Planning Conservation Strategies Research Articles

Analysing the contribution of intermittent rivers to beta diversity can improve freshwater conservation in Mediterranean rivers

In Mediterranean climate regions, intermittent rivers (IRs) harbor highly dynamic communities with species and trait composition changing over time and space. Simultaneously considering multiple biodiversity facets and a spatiotemporal perspective is, therefore, key to developing effective conservation strategies for these ecosystems. We studied the spatiotemporal dynamics of aquatic macroinvertebrates in rivers of the western Mediterranean Basin by analysing (1) the taxonomic and functional richness and the local contribution to beta diversity (LCBD; measured considering taxonomic and functional facets) of perennial rivers and IRs over five sampling times, and (2) their relation with flow intermittence, local environmental uniqueness, and the number of anthropogenic impacts. Both analyses were also conducted for the subset of data including only IRs to compare values between their flowing and disconnected pool phases. According to our results, taxonomic and functional richness tended to be higher in perennial rivers than in IRs, while taxonomic and functional LCBD tended to be higher in IRs than in perennial rivers. When comparing IR sites over time, higher values of taxonomic and functional LCBD corresponded mostly to their disconnected pool phase. Flow intermittence, the number of anthropogenic impacts and the environmental uniqueness were significant predictors of taxonomic and functional richness, but only flow intermittence was an important predictor of taxonomic LCBD. For the IR-only data subset, disconnected pool permanence was the main predictor explaining spatiotemporal patterns. Our results highlight the importance of IRs to biodiversity conservation of Mediterranean climate rivers, especially during the disconnected pool phase, suggesting that these ecosystems cannot be ignored in conservation planning strategies.

Ecological niche modelling to project past, current and future distributional shift of black ebony tree Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. in India

The present study utilized an ensemble modelling approach to predict the distribution of Diospyros melanoxylon under present, past (last glacial maximum (LGM), ~ 22 000 years BP, middle Holocene (MH) ~ 6000 years BP) and future climate change scenarios (RCP 2.6 and 8.5 for 2050s and 2070s). The annual mean temperature, mean temperature of the wettest quarter and annual precipitations were the most critical parameters that chiefly influence the distribution of D. melanoxylon. The ensemble model rendered high accuracy with AUC = 0.93, TSS = 0.74 and Kappa = 0.71. Past projections of D. melanoxylon indicated a widespread distribution during LGM and MH suggesting its adaptability to semi‐dry as well as warm and humid climate, respectively. Presence of fossil pollen evidence of D. melanoxylon in the suitable habitats derived through past projections in this study complements the model results and marks occurrences of the species during LGM and MH. By 2050s and 2070s (RCP 8.5), there would be a decline in the distribution by only 0.4% (13 622 km2) and 0.2% (6842 km2) of the extremely suitable habitats, respectively. The main factor leading to reduced habitat suitability is the anticipated rise in temperature and variations in seasonal precipitation patterns. Our findings, help in identifying the parts of the country which would be severely affected by future climate change scenarios and plan conservation strategies for this commercially important species to facilitate its growth in suitable habitats which are likely to sustain under future climatic conditions.

Under pressure: suitable areas for neotropical cats within an under protected biodiversity hotspot

Understand which factors influence the distribution of feline species can contribute to better planning of conservation strategies in a biodiversity hotspot. We modeled the potential distribution of seven cat species occurring in the Atlantic Forest (AF). Here, we combined climatic and landscape perspectives to determine the most suitable areas considering the taxonomic richness of these cats. We also assessed the ability of fully protected areas (FPAS) to protect these cat species. The results indicated that only 30% of the AF remnants are suitable for all species. Areas with low species richness were located in Argentina and northeastern Brazil. For taxonomic richness, the Serra do Mar (45.89%) and the Araucaria (27.90%) sub-regions had the highest suitable areas, followed by the Interior sub-region (21.89%). The Brejos Nordestinos and Pernambuco sub-regions had less than 1% suitability. Considering taxonomic richness, only 9% of suitable areas are covered by FPAs. Leopardus emiliae (1.37%) and Panthera onca (1.97%) had the lowest values of suitable areas covered by FPAs. The other species of cats are also under low protection (L. guttulus = 5.38%, L. wiedii = 5.71%, Herpailurus yagouaroundi = 6.70%, L. pardalis = 3.85%, and Puma concolor = 4.94%). We reveal that a low percentage of suitable areas are currently fully protected. This study also provides important conservation measures to be implemented in different AF sub-regions. These findings may help in the planning, maintenance, and implementation of FPAs through restoration programs and the establishment of ecological corridors.

