial, yet challenging in diverse landscapes. Our study utilizes approximately 3,180 drone-captured images from Kasungu National Park in Malawi, encompassing various terrains including dense forests and open bushlands. These images were systematically preprocessed and analyzed using three distinct ML algorithms: Faster R-CNN, RetinaNet, and Mask R-CNN, each fine-tuned for identification of elephants across different age groups. Comparative performance metrics revealed nuanced strengths and limitations: Faster R-CNN showed notable proficiency in detecting adult elephants, particularly in dense foliage. Mask R-CNN, while less precise overall, demonstrated increased effectiveness in identifying juveniles and infants. RetinaNet, optimized for larger images, showed particular adeptness with adult elephants but less so with younger ones. Despite these promising results, overall recognition rates were lower than ideal, highlighting the complexities of wildlife identification in natural settings. This study not only facilitates the identification and counting of individual elephants but also provides insights into the challenges of applying ML in complex ecological contexts. The derived insights can assist conservationists and park officials in making informed decisions related to wildlife protection and habitat preservation. Furthermore, the study offers a valuable blueprint for integrating AI and machine learning technology into wildlife conservation strategies, presenting a scalable model with potential applications for different species and geographic regions, while acknowledging the need for further refinement to enhance accuracy and reliability in diverse ecological settings.

Seasonal infestation patterns of ticks on Hokkaido sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis).

Ticks prefer specific feeding sites on a host that are influenced by host–tick and tick–tick interactions. This study focused on the spatiotemporal distribution of ticks in Hokkaido sika deer, an important tick host in Hokkaido, Japan. Tick sampling was performed on the sika deer in the Shiretoko National Park between June and October 2022. Ticks were collected from 9 different body parts of the deer to compare their attachment site preferences. Interspecific and intraspecific relationships among ticks were examined using co-occurrence analysis. The collected ticks were nymphal and adult stages of 4 species: Ixodes ovatus, Ixodes persulcatus, Haemaphysalis japonica and Haemaphysalis megaspinosa. Seasonal variations in tick burden were observed, with I. persulcatus and I. ovatus peaking in June and declining towards October; H. japonica showing low numbers in July and August and increasing from September; and H. megaspinosa appearing from September onwards with little variation. Attachment site preferences varied among species, with a significant preference for the pinna in I. ovatus and I. persulcatus. Haemaphysalis japonica was mainly found on the body and legs between June and August, and shifted to the pinna from September. Haemaphysalis megaspinosa showed a general preference for areas other than the legs. Co-occurrence analysis revealed positive, negative and random co-occurrence patterns among the tick species. Ticks of the same genus and species exhibited positive co-occurrence patterns; I. ovatus showed negative co-occurrence patterns with Haemaphysalis spp. This study revealed the unique attachment site preferences and distinct seasonal distributions of tick species in the Hokkaido sika deer.

Application of Remote Sensing in Analyzing Mangrove Forest Changes and Drivers in Mui Ca Mau National Park, Vietnam

Mangroves are vital in coastal ecology and for sustaining and securing coastal communities. However, several factors such as human activities and climate change have changed mangroves' quantity and quality. This research analyses land-use/land cover (LULC) changes focusing on mangroves in Mui Ca Mau National Park (MCMNP) from 1995-2022. Collected Landsat imagery in 1995, 2003, and 2022 were applied to perform this research. Overall accuracy and Kappa of land cover classification were 88.5% and 0.86 in 2003, and 87.6% and 0.85 in 2022, respectively. The classified results showed that the mangrove area had increased significantly from 4,316.1 hectares in 1995 to 8,741.3 and 10,764.1 hectares in 2003 and 2022, respectively. In addition, the drivers of mangrove change were identified and analyzed. This study showed the important role of policy in mangrove conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources. The study provided useful information for policy-making in terms of forest conservation and management.

