Animal Conservation最新文献

{"title":"Learning From the Past, Adapting to the Future: Experimental Approaches in Conservation Translocations","authors":"Saul J. Cowen, Sean James Buckley, Andrew Crawford, Leonie Monks, Katherine Moseby, Natasha M. Robinson","doi":"10.1111/acv.13020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.13020","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Conservation translocations (hereafter ‘translocations’) have long been regarded as an important management tool for the recovery of species threatened with extinction, and their use continues to grow (Armstrong et al. <span>2019</span>). Translocations can be inspirational and may stimulate fruitful and effective partnerships (Parker <span>2008</span>; Fischer et al. <span>2023</span>), but can also be a potential source of conflict (Consorte-McCrea et al. <span>2022</span>; Glikman et al. <span>2023</span>). Furthermore, translocations may entail high financial costs (Berger-Tal et al. <span>2020</span>), those involving animals may be highly stressful (Dickens et al. <span>2010</span>), and statistically have a high chance of failure (Morris et al. <span>2021</span>). To paraphrase Axel Moehrenschlager (Chair of the IUCN/SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group [CTSG]), the best translocation is one that does not need to happen (Moehrenschlager <span>2021</span>). Unfortunately, the reality for many imperilled species is that threat abatement alone is insufficient to reverse their fortunes or to restore ecosystem function (Seddon <span>2010</span>, <span>2023</span>). As an increasing number of species are considered to be threatened with extinction every year (IUCN <span>2024</span>), the importance of translocations will likely continue to grow. Therefore, it is critical that those undertaking translocations not only follow but continue to push the boundaries of ‘best practice’, including communicating what they have learned (Batson et al. <span>2015</span>; Maschinski et al. <span>2023</span>). There is a wealth of peer-reviewed literature (Resende et al. <span>2020</span>) in journals, such as <i>Animal Conservation</i>, along with an increasing number of books in the field of reintroduction biology, which provide a valuable accumulation of experience and knowledge.</p><p>Conferences too can play an important role in the process of knowledge-sharing. This special issue of <i>Animal Conservation</i> stems from the most recent International Conservation Translocation Conference (ICTC), held in Fremantle, Western Australia in November 2023. Organised on behalf of the CTSG, its theme was ‘Learning from the Past, Adapting to the Future’ and was attended by 300 delegates from six continents, with presentations on a diverse range of taxa, including vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. The articles in this special issue were originally presented at the ICTC and tackle some of the key themes in current reintroduction biology, and highlight their complexity on multiple taxa and landscapes. In this editorial, we provide an overview of the key aims and findings of the articles published in this special issue, as well as how they contribute to developing and adapting conservation translocations to meet the present and future challenges in species and ecosystem restoration.</p><p>In their article, Parlato et al. (<span>2024</span>) illustrat","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"28 1","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acv.13020","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143521849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding Post-Release Dispersal and Habitat Selection Helps Refine Management of Translocated Populations","authors":"Zoe Stone,&nbsp;Doug Armstrong,&nbsp;Kevin Parker","doi":"10.1111/acv.13019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.13019","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Translocation outcomes in connected habitats are often uncertain, as individuals dispersing outside managed areas are exposed to threats. Post-release monitoring can reduce uncertainty by revealing how dispersal and habitat selection influences establishment and population growth which inform future translocations. We undertook post-release monitoring to identify habitat selection patterns following a translocation of toutouwai (North Island robin, <i>Petroica longipes</i>) to a large, contiguous forest habitat. Post-release monitoring aimed to estimate survival, dispersal, and territory establishment to inform management decisions and future release site selection. We created species distribution models using monitoring data to identify differences in habitat selection during the post-release dispersal and territory establishment phases. Toutouwai dispersed across 1312 ha but established territories within only 113 ha and 1 km from the release location. Site fidelity was higher than predicted, and there was no difference in dispersal or habitat selection across demographic groups. Critically, high site fidelity suggested that the extent of managed habitat was sufficient to protect dispersing individuals. Habitat selection preferences were stronger during territory establishment and were associated with lower slopes, higher water deficit and proximity to water reservoirs. Species distribution modelling allowed for predictions of high-quality core habitat where dispersal and territory establishment were more likely, resulting