Animal Conservation

Les perruches exotiques sont en augmentation à Bruxelles surtout dans le nord-ouest de la région. Malgré cela de nombreuses cavités restent disponibles pour les autres oiseaux cavernicoles comme le montre cette étude qui les a inventoriées sur tout le territoire bruxellois.

Forty-three specimens of Leptodactylus podicipinus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) were collected in the south-eastern Pantanal, municipality of Corumbá, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil in February and July 2007, and examined for endoparasites. Forty (93%) specimens were infected with at least one helminth species. The predominant parasites were nematodes (Aplectana sp., Cosmocerca podicipinus, Oswaldocruzia lopesi, Physalopteroides venancioi, Rhabdias sp.), but the trematode Catadiscus propinquus also showed high prevalence. The trematodes Infidum infidum and Travtrema stenocotyle were also found, but in only one specimen. Adult frogs showed higher parasite diversity than subadults. Leptodactylus podicipinus was preferentially infected by direct life-cycle parasites and was reported as a new host record for seven helminth species.

Anyone interested in environmental assessment and/or impact of marine activities on seabirds -this could include regulators, industrial environmental officers, consultants, researchers, environmental non-governmental organizations, and technologists and engineers with an interest in miniaturization, instrumentation or telemetry. Robertson, Fifield and a flock of others describe how recent advances in technology are helping to advance our understanding of the abundance, distribution and behaviour of seabirds.

Due to the scarcity of data cited in the literature, digestive enzyme profiles of fish species from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean are of particular interest. In the present study, the viscera yield and digestive enzymes (acid and alkaline proteinase, lipase and amylase) of the stripped weakfish
Cynoscion guatucupa, Brazilian codling Urophycis brasiliensis, Patagonian flounder Paralichthys patagonicus, southern eagle ray Myliobatis goodei and smallnose fanskate Sympterygia bonapartii were determined. All species exhibited high proteolytic activity (acid: 0.44-11.0 UE mg protein-1
and alkaline: 0.11-2.32 UE mg protein-1) as well as moderate lipase (0.07-0.76 UE mg protein-1) and amylase activity (0.03-0.24 UE mg protein-1). Teleost fish exhibited higher enzyme activities than cartilaginous fish, with U. brasiliensis exhibiting the highest activities (proteinases, amylases, and lipases). High-activity enzymes from cold-temperate-adapted organisms, mainly from U. brasiliensis and C. guatucupa, may be the source of marine biotechnological bioactive compounds that are beneficial for biotechnological processes.

Carrion is a nutrient-rich but spatiotemporally unpredictable resource that supports diverse trophic interactions, and its consumption plays a key role in energy recycling within ecosystems. Although previous research has almost exclusively examined scavenger activity at carcasses, the broader impacts of fluctuating carrion availability on landscape-scale activity patterns and scavenger competitive interactions remain largely unexplored. Here, we investigate whether carrion provisioning influences broader road use activity in two competing facultative scavenger species: dingoes (Canis dingo), an apex scavenger, and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), a mesoscavenger. Using camera traps, we monitored the activity of the two focal species on roads before and after the placement of 20 experimentally deployed eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) carcasses in the surrounding landscape. Carcasses-also monitored using camera traps-were positioned at least 1 km apart at similar distances from roads across open forest and grassland habitats, in summer and winter in southeast Australia. Both dingoes and red foxes exhibited increased road use following carcass deployment, with red fox responses varying seasonally-showing a greater increase in road use during winter months. Overlap in activity times between the focal species on roads also increased post-carcass deploymentespecially during the winter month; however, peak activity times remained slightly offset. The focal species temporal overlap at carcasses was also greater in the winter season. Our study provides novel insights into the ecological significance of carrion beyond local carcass sites, highlighting its potential role in influencing broader scavenger activity patterns. We also reveal that peak road use may serve as a reliable proxy for peak scavenging times in systems where carcasses are available near roads, given the overlap in diel activity patterns of both dingoes and red foxes on roads and at carcasses. These findings emphasize the need for further research to examine how carrion availability shapes scavenger dynamics at landscape scales. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Conservation areas in tropical forests protect the most diverse and threatened ecosystems on the planet. In the Amazon, ungulates are important determinants of forest structure and plant diversity, as well as being a resource for rural communities. Using occupancy-based methods, we estimated the occurrence of whitelipped peccary Tayassu pecari, collared peccary Pecari tajacu, lowland tapir Tapirus terrestris and red brocket deer Mazama americana in and around protected areas reserve in Tambopata, Peru, to evaluate how different management designation, anthropogenic influences and habitat type influenced the occurrence of each species. We used a combination of track surveys (n = 258) and camera surveys (n =256) to estimate ungulate presence at 55 sites in a national reserve, a native community and adjacent buffer areas from May 2008 to March 2009. We found that prediction of the occurrence of white-lipped peccary, lowland tapir and red brocket deer was best accomplished using travel time from the nearest city (a measure of an area's accessibility). The occurrence of ungulates differed little between buffer and reserves, but community lands managed by indigenous peoples showed reduced probabilities of ungulate occurrence. Our results indicate that passive protection afforded by inaccessibility might be an effective management strategy for this region; however, we doubt that this is tenable as a long-term solution.

