Species Of Fauna Research Articles

Optimizing The Potential and Development Strategy of The Mangrove Ecotourism Area in Tangkolak Village, Karawang Regency

The Tangkolak mangrove ecotourism area is one of natural attractions, namely a mangrove forest in Sukakerta Village, East Cilamaya Sub-district, Karawang Regency, West Java Province. The mangrove ecotourism of Tangkolak currently have no management and low visitor. This research aims to describe the potential and identify applicable strategies through internal-external factor analysis within the Tangkolak mangrove ecotourism area. Four station points revealed a potential of 14 mangrove vegetation species and 10 fauna species. The most mangrove species all stations is Rhizophora apiculata, while the dominant fauna is Ciconia sp. The mangrove vegetation in the Tangkolak mangrove ecotourism area exhibits a low diversity index (H') and there’s no dominating species in each stations, whereas the fauna in the area showcases varied diversity index values with Ciconia sp. as the dominant species. Visitors and local fishermen in the surrounding community utilize fishing tools like a fishing rods, traps, and nets when catching fish in the vicinity of the mangrove ecotourism area. The development strategy is determined using SWOT analysis. The results of IFAS and EFAS analyses indicate that the development strategy for the Tangkolak mangrove ecotourism area falls within the coordinates (2.5; 2.6) in quadrant I, signifying a combination of strengths and opportunities (SO strategy).

Development Of The Potential Of The Angke Kapuk Mangrove Forest Natural For Ecotourism In Kamal Muara Village, Penjaringan Sub-District, North Jakarta

Mangrove forest ecosystem has various ecological, socio-economic and cultural functions for society, such as for nature tourism or ecotourism activities. The purpose of this article is to discuss the potential for the development of the Angke Kapuk Mangrove Forest Nature Park (TWA), North Jakarta for ecoturism activities. The research method used in this study was qualitative method. The results of the study showed that there are various strengths that are potential for the Angke Mangrove Forest to be developed for ecotourism, such as the strategic location of tourist attractions, the presence of natural tourism objects, and the existence of interesting a variety of flora and fauna species of mangroves for visitors. However, the Angke Kapuk Mangrove Forest still has some weaknesses. Therefore, for the development of these natural tourism or ecotourism areas in the future, it is necessary to pay attention to the principles of ecotourism, such as tourism activities must minimize negative impacts on the environment, the need to increase the active participation of local residents.

A Review on Chironomidae (Diptera) of the Eastern Himalayan Region: An Insight into Distribution and Conservation

The Chironomidae (Diptera) commonly known as “midges”, are the most widely distributed and frequently the most abundant group of insects in freshwater ecosystems. Chironomids larvae plays a key ecological role in the maintenance of aquatic ecosystem services, mainly in secondary production and energy flow dynamics [1]. They are the freshwater bio-monitoring indicators of pollution, habitat modifications, and natural changes of water quality [2,3], and is a model which helps to predict diversity and strength of food web of aquatic communities [4]. The objective of the study is to highlight the distribution pattern, biodiversity and the status of conservation of Eastern Himalaya region species of the family Chironomidae. The 'Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot' is indeed a "store house of biodiversity" because of its rich spectrum of species of flora and fauna including insect species which have been remaining unexplored. This study is a descriptive analysis to assay the main trends on Chironomidae research in freshwater assessments like ecology, palaeolimnology, biogeography, cytology, developmental and eco-toxicological research in Eastern Himalaya region. Finally the review work helps to get a more comprehensive picture of fauna of chironomids in the Eastern Himalayas in relation to those reported earlier from other parts of the globe.

Diversity, Abundance, and Local Use of Fishes in Lake Danao, Ormoc City, Philippines

Lake Danao lies within the Lake Danao Natural Park in Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines. The lake provides a habitat for various aquatic flora and faunal species. However, existing data on fish assemblage in Lake Danao is scarce and outdated. This study determined Lake Danao’s diversity, abundance, and local use of fish. With the help of local fishers, fish samples were collected from different parts of the lake twice a month for 14 months (March 2021 to June 2022). In addition, an ethnoicthyological survey was conducted to supplement the information on the provenance, endemism, and local use of the fish species in Lake Danao. This study recorded eight species of fish in Lake Danao, and only two are considered native (Anguilla marmorata and Clarias batrachus). Only five species were obtained from the fishers throughout the entire sampling period. On average, Glossogobius giuris was the most abundant species (95.96%), while Channa striata was the least (0.07%). The low Shannon-Weiner diversity index (mean = 0.19) and high Simpson’s dominance index (mean = 0.92) indicate low diversity and dominance of other species (e.g. G. giuris). No significant difference was observed in the diversity, dominance, and evenness of fishes between the sampling months. All of the fish species were used as alternative food sources. With the dominance of introduced species, local authorities are strongly encouraged to strictly regulate the entry, possession, and cultivation of exotic fish in Lake Danao and to continue the aquatic biodiversity assessment and monitoring in the area.

