Current Population Status Research Articles

The COVID-19 Epidemic Spreading Effects

Cities are hotbeds for the outbreak and spread of infectious diseases. In the process of urban development, frequent interpersonal interactions are conducive to the spread of viruses. After the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China in 2019, it quickly spread to Europe, North America, and Asia. This paper collects data on the number of COVID-19-infected cases per 100,000 people in Taiwan from 1 January to 4 May 2022 and the researcher uses the spatial regression model to analyze the spatial effect of the COVID-19 epidemic. The results of the study find that the hot zones of COVID-19-infected cases per 100,000 people are distributed in Taipei City, New Taipei City, Keelung City, Yilan County, and Taoyuan City, and the cold zones are distributed in Changhua County, Yunlin County, Chiayi County, Chiayi City, Tainan City, and Kaohsiung City. There are three types of urban development indicators: density, urbanization, and transportation system and means of transport, all of which can significantly affect the spatial spread of COVID-19. There is a negative correlation between the area of the “urban planning” district, the “road area” per person, the current status of the urban planning district population “density”, and the number of infected cases of “COVID19”. There is a negative correlation between “urban planning”, “road area”, “urbanization”, and “density” of neighboring cities and “COVID19” in a certain city.

Digital Divide in the Rural Healthcare Market in the United States: Health Equity and Inclusiveness

The digital divide has been extensively discussed in context with consumer shopping behavior and population health based on race and ethnic groups (Kwon & Kim, 2021; Qian, 2022). However, it has been rarely explored in terms of health disparity between rural area and the rest of the population. The pandemic provides a good opportunity for us to review the extent of telehealth practice in rural areas which play an important role in many aspects of our life. Telehealth if and when properly utilized could address health inequity that exists between rural communities and urban settings. Healthcare inclusiveness will be a by-product from telehealth deployment in rural communities. The purpose of this article is to present the current status of telehealth in rural areas of the United States and recommend a long-term solution to make telehealth a sustainable program. A short case study supplements this study. Our study finds that telehealth in rural area brought many potential customers to healthcare market especially those who were unable to receive care under traditional settings due to transportation, cost and lack of information readily available to the community. This study also uncovered that telehealth literacy training in the rural areas is a major pathway to successful utilization of telehealth potential. Due to a lack of comprehensive literature in rural telehealth, this study used current status of rural population and healthcare infrastructure in the United States as a source of study methodology.

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle in Samoa: Review of a Century-Old Invasion and Prospects for Control in a Changing Future.

Simple SummaryCoconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) is one of the major pests of coconut and oil palms in the Asia-Pacific region. Since its accidental introduction in Samoa in 1909, the invasive CRB has spread to several countries and territories within the Pacific and Indian Oceans, severely damaging coconut palms and affecting peoples’ livelihoods. In the 100 years since CRB established on Samoa, it remains the primary pest on the island with periods of heavy damage when integrated pest management (IPM) breaks down. The Samoan case is an excellent example of implementing biocontrol and IPM in a dynamic Pacific environment. As society and the economics of production in Samoa have changed, the level of control has varied, with recent concern about surges of the pest. The review synthesizes historical lessons and provide recommendations on how to protect coconut palms in the changing environment of Samoa which are also applicable for protection of palms in the wider Asia/Pacific region.It is now more than 100 years since the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB: Oryctes rhinoceros L.) was first detected in the Pacific Island state of Samoa. The exotic pest from Asia became the principal pest of coconut palms in Samoa and, from this first point of invasion, spread to several surrounding countries in the South-West Pacific Ocean. An intensive control operation was initiated, but the beetle could not be eliminated. Various pest management strategies were attempted but had limited success until the introduction of a biological control agent (BCA), Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV), during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The biocontrol release was very successful and became the prime example of “classical biological control” of an insect pest by a virus. Changing economic and social conditions in Samoa and other islands of the Pacific require a re-evaluation of the threat of CRB to coconut production to suggest how the IPM system may be modified to meet future needs. Therefore, it is timely to review the history of CRB in Samoa and summarize experiences in development of an integrated pest management (IPM) system limiting the impact of the pest. We also present results from a recent study conducted in 2020 on the island of Upolu to define the current status of the CRB population and its BCA, OrNV. The lessons from Samoa, with its long history of containment and management of CRB, are applicable to more recent invasion sites. Recommendations are provided to modify the IPM programme to enhance the sustainable control of CRB and support the ongoing coconut replantation program promoted by the Samoan government.