in targeted management to improve population growth. Our results show that initial dispersal in connected habitats may be much larger than suggested by territory data alone, and that management may need to protect larger areas to support successful establishment. We demonstrate how effective post-release monitoring can inform predictions of habitat quality and dispersal and guide management actions to improve translocations outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"28 1","pages":"156-168"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acv.13019","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143521819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Successful Translocation of a Long-Distance Migrating Passerine—New Impetus for the Conservation of the Globally Threatened Aquatic Warbler","authors":"Žymantas Morkvėnas,&nbsp;Susanne Arbeiter,&nbsp;Aleksandr Kozulin,&nbsp;Gintaras Riauba,&nbsp;Dzmitry Zhurauliou,&nbsp;Vitali Yakovich,&nbsp;Franziska Tanneberger","doi":"10.1111/acv.13018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.13018","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Translocations are a conservation measure that is increasingly applied to assist the recovery of animal populations threatened with extinction. Long-distance migrating passerines, however, have been rarely addressed in translocation projects so far. One such species is the globally threatened Aquatic Warbler <i>Acrocephalus paludicola</i>, a habitat specialist breeding in fen mires in Central Europe and wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. The global breeding population has severely declined during the last decades due to habitat loss. Although the implementation of conservation measures has stopped the decline in the core breeding area, peripheral populations continue to decline. The aim of this pilot study was to reveal whether translocated Aquatic Warblers will return to a distant release site after wintering in Africa. Our translocation method is based on natal habitat imprinting of juvenile passerines before their first migration. In 2018 and 2019, 50 chicks (10–12 entire broods) each year were translocated 526 km from Belarus to Lithuania at an age of about 7 days and hand-reared with predominantly wild insects captured in the surroundings of the release site. The survival rate of chicks until soft release from outdoor aviaries was 98% (49 fledglings released) in 2018 and 100% (50 fledglings released) in 2019. In 2019, 11 Aquatic Warblers (9 males, 2 females) were resighted at the release site after returning from wintering grounds. In 2020, nine birds (6 males, 3 females) were observed, including three males from the 2018 release cohort. An average apparent first-year survival of 0.30 was estimated. The very successful outcome gives new impetus for the restoration prospects of declined populations of the Aquatic Warbler to halt extinction at the margins of the breeding range.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"28 1","pages":"147-155"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143521859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantifying the impacts of stoat and cat incursions on reintroduced bird populations in a predator-fenced wildlife sanctuary","authors":"K.A. Parker,&nbsp;T.G. Lovegrove,&nbsp;M. Maitland,&nbsp;E. Parlato,&nbsp;Z. Stone,&nbsp;D.P. Armstrong","doi":"10.1111/acv.13000","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.13000","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Control of introduced predators is essential for conserving many threatened species, but species range in vulnerability. Therefore, efficient conservation management requires estimating the vulnerabilities of different threatened species to introduced predators. Here, we quantify population responses of reintroduced toutouwai (<i>Petroica longipes</i>), popokatea (<i>Mohoua albicilla</i>) and tīeke (<i>Philesturnus rufusater</i>) to incursions of stoats (<i>Mustela erminea</i>) and cats (<i>Felis catus</i>) to a 588-ha predator-fenced sanctuary in Aotearoa New Zealand. There were fewer than 0.5 detections per year for both predator species from 2004 to 2016, but stoat detections increased &gt;10-fold from 2017 to 2019 and cats &gt;30-fold from 2020 to 2021. We estimated the growth and persistence of each bird population pre- and post-2017. This involved fitting integrated population models to survival, reproduction and count data for toutouwai and tīeke, and fitting a variation of the Moran–Ricker model to 5-min point counts for popokatea. We used these models to derive <i>λ</i>_max, the finite rate of increase at zero density, which must be &gt;1 for a population to persist. Popokatea showed no sign of impacts, with <i>λ</i>_max estimated to be 1.68 (95% CRI 1.49–1.97) up to 2017 and 1.87 (1.42–2.62) after 2017. Toutouwai had tentative decreases in survival and reproduction, dropping the estimated <i>λ</i>_max from 1.28 (1.10–1.51) to 1.06 (0.83–1.41). Tīeke survival dropped dramatically from 2017 to 2019, but returned to pre-2017 levels when stoats were reduced, but recruitment was reduced and remained low, presumably due to cats. <i>λ</i>_max was estimated to be 1.74 (1.04–2.70) on pre-2017 rates; 1.14 (0.80–1.71) if only recruitment were predator-affected; and 0.79 (0.36–1.36) if both adult survival and recruitment were predator-affected. Our results therefore indicated that this level of stoat and cat incursion was inconsequential for popokatea, tentatively reduced toutouwai persistence from safe to marginal, and would have driven tīeke to extinction.