Bat Species Diversity in the Merapoh Rich Limestone-rich Area within Lipis National Geopark, Malaysia

Merapoh, Pahang, is an area rich with limestone karst located within the Lipis National Geopark and home to the Sungai Relau gate of Taman Negara Pahang, a totally protected rainforest in Malaysia. Much of the research conducted here is mainly inside the National Park, with few published faunal records for the Merapoh caves. This study compiled the data on the bat species diversity of eight Merapoh caves (March 2020 to March 2022) using mist nets and harp traps. Our results indicate that Chiroptera diversity at Merapoh caves is rich, with a total of 32 species recorded from 865 individuals and four new locality records for the State of Pahang, namely Rousettus leschenaultii, Lyroderma lyra, Rhinolophus coelophyllus and Hipposideros pomona. Gua Gunting has the highest diversity of bats recorded in this study (19 species). Significant Merapoh caves with bat colony roosts in Merapoh include Gua Jinjang Pelamin (Eonycteris spelaea & Rousettus leschenaultii), Gua Tahi Bintang (Hipposideros larvatus) and Gua Pasir Besar (Miniopterus medius). Rhinolophus convexus, previously recorded only in upper montane rainforests, was also recorded in Merapoh caves indicating that this species can also be found in lower elevations than previously thought. Based on the findings of the current study and additional records from two previous studies, the Merapoh bat species diversity checklist totalled up to 38 species. On the whole, the rich bat diversity in Merapoh is reflective of its immense limestone karst landscape, which highlights the reason Lipis National Geopark has been recently gazetted. Future bat research should continue here and in other karsts within Lipis Geopark to sustainably conserve biological diversity, manage geological structures and raise awareness amongst the locals to appreciate their national heritage.

A distinct Borrelia clade within the relapsing fever group from cat-infesting Haemaphysalis semermis Neumann 1901 (Acari: Ixodidae).

An undescribed relapsing fever group Borrelia species was detected in a male Haemaphysalis semermis tick infesting a rural cat in an indigenous population in Pahang National Park, Peninsular Malaysia. The 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed close similarity of this variant to several undescribed Borrelia species and Borrelia theileri, with genetic distances ranging from 0.58 to 0.72%. Furthermore, the flaB, gyrB, and the concatenated 16S rRNA + flaB + gyrB sequence analyses demonstrated that this variant is distinctly separated from multiple undescribed Borrelia species, Borrelia miyamotoi, and B. theileri, with genetic distances ranging from 3.41 to 7.00%. This study not only reports the first Borrelia found in H. semermis but also suggests that it forms a distinct clade within the relapsing fever group in Peninsular Malaysia.

Determination of Forest Health using Remote Sensing Techniques in Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Northeast, Nigeria

This study was conducted in order to determine the health status of forest vegetation in Gashaka-Gumti National Park. Landsat images were downloaded from the USGS website. The images were pre-processed using radiometric correction since the reflectance values were needed for computing spectral indices, the digital numbers were converted to radiance and reflectance, and analysis was carried out using a raster calculator. The range of NDVI, GNDVI, ARVI and MSI were used for health assessment. Utilizing NDVI, GNDVI, ARVI, and MSI as assessment tools revealed moderate to good health in most forest regions, with higher ARVI, GNDVI, and NDVI indicating healthier vegetation and elevated MSI values suggesting areas under moisture stress. the average values of NDVI, GNDVI, ARVI, and MSI over three decades indicate a potential decline in overall vegetation health, reduced green vegetation, changes in vegetation conditions, and a decrease in moisture stress, suggesting a potential increase in greening and photosynthetic activities in plants. These trends highlight the dynamic nature of the forest ecosystem over the studied period. Positive correlations between ARVI, GNDVI, and NDVI across years indicate a consistent vegetation pattern, while negative correlations with MSI suggest potential inverse relationships, providing valuable insights into forest health dynamics. Higher values of ARVI, GNDVI, and NDVI generally signify healthier vegetation, whereas elevated MSI values may indicate areas experiencing moisture stress, emphasizing the importance of monitoring these indices for sustainable forest management. The study recommends the sustained use of NDVI, GNDVI, ARVI, and MSI for forest health monitoring in the study area, implementing integrated pest management based on identified stress conditions, utilize spatial maps for strategic timber harvest planning, developing climate-resilient management considering moisture stress, and invest in research for enhanced assessment precision and understanding of ecosystem dynamics.

