Biodiversity and Conservation最新文献

{"title":"First detection probability, comparative analysis of ecological disparities and population dynamics of the Iranian long-legged wood frog in the Hyrcanian forests","authors":"Masoumeh Najibzadeh","doi":"10.1007/s10531-024-02925-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02925-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The Hyrcanian forests have a diverse fauna and flora with many endemic species of plants and animals. The Iranian long-legged wood frog, <i>Rana pseudodalmatina</i>, is one of the endemic species in this forest. The phylogenetic and morphologic analysis indicates the existence of the western and the eastern clades in <i>R. pseudodalmatina</i>. Differences in the life history of the same species can attributed to different habitat quality or climate. The probability of encountering an Iranian long-legged wood frog, <i>R. pseudodalmatina</i> in the western half of the Hyrcanian forests of the southern shores of the Caspian Sea is much higher than in the forests of the eastern sea. This increase in the detection probability can be attributed to higher precipitation levels in the West of the Hyrcanian forests compared to the East. I observed that the Eastern populations tend to have larger sizes. In addition, the individuals of the western branch have a lower mean age (5.29 ± 0.74 years) than the eastern ones (8.36 ± 0.08 years). According to our results, females were larger (54.64 ± 0.53 mm) and older (7.68 ± 0.24 years) than males (48.13 ± 0.39 mm; 5.89 ± 0.39 years) in both eastern and western clades. So, the difference has been attributed to the variation in precipitation between the East and West of the sea, leading to different environmental conditions for <i>R. pseudodalmatina</i>. Hence, any conservation planning to protect this native species of the Hyrcanian forests must consider inter and intra-population differences in the East and West of the Hyrcanian forests.</p>","PeriodicalId":8843,"journal":{"name":"Biodiversity and Conservation","volume":"125 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142191410","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":"Distribution and conservation of Mexican tepezmaite cycads","authors":"César Isidro Carvajal-Hernández, Jorge Antonio Gómez-Díaz","doi":"10.1007/s10531-024-02920-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02920-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The increasing threats to global biodiversity notably impact cycads, one of the most endangered organisms. Despite the importance of nature reserves, they only sometimes provide sufficient protection from habitat destruction and illegal harvesting. Identifying and prioritizing suitable Mexican tepezmaite (<i>Ceratozamia</i>) habitats is imperative for restoration and protection. This study uses distribution models to map habitats for <i>C</i>. <i>brevifrons</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>delucana</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>morettii</i>, and <i>C</i>. <i>tenuis</i> to highlight optimal conservation zones. The study area lies in the Sierra de Chiconquiaco, Veracruz, Mexico. All species occurrences were collected, and four sets of environmental predictors were selected as input variables for the model. An ensemble species distribution model was constructed for each species. When contrasting the habitat areas within established nature reserves, gaps in conservation coverage were discerned. We assessed its conservation status following the IUCN and Mexican legislation criteria. A further 4 km² of highly suitable habitat is desired for a nature reserves expansion strategy. <i>C. brevifrons</i> and <i>C. tenuis</i> are deemed vulnerable per IUCN criteria, while <i>C. delucana</i> and <i>C. morettii</i> are considered Endangered. However, Mexican laws categorize <i>C. brevifrons</i>,<i> C. morettii</i>, and <i>C. tenuis</i> as Endangered and <i>C. delucana</i> as threatened. Models suggest that the distribution of the species is constrained primarily by soil composition and topographical features. Based on the results of the models, it is essential to implement the restoration of the species’ natural habitat. The tepezmaite cycads are a group of endangered species that may soon become extinct unless formal habitat protection is conducted.</p>","PeriodicalId":8843,"journal":{"name":"Biodiversity and Conservation","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142191406","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":"Off the conservation radar: the hidden story of Europe's tiny pea clams (Bivalvia: Sphaeriidae)","authors":"Dariusz Halabowski, Ronaldo Sousa, Manuel Lopes-Lima, Ian Killeen, David C Aldridge, Katarzyna Zając, Jon Hamner Mageroy, Daniel Alan Cossey, Maria Urbańska, Martin Österling, Vincent Prié","doi":"10.1007/s10531-024-02921-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02921-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study highlights the conservation problems faced by the tiny freshwater bivalves of the family Sphaeriidae, also known as pea, pill, or fingernail clams (or mussels) in Europe. Despite their global distribution, assumed ecological importance, and potential uses, basic knowledge about their taxonomy, biology, and ecology is very limited and much lower than for the larger freshwater bivalve taxa. Immediate scientific priorities are required to fill knowledge gaps regarding their taxonomy, genetic diversity, distribution, reproductive cycle, ecosystem functions, and population trends. Such fundamental knowledge is necessary to identify specific threats and develop appropriate