Threatened species and ecosystems

The 'centre–periphery hypothesis' (CPH) is a long-standing postulate in ecology that states that genetic variation and demographic performance of a species decrease from the centre to the edge of its geographic range. This hypothesis is based on an assumed concordance between geographical peripherality and ecological marginality such that environmental conditions become harsher towards the limits of a species range. In this way, the CPH sets the stage for understanding the causes of distribution limits. To date, no study has examined conjointly the consistency of these postulates. In an extensive literature review we discuss the birth and development of the CPH and provide an assessment of the CPH by reviewing 248 empirical studies in the context of three main themes. First, a decrease in species occurrence towards their range limits was observed in 81% of studies, while only 51% demonstrated reduced abundance of individuals. A decline in genetic variation, increased differentiation among populations and higher rates of inbreeding were demonstrated by roughly one in two studies (47, 45 and 48%, respectively). However, demographic rates, size and population performance less often followed CPH expectations (20–30% of studies). We highlight the impact of important methodological, taxonomic, and biogeographical biases on such validation rates. Second, we found that geographic and ecological marginality gradients are not systematically concordant, which casts doubt on the reliability of a main assumption of the CPH. Finally, we attempt to disentangle the relative contribution of geographical, ecological and historical processes on the spatial distribution of genetic and demographic parameters. While ecological marginality gradients explain variation in species' demographic performance better than geographic gradients, contemporary and historical factors may contribute interactively to spatial patterns of genetic variation. We thereby propose a framework that integrates species' ecological niche characteristics together with current and past range structure to investigate spatial patterns of genetic and demographic variation across species ranges.

Background: Fishing is probably one of the oldest economic activities in the history of humankind. Lakes, rivers and streams in Europe are important elements in the European landscape with a rich diversity of fish and other aquatic organisms. Artisanal fisheries have therefore been of great importance for the provision of food, but also animal feed, medicine, fertilizer and other needs. These fishermen had a deep knowledge about the waterscape and its biota. However, ethnoichthyology remains a small topic within contemporary ethnobiology in Europe. Our focus lies within northern Europe in the late medieval to modern period, but encompasses the wider area with some reference to earlier periods where informative. Method: We have reviewed a large amount of literature mainly on the relationship between man and fish in freshwaters from late medieval times (defined here as the fifteenth century) until the early twenty-first century. The main focus is on freshwater (including anadromous and catadromous) fish in northern Europe, the main area of study for both authors, though examples have been included from elsewhere to indicate the widespread importance of these fisheries. The review includes studies from various fields such as archaeology, ethnography, fish biology, geography, linguistics and osteology to map what has been studied of interest in ethnoichthyology. These data have been analysed and critically reviewed. Results: There are archaeozoological studies, studies of specialised fishers as well as artisanal fishing among the peasantry, research of folk taxonomies, fishing methods (including the use of poison) and gear, which are all of great interest for ethnoichthyology. There is also research on traditional preserving methods for fish as food and for other purposes. Of interest is the keeping of fish in wells, ponds and aquaria. However, there is still room for more research within many domains of ethnoichthyology.

Worldwide, environmental conservation directives are mandating greater inclusion of Indigenous people and their knowledge in the management of global ecosystems. Colonised countries such as the United States of America, New Zealand and Australia have responded with an array of policy and programs to enhance Indigenous involvement; however, balancing Indigenous and non-Indigenous priorities and preferred management methods is a substantial challenge. Using Australia as a case study, we investigate past documentation and use of Indigenous biocultural knowledge (IBK) and assess the main contributions to ecosystem science and management. Focussing on the terrestrial environment, this innovative paper presents an integrated review of IBK documentation (IBKD) by conducting a spatial, temporal and content analysis of the publically available literature. A spatial analysis of the place-based documents identified Australian IBKD hotspots, gaps and opportunities for further collaboration. Sixty percent of IBKD has occurred off the Indigenous estate with only 19% of the total coinciding with current Indigenous Protected Areas. We also found that IBKD hotspots were different to Australia’s biodiversity hotspots suggesting opportunity for development of integrated biological and cultural hotspots. A temporal analysis of IBKD showed exponential growth since the 1970s and typical involvement of non-Indigenous researchers. Indigenous authorship remained negligible until the 1990s when there was an obvious increase, although only 14% of IBKD to date has acknowledged Indigenous authorship. Working through Australia’s broad biological conservation priorities, we demonstrate how IBK has and can be used to inform research and management of biodiversity, threatened species, aquatic ecosystems, fire, invasive species, and climate change. We also synthesise documented suggestions for overcoming cross-cultural awareness and communication challenges between Indigenous people and biologists, environmental managers and policy makers. Lastly, we suggest that inclusion of both tangible and philosophical engagement of Indigenous people in national conservation agendas may promote more holistic socio-ecological systems thinking and facilitate greater progress towards addressing the Indigenous engagement directive of international conservation agreements.

Endangered species lists are important tools in conservation. It is essential that these lists be prepared using categorization systems that objectively assess species extinction risk. To determine which threatened species categorization system is the most appropriate and the virtues and limitations of systems used on the American continent, we evaluated 25 categorization systems from 20 countries. These systems included examples of international lists, most national systems used on the American continent, and some systems independently proposed by academics. We based our assessment on 15 characteristics that categorization systems should have, in terms of categories, criteria, and other relevant issues, in order to evaluate species conservation status objectively. Of all evaluated systems, the current World Conservation Union system is the most suitable for assessing species extinction risk. Most categorization systems, but particularly national systems, have serious deficiencies and need to be improved substantially. We recommend governments use three types of lists: (1) threatened species lists constructed following a sound categorization system, (2) lists of species of conservation priority, and (3) lists that serve as normative tools (e.g., Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Additionally, the information used to categorize species should be explicit and available to the public. To make the most of threatened species lists in conservation, it is imperative that all countries use the same categorization system. Resumen: Las listas de especies amenazadas son importantes herramientas para la conservación. Es esencial que estas listas se preparen utilizando sistemas de categorización que evalúen objetivamente el riesgo de extinción de las especies. Para determinar qué sistema de categorización de especies amenazadas es el más apropiado y cuáles son las virtudes y limitaciones de los sistemas usados en el continente americano, evalua-mos 25 sistemas de categorización de 20 países. Estos sistemas incluyen ejemplos de listas internacionales, la mayoría de los sistemas nacionales usados en el continente americano, y algunos sistemas propuestos independientemente por académicos. Basamos nuestra evaluación en 15 características que los sistemas de categorización deben tener en términos de las categorías, criterios y otros temas relevantes, para evaluar objetivamente la situación de conservación de las especies. De los sistemas evaluados, el actual sistema de la Unión Mundial para la Conservación es el más apropiado para determinar el riesgo de extinción de las especies. La mayoría de los sistemas de categorización, pero especialmente los sistemas nacionales, tienen serias deficiencias y deben ser mejorados substancialmente. Recomendamos que los gobiernos usen tres tipos de listados: (1) listas de especies amenazadas preparadas usando un sistema de categorización adecuado; (2) listas de especies prioritarias para la conservación; y (3) listas que sirven como herramientas normativas (v.gr., Convención sobre el Comercio Internacional de Especies Amenazadas de Fauna y Flora Silvestres). Adicionalmente, la información usada para categorizar a las especies debe ser explícita y estar disponible ‡Address correspondence to A. D. Cuarón, email cuaron@oikos.unam.mx & cuaron@fmvz.unam.mx Paper