</p>","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"28 1","pages":"135-146"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143521858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The challenge of designing meaningful performance measures for evaluating the success of conservation translocations","authors":"S.J. Cowen,&nbsp;J.D. Richards,&nbsp;C. Sims,&nbsp;A.H. Burbidge,&nbsp;J.A. Friend,&nbsp;K. Ottewell,&nbsp;L.A. Gibson","doi":"10.1111/acv.12994","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12994","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Conservation translocation is a valuable management tool for conserving and restoring biodiversity. Conservation managers and researchers strive for translocation success and spend considerable time and energy planning for a positive outcome. However, many translocations fail. Defining what makes a translocation ‘successful’ can be challenging. Criteria for success must be relevant to the objectives of the translocation, should be measurable and have realistic timeframes for achievement. How we evaluate these criteria is highly dependent on our ability to monitor a species effectively, which may be complicated by its behaviour, the release methods used, or the release environment, including sympatric species. Well-planned, but ultimately ineffective, monitoring strategies may render some criteria difficult or impossible to evaluate. Finally, poorly defined success criteria may result in apparently successful translocations failing to achieve their stated goals, or translocations that meet their success criteria but ultimately fail. Here, we discuss the challenges faced when defining and evaluating the success of a fauna reconstruction program on Dirk Hartog Island in Western Australia. Our achievement of success criteria within prescribed timeframes has been mixed, highlighting ways to better define and measure success. We discuss how we have adapted to new knowledge as the translocations progressed and propose frameworks for defining performance measures and guiding decision-making in response to failures in achieving success criteria.</p>","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"28 1","pages":"119-134"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143521860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human impact and environmental conditions lead to a mass mortality event of David's Myotis (Myotis davidii) in Mongolia","authors":"Munkhnast Dalannast, Joseph R. Hoyt, Delgermurun Byambajav, Uurdmunkh Munkhtaivan, Namsrai Narantsetseg, Bold‐Erdene Batbold, Ariunbold Jargalsaikhan","doi":"10.1111/acv.12990","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12990","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;Anthropogenic factors are an important driving force impacting bat populations across the globe. These include habitat loss and alteration, infectious diseases, climate change, and human persecution. Multiple factors typically impact populations simultaneously, which can have severe consequence for biodiversity. Mongolia has a large number of cave systems with over 500 documented in the country, of which only ~300 have been explored (Avirmed, &lt;span&gt;2020&lt;/span&gt;). The lack of exploration in these sites reveals a significant information gap in our understanding of Mongolian bat species and their use of the extensive cave systems throughout the country. Most temperate bat species hibernate in caves (Romero, &lt;span&gt;2009&lt;/span&gt;; Furey &amp; Racey, &lt;span&gt;2016&lt;/span&gt;). Of the 20 species of bats currently recorded in Mongolia, seven are found in caves during hibernation. With harsh and dry climate of Mongolia most of the caves host a low abundance of bats, with just a few sites serving as critical winter sites for these populations.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000&lt;p&gt;The Shar khanan cave, located in Undurshil soum of Dundgobi province, in southern Mongolia, is one of the hibernacula sites for David's Myotis (&lt;i&gt;Myotis davidii&lt;/i&gt;) in the country (Fig. 1). The cave is surrounded by semi-desert (North Desert) with vegetation communities primarily comprised of psammophytic bunchgrass (&lt;i&gt;Stipa gobica&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;S. glareosa&lt;/i&gt;) Caragana, (&lt;i&gt;Ceratoides papposa&lt;/i&gt;) and Stipa-Cleistogenes communities growing on brown loose-sandy soils and sands (Gunin &amp; Saandar, &lt;span&gt;2019&lt;/span&gt;). The cave is 25 m deep and 173 m long (Avirmed, &lt;span&gt;2020&lt;/span&gt;). The site is completely dry with no water (Vaks &lt;i&gt;et al&lt;/i&gt;., &lt;span&gt;2013&lt;/span&gt;). The average air temperature in the cave is 4°C.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000&lt;figure&gt;&lt;picture&gt;\u0000&lt;source media=\"(min-width: 1650px)\" srcset=\"/cms/asset/b86fc1cb-14fb-4190-8075-cc6ae60a1869/acv12990-fig-0001-m.jpg\"/&gt;&lt;img alt=\"Details are in the caption following the image\" data-lg-src=\"/cms/asset/b86fc1cb-14fb-4190-8075-cc6ae60a1869/acv12990-fig-0001-m.