Changes of the composition of the Noctuoidea fauna along a geographical gradient in the northeastern part of the Carpathian Lowland

The northeastern part of the Carpathian Lowland is one of the most species-rich parts of the region, despite the long-term and sometimes extreme changes in land use. The fragmented remains of formerly contiguous forests maintain a significant part of the wildlife living in different oak, mixed oak, and gallery forest, and even faunas of connected grassland habitats. To reveal how the parallel Carpathian and Pannonian effects form the local insect fauna, the Noctuoidea assemblages of eight forest patches were assessed and compared, based on the distribution data of 479 species. Three types of assemblages were designated, with similar diversity but different compositions. The most unique and valuable ones can be found in the colline area of Transcarpathia, where the high habitat diversity supported by the topography promotes the coexistence of the species of humid forest fauna and many steppic and southern elements. The protection and planned management of these remained forest patches and their network in international cooperation can maintain a significant part of the fauna of the affected regions.

National spatial and temporal patterns of the global wildlife trade

The international wildlife trade is a vast global business contributing billions of dollars to national economies and spanning thousands of species. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) outlines a framework for the effective management of the global trade in threatened species. A key question is understanding how exports and imports between the 184 CITES Parties have changed across space and time, and how the successful implementation of CITES’ legal requirements impacts these patterns. Focusing on birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles traded from wild sources between 2000 and 2020, we highlight a small number of Parties imported or exported the majority of trade volume and that these Parties vary distinctly between taxa. Imports and exports of wild-sourced origin were mostly declining or fluctuating over time, with the majority of Parties maintaining very low but fluctuating volumes, even for Parties with high historic total volumes (>10,000 individuals). Nevertheless, reptiles had eight high-volume exporters with increasing trends, while exports of Indonesian reptiles and USA mammals had high and stable roles in trade. Parties with legislation that meets all the Convention’s legal requirements had faster-declining bird, mammal, and reptile import volumes versus those without, while export volumes were not associated with differing legislative status. This research highlights the declining role in the trade of many Parties that historically traded high volumes, but the emergence of a few newly dominant Parties as suppliers for whom confirming the robustness of their sustainability assessments is an urgent priority.

Creation of nurseries and veterinary preventive measures for saigas of Betpakdala and Ural populations in Kazakhstan

Preservation and maintenance of biological diversity of Earth’s life is one of the key tasks of mankind. Therefore, the search and substantiation of methods that will be able to stabilise and increase the number of endangered species of animals and plants, a key direction of modern science, consisted in the development of organisational and veterinary preventive approaches in the breeding of saigas of the Betpakdala and Ural populations in the conditions of the nurseries “ASAR Live” and “Akboken” in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The nursery stock was formed by the internment of new-born saigas removed from the natural population. Control over the growth and development of saigas was carried out by periodic weighing and determining the average daily weight gain. Dimensional characteristics of young animals were determined by selecting the measurements of the sexes of the body. The state of health of the animals in the premises was monitored by determining biochemical and haematological indicators – the content of protein, glucose, cholesterol. Approbation of the developed scheme of feeding new-born saigas in nurseries turned out to be quite effective, which was confirmed by high average daily weight gains at the level of 167-180 g up to 4 months of age and a 6-fold increase in live weight during this period. At the same time, the preservation of the animal population in nurseries was at the level of 97.3%. Accounting for all the necessary parameters to create optimal conditions for saigas in the nursery allowed increasing the population of saigas from 150 to 230 units already in the first year, considering that at the time of the formation of the herd it consisted of new-born animals. A comprehensive approach to solving the problem of preserving the local population of saigas in Kazakhstan allowed developing an effective system of measures tested in nurseries for the preservation and breeding of animals of the Betpakdala and Ural populations. The developed methods of preserving the endangered Tatar saiga population in nurseries, in addition to the reputational image of Kazakhstan as a country that solved the problem with the autochthonous species of fauna, contain recommendations for the development of a population of wild animals with minimal stress and adaptation consequences