Population size and structure of Grant’s gazelle and lesser kudu in Geralle National Park, Southeastern Ethiopia

Background Grant’s gazelle and lesser kudu remain widespread within and outside protected areas. Current pressures on their populations, human encroachment and disturbance associated habitat modifications, and excessive grazing pose further threats to the species. The estimation of density and abundance of species has significant value for sustainable wildlife management in Geralle National Park (GNP) and also contributes towards a more accurate global population estimate. Result Using distance sampling methods, the lowest Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) (close to zero) and Chi-square tests (P value > 0.05) showed that the hazard rate key function with an un-equal interval group model was selected for estimation of density and abundance. The density of species was 1.7 ± 0.5, 2.07 ± 0.7, gazelle/km2 and 1.39 ± 0.3, 1.92 ± 0.42, lesser kudu/km2 during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Population density, abundance, and structure showed habitat and seasonal differences in observation. More individuals of both species were recorded during the wet season as compared to the dry season. Grassland was favored by Grant’s gazelle, while lesser kudu preferred woodlands. Both species exhibited a female-biased sex ratio, indicating potential for future population growth prospects. Conclusion It can be concluded that GNP is home to viable populations of Grant’s gazelle and lesser kudu, and season has influenced population abundance and distribution due to resource availability variations among seasons. The female-biased sex ratio indicates the future population growth prospects for the two species.

Nasal Carriage of Antimicrobial-Resistant Staphylococci by Fallow Deer (Dama dama) Taken in a Natural Park of Tuscany, Central Italy

Nasal Carriage of Antimicrobial-Resistant Staphylococci by Fallow Deer (Dama dama) Taken in a Natural Park of Tuscany, Central Italy

Mites from the Suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) in Bory Tucholskie National Park—One of the Youngest National Parks in Poland

The state of research into acarofauna in Polish national parks is very uneven. One of the least examined areas in this regard is Bory Tucholskie National Park (BTNP), established in 1996. The aim of the current research was to explore the species diversity and community structure of mites from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata), inhabiting different forest, open, and unstable microhabitats in the area of BTNP. Based on the analysis of over 300 samples collected in BTNP between 2004 and 2024, 29 taxa of Uropodina were identified, with 3839 specimens found in the analyzed material. The highest species diversity has been observed in different types of pine forests (19 species), in transformed alder and alder forests (15 species, each), and in reeds (12 species), while the lowest diversity occurred in peat bog areas (8 species) and inland dunes (5 species). The spatial distribution analyses for Uropodina in the area of BTNP have been made and distribution maps for each species have been drawn. Moreover, the Maturity Index (MI) was also calculated to compare the species diversity of the Uropodina communities in BTNP with those in other Polish national parks. The Uropodina community in BTNP ranked eighth in terms of species richness among 13 national parks explored in Poland so far. Finally, the comparative analysis of the MI for the selected Polish national parks has revealed that BTNP could be ranked fourth in terms of the faunistic value for the discussed mite group.

(Un)making a conservation landscape: repeat photography and environmental narrative in Mexico’s Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park

This essay uses repeat photography, a method in the natural sci­ences for studying change over time, to re-examine the conservation status of Baja California as a ‘living museum’ of pristine wilderness and relic of California’s ecological past. My focus is the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park, a portion of northern Baja’s forest sym­bolizing conservation’s narrative of Baja as the ‘before’ to California’s ‘after’. While this narrative has protected this ecosystem, I argue that it has also been instrumental in expanding U.S. conservation model into Mexico and casting local, land-based people with centuries of land tenure as enemies of conservation. While repeat photography can corroborate conservation’s story, I propose a critical re-photography that turns the lens back onto ourselves as the makers of landscapes. I leverage repeat photography’s implicit reflexivity to reveal the scientific and cultural priorities that have relegated land-based people to the past and threaten to exclude them from the future.

Two new Themistoclesia (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae) from Peru

Themistoclesia david-smithii and T. gigantiflora (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae), from the Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park located in central Peru, are described and illustrated.

Remote sensing and GPS tracking reveal temporal shifts in habitat use in nonbreeding Black‐tailed Godwits

Abstract Knowledge of the habitat requirements for migratory species throughout their full annual cycle is necessary for comprehensive species protection plans. By describing seasonal shifts of space‐use patterns in a key nonbreeding area, the Senegal Delta (Mauritania, Senegal), this study addresses a significant knowledge gap in the annual cycle of the rapidly declining continental Black‐tailed Godwit Limosa limosa limosa. We fitted continuous‐time stochastic‐process movement models with GPS location data to describe the core areas used by 22 GPS‐tagged godwits over the 2022–2023 nonbreeding period. We mapped key habitat types, such as floodplain wetlands and rice fields, via supervised classification of satellite imagery. Godwits in the Senegal Delta show a distinct shift in habitat use over the nonbreeding period. The core areas of godwits in the early stages of the nonbreeding period (the wet season) were primarily in natural wetlands and fields with newly planted rice. As the rice crop matured and became too dense, godwits moved towards more recently sown rice fields. Later, as floodwaters receded and rice fields dried out, godwits abandoned rice fields and shifted towards natural wetlands with fewer invasive plants, particularly within the marshes and shallow floodplains of nature‐protected areas in the lower Delta. Synthesis and applications: Our findings illustrate the shifting importance of natural and agricultural wetlands for godwits at different stages of the nonbreeding season. Protected areas in the Senegal Delta, particularly the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (Senegal) and Diawling National Park (Mauritania), are crucial habitats during the dry season as godwits prepare for their northward migration, whilst rice fields take a key role during the wet season. Conservation efforts should prioritize eradicating invasive plants from the Djoudj and Diawling, as well as promote agroecological management in specific rice production complexes indicated in this study.