The Role of Fibroblast Growth Factor 19 Subfamily in Different Populations Suffering From Osteoporosis.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19 subfamily, also known as endocrine fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), is a newly discovered metabolic regulator, including FGF19, FGF21 and FGF23. They play significant roles in maintaining systemic homeostasis, regulating the balance of bile acid and glucolipid metabolism in humans. Osteoporosis is a chronic disease, especially in the current status of aging population, osteoporosis is the most prominent chronic bone disease, leading to multiple complications and a significant economic burden that requires long-term or even lifelong management. Members of the FGF family have been shown to be associated with bone mineral density (BMD), fracture repair and cartilage regeneration. Studies of the FGF19 subfamily in different populations with osteoporosis have been increasing in recent years. This review summarizes the role of the FGF19 subfamily in bone metabolism, and provides new options for the treatment of bone diseases such as osteoporosis.

Review Article : A review of the distribution, nutritional value and conservation status of wild harlequin quails (Coturnix delegorguei delegorguei) in Kenya

Wild harlequin quails are a traditional source of protein in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. Nonetheless, they are greatly underutilized to combat malnutrition and ensure food security. The current status of quail populations in Kenya is mostly unknown, especially after introducing numerous exotic quails during the quail ‘bubble’ of years 2013-2015. Besides, the ongoing uncontrolled harvesting of wild harlequin quails and its effect on wild quail populations has not been examined either. The aim of this review is to discuss and reveal the emerging issues associated with the opportunities, utilization challenges and conservation status of wild harlequin quails in Kenya. This review will focus on peer-reviewed research articles, published books, review articles and internet resources on wild quails and commercial quail farming. It is essential to point out that quails are already considered as emerging poultry, and increased consumption of their products is highly encouraged, thus contributing to food security in Kenya. However, wild harlequin quail conservation concerns need to be addressed regarding their uncontrolled harvesting, destruction of their habitats, and climate change.

Variation in population dynamics and abundance of the bigeye croaker Micropogonias megalops in the Northern Gulf of California

The bigeye croaker Micropogonias megalops is an endemic Sciaenidae fish species of the Gulf of California. Although it is a stock that has been exploited for nearly three decades, its biological and fishery information has been limited over time. Therefore, its recent and current population status is poorly known. This study analyzed biological and fishery data for M. megalops in the Northern Gulf of California for the period 1995–2020. Variation of species population dynamics has been analyzed for years with biological information (2000, 2010, and 2020), finding points in time with relative decreases and increases in growth and natural mortality values. An interannual abundance analysis was performed, obtaining biological reference points for the resource through two surplus production models, the Monte Carlo (CMSY+) and the Bayesian state–space Schaefer surplus production model (BSM) methods. The results for management (based on the BSM analysis) indicated that the currently relative stock biomass level is at 79% of virgin biomass (k), which means a recovery compared to the 2017 biomass level (64% k) that has been the lowest in this fishery history. According to the Kobe phase plot, the resource has been harvested in a healthy way, showing a maximum sustainable yield of 8 248.52 t and current status of sub-exploited.

New Hope for the Critically Endangered Common Angel Shark Squatina squatina in the Adriatic Sea

Abstract Historically, two angel shark species, common angel shark Squatina squatina and smoothback angel shark Squatina oculata, were common in the upper continental shelf of the eastern Adriatic Sea. Although both species are considered critically endangered in the Adriatic and the rest of the world, there are almost no data on the current status of populations, threat assessment and species-specific in-situ conservation. Common angel shark is still present in highly fragmented areas of the eastern Adriatic with extremely rare but consistent records, while smoothback angel shark is mostly considered regionally extinct in the Adriatic due to overfishing and overuse of non-selective fishing gear. There have been only 3 published records of common angel shark this century, the last two of which were reported by fishermen. This paper presents data on 34 new finds, including neonates, juveniles, subadults and adults recorded between January 2020 and August 2021 in the Zadar-Šibenik archipelago (central Adriatic) and one in Premantura (northern Adriatic). Two are original findings during the field expedition, 9 were reported directly by local fishermen, while 23 were reported through a detailed questionnaire. Additionally, plausible breeding and/or nursery grounds between Zadar and Šibenik are discussed with their importance for revitalization and long-term conservation in situ.