The main nesting area for loggerhead turtles in the eastern Atlantic is in the Cape Verde Islands, largely restricted to the island of Boa Vista. Extensive monitoring demonstrated a globally significant population for the species despite a sustained high level of anthropogenic take of nesting females for local consumption. Through an extensive stratified monitoring program across the island in the seasons 2007-2009, we estimated a total of 13 955, 12 028 and 19 950 clutches in the 3 years, respectively. These values indicate that the mean number of nesting females averaged 3700. Considering that a female breed, on average, every 2.4 years, we estimate that the overall number of adult females in the population during these three seasons was 8900. These levels are much higher than those suggested in previous studies which were more constrained in spatial coverage. Our findings indicate that Cape Verde hosts the third largest nesting aggregation for this species in the world after the south-eastern US and Oman, with some sites having a particularly high density of nests, facilitating targeted monitoring and conservation. Consumption of sea turtle meat is a traditional practice in Cape Verde that continues despite national sea turtle protection laws. We estimated that 36, 18 and 5% of nesting females were harvested in the 3 years of the study, respectively. Increasing beach protection and monitoring, ongoing educational programs and cooperative projects with local communities are urgently needed to further safeguard the only major loggerhead nesting aggregation in the eastern Atlantic.

Habitat fragmentation is a major concern in conservation. Several lessons about habitat fragmentation are given that were learned from field studies and conservation management programs on diverse species. These lessons are 1) the matrix (the environment in which the fragmented habitats are imbedded) maters as the demographic and genetic impact of fragmentation is strongly influenced by the matrix; 2) the habitat patches mater because different patches vary in important properties and cannot be regarded as identical units; 3) life history plasticity frequently emerges in management programs, which in turn enhances the importance of monitoring as initial predictions from previous life history data may no longer be valid; 4) geography alone can be misleading about fragmentation; 5) effective sizes are complex and incomplete descriptors of fragmented populations but useful when used properly; 6) fragmentation can preserve genetic diversity, and this beneficial property can be utilized to improve evolvability in reintroduction programs; and 7) even when habitat fragments are only a small portion of the landscape, they can play an important role in landscape resilience after human caused environmental changes. From these seven lessons another lesson emerges: habitat fragmentation can be managed by restoring the habitats, by altering the matrix, by using knowledge of particular species to design appropriate dispersal corridors, by doing translocations, and by taking advantage of the genetic diversity maintained by fragmented populations to enhance evolvability, among other management possibilities.

Mediterranean demersal fisheries have experienced an ongoing decline in catches over the past 20 years as a result of excessive increases in effort caused both by growth in trawler engine power and by rapid technological advances in fish finding and fishing technology. This has led to an overexploitation of these resources. An increasing share of the catches consists of immature individuals. This study was undertaken to test a sorting grid with a bar spacing of 20 mm as a means of excluding juveniles in the commercial hake (Merluccius merluccius) fishery in the Catalan Sea, western Mediterranean. The grid was placed in the extension section of the gear 5 m in front of a cod-end. Divided cod-end design was used to collect the escapees and target species. The mean selection length (L 50 ) of the ten hauls was 14.2 ± 0.7 cm SE, with a selection range of 7.3 cm ± 0.4 SE. The biomass of hake under L 50 that escaped through the grid represented 50.1% ± 6.7 SE of the total hake biomass. These results are promising and indicate that a sorting grid can be used in excluding young hake. This was a first step toward implementation of sorting grids in commercial trawl gears as means of avoiding unwanted catches of small individuals in the hake fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea. Further trials are required to improve the sorting efficiency of the grid.

need a special thank you for helping with the catching, and handling of many penguins at all times of day and night and to Robben Island Museum for the use of the house on the island and for ferrying us to and fro from the island. A very special thank you to Mario Leshoro for advice and endless help throughout the project. Thanks to Leshia Upfold and Bruce Dyer from Marine and Coastal Management for their advice and provision of information from the 1997 MCM project. For the Boulders Beach work: Thank you to Monique Ruthenberg and Table Mountain National Parks for allowing me to conduct fieldwork in Boulder Beach Reserve, and to Gareth Mann and Graeme Oatley for helping me in the field. Thank you to Carl van der Lingen, Janet Coetzee and Alta de Vos for information and data that was very helpful in the writing up of results. A special thank you must go to Kerri McDonald and Philip Hampton for proof reading multiple drafts and to Graeme Oatley for printing. And my deepest gratitude goes to Andrew Markham for rescuing data, improving the island system, technical advice and assistance and translating binary code into English. Thank you to Sue Kuyper for always being helpful and supportive.

Translocation has been key to Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) meta-population recovery. However, translocation can in some instances result in poor post-release survival and reproduction. The post-release behaviour of rhinoceros is little studied but might provide insights with utility for improving translocation success. We examined the infl uence of sex, age (young-or full-adult), time and physiological state in captivity, and the drugs regime administered for transport and release on the fi rst 6 days of post-release movements by 15 black rhino (D. b. minor) translocated to Mun-ya-Wana Game Reserve (GR). We also conducted an experimental trial on the effect of scent broadcasting on their post-release behaviour. Rhino were captured at Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife reserves, held in individual iMfolozi GR enclosures (bomas) for from 31 to 61 days, fi tted with horn-implant radio transmitters, and released near-simultaneously over 3 days at different individual locations spaced throughout Mun-ya-Wana GR. This release strategy appeared to have benefi ts compared with translocation techniques that instead release rhinoceros from boma at the same site but separately over many days. Before release the dung and urine soaked substrate from the boma of 7 rhinos (treatment group) was collected and spread within 2km of their future release site. The control group, comprising 8 rhinos, did not have scent broadcast about their release site. We hypothesised that the presence of a rhino's scent would reduce its post-release movement and that they would settle around or near their own scent. Contrary to our hypothesis, individuals in the treatment group moved signifi cantly farther than those from the control group. Although we attempted to hold all factors constant between the two groups, retrospective hormone analyses showed that the control rhinos had higher levels of reproductive hormones; faecal androgens for males and progestins for females. Despite this potential confound, we discuss the possible meaning of these results towards understanding black rhino behavioural ecology and improving translocation strategies.

