Global Ecology and Conservation最新文献

{"title":"Population dynamics of the globally threatened fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) in a coastal anthropogenic landscape of southern Thailand","authors":"Kitipat Phosri ,&nbsp;Naruemon Tantipisanuh ,&nbsp;Matthew J. Grainger ,&nbsp;Meredith L. Gore ,&nbsp;George A. Gale ,&nbsp;Anthony J. Giordano ,&nbsp;Dusit Ngoprasert","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03524","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03524","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fishing cat populations are dwindling globally due to habitat loss and conflicts with humans. To address these pressing issues, our study focused on understanding fishing cat dynamics in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, a key site in Southeast Asia. Utilizing data from three sampling periods (2019, 2021 and 2023) and over 34,000 camera trap-days, we identified 127 individual adult fishing cats. Our analysis revealed a population density increase from 18 to 24 cats /100 km², from 2019 to 2023, and indicated a positive population growth rate (λ = 1.16). However, spatial survival probabilities were moderate 0.50 (95 % CI 0.33 – 0.67), likely due to isolation and human-caused mortality as suggested by interviews of local people. Despite conservation challenges, the population may be sustaining itself through high rates of recruitment (76 %) and turnover (80 %). Fishing cats exhibited a preference for natural areas with less disturbance within this anthropogenic landscape. This suggests that some relatively urbanized lands could potentially serve as refuge habitats for these felids. The preservation of existing habitats, especially within and near the national park is crucial for their survival, whereas increased law enforcement is unlikely to be an effective approach to achieve sustainable conflict mitigation. Incorporating education about coexistence into local school classrooms and/or community forums, and/or recruiting volunteers to participate in fishing cat monitoring could help reduce conflict over time. We show that understanding the temporal aspects of fishing cat population ecology is essential for their conservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03524"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143549321","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":"Spatio-temporal dynamics of Isoberlinia-dominated woodlands in disturbance-prone landscapes over 15 years","authors":"Shègoun Eudes Idjigbèrou ,&nbsp;Eméline Sêssi Pélagie Assédé ,&nbsp;Séverin Biaou ,&nbsp;Gérard Nounagnon Gouwakinnou ,&nbsp;Armand Kuyema Natta ,&nbsp;Samadori Sorotori Honoré Biaou","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03512","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03512","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the impact of productivity and disturbance on vegetation succession is a crucial debate in community ecology, with significant implications for biodiversity conservation. Productivity and disturbance influence species richness and structure, enhancing our understanding of vegetation dynamics and species coexistence over time. Numerous theories, such as the Intermediate Stress Hypothesis, Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, and Dynamic Equilibrium Model, have been proposed to explain these mechanisms. However, our understanding of how productivity and disturbance affect the spatio-temporal dynamics of Isoberlinia-dominated woodlands remains limited. We analyzed floristic data from sixteen sites with 64 permanent plots (400 m² each) along a south-north precipitation gradient (1112–991 mm per year) over 15 years (2006–2020). We calculated species richness and density for sapling and adult trees, and estimated two main variables: potential productivity using water deficit as a proxy, and disturbance intensity using logging rate. A linear mixed effects model, with plots nested within sites as random variables, was developed to test the effect of potential productivity and level of disturbance on species richness and density, for sapling and adult trees. Our results showed that species richness (SR) and density, for saplings and adult trees decreased over time, regardless of the disturbance and potential productivity gradients. Compared to higher levels of disturbance, low and medium levels of disturbance significantly increase the species richness of saplings and adult trees. In addition, the density of adult trees and saplings decreased over time, but increased with the level of disturbance from high to low. These results suggest that increased disturbance reduces the density of woodland species in favor of invasive species, typically savanna species. Overall, our results are consistent with the Dynamic Equilibrium Model, highlighting the complex interactions between disturbance regimes, productivity gradients, and their effects on species richness within ecosystems. Efficient forest management in Isoberlinia-dominated would avoid the high levels of logging that promote the establishment of invasive species and would maintain the biodiversity of this ecosystem in the long term.