Drying Willow (Salix fragilis L.) Population Under Agroforestry System in Cold Desert Region of trans-Himalaya: a Possible Consequence of Repeated Vegetative Propagation

Willow ( Salix fragilis L.), a multipurpose tree introduced about 150 years ago in Lahaul, a part of cold desert in trans-Himalaya, adapted well under agroforestry system. The species was propagated by vegetative means throughout the region and it immensely contributed to the socio-economic status, ethno-botany, ecology and greenery of the cold desert. It proved to be a "wonder species" or “the life line plant” for the people and often cited as the best examples of agroforestry system in the Himalayan cold desert. Unfortunately, willow trees ( S. frgalis ) are drying in the region; above 80% mortality was recorded and is continuously increasing. Efforts from local people and by certain research institutes have been put forward but, no significant change was visible. Few reports indicated possible role of aphid infestation, fungal disease, monoculture plantations, old planting stocks and changing environmental conditions for the current population status. However, controlled studies are lacking to confirm the same. We discussed here in detail about the possible role of repeated vegetative propagation from same gene stock for many generations, which directly or indirectly responsible for the current population status. Introduction of new and improved varieties is recommended.

Pattern and timing of mitochondrial divergence of island spotted skunks on the California Channel Islands

AbstractIsland spotted skunks (Spilogale gracilis amphiala) are a rare subspecies endemic to the California Channel Islands, currently extant on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands. How and when skunks arrived on the islands is unknown, hindering decision-making about their taxonomic status and conservation priority. We investigated these questions by sequencing the complete mitochondrial genomes of 55 skunks from the two islands and mainland (California and Arizona) and examining phylogenetic patterns and estimations of isolation times among populations. Island spotted skunks grouped in a single monophyletic clade distinct from mainland spotted skunks. A haplotype network analysis had the most recent common ancestral haplotype sampled from an individual on Santa Rosa, suggesting both islands were colonized by a single matriline. Additionally, no haplotypes were shared between skunk populations on the two islands. These patterns imply that both island populations were derived from a common ancestral population shortly after establishment and have remained isolated from each other ever since. Together with divergence estimates from three methods, this topology is consistent with colonization of the super-island, Santarosae, by a single ancestral population of spotted skunks in the early Holocene, followed by divergence as the sea level rose and split Santarosae into Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands 9,400–9,700 years ago. Such a scenario of colonization could be explained either by rafting or one-time transport by Native Americans. Given their distinct evolutionary history, high levels of endemism, and current population status, island spotted skunks may warrant management as distinct evolutionarily significant units.

EXAMINING THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF AN ICONIC MOJAVE DESERT SPECIES, THE JOSHUA TREE (YUCCA BREVIFOLIA, YUCCA JAEGERIANA)

The Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia, Y. jaegeriana) is a large, evergreen monocot distributed patchily across the southwestern United States. The plant occurs on alluvial fans, plains, and bajadas primarily in the Mojave Desert, but populations can also be found in the Great Basin and Sonoran Deserts. Named by the Mormon pioneers for the branching, supplicating arms reaching toward the sky, the species has become an emblematic symbol of the Mojave Desert for residents and visitors alike. Joshua trees inhabit cooler, moister microclimates within the larger desert macroclimate, and research has indicated the species may be vulnerable to future climatic regimes characterized by warmer and drier conditions. Here we present a concise review examining the past distribution, the current population status and threats, and the viability of the species under differing habitat and climate scenarios projected for the future. Additionally, we identify knowledge gaps to guide future research directions. Our results provide insight into management and conservation actions and contribute to a greater understanding of range-wide effects of ongoing environmental change on this species.

Comprehensive Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Diverse Chinese Population.