A timeline of commercial fisheries extinctions and a list of threatened or extirpated marine species are presented to document the rapidly declining abundance of marine resources in the Turkish part of the Black Sea and Marmara Sea. Turkish nationally reported fisheries data were compared over a 50-year period from 1967 (the first year data were spatially allocated) to 2016 to assess which species are now extirpated (i.e., earlier present, and now absent from reported catch data), and which species have become commercially extinct (i.e., whose catch declined by 80.0–99.9%). The size of bony fish caught in Turkish waters has also strongly declined. Other important taxa, specifically big sharks and mammals, not covered by fisheries statistics, or currently under protection, but also exhibiting worrisome declining trends, are discussed based on accounts based on peer-reviewed and gray literature and personal accounts from local scientists and fishers. Overall, the Turkish parts of the Black Sea lost 17 extirpated species and 17 commercially extinct marine species, while the Sea of Marmara lost 19 extirpated species and 22 commercially extinct species. This study commemorates the many lost species of the Black and Marmara Seas, and may be seen as a warning call to prevent dozens of others species to be lost. We urge the Turkish authorities to take measures to effectively reduce fishing effort and thus to allow for a natural rebuilding of what remains of the fish stocks exploited by commercial fisheries.

There are significant, ongoing threats of species extinction. Threatened species recovery programs are an important way of reducing this threat, but many recovery programs are unsuccessful. The purpose of this paper is to explore the issues facing species recovery programs, and the potential benefits to be found in managing threatened species recovery from a project management perspective. This research used the Grounded Theory Method to analyse the content of four senate enquiries and 21 interviews with recovery experts. The Grounded Theory Method was then used to inductively develop concepts and theories that explain some of the issues faced in the delivery of recovery programs in Australia. These were explored from a project management perspective, to understand ways that project management could provide benefit to the recovery planning process. Eight core challenges that impact on recovery emerged from the data. It was identified that there is a general lack of integration of project management into the recovery process. This was found to be particularly evident in terms the recovery project lifecycle, risk management, and stakeholder management. Strategies for addressing these issues are discussed. Conservation scientists typically focus on technical recovery competencies. The authors argue that managing recovery from a project management perspective will increase recovery success rates through an increased focus on the contextual and behavioural competencies that are essential to the management and delivery of recovery projects and programs.

Non-indigenous terrestrial flatworms (Platyhelminthes) have been recorded in thirteen European countries. They include Bipalium kewense and Dolichoplana striata that are largely restricted to hothouses and may be regarded as non-invasive species. In addition there are species from the southern hemisphere such as the invasive New Zealand flatworm Arthurdendyus triangulatus in the United Kingdom, Eire and the Faroe Islands, the Australian flatworm Australoplana sanguinea alba in Eire and the United Kingdom, and the Australian Blue Garden flatworm Caenoplana coerulea in France, Menorca and the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has some twelve or more non-indigenous species most of which are Australian and New Zealand species. These species may move to an invasive stage when optimum environmental and other conditions occur, and the flatworms then have the potential to cause economic or environmental harm. In this paper, we report the identification (from morphology and molecular analysis of COI sequences) of non-indigenous terrestrial flatworms found in a hothouse in Caen (France) as the New Guinea flatworm Platydemus manokwari de Beauchamp, 1963 (Platyhelminthes, Continenticola, Geoplanidae, Rhynchodeminae). Platydemus manokwari is among the “100 World’s Worst Invader Alien Species”. Lists of World geographic records, prey in the field and prey in laboratories of P. manokwari are provided. This species is considered a threat to native snails wherever it is introduced. The recent discovery of P. manokwari in France represents a significant extension of distribution of this Invasive Alien Species from the Indo-Pacific region to Europe. If it escaped the hothouse, the flatworm might survive winters and become established in temperate countries. The existence of this species in France requires an early warning of this incursion to State and European Union authorities, followed by the eradication of the flatworm in its locality, tightening of internal quarantine measures to prevent further spread of the flatworm to and from this site, identifying if possible the likely primary source of the flatworm, and tracing other possible incursions that may have resulted from accidental dispersal of plants and soil from the site.

The way pollinators gather resources may play a key role for buffering their population declines. Social pollinators like bumblebees could adjust their foraging after significant workforce reductions to keep provisions to the colony optimal, especially in terms of pollen diversity and quantity. To test what effects a workforce reduction causes on the foraging for pollen, commercially-acquired colonies of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris were allowed to forage in the field and they were experimentally manipulated by removing half the number of workers. For each bumblebee, the pollen pellets were taxonomically identified with DNA metabarcoding of the ITS2 region followed by a statistical filtering based on ROC curves to filter out underrepresented OTUs. Video cameras and network analyses were employed to investigate changes in foraging strategies and behaviour. After filtering out the false-posi-tives, HTS metabarcoding yielded a high plant diversity in the pollen pellets; for plant identity and pollen quantity traits no differences emerged between samples from treated and from control colonies, suggesting that plant choice was influenced mainly by external factors such as the plant phenology. The colonies responded to the removal of 50% of their workers by increasing the foraging activity of the remaining workers, while only negligible changes were found in diet breadth and indices describing the structure of the pollen transport network. Therefore, a consistency in the bumblebees' feeding strategies emerges in the short term despite the lowered workforce.

This study examines phylogeography and phylogeny of the threatened stone crayfish, Austropotamobius torrentium, in order to elucidate the role of the Dinaric Karst geology in shaping the evolutionary history and genetic diversity of aquatic fauna in the western Balkans. Mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI genes were partially sequenced from 188 and 159 crayfish, respectively, sampled from 70 localities. Phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed using four methods of phylogenetic inference. Divergence times between phylogroups were estimated in a Bayesian framework, and their demographic history was examined using neutrality tests and mismatch distribution analysis. 2. Seven geographically localised phylogroups separated by pronounced genetic gaps were found. Five of them have a distribution range within the northern-central Dinaric (NCD) region, while the remaining two include populations from the southern Balkans (SB) and central and southeastern Europe (CSE). The oldest divergence event separated two NCD lineages from the rest of populations in the Late Miocene or Early Pliocene. Divergences amongst the five NCD phylogroups and SB + CSE occurred in the Pliocene. The most recent split separated SB and CSE phylogroups during the Late Pliocene. For both genes, uncorrected pairwise divergences between most of the phylogroups (4.1–8.7% for COI and 1.6–4.8% for 16S rRNA) were of the same range as, or higher than, some of the interspecific distances previously reported for the genus Austropot-amobius. 3. Geographically isolated and deeply divergent cryptic monophyletic phylogroups within A. torrentium in the NCD region arose in the course of intensification of Neotectonic movements during the Pliocene and the beginning of the Pleistocene and the development of karstification that has heavily fragmented the palaeohydrography of the area. The results confirm a gradual north– south expansion of stone crayfish during the pre-Pleistocene that preceded the rapid northward post-glacial re ⁄ colonisation of central Europe (CSE phylogroup) through the Danube drainage. 4. Austropotamobius torrentium comprises morphologically cryptic but molecularly distinct taxa. Considering the relatively small geographical areas they inhabit, the NCD phylogroups of stone crayfish should be given the highest conservation priority.

Aim
Conservation conflict takes place where food production imposes a cost on wildlife conservation and vice versa. Where does conservation impose the maximum cost on production, by opposing the intensification and expansion of farmland? Where does conservation confer the maximum benefit on wildlife, by buffering and connecting protected areas with a habitable and permeable matrix of crop and non-crop habitat? Our aim was to map the costs and benefits of conservation versus production and thus to propose a conceptual framework for systematic conservation planning in agricultural landscapes.