Measuring Residents’ and Visitors’ Satisfaction with Sustainable Tourism—The Case of “Rusanda” Nature Park, Vojvodina Province

The Nature Park “Rusanda” (NPR) is a designated area under the second category of national protection. Situated in the Vojvodina Province, in the northern region of Serbia, its accessibility to a substantial number of international visitors is enhanced by its proximity to Romania and Hungary. Lake Rusanda and the salt marsh habitats render this region a sanctuary for rare avian species. This ecological significance has led to the NPR being designated as an IBA area—an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area by Birdlife. Beyond its natural attributes, the NPR stands out for its diverse cultural heritage, stemming from the local population residing in its immediate vicinity. A notable characteristic is the diverse ethnic makeup, contributing to a wide array of cultures, traditional attire, original folk music, customs, and cuisine, collectively forming a distinctive cultural heritage unique to this part of Vojvodina. To assess the status of sustainable tourism and its impact on the satisfaction of both residents and tourists within the NPR, the Prism of Sustainability model (PoS) is employed. In the quantitative approach, a survey questionnaire was utilized as a research tool, with a total of 840 participants included through a randomized sampling technique. Regression analysis of the study’s results indicates that sustainable tourism exerts a significant influence on the contentment of local people and tourists in the NPR. Given the presence of diverse ecological and societal elements, in addition to the existence of rare flora and fauna species, the central thrust in tourism development should focus on preserving and involving local residents in the planning and progress of tourism initiatives. The primary types of tourism that are poised for success in the NPR encompass ecotourism, wellness and spa tourism, nature-based tourism, birdwatching, scientific research tourism, and excursions.

Future Scenarios For Land use and Coverage in the Morro do Chapéu State Park/Bahia/Brazil

Objective: The present study area is a conservation unit that faces environmental conflicts associated with deforestation, hence the objective of this article is to evaluate changes in land use and land cover between the years 1985 and 2020, in the region currently covered by the Park State of Morro do Chapéu/BA and its surroundings, in addition to predicting future scenarios. Method: Images from the Mapbiomas project from 1985 and 2020 were used, and from the neural network method, using the MOLUSCE plugin, it was possible to simulate a land use and land cover model for the year 2040. Results and conclusion: The results showed little significant changes, practically imperceptible, with the most affected areas being those occupied by natural vegetation and agricultural classes. Research implications: The Morro de Chapéu State Park is home to numerous floristic and faunal species, in addition to its physical, biological and environmental complexity, therefore predicting changes in the dynamics of land use and cover is the main factor for conserving this wealth. Originality/value: This study contributes to the implementation of policies aimed at preserving this conservation unit and at the same time incorporates an unprecedented element with the simulations of future scenarios.

Tourism, international wildlife trade and the (in)effectiveness of CITES

SummaryThere are clear links between tourism and the international wildlife trade, especially in countries with high levels of biodiversity and high numbers of international tourists. In the absence of clear regulations and implementation of existing policies, tourists can inadvertently have a negative impact on the environment, including through items bought as souvenirs. Bali is one of the world’s premier tourist destinations. We investigated legally protected species that are offered for sale specifically targeting tourists in Bali. During December 2022–June 2023, we surveyed 66 shops offering curios (skulls, bones, carvings) of animals for which the international trade is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). We found items from >500 individuals of 20 CITES-listed species, including primate skulls, ivory carvings and decorated shells. According to vendors, there would be no problem exporting these items despite the absence of CITES permits. Export records over the last two decades provided by the Indonesian authorities, mostly indicating no exports, contrast sharply with our observations in Bali. A short but effective campaign as a collaborative effort between industry, tourism operators, local and expatriate communities and government agencies could result in a drastic reduction of protected and/or CITES-listed species ending up in trade.

Non-trophic interactions amplify kelp harvest-induced biomass oscillations and biomass changes in a kelp forest ecological network model