The SARS-CoV-2 variants have been emerging and have made great challenges to current vaccine and pandemic control strategies. It is urgent to understand the current immune status of various Chinese populations given that the preexisting immunity has been established by national vaccination or exposure to past variants. Using sera from 85 individuals (including 21 convalescents of natural infection, 15 cases which suffered a breakthrough infection after being fully vaccinated, and 49 healthy vaccinees), we showed significantly enhanced neutralizing activities against SRAS-CoV-2 variants in convalescent sera, especially those who had been fully vaccinated. The neutralizing antibodies against Omicron were detectable in 75% of convalescents and 44.9% of healthy vaccinees (p = 0.006), with a GMT of 289.5, 180.9-463.3, and 42.6, 31.3-59, respectively. However, the neutralizing activities were weaker in young convalescents (aged < 18 y), with a detectable rate of 50% and a GMT of 46.4 against Omicron. We also examined and found no pan-sarbecovirus neutralizing activities in vaccinated SARS-CoV-1 survivors. A booster dose could further increase the breadth and magnitude of neutralization against WT and variants of concern (VOCs) to different degrees. In addition, we showed that COVID-19-inactivated vaccines can elicit Omicron-specific T-cell responses. The positive rates of ELISpot reactions were 26.7% (4/15) and 43.8% (7/16) in the full vaccination group and the booster vaccination group, respectively, although without statistically significant difference. The neutralizing antibody titers declined while T-cell responses remain consistent over 6 months. These findings will inform the optimization of public health vaccination and intervention strategies to protect diverse populations against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Advances. Breakthrough infection significantly boosted neutralizing activities against SARS-CoV-2 variants as compared to booster immunization with inactivated vaccine. Vaccine-induced virus-specific T-cell immunity, on the other hand, may compensate for the shortfall. Furthermore, the public health system should target the most vulnerable group due to a poorer protective serological response in both infected and vaccinated adolescents.

A review study of the providing elderly care services in different countries.

Background:Population aging leads to change of population structure and increase care needs. Lack of proper planning in this field will lead to occur increasing problems. In this paper, the review of the elderly care plans at various levels in some European and Asian countries, comparing these countries with Iran with the goal of using their experiences to enhance elderly plans have been done.Methods:This research was a review study of library documents and resources and systematic search. Data were collected using the resources, databases, scientific databases and websites of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the studied countries.Results:Based on this research in the studied countries, the care services of the elderly is based on the important principle of coordination between different organs of the country, followed by the creation of LTC insurance and provision of health and social services for the elderly and mainly the type of home care. In Iran country, providing appropriate services and cares for the elderly with existing plans and policies is not possible and the need to provide appropriate service packages based on the different systems of successful countries and applying the experiences of these countries is essential.Conclusion:Given the current status of the Iranian elderly population in terms of policies and plans and the types and methods of providing services, quality, access and financial resources allocated to this age group, compared to the studied countries, there is a well and integrated plan is essential.

Current Population Status of Asian Elephant in Keonjhar Wildlife Division, Odisha

The Population of Wild elephants (<i>Elephas maximus</i>) is declining worldwide; therefore understanding the dynamics of the remaining population is critical for effective conservation. We monitored the population and distribution of elephants in Keonjhar wildlife division during 2015 and 2017. The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is facing a severe threat to its survival from large scale habitat losing and degradation, negative interaction between human and elephant and poaching across its range. India holds by far the largest number of wild Asian elephants, estimate as about 60% population of the species. <i>Elephas</i> <i>maximus</i> is placed in schedule 1 and part 1 of Indian wildlife protection Act (1972) conferring the highest level of protection. Most of the sightings were recorded near water bodies, foot paths & salt licks. During census period 2017 total 49 elephants were sighted out of which 25 were in Hadgarh, 15 in Deogaon, 9 in Brahmanipal Range. Simillarly in 2015 total 51 elephants were counts out of which 25 were in hadgarh, 16 in Dogaon, 9 in Brahmanipal Range It was found that in 2017 population of adult cow was high (43%) followed by calf (21%), adult bull (16%), sub adult cow (6%) and juvenile (4%). Simillarly in 2015 population of adult cow was high (33.33%) followed by sub-adult cow (19.60%), calf (17.64%), adult bull (13.72%), sub-adult bull (11.76%), adult/sub-adult U/K (1.96%) and juvenile (1.96%).

Conservation of Dehaasia pugerensis (Lauraceae), a tree endemic to East Java (Indonesia) and last collected in 1940

Dehaasia pugerensis Koord. & Valeton is a threatened Indonesian Lauraceae species. It is an endemic tree known only from Jember Regency in East Java. To enhance the conservation of D. pugerensis, we conducted a population survey in several locations in Jember where the species were previously collected. The objectives were to: i) assess the current population status of D. pugerensis, ii) collect plant materials (seed, seedling, or cutting) to serve as ex situ collections, and iii) update the conservation status of the species according to IUCN Red List Category and Criteria. We only found D. pugerensis in 6 out of 16 locations in Wuluhan and Ambulu District during the survey. We successfully located 560 individuals of the species, of which 194 individuals (34.6%) were in the mature stage. Based on the diameter and height classes, the population of D. pugerensis formed a reverse J-shaped size distribution. We successfully collected 23 seeds and 15 seedlings of the species for ex situ collections. Our findings showed that the current status of D. pugerensis is Critically Endangered (CR) based on criteria B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)and C2a(ii). Under these categories, the species faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Therefore, prompt comprehensive conservation actions are needed to ensure the survival of the species.

