Recovery Of Species Research Articles

Engaging Stakeholders to Develop a Decision Support Model of Conservation Risk and Management Capacity to Prioritize Investments in Bull Trout Recovery

AbstractRarely are sufficient resources available to support the full suite of management actions to promote recovery of a species across its entire distribution. Decision support models are a tool that can inform natural resource management decisions with consideration of the perspectives from a variety of stakeholders who work across large geographic and jurisdictional extents. We offer an example of a decision support model that was developed by several federal and state natural resource agencies to rank Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus core areas for prioritizing conservation investment within Oregon, USA. We engaged state‐level decision makers to identify parameters that were believed to be influential in determining funding allocations for Bull Trout core areas. Parameters were linked in a model framework that was further refined with input from local Bull Trout experts with knowledge specific to the various core areas. The model produces a relative priority value that is a combination of the conservation risk to the species and the management capacity to address threats. A series of sensitivity analyses suggested that Bull Trout persistence and threat score were most influential in determining the relative priority of a core area, whereas life history and genetic diversity were least influential. One of the more powerful products from this work is an interactive Web‐based application (https://das.ecosphere.fws.gov/public/obts/) that anyone can use to explore how their beliefs in parameter values will affect the relative priority of Bull Trout core areas across Oregon. Our modeling effort is an example of engaging stakeholders with different roles in species recovery and across a large geographic area to create a clearer path forward in allocating limited resources for species recovery. This approach can be employed to address a number of natural resource management situations across species and habitats.

Factors influencing the downstream passage of European silver eels (Anguilla anguilla) through a tidal sluice.

Tidal sluices are a frequent element in the tidal regions of Europe's rivers and may hinder downstream migrating European eels Anguilla anguilla. Sea level rise will reduce the possibility for tidal sluices to freely discharge water, further compressing windows of opportunity for the passage of eels. Understanding how eels utilize the discharge events of tidal sluices and which conditions facilitate successful passage is pivotal for the design of effective fish migration measures. To investigate eel migration at a tidal sluice, acoustic receivers were placed at the tidal sluice Nieuwe Statenzijl and in its tributary of the Westerwoldse Aa, the Netherlands. Of the 30 tagged eels, 26 eels reached the tidal sluice and passage success was 100%. The mean migration speed of eels in the unobstructed part of the tributary was slow (0.14 m s-1 ). The eels were delayed in their migration by the sluice and delay was right-skewed distributed with most eels showing moderate delays (<2 days), while about 10% of the tagged individuals experienced extensive delays of more than 3 weeks. The number of missed sluicing events prior to successful passage was influenced by biological characteristics such as migration speed in the tributary, weight and condition. In addition, sluicing events with rapidly increasing and high maximum discharge levels increased the success rate of an individual eel to pass the sluice. Compromising sluicing duration in favour of higher and faster increasing discharge could facilitate eel migration at tidal barriers and contribute to the recovery of this endangered species.

Sunda pangolins show inconsistent responses to disturbances across multiple scales

AbstractPangolins are the most trafficked animals worldwide and are presumed to be restricted to pristine habitats due to poaching intensity in more accessible degraded areas or intrinsic habitat preferences. We tested the hypothesis that pangolins' could persist in degraded areas and near humans if poaching is controlled. We used occurrence records from new and published camera trapping studies from across Southeast Asia to conduct a multiscale analysis of habitat associations for the Critically Endangered Sunda pangolin, encompassing poached and non‐poached areas. Our results were highly influenced by Singapore, where pangolins are common in urban settings and there is minimal poaching. Excluding Singapore, there were no significant landscape‐level habitat associations, reflecting pangolins are habitat generalists. At local scales (including and excluding Singapore), occupancy was negatively correlated with active deforestation but not previously degraded forests. We conclude that with strong antipoaching enforcement, pangolins are unexpectedly adaptable, with Singapore exemplifying the potential for species recovery.