conservation actions. Deploying environmental DNA analysis at a large scale could be a valuable way to fill gaps in distribution and strengthen monitoring in areas where local taxonomic knowledge is lacking. Until taxon-specific management plans can be developed, we recommend that efforts concentrate on the general protection and restoration of wetland habitats, implementing pollution control measures, and managing invasive species. These actions should be complemented by community engagement through citizen science initiatives. Additionally, prioritising data collection to fill existing knowledge gaps and updating conservation statuses (Red Lists) based on comprehensive assessments will be crucial. Implementing these actions will provide a starting point for the broader protection of freshwater ecosystems, thus benefiting pea clams and other interconnected species within these habitats.</p>","PeriodicalId":8843,"journal":{"name":"Biodiversity and Conservation","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142191405","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":"Short-term effects of clearing restoration on the relationship of plant and moth communities","authors":"Irene Piccini, Marco Pittarello, Davide Barberis, Michele Lonati, Simona Bonelli, Stefano Scalercio","doi":"10.1007/s10531-024-02917-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02917-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Insects and plants share a close relationship; plants provide feeding opportunities, ecological niches, and shelters for insects, while insects, in turn, facilitate pollination for plants. Management actions might positively or negatively affect insect species richness and/or abundance, in particular, forest practices can significantly influence insect communities. In this study, we investigated the effects on plant and moth communities following the realization of an ecological corridor (composed of 10 clearings) in forest in NW of Italy. Specifically, through plant surveys and moth light traps, we investigated plant and moth communities and their relationship in newly shaped clearings and their surrounding forest. We found that plants responded quickly to clearing formation, presenting differentiated plant communities between xero-thermophile clearings, mesophile clearings and forest. These differences reflected on moth communities as well, allowing to find indicator species for each ecosystem. Structural variables (i.e. openness) and topography (i.e. elevation) were key factors affecting the differentiation of moth communities. On the other hand, plants explained most of the variance in moth communities, so, through plants, we differentiated moth communities into those typical of xero-thermophile clearings, mesophile clearings and forest. In conclusion, forest management significantly affects plant and moth communities. Newly shaped clearings support higher species richness (including specialist species) and abundance than closed canopy forest. To increase species richness and abundance for both plants and moths, we suggest conservation measures that include creating open habitats within forests at medium elevation (650–950 m a.s.l.).</p>","PeriodicalId":8843,"journal":{"name":"Biodiversity and Conservation","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142191407","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":"Cross-taxon analysis in the highly threatened Mediterranean dunes reveals consistent diversity patterns in butterfly and plant communities","authors":"Micaela del Valle Rasino, Simone Fattorini, Andrea Sciarretta, Marco Colacci, Angela Stanisci, Maria Laura Carranza","doi":"10.1007/s10531-024-02914-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02914-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Butterflies and plant species are widely used as model systems in biodiversity and conservation research. However, little is known about spatial patterns of butterfly diversity linked to plant communities across coastal dune ecotones. We explored the relation between butterfly and vegetation diversity in a Mediterranean protected dune system in Central Italy. We sampled butterfly and plant communities on shifting and fixed dunes and investigated their distribution patterns by diversity indexes and Species Abundance Diversity models (SADs). We also computed species beta-diversity and analyzed the relation between butterfly communities and vegetation by correlation analyses. Cross-taxon congruence in species richness, composition and abundance was assessed using Mantel correlation tests. Both butterfly and plant diversity were higher on the fixed dunes than on the shifting dunes. In both communities, SADs were adequately described by the geometric series model, which is typical of harsh environments with simple communities dominated by few species. Among both butterflies and plants, we identified species found only on either the shifting or the fixed dunes. Correlation between plant and butterfly diversity was higher for entomophilous plant species than for the more abundant anemophilous ones. Our results indicate that both plant and butterfly communities respond to the sea-inland environmental gradient, forming distinct communities with specialized taxa. Our findings also provide evidence of the importance of butterfly-plant relations for preserving biological diversity and ecosystem functioning in Mediterranean coastal areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":8843,"journal":{"name":"Biodiversity and Conservation","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142191409","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":"Achieving