Kelp forests are important marine ecosystems providing habitat for numerous species. Despite over 50 yr of mechanical harvesting in the Northeast Atlantic, the indirect impacts of kelp harvesting and associated habitat loss on faunal species within kelp forests remain poorly understood. We investigated the consequences of kelp harvesting by developing an allometric trophic network model for a subtidal Northeast Atlantic kelp forest (dominated by Laminaria hyperborea). Additionally, we designed a novel mechanistic model to explore the non-trophic interactions between kelp and age-class 0 Atlantic cod Gadus morhua and between kelp and European lobster Homarus gammarus, specifically focusing on the increased survival benefits provided by the kelp habitat. Simulations were conducted over a 50 yr period, incorporating harvesting cycles of 2, 5, and 9 yr, as well as low and high harvesting intensities. Our findings reveal the complex dynamics resulting from kelp harvesting. The recovery of kelp biomass was observed with 5 and 9 yr harvesting cycles, whereas a decline was observed with a 2 yr cycle. Furthermore, the non-trophic interactions facilitated a higher pre-harvest biomass for both European lobster and Atlantic cod compared to scenarios without this interaction. These results highlight the multitrophic effects of kelp harvesting and emphasize that the recovery of kelp-associated species may not necessarily align with kelp recovery, depending on harvesting intensity and recovery periods. Importantly, our study contributes to a better understanding of the ecological consequences of kelp harvesting and underscores the need for sustainable management practices to mitigate habitat loss in kelp ecosystems.

Identification of tropical wood species in paper: a new chemotaxonomic method based on extractives

Abstract The European Deforestation Regulation 2023/1115 (EUDR) prohibits trading of wood and wood products obtained from illegal logging on the EU market. While the identification of solid wood via anatomy, chemistry and genetics has already been established, there is a lack of identification methods for pulp and paper that complement anatomy. This publication presents a newly developed chemotaxonomic method for identifying mixed tropical hardwood (MTH) species in pulp and paper products based on their extractives analyzed with thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). The measured data was processed and compared to identify marker substances and was then merged into a fingerprint database for identifying MTH species in paper of unknown composition. As database references, fully bleached kraft pulps were produced from 38 anatomically identified wood samples and then cryo-ball milled and extracted successively with n-hexane and acetone. The results show that the remaining wood extractives generated from bleached pulps are specific enough to find chemical relevant marker substances to detect MTH species. As chemical composition and anatomy are independent characteristics of wood, this paper makes a completely independent method available, which potentially improves the screening for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) protected species.

Growth, yield and metabolite substantiated, eco-physiological evaluation of overcoming accessional and agro-climatic differences in ex-situ raised Valeriana jatamansi Jones. at lower altitude of Sikkim Himalayan region

Valeriana jatamansi Jones. syn. V. wallichi (Family: Caprifoliaceae) is globally known and amongst the 27 listed medicinal plants under National AYUSH Mission (NAM) by National Medicinal Plants Board, New Delhi, Government of India. V. jatamansi is a temperate Himalayan critically vulnerable plant enlisted as plants of conservation concern under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix-II with regulated foreign trade. Deplete wild population of V. jatamansi has prioritized conservation via ex-situ raising. The study conducted for V. jatamansi ex-situ raising at Sikkim Himalayan low altitude (tropical hills) region in different potting mix and evaluated for growth, yield and metabolite content substantiated with eco-physiological parameters. The eco-physiological parameters include pigment variations, stability, and the amount of hydroxyvalerenic acid & valerenic acid in below ground quantified using reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The study reveals black soil (BS), forest soil (FS), Vermi-compost (VC) and Sand (S) favoured the growth and yield. This is also substantiated by the eco-physiological parameters. The soil nutritional and physical parameters favour higher metabolites hydroxyvalerenic acid and valerenic acid accumulation. The study leads to successful plants raising with increased metabolites. The study paves the way forward, overcoming accessional and agro-climatic differences in growth, yield and metabolite, as appropriately monitored potting media help in consistent & optimized yield and metabolites in V. jatamansi.

Assessing avian diversity and conservation status in Dighal Wetlands, Haryana, India

Birds are considered sensitive indicators of ecosystem health and functionality in freshwater wetlands. Assessment of birdassemblages in wetland habitats is, therefore, emphasised from a sustainable management perspective. Bird surveys were conducted from October 2020 to September 2022. These surveys aimed to assess the community composition and status of avifauna in Dighal wetlands, an important bird area in the Jhajjar District of Haryana, India. Data collection employed point counts and opportunistic encounter methods. A total of 154 bird species belonging to 108 genera, 47 families, and 18 orders were recorded. Of these, 75 species were residents, 60 were winter migrants, and 10 were summer migrants. The greatest species richness was observed for the order Passeriformes (54), followed by Charadriiformes (22), Anseriformes (17), and the rest of the 15 orders. Anatidae was the most dominant family with 17 species, constituting 11% of the bird community in the study area. Data on local abundance revealed that 10 species were common, 23 were fairly common, 83 were uncommon, and 38 were rare in the study area. Among the recorded avifauna, one species is classified as Endangered, three as Vulnerable, and eight as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; 17 species are listed in the Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); and 11 are included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. These wetlands also support 40 species of birds, which have a declining population trend globally. The occurrence of migrants and species of global conservation priority underscores the importance of these wetlands as a conservation site and wintering ground for avifauna due to the extensive food resources and rich biodiversity they support. The present study provides baseline information for future research on monitoring bird assemblages and proper management of the Dighal wetlands of Haryana.