Subtle differences in growth rate drive contrasting responses of ephemeral primary producers to recurrent disturbances

AbstractAlthough the importance of time after disturbance is well established in the ecological literature, studies examining how differences in growth rate affect species recovery and persistence in relation to the interval between recurrent perturbations are rare. We examined the response of two ephemeral primary producers inhabiting high‐shore rock pools, epilithic microphytobenthos (EMPB), and green filamentous algae, to disturbance regimes varying for the time interval between consecutive events. Informed from an empirically parametrized growth model's outcomes, we tested the hypothesis that EMPB would be able to recover from more frequent disturbance compared with filamentous algae in a field experiment involving three physical disturbance patterns differing for the clustering degree: high, moderate, and low (20, 40, and 80 days between disturbances). We predicted that: high clustering would prevent the recovery of both taxa; moderate clustering would prevent the recovery of the slower growing taxon only (filamentous algae); both taxa would recover under low clustering. Results showed that EMPB persisted independently of the clustering degree, whereas filamentous algae did not withstand any disturbance regime. Dramatically different effects of disturbance on organisms with subtle differences in their growth rate indicate that even stronger responses may be expected from taxa with more markedly contrasting life histories.

Short-term responses of macroinvertebrate assemblages to the “ten-year fishing ban” in the largest highland lake of the Yangtze basin

The rapid decline of freshwater biodiversity caused by overfishing has led to the implementation of a series of conservation measures, including fishing bans. However, existing studies have mostly focused on the effects of fishing bans on economically important species, while impacts on freshwater macroinvertebrates in lake ecosystems have been rarely studied. This study used a before-and-after methodology to determine the short-term effects of the “ten-year fishing ban” on the macroinvertebrates of the Dianchi Lake, the largest highland freshwater lake in the upper Yangtze basin, between 2015 and 2022. Following the fishing ban, the overall macroinvertebrate species richness (median [interquartile]) across sites increased from 4 [2–6] to 5 [4–7]. The total density increased from 128 [80–272] to 212 [140–325] n/m2. The median biomass increased from 0.18 [0.08–0.41] to 0.51 [0.26–2.36] g/m2. In particular, the Chironomidae density in the offshore sites increased from 16.00 [0.00–32.00] to 33.30 [16.00–48.00] n/m2, and the biomass increased from 0.03 [0.00–0.09] to 0.16 [0.07–0.22] g/m2. Within the inshore sites, the aquatic insect density increased from 4 [1.33–15.33] to 56 [22.00–86.67] n/m2. The Malacostraca density increased from 34.67 [11.67–95.33] to 110 [53.33–223.33] n/m2, and the biomass increased from 0.43 [0.11–1.00] to 1.48 [0.50–2.00] g/m2. Two endangered Margarya species were rediscovered at multiple sites compared to the pre-fishing ban period. A significant change in macroinvertebrate community structure across the lake was observed, which can be largely attributed to the fishing ban. The immediate increase in species richness, density, and biomass of most macroinvertebrate species suggests a combination of effects from both reduced exploitation pressure and lessened disturbances on lake habitats. The findings indicate that the fishing ban is beneficial for the recovery of most macroinvertebrate species in freshwater lakes.

Genomic recovery lags behind demographic recovery in bottlenecked populations of the Channel Island fox, Urocyon littoralis.

With continued global change, recovery of species listed under the Endangered Species Act is increasingly challenging. One rare success was the recovery and delisting of the Channel Island fox (Urocyon littoralis) after 90%-99% population declines in the 1990s. While their demographic recovery was marked, less is known about their genetic recovery. To address genetic changes, we conducted the first multi-individual and population-level direct genetic comparison of samples collected before and after the recent bottlenecks. Using whole-exome sequencing, we found that already genetically depauperate populations were further degraded by the 1990s declines and remain low, particularly on San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands, which underwent the most severe bottlenecks. The two other islands that experienced recent bottlenecks (Santa Cruz, and Santa Catalina islands) showed mixed results based on multiple metrics of genetic diversity. Previous island fox genomics studies showed low genetic diversity before the declines and no change after the demographic recovery, thus this is the first study to show a decrease in genetic diversity over time in U. littoralis. Additionally, we found that divergence between populations consistently increased over time, complicating prospects for using inter-island translocation as a conservation tool. The Santa Catalina subspecies is now federally listed as threatened, yet other de-listed subspecies are still recovering genetic variation which may limit their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. This study further demonstrates that species conservation is more complex than population size and that some island fox populations are not yet 'out of the woods'.

