Animal Conservation最新文献

{"title":"Habitat Loss: A Continuing Challenge for the Recovering Indus River Dolphin","authors":"Farooq Shah, Mingyang Chen, Wei Wu, Jianhong Sun","doi":"10.1111/acv.70006","DOIUrl":"10.1111/acv.70006","url":null,"abstract":"<p>River dolphins are among the world's rarest and most endangered marine mammals (Waqas et al. <span>2012</span>). One such species, the Indus River Dolphin “<i>Platanista minor</i>,” locally known as “Bhulan” or “Blind Fish,” is endemic to the Indus River in Pakistan and a small part of India. With fewer than two thousand individuals, it is one of the only four river dolphins that spend their entire lives in freshwater (WWF <span>2022a</span>). Tragically, the Indus River Dolphin is the second most extinction-prone dolphin species globally (Reeves et al. <span>2000</span>) and is also included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (CITES <span>2024</span>; IUCN <span>2022</span>).</p><p>To protect this unique species from extinction, the government of Pakistan has implemented several initiatives, particularly involving indigenous communities. With the support of WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Pakistan, various awareness campaigns and capacity-building sessions have been organized for the public. The government has also imposed a strict ban on hunting and established several protected areas, such as the Indus Dolphin Game Reserve in the Sindh province, where the species can thrive. As a result, significant progress has been made in protecting the dolphins and even reversing their population decline (Scientia Magazine <span>2019</span>).</p><p>Despite this glimmer of hope, the Indus River Dolphin remains highly vulnerable to the looming threats with the burgeoning demands for food, water, and electricity from the entire country, pushing this species closer to extinction. Additionally, the extensive construction of dams and barrages has fragmented and degraded its natural habitat (Braulik et al. <span>2021</span>). As a result, the current habitat has shrunk (<i>Ibid</i>) to just 410 miles, a drastic decline from its historical range that once stretched from the Himalayan mountains to the Arabian Sea (National Geographic <span>2020</span>). Confinement within such a narrow range poses a significant risk to the species' survival. Moreover, threats such as poaching, entanglement in fishing nets, trapping in extensive irrigation canals, and the discharge of untreated sewage as well as agricultural and industrial waste also endanger this species (Braulik et al. <span>2015</span>). Climate change further exacerbates these risks through increases in temperature, variations in river flows, and frequent occurrences of extreme weather events (Mongabay <span>2024</span>).</p><p>Successful conservation requires a holistic approach integrating various management strategies and prioritizing the engagement of key stakeholders (Challender et al. <span>2024</span>). To protect the biodiversity of the Indus River, it is essential to implement stringent policies that limit human activities both along the riverbank and within the water itself. For those reliant on fishing, alternative sources of food and income are crucial. Research elsewhere indicates that nearly 7","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"28 4","pages":"471-473"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acv.70006","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144920560","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":"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":"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":2.6,"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":"Harnessing Giants: Ethical Trade of Goliath Beetles in Community Forests for Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Enhancement","authors":"L. Luiselli, J. E. Fa","doi":"10.1111/acv.70000","DOIUrl":"10.1111/acv.70000","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The Upper Guinean forest block of West Africa, encompassing Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Liberia, represents a global biodiversity hotspot renowned for its exceptional levels of endemism and biodiversity (Oates et al. <span>2004</span>). Within this unique ecosystem, the chief goliath (<i>Goliathus cacicus</i>) emerges as an iconic and ecologically significant species. It is present in Liberia, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Ghana (De Palma et al. <span>2020</span>). Its striking size and vibrant colouration have made it highly sought after in international entomological markets. However, the species faces mounting pressures from habitat loss, agricultural expansion, and unsustainable harvesting practices, leading to significant population declines (Dendi et al. <span>2023</span>; Luiselli et al. <span>2025</span>). These threats highlight the urgent need for innovative conservation strategies that address biodiversity loss while simultaneously supporting local livelihoods (Dendi et al. <span>2023</span>; Luiselli et al. <span>2025</span>).