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"/cms/asset/c162b5f4-1537-4fc2-a670-16889529ef46/acv12990-fig-0001-m.png\" title=\"Details are in the caption following the image\"/&gt;&lt;/picture&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;\u0000&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Figure 1&lt;span style=\"font-weight:normal\"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;div&gt;Open in figure viewer&lt;i aria-hidden=\"true\"&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;PowerPoint&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;\u0000&lt;/div&gt;\u0000&lt;div&gt;Location of Shar khanan cave in Undurshil, Dundgobi, Mongolia and the surrounding habitat.&lt;/div&gt;\u0000&lt;/figcaption&gt;\u0000&lt;/figure&gt;\u0000&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Myotis davidii&lt;/i&gt; is listed as Least Concern by IUCN (Jiang &amp; Feng, &lt;span&gt;2019&lt;/span&gt;) that primarily occurs in arid habitats (desert and desert-steppe), and is known to use rock crevices, tree hollows, livestock pens, buildings and caves for roosting and hibernation (Batsaikhan &lt;i&gt;et al&lt;/i&gt;., &lt;span&gt;2022&lt;/span&gt;). It has also been associated with forest habitat in China, where it exclusively uses cave sites for roosting (Jiang &amp; Feng, &lt;span&gt;2019&lt;/span&gt;). This species has b","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"87 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142260620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perilous state of critically endangered Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) across the Sudano‐Sahel","authors":"A. Shams, M. S. Farhadinia, M. J. O'Riain, A. Gaylard, M. Smit, C. Fraticelli, M. Koutou, K. B. Clement, S. M. Durant, J. Melzheimer, V. N. Naude","doi":"10.1111/acv.12974","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12974","url":null,"abstract":"Northwest African cheetah populations have declined precipitously, with expert opinion estimating that &lt;420 individuals persist across parts of Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Mali. However, no reliable density estimates exist in the remaining subspecies strongholds throughout the Sudano‐Sahel Zone, including the W‐Arly‐Pendjari Complex and Greater Zakouma Ecosystem within the Bahr/Salamat landscape. Camera trap surveys were combined with spatially explicit capture–recapture methodologies in both regions to estimate the cheetah density and detectable demographic composition of these populations. Following 15 429 camera trap nights, we detected nine individuals during the dry season and four individuals during the wet season in Pendjari (2021), nine individuals (dry season; 2023) in Zakouma and none in Siniaka Minia. Cheetah densities were thus estimated at 0.17–0.24 and 0.37 cheetah per 100 km<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> in Pendjari and Zakouma, respectively. While marginally higher than predicted, such low‐density estimates are concerning in the last remaining habitats harbouring this critically endangered subspecies. Considering the substantial contraction of regional cheetah distribution, we estimate an overall population size of 68 ± 29 individuals across the studied areas. These novel estimates are among the lowest formally determined densities throughout cheetah range in Africa, where a high frequency of people and livestock detected on camera traps highlight the ongoing risks to large carnivores in these protected areas. Subsequent management recommendations include implementation of the established regional conservation strategies that encompass the distributional range of these cheetah, continuous monitoring of populations, genetic analyses to inform management, curbing illegal trade and increasing international awareness around the plight of the subspecies.","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142260619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Headstarting boosts population of a threatened wader, the black‐tailed godwit","authors":"L. Donaldson, R. Hughes, J. Smart, N. S. Jarrett, M. D. Burgess, C. Batey, N. Dessi, G. M. Hilton","doi":"10.1111/acv.12984","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12984","url":null,"abstract":"Measures to boost populations can help ensure population persistence in the short‐term while longer‐term conservation interventions take effect. Headstarting, involving the collection of wild early life‐stage individuals, rearing in captivity, and release into a new or existing population once independent, has recently been identified as a potential translocation technique to assist small breeding populations of waders declining due to low levels of productivity. However, the demographic rates of headstarted individuals have not been quantified, and their impact on target populations not understood, which is required to determine the efficacy of this technique as a tool for species recovery. Between 2017 and 2022, headstarting was trialled as a tool to supplement the critically small sub‐population of black‐tailed godwit (<jats:italic>Limosa limosa limosa</jats:italic>) breeding at the Ouse Washes, Eastern England. We demonstrate that a high survival rate for eggs and chicks can be achieved through artificial incubation and hand‐rearing, and that headstarting can substantially increase the overall productivity of a small population. Using survival analysis and mixed effects modelling, we show that apparent survival and breeding success of headstarted individuals is comparable to wild‐reared conspecifics. The survival rate of released birds was sufficient to significantly boost the breeding population, reaching over five times the number