Risk assessment of coastal fisheries in the Azores (north-eastern Atlantic)

The Azores (mid-north Atlantic) has a long history of artisanal multispecific fishery exploiting marine resources around the islands slopes and seamounts. Due to the archipelago´s oceanic character, demersal-deep-sea and pelagic-offshore species are central to local economy. However, a coastal subsistence fishery is also economically and culturally important, as well as understudied, underregulated and, up to the present, lacking independent monitoring. A Productivity and Susceptibility Analysis (PSA) was applied to determine stock vulnerability of 38, criteriously selected, coastal species. The PSA identified 20 stocks of concern (3 of which at major risk), thus considered of (high) priority to benefit from a precautionary management approach, at least until more quantitative stock assessments are developed in the future. All of these species generally share (1) a considerable basic knowledge gap (e.g., demography, trophic links, reproduction, habitat use, fisheries); and (2) the absence of previous formal stock assessments, resulting in unknown current population status. Such gaps become graver considering that most of these coastal resources show patterns consistent with progressive signs of intensive or even overexploitation, due to the intensification of combined pressure from the commercial and recreational coastal fishing dating back as early as the 1980’s. As such, we propose an ecosystem-based framework for the regular monitoring, assessment and guidelines for general management of these data-poor coastal resources and fisheries in the region.

Wildlife Trade Influencing Natural Parrot Populations on a Biodiverse Indonesian Island

Indonesia has been identified as the highest priority country for parrot conservation based on the number of species, endemics, and threats (trapping and smuggling). It is crucial to understand the current population status of parrots in the wild in relation to the illegal wildlife trade but the ecology and population dynamics of most parrot species in this region remain poorly understood. We conducted a parrot survey around an area of high biodiversity in the Manusela National Park, in Seram Island, Indonesia. We used a combination of fixed-radius point counts and fixed-width line transects to count multiple species of parrots. We recorded nearly 530 wild parrots from 10 species in and around Manusela National Park. The dominant parrot species were Eos bornea, Trichoglosus haematodus, and Geoffroyus geoffroyi. We applied the Savage selectivity index to evaluate poaching of parrot species in proportion to their abundance and which species had higher than expected poaching pressure. This study has important implications for the conservation status of endemic parrots (Cacatua moluccensis, Lorius domicella, and Eos semilarvata) and shows that parrots in the Manusela NP are largely threatened by poaching.

Identifying conservation priorities for an understudied species in decline: Golden cats (Catopuma temminckii) in mainland Tropical Asia

Identifying conservation priorities for an understudied species can be challenging, as the amount and type of data available to work with are often limited. Here, we demonstrate a flexible workflow for identifying priorities for such data-limited species, focusing on the little-studied Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) in mainland Tropical Asia. Using recent occurrence records, we modeled the golden cat’s expected area of occurrence and identified remaining habitat strongholds (i.e., large intact areas with moderate-to-high expected occurrence). We then classified these strongholds by recent camera-trap survey status (from a literature review) and near-future threat status (based on publicly available forest loss projections and Bayesian Belief Network derived estimates of hunting-induced extirpation risk) to identify conservation priorities. Finally, we projected the species’ expected area of occurrence in the year 2000, approximately three generations prior to today, to define past declines and better evaluate the species’ current conservation status. Lower levels of hunting-induced extirpation risk and higher levels of closed-canopy forest cover were the strongest predictors of recent camera-trap records. Our projections suggest a 68% decline in area with moderate-to-high expected occurrence between 2000 and 2020, with a further 18% decline predicted over the next 20 years. Past and near-future declines were primarily driven by cumulatively increasing levels of hunting-induced extirpation risk, suggesting assessments of conservation status based solely on declines in habitat may underestimate actual population declines. Of the 40 remaining habitat strongholds, 77.5% were seriously threatened by forest loss and hunting. Only 52% of threatened strongholds had at least one site surveyed, compared to 100% of low-to-moderate threat strongholds, thus highlighting an important knowledge gap concerning the species’ current distribution and population status. Our results suggest the golden cat has experienced, and will likely continue to experience, considerable population declines and should be considered for up-listing to a threatened category (i.e., VU/EN) under criteria A2c of the IUCN Red List.