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03512"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143549643","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 effects of land use and climate change on diameter of Dipteryx alata (Leguminosae) in the Brazilian Cerrado","authors":"Gustavo Henrique Baptista Pinheiro ,&nbsp;Micael Rosa Parreira ,&nbsp;Rafael Batista Ferreira ,&nbsp;Thannya Nascimento Soares ,&nbsp;João Carlos Nabout","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03509","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03509","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diameter at breast height (DBH) is related to various other plant attributes (e.g., height, fruit number, age), and as such, it can indicate important characteristics for species management and conservation. In this study, we aimed to investigate how the DBH of <em>Dipteryx alata</em> Vogel (Leguminosae) varies spatially across the Cerrado biome. Additionally, we examined how environmental factors and land use can influence the variation in DBH of the <em>D. alata</em>. Furthermore, we estimated the current and future potential distribution of <em>D. alata</em> to assess the impact of global climate change on the species' distribution. We utilized a database with 253 records of DBH for <em>D. alata</em> distributed across the Cerrado. For each sample unit, we determined the environmental suitability of <em>D. alata</em> using niche modeling, and land use was characterized and classified into different types (from pasture to remnant vegetation). Our results revealed that the DBH of <em>D. alata</em> ranged from 5 to 75 centimeters, and there was no discernible spatial pattern. Environmental suitability could not predict the spatial variation in DBH. Nonetheless, plants with larger DBH were found in regions classified as pasture in terms of land use. Factors such as reduced competition soil management and age of plants (old plants) may help explain why DBH was greater in pasture areas. It is worth noting that although pasture areas can serve as a refuge for some trees, proper management is essential to promote individuals’ recruitment, ensuring population regeneration and the maintenance of diversity in long time. Climate projections anticipate significant loss of climatically suitable areas for <em>D. alata</em> in future scenarios.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03509"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143561911","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":"Environmental screening through nanopore native sequencing leads to the detection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in La Mandria Regional Park, Italy","authors":"Amir reza Varzandi ,&nbsp;Tim Reska ,&nbsp;Lara Urban ,&nbsp;Stefania Zanet ,&nbsp;Ezio Ferroglio","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03517","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03517","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Health surveillance of wildlife is crucial for the early detection of emerging pathogens. The One Health Integrated Wildlife Monitoring approach combines information from the biotic components of the ecosystem such as the abundance and diversity of wildlife with disease surveillance of animals (domestic and wild). Genomics-based detection of pathogens through environmental samples is a promising component of such programs. In this study, we analysed water samples from eight different irrigation channels in the La Mandria Regional Park, Italy, through PCR-free nanopore native sequencing to identify potential pathogens of importance for wildlife populations. Besides the pathogen <em>Fascioloides magna</em> that was previously detected in the park, we found evidence of other candidate pathogens including – for the first time in this area – the detection of the fungal pathogen <em>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</em>, and their possible host species. We confirmed the presence of <em>B. dendrobatidis</em> through ddPCR, and could demonstrate the detection of significant wildlife pathogens months before its first case was reported in wild animals of the park. Together with inferences on potential host species, these findings demonstrate the potential of genomics-based environmental monitoring through native nanopore sequencing in the context of One Health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03517"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143512624","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":"Rapid field-based detection of a threatened and elusive species with environmental DNA and CRISPR-Dx","authors":"Flurin Leugger ,&nbsp;Martina Lüthi ,&nbsp;Michel Schmidlin ,&nbsp;Zacharias Kontarakis ,&nbsp;Loïc Pellissier","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03518","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03518","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With accelerating biodiversity erosion, it is critical for species conservation to use rapid and scalable monitoring methods. One powerful biodiversity monitoring method that has emerged recently is environmental DNA (eDNA). eDNA analyses currently require lengthy protocols in well-equipped laboratories, slowing down the analyses and limiting applications across broad scales. Here, we developed a protocol for eDNA analyses, leveraging CRISPR-based diagnostic systems (Dx) with lateral flow tests to rapidly process and analyze eDNA samples on site. To test the versatility of the field-based protocol, we designed a CRISPR-Dx assay specific to the threatened and elusive African manatee (<em>Trichechus senegalensis</em>). We sampled water across ten locations in a national park in the Republic of Congo and detected manatee DNA directly on site in almost half of the sites. We later confirmed these detections with a high-sensitivity protocol in a well-equipped laboratory. The CRISPR-Dx detections were mainly confirmed with a previously reported quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay. Despite the lower sensitivity of the field-based protocol, our analysis shows that its speed and ease of application provide advantages over slower and more expensive methods to detect threatened and elusive species, in particular if the protocol is improved in the future. Our methodology will increase the accessibility to and speed of eDNA analyses, enhancing biodiversity monitoring efforts and species conservation initiatives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03518"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143512625","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":"Characterizing fine-scale spatiotemporal variations in canopy litterfall and fine root dynamics in cool temperate forest ecosystems","authors":"Mark Bryan Carayugan ,&nbsp;Ji Young An ,&nbsp;Byung