Location
World-wide.

Methods
To quantify these costs and benefits, we used a geographic information system to sample the cropland of the world and map the proportion of non-crop habitat surrounding the cropland, the number of threatened vertebrates with potential to live in or move through the matrix and the yield gap of the cropland. We defined the potential for different types of conservation conflict in terms of interactions between habitat and yield (potential for expansion, intensification, both or neither). We used spatial scan statistics to find ‘hotspots’ of conservation conflict.

Results
All of the ‘hottest’ hotspots of conservation conflict were in sub-Saharan Africa, which could have impacts on sustainable intensification in this region.

Main conclusions
Systematic conservation planning could and should be used to identify hotspots of conservation conflict in agricultural landscapes, at multiple scales. The debate between ‘land sharing’ (extensive agriculture that is wildlife friendly) and ‘land sparing’ (intensive agriculture that is less wildlife friendly but also less extensive) could be resolved if sharing and sparing were used as different types of tool for resolving different types of conservation conflict (buffering and connecting protected areas by maintaining matrix quality, in different types of matrix). Therefore, both sharing and sparing should be prioritized in hotspots of conflict, in the context of countryside biogeography.

Freshwater ecosystems are key to maintaining biological diversity and for human well-being. Despite their importance , these ecosystems have suffered severe transformations due to anthropogenic activity. Here we present the first priority assessment of freshwater ecosystems in Mexico at the national scale. Because species' composi-tional and hydrological conditions vary widely across Mexico we divided the territory into seven distinct regions in order to assign different conservation targets for biodiversity surrogates and to consider specific threats according to their impact in each region. The total conservation area network identified is equal to 30% of the country's continental surface, in which more than 94% of the biodiversity surrogates meet their established conservation targets. The regions of the Tropical Pacific and Gulf of Mexico have the largest proportions of priority sites, followed by the Central Highlands, which contains the largest number of irreplaceable sites. Tropical Pacific and the Baja California Peninsula possess the largest proportion of sites with extreme importance for conservation. Nationally, the percentage of priority sites under protection is 15.8%, of which 5.6% are sites of extreme importance , 4.2% are sites of high importance, and 6% are sites of medium importance for conservation. Our study highlights the importance of conducting conservation prioritization assessments at higher spatial resolution using information that is up to date and doing so in a collaborative way to strengthen decision making. This analysis helps to bridge the research–implementation gap in conservation planning to improve the representation of Mexico's freshwater biodiversity in conservation areas.

Abstract: Population viability analysis (PVA) is an effective framework for modeling species- and habitat-recovery efforts, but uncertainty in parameter estimates and model structure can lead to unreliable predictions. Integrating complex and often uncertain information into spatial PVA models requires that comprehensive sensitivity analyses be applied to explore the influence of spatial and nonspatial parameters on model predictions. We reviewed 87 analyses of spatial demographic PVA models of plants and animals to identify common approaches to sensitivity analysis in recent publications. In contrast to best practices recommended in the broader modeling community, sensitivity analyses of spatial PVAs were typically ad hoc, inconsistent, and difficult to compare. Most studies applied local approaches to sensitivity analyses, but few varied multiple parameters simultaneously. A lack of standards for sensitivity analysis and reporting in spatial PVAs has the potential to compromise the ability to learn collectively from PVA results, accurately interpret results in cases where model relationships include nonlinearities and interactions, prioritize monitoring and management actions, and ensure conservation-planning decisions are robust to uncertainties in spatial and nonspatial parameters. Our review underscores the need to develop tools for global sensitivity analysis and apply these to spatial PVA.Resumen: El análisis de viabilidad poblacional (AVP) es un marco de referencia efectivo para los esfuerzos de recuperación de especie y de hábitat, pero la incertidumbre en las estimaciones de parámetros y la estructura del modelo pueden llevar a predicciones no confiables. La integración de información compleja y a menudo incierta a los modelos de AVP espaciales requiere la aplicación de análisis de sensibilidad para explorar la influencia de parámetros espaciales y no espaciales sobre las predicciones de los modelos. Revisamos 87 análisis de modelos de AVP demográficos espaciales de plantas y animales para identificar métodos comunes de análisis de sensibilidad en publicaciones recientes. En contraste con las mejores prácticas recomendadas por la comunidad de modeladores, los análisis de los sensibilidad de AVP típicamente fueron ad hoc, inconsistentes y difíciles de comparar. La mayoría de los estudios aplicaron métodos locales a los análisis de sensibilidad, pero pocos variaron parámetros múltiples simultáneamente. La falta de estándares para los análisis de sensibilidad y descripción en los AVP espaciales tiene el potencial de comprometer la habilidad de aprender colectivamente de los resultados de AVP, de interpretar con precisión los resultados en casos en que las relaciones de los modelos sean no lineales e incluyan interacciones, para priorizar las acciones de monitoreo y manejo y para asegurar que la planificación de las decisiones de conservación sean robustas ante la incertidumbre en los parámetros espaciales y no espaciales. Nuestra revisión subraya la necesidad de desarrollar herramientas para análisis de sensibilidad globales y aplicarlos a AVP espaciales.Resumen: El análisis de viabilidad poblacional (AVP) es un marco de referencia efectivo para los esfuerzos de recuperación de especie y de hábitat, pero la incertidumbre en las estimaciones de parámetros y la estructura del modelo pueden llevar a predicciones no confiables. La integración de información compleja y a menudo incierta a los modelos de AVP espaciales requiere la aplicación de análisis de sensibilidad para explorar la influencia de parámetros espaciales y no espaciales sobre las predicciones de los modelos. Revisamos 87 análisis de modelos de AVP demográficos espaciales de plantas y animales para identificar métodos comunes de análisis de sensibilidad en publicaciones recientes. En contraste con las mejores prácticas recomendadas por la comunidad de modeladores, los análisis de los sensibilidad de AVP típicamente fueron ad hoc, inconsistentes y difíciles de comparar. La mayoría de los estudios aplicaron métodos locales a los análisis de sensibilidad, pero pocos variaron parámetros múltiples simultáneamente. La falta de estándares para los análisis de sensibilidad y descripción en los AVP espaciales tiene el potencial de comprometer la habilidad de aprender colectivamente de los resultados de AVP, de interpretar con precisión los resultados en casos en que las relaciones de los modelos sean no lineales e incluyan interacciones, para priorizar las acciones de monitoreo y manejo y para asegurar que la planificación de las decisiones de conservación sean robustas ante la incertidumbre en los parámetros espaciales y no espaciales. Nuestra revisión subraya la necesidad de desarrollar herramientas para análisis de sensibilidad globales y aplicarlos a AVP espaciales.