Three hundred years of past and future changes for native fish species in the upper Danube River Basin—Historical flow alterations versus future climate change

AbstractAimRivers belong to the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. Historical anthropogenic alterations have, and future climate change will further affect rivers and the species therein. While many studies have projected climate change effects on species, little is known about the severity of these changes compared to historical alterations. Here, we used a unique 300‐year time series of hydrological and climate data to explore the vulnerability of 48 native fish species in the upper Danube River Basin to past and potential future environmental changes.LocationUpper Danube River Basins (Germany and Austria).MethodsWe applied a climate niche factor analysis and calculated species‐specific vulnerability estimates based on modelled and observed hydrological and climate data from 1800 to 2100. We compared the estimated species vulnerabilities between two historical time intervals (1800–1830 and 1900–1930) and a future time interval (2070–2100, including the two representative concentration pathways 4.5 and 8.5) to an observed reference time interval (1970–2000). In addition, we identified the main environmental drivers of species vulnerability and their change over the past 200 years and for the predicted 100 years in the future.ResultsOur results showed that (i) in the past, species vulnerability was mainly driven by changes in discharge, while (ii) future potential vulnerabilities would be due to temperature. Moreover, we found that (iii) future environmental conditions for riverine fish species driven by temperature would change at a similar magnitude as past hydrological changes, driven by anthropogenic river alterations. Future changes, projected for the RCP 4.5, would result in moderate species vulnerability, whereas for the RCP 8.5, the vulnerability for all species would substantially increase compared to the historical conditions.Main ConclusionAccounting for an extended timeline uncovers the extent of historical pressures and provides unprecedented opportunities to proactively plan conservation strategies that are necessary to address future challenges.

First Report of Tetragonula calophyllae Shanas & Faseeh 2019 (Apidae: Apinae: Meliponini) from Goa State, India

The occurrence of Tetragonula calophyllae Shanas & Faseeh 2019, in Goa state, India, is reported for the first time. Morphometric comparison between T. calophyllae workers from Goa and Type series are provided along with comments on the external nest entrance. The need for developing baseline database on species distribution is stressed for developing policies for conservation planning and climate adaptation strategies for future.

Spatio-temporal dynamics and socio-ecological determinants of ecosystem service interplays in Shandong Province's coastal region (2000–2020): Implications for environmental protection and sustainable ecosystem management

The sustainable management of multiple concurrent ecosystem services (ESs) requires a comprehensive understanding of the interconnections between various ESs. In this study, we develop spatial maps for six distinct ESs using a variety of models, and we quantify their trade-offs, synergies, and bundling patterns through spatial mapping and statistical methodologies. We further delve into the antagonistic and synergistic dynamics between different ESs within each Ecosystem Service Bundle (ESB), and employ GeoDetector to pinpoint the key drivers of each ES. Our findings reveal that: (1) The spatial distributions of ESs are heterogeneous, with most ESs exhibiting a downward trend except for GP and SC, which are on the rise. CS shows positive correlations with all other five ES indicators. HQ exhibits positive correlations with SC and RS, whereas negative correlations are observed between HQ-GP and WC-RS. Six ES pairs demonstrate a decline in synergistic relationships, but an increase in trade-off relationships. (2) We distinguish six types of ESBs, each differing in their combination and extent of ES provision. The trade-offs and synergies within these distinct ESBs display both commonalities and differences. In certain ESBs, supply services display synergistic relationships with other ESs. We leverage ES bundles as the foundation for studying spatial planning zoning, revealing a diversity in the interactions between different ES pairs and the driving factors of ES. Therefore, we establish the theoretical basis for formulating spatial planning on the interrelationships and drivers of ES under spatial and temporal changes. We anticipate that our findings will offer valuable scientific insight for the development of future ecological conservation and spatial planning strategies in the region.