Comparing extraction method efficiency for high-throughput palaeoproteomic bone species identification

High-throughput proteomic analysis of archaeological skeletal remains provides information about past fauna community compositions and species dispersals in time and space. Archaeological skeletal remains are a finite resource, however, and therefore it becomes relevant to optimize methods of skeletal proteome extraction. Ancient proteins in bone specimens can be highly degraded and consequently, extraction methods for well-preserved or modern bone might be unsuitable for the processing of highly degraded skeletal proteomes. In this study, we compared six proteomic extraction methods on Late Pleistocene remains with variable levels of proteome preservation. We tested the accuracy of species identification, protein sequence coverage, deamidation, and the number of post-translational modifications per method. We find striking differences in obtained proteome complexity and sequence coverage, highlighting that simple acid-insoluble proteome extraction methods perform better in highly degraded contexts. For well-preserved specimens, the approach using EDTA demineralization and protease-mix proteolysis yielded a higher number of identified peptides. The protocols presented here allowed protein extraction from ancient bone with a minimum number of working steps and equipment and yielded protein extracts within three working days. We expect further development along this route to benefit large-scale screening applications of relevance to archaeological and human evolution research.

Establishing hematologic and biochemical reference intervals for the endangered Lear's macaw (Anodorhynchus leari).

The Lear's macaw, Anodorhynchus leari (Psittaciformes, Psittacidae), is an endemic species of the Caatinga region in Brazil. With only a few free-living individuals that are constantly under threat from agricultural clearance, hunting, and trapping, A. leari is classified as "endangered" by the Red Book of Endangered Brazilian Fauna and by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. At the same time, the number of individuals in captivity has been growing due to the efforts of biologists and veterinarians in zoological parks to reproduce this species. Thus, having species-specific reference intervals for hematologic and biochemical measurands is essential to assess the health status of these captive and wild birds and guarantee their reproductive success. This study aimed to determine reference intervals for hematologic and biochemical measurands for A. leari kept in captivity in São Paulo Zoo, Brazil. Blood samples from 32 individuals were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Only samples from adults and healthy individuals were included in this study. All statistical analyses were performed according to the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines and available literature. Reference values and reference intervals were determined for the captive population of Anodorhynchus leari. This is the first study to establish reference intervals for A. leari, which can aid the veterinarian in the interpretation of laboratory test results, helping in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of diseases of this endangered species of Brazilian fauna.

Policy feedback and the enforcement of international wildlife treaties in Germany

AbstractLaws are only as good as their enforcement. International treaties are no exception. We investigate how Germany implements international wildlife protection treaties, namely the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the Bern Convention. We find that Germany's federal system allows for uneven enforcement of national legislation across the 16 federal states. We utilize Policy Feedback Theory as a theoretical lens to examine how federalism (re‐)produces different enforcement regimes. We rely on qualitative analysis of interviews of German street‐level bureaucrats, government officials, and NGO representatives. We find that macrolevel context impacts how institutions enforce wildlife protection policies. Particularly, Germany's federal structure permits either centralized, decentralized, or cooperative arrangements that result in differences in resources, affecting the ways bureaucrats view their roles and responsibilities. These resource and interpretive effects further feedback into the contextual structure of the federal enforcement system.