Improved detection of arboreal geckos using tree-mounted Onduline artificial refuges

ABSTRACT The cryptic nature and low densities of many reptile populations world-wide presents significant challenges for their detection, monitoring and conservation management. Artificial refuges (also known as artificial cover objects and artificial retreats) are a standard method used to sample terrestrial lizards throughout New Zealand. Despite the development of multiple refuge designs for arboreal species, encounter rates are typically low in areas with mammalian predators, particularly for geckos living in tall forest. Here, we compared the effectiveness of novel tree-mounted Onduline refuges with conventional refuge designs for detecting Waitaha gecko (Woodworthia cf. brunnea) and broad-cheeked gecko (Mokopirirakau ‘Okarito’) in tall podocarp forest in Riccarton Bush, Christchurch, and Westland Tai Poutini National Park, respectively. At both sites, the largest Onduline refuge design was the most effective for detecting geckos, yielding 69% of Waitaha gecko encounters over 25 sampling occasions between May 2020 and March 2023, and 62% of broad-cheeked gecko encounters over 10 occasions between December 2021 and December 2023. Closed-cell foam covers were the least effective design, yielding 6% and 0% of Waitaha and broad-cheeked gecko encounters, respectively. Additional research is needed to define optimal conditions for arboreal gecko occupancy and sampling a greater range of species with tree-mounted Onduline refuges.

New data and threat status of two rare North African species of the subgenus Bolognaia (Coleoptera: Meloidae: Meloini: Eurymeloe)

This study updates the distribution and conservation status of two poorly documented blister beetle species in Morocco: Eurymeloe (Bolognaia) pallidicolor (Martínez de la Escalera, 1909) and E. (B.) saharensis (Chobaut, 1898). A new locality for E. pallidicolor is added, which represents the southernmost known occurrence for the species, along with a total of seven new localities for E. saharensis in both the southwest and southeast of Morocco, significantly expanding its known area of occupancy in the country. A preliminary assessment of the threat status for both species is conducted based on IUCN criteria. Additionally, the habitat characteristics of both species in Morocco are described. While E. saharensis faces no immediate threats, E. pallidicolor appears to be a stenotopic species confined to low-altitude coastal and subcoastal areas. Its extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are very limited, which would place E. pallidicolor in an unfavorable conservation status. However, due to the limited available information, it would qualify as “Data Deficient” species according to the IUCN criteria. These findings emphasize the crucial role of natural protected areas, such as Souss-Massa National Park, in supporting populations of species affected by habitat destruction in the region. Lastly, a brief comment on the internal taxonomy of the genus Eurymeloe is provided, and a new combination is established: Eurymeloe (Bolognaia) digiuliorum (Bologna, Riccieri & Spagoni, 2024) comb. nov.

Genetic Features of the Bream Abramis brama from the Lake System of the Sebezhsky National Park

For the first time, the analysis of the genetic variability of microsatellite DNA for five loci in the bream Abramis brama (L.) from lakes Sebezhskoye and Necheritsa of the Sebezhsky National Park, Sebezhsky district of the Pskov region, included in the lake system, was carried out. The results obtained demonstrate the uniformity of estimates of the genetic variability of bream in the lake system. Estimates of the allelic diversity of microsatellite loci and the expected heterozygosity of local bream groups did not differ significantly. The total genetic differentiation of bream was θ = 0.004. 95% CI (-0.01; 0.01) and was significantly insignificant. The population-genetic structure based on the studied multilocus genotypes has not been revealed by the Bayesian analysis method. The result indicate a high level of gene flow between local bream groupings and make it possible to assume the presence of a genetically unified panmixed population in the Sebezh lakes system.