Question: How did frequency and local abundance of key bryophytes in Dutch fens change between 1940 and 2000?
Location: The Netherlands.
Methods: A total of 1939 vegetation releves, objectively assigned to the class Parvocaricetea and dating from the period 1940–1999 inclusive, were extracted from a national Netherlands database. From this releve set, two additional data sets were derived; thesewere syntaxonomically homogeneous at the association level. One contained 418 Scorpidio-Caricetum diandrae releves and the other 956 Pallavicinio-Sphagnetum releves. The following analyses were done for these three data sets: frequency and local abundance change of 13 bryophyte species over three 20-yr periods were described using logistic regression and the nonparametric Jonckheere–Terpstra test, respectively.
Results: Acidophytic, late-successional species, notably Sphagnum palustre and Polytrichum uliginosum, have replaced relatively early-successional species such as brown mosses, Sphagnum subnitens and Sphagnum squarrosum during the studied period. The results were mostly consistent across the three data sets. Local abundance patterns generally paralleled those of frequency, although cover trends were often less robust.
Conclusions: Drastic changes have taken place in the bryophyte layer of
Dutch fens between 1940 and 2000. Our study has shown that acidophytic, late-successional bryophytes have replaced relatively early-successional brown moss and Sphagnum species. Both hydrological changes and nutrient shifts (in particular phosphorus enrichment and ammonium toxicity) appear to have been responsible for the observed rapid shifts in the bryophyte layer of Dutch fens.

DNA barcoding remains a challenge when applied to diet analyses, ancient DNA studies, environmental DNA samples and, more generally, in any cases where DNA samples have not been adequately preserved. Because the size of the commonly used barcoding marker (COI) is over 600 base pairs (bp), amplification fails when the DNA molecule is degraded into smaller fragments. However, relevant information for specimen identification may not be evenly distributed along the barcoding region, and a shorter target can be sufficient for identification purposes. This study proposes a new, widely applicable, method to compare the performance of all potential ‘mini-barcodes’ for a given molecular marker and to objectively select the shortest and most informative one. Our method is based on a sliding window analysis implemented in the new R package SPIDER (Species IDentity and Evolution in R). This method is applicable to any taxon and any molecular marker. Here, it was tested on earthworm DNA that had been degraded through digestion by carnivorous landsnails. A 100 bp region of 16 S rDNA was selected as the shortest informative fragment (mini-barcode) required for accurate specimen identification. Corresponding primers were designed and used to amplify degraded earthworm (prey) DNA from 46 landsnail (predator) faeces using 454-pyrosequencing. This led to the detection of 18 earthworm species in the diet of the snail. We encourage molecular ecologists to use this method to objectively select the most informative region of the gene they aim to amplify from degraded DNA. The method and tools provided here, can be particularly useful (1) when dealing with degraded DNA for which only small fragments can be amplified, (2) for cases where no consensus has yet been reached on the appropriate barcode gene, or (3) to allow direct analysis of short reads derived from massively parallel sequencing without the need for bioinformatic consolidation.

Energy harvesting by animals is important because it provides the power needed for all metabolic processes. Beyond this, efficient food finding enhances individual fitness [1] and population viability [2], although rates of energy accumulation are affected by the environment and food distribution. Typically, differences between individuals in the rate of food acquisition are attributed to varying competencies [3], even though food-encounter rates are known to be probabilistic [4]. We used animal-attached technology to quantify food intake in four disparate free-living vertebrates (condors, cheetahs, penguins, and sheep) and found that inter-individual variability depended critically on the probability of food encounter. We modeled this to reveal that animals taking rarer food, such as apex predators and scavengers, are particularly susceptible to breeding failure because this variability results in larger proportions of the population failing to accrue the necessary resources for their young before they starve and because even small changes in food abundance can affect this variability disproportionately. A test of our model on wild animals indicated why Magellanic penguins have a stable population while the congeneric African penguin population has declined for decades. We suggest that such models predicting probabilistic ruin can help predict the fortunes of species operating under globally changing conditions.

Threatened species with reduced and fragmented habitats can be reintroduced into their historical ranges to establish new populations. Multiple sites might be an option for reintroductions; therefore, managers must determine when to open sites (e.g. establish infrastructure and improve conditions), release individuals into those sites, and eventually cease releases. Careful planning of this schedule, incorporating the cost of actions, is imperative at the outset of a program. To address this challenge , we consider a reintroduction plan under different cost scenarios for three potential reintroduction sites. In particular, we investigate the implications of having either no ongoing site-management cost, a financial ongoing site-management cost, or a demographic cost of continuous releases. We couple population and management models to find a schedule that maximizes total abundance over time of bridled nail-tail wallaby Onychogalea fraenata (released in fixed numbers each breeding season from a stable source population) using stochastic dynamic programming. We find that the type of ongoing cost influences the structure of the optimal schedule. If active release sites cost nothing to maintain, there is no incentive to cease releases. In that case, the optimal schedule is to open sites sequentially , then release individuals to the smallest active population for the entire length of the program. A financial cost for managing active sites alters this result; once all sites are open and have populations of a critical threshold size, sites should be closed sequentially. A higher mortality rate (demographic cost) at active compared to inactive sites completely changes the structure of the optimal strategy. Instead of opening all sites in the first few management stages, only one site should be active any time to reduce the demographic impact of releases. Our general results provide a guide for planning future reintroduction programs and illustrate the importance of categorizing and understanding ongoing costs for reintroduction planning.

Severe category 4 Tropical Cyclone Larry, which crossed north-east Queensland on 20 March 2006, provided a unique opportunity to examine the short-term impacts of a major disturbance event on the population of a highly mobile threatened species, Pteropus conspicillatus. As we had recorded, the species’ population distribution in colonial roosts (camps) across the region each month for almost 2 years prior to Cyclone Larry, we continued monthly surveying of P. conspicillatus camp-sites for a year post-cyclone. Here we report on how P. conspicillatus responded and redistributed immediately after the cyclone, and over the subsequent year. Post-cyclone, P. conspicillatus typically roosted in smaller camps than pre-cyclone, suggesting that these animals had largely dispersed to locate available blossoms and fruit. For 6 months after Cyclone Larry, up to 90% of the pre-cyclone P. conspicillatus population (ca. 250 000) was unaccounted for across the region. Information provided by the general public assisted us in locating six small camps of P. conspicillatus at ‘new’ locations, but contributed little to increase our overall population estimate for the species at this time. After November 2006, the number of P. conspicillatus built up at located camp-sites until a post-cyclone peak of 209 000 at the end of the study in March 2007, comparable with the population estimates in March 2005 and 2006. There is no evidence that the cyclone caused significant direct mortality among P. conspicillatus, although there may yet be longer-term and indirect effects on population size. We suggest that redistribution by P. conspicillatus makes sense ecologically in the face of major habitat disturbance and short- to long-term food resource limitation, and is not unlike the response of other Australian mainland Pteropus species to seasonal changes in food availability.

Bird-window collisions are one of the main causes of avian mortality worldwide, with estimations reaching up to almost one billion of dead individuals annually due to this cause in canada and the USA alone. Although this is a growing conservation problem, most of the studies come from north America, evidencing the lack of knowledge and concern in countries with high biodiversity and growing population development. Our objectives were: (1) to estimate the current situation of bird-window collisions in Argentina, a country with around 10% of the world's avian biodiversity, and, (2) to identify drivers of bird-window collisions at a national and local scale, focusing on a city surrounded by a protected area. We used a citizen science project called "Bird-Window collisions in Argentina" that consisted of an online survey that collected data on collision metrics and risk factors. We found that more than half of participants reported at least one collision during the last year, suggesting this issue is common and widespread. in addition, our data show that the number of windows and the presence of vegetation reflected in windows are factors that strongly influence the risk of collision at national scale. On the other hand, the environment surrounding buildings affects the rate of bird-window collisions at local scale, being greater in buildings surrounded by tall vegetation than in buildings surrounded by a greater proportion of urbanization (human-made structures). We call for attention on a topic that has been poorly evaluated in South America. We also encourage future scientific studies to evaluate additional risk factors and mitigation strategies accordingly, to provide a better understanding of bird-window collisions particularly in a highly biodiverse region as South America.

