Priority Species For Conservation Research Articles

Do amphibian conservation breeding programmes target species of immediate and future conservation concern?

AbstractWith amphibians declining globally, conservation breeding and reintroduction programmes are increasingly important management tools. Here we examine whether these conservation initiatives are targeting species at the greatest risk of extinction. We compared conservation needs of species involved in conservation breeding programmes to those of their closest relatives not involved in such programmes, using eight variables related to immediate and future extinction risk. We found that species in breeding programmes were more likely to be threatened and were equally range-restricted and specialized as their closest relatives not being bred for conservation purposes. This suggests that in contrast to patterns reported for zoo holdings more generally, these conservation initiatives target species of conservation priority in the short and medium term.

Importance of riparian forest in enhancing the avifaunal diversity of upland agricultural landscape

To understand the importance of riparian forest in enhancing the avifaunal diversity in upland agricultural landscape, this study compared the avifaunal community of riparian forest strip to avifaunal community of a swidden farm and a nearby primary forest in Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines from August to November 2010. Results revealed that the riparian forest strip has the highest species richness, diversity index and abundance compared to swidden farm and primary forest. Moreover, the bird assemblage found in it has high index of community similarity when compared to swidden farm and primary forest. This indicates that the bird community in the riparian forest is comprised of an assortment of species that thrive in the primary forest and in the swidden farm. Meanwhile, the low abundance, species richness and diversity index together with the concurrent decline of endemic and conservation priority birds in swidden farm uncovered the vulnerability of these birds to habitat degradation. On the contrary, the high abundance, species richness, and diversity index alongside with the presence of high number of endemic and conservation priority species in the riparian forest strip unfolded its significance in enhancing the avifaunal diversity in upland agricultural landscape. Moreover, the presence of endemic and high conservation priority bird species that are restricted only to primary forest highlights the need to conserve the remaining tracts of primary forest in the area. Preserving the networks of riparian forests in upland agricultural vegetation matrix is also recommended to improve the avifaunal ecosystem functions in the area.

A quantitative ethnobotanical approach toward biodiversity conservation of useful woody species in Wari-Maro forest reserve (Benin, West Africa)

Quantitative ethnobotany researches can contribute much to guide biodiversity conservation, especially in developing countries. Our study presents a step-by-step approach to identify priority species for local conservation of useful woody species. The presented approach includes (1) an investigation of the popularity and versatility of woody species in the local people, (2) an estimation of the ecological availability of useful tree species in the forest and (3) identification of local priority species for conservation. We focused the study on the Wari-Maro forest reserve in the Sudanian zone of Benin as an example to implement such approach and identify useful priority species for sustainable conservation and management strategies development. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted with people in surrounding villages of the forest composed by different sociocultural groups. Floristic vegetation surveys were performed within the forest to assess the local ecological availability of used woody species. A principal component analysis was performed to analyze the versatility, the popularity and the ecological availability of species. Spearman’s correlation test was used to assess relation between variables. In total, 79 woody species were reported for seven main types of uses: technology, construction, medicinal, veterinary, food, forage and energy. Among them, 35 were most popular and versatile, and 3 were characterized as priorities for conservation especially regarding their less availability and more versatility. We discussed the used approach by the underlining importance of integrating wood uses or multiples uses in conservation priorities setting and conservation decision-making of useful woody tree species.

<b>Useful woody species and its environmental availability: the case of artisanal fishermen in Itaúnas, Brazil

Ethnobotanical studies involve research with human societies and their different interaction with plants, and the quantitative approaches from thes estudies are important to select conservation priority of species in natural environment. This research aims to quantify use-values for woody plants mentioned by fishers in Itaunas, state of Espirito Santo, and evaluate the relationship between use-values and species availability (absolute density and frequency, and importance value) in two distinct resting vegetation formations. It also proposes to identify priority species for conservation. It was selected 30 species cited in individual semi-structured interviews with key-informant in fishers’ community and who were also on list of structural survey of two vegetation phytophysiognomies in the restinga regions . The data used was collected in previously published work. It was performed a correlation analysis between use-values and structural parameters of the mentioned woody species. Protium heptaphyllum , P. icicariba and Byrsonima sericea present the highest use-values. It was not observed relation between use-value and species availability in each vegetation formation. It was classified two and eight species as priority for conservation on shrubby and forest formations, respectively.