Ancient parasite infections from the main Pampean-Patagonian cemetery of hunter-gatherer of prehistoric times: Archaeological site Chenque I (Parque Nacional Lihué Calel, La Pampa Province, Argentina)

Paleoparasitological studies of human sediment samples from prehistoric times of Argentina are scarce. The objective of the present study is to enhance the knowledge of parasitic infections affecting hunter-gatherer populations inhabiting the Pampean region of Argentina in prehistoric times. A total of 33 samples from 12 inhumation structures of archaeological site Chenque I, the unique cementery studied in Argentina until now from a paleoparasitological point of view, were studied. Chenque I constitute the greater repository of human archaeological remains of La Pampa province. Thirty-one samples came from human burials, and 2 samples from a dog retrieved in a burial, associated with a child. By humans, 11 samples correspond to males, 13 to females, and 7 to undifferentiated individuals. A total of 5 samples corresponds to control samples and were taken under the skull. Paleoparasitological examination revealed that 8 of the 33 sediment samples resulted positive for parasite remains applying the rehydration and spontaneous sedimentation technique with or without addition of HCl (10%). The pre-treatment of samples with HCl as a preliminary step allowed a greater recovery of parasitic remains compared to standard spontaneous sedimentation procedure. The most common parasite species found was Trichuris trichiura being probably one of the parasites that commonly affect human populations inhabiting the region. The low preservation evidenced by the parasite remains recovered indicate a taphonomic interference in the data of parasite assemblages, which probably produce a bias in the recovery of other parasite species that could infect these ancient populations. Proceed in the study of new human samples to improve the knowledge of parasitic infections affecting ancient populations inhabiting the studied region is necessary.

What's hot and why?

What's hot and why?

Abrupt transitions in a southwest USA desert grassland related to the Pacific Decadal Oscillation.

Prediction of abrupt ecosystem transitions resulting from climatic change will be an essential element of adaptation strategies in the coming decades. In the arid southwest USA, the collapse and recovery of long-lived perennial grasses have important effects on ecosystem services, but the causes of these variations have been poorly understood. Here we use a quality-controlled vegetation monitoring dataset initiated in 1915 to show that grass cover dynamics during the 20th century were closely correlated to the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) index. The relationship out-performed models correlating grasses to yearly precipitation and drought indices, suggesting that ecosystem transitions attributed only to local disturbances were instead influenced by climate teleconnections. Shifts in PDO phase over time were associated with the persistent loss of core grass species and recovery of transient species, so recovery of grasses in aggregate concealed significant changes in species composition. However, the relationship between PDO and grass cover broke down after 1995; grass cover is consistently lower than PDO would predict. The decoupling of grass cover from the PDO suggests that a threshold had been crossed in which warming or land degradation overwhelmed the ability of any grass species to recover during favorable periods.

Nitrogen enrichment differentially regulates the response of ecosystem stability to extreme dry versus wet events

Extreme climate events, such as severe droughts and heavy rainfall, have profound impacts on the sustainable provision of ecosystem functions and services. However, how N enrichment interacts with discrete extreme climate events to affect ecosystem functions is largely unknown. Here, we investigated the responses of the temporal stability (i.e., resistance, recovery, and resilience) of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) in an alpine meadow to extreme dry and wet events under six N addition treatments (0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 g N m‐2 year‐1). We found that N addition had contrasting effects on the responses of ANPP to the extreme dry versus wet events, which resulted in no overall significant effects on ANPP stability across 2015–2019. Specifically, high N addition rates reduced the stability, resistance, and resilience of ANPP in response to extreme drought, whereas medium N addition rates increased ANPP stability and recovery in response to the extreme wet event. The main mechanisms underlying the response of ANPP to extreme drought and wet events were discrepant. Species richness, asynchrony, and dominant species resistance contributed most to the reduction of ANPP resistance to extreme drought, while species asynchrony and dominant and common species resilience contributed most to the decrease of ANPP resilience from extreme drought with N enrichment. The ANPP recovery from the extreme wet event was mainly explained by dominant and common species recovery. Our results provide strong evidence that N deposition mediates ecosystem stability in response to extreme dry and wet events in different ways and modulates the provisioning of grassland ecosystem functions under increasing extreme climate events.