Ecological niche modelling of two water-dependant birds informs the conservation needs of riverine ecosystems outside protected area network in the Eastern Himalaya, India.

Common species often play vital roles in ecosystem functions and processes. Globally, conservation strategies are mostly focused on threatened species and rarely explored the potential of using common species as indicators of critical ecosystems. The Himalayan mountains have unique riverine ecosystems harbouring high diversity of specialist river birds. Ecological niche modelling provides effective tools to predict suitable habitats of a species and identify habitats for conservation. We used two common water-dependent bird species, Blue Whistling Thrush and White-capped Water Redstart as indicators of riverine ecosystems within the Sikkim Himalayan region and predicted their suitable habitats using an ensemble modelling approach. We selected six predictor variables for the final model including three bioclimatic and three topographic variables. For both species, bioclimatic variables such as mean annual temperature and precipitation were the most important factors compared to topographic variables. At least 70 percent of the most suitable habitats are distributed below 2000 m elevation alongside major drainages. Also, most of their potential habitats are distributed outside the protected area networks in the region. This habitat suitability pattern may be applied to other sympatric species in the region. Since major water bodies in Sikkim are largely affected by developmental activities and climate change, these riverine birds might face threats of losing suitable habitats. We recommend a dynamic approach to evaluate the habitat quality of riverine birds, especially outside protected area networks in the region to plan conservation strategies. This approach will ensure habitat conservation of many water-dependent birds and other taxa associated with the riverine ecosystems of the Eastern Himalaya.

A conservation planning strategy applied to the evolutionary history of the mantellid frogs of Madagascar

Phylogenetic diversity is an increasingly applied metric used to maximize the representation of evolutionary history in spatial conservation planning. When following this approach, researchers commonly overlook sites with a relatively higher proportion of recently diverged endemic species, also known as centers of neo-endemism. Here we aim to demonstrate how targeting the conservation of different facets of diversity (taxonomic diversity, phylogenetic diversity and centers of endemism) can provide more cost-effective solutions to the conservation of the all evolutionary spectrum of biodiversity. We do so by using the mantellid frogs of Madagascar as a case study. Our results confirm that areas with high concentrations of neo-endemism can be effectively identified as conservation planning priorities only if we specifically target them. Neglecting areas that are poor in phylogenetic diversity may therefore compromise the maintenance of diversification processes, particularly when lesser proportions of the landscape are protected. This approach can be of particular interest to island ecosystems, since they often harbor unique and restricted evolutionary radiations.

Spatial patterns of phylogenetic and species diversity of Fennoscandian vascular plants in protected areas

Protected areas are one of the main strategic means for conserving biodiversity. Yet, the design of protected areas usually neglects phylogenetic diversity, an important diversity measure. In this paper we assess the phylogenetic diversity and species richness of vascular plants in Fennoscandian protected areas. We evaluate how much species richness and phylogenetic diversity is found within and outside protected areas, and the differences in plant diversity between different categories of protected areas. We also assess the differences in the diversity-area relationship of the different protected area categories in terms of both species richness and phylogenetic diversity. We build a multi-locus phylogeny of 1,519 native vascular plants of Norway, Sweden, and Finland. We estimate the phylogenetic diversity and species richness by combining the phylogeny with publicly available occurrence data and the currently protected area system of Fennoscandia. Our results indicate that protected areas in Fennoscandia hold more plant diversity when larger, and that phylogenetic diversity increases faster with area than species richness. We found evidence for more plant diversity outside of protected areas of the different countries of Fennoscandia than inside of protected areas, but no evidence for plant diversity differences between areas with different protection status. Hence, our results indicate that the current protected area system in Fennoscandia is no more effective in conserving phylogenetic diversity and species richness of vascular plants than a random selection of localities. Our results also indicate that planning conservation strategies around phylogenetic diversity, rather than species richness, might be a first step to protect vascular plant diversity more effectively.