Avian community structure and habitat use of Polylepis forests along an elevation gradient.

BackgroundAs one of the highest forest ecosystems in the world, Polylepis forests are recognized both as center of endemism and diversity along the Andes and as an ecosystem under serious threat from habitat loss, fragmentation, and climate change due to human activities. Effective conservation efforts are limited, in part, by our poor understanding of the ecology and habitat needs of the ecosystem’s flora and fauna.MethodsIn 2014–2015, we studied bird communities and 19 associated local and landscape attributes within five forested glacial valleys within the Cordillera Blanca and Huascaran National Park, Peru. We surveyed birds during the dry (May–August) and wet (January–April) seasons at 130 points distributed along an elevational gradient (3,300–4,700 m) and analyzed our data using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA).ResultsWe associated a total of 50 species of birds, including 13 species of high conservation concern, with four basic habitat types: (1) Polylepis sericea forests at low elevations, (2) P. weberbaueri forests at high elevations, (3) Puna grassland and (4) shrublands. Four species of conservation priority (e.g., Microspingus alticola) were strongly associated with large forest patches (∼10-ha) of P. sericea at lower elevations (<3,800 m), whereas another four (e.g., Anairetes alpinus) were associated with less disturbed forests of P. weberbaueri at higher elevations (>4,200 m).DiscussionResults suggest two key strategies form the cornerstones of conservation efforts: (a) protect large remnant (>10-ha) P. sericea forests at lower elevations and (b) maintain all relicts of P. weberbaueri, irrespective of size, at high elevations (>4,200 m).

Genome-wide SNPs reveal low effective population size within confined management units of the highly vagile Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis)

The Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis) is one of over thirty shark species inhabiting the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR), where it is a priority species for conservation. Identifying stock structure and effective population size for species-specific management and effective conservation of this top predator is important. We examined stock structure, connectivity and effective population size of Galapagos sharks among GMR locations using genome-wide neutral Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (8103 SNP) and mtDNA markers. Potential historical gene flow and/or sex-biased dispersal were also examined using the mitochondrial control region (997 bp). Cluster analyses of neutral SNPs revealed two differentiated stocks in the GMR—a western (Isabela Island) and eastern (San Cristobal and Santa Cruz Islands) stock. Effective population size (Ne) estimates of approximately 200 suggest these populations are susceptible to ongoing natural and anthropogenic stressors and are of concern for long term resilience of populations. Mitochondrial DNA failed to identify distinct stocks, with AMOVA analyses indicating most genetic variation occurs within, rather than among locations. This pattern of genome-wide nuclear (but not mtDNA) discrimination among neighbouring islands either points to possible sex-biased dispersal by females or identifies limitations of the single organelle mtDNA marker at such small spatial scales. Regional differences across the archipelago or in behaviour may be implicated in the observed population structure. Further research focusing on a larger, Pacific wide analysis of population connectivity and effective population size at a broader spatial scale is required, to estimate the extent of discreteness and potential local adaptation. Potential adaptive units (AUs) in Galapagos sharks should ultimately be identified to leverage adaptive management and fisheries forensics applications.

La avifauna actual del lago de Tota, Boyacá (Colombia): área importante para la conservación de las aves

Lake Tota is at 3015 m a.s.l in the eastern Andean cordillera of Colombia. It was declared an Important Bird area - IBA, because it is a strategic breeding area for endemic and threatened species and for its large concentration of resident and migratory waterfowl species. This publication provides a current list of birds, based on direct observations reported by authors from 2003 to 2016. These records were analyzed and compared with historical published data, we present an analysis of five conservation priority species and point out the need for citizen participation to create a civic movement calling attention to the importance of this aquatic ecosystem to the environmental government agencies negative ecological impacts that have been afflicting this aquatic ecosystem for more than 60 years ago, and to insist that it be designated as a RAMSAR site.