Artificial Seaweed Substrates Complement ARMS in DNA Metabarcoding-Based Monitoring of Temperate Coastal Macrozoobenthos

We used DNA metabarcoding to compare macrozoobenthic species colonization between autonomous reef monitoring structures (ARMS) and artificial seaweed monitoring systems (ASMS). We deployed both substrates in two different locations (Ría de Vigo and Ría de Ferrol, NW Iberian coast) and collected them after 6, 9, and 12 months to assess species composition of the colonizing communities through high-throughput sequencing of amplicons within the barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI-5P) and the V4 domain of the 18S rRNA genes. We observed a consistently low similarity in species composition between substrate types, independently of sampling times and sites. A large fraction of exclusive species was recorded for a given substrate (up to 72%), whereas only up to 32% of species were recorded in both substrates. The shape and structural complexity of the substrate strongly affected the colonization preferences, with ASMS detecting more exclusive crustacean and gastropod species and a broader diversity of taxonomic groups (e.g., Entoprocta and Pycnogonida were detected exclusively in ASMS). We demonstrate that despite the customary use of ARMS for macrozoobenthos monitoring, by using ASMS we complemented the recovery of species and enlarged the scope of the taxonomic diversity recorded.

Meta-analysis reveals drivers of restoration success for oysters and reef community.

Restoration aims to reverse global declines of foundation species, but it is unclear how project attributes, the physical setting, and antecedent conditions affect restoration success. In coastal seas worldwide, oyster reef restoration is increasing to counter historic habitat destruction and associated declines in fisheries production and biodiversity. Yet, restoration outcomes are highly variable and the factors that enhance oyster production and nekton abundance and diversity on restored reefs are unresolved. To quantify the drivers of oyster restoration success, we used meta-analysis to synthesize data from 158 restored reefs paired with unstructured habitats along the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic coasts. The average recovery of oyster production was 65% greater in subtidal (vs. intertidal) zones, 173% greater in polyhaline (vs. mesohaline) environments and increased with tidal range, demonstrating that physical conditions can strongly influence the restoration success of foundation species. Additionally, restoration increased the relative abundance and richness of nektonic fishes and invertebrates over time as reefs aged (at least 8 years post-construction). Thus, the restoration benefits for provisioning habitat and enhancing biodiversity accrue over time, highlighting that restoration projects need multiple years to maximize ecosystem functions. Furthermore, long-term monitoring of restored and control sites is needed to assess restoration outcomes and associated drivers. Lastly, our work reveals data constraints for several potential drivers of restoration outcomes, including reef construction material, reef dimensions, harvest pressure and disease prevalence. More experimental and observational studies are needed to target these factors and measure them with consistent methods across studies. Our findings indicate that the assisted recovery of foundation species yields several enhancements to ecosystem services, but such benefits are mediated by time and environmental conditions.

Assessing the recovery in species, size and location diversities of a lowland tropical rainforest after shifting cultivation by multiple indices at stand and neighborhood scales

Tropical forests are rapidly being converted for agricultural use, but abandoned agricultural lands can recover naturally through secondary succession. However, comprehensive knowledges of how species composition, size structure and spatial patterning (represented by species, size and location diversities) change during recovery at multiple scales are still lacking. Our aim was to explore these change patterns to understand the underlying mechanisms of forest recovery and propose corresponding solutions for restoring regrowing secondary forests. Here, twelve 1ha forest dynamics plots (4 plots each in young-secondary forests (YS), old-secondary forests (OS) and old-growth forests (OG) from a chronosequence of tropical lowland rainforest after shifting cultivation) were used to assessed the recovery in species, size and location diversity of trees at stand (plot) and neighborhood (focal tree and its neighbors) scale by using 8 indices. The relative recoveries of YS and OS were quantified by dividing each of the indices in YS and OS to those in OG. Results showed that species and size diversity increased while location diversity decreased with the recovery process. The relative recovery of location diversity was higher than those of species and size diversity in both YS and OS, while species diversity was only higher than size diversity in YS. The relative recovery of species diversity at neighborhood scale was higher than that at stand scale in OS, while there were no differences between scales in size and location diversity. Additionally, using only the Shannon index and Gini coefficient at two scales can provide consistent insights into the recovery patterns of diversity as indicated by the 8 indices. Our study demonstrated that recovery rates of secondary forests relative to old-growth counterparts could be comprehensively quantified using multiple diversity indices in three types at two scales. This quantitative assessment on the relative recovery of disturbed forests could be helpful in applying appropriate management activities and selecting rational approaches to speed up restoration process of degraded forest ecosystems.

Macronutrient composition of sea otter diet with respect to recolonization, life history, and season in southern Southeast Alaska.