</p><p>In this letter we investigate the potential for ethical and sustainable utilization of <i>G. cacicus</i> through community forest initiatives. By examining its conservation status and economic potential, it proposes a framework for ethical sourcing practices that align biodiversity conservation objectives with rural income generation. By integrating sustainable trade practices with eco-tourism opportunities, this approach presents a replicable model for conservation practitioners and policymakers.</p><p>The ecological and economic significance of <i>G. cacicus</i> is closely tied to its distribution within the Upper Guinean forests. These beetles play a pivotal role in nutrient cycling and act as indicators of forest health. However, their populations have experienced alarming declines due to habitat loss driven by deforestation, particularly for cacao plantations, unsustainable harvesting for local collection and international trade, and climate change, which disrupts reproductive cycles and reduces habitat suitability (Dendi et al. <span>2023</span>; Luiselli et al. <span>2025</span>). The same threats have also affected the sympatric populations of another goliath beetle, <i>Goliathus regius</i>, which is however presently less rare than <i>G. cacicus</i> (Dendi et al. <span>2023</span>) but still considered as threatened (Luiselli et al. <span>2025</span>). These combined threats have prompted recommendations for the inclusion of <i>G. cacicus</i> as Critically Endangered and <i>G. regius</i> as Endangered on the IUCN Red List (Luiselli et al. <span>2025</span>). Such a designation would prioritize conservation interventions and underscore the beetle's ecological importance.</p><p>Despite these challenges, <i>G. cacicus</i> holds considerable economic potential due to its high demand in international markets, particularly in Europe, North America, and Asia. S","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"28 4","pages":"469-470"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acv.70000","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144920601","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":"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":2.6,"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":"Feather forensics: tracing the origins of parrots in wildlife trade with stable isotopes and citizen science","authors":"K. G. W. Hill,&nbsp;S. Delean,&nbsp;T. Hall,&nbsp;J. J. Tyler,&nbsp;O. C. Stringham,&nbsp;P. Cassey","doi":"10.1111/acv.13007","DOIUrl":"10.1111/acv.13007","url":null,"abstract":"<p>To supply the high demand for wildlife as exotic pets, animals may be illegally and unsustainably harvested from the wild and laundered as captive bred. Consequently, there is considerable interest in wildlife forensic tools that are capable of verifying captive origins. Stable isotope analysis is an emerging tool for verifying captive and wild origins by identifying key differences in dietary intake. While previous studies have effectively classified origins by differences in their stable isotope ratios, these studies are often limited to species with small population sizes and geographic ranges, masking potential variation caused by different environments and diets. We tested the accuracy of stable carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) isotope analyses to verify captive and wild origins using bird species that are common in pet trade, and have widespread distributions and generalist diets. Through a citizen science project in South Australia, we collected naturally dropped feathers from four native Australian cockatoo (Cacatuidae) species: Galahs (<i>Eolophus roseicapilla</i>); and three <i>Cacatua</i> species; sulphur-crested cockatoos (<i>Cacatua galerita</i>), little corellas (<i>C. sanguinea</i>) and long-billed Corellas (<i>C. tenuirostris</i>). We compared isotope ratios of captive and wild birds and calculated the classification accuracy of using stable isotopes to determine origin. Stable isotope values were significantly different between captive and wild adult birds, where captive birds had significantly higher δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N than wild birds. Captive and wild origins of individual <i>Eolophus</i> could be classified with relatively high accuracy (88%). However, <i>Cacatua</i> showed low repeatability and large overlaps between the origin groups, which reduced their classification accuracy (74%). Stable isotope analysis can be a potential classification tool in wildlife trade; however, before on-ground implementation, we recommend that variation from different diets across a species' geographical range be more thoroughly investigated to better understand and explain the full range of possible δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values.