Bae Park","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03519","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03519","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aboveground canopy and fine roots, two key allocations of autotrophic productivity in forest ecosystems, create a dynamic pathway for carbon and nutrient entry into the soil during senescence and decomposition. Despite their relevance, little is known about the local factors influencing canopy litter and fine root variability, both within stands and across years, which hampers our understanding of plant mineral nutrient status in cool temperate environments. This study combined up to four years of field measurements (2–4 years for litterfall, 1 year for fine root stocks, and 2 years for fine root production and mortality) from twelve 0.02–0.09-ha stands in Gwangneung Experimental Forest to investigate the relationships between litter and fine root variability and stand topographic, structural, and edaphic features. Topography emerged as a key driver of variation within stands, significantly influencing total litterfall (<span><math><msub><mrow><mi>β</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>std</mi><mo>.</mo></mrow></msub></math></span>= −0.568 for elevation; <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>β</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>std</mi><mo>.</mo></mrow></msub></math></span>= −0.597 for slope), leaf litterfall (<span><math><msub><mrow><mi>β</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>std</mi><mo>.</mo></mrow></msub></math></span>= −0.722 for elevation), total fine root biomass (<span><math><msub><mrow><mi>β</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>std</mi><mo>.</mo></mrow></msub></math></span> = −0.863 for slope), and &lt; 1mm-sized root biomass (<span><math><msub><mrow><mi>β</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>std</mi><mo>.</mo></mrow></msub></math></span>= −0.618 for slope). Miscellaneous litter exhibited less variability within stands as the basal area increased. Soil magnesium content positively correlated with within-stand fine root biomass variation at depths of 15–30 cm but exhibited an inverse relationship with fine root necromass variation at 5–10 cm. Within-stand variability of fine root mortality increased with soil organic matter, highlighting its critical role in nutrient bioavailability. Our findings underscore the importance of local environmental factors in shaping the spatiotemporal variability of litter and fine roots, offering insights into the carbon and nutrient cycling in cool temperate forests amid environmental change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03519"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143534672","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":"Anthropogenic mortality risk of lions depends on a combination of environmental, climatic, and cultural factors within a Sub-Saharan African ecosystem","authors":"Dipanjan Naha ,&nbsp;J. Werner Kilian ,&nbsp;Claire Goelst ,&nbsp;Claudine Cloete ,&nbsp;James C. Beasley","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03514","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03514","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human-caused mortality is a major cause of decline for large carnivore populations worldwide. Here we use a long-term data compiled from 1980 to 2018 to highlight the possible linkages between conflict-related mortality of lions (<em>Panthera leo</em>) and diverse socioecological factors in the Greater Etosha Landscape (GEL) surrounding Etosha National Park (ENP) in northwestern Namibia. We also use conflict-related mortality records (2001–2018) to model the spatial risk of fatality for lions from anthropogenic mortality, identify the major predictors of mortality, and map potential hotspots of anthropogenic mortality across the GEL. There were 698 conflict related lion mortalities reported between 1980 and 2018 with an average annual mortality of 22 lions (SE 16), although these are likely underestimates as not all anthropogenic mortality may have been reported. Conflict-related anthropogenic mortality of lions peaked during the cold dry season when availability of water was limited and game movements were concentrated around perennial waterpoints, and was greater in areas with localized livestock populations and low woody cover. Our landscape risk analysis revealed that areas bordering ENP function as ecological traps with certain pockets within the GEL acting as hotspots of conflict-related mortality. The majority of the conflict-related lion mortality was reported from commercial freehold farms reflecting Namibia’s colonial history and land ownership. Our findings suggest that mitigation measures to reduce human-lion conflict at the interface of ENP and other protected areas in Sub-Saharan Africa need to consider both ecological and cultural factors to have maximal impact. Given the high conflict-related mortality of lions in the landscape surrounding ENP, a conservation management strategy is critically needed to ensure human-lion coexistence within the GEL.