House mice (Mus musculus) were introduced to South Africa’s sub-Antarctic Marion Island, the larger of the two Prince Edward Islands, by sealers in the early 19th century. Over the last two centuries they have greatly reduced the abundance of native invertebrates. Domestic cats (Felis catus) taken to the island in 1948 to control mice at the South African weather station soon turned feral, killing large numbers of breeding seabirds. An eradication programme fi nally removed cats from the island by 1991, in what is still the largest island area cleared of cats at 290 km2. Removal of the cats, coupled with the warmer and drier climate on the island over the last half century, has seen increasing densities of mice accumulating each summer. As resources run out in late summer, the mice seek alternative food sources. Marion is home to globally important seabird populations and since the early 2000s mice have resorted to attacking seabird chicks. Since 2015 c. 5% of summer-breeding albatr...

With increasing pressure on the oceans from environmental change, there has been a global call for improved protection of marine ecosystems through the implementation of marine protected areas (MPAs). Here, we used species distribution modelling (SDM) of tracking data from 14 seabird species to identify key marine areas in the southwest Atlantic Ocean, valuing areas based on seabird species occurrence, seasonality and extinction risk. We also compared overlaps between the outputs generated by the SDM and layers representing important human threats (fishing intensity, ship density, plastic and oil pollution, ocean acidification), and calculated loss in conservation value using fishing and ship density as cost layers. The key marine areas were located on the southern Patagonian Shelf, overlapping extensively with areas of high fishing activity, and did not change seasonally, while seasonal areas were located off south and southeast Brazil and overlapped with areas of high plastic poll...

We synthesize the results of empirical studies of marine reserves to assess the potential benefits of protection for fish populations. Our meta‐analyses demonstrate that the overall abundance of fishes inside reserves is, on average, 3.7 times higher than outside reserve boundaries. This enhancement is mainly a result of a significant increase in abundance of species that are the target of fisheries. Non‐target species are equally abundant inside and outside reserves. Large‐bodied species also respond more to protection, irrespective of their fishery status. Species within genera show great heterogeneity in their response to protection despite similarities in their life histories. Our study confirms that marine reserves benefit fish populations and highlights the need for monitoring prior to reserve establishment to provide more accurate, habitat‐controlled studies of the effects of marine reserves on fish populations.

One of the principal goals of the Iberian lynx LIFE conservation project is to initiate the first reintroduction of the species in recently extinct nuclei. The previous work to select the best area for the reintroduction of the Iberian lynx in Andalusia began in 2005. The two selected areas to perform the reintroduction into are :Guadalmellato and Guarrizas valleys, both areas showing optimal habitat structure and resources abundance. A brief abstract of the previous works and a planning of the future steps in the Iberian lynx reintroduction are presented in this communication.

Several demographic parameters of Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) were estimated and used to model extinction probabilities for the species, which is an endemic seabird confined to a Mediterranean archipelago. Adult survival was analyzed through capture-recapture models at two colonies free of adult predators during 1997-2002. Extinction probabilities for the world breeding population were modelled using Monte Carlo simulations of population trajectories, introducing stochasticity both demographic and environmental. Adult survival estimate (0.780, SE=0.020, 95% Confidence Intervals: 0.739-0.816) was unusually low for a Procellariiform, suggesting that sources of mortality other than predators (e.g. fishing gears) also occur. A deterministic model showed a declining trend for the world breeding population (l=0.952), and significantly less than 1. Population viability analysis showed that in the presence of environmental and demographic stochasticities, mean extinction time for the world population was estimated at 40.4 years (SE=0.2), and mean growth rate showed a 7.4% decrease per year. Demographic stochasticity played a more important role than environmental stochasticity in population growth rate.

We used roost searches, mist netting and acoustic sampling to investigate the habitats used by bats in Parc National de Mantadia and the Réserve Spéciale d'Analamazaotra, eastern Madagascar. Four species were caught in relatively intact humid forest (Myotis goudoti, Miniopterus manavi, Miniopterus majori and Emballonura atrata) two in agricultural land, Neoromicia matroka and Neoromicia melckorum, and one, Rousettus madagascariensis, in Eucalyptus plantations. Mormopterus jugularis, Chaerephon pumilus and Mops leucostigma were found roosting in buildings ca. three km from the humid forest. Acoustic sampling revealed that Neoromicia spp. and molossids were ubiquitous and were recorded from intact and degraded humid forest, Eucalyptus plantations and agricultural land. Myotis goudoti showed the strongest association with intact humid forest. Taxon richness, determined by acoustic sampling, was highest in humid forest but activity was highest in plantations and agricultural land. Mixed-habitat landscapes that surround protected forests and consist of a mosaic of regenerating forest, agriculture, wetlands, villages and plantations are important for bats and promote chiropteran diversity because they provide roosting and foraging sites for species that rarely use intact forest. The humid forests of eastern Madagascar have lower bat diversity than the island's western deciduous karst forests.

Not all regions of the world have access to advanced means of analysis, such as molecular or quantitative genetics. In the absence of these or other means of selection, phenotypic analyses are used for breed differentiation as well as to evaluate productive aptitude. The objective of this work is to characterize morphometric variables and zoometric indices, as well as the morphological and phaneroptic characterization, of the Guaymi Creole cattle in conservation centers in Panama. The study included all available Guaymi creoles (98 females and 27 males) aged ≥ 3 years. The results indicate that the Guaymi breed has sexual dimorphism, little heterogeneity, and characteristics appropriate for areas where there is limited quality forage. The characteristics of the Guaymi breed correspond to a dolichocephalic profile, a longilineal and brachypelvic type. The indexes characterize it as having poteintial milk and meat-type aptitude, so it can be considered dual-purpose cattle in the absence of a directed selection program. The morphological characteristics are similar to those of Bos taurus breeds from Ibero-America and Africa.