</p>","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"28 4","pages":"582-591"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acv.13007","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144920606","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":"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":2.6,"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":"Shark feeding affects health and female reproductive investment in blacktip reef sharks from French Polynesia","authors":"S. C. Mills,&nbsp;S. Planes,&nbsp;J. Mourier","doi":"10.1111/acv.13005","DOIUrl":"10.1111/acv.13005","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Ecotourism is branded as transforming wildlife biodiversity conservation; yet, its positive and negative effects are not always assessed in wild populations. Wildlife viewing with feeding is a popular form of ecotourism, but its potential health impacts on wildlife are becoming increasingly evident. Shark feeding is a global phenomenon; however, impact studies on species' persistence (i.e. survival and reproduction) are lacking. In this study, we expand upon previous work on shark tourism and use physiological indicators to assess the sub-lethal health and fitness consequences of shark feeding. Blood cellular, biochemical and endocrinological parameters were sampled from 117 adult wild blacktip reef sharks, <i>Carcharhinus melanopterus</i>, at feeding and non-feeding sites around Mo'orea, French Polynesia, to compare general condition, nutritional status, a metabolism proxy and reproductive investment on the respective sites. In addition to sex- and season-specific differences observed in multiple physiological parameters, we found lower haematocrit levels (condition) at feeding sites for both sexes, as well as lower insulin levels (metabolism proxy) in male sharks at feeding sites. Further impacts of feeding on physiology were found in interaction with the breeding season: adult females using feeding sites had lower glucose levels (nutritional status), as well as lower 17β-oestradiol levels during the breeding season (reproductive investment) compared to non-feeding sites. Male sharks using feeding sites during the breeding season exhibited higher levels of testosterone compared to non-feeding sites. Our results suggest that tourism feeding activity in Mo'orea provides poor nutrition and/or unpredictable food, especially for site-attached females during the energy-intensive breeding season. We highlight how physiological indicators reveal negative health and fitness impacts of shark feeding, with the reproductive impacts potentially having longer-lasting consequences for population dynamics, making feeding an ecological trap. Animal sex and season should be considered when evaluating feeding impacts, and stricter regulations for the nutritional content of the food given to sharks are needed in ecotourism management.</p>","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"28 4","pages":"474-489"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144920597","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":"Using life history to predict outcomes of conservation translocations of herpetofauna","authors":"M.R. Parker,&nbsp;L.A. Fitzgerald","doi":"10.1111/acv.13009","DOIUrl":"10.1111/acv.13009","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Suites of coevolved traits related to reproduction and demography enable species to persist in the face of environmental change. In the case of biological invasions, the suite of life history traits, “life history strategies,” can be linked to successful establishment after an introduction. Conservation translocations share many similarities with biological invasions, yet studies examining the relationship between life history and translocation outcome are scarce. We collected data on key life history traits for all herpetofauna profiled in the <i>IUCN Global Conservation Translocation Perspectives</i> series to examine how life history can predict outcomes and difficulties of conservation translocations. For reptiles, our model showed that age at maturity showed a significant positive association with higher probabilities of more successful outcomes, while increased clutch/litter size and lifespan predicted less successful outcomes. We found no relationship between any life history trait and translocation outcome for amphibians. Our results showed that difficulties with conservation translocations are related more to phylogeny than life history. Amphibian translocations faced more difficulties due to the physical environment of release sites, but reptile translocations experienced more socio-political difficulties. These relationships provide important insights for conservation practitioners that can be used in the feasibility and planning stages of translocations to anticipate and avoid challenges facing this complex and increasingly common form of conservation intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"28 4","pages":"592-606"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acv.13009","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144920593","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":"The future of the barbary sheep and the dorcas gazelle populations in Algerian Sahara: On the brink of extinction?","authors":"M. Bara","doi":"10.1111/acv.13010","DOIUrl":"10.1111/acv.13010","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The barbary sheep <i>Ammotragus lervia</i> (locally called Laroui or Aoudad) and the dorcas gazelle <i>Gazella dorcas</i> (locally called Adam or Affrii) are endemic bovines (Wacher <i>et al</i>., <span>2002</span>), living in north African Sahara (Irzagh <i>et al</i>., <span>2022</span>). Both species are listed as a vulnerable (IUCN status) and indexed in CITES appendix II and III respectively (https://iucn.org). Their populations undergo intensive selection because of hunting (human-wildlife conflict) and the numbers of these two species are decreasing drastically. Many cases of illegal hunting of both barbary sheep and dorcas have been recorded in the Algerian Sahara which cause a significant level of wildlife losses, and McKinney (<span>2001</span>) found that the threat level on wildlife (such as Bovidae) is significantly related to human population size.