We quantified the güiña diet (Leopardus guigna) by analyzing 39 scats collected during summer–autumn 2001 in an Andean mixed Nothofagus–Lophozonia forest, southern Chile. Five small mammal species, three passerine species, lizards of one genus, and insects of two orders were identified in the scats. Small mammals were the most frequently consumed prey (47% of all identified prey individuals) and constituted most of the biomass contributed by all prey (75%). The arboreal/scansorial small mammals Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, Irenomys tarsalis, and Dromiciops gliroides were the most frequently consumed vertebrate prey (14.4, 11.5 and 11.5% of all identified prey individuals; 22.7, 21.5 and 18.2% of biomass contributed by all prey, respectively). The frequency of each small mammal species in the scats was not reflected in its respective capture-frequency as evaluated by live-trapping. O. longicaudatus, I. tarsalis, and D. gliroides were ‘overconsumed’ regarding their capture-frequency. Akodon longipilis, the most frequently captured species, was not found in the scats. As a whole, the arboreal/scansorial smallmammals were preyed upon by güiñas much more than expected given their capture-frequency. Our results suggest that the güiña is a predator partially specialized for arboreal/scansorial small mammal species, being able to take alternative prey when available.

Habitat degradation is considered a huge threat to biodiversity and could become even worse with climate change. If the current situation of Atlantic Forest is not good, then the Restinga ecosystems are even worse due to the high urbanization rate. Glaucomastix littoralis, a lizard species that is endemic and restricted to Restinga areas of Rio de Janeiro State- Brazil, has become even more threatened in the last 10 years mainly due to degradation of physical vegetation structure, since it is closely related to local vegetation. Fieldwork was carried out in the Restingas of Grussaí, Jurubatiba, Maricá and Marambaia. We performed two density sampling methods and analyzed the degradation index and loss of substrate in each area aiming to compare and monitor the results over a 13 year sampling period. According to method I, the population density of G.littoralis presented smaller variation between 2013 and 2018, as did the amount of degradation elements, while method II showed an increase in population density. The Jurubatiba Restinga was considered the best area for maintaining this species, while Marambaia is the area where the species are most at risk. The density sampling methods utilized were efficient for understanding the lizards’ responses to small-scale and large-scale degradation items. Monitoring the only four populations of this species and the preservation status of each Restinga where it occurs is essential for tracking the species’ density variations and for preserving it.

Declines in populations of the Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper Calidris pygmaeus have been rapid, with the breeding population now perhaps numbering fewer than 120 pairs. The reasons for this decline remain unresolved. Whilst there is evidence that hunting in wintering areas is an important factor, loss of suitable habitat on passage and wintering areas is also of concern. While some key sites for the species are already documented, many of their wintering locations are described here for the first time. Their wintering range primarily stretches from Bangladesh
to China. Comprehensive surveys of potential Spoon-billed Sandpiper wintering sites from 2005 to 2013 showed a wide distribution with three key concentrations in Myanmar and Bangladesh, but also regular sites in China, Vietnam and Thailand. The identification of all important non breeding sites remains of high priority for the conservation of the species. Here, we present the results of field surveys of wintering Spoon-billed Sandpipers that took place in six countries between 2005 and 2013 and present species distribution models which map the potential wintering
areas. These include known and currently unrecognised wintering locations. Our maximum entropy model did not identify any new extensive candidate areas within the winter distribution, suggesting that most key sites are already known, but it did identify small sites on the coast of eastern Bangladesh, western Myanmar, and the Guangxi and Guangdong regions of China that may merit further investigation. As no extensive areas of new potential habitat were identified, we suggest that the priorities for the conservation of this species are habitat protection in important wintering and passage areas and reducing hunting pressure on birds at these sites.

The Yellow Sea region is of high global importance for waterbird populations, but recent systematic bird count data enabling identification of the most important sites are relatively sparse for some areas. Surveys of waterbirds at three sites on the coast of southern Jiangsu Province, China, in 2014 and 2015 produced peak counts of international importance for 24 species, including seven globally threatened and six Near Threatened species. The area is of particular global importance for the 'Critically Endangered' Spoon-billed Sandpiper Calidris pygmaea (peak count across all three study sites: 62 in spring [2015] and 225 in autumn [2014] and 'Endangered' Spotted Greenshank Tringa guttifer (peak count across all three study sites: 210 in spring [2014] and 1,110 in autumn [2015]). The southern Jiangsu coast is therefore currently the most important migratory stopover area in the world, in both spring and autumn, for both species. Several serious and acute threats to water-birds were recorded at these study sites. Paramount is the threat of large-scale land claim which would completely destroy intertidal mudflats of critical importance to waterbirds. Degradation of intertidal mudflat habitats through the spread of invasive Spartina, and mortality of waterbirds by entrapment in nets or deliberate poisoning are also real and present serious threats here. Collisions with, and displacement by, wind turbines and other structures, and industrial chemical pollution may represent additional potential threats. We recommend the rapid establishment of effective protected areas for waterbirds in the study area, maintaining large areas of open intertidal mud-flat, and the urgent removal of all serious threats currently faced by waterbirds here.

In this study, seasonal numerical abundance of the critically endangered Atlantic goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara was estimated by conducting scuba dive surveys and calculating sightings-per-unit-effort (SPUE) at three sites in southern Brazil. Seasonal differences in size and reproductive condition of captured or confiscated specimens were compared. The SPUE differed significantly with season, increasing in late spring and peaking during the austral summer months. A significant effect was observed in the number of fish relative to the lunar cycle. All females sampled during the summer were spawning capable, while all those sampled during other seasons were either regressing or regenerating. What these data strongly infer is that the E. itajara spawning aggregation sites have been located in the southern state of Paraná and the northern state of Santa Catarina and summer is the most likely spawning season. Size frequency distributions, abundance and reproductive state were estimated and correlated with environmental variables.

DNA extraction methods for genotyping non-invasive samples have led to great advances in molecular research for ecological studies, and have been particularly useful for analyzing threatened species. However, scarce amounts of fragmented DNA and the presence of Taq polymerase inhibitors in non-invasive samples are potential problems for subsequent PCR amplifications. In this study we describe a novel technique for extracting DNA from alimentary tract cells found on external surfaces of feces and regurgitated seeds. The presence of contaminants and inhibitors is minimized and samples are preserved intact for use in other ecological research (e.g. trophic studies). The amplification efficiency and purity of the extracted DNA from feces were significantly higher than in commonly used extraction procedures. Moreover, DNA of two bird species was identified from seeds expelled by regurgitation. Therefore, this method may be suitable for future ecological studies of birds, and other vertebrate groups.

Rising seawater surface temperatures worldwide may cause reef coral species to shift their geographical range towards cooler environments. Information on such shifts, however, remains scarce. The scleractinian coral Porites sverdrupi (Durham, 1947) is endemic to the Gulf of California, and is considered a threatened species due to its vulnerability to local impacts, low abundance, and limited and fragmented distribution range. Although its historical range extends from the northern Gulf (29°N) to Bahía de Banderas in the south (20°N), to date only two extant populations have been reported in the central portion (25-26°N). Here we report a new record of P. sverdrupi from south of Bahía de La Paz. In 2013, colonies were observed at depths of 5–9 m close to a restored coral area south of Bahía de La Paz, which has been monitored since 2004. Events of local extinction and contraction of the distribution range were related to warm ENSO events (1982 and 2010), while expansion occurred after cold ENSO events in 2008 and 2011. Our results suggest that P. sverdrupi may tolerate the narrowest range of temperatures in its genus, and that the newly recorded range limit may be linked to the physiological limit of temperature tolerance for this species.