The global decline of reptile species has raised much concern, and many translocation programs have been implemented in response to this decline. Most of these programs have not been successful, but one exception is the translocation program for eastern collared lizards (Crotophytus collaris collaris) that had experienced massive local extinction on glades in the Ozarks in central North America. Translocation coupled with glade restoration was initiated in the 1980s, including reintroductions starting in 1984 on Stegall Mountain in southern Missouri. The translocated populations underwent three distinct demographic phases: (1) an isolate phase with no net growth in population size, no colonization of nearby glades and almost no dispersal among populations, (2) a colonizing phase of high dispersal, colonization of new glades and population growth that started with the onset of prescribed woodland burning and (3) a stable metapopulation phase established by 2000 on Stegall Mountain in which the number of occupied glades, total population size and measures of genetic variation were roughly constant. This study uses distinct color phases to infer the age of 1162 marked individuals. Age probabilities were assigned to 391 individuals based on time-of-capture within the field season and snout-vent length, as calibrated from following 529 individuals first captured as hatchlings. Age structure differed significantly between phases. The isolate phase was characterized by an old age structure. The colonization phase had a younger age structure and much more recruitment. The stable metapopulation phase had an intermediate age structure. These dynamic age structure attributes show that species cannot be regarded as static units, and ignoring this dynamism can result in poor conservation practice. These results also validate age-structure as a monitoring device for a conservation program and a tool to identify significant shifts in the environment or management that have a conservation impact, in this case prescribed woodland burning.

Effective amphibian conservation requires knowledge of both the aquatic and terrestrial phases of life. As extinction probabilities are a function of population size, it is crucial not only to understand the habitat requirement of the species but also to estimate its population size. In this work, we studied the endangered fire salamander, Salamandra infraimmaculata, and analyzed the population size at a total of 14 sites-eight temporary and six permanent. For identifying the local and landscape scales factors predicting S. infraimmaculata's breeding sites we monitored 54 aquatic sites. We found that permanent sites support larger populations of adult salamanders. The breeding site characteristics analyses revealed that at the local scale water depth and shade were the most important factors and two regional variables were found to be important: proximity to another breeding site and elevation. This work provides two clear conservation implications permanent breeding sites will support much larger populations compared to temporary sites, particularly if close to other potential breeding sites, and both terrestrial and aquatic features are important for a site to be suitable for breeding.

In Europe, hunting and game management are centuries-old activities that have had profound effects on the landscapes and the biodiversity they support. Game management is a potentially important tool to enhance game populations, and may also affect other wildlife. We investigated the relationship between red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) game management and steppe-bird abundance in central Spain. We surveyed 54 red-legged partridge hunting estates with varying game-management intensity in spring and/or summer in 2006 and 2008-2010. Information about game management was gathered through questionnaires to game managers. Birds were counted from fixed points and the amount of different land uses in each point was visually estimated. Our results show that the abundance of granivorous species (sandgrouse) increased significantly with the density of feeders, whereas nongranivorous species were more abundant in estates with more intensive fox control, although the latter relationship was weaker. Land-use variables, specifically agricultural lands, appeared in the models of all the groups considered. Therefore, there is an option for designing optimal management for red-legged partridge estates that potentially benefits non-target species: an effective combination of habitat management, adequate use of supplementary food and water, and possibly selective legal predator control when necessary and effective for the target game species, although the latter needs further investigation.

In Europe, hunting and game management are centuries‐old activities that have had profound effects on the landscapes and the biodiversity they support. Game management is a potentially important tool to enhance game populations and may also affect other wildlife. We investigated the relationship between red‐legged partridge Alectoris rufa game management and steppe‐bird abundance in central Spain. We surveyed 54 red‐legged partridge hunting estates with varying game‐management intensity in spring and/or summer in 2006 and 2008–2010. Information about game management was gathered through questionnaires to game managers. Birds were counted from fixed points and the amount of different land uses in each point was visually estimated. Our results show that the abundance of granivorous species (sandgrouse) increased significantly with the density of feeders, whereas non‐granivorous species were more abundant in estates with more intensive fox control, although the latter relationship was ...

Coastal zones are usually managed with two main objectives: (1) conservation/maintenance of biodiversity and intrinsic ecosystem services and (2) maintenance of sustainable fisheries. The management needs that can be met with marine protected areas fall into corresponding categories. First, fully protected (that is, no-take) reserves-parks-

Tailed frog (Ascaphus truei Stejneger) populations are at risk in much of the Pacific Northwest, and recolonization of sites may be slow postlogging. To examine the terrestrial movements of Ascaphus in clearcuts and old growth, we employed pitfall traps and drift-fence arrays installed along streams and 100 m into upland habitat. In the fall, we captured frogs farther from streams in old growth than in clearcuts, and more frogs were captured ≤25 m from streams in clearcuts. Stronger stream affinity in clearcuts was most evident with juvenile frogs, which exhibited more upstream movements than adults. Compared with inland sites where frogs remained close to streams (e.g., 12 m), frogs at our coastal sites were captured at greater distances from streams (≥100 m), having lower stream affinity than frogs at inland sites. Long-distance overland movements appear more likely where forested stands are present. Aggregations of Ascaphus at individual streams may not represent distinct populat...