Host-plant patch qualities and presence of a likely competitor species affect the distribution and abundance of a rare British moth, Cucullia lychnitis

Understanding the environmental factors that affect the distribution and abundance of rare and threatened species can help identify priority sites for conservation action such as habitat management. The moth Cucullia lychnitis is identified in UK legislation as a priority species for conservation. Its conspicuous larvae feed on a patchily distributed host plant Verbascum nigrum, but are entirely absent from some host plant patches within the species’ range. Environmental variability among patches was investigated to understand factors affecting (i) patch occupancy by C. lychnitis and (ii) abundance of C. lychnitis, where present. Occupancy of individual V. nigrum plants within occupied patches was also investigated. The likelihood of patch occupancy increased with patch size, and decreased with patch isolation. Abundance of C. lychnitis was negatively correlated with patch isolation and with abundance of the weevil Cionus nigritarsis, which exploits the same host plant and may be a competitor. Within occupied patches, larvae of C. lychnitis were significantly more likely to be found on taller plants with more flower spikes; such plants are typical of established rather than newly-created patches. These results may help to guide efforts to conserve C. lychnitis, highlighting the importance of habitat connectivity and indicating potential management actions to promote features positively associated with larval incidence and abundance.

AN INVERTEBRATE ECOSYSTEM ENGINEER UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF SAGE-GROUSE CONSERVATION.

Conservation practitioners often rely on areas designed to protect species of greatest conservation priority to also conserve co-occurring species (i.e., the umbrella species concept). The extent to which vertebrate species may serve as suitable umbrellas for invertebrate species, however, has rarely been explored. Sage-grouse (Centrocercus spp.) have high conservation priority throughout much of the rangelands of western North America and are considered an umbrella species through which the conservation of entire rangeland ecosystems can be accomplished. Harvester ants are ecosystem engineers and play important roles in the maintenance and function of rangeland ecosystems. We compared indices of the abundance of western harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex occidentalis) and Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) at 72 sites in central Wyoming, USA in 2012. The abundance of harvester ant mounds was best predicted by a regression model that included a combination of local habitat characteristics and the abundance of sage-grouse. When controlling for habitat-related factors, areas with higher abundances of sage-grouse pellets (an index of sage-grouse abundance and/or habitat use) had higher abundances of ant mounds than areas with lower abundances of sage-grouse pellets. The causal mechanism underlying this positive relationship between sage-grouse and ant mound abundance at the fine scale could be indirect (e.g., both species prefer similar environmental conditions) or direct (e.g., sage-grouse prefer areas with a high abundance of ant mounds because ants are an important prey item during certain life stages). We observed no relationship between a broad-scale index of breeding sage-grouse density and the abundance of ant mounds. We suspect that consideration of the non-breeding habitat of sage-grouse and finer-scale measures of sage-grouse abundance are critical to the utility of sage-grouse as an umbrella species for the conservation of harvester ants and their important role in rangeland ecosystems.

On the brink: status and breeding ecology of Eleonora’s FalconFalco eleonoraein Algeria