We describe the upper portion of the bill sheath (rhinotheca) of the kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus) from three adult female specimens. The external buccal surface of the rhinotheca is deeply concave with a prominent palatal stop and hardened chevrons creating a ‘milling apparatus’ that the kākāpō uses to grind food. The palatal stop presents a working face of 40–50 mm2. The internal surface of the rhinotheca mirrors the overlying premaxilla and provides a distinct thickened abutment consistent with resistance against the increased workload of the mandibles (gnathotheca) due to the kākāpō’s fibrous diet and chewing style. Along the midline, the rhinotheca at the abutment is up to 5.6 mm thick, compared with as thin as 2.1 mm elsewhere on the midline. The closely related Nestor parrots have less developed palatal stops, chevrons and abutments on their rhinothecas consistent with their lower preference for fibrous plant material. The form of the rhinotheca agrees with the kākāpō’s feeding ecology as a generalist herbivore that grinds locally available fibrous material to assist digestion.

The threatened Reba carp, Cirrhinus reba is a freshwater fish species found in ponds, rivers, canals and tanks of Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. The present study describes the first complete and inclusive description of life-history traits including sex ratio, length-frequency distributions (LFD), length-weight relationships (LWR), condition factors (Allometric, KA; Fulton’s, KF; Relative condition, KR; Relative weight, WR), form factor (a3.0) and size at first sexual maturity of C. reba in the Ganges River, NW Bangladesh. Sampling was done using traditional fishing gears including cast net, square lift net and conical trap from April 2011 to March 2012. The total length (TL), fork length (FL) and standard length (SL) were measured to the nearest 0.01 cm using digital slide calipers and total body weight (BW) was measured using an electronic balance with 0.01 g accuracy. The LWR was calculated using the expression: W= a Lb, where W is the BW, L the TL. The size at first sexual maturity of C. reba was estimated using the empirical equation by Binohlan and Froese (2009) for male and female, separately. A total of 250 specimens ranging from 8.00 cm – 23.40 cm TL and 4.30 g – 200 g BW were analyzed in this study. The overall sex ratio did not differ significantly from the expected value of 1:1 (χ2 = 3.38, p< 0.05), but there was significant differences in the TL-frequency distributions (Mann-Whitney U-test, p< 0.001) between male (median = 12.00 cm) and female (median = 15.80 cm). The calculated b for the LWR indicated positive allometric growth (> 3.00) in male and female and there was significant differences in the intercepts (ancova, p< 0.001) and in the slopes (ancova, p< 0.001) between the sexes. In addition, the Mann-Whitney U-test showed significant differences in the Fulton’s condition factor between male and female (p< 0.001). The one sample t-test showed that the mean WR (actual mean = 99.50) did not differ from 100 for male (p= 0.523) and female (p= 0.197) in this study, indicating the habitat was still in good condition for C. reba. Moreover, the size at sexual maturity of male and female C. reba were estimated as 11.50 cm TL and 13.50 cm TL, respectively. The results of this study would be useful for the sustainable conservation of this threatened carp fishery in Bangladesh and also neighboring countries.

Non-forest woody vegetation represents an important component of green infrastructure in the agricultural landscape, where natural and semi-natural forest cover has only a low land use proportion. This paper focuses on linear woody vegetation structures along roads in the agricultural landscape and analyses them in three study areas in the Nitra Region, Slovakia. We evaluate species composition and diversity , species occurrence frequency or spatial distribution, their structure according to relatively achievable age and origin. For the evaluation of occurrence frequency, a Frequency Factor was proposed and applied. This factor allows a better comparison of different study areas and results in more representative findings. The study areas were divided into sectors based on visual landscape features, which are easily identifiable in the field, such as intersections and curves in roads, and intersections of roads with other features, such as cadastral or land boundaries, watercourses, etc. Based on the species abundance, woody plants present within the sectors were categorised into 1) predominant, 2) complementary and 3) mixed-in species; and with regard to their origin into 1) autochthonous and 2) allochthonous. Further, trees were categorised into 1) long-lived, 2) medium-lived and 3) short-lived tree species. The main finding is that among trees, mainly allochthonous species dominated. Robinia pseudoacacia L. was the predominant tree species in all three study areas. It was up to 4 times more frequent than other predominant tree species. Introduced tree species prevailed also among complementary and mixed-in species. Among shrubs, mainly native species dominated, while non-native species had a significantly lower proportion and spatial distribution. Based on these findings, several measures have been proposed to improve the overall ecological stability, the proportion and spatial distribution of native woody plant species. The recommendations and measures aim at enhancement of native species biodiversity , landscape identity and character, in order to meet the main landscape and biodiversity challenges identified in key biodiversity and landscape policies of Europe.

In the current decade, the main goals for biodiversity conservation and environmental protection at the level of the European Union are set in the EU Biodiversity Strategy to
2020: halting biodiversity loss and restoring ecosystem services. A key requirement for the implementation of the Strategy in terms of targeting measures and funds, and monitoring trends, is the construction of a biodiversity knowledge base, including spatially explicit information on biodiversity distribution and ecosystems condition. The work
presented in this report is based on the analysis of two primary datasets on biodiversity and habitat status. The first one is the Habitats assessment carried out by EU Members
States under Art.17 of the Habitats and Birds Directive. Information reported by Member States is analysed to derive the links between pressures and conservation status, showing
that agriculture-related habitats have, on average, a worse conservation status when compared to other habitats. Consequently, threats and pressures having most influenced
the status of the agricultural-related habitats can be identified. The second one is the global dataset on species threat status elaborated by The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Spatially explicit representations of species distribution, status and richness across the EU 28 are provided, and most importantly the identification of wide geographic variables linked to ecological theory is presented, that explain to a large extent the continental trend in species richness. Finally, an example is presented of how the two exploited datasets can be jointly used by cross-tabulating data on habitats assessments and species threat status in a spatially explicit way at 10 km resolution, aiming at identifying hotspots were policy intervention is needed.

Yam,  Dioscorea esculenta which is a high value commodity is a threatened species in Ghana, due to several factors including neglect on the part of science, technology, research and development. Different doses of radiation were use to improve the size and market value of D. esculenta to promote it effective use and enhance effective conservation. We observed through repeated experiments that irradiation of yam planting material at 40 Gy gave the best results producing a M1 generation with a decreased number of tubers but with an increased tuber size per vine. Some yam characteristics are valued more than others, and prices vary across species, time, and market sites. Tuber weight exhibits an increasing marginal value and price per kilogram increases above an optimum size; therefore, yam producers and dealers derive additional reward from extra-large tubers. We conclude that, to effectively access and benefit from urban markets, producers should focus on the improved size and conical shaped-tubers, which are easy to process and meet the aesthetic qualities preferred by urban consumers. The implications for research on improved variety development to reduce poverty and for crop and resource management practices are drawn

Three new species, Gymnostachyum kanthanense Kiew (Acanthaceae), Meiogyne kanthanensis Ummul-Nazrah & J.P.C. Tan (Annonaceae) and Vatica kanthanensis Saw (Dipterocarpaceae), from Gunung Kanthan, Perak, are described and illustrated. All three are Critically Endangered CR B2ab (iii, iv), D1 being known from very small, restricted populations at the type
locality. Gunung Kanthan is currently being quarried for cement on a large scale, which if it continues threatened all three species with extinction.

were undertaken during 2009-2010. During this study, exotic plants, ruderals, weeds and naturalized species were not taken into
consideration. For our study “Flora of Karachi” by S. M. H. Jafri (1966) was considered as base line. In that flora 403 species
belonging to 72 families were included. According to our observation 135 species were assessed in threatened plants, out of them 8
species have already become extinct from our study area which also include Tecomella undulata, a tree with gorgeous flowers. Ten
species are included as endangered plants, 25 plants belong to rare species while 28 species belong to vulnerable species. Prosopis
juliflora and Eucalyptus citriodora are invasive species. In order to draw the attention about the threatened plants 20 photographs are
presented. It is recommended that we should not destroy our native plants and should not regard them as nuisance or unwanted plants,
instead we should conserve the wilderness and wild plants to preserve the species diversity and gene pool of our area. Autecologies of
wild plants should be studied and ways and means should be developed to preserve them.