Регіонально рідкісні види тварин Львівської області

Growing anthropogenic pressure and changing climate conditions create new reality in which more and more native fauna species require our attention. That is the reason for scientists to compile Red Lists or Red Data Books on different levels. The main factors of negative impact on animals nowadays are as follows: destruction and/or transformation of natural ecosystems (habitats), illegal removal from nature, commercial overuse, natural disasters and climate change, as well as military actions. The Red Data Book of Ukraine includes 140 species of animals which appear in Lviv region. However, there are also other species within the region that deserve protection. The latest Lviv region list of rare species was approved in 2007 – two years before the publication of the third edition of Red Data Book of Ukraine, and is somewhat outdated. For more than 15 years the animal habitats have changed, and the list of species in the new edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine (2021) has changed significantly. According to this, a new list of regionally rare animal species is objectively needed. Such a list has been compiled and is presented in the article. The main species criteria for being included into it are: vulnerability to the environmental changes, a sharp decline in the number of individuals or rapid population area shrinkage, low occurrence frequency within the region, relic origin, endemic or sub-endemic status, species on the edge of their distribution ranges or with the complex life cycles, etc. We believe that our knowledge about regionally rare species and their distribution can be one of the reasons for the establishing of new protected areas. This will help to preserve rare ecosystems in the structure of national ecological network and strengthen the conservation of species and coenotic diversity both in some separate territories or regions, and in Ukraine as a whole. After additional, detailed scientific research some of the regionally rare animal species will obviously be recommended to be included into the next edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine. Thus, at least 106 animal species are proposed to became regionally protected in Lviv region. 64 of them are already under the protection of Bern Convention, 26 – under Bonn Convention, and 13 under the protection of Washington Convention.

Social and ecological outcomes of tropical dry forest restoration through invasive species removal in central India

Tropical dry forests (TDFs) support endemic biodiversity, and the livelihoods of millions of people globally. Invasive species, such as Lantana camara, are a predominant cause of degradation of TDFs. We examined lesser-studied vocalizing fauna and social outcomes of TDF restoration through Lantana removal, focusing on a Central Indian TDF. We quantified biodiversity using acoustics in 55 locations in restored, unrestored, and Low Lantana Density (LLD) forest sites and surveyed 656 households across villages adjacent to these forest sites. Our ecological analysis showed that in comparison to unrestored and LLD sites, restoration was not significantly associated with a different acoustic space occupancy (ASO) in higher frequencies (9–24 kHz) during night time hours, meaning restoration does not impact nocturnal vocalising or stridulating species. However, restored and LLD sites had significantly lower ASO in the day time hours, potentially due to differences in the insect community when Lantana is absent. Through the household surveys, we found that the highest number of respondents across all the three types of sites valued the cash payment they received for participating in restoration efforts. Perceptions of lower amounts of crop raiding by wild ungulates were associated by villagers with a restored site. This perception was mediated by the total number of households in a village with a restored site. Focusing restoration efforts on forests surrounding villages, restoration planners could reduce potential negative human-wildlife interactions. Combining ecological and social outcomes, we found that there are immediate positive outcomes of restoration for people. However, in the short term (three years following restoration), there was no significant biodiversity ‘benefit’. Based on our results, we recommend that restoration planners (1) consult local people about their perception of forest degradation and restoration because people’s perceptions can accurately mirror the condition of the forest; (2) provide a cash income for participating in restoration activities and (3) anticipate potential changes in the faunal species community in the short term when large scale invasive species removal takes place.

Is the demand for fish swim bladders driving the extinction of globally endangered marine wildlife?

Abstract International trade in croaker swim bladders or maws and incidental catches in fisheries targeting croakers for their maws pose a global problem that needs addressing to protect target croakers and globally threatened small cetaceans, sharks, rays and marine turtles. The lesson of the likely imminent extinction of the vaquita porpoise (Phocoena sinus) in the Gulf of California, Mexico, owing to entanglement in gillnets targeting the totoaba croaker for its maw, is that the underlying threats to marine species must be addressed well before precipitous declines make their extinction inevitable. Opportunistic interviews with fishers and fish traders in Bangladesh indicate that the increasing demand for fish maws, selling for as much as 5,000 USD per kg, may be intensifying small‐scale coastal fisheries and bycatches of globally threatened marine wildlife, especially due to the potential for a windfall profit. In 137 croaker catches made in gillnets, sharks were bycaught in 22%, marine turtles in 8% and rays in 3% of catches. Of particular concern were six bycatches of 125 Critically Endangered scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini), 11 bycatches of 20 Vulnerable (VU) olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) and two bycatches of 13 VU longtail butterfly rays (Gymnura poecilura). A recent IUCN Motion for ‘Controlling and monitoring trade in croaker swim bladders to protect target croakers and reduce incidental catches of threatened marine megafauna’ recommends conducting an analysis on the impacts of the demand for and trade in fish maws on croaker species and threatened marine megafauna, regulating trade in fish maws through national laws and developing a potential proposal to list croaker species in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). To prevent species extinctions, additional measures focusing on fishery management will be needed.