SummaryThis is the first study reporting the population status and reproductive biology of the Eleonora’s Falcon in Algeria. To determine the status, nest site selection, and breeding parameters, data were collected at Chetaïbi, north-east Algeria in 2010 and 2012. During this period, the number of breeding pairs decreased from 130 to 100, which represents an annual decrease rate of 12.29%. The mean clutch size was 2.6 ± 0.5 (n= 90) and 2.9 ± 0.4 (n= 34) in 2010 and 2012, respectively. Clutches displayed a low rate of hatching (56% and 41%) and productivity decreased from 0.8 chicks/nest in 2010 to 0.4 chicks/nest in 2012. Breeding outcome and productivity were negatively related to sun exposure and were weakly linked to hatching date in 2012 but not in 2010. Although fluctuations in population size have been reported across the species’ breeding range, our results suggest that the Algerian population of Eleonora’s Falcon is experiencing a sharp decline in recent times that also involves the near extinction of a small neighbouring colony. Apart from the effect of environmental factors on breeding performance, this negative population trend is likely to be explained by increasing anthropogenic pressures associated with an upsurge of recreational activities on and around the island as well as the introduction of mammal predators. Active management across the country is urgently needed to mitigate such pressures and ensure the long-term persistence of a bird listed as a priority species for conservation.

Plant Community Composition and Structure of Asabot Dry Afromontane Forest, West Harare Zone, Ethiopia

Dry Afromontane forests are the most altered and threatened ecosystem. Indeed, having a diverse ecosystem and biodiversity designated as a priority site in conservation. The objective of this study was to demonstrate plant community structure, regeneration status, and conservation priority species. The study was conducted on Asabot mountain forest which is found in West Harare Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. The vegetation sampling was designed at clustered altitude through mixed spatial stratified-random sampling method to ensure a full coverage of environmental variation and habitat heterogeneity. The main parameters used in vegetation characterization was diameter at breast height (DBH), height, seedling, and sapling of wood species recorded at sampled quadrat. The study analyzed plant community indicator species, importance value index, and vegetation structure and regeneration status, and conservation priority of selected species. The plant community was described by 97 species of 90 genera and 52 families. The result showed that eight specific trends and three general trends of population structure based on DBH, seedling, sapling and mature trees or shrubs. The dominant classes of the Asabot dry Afromontane forest were small trees and shrubs which is an indication of secondary vegetation. The conservation priority classification and visual field observations of some woody species were required urgent management intervention. Furthermore, the detail botanical aspects of the forest, the reason for the absence of regeneration in some tree species and socio-economic aspect of the vicinity is strongly recommended farther research in order to inaugurate appropriate management intervention.

Research and Conservation Priorities for Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles of Colombia

The objective of our study was to review and quantify the level of knowledge of the biology of tortoise and freshwater turtle species of Colombia based on studies conducted in the country. We used the resulting rankings in knowledge, in combination with IUCN threat category, presence in protected areas, and endemism, to propose conservation priorities. This process also allowed us to evaluate which aspects of turtle biology have been least studied. Four species obtained total values of zero or one over the 21 knowledge criteria employed, so they were ranked as the highest priority for research based on the lack of knowledge of their biology: Black-lined Toad-headed Turtle ( Mesoclemmys raniceps), Amazon Toad-headed Turtle ( Mesoclemmys heliostemma), Gibba Toad-headed Turtle ( Mesoclemmys gibba), and Dunn’s Mud Turtle ( Kinosternon dunni). Moreover, species in the family Chelidae in general were found to have limited levels of knowledge, which makes this group a priority for investigation. Evaluation of the distinct criteria used in the knowledge assessment revealed that the best-known criteria were geographic distribution (modeled), presence or absence in protected areas, and clutch size. The most poorly known biological characteristics, which constitute research priorities, are the frequency of nesting, longevity and generation time, and population parameters. According to the criteria used, the priority species for conservation were the Magdalena River Turtle ( Podocnemis lewyana), Dahl’s Toad-headed Turtle ( Mesoclemmys dahli), K. dunni, and Maracaibo Wood Turtle ( Rhinoclemmys diademata), three of which are endemic or semiendemic ( R. diademata only occurs in Colombia and Venezuela), followed by two species of Mesoclemmys.