</p><p>Most information published on these two Bovidae have rarely been disclosing the alarming situation of the barbary sheep and the dorcas. It is known that diverse motivation underlies this hunting activity. But the main motivation in Algerian Sahara is a traditional ritual of exploiting these two threatened Bovidae as a source of meat for traditional feasts.</p><p>In August 22nd 2024, during a scientific expedition to the Algerian Sahara (El Menia desert), my colleagues and I recorded a dramatic case of illegal barbary sheep and dorcas gazelle hunting. Four dorcas gazelles and one barbary sheep were slaughtered in a secret location situated in the western sand sea (see Fig. 1). Our discussion with these hunters revealed that this heartless act is generally practiced either late in the evening or at night, in a location kept secret by the hunters. This practice is banned and so the identity of the hunters is kept hidden, which can hamper the conservation actions for these two species.</p><p>This conservation news is made prominent here in order to raise public awareness and emphasis the importance of the conservation of these species. For example, in Tunisia there is a collaborative government project between Italy and Tunisia called “Geo Med GIS 19/96—2019” aiming to classify the distribution range of the dorcas gazelle as a protected area (see www.dahargmg.info). These types of initiatives are also needed in Algeria.</p><p>These multi-faceted actions would carry out more efficient protection of these two endemic species and a more sustainable future for the local biodiversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"28 3","pages":"332-333"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acv.13010","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144519897","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":"Defying decline: Very low chytrid prevalence in tadpoles, yet high infection in adults in a naturally recovering frog species","authors":"J. Crawford-Ash,&nbsp;J. Erens,&nbsp;A. Martel,&nbsp;D.W.A. Noble,&nbsp;F. Pasmans,&nbsp;B.C. Scheele","doi":"10.1111/acv.13006","DOIUrl":"10.1111/acv.13006","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Amphibian chytrid fungus, <i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i> (<i>Bd</i>), is associated with declines in ~500 amphibian species globally. Decades after initial disease outbreaks, the trajectory of impacted species varies substantially; while some species continue to decline, there are instances of natural recovery, such as the whistling tree frog, <i>Litoria verreauxii,</i> in south-eastern Australia. The decline and subsequent recovery of this species have been quantified through repeated surveys of historically occupied sites over the past 30 years; however, the underlying mechanisms driving this recovery remain unknown. In this study, we investigate the potential factors facilitating the recovery of <i>L. verreauxii</i> by examining <i>Bd</i> prevalence and intensity in both adults and tadpoles. Specifically, we addressed the following hypotheses: (1) <i>Bd</i> prevalence in tadpoles would be lower compared to adults at the same breeding sites, (2) <i>Bd</i> prevalence in tadpoles would decrease over the spring breeding season due to the increasing availability of warm water microhabitats where tadpoles could potentially avoid or clear <i>Bd</i> infections and (3) there would be a negative correlation between <i>Bd</i> prevalence in tadpoles and the abundance and diversity of microfauna, which may consume <i>Bd</i> zoospores. Our findings indicate that tadpole infection prevalence remained consistently low at 1.36% (95% CI: 0.6–2.47%) throughout our spring sampling period, across different developmental stages. Adults had moderate to high prevalence within the same ponds at 50.53% (95% CI: 43.19–57.84%). No effect of temperature or microfauna diversity and abundance was apparent. While the mechanisms driving the recovery of this species remain unknown, low infection prevalence in tadpoles is likely a key component to the species' recovery. Our results emphasize the need for comprehensive investigations in <i>Bd</i> dynamics across all life history stages within recovering and declining amphibian species.</p>","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"28 4","pages":"567-581"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144920562","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}