of breeding pairs at the release site during the trial. Providing demographic rates remain the same, the number of godwits breeding at the Ouse Washes is predicted to continue to increase moderately over the next 20 years. This study highlights the potential of headstarting to boost small populations of breeding waders, and demonstrates the value of this technique to assist with the recovery of threatened populations when there is a clear justification that headstarting can negate the effects of population limiting factors.","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"77 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142260623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding early reproductive failure in turtles and tortoises","authors":"A. Lavigne, R. Bullock, N. J. Shah, C. Tagg, A. Zora, N. Hemmings","doi":"10.1111/acv.12986","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12986","url":null,"abstract":"Turtles and tortoises (Order Testudines) are facing an extinction crisis, and ecosystems are at risk of collapsing with the loss of key roles they play. Hatching failure is a crucial barrier to population growth and persistence, but its causes are poorly understood, and it is unknown whether fertilization rates are declining as many populations become smaller and more female‐biased. Here, we show that very few studies of turtle and tortoise hatching success consider fertilization rates, and those that do use unreliable methods to determine egg fertility. We also show that studies of hatching success are biased towards marine turtles, as opposed to freshwater and terrestrial species, and wild rather than captive populations. To address the lack of reliable methods for assessing fertilization rates in turtles and tortoises, a microscopy‐based method (originally designed for bird eggs) for detecting perivitelline membrane (PVM) bound sperm and embryonic nuclei in the germinal disc of unhatched eggs has been developed and tested (in turtle and tortoise eggs). We demonstrate that this method provides unequivocal evidence of egg fertilization in five different turtle and tortoise species from both captive and wild populations, even after eggs have been left in wild nests for the full incubation period. This methodological approach represents a valuable tool for monitoring egg fertility and embryo survival rates in turtles and tortoises, with the potential to provide important insights into the underlying drivers of reproductive failure in threatened captive and wild populations.","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142260622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing population viability and management strategies for species recovery of the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot","authors":"L. J. Faust,&nbsp;T. M. Martínez,&nbsp;A. W. Parsons,&nbsp;T. H. White Jr.,&nbsp;R. Valentin,&nbsp;J. Vélez-Valentín,&nbsp;B. Ramos-Güivas,&nbsp;S. S. Nelson,&nbsp;M. Lopez","doi":"10.1111/acv.12987","DOIUrl":"10.1111/acv.12987","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Recovery of endangered species is challenging and lengthy, especially when it involves reintroduction and dynamic environmental conditions. Because managers often need to decide between many management strategies with uncertain outcomes, periodically assessing progress toward recovery using population viability analysis (PVA) can help guide decision-making. We developed a PVA for the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot (<i>Amazona vittata</i>) to evaluate current status and potential future management strategies to reach goals set in the Recovery Plan. Having grown from their nadir of 13 birds in 1976 to 686 in 2021, the recovery effort has made great progress. Using 15 years of data, we built an individual-based PVA that included interactions between two captive and three wild populations connected via annual releases. If management continues as planned, the wild populations have no to moderate risks of extinction (0–32%) over the next 100 years. However, wild populations remain dependent on releases to sustain growth, and recovery targets for stable population growth and connectivity have not yet been reached. Our analysis suggests that hurricanes are an impediment to reaching recovery targets and impact some wild populations more than others based on geography. Projections with climate-change-induced higher hurricane impact resulted in wild populations being less likely to stabilize. We identified demographic rates and associated management strategies that could positively impact wild populations: increasing reproduction (e.g., via increasing artificial nests, improving nest success) and decreasing first-year mortality (e.g., via targeted predator control). Based on our current understanding of Puerto Rican parrot demographics, species recovery will continue to be management-dependent unless demographic rates can be altered. As more data are gathered, especially for data-sparse populations and in the face of environmental change, future iterations of this model can re-evaluate progress, update management strategies, and provide support for deciding if and when to delist this iconic species.</p>","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"28 1","pages":"104-118"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acv.12987","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142260621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}