The influence of crop tiller density on the breeding performance of a cereal‐nesting specialist

Summary In the pursuit of maximizing agricultural yields and profits, crop management under intensive agriculture has reduced the heterogeneity of crop sward structure within fields. Several farmland bird specialists that nest within arable crops have undergone marked population declines during recent periods of agricultural intensification. Understanding the mechanisms that link crop sward structure to demographic fitness and population change may be important for developing effective conservation solutions. We studied whole‐season breeding performance of a declining cereal crop specialist, the corn bunting Emberiza calandra, to test the relationships between crop sward structure and both nest site selection and reproductive output within intensively farmed landscapes. Experimental double‐drilling of cereal seed was used to manipulate crop sward structure and explain the observed within‐field nest distribution. The density of crop tillers (reproductive cereal stems) was a strong predictor of nest site selection and a disproportionate number of nests occurred close to (15–30 m) crop edges where regular seed sowing overlaps (operational double‐drilling) occurred during crop establishment. Nest survival was subject to a strong crop edge effect and re‐nesting rate increased with mean tiller density in the surrounding crop. Experimental double‐drilling that simulated seed sowing overlaps increased crop tiller density (by 25%) and corn bunting nest density (by 406%) compared to adjacent areas of operational double‐drilling. Corn buntings breeding in intensively managed cereal crops therefore place their nests in areas of high tiller density which under normal sowing practice tend to occur close to crop edges where nest survival is low. A simple population model indicated that productivity under conventional, intensive cereal management may be too low to sustain local populations in the absence of immigration. Modern cereal husbandry therefore creates an ecological trap for nesting corn buntings. Synthesis and applications. This study highlights a novel mechanism by which modern cereal crop management lowers the potential reproductive success of a conservation priority species nesting in intensively managed cereal crops. Unavoidable overlapping of cereal seed along crop headlands, close to crop edges, systematically produces patches of dense sward that attract nesting corn buntings. This creates an ecological trap because nests close to crop edges are subject to high predation rates, and this may be linked to the loss of arable weeds elsewhere within crops. When double‐drilled strips are intentionally provided adjacent to these areas, nesting preference switches to these strips, suggesting a potential conservation solution. Provision of mid‐field double‐drilled strips at least 100 m from crop edges, if similarly selected by nesting females, should raise nest survival rates and improve population trends. Such interventions are simple and cheap to implement, unlike most conservation measures in high‐value cropping systems.

Citizen science data as an efficient tool for mapping protected saproxylic beetles

Global change imposes rapid assessments to obtain reliable and updated distribution data to implement conservation measures. This task is undoubtedly unaffordable for numerous invertebrate species, both in terms of time and economic resources, because they are often elusive, detectable life stages are present for a restricted time and ecological data are scarce. Citizen science might be able to provide a large number of records and these data might facilitate the evaluation of extinction risks. Large saproxylic beetles represent an ideal group to assess the potential of citizen science to map distributions on a large scale geographic distribution. The data presented were collected during a citizen science program developed within the LIFE Project “Monitoring of Insects with Public Participation”, which used a website and a mobile app to involve citizens. We selected three pan European species protected under the Habitats Directive: Lucanus cervus, Morimus asper/funereus and Rosalia alpina, and we compared the data gathered by the citizen science project with distributional data from the official national species inventory. For all species we found a low overlap of occupied cells and the integration of the two datasets resulted in an increase in the distributional ranges of up to one third. Furthermore, taking into account the time frame of data collection, we found that the extent of occurrence obtained in 10years of records present in the national dataset was comparable to data collected in only two years of the citizen science data project. Similar results were obtained for the estimates of spatial parameters for the IUCN Red List assessment. Our study shows the potential and the efficacy of citizen science projects as rapid tools to provide reliable distributional data for neglected species of high conservation priority.

Do non-native pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus affect the growth, diet and trophic niche breadth of native brown trout Salmo trutta?