structural heterogeneity and high multi-taxon biodiversity in managed forest ecosystems: a European review","authors":"Britta Uhl, Peter Schall, Claus Bässler","doi":"10.1007/s10531-024-02878-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02878-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The European Biodiversity Strategy has set the key goal to maintain and promote biodiversity. Managed forests here play a key role, as they are among the most diverse ecosystems. To create biodiversity rich managed forest landscapes, we need a deep understanding on how management affects forest structure and subsequently habitat quality on the local and landscape level. However, to date a confusingly large amount of different terms for various management systems exist and it remains unclear how forest structure and composition affected by specific management systems affect biodiversity. Here, we first aim to clarify forest management systems terminology. Second, we link existing management systems with forest structure and review at European level how these structures affect local α-, as well as landscape-scale β- and γ-biodiversity. We found that research and derived management guidelines have a strong focus on local forest stand heterogeneity and related α-diversity, while ignoring the importance of landscape-scale heterogeneity and therefore β- and γ-diversity. Instead of promoting one management system as an all-in-one-solution, a diversity of different forest management systems seems the most promising way to create biodiversity rich forest landscapes. We finally discuss how a combination of different management systems might help to create structurally rich forest habitats and landscapes, simulating different successional stages and promoting species rich communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":8843,"journal":{"name":"Biodiversity and Conservation","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142191408","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":"Forest fragmentation and connectivity in South American dry forests","authors":"Carlos A. Rivas, Rafael M. Navarro-Cerrillo","doi":"10.1007/s10531-024-02894-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02894-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Tropical dry forests are the most threatened of all the major tropical forest types and less than 25% of TDF currently remain worldwide. They are located mostly in South America. Parameters such as habitat loss, fragmentation and loss of connectivity have been identified as the main threats to biodiversity. This research aims to discover the forests changes, the evolution of connectivity and fragmentation of the South American tropical dry forest between 1992 and 2020. Land uses layers provided by the Copernicus program were employed, and land uses change, fragmentation and structural connectivity were analyzed in GIS systems. To calculate the functional connectivity, the Graphab software was used. The results showed a loss of forest surface, where fragmentation increased and a loss of functional connectivity between 25% and 49% occurs depended on the parameter analysed. On the other hand, some areas were recovered. Brazil is the country that recovered the most forest area and Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia those that lost the most area. Only 31% of the area was not altered between 1992 and 2020. Human activities such as deforestation, agriculture expansion, and urbanization have led these forests to become increasingly fragmented and worse connected impacting on both ecological and socio-economic aspects. Supranational measures must be taken to mitigate the negative impacts of fragmentation and the loss of connectivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":8843,"journal":{"name":"Biodiversity and Conservation","volume":"87 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141935487","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":"Plant species richness in intensively managed temperate wet grasslands: current state and the importance of edge habitats","authors":"Christoph Leuschner, Sally Lott, Anja Schmitz, Julia Wellinghoff, Martin Komainda, Johannes Isselstein","doi":"10.1007/s10531-024-02912-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02912-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study investigates within-site variation in the diversity and composition of aboveground vegetation and seed bank in intensively managed wet grasslands of north-western Germany, comparing field edges, field margins and field interiors. We tested the hypothesis that unfertilized buffer strips at field edges function as refugia of characteristic species even in grasslands that are managed intensively for silage production. In 55 grassland sites on each marsh and moor soils, respectively, we conducted vegetation surveys, seed bank analyses and soil chemical measurements in field edge, margin and interior plots, and searched for the factors causing within-site variation in vegetation composition. The total species pool was small at the 110 sites, i.e. 148 species in the aboveground vegetation and 107 species in the seed bank, demonstrating severe impoverishment. The α-diversity decreased from 23 species (median) per 200 m² at the edge to 15 species in the interior, with 38 species occurring only at field edges. The number of species with conservation value was very low in aboveground vegetation and seed bank and was only slightly higher at the edge than in the interior. Soil P availability was ca. 30% lower at the unfertilized edges than in the interior. We conclude that unfertilized buffer strips at grassland edges may help reducing nutrient leaching from high-input grassland systems, but they have mostly lost their refugial function for phytodiversity after decades of intensive management. Restoration efforts with seed or green hay transfer from richer source habitats are needed to promote biodiversity in field-edge buffer strips.