Spawning habitat suitability maps for the conservation of the tri‐spine horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus in Tsuyazaki Cove, Fukuoka, Japan

Abstract The suitable spawning habitat of Tachypleus tridentatus was estimated and mapped for the first time using scientific modelling in Tsuyazaki, Fukuoka, Japan. A total of 43 nests were found at five sites from 2018 to 2019. Of these 43 nests, the location information of nine nests at one of the sites was used as ‘Training data’ for constructing the models. A series of procedures was employed to determine the relationship between the biological data and their physical parameters to estimate the suitable spawning habitat. First, the contribution rates of the physical parameters (beach elevation, slope and sediment) to nest locations were evaluated. Second, physical parameters that showed significant contribution rates were chosen to estimate suitable spawning habitats. It was found that the beach elevation was the most significant parameter for estimating suitable spawning habitats. Mean high water neap to mean higher high water was estimated as suitable spawning habitat, and 74% of the nests were fitted in an area assessed as suitable. The result was consistent with previous studies. The area of suitable spawning habitat was estimated to be only 476 m2 out of 1943 m2, comprising 24% of the sandy beach in the study site. Therefore, it was concluded that the conservation and restoration of spawning grounds is a high‐priority and urgent issue at the site. It is proposed that scientific modelling of nest/egg occurrence and beach elevation can effectively determine suitable spawning habitats. Thus, it is possible to quickly establish the habitat most suitable for spawning in coastal environments and help plan conservation strategies for this globally endangered species.

Synergies and trade-offs among ecosystems functions and services for three types of lake-edge wetlands

Wetlands are the world’s most important providers of ecosystem functions and services (EFS) and the most threatened ecosystems. Systematic conservation planning strategies are urgently needed to identify efficient strategies that optimize EFS provisioning in wetlands. Evaluating synergies and trade-offs among EFS indicators provides an ideal framework, as they highlight the challenges faced by conservationists. However, associations between indicators often vary across region, scale, and ecosystem type. In this study, we compared the provisioning of eight EFS of three types of wetlands to evaluate the influence of indicator choice and aggregation on synergies and trade–offs. We quantified 25 EFS indicators in 37 lake-edge wetlands consisting of 12 peatlands, 8 alder swamps, and 17 ash swamps. We analyzed the synergies and trade-offs among wetland types and among EFS indicators, as well as the general EFS provisioning patterns of each type using cosine similarities and multivariate analysis. We showed that wetland type strongly influences the strength and direction of associations, with peatlands and ash swamps showing opposing patterns. While some EFS categories are less sensitive to indicator choice and aggregation, others, such as biodiversity, show important trade-offs. Our results revealed that synergies and trade-offs are strongly influenced by indicator choice and that protecting a diversity of wetland types is necessary to support multiple EFS categories.

Proteomic identification of beer brewing products in the ground layer of Danish Golden Age paintings.

The application of mass spectrometry-based proteomics to artworks provides accurate and detailed characterization of protein-based materials used in their production. This is highly valuable to plan conservation strategies and reconstruct the artwork's history. In this work, the proteomic analysis of canvas paintings from the Danish Golden Age led to the confident identification of cereal and yeast proteins in the ground layer. This proteomic profile points to a (by-)product of beer brewing, in agreement with local artists' manuals. The use of this unconventional binder can be connected to the workshops within the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. The mass spectrometric dataset generated from proteomics was also processed with a metabolomics workflow. The spectral matches observed supported the proteomic conclusions, and, in at least one sample, suggested the use of drying oils. These results highlight the value of untargeted proteomics in heritage science, correlating unconventional artistic materials with local culture and practices.