Brown trout Salmo trutta Linnaeus, 1758, is a priority species for conservation and management efforts in many European countries. In its native range, interactions with non-native fishes often adversely affect somatic growth rates and population abundances. Consequences of introduced North American pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus, 1758) for native S. trutta were examined in stream stretches with and without L. gibbosus. Data for somatic growth rates and trophic niche breadth (using stable isotope analyses) provided little evidence of L. gibbosus presence being detrimental for S. trutta. Shifts in S. trutta diet at all sites were associated with increased piscivory with increasing body length, with no evidence to suggest that interspecific resource competition with L. gibbosus structured the food web or affected trophic positions. Three years later, and following L. gibbosus removal, data revealed slight shifts in the food web at each site, but these related to shifts in resources at the bottom of the food chain rather than a response to L. gibbosus removal. Consequently, the ecological consequences of L. gibbosus for S. trutta in the study stream were minimal, with S. trutta populations responding more to natural mechanisms regulating their populations than to the presence of this non-native fish species.

Conservation-priority grassland bird response to urban landcover and habitat fragmentation

As urbanization in the landscape increases, some urban centers are setting aside habitat for wildlife. This habitat may be particularly valuable to declining or conservation-priority species. One group in particular need of conservation actions that may benefit from habitat located in urban areas is grassland birds. Declines of grassland bird species have been particularly severe in the Midwestern U.S., where most grassland cover has been lost, fragmented, and surrounded by unsuitable habitat. Conservation efforts have focused on protecting large grasslands surrounded by minimal amounts of trees and development. Although urban development is considered hostile to grassland birds, this assumption has received little attention. In heavily fragmented landscapes where habitat is limited, urban grasslands may be of significant value to grassland birds. We examined grassland bird response to development and additional landscape and habitat variables in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. In 2012 and 2013, we surveyed bird communities in grassland patches along a gradient of urbanization and patch sizes. Density of Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) increased with amount of development, while density of Sedge Wrens (Cistothorus platensis) decreased. Development did not appreciably impact Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), Dickcissels (Spiza americana), Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna), Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum), or Henslow’s Sparrows (Ammodramus henslowii). Patch size had a positive effect on species densities. These results indicate that for many conservation-priority grassland birds, urban landcover surrounding grasslands generally has neutral rather than negative effects on habitat use. Therefore, grasslands in developed landscapes may provide valuable contributions to regional conservation efforts.

Spatial Distribution and Habitat Use of Javan Langur (Presbytis Comata): Case Study in District of Kuningan

Javan langur (Presbytis comata) is grouped into one of priority species for conservation. However, little is known about the distribution of the population that can support conservation effort. The research is identify the distribution of Javan langur based on village administrative area, distance of group encounter to nearest settlement and roadway, and altitude, as well as habitat types used in Kuningan District, West Java Provinces. We interviewed residents of forest villages to gather information on population occurrence, followed by making line transects in each village based on the result of the interviews, then noted habitat type every 100 m along the transect and encountering point of group of Javan langur as well as the coordinates of encountering. The data obtained were analyzed descriptively and by using both chi-square test and Bonferroni's procedure to determine the preferences of habitat types used. The study found that Javan langur populations are distributed in 34 forest villages. The closest distance Javan langur were recorded at 9.32 meters from the settlement and 3.24 meters from the road. Its distribution ranging from 255-1254 meters asl. Land cover types used were natural forest, mixed-garden, homogenous timber plantation (pine, teak, mahagoni and rosewood forest), and transition areas (natural forest to mixed garden and pine forest to natural forest or mixed garden), but natural forest was preferred. We conclude that Javan langur population can still be found in several locations in lowland, hills, natural forest and plantation forest that have diverse vegetation, including those adjacent to settlement.

Combining the least cost path method with population genetic data and species distribution models to identify landscape connectivity during the late Quaternary in Himalayan hemlock.