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03514"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143534674","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 vulnerability of endemic vertebrates in Sri Lanka to climate change","authors":"Iresha Wijerathne ,&nbsp;Yiming Deng ,&nbsp;Eben Goodale ,&nbsp;Aiwu Jiang ,&nbsp;Suranjan Karunarathna ,&nbsp;Christos Mammides ,&nbsp;Madhava Meegaskumbura ,&nbsp;Dulan Ranga Vidanapathirana ,&nbsp;Zhixin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03515","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03515","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rapid climate change and ongoing habitat destruction pose a serious threat to global biodiversity. Understanding how species shift their geographical distributions in response to climate change is important for planning conservation actions for the biodiversity of isolated islands like Sri Lanka. Here, we used Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modeling to predict current and future (by 2100) distributions of 233 vertebrate endemics to Sri Lanka under three general circulation models of the atmosphere (GCMs) and three shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs). We used six bioclimatic layers, together with land use, human population, elevation, and the distance to water, as environmental factors for SDMs. Resultant maps were used to calculate the area of habitat (AOH) of each species. Using general linear mixed models, we identified a significant influence of GCM, SSP, and current elevation on the change in AOH. The southwestern wet zone and the montane areas of Sri Lanka were found to be the most suitable regions for the species currently and in the future. However, all climate change scenarios indicated endemic species extinctions, which may be proportionally fewer for mammals and birds, but are expected to occur for all SSPs in amphibians and reptiles, ranging from 1.4 % to 22.5 % of these taxa in SSP5. Also, species declines were specific and severe at higher elevations. Our study highlights the risk to montane endemic vertebrates, yet given the vulnerability of the wet zone to urbanization, even lowland endemic species face an uncertain future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03515"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143512623","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 inbreeding paradox: Is inbreeding avoidance inevitable? - A case study of moose (Alces alces) in the Northeast China","authors":"Lu Jin ,&nbsp;Ning Zhang ,&nbsp;Hairong Du,&nbsp;Shiyu Chen,&nbsp;Wentao Zhang,&nbsp;Minghai Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03513","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03513","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Genetic diversity is key for species’ resistance (enabling them to endure disturbances with little alteration) and resilience (recovering swiftly to their original state or a similar condition). The prevailing view in population genetics is that species attempt to avoid the harms of inbreeding. We speculate that sometimes individuals do not reject mating requests from relatives when choosing mates. Moose (<em>Alces alces cameloides</em>) in the Greater Khingan Mountains (GKM) of China is a first-class key protected species. It represents the southernmost distribution of moose globally and serves as a thermosensitive species of global significance. Based on the state of moose in China, we used a non-invasive sampling method to conduct a series of studies on genetic diversity and inbreeding. The mitochondrial and nuclear genetic diversity of moose in this area are at a moderately high level worldwide, with good individual genetic quality, a high level of overall genotype heterozygosity. The Bayesian gene flow level indicates gene exchange between local populations. Molecular pedigrees revealed instances where individuals mated with their offspring or even grandchildren. The relatedness coefficient (<em>r</em>) between moose mating pairs were significantly higher than those of random mating. Therefore, there is no evidence that individuals in the GKM avoid inbreeding, and under these circumstances, there has not been a negative impact on genetic diversity of the moose population, as well as the genetic quality and genotype heterozygosity of offspring. In the context of future climate change and human activities, we need to closely monitor the long-term impact of this mating choice on the survival of the GKM moose population and promptly develop corresponding conservation and management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03513"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143549318","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":"Development of an eDNA-based qPCR and dPCR method for detecting the spatial distribution and relative abundance of the critically endangered Giant Barb (Catlocarpio siamensis)","authors":"Jesdakorn Ongkulee ,&nbsp;Chatmongkon Suwannapoom ,&nbsp;Toshifumi Minamoto ,&nbsp;Maslin Osathanunkul","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03511","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03511","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Giant Barb (<em>Catlocarpio siamensis</em>) is the largest freshwater fish in the Cyprinidae family and is found in several countries, including Thailand. Due to its large size, it has been a popular food source for local communities. However, the population of this species has drastically declined due to overfishing, habitat destruction, and water pollution. Consequently, the Giant Barb is now classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List, and there have been reports of its absence from some rivers. Monitoring Giant Barb’s distribution is essential for developing appropriate conservation strategies. Here, we developed environmental DNA (eDNA) assays using qPCR and dPCR for detecting and monitoring the Giant Barb. Both eDNA-based methods were successful in detecting Giant Barb eDNA, with dPCR being more sensitive, detected the Giant Barb at 27 out of 31 sites, whereas qPCR detected it at 14 sites. The average eDNA concentrations for qPCR varied from 0.522 to 0.716 copies/µl, while dPCR had a broader range of 0.470–0.871 copies/µl. dPCR detected fish eDNA at all seven visually confirmed sites, whereas qPCR only detected it at three locations. In the present study, dPCR demonstrated better performance in acquiring distribution data, making it important for detecting and monitoring endangered fish species. This eDNA-based method of conservation offers hope and assistance for protecting this important species and preserving our freshwater habitats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03511"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143534675","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}