Multiple‐model stock assessment frameworks for precautionary management and conservation on fishery‐targeted coastal dolphin populations off Japan

Abstract Stock assessment approaches are often oversimplified due to lack of biological knowledge and insufficient data. In spite of world‐wide attention, fishery‐targeted coastal dolphin species in Japan have lacked in‐depth quantitative stock assessments because of limited time series of population size and an absence of associated biological information. We consequently developed integrated population models that analysed multiple sources of data simultaneously with published biological information within a Bayesian framework. We estimate population status and trends for three main species targeted by fisheries, bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus, Risso's dolphins Grampus griseu, and short‐finned pilot whales Globicephala macrorhynchus, using single‐species age‐aggregated and age‐structured population dynamics models. Models were fit to absolute abundance estimates from systematic line‐transect surveys, four series of abundance indices calculated from fisher's logbooks, and historical catch records. Published biological information was used to develop prior distributions for the biological parameters. We assessed the possible effects of ecological disturbance and competition using state‐space and multispecies models. The multispecies model was selected by the model selection both for the age‐aggregated and the age‐structured approaches. Single‐species assessments found that population size declined 4.2% (Risso's dolphin) to 8.0% (bottlenose dolphin) for three species since the late 1800s based on median posterior values, while the state‐space and multispecies models found that environmental disturbance and an interaction among species could have reduced population size more substantially. Policy implications. Simple single‐species models are often used to provide conservation and management advice for wild animals but, in this case, results from such models are overly optimistic because they overlook important ecological process. In contrast, current population status could be less favorable if environmental disturbance and interspecific competition actually control population dynamics. Even if that is not the case, considering ecological process in the model will provide more precautionary ways. Our approach of combining multiple modelling frameworks is applicable to many other management systems, and offers increased confidence in estimated status and trends over assessments that consider only a single model.

Copper ore post-flotation settling tanks in Poland: social acceptance or objection?

The issues concerning mining have been causing a wide variety of emotions. Objection to and disagreement with new investments, but also social acceptance for the operation of mining plants offering stable employment. Production in this sector is associated with the generation of waste. In the case of copper ore mining, the result of the entrepreneur's activity consists of waste treatment facilities in the form of post-flotation settling tanks. In addition to the inactive facilities in Lower Silesia, there is also the settling tank Zelazny Most, which is used and expanded. The large area and risk to the environment allow to suppose that the existence of settling tanks in social space generates conflicts or it is conducive to the emigration of the residents. In order to verify the above-mentioned hypothesis, the authors used geographic information systems to analyse the current population status and expansion of the road and rail network, the residents’ drinking water sources and soil permeability in five impact zones. The achieved results allow to conclude that the facilities belonging to KGHM PM S.A. coexist with their surroundings, thus gaining social acceptance. The proposed research methodology can be used by the entrepreneurs, but also local authorities to evaluate the acceptance of mining waste disposal facilities.

Connectivity within isolation: dispersal, population genetics, and conservation of the rarest European damselfly

Abstract Coenagrion hylas (Trybom, 1899) has a very limited distribution in Europe, lives in very small, isolated populations, has rather specialised habitat demands, and is regarded as the rarest damselfly of Europe. Using a combination of capture‐mark‐recapture and population genetics, we aimed to evaluate the state of the populations in the Tyrolean Lech valley and to test whether exuviae from this species are usable as a DNA source. DNA was extracted from mid‐leg tibiae and exuviae and genotyped with species‐specific microsatellite markers. The results from the capture–recapture and the genetic methods were congruent. Coenagrion hylas has an unexpectedly high tendency to disperse within the valley, covering distances of up to 30 km, and lives longer than other damselflies, with an average longevity of 12 days and a maximum lifespan of at least 40 days. Low inbreeding coefficients and low ranges of genetic differentiation across sites provide evidence of panmixia, with no clear signs of inbreeding. The current population size is estimated at 1150 males based on the recapture data. We further demonstrated that exuviae deliver a sufficient amount of DNA, which will be important for future monitoring. Although C. hylas currently shows appropriate viability at most Lech valley sites, our study indicates that management measurements, such as creating stepping stone habitats, are crucial to maintain the current population status. Given the high dispersal capability of the species, such management measurements seem promising.