Himalayan hemlock (Tsuga dumosa) experienced a recolonization event during the Quaternary period; however, the specific dispersal routes are remain unknown. Recently, the least cost path (LCP) calculation coupled with population genetic data and species distribution models has been applied to reveal the landscape connectivity. In this study, we utilized the categorical LCP method, combining species distribution of three periods (the last interglacial, the last glacial maximum, and the current period) and locality with shared chloroplast, mitochondrial, and nuclear haplotypes, to identify the possible dispersal routes of T. dumosa in the late Quaternary. Then, both a coalescent estimate of migration rates among regional groups and establishment of genetic divergence pattern were conducted. After those analyses, we found that the species generally migrated along the southern slope of Himalaya across time periods and genomic makers, and higher degree of dispersal was in the present and mtDNA haplotype. Furthermore, the direction of range shifts and strong level of gene flow also imply the existence of Himalayan dispersal path, and low area of genetic divergence pattern suggests that there are not any obvious barriers against the dispersal pathway. Above all, we inferred that a dispersal route along the Himalaya Mountains could exist, which is an important supplement for the evolutionary history of T. dumosa. Finally, we believed that this integrative genetic and geospatial method would bring new implications for the evolutionary process and conservation priority of species in the Tibetan Plateau.

Flexible risk metrics for identifying and monitoring conservation-priority species

Region-specific conservation programs should have objective, reliable metrics for species prioritization and progress evaluation that are customizable to the goals of a program, easy to comprehend and communicate, and standardized across time. Regional programs may have vastly different goals, spatial coverage, or management agendas, and one-size-fits-all schemes may not always be the best approach. We propose a quantitative and objective framework for generating metrics for prioritizing species that is straightforward to implement and update, customizable to different spatial resolutions, and based on readily available time-series data. This framework is also well-suited to handling missing-data and observer error. We demonstrate this approach using North American Breeding Bird Survey (NABBS) data to identify conservation priority species from a list of over 300 landbirds across 33 bird conservation regions (BCRs). To highlight the flexibility of the framework for different management goals and timeframes we calculate two different metrics. The first identifies species that may be inadequately monitored by NABBS protocols in the near future (TMT, time to monitoring threshold), and the other identifies species likely to decline significantly in the near future based on recent trends (TPD, time to percent decline). Within the individual BCRs we found up to 45% (mean 28%) of the species analyzed had overall declining population trajectories, which could result in up to 37 species declining below a minimum NABBS monitoring threshold in at least one currently occupied BCR within the next 50 years. Additionally, up to 26% (mean 8%) of the species analyzed within the individual BCRs may decline by 30% within the next decade. Conservation workers interested in conserving avian diversity and abundance within these BCRs can use these metrics to plan alternative monitoring schemes or highlight the urgency of those populations experiencing the fastest declines. However, this framework is adaptable to many taxa besides birds where abundance time-series data are available.

A Herpetological Inventory of Naval Air Station Fallon, Churchill County, Nevada

Much of the western United States is managed by state and federal agencies for multiple uses, including recreation, grazing, extraction, and defense. Biological inventories are integral to proper management and conservation of biodiversity on these lands. We surveyed for amphibians and reptiles occurring on Naval Air Station Fallon (NAS Fallon), Nevada, USA, using a variety of methods. We documented the presence of a majority of the amphibian and reptile species native to this region of the Great Basin. We found 5 species on NAS Fallon that are listed as Species of Conservation Priority by the Nevada Department of Wildlife: the Great Basin Spadefoot (Spea intermontana), Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas), Northern Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos platyrhinos), Long-nosed Leopard Lizard (Gambelia wizlizenii), and Great Basin Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus bicinctores). However, we found no evidence of any narrowly distributed species of conservation concern, such as the Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) or Northern Rubber Boa (Charina bottae), that could have occurred on installation lands based on historical or recent observations in nearby areas. Our results indicate that this property, while primarily used for military training, can support a diverse, representative herpetofaunal community. Therefore, NAS Fallon should be considered a valuable part of the network of state and federally managed lands necessary for regional conservation planning in the face of future change. Our study also provides a baseline against which future inventories of this federally managed land can be compared.