The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) population of Southeast Alaska has been growing at a higher rate than other regions along the Pacific coast. While good for the recovery of this endangered species, rapid population growth of this apex predator can create a human-wildlife conflict, negatively impacting commercial and subsistence fishing. Previous foraging studies throughout the sea otter range have shown they will reduce invertebrate prey biomass when recolonizing an area. The goal of this study was to examine and quantify the energy content of sea otter diets through direct foraging observations and prey collection. Our study area, Prince of Wales Island in southern Southeast Alaska, exhibits a gradient of sea otter recolonization, thus providing a natural experiment to test diet change in regions with different recolonization histories. Sea otter prey items were collected in three seasons (spring, summer, and winter) to measure caloric value and lipid and protein content. We observed 3523 sea otter dives during the spring and summer. A majority of the sea otter diet consisted of clams. Sea otters in newly recolonized areas had lower diet diversity, higher energetic intake rates (EIR, kcal/min), and prey had higher energy content (kcal/g). Females with pups had the highest diet diversity and the lowest EIR. Sea otter EIR were higher in the fall and winter vs. spring and summer. Sea cucumber energy and lipid content appeared to correspond with times when sea otters consumed the highest proportion of sea cucumbers. These caloric variations are an important component of understanding ecosystem-level effects sea otters have in the nearshore environment.

Economics and optics influence funding for ecological restoration in a nation-wide program

Australia is a world leader in habitat loss and species extinction, and for many species, ecological restoration will be necessary for continued persistence. Between 2014 and 2018, the Australian federal government allocated a substantial portion of funding for threatened species recovery to a nation-wide ecological restoration program called ‘20 Million Trees Land-care Program’, which included a competitive grant round. By comparing successful and unsuccessful grant applications, we were able to identify factors associated with restoration funding allocation. We then assessed the Program’s ability to provide benefits to threatened species by analyzing the overlap between restoration projects and threatened species habitat. We found that funding allocation under the 20 Million Trees Program was primarily driven by ‘value for money’ factors, specifically ‘cost per tree’ and number of trees planted. Additionally, projects were more likely to be funded if they mentioned threatened species in the description, but less likely to be funded if they actually overlapped with areas of high threatened species richness. Of the 1960 threatened species assessed, we found that only 9 received funding for restoration projects covering more than 1% of their range. Conversely, we found that utilizing alternative project selection schemes, such as alternative ‘value for money’ metrics or spatial planning methods, could have delivered better outcomes for some of the threatened species most impacted by habitat loss. Our results show that inopportune selection criteria for awarding of funding for ecological restoration can significantly reduce the benefits delivered by programs.

Micrografting: A in-vitro technique for sustainable horticulture production and its applications

A variety of plant species, especially woody plant species, can be micropropagated using the crucial technique of in vitro micrografting. In vitro micrografting has developed over the past few decades into a method to speed up shoot recovery and adaptation of horticultural species cultivated in vitro. This review analyses studies on horticultural crops that address the development of in vitro micrografting, factors influencing its performance, and the contribution of micrografting applications to the field of micropropagation. The potential application of this technique is based on the significant contributions that micrografting makes to the recovery of vigour and rooting competence, the promotion of shoot recovery following somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis, and the facilitation of shoot regrowth following cryopreservation. This technique facilitates the genetic engineering and preservation of horticultural crops are highlighted.

Estimating vital rate variation to assess early success of scrub mint translocations

AbstractSpecies translocations are increasingly common in rare plant conservation. Wild populations can provide basic ecological knowledge to improve their chance of success. In the heavily fragmented Florida scrub, USA, many listed species require translocations to persist, including Dicerandra christmanii. In 1994, we began monitoring the only protected population of D. christmanii growing both in gaps (open areas) within the shrub matrix and on roadsides. In 2010, we augmented this population by adding plants and seeds to unoccupied gaps. In 2012, we introduced plants to a separate protected site to create a new population. We evaluated early translocation success using generalized linear mixed‐effect models of vital rate variation among habitat types. Survival probability increased with size, peaking at 0.6–0.8, and was lowest in augmentations and highest in introductions. Growth increased with plant size across all habitat types, except for the largest adults which experienced senescence. Naturally recruited plants in gaps showed the highest reproduction probability and fecundity at smaller sizes, but larger plants in translocations had the highest fecundity. Yearling recruitment was higher in translocated plants relative to naturally recruited plants in gaps during the initial years following outplanting. Experimental components of translocations also affected outplanting performance with positive effects of fire. These analyses suggest a high potential for translocations to become established and contribute to species recovery.