Species and Authority Common Name Abundance! Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel Reed abs *Poa compressa L. Wiregrass vr Poa palustris L. Fowl-meadow Grass abs Poa pratensis L. Kentucky Bluegrass vr Spartina pectinata Link Cord-Grass In vegetation list Stipa spartea Trin. Porcupine-Grass In vegetation list Cyperaceae Carex brevior (Dew.) Mack. Sedge abs Carex laeviconica Dew. Sedge abs Carex lanuginosa Michx. Sedge abs d -dominant va -very abundant a -abundant f -frequent o -occasional i Tare vr -very rare abs -absent from prairie cover types but present along the rights-of-way * -naturalized species. All others are native in the area.

The primary concern and challenge of the twenty-first century is the continuous loss of biodiversity on Earth and there is a worldwide political agreement to limit and stop this reduction. The lack of awareness about the basis and allocation of biodiversity is the major obstacle. The conservation strategies to save aquatic biodiversity depend upon the estimate of population size, distribution patterns, and monitoring of species. Species monitoring depends on physical identification by counting individual or visual surveys but traditional surveys remain problematic to overcome this problem there is an urgent need for effective and innovative methods for monitoring biodiversity on a wide scale. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is also known as organismal DNA it can be found in the surroundings and developed from cellular material of organisms released into the terrestrial and aquatic environment. It may be collected and tracked with molecular technique which is essential for the early recognition of both native or invasive species as well as the discovering of elusive or endangered species. This chapter has shown the methods of eDNA analysis, its application in aquatic biodiversity, the limitations and challenges of eDNA, and its prospects.

Salvelinus species are one of the most thoroughly studied groups of fishes. Many reasons explain this intense interest in charr biology. First, charrs have a Holarctic distribution encompassing many Asian, North American, and European countries and occupy a diversity of aquatic environments, including both marine and freshwater habitats. For instance, the presence of anadromous, stream-resident, and lacustrine life histories within and among species provides a rich template for ecological and physiological study and experimentation. Second, most of the current distribution of charr includes areas that were directly influenced by climate and topographic change associated with the many Pleistocene glaciations. This means that there has been tremendous opportunity for repeated episodes of isolation, divergence in distinct refugia (and different selective environments), and recontact between divergent lineages. Undoubtably, these conditions have promoted much of the tremendous morphological, ecological, and genetic variability and plasticity within species of the genus and make charr very good models to study evolutionary processes 'in action'. Third, many charr species exhibit demographic characteristics such as slow growth, late maturity, and life in extreme environments, that perhaps make them more susceptible to extinction from habitat changes and overexploitation, particularly because they often occupy depauperate aquatic habitats. This vulnerability makes understanding their biology of great relevance to biodiversity and conservation. Finally, charr are of great cultural, commercial, and recreational significance to many communities, and their intimate linkage with human societies has therefore undoubtedly stimulated much interest in this enigmatic genus. During the last two decades, a series of events and publications have contributed markedly to the advancement of knowledge on Salvelinus species. In 1980, a first important monograph 'Charrs: Salmonid fishes of the genus Salvelinus' was edited by Eugene Balon. This monograph (Balon 1980) contains reviews of the main species as well as original studies on taxonomy, biogeography, phylogeny, morphology, ontogeny, ethology, physiology, and ecology of charr over their geographical distribution. Soon after, and stimulated by Balon's (1980) monograph, the first International Charr Symposium was held in Winnipeg (Canada) from 4 to 8 May 1981. This symposium was devoted mainly to Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, and lead to the publication of the proceedings 'Biology of the Arctic charr' edited by . The second International Charr Symposium was held in Sapporo (Japan) from 3 to 9 October 1988. The organizers extended their symposium to Masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou masou, because of the similarities in life histories of Masu salmon and charrs and because the salmon's distribution is confined to the northern far East. The proceedings of this symposium were published in a special issue of Physiology and Ecology Japan, edited by . The third International Charr Symposium was held in Trondheim (Norway) from 3 to 18 June 1994, and a collection of papers presented at this symposium was published in a special issue of Nordic Journal of Freshwater Research, edited by . The fourth International Charr Symposium was held in Trois-Rivières (Canada) from 25 June to 1 July 2000. This special volume of Environmental Biology of Fishes is devoted to a selection of papers presented at this symposium. A total of 123 presentations (72 talks and 51 posters) were given at the symposium, which attracted more than 160 scientists from 12 different countries (

This paper aims to formulate and examine the best intervention model in countering pangolin trafficking. This involves the political economy analysis (PEA) and the market analysis, prioritising through harm identification, and the response by intervention formulation. The preferred intervention is then examined by the theory of change to determine its process in pursuing the impact. It utilises qualitative approach by using document reviews as data collection method. This paper finds that pangolin market is led by the "push" factors in Indonesia influenced by the geographical condition, which has a wide range of tropical forests as pangolin habitat. Moreover, the low level of GDP and education rates is the main factor behind pangolin trading. While, the "pull" factors in China are influenced by the high demand rates that cannot be covered by its local pangolins population. Finally, the author suggests that the general deterrence approach is regarded as the best model to intervene in the market. This approach could reduce the supply and demand to cut the market chain.

Byopa, a traditional headgear of Nyishi tribe is considered as one of the most important cultural attire. It is generally worn during important socio-cultural occasions to symbolise the identity of the tribe. It is prepared from locally available materials viz., Calamus acanthospathus, C. erectus, Gmelina arborea, Alnus nepalensis etc. using handmade tools. Byopa may be considered for registration under Geographical Indication as it fulfilled all the prerequisite criteria of 'Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999'. Based on this act, this product belonged to Class 25 (Headgear) and the proof of origin of headgear was assured on the basis of secondary literature that proved that this traditional attire belonged to Nyishi tribe to represent their cultural identity. Uniqueness of the headgear with the use of wooden hornbill beak and other accessories indicate their unique intellectual property. The product was easily available and sold in the local markets due to its high demand in cultural practices.