Urban cultural heritage is mentally restorative: an experimental study based on multiple psychophysiological measures.

Urban cultural heritage sites bear the cultural functions of a city, hold spiritual and cultural value, can recall emotional memories, and serve the cultural leisure activities of the residents. Urban cultural heritage sites can help citizens perceive a sense of belonging and a feeling of relaxation, but whether and to what extent cultural heritage sites affect mental health remains unknown. Based on attention restoration theory, multiple research methods are adopted in this study to examine the impact of cultural heritage on human restorative mechanisms. Five representative cultural heritage sites from the cultural heritage-rich city of Xi'an are selected as the research object. In addition, a questionnaire survey and physiological experiments are conducted. Perceived restorative scale, skin conductance response, heart rate variability, and eye movement data while viewing photographs of the cases are collected from the participants. Results show that cultural heritage sites have psychophysiological restorative effects, which are especially significant in the fascination dimension. Moreover, historical buildings can promote the restorative effects of cultural heritage sites. This finding may lead to new conservation and innovation planning strategies considering the mental health effects of cultural heritage.

Development of novel microsatellite markers for population differentiation and detection of natural selection in wild populations of butter catfish, Ompok bimaculatus (Bloch, 1794).

Butter catfish (Ompok bimaculatus) is a preferred species in South East Asia, with huge aquaculture potential. However, there is limited information about genetic stock composition due to insufficient markers. The goal of this study was to develop de novo microsatellite markers. For sequencing, genomic SMRT bell libraries (1.5 Kbp size) were prepared for O. bimaculatus. A total of 114 SSR containing sequences were used for primer designing. Polymorphic loci were validated by genotyping 83 individuals from four distant riverine populations, viz., Brahmaputra, Bichiya, Gomti and Kaveri. A total of 30 microsatellite loci were polymorphic, of which five were found to be associated with functional genes and eight (four positive and four negative) loci were found to be under selection pressure. A total of 115 alleles were detected in all loci and PIC ranged from 0.539 to 0.927 and pair-wise FST values from 0.1267 to 0.26002 (p < 0.001), with an overall FST value of 0.17047, indicating the presence of population sub-structure. Cross-species transferability of 29 loci (96.67%) was successful in congener species, Ompok pabda. The novel SSR markers developed in this study would facilitate stock characterization of natural populations, to be used in future selection breeding programs and planning conservation strategies in these species. Identified non-neutral markers will give insights into the effect of local adaptation on genetic differentiation in the natural population of this species.

Nest predation in Patagonian wetlands: predator assemblage and microhabitat characteristics

ABSTRACT Multiple factors influence predation risk, ranging from habitat conditions to the composition and behaviour of predators. Although these factors are well documented for forest ecosystems, there is little evidence for wetlands, especially within Patagonia. Using artificial nests and camera traps, we documented the nest predation rates and predator assemblage of birds nesting in wetlands of the Patagonian steppe. We also determined the effect of vegetation cover on nest survival and studied the variation in predator groups according to nest placement: nests located in an open wetland, peripheral grassland to the wetland, and nests located in shrubs at different heights. We found 84% of nests failed, counting birds, mice, and armadillos as the main predators. Vegetation cover affected predation events of birds and small mammals, but not those of larger mammals. In turn, small mammals preyed on nests exclusively located in peripheral grassland, medium mammals preferred nests placed in open wetlands, and predation by birds was irrespective of open wetlands and grassland. We also found differences in nest predator assemblage between nests placed on the ground and in shrubs, with birds being the main predators of nests located above ground. These results can be attributed to differential habitat use and movement patterns specific to each predator group. Therefore, the identity, density, and behaviour of predators should be taken into account when planning conservation strategies for birds breeding in wetlands.