The Black-headed Bushmaster, Lachesis melanocephala (Viperidae: Crotalinae), is an endemic pitviper from south-eastern Costa Rica. Despite its importance with regard to medicine and conservation, the ecology and distribution of this species are still poorly known, mainly because it was only recently recognized as a full species and records are scarce across its range. Known only from the Pacific slopes of the Talamanca mountain range, L. melanocephala is considered uncommon, restricted to undisturbed habitats, and likely threatened with extinction. Here we summarize its distribution, in terms of the Extent of Occurrence (EOO) and Species Distribution Model (SDM), and present a new locality record for the Las Tablas Protected Zone, at an elevation of 1,873 m, in a mixed premontane and montane oak forest habitat with steep slopes. The new record is located 14 km from the Panama border, so it is very likely that the species is also found in that country. Our results indicate that L. melanocephala has a very small geographic range, between 3,432 and 10,507 km2, depending on the method of assessment. It is found mostly in undisturbed habitats, including tropical, premontane and montane humid, very humid, and pluvial forests. Due to its restricted geographic range and habitat specificity, the severe and continued loss of lowland and mid-elevation forests throughout its range pose serious threats to the persistence of the Black-headed Bushmaster.

CITATIONS 15 READS 245 2 authors, including: Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Movement ecology of the Long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus) View project Forest patches with passive restoration in agricultural landscapes: Birds as ecological assessment tool and promoters of ecosystem services. View project

The South Australian subspecies of the Glossy Black-Cockatoo is
Critically Endangered, and is now reduced to a single population of between 115 and 150 birds on Kangaroo Island. This report examines whether there is sufficient information to identify limiting factors and threats; whether recovery without captive breeding and/or translocation is likely; whether supplementation of the Kangaroo Island population may be required; whether any geographically separated mainland population existed; the likelihood of the Kangaroo Island population returning to the mainland from Kangaroo Island; whether any threats exist that could be reduced by establishing a second, separate population; and whether an appropriate site exists that could be used to establish such a population. It also considers issues relating to the management of a captive population and the operation of a translocation program.

SUMMARY.— The vegetation of coastal dunes of Jijel (Algeria): proposal for a new Important Plant Area.— Coastal dunes of Jijel are extended between two Important Plant Areas (IAPs), enclaving a Ramsar site. This ecosystem is fragile, very coveted by the public, and houses characteristic plant groups and species of great heritage value. Three sites have been selected for the study of vegetation using the phytosociological relevé method. The floristic analysis allows compiling a list of 235 species and describing the diverse plant communities on dunes. Biogeographical analysis allows estimating at 68.3 % the Mediterranean originality of flora, and at only 2.5 % the endemism. The dunes of Jijel show a high plant richness fitting with IPA classification criteria. Some plants are new to Jijel area, and many are becoming increasingly rare and are at risk with extinction. Others require a review of their distribution and abundance.
RÉSUMÉ.— Les dunes littorales de Jijel se situent entre deux Zones Importantes pour les Plantes (ZIP) et enclavent un site Ramsar. Cet écosystème fragile et très convoité par le public héberge des groupements caractéristiques et des plantes de grande valeur patrimoniale. Trois sites ont été sélectionnés pour l'étude de la végétation selon la méthode du relevé phytosociologique. L'analyse floristique a permis de dresser une liste de 235 espèces végétales et de décrire les groupements végétaux présents sur les dunes. L'analyse biogéographique permet d'évaluer à 68,3 % l'originalité méditerranéenne de la flore, et à seulement 2,5 % l'endémisme. Les dunes de Jijel présentent une grande richesse floristique et abritent plusieurs espèces répondant aux critères de classification de ZIP. Certaines plantes sont inédites pour la région de Jijel, et plusieurs autres nécessitent une révision de leur distribution et leur abondance.

Many species are declining due to environmental and physical changes in their habitats. Such disturbs alter the availability of micro-habitats and influences the presence of lizards, being even worse for threatened and endemic species. Glaucomastix littoralis is a teiid species restricted to four restingas areas of Brazil. The understanding about the use and preferences of micro-habitats by the species and the consequents effects of substrate loss is important to prevent local extinctions. This study took place in restingas of Maricá, Jurubatiba and Grussaí, in Rio de Janeiro State. We sampled the vegetation of all areas, to access differences between the physical structures, and recorded the individuals sighted and the micro-habitat they were in, to investigate the relation of individuals and habitat structure. We calculated the frequency utilization of each micro-habitat and made a presence estimation of individuals (occupancy and detection probability) to assess which structural parameters of vegetation guide the settlement of the studied populations. Our data showed structural vegetation particularities among the areas and a trend concerning the use of micro-habitat by Glaucomastix littoralis, with a general preference for leaf litter inside bushes, guriri and bare sand and a low utilization of cactus and herbaceous. We also found positives (bare sand and cactus) and negatives (bushes) influences of micro-habitats in relation to the occupation of the areas by the individuals. Since vegetation is fundamental to lizards, due to their use as a refuge, site for thermoregulation and feeding, the understanding about the effects habitat degradation/fragmentation can cause is essential to create appropriate management plans and develop public policies to conserve the species.

The recently established Río Manduriacu Reserve, located on the Andean slopes in northwestern Ecuador, has proven to be a site of high conservation importance for amphibians. It harbors a range of threatened species, including the only known population of the Critically Endangered Tandayapa Andes Toad, Rhaebo olallai, as well as those of two recently described frog species. Herein, the conservation value of the reserve is further bolstered with the discovery of a new population of the rare and enigmatic glassfrog, Nymphargus balionotus. Prior to this finding, and aside from a single record in 2005, no observations of this species have been reported from throughout its narrow range within NW Ecuador and western Colombia since 1984. This marks the sixth locality reported for N. balionotus, the third site to yield more than one individual, and the first documentation from within a protected area. Also presented are the first observations of amplexus, egg masses, and the metamorphic life stage. Published literature pertaining to N. balionotus is difficult to follow, especially reports on Colombian material; therefore, a comprehensive review of the literature and discussion of previously unpublished details regarding Colombian records is provided. The population at the Río Manduriacu Reserve is currently the only known extant population of N. balionotus, and its immediate future is uncertain due to pressure from a mining company that is currently prospecting in-and-around the reserve.