The primary concern and challenge of the twenty-first century is the continuous loss of biodiversity on Earth and there is a worldwide political agreement to limit and stop this reduction. The lack of awareness about the basis and allocation of biodiversity is the major obstacle. The conservation strategies to save aquatic biodiversity depend upon the estimate of population size, distribution patterns, and monitoring of species. Species monitoring depends on physical identification by counting individual or visual surveys but traditional surveys remain problematic to overcome this problem there is an urgent need for effective and innovative methods for monitoring biodiversity on a wide scale. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is also known as organismal DNA it can be found in the surroundings and developed from cellular material of organisms released into the terrestrial and aquatic environment. It may be collected and tracked with molecular technique which is essential for the early recognition of both native or invasive species as well as the discovering of elusive or endangered species. This chapter has shown the methods of eDNA analysis, its application in aquatic biodiversity, the limitations and challenges of eDNA, and its prospects.

The mortality of seabirds in fisheries has had a serious negative impact on many seabird populations, yet the extent of fishery-derived seabird mortality in pelagic longline fisheries, remains poorly understood. In this study, we analyze fishing effort and catch data of the Taiwanese distant-water longline tuna fleet -the largest fleet in the Atlantic Ocean. These data collected by fishery observers over a 5-year span include 61 trips involving 6181 observed sets of over 20 million hooks, where 198 seabirds were caught (23 of which were released alive). Most birds were caught in the South Atlantic, with estimated seabird bycatch rates ranging from 0.026 birds per thousand hooks in the southwest Atlantic to 0.063 birds per thousand hooks in the southeast Atlantic. Black-browed, Atlantic yellow-nosed, and wandering albatrosses, as well as spectacled and southern giant petrels, were the most frequently caught species. Seabird bycatch hotspots were identified at 20°-40°S/10°W-15°E and 35°-45°S/45°-55°W. In the South Atlantic Ocean, generalized additive models indicated that fishing location and the number of birds sighted significantly influenced seabird bycatch rates. Extrapolating these spatially and temporally explicit seabird bycatch rates to the fishing effort data of other distant-water longline fleets and extrapolating the bycatch rates reported in the literature to the reported fishing effort of coastal nation fleets, we estimate the total seabird incidental mortality from pelagic longline fishing in the southern Atlantic Ocean to be between 3446 and 6083 birds per year from 2004 to 2008. These findings support proposals calling for the required use of best-practice mitigation measures by all pelagic longline vessels operating in seabird bycatch hotspots in the South Atlantic Ocean. International cooperation on research and data sharing is critical to ensure the sustainability of seabird populations and fisheries.

The historic western edge of the bison (Bison bison) range and the ecological processes that caused its formation are frequently debated with important implications for bison restoration across North America. We test the hypothesis that a combination of bottom-up habitat suitability and top-down harvest pressure from Indigenous peoples were important processes in forming the western edge of bison distribution. Using 9384 historical journal observations from 1691-1928, we employ MaxEnt ecological niche modelling to identify suitable bison habitat across the Western Cordillera from bottom-up climatic, land cover, and topographic factors. We then use mixed-effect logistic regression to test if bison occurrence in journal records can be in part explained by the abundance of humans, wolves, or grizzly bears, in addition to MaxEnt-derived habitat suitability. We find support for our hypothesis because of the limited suitable habitat in the Rocky Mountains that likely prevented westward bison dispersal from their core habitat, and there was a negative relationship between bison occurrence and human harvest pressure. On this basis, we propose that intensive human harvest from large populations in the Western Cordillera, subsidized by other wildlife, salmon, and vegetation resources, is an underappreciated socioecological process that needs to be restored alongside bison populations. Co-managing bison with Indigenous peoples will also mitigate the adverse effects of overabundant bison populations and maximize the ecological and cultural benefits of bison restoration.