</p>","PeriodicalId":8843,"journal":{"name":"Biodiversity and Conservation","volume":"116 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141935569","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":"Living with jungle giants: human-elephant dynamics and coexistence alternatives in the transboundary Landscape of Kangchenjunga","authors":"Kesang Wangchuk, Janita Gurung, Sanjeeb Pradhan, Namgay Wangchuk, Kencho Rigzin, Sarala Khaling","doi":"10.1007/s10531-024-02918-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02918-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Studies on human-elephant interactions are typically confined to a single country. Since elephants traverse international boundaries, it is critical to comprehend human-elephant interactions along their migration routes and recognize the significance of conserving these animals. A rapid appraisal was conducted to primarily understand the human-elephant dynamics in the transboundary lowlands of the Kangchenjunga landscape, encompassing regions of Bhutan, India, and Nepal, and highlight community-identified options for coexistence between humans and elephants in the shared landscape. Elephant populations in the transboundary landscape faced significant threats due to habitat loss and fragmentation as a result of increasing human settlements, agriculture, and infrastructure development. Habitat reduction and dietary changes were common reasons for the increased raids by elephants on human settlements for food. Conflict prevention and mitigation were hindered by inadequate resources, while waste mismanagement aggravated human-elephant conflicts. Limited expertise among forest personnel and ineffective compensation systems further challenged wildlife conservation. Some potential options identified by communities as vital for human-elephant coexistence included habitat restoration, capacity building, livelihood diversification, cultivation of non-palatable crops, financial incentives for recultivating fallow land, standardization of compensation and insurance practices, transboundary cooperation, and building tolerance through alternative techniques. These strategies were aimed at mitigating conflicts, promoting understanding, ensuring sustainable cohabitation, and emphasizing the importance of collaboration between governments, conservation organizations, and local communities to safeguard elephants and enhance conservation efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":8843,"journal":{"name":"Biodiversity and Conservation","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141882968","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":"Large-scale changes in the distribution of suitable habitat of the endangered subtropical canopy tree species Vatica guangxiensis under climate change","authors":"Wenji Luo, Ralph Sedricke Lapuz, Alison K.S. Wee","doi":"10.1007/s10531-024-02908-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02908-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Protecting rare and endangered species from habitat loss caused by climate and land use changes is crucial for stopping unprecedented biodiversity loss. Data on species’ future range shifts is crucial in protected area management planning to establish proper refuges. This study focused on identifying the suitable habitat, vulnerabilities, and conservation gaps of <i>Vatica guangxiensis</i>—a canopy tree species endemic to the subtropical forests of southwest China and listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List— through Maxent species distribution modeling using current and future climate data. Results showed that the predicted suitable habitats for <i>V. guangxiensis</i> under current climate were more extensive than its known range, encompassing parts of China, northern Laos, northern Vietnam, and eastern Myanmar. They are most likely to be in wetter regions with acidic soils. However, these habitats were predicted to decrease by 90% and shift to lower latitudes and higher elevations by 2081–2100 due to climate change, which leads to habitat loss for five out of twelve current wild populations, as well as severe fragmentation and reduced protected area coverage. Our findings demonstrate the potential for new field discoveries of <i>V. guangxiensis</i> based on its predicted distribution under current climate, but also show the vulnerability of its habitats under future climate change. We present a dire outlook for <i>V. guangxiensis</i> and highlight the need for field discovery of new populations and the establishment of ex situ populations that are explicitly guided by suitable habitat predictions. Furthermore, this study can contribute to the expansion of climate-informed protected areas in the Indochina region, to support the flagship ‘30 × 30’ target for protected areas under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Lastly, our findings elucidate the importance of transboundary conservation efforts, such as the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Five-Year Action Plan, in preserving biodiversity and achieving global conservation goals.</p>","PeriodicalId":8843,"journal":{"name":"Biodiversity and Conservation","volume":"216 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141882733","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}