Resumen.-La nueva Río Manduriacu Reserve, localizada en las laderas andinas del noroeste de Ecuador, es un lugar de gran importancia para la conservación de anfibios amenazados, ya que alberga una gran cantidad de especies amenazadas, incluyendo la única población conocida del Andinosapo de Olalla, Rhaebo olallai, En Peligro Crítico, además de dos especies de ranas recientemente descritas. Aquí, la importancia de conservar la reserva se ve bien reforzada con el descubrimiento de una nueva población de la rara y enigmática rana de cristal, Nymphargus balionotus. Previo a esto, excepto por un único registro en 2005, desde 1984 no se habían reportado observaciones en todo su estrecho rango en el Noroeste de Ecuador y Oeste de Colombia. Esto supone la sexta localidad reportada para N. balionotus, la tercera localidad en la que se ha encontrado más de un individuo y el primer registro dentro de un área protegida. También presentamos el primer registro de un amplexus, la primera puesta de huevos y el primer individuo metamorfo. La literatura publicada sobre N. balionotus es difícil de seguir, especialmente los trabajos basados en material colombiano; por lo tanto, proporcionamos una revisión exhaustiva de la literatura y discutimos detalles previamente no publicados sobre los registros colombianos. Sin embargo, la falta de información sobre tres de las localidades conocidas ha dificultado la reevaluación de su estado de amenaza. La población de la Reserva Río Manduriacu es actualmente la única población existente conocida de N. balionotus y su futuro próximo es incierto debido a la presión de una compañía minera que actualmente está explorando la reserva. Palabras clave. Conservación de anfibios, Cochranella balionota, rana de vidrio En Peligro, Imbabura, redescubrimiento, rana de vidrio amenazada, amenazado por la minería Official journal website: amphibian-reptile-conservation.

The SOEC 2020 examines the status and trends of 31 regional environment indicators in 22 Pacific island countries and territories and updates the 2013 State of Conservation in Oceania assessment, focusing on the period 2015 – 2020. This first state of the environment and conservation report for the Pacific islands region uses endorsed indicators to assess the status, trends, and data quality and availability for the Pacific environmental priorities defined by Pacific Leaders.
The information in the report presents the Pacific priorities for environmental management, data gaps and opportunities, and the ways in which Pacific environments and resources are changing. This regional view supports the development of sound policies, practices, and investments affecting Pacific island and ocean ecosystems as well as those who depend on them.

ISBN 978-982-04-0906-4

Ethnoecological knowledge refers to the local wisdom, innovations, traditional life style and practices of aboriginal communities. This knowledge also contributes a lot to understanding of conservation stata of culturally significant flora of a region. The present research work is the first one to focus on this particular aspect of cultural knowledge to assessing preliminary conservation status of 295 culturally significant plant species of district Tor Ghar. In such remote and less privileged areas interaction between plants and people is much stronger. Multistage random selection of 700 informants was made. The data was obtained through EPA, group discussion and semi structured interviews. The conservation status of all culturally significant plant species were assessed quantitatively by developing a new special mathematical relation that is CS = K (OC + AV + CE)/TF × RP. A scale was devised on the basis of CS value index and all 295 species were assigned to different IUCN categories. According to this classification 20 species were found critically endangered, 35 endangered, 56 vulnerable, 58 near threatened (rare) and 126 least concerned (secure). This categorization depicts a miniature of ethno-conservation of plants at local level. The current study leads to an enhanced understanding of cultural knowledge on mountain vegetation within the context of anthropogenic impacts and the role of indigenous communities in regional plant conservation strategies and future outlooks.

Potential distribution and landscape connectivity: criteria for reevaluating the threat degree of Campylorhynchus yucatanicus (Aves: Troglodytidae). Geographic distribution and habitat quality are key criteria for assessing the degree of risk of species extinction threat. Campylorhynchus yucatanicus (Yucatán Wren, Troglodytidae) is an endemic bird of the Northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, with a distribution restricted to a narrow strip of habitat, between Campeche and Yucatán states. Currently, the Yucatán coast has lost more than half of the coastal dune vegetation, and other habitats have been modified mainly because there is no urban development plan and the natural resources management is poor. These factors threaten C. yucatanicus, which is listed as a near threatened species by IUCN and as an endangered species by Mexican law NOM-059-2010. In this paper, C. yucatanicus´s potential distribution was modeled using 64 presence records from several sources (1960 y 2009), a set of climate variables, and a vegetation index layer of normalized difference (NDVI). To assess the degree of landscape connectivity we used a map of vegetation types and land use, distance to villages and paved roads. The potential distribution model showed an area of approximately 2 711 km 2 , which is 2 % of the total area of the Yucatán Peninsula distribution. In this area, only 27 % is protected by Biosphere Reserve category and only 10 % belong to core conservation areas, with land use restrictions and relatively effective protection. The populations from Ría Lagartos and Western Celestún regions appear to be the most isolated following the model of landscape connectivity. Landscape permeability among fragments of dune vegetation near the coast is low, mainly due to the distribution of urban areas. These results can be used to establish management strategies, and show that the species is in more delicate conditions than what it has been described by IUCN. We consider that C. yucatanicus should be given endangered category by IUCN, because of their distribution and the context of the current landscape connectivity.

Parrots are a seriously threatened group because of the illegal pet trade, their habitat fragmentation and the destruction of tropical forests. This study aimed to determine the relationship between forest fragmentation and the geographic potential distribution of parrot species in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. The research was carried out in the Mexican portion of the Yucatan Peninsula Biotic region, which includes the states of Campeche, Quintana Roo and Yucatan. We worked with the eight species of psittacids that inhabit the selected areas: Eupsittula nana, Amazona albifrons, Amazona xantholora, Amazona autumnalis, Pionus senilis, Pyrilia haematotis, Amazona oratrix and Amazona farinosa. For these species, we used the potential geographical distribution maps that were obtained through the Maximum Entropy algorithm, published in 2014. To measure the levels of forest fragmentation in the Peninsula, we employed the land use and vegetation maps from series IV (2007-2010) of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography. We calculated different landscape metrics at 100 sites randomly distributed within the predicted presence and absence areas for the species. Multivariate methods were used to shorten dimensionality in the analysis, as well as to explore the observed patterns. We did not find any pattern regarding the number of variables that contribute to the logistic regression models (LR) and the size of the parrots' potential geographical distribution area within the Peninsula. For Pyrilia haematotis and Amazona oratrix, the fragmentation variables used did not seem to have any relationship with their potential geographical distribution in the Peninsula (intersection, Pr<0.0001). Only for Eupsittula nana, Amazona xan-tholora and Pionus senilis, we found that the mean patch edge, the mean shape index and the mean perimeter-area ratio were important to determine their potential distribution patterns, respectively; and, in general, the variables indicated the preferences of these parrots to occupy larger habitat patches. Parrots must be given a special care and protection within the states of Campeche and Quintana Roo, since there are areas with high parrot diversity and are importantly affected by human activities. The best recommendation for managers and users of protected areas within the Yucatan Peninsula is that extensive areas of forest should be maintained in order to guarantee the suvival of psittacid populations.

Objetivo: Documentar la problemática y el estado actual del tráfico ilegal de fauna silvestre y sus implicaciones en la conservación de la biodiversidad en la región nororiental de Colombia. Metodología: Se
compilaron las bases de datos correspondientes a los registros de incautaciones de especies realizadas por la Oficina de Control y Vigilancia de CORPONOR y la Policía Ambiental de Cúcuta entre los años 2012 y 2017. Asimismo se revisó la documentación interna asociada con los decomisos y se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas (n=87) en 15 municipios del departamento para complementar los datos de incautaciones. Por la naturaleza de los datos obtenidos se realizaron análisis descriptivos. Resultados:