U n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d M i t i g a t i n g V u l n e r a b l e B y c a t c h i n s o u t h e r n A f r i c a n T r a w l a n d L o n g l i n e F i s h e r i e s Pg i The litany of threats facing the world's oceans is well documented. It has been estimated by the FAO that 75% of global fish stocks are exploited unsustainably, approximately 25% of marine resources landed are dumped, ecosystems have been modified and catastrophic declines of vulnerable marine life reported, including the loss of up to 90% of the large predatory fish. Whilst some argue that these declines have been overstated, they nevertheless indicate that the world's oceans are not inexhaustible. Measures taken in the latter half of the 20 th century were insufficient to effectively develop and manage fisheries sustainably. During this period, fisheries were managed almost exclusively on a single species basis and largely assumed to operate in isolation from the rest of the ecosystem. As pressures on resources and ecosystems increased, the shortcomings of this single-species approach became more obvious. Ecosystems are dynamic and inherently uncertain. Through human impacts, ecosystems have been transformed, creating further uncertainty and reducing ecosystem resilience. Adaptive policies and management actions are required that not only satisfy social objectives, but also build ecosystem resilience and provide flexibility to adapt. Although it is important to understand the dynamics of individual populations, as far as practically possible, and account for them in management, it is not sufficient. An Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) management, which balances the diverse needs and values of all who use, enjoy or depend on the ocean now and in the future, is accepted as the preferred manner of managing fisheries (Reykjavik Declaration 2001) and there is now global resolve to reduce the ecosystem impacts of fisheries. This philosophy is firmly entrenched in various international legal instruments and policy statements. It is perhaps most aptly illustrated in the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development's Plan of Implementation, which urged states to apply an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries by 2010. Locally, and in the context of this report, incorporation of ecosystem considerations underpins the South African Marine Living Resources Act (No. 18 of 1998) and the Namibian Marine Resources Act (No. 27 of 2000). Furthermore, the development of the Benguela Current Commission (BCC), which allows for greater harmonisation of the management of marine resources between the national jurisdictions of Namibia, South Africa and Angola and their commitments to the World Summit on Sustainable Development's implementation plan, bodes well for the effective implementation of an EAF in the region. U n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d M i t i g a t i n g V u l n e r a b l e B y c a t c h i n s o u t h e r n A f r i c a n T r a w l a n d L o n g l i n e F i s h e r i e s Pg v including non-breeding Black-browed Albatrosses and White-capped Albatrosses. This study presents evidence that Blackbrowed Albatrosses, in particular, forage to a large extent on natural prey, despite the high availability of discards from fishing vessels in the Benguela. Therefore, given the high incidence of albatross collisions with trawl cables, the benefit of a management decision to limit discarding as a mitigation measure is likely to far outweigh the disadvantage of reduced food in the form of fisheries waste. Pg vi mitsukurii, Holohalaelurus regain, Scyliorhinus capensis and Raja straeleni, were also caught in the demersal trawl fishery operating in a similar area. The overall catch rate of these four species was estimated to be 10.50, 2.19, 0.46 and 1.46 sharks per 1000 hooks and 68.3kg.nm -2 , 54.3 kg.nm -2 , 12.6 kg.nm -2 and 358.1 kg.nm -2 for longline and trawl fisheries, respectively. There was no evidence of a decline in the biomass index, calculated from annual survey data from 1986 to 2007, for S. mitsukurii and H. regani. However, the biomass index of S. capensis and R. straeleni decreased by 44% and 69% on the west coast and by 50% and 65% on the south coast from 2000 to 2007. Most demersal sharks and skates caught by longline and trawl fisheries are discarded. Animals caught by the longline fishery are frequently alive on capture and fishers should be required to release unwanted live chondrichthyan bycatch rapidly. This thesis highlights the possibility of altering demersal longline gear configurations to reduce the catches, of at least the four most commonly caught species of demersal sharks and skates, by removing the hooks in close proximity to weights in order to reduce the numbers of hooks on or close to the seabed. Prior to the introduction of the longline fishery in 1998, untrawlable, rocky grounds were de facto protected, providing a refuge for many demersal species. Now that these refugia no longer exist, the use of closed areas should be investigated. U n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d M i t i g a t i n g V u l n e r a b l e B y c a t c h i n s o u t h e r n A f r i c a n T r a w l a n d L o n g l i n e F i s h e r i e s Pg 1 1. General Introduction INTRODUCING THE BYCATCH PROBLEM U n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d M i t i g a t i n g V u l n e r a b l e B y c a t c h i n s o u t h e r n A f r i c a n T r a w l a n d L o n g l i n e F i s h e r i e s Pg 2 over short periods of time (Barnes et al. 1997, Ryan et al. 2002). There are no published studies of turtle or shark bycatch in South African longline fisheries, or any of the three groups in Namibian fisheries. The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and BirdLife undertook a project to evaluate the bycatch of seabirds, turtles and sharks in the Benguela, including South Africa (east of 20 °E), Namibia and Angola (Petersen et al. 2007). There are also no published studies evaluating seabird bycatch in trawl fisheries in the region. For seabirds, and to a lesser extent, for turtles, effective and relatively inexpensive methods of reducing the number of animals killed in these fishing operations have been developed (

Capture by pelagic longline fisheries has been identified as a key threat to turtle populations. This study is the first assessment of turtle bycatch in the South African pelagic longline fishery for tunas Thunnus spp. and swordfish Xiphias gladius. A total of 181 turtles was caught on observed sets between1998 and 2005, at a rate of 0.04 per 1 000 hooks (0-15.5 per 1 000 hooks, SD = 1.28). Loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta comprised 60.0% of the total turtle capture and were caught at rate of 0.02 per 1 000 hooks. The second most commonly caught species was the leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea (33.8%), which were caught at rate of 0.01 per 1 000 hooks. Five hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata were caught at a rate of 0.001 per 1 000 hooks and three green turtles Chelonia mydas at a rate of 0.001 per 1 000 hooks. Catches were clustered, with 70% of turtles caught on 1% of sets. Apart from one set on the Agulhas Bank, on the southern coast of South Africa, all sets that caught three or more turtles were on the Walvis Ridge and on the shelf edge north of the Orange River (25°-31° S and 0°-15° E). Most of the variance in turtle bycatch was accounted for by 'vessel'. Five vessels (of a total of 50) caught 65% of turtles, at a rate of 0.4 per 1 000 hooks. The target species (swordfish or tunas) was the second most important explanatory variable; 89.5% of turtles were caught by swordfish-directed vessels at a rate of 0.15 per 1 000 hooks. Season was the third most important explanatory variable, with more turtles caught between January and June (0.13 per 1 000 per hooks) than in the remainder of the year (0.03 per 1 000 hooks), although leatherback turtles tended to be caught throughout the year. Extrapolations based on stratification by 5° grid cell, by season and by target species, estimated that a total of 190 turtles was caught per year (approximately 100 loggerheads and 50 leatherbacks). Using three different techniques, the extrapolations varied between 190 and 560 turtles per year. An increase in fishing effort to 50 rights-holders is likely to increase turtle bycatch to about 770 turtles per year. Leatherback turtles caught by the South African pelagic longline fisheries are likely to be from the local nesting population. That population has been protected at its nesting beaches but it has not recovered as expected. The overlap of turtle tracks and fishing effort suggest that the longline fishery could be partially responsible for the slow recovery.