Culturing for conservation: the need for timely investments in reef aquaculture

Temperate oyster and tropical coral reefs are analogous systems that create habitat for economically, ecologically, and culturally important species, and they provide countless ecosystem services to human coastal communities. Globally, reefs are imperiled by multiple anthropogenic stressors, particularly climate impacts. Using aquaculture to support conservation goals - known as conservation aquaculture - is a relatively new approach for many reef building species, but it shows great promise for promoting species recovery and bolstering resilience to stressors. Concerns about aquaculture-associated risks, both known and potential, have often restricted the implementation of this tool to an emergency intervention following dramatic declines on reefs, when species or systems were unlikely to recover. Here, we combine expertise from coral and oyster reef ecosystems to consider the role of aquaculture as a conservation intervention for reefs, and provide recommendations for its timely development and targeted implementation. We highlight the importance of evaluating reef systems - alongside local stakeholders and Indigenous communities - to determine where and when the benefits of using aquaculture are most likely to outweigh the risks. We spotlight the importance of proactive monitoring to detect reef population declines, and the value of early aquaculture interventions to increase efficacy. Novel aquaculture approaches and technologies specifically designed for reef builders are considered, including techniques for building complex, multi-generational and multi-species reefs. We address the need for scaling up aquaculture-assisted reef recovery, particularly of corals, using high volume methods like those that have been successfully employed for oysters. We also recommend the immediate assessment and development of techniques to increase climate resilience of reef builders and we identify the challenges and trade-offs of these approaches. We highlight the use of proof-of-concept projects to test these promising methods, and we advise tracking of all interventions over time to determine their long-term efficacy. Finally, we outline opportunities to leverage novel partnerships among conservation, industry, and community interests that utilize aquaculture to facilitate the conservation of reefs. Developing conservation aquaculture approaches now is critical to position managers, scientists, and restoration practitioners to implement this intervention in timely and effective ways to support resilient reef and human communities worldwide.

Redox-Controlled Shunts in a Synthetic Chemical Reaction Cycle

Shunts, alternative pathways in chemical reaction networks (CRNs), are ubiquitous in nature, enabling adaptability to external and internal stimuli. We introduce a CRN in which the recovery of Michael-accepting species is driven by oxidation chemistry. Using weak oxidants can enable access to two shunts within this CRN with different kinetics and a reduced number of side reactions compared to the main cycle that is driven by strong oxidants. Furthermore, we introduce a strategy to recycle one of the main products under flow conditions to partially reverse the CRN and control product speciation throughout time. These findings introduce new levels of control over artificial CRNs, driven by redox chemistry, narrowing the gap between synthetic and natural systems.

Using conservation genetics to prioritise management options for an endangered songbird

Genetic data can be highly informative for answering questions relevant to practical conservation efforts, but remain one of the most neglected aspects of species recovery plans. Framing genetic questions with reference to practical and tractable conservation objectives can help bypass this limitation of the application of genetics in conservation. Using a single-nucleotide polymorphism dataset from reduced-representation sequencing (DArTSeq), we conducted a genetic assessment of remnant populations of the endangered forty-spotted pardalote (Pardalotus quadragintus), a songbird endemic to Tasmania, Australia. Our objectives were to inform strategies for the conservation of genetic diversity in the species and estimate effective population sizes and patterns of inter-population movement to identify management units relevant to population conservation and habitat restoration. We show population genetic structure and identify two small populations on mainland Tasmania as ‘satellites’ of larger Bruny Island populations connected by migration. Our data identify management units for conservation objectives relating to genetic diversity and habitat restoration. Although our results do not indicate the immediate need to genetically manage populations, the small effective population sizes we estimated for some populations indicate that they are vulnerable to genetic drift, highlighting the urgent need to implement habitat restoration to increase population size and to conduct genetic monitoring. We discuss how our genetic assessment can be used to inform management interventions for the forty-spotted pardalote and show that by assessing contemporary genetic aspects, valuable information for conservation planning and decision-making can be produced to guide actions that account for genetic diversity and increase chances of recovery in species of conservation concern.