Planning Strategy for Urban Building Energy Conservation Supported by Agent-Based Modeling

As a systematic, preventive, and structural adjustment method of improving building energy conservation and carbon emission reduction, urban planning has received extensive attention. However, due to the insufficient interface between energy-saving technology and urban planning systems, urban planning has not properly played a role in building energy conservation. Scientific and innovative technical methods are urgently needed to explore the role of coordinating multiple effective planning elements in overall building energy conservation through urban planning means. Due to climate conditions, there is high demand for conserving building energy in severe cold regions, but research into this has not been thoroughly carried out. Harbin, located in the northeast of China, belongs to the Dwa zone of the Köppen–Geiger Climate Classification, and is also a typical city of severe cold regions where the daily average temperature is lower than 5 °C for more than 145 days in a year. This study takes Harbin as an example and uses agent-based modeling to establish an urban-scale building energy consumption simulation model. The model contains four types of agents (a global agent, building agent, residential agent, and household equipment agent) and two types of influence factor modules (an urban form module and a climate module). Three simulation scenarios were designed, including a baseline scenario, an urban form scenario, and a climate scenario. The baseline scenario provided an overview of the urban-scale building energy consumption distribution characteristics of Harbin and served as a reference group for the simulation results of other scenarios. The urban form scenario results show that when the elements with a highly significant impact change by 1 unit, the retail building block has the most obvious change in energy consumption, up to 44.7 × 106 kWh/105 m2/year, while the office building block has the lowest change, with 34.5 × 103 kWh/105 m2/year. The fluctuation of electricity is the most obvious, but the total change is lower than the heating energy consumption. The climate scenario shows that the energy consumption of residential land in urban centers will consistently rise in the next 50 years, up to 5.3 × 105 kWh/105 m2/year. Based on these results, this study puts forward future building energy conservation planning strategies for Harbin, focusing on three aspects: the planning and control of urban form, the optimization and adjustment of the climate, and the building energy conservation planning system. These research results are expected to provide scientific support for transforming Harbin into a low-carbon city.

Prediction of habitat suitability, connectivity, and corridors in the future to conserve roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) as a locally endangered species in northern Iran

Roe deer is a protected species in Iran as its population and distribution in the country have considerably declined. Roe deer are threatened by several factors such as habitat fragmentation and road mortality, so studying their distribution and movement through the increasing habitat destruction and fragmentation is necessary. This will become increasingly important because climate change will transform the species’ future habitat and connectivity patterns. We evaluated the roe deer’s potential distribution range in northern Iran and, for the first time, developed connectivity models and designed corridors for the present and future to make better conservation plans. We collected 91 points indicating the presence of roe deer in the study region. After developing ensemble models using six species distribution algorithms, we defined high-ranked habitat cores using the concept of landscape suitability prioritization. From these, we designed connectivity and corridors in two time-frames with the help of least-cost paths and circuit theories to predict the potential movement throughout the study area. We estimated that the overall core habitats for roe deer in the present and future periods are, respectively, around 1200 km2 and 2600 km2, corresponding to 2 and 4 percent of the whole area. This suggests that the habitat core will expand in the future as a result of climate change. Similarly, the connectivity among the cores will strengthen. We also conclude that the temperature-driven and anthropogenic variables significantly affect the distribution of roe deer in northern Iran. It is necessary that conservationists and managers consider the designed corridors in the present study while planning conservation strategies.