Species of management concern that have been affected by human activities typically are characterized by low genetic diversity, which can adversely affect their ability to adapt to environmental changes. We used 18 microsatellite markers to genotype 362 Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris), and investigated genetic diversity, population structure, and estimated genetically effective population size (N e ). The observed and expected heterozygosity and average number of alleles were 0.455 6 0.04, 0.479 6 0.04, and 4.77 6 0.51, respectively. All measures of Florida manatee genetic diversity were less than averages reported for placental mammals, including fragmented or nonideal populations. Overall estimates of differentiation were low, though significantly greater than zero, and analysis of molecular variance revealed that over 95% of the total variance was among individuals within predefined management units or among individuals along the coastal subpopulations, with only minor portions of variance explained by between group variance. Although genetic issues, as inferred by neutral genetic markers, appear not to be critical at present, the Florida manatee continues to face demographic challenges due to anthropogenic activities and stochastic factors such as red tides, oil spills, and disease outbreaks; these can further reduce genetic diversity of the manatee population.

The composition and dynamics of the diet of the Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus L., 1766) and Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus Hablizl, 1783) were studied in the Talysh region of Azerbaijan in 2014-2016. For this, for 3 years, in June-July, the collection and identification of the remains of food around the nests were carried out. The remains were collected every 10 days from 15 nests of the Black Vulture and 18 nests of the Griffon Vulture. A total of 820 prey items were collected. The vultures' diet comprised of the carcasses of 24 animal species, including 14 wild mammals, 6 domestic mammals, three reptiles and a fish. 401 prey items were collected at Griffon Vulture nests and 419 items at Black Vulture nests. 188 prey items (46.9%) were gathered in 2014, 117 (29.1%) in 2015 and 96 (24.0%) in 2016 around Griffon Vulture nests. 196 (46.7%) prey items were collected in 2014, 121 (29.0%) in 2015 and 102 (24.3%) in 2016 around Black Vulture nests. The share of the domestic animals was 17.0% (2014), 15.5% (2015) and 10.0% (2016) in the diet of the Black Vulture. The share of the wild animals was 83.0% (2014), 84.5% ( ) and 90,0% (2016), respectively. In the diet of Griffon Vulture these indicators were as follows: the share of the domestic animals was 17.0% (2014), 15.9% (2015) and 14.5% ( ), and the share of the wild animals was 83.0% (2014), 84.1% (2015) and 85.5% ( ). The research confirmed that the diet spectrum of both species in the region has narrowed over 3 years. The diet spectrum reduced by 48.0% in the Black Vulture and by 49.0% in the Griffon Vulture. It was found that the human economic activity has a significant impact on the spectrum and stability of diets of both species in the Talysh region. Therefore, in order to achieve the sustainable development of the populations of both species, it is necessary to organize regular monitoring and supplementary feeding stations. It would be desirable to make an announcement of these territories as natural monuments during the breeding season as well. The local environmental organizations and schools should be involved in the effective protection of such natural monuments.

The abundance of foraging bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Myotis daubentonii) and flying insects over two rivers in north-east Scotland (Dee and Ythan), differing eightfold in nitrate levels, were compared by paired samples over three periods in summer 1995, during each of which 10 nights' sampling was undertaken using ultrasonic detectors and insect suction traps. Thirteen out of the 18 pairwise comparisons of bat passes, insect numbers, biomass and diversity were not significantly different. The oligotrophic Dee supported higher numbers of bats than the eutrophic Ythan in June, but this was attributed to an effect of adverse weather conditions affecting the Ythan. In July and August-September, neither bat abundances nor the abundance of Chironomidae and Trichoptera, the main food of the bats, differed significantly between the two rivers, although the Ythan showed higher total insect biomass than the Dee. The Ythan also showed a much higher abundance of small Diptera, mainly Psychodidae and Cecidomyiidae, associated with elevated nitrogen levels in the intensively farmed river valley. Thus a small eutrophic river can support as many bats and as high an insect density as a large oligotrophic one.

The abundance of foraging bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Myotis daubentonii) and flying insects over two rivers in north‐east Scotland (Dee and Ythan), differing eightfold in nitrate levels, were compared by paired samples over three periods in summer 1995, during each of which 10 nights' sampling was undertaken using ultrasonic detectors and insect suction traps. Thirteen out of the 18 pairwise comparisons of bat passes, insect numbers, biomass and diversity were not significantly different. The oligotrophic Dee supported higher numbers of bats than the eutrophic Ythan in June, but this was attributed to an effect of adverse weather conditions affecting the Ythan. In July and August–September, neither bat abundances nor the abundance of Chironomidae and Trichoptera, the main food of the bats, differed significantly between the two rivers, although the Ythan showed higher total insect biomass than the Dee. The Ythan also showed a much higher abundance of small Diptera, main...

El lobo mexicano (Canis lupus baileyi) es una especie amenazada de extinción y su biología básica ha sido poco estudiada. En este artículo se aporta información sobre la duración en tiempo y la frecuencia diaria de los aullidos en grupo del lobo mexicano a lo largo de un año. Los datos fueron obtenidos de una manada de cinco individuos adultos (tres machos y dos hembras), mantenidos en cautiverio en la Reserva de la Biosfera "La Michilía", en la Sierra Madre Occidental en el Estado de Durango, México. Doscientos ochenta y seis aullidos fueron registrados para la manada durante un año. Los aullidos en grupo fueron más comunes durante el período de apareamiento (Enero/Febrero) y tendieron a escucharse en el amanecer y anochecer, como en las poblaciones norteñas. La frecuencia diarias de aullidos en grupo, presentó una variación significativa a lo largo del año (p<0.005); durante la temporada de apareamiento, se encontró un promedio de 2.3 aullidos por día y con una duraci...