GENETIC DIVERSITY OF BAK-KALA (ETLINGERA ELATIOR (JACK) R.M. SM.) IN ACEH PROVINCE, INDONESIA

Torch ginger – bak-kala (Etlingera elatior (Jack) R.M.SM.) already has been proven an effective traditional medicine by tribes in Aceh Province, Indonesia. Solid primary evidence for the torch ginger, bak-kala’s medicinal properties include the healing effects experienced by the traditional tribes in Aceh, when treated for illnesses, such as, cough, fever, and sprains. Likewise, it has been proven to be a use for food ingredients, i.e., vegetables and spices to enhance the taste of food. Much of the available documented information focused on its biochemical and pharmacological aspects. Even though the utilization of bak-kala resources is mainly at the level of diversity, there is no information on its genetic diversity in Aceh. The high intensity of bak-kala utilization is not simultaneous with information on its genetic diversity. On the other hand, many uses of bak-kala are specific for certain accessions with particular benefits. The study aimed to create a classification system for bak-kala variations based on inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers and to provide information on the genetic diversity of bak-kala in Aceh Province. The 35 accessions were divided into eight populations based on the geographical locations from which they were collected. Data were recorded and analyzed using 10 ISSR primers with 77 total bands. The molecular characters divided the accessions into four major groups. As revealed by expected heterozygosity (He), genetic variability among the population showed that the Simeulu population possessed a greater level of variability than other populations. The results of the analysis of molecular variation (AMOVA) showed that the genetic variation within the population was higher (60%) than the genetic variation among populations (40%). The studies can be used to plan conservation strategies, optimal utilization of the species, and crop improvement programs in the future.

Management effectiveness in a freshwater protected area: Long-term water quality response to catchment-scale land use changes

As freshwater environments become increasingly threatened, the need for efficient and effective protection grows more urgent. Yet quantitative evidence of management effectiveness within freshwater protected areas is limited, inhibiting our ability to infer the practicality and efficacy of practices. Herein, we employ linear mixed-effects models and time series models to evaluate the connection between catchment-scale management actions and surface water quality within a freshwater protected area, over the past three decades. Within the study area, all croplands were restored to traditional grasslands resulting in a landscape dominated by meadows and forests. The extent of land use change and time frame needed for water quality improvements were investigated and management effectiveness appraised. Results indicate that the complete grassing of croplands was approximately three times more effective at reducing concentrations of nitrate than electrical conductivity and calcium. Significant improvements in water quality occurred within nine years of management implementation, with mean annual nitrate concentrations decreasing from 5.5 to 1.9 mg/L following the grassing of all croplands covering 3.1% of the study area, whereas gradual improvements continued over the next 20 years, ultimately resulting in nitrate concentrations below 1.0 mg/L. The results of this study provide valuable insights on how land use conversions in small headwater catchments can influence stream water quality and helps to establish expectations for outcomes when planning conservation strategies.

A simple and extensible framework to identify key areas for the conservation of single vulnerable freshwater species

One of the main challenges in conservation biogeography of freshwater fishes is the improvement of conservation planning strategies. Nonetheless, the implementation of such strategies has lagged in freshwater systems, limiting their protection to the priorities of land organisms. Since the repercussions and relative importance for conservation across freshwater species can vary tremendously, and the application of such strategies requires information on multiple species, it is valuable to consider extensible and straightforward approaches that can be applied to single species. Here we use a freshwater fish species native to the Colombian Andes (Brycon henni) as a model to implement a methodology for spatial conservation prioritization considering four criteria: i) representativeness (protection of species distribution), ii) viability (maximizing probability of success), iii) complementarity (recognition of the currently protected area network), and iv) connectivity (promoting connectivity amongst protected areas). Using the proposed methodology based on the potential distribution of B. henni and hydrographic sub-basins as planning units, we recommend the protection of nine sub-basins climatically suitable for the species and with strategic river corridors that would promote the connection amongst basins and the currently protected areas. This methodological proposal can contribute to the current strategy design implemented by the National System of Protected Areas in Colombia to conserve or recover ecosystems and fragmented natural habitats, providing design options that meet ecological and socioeconomic objectives. Lastly, we consider that the methodology proposed here could be used with a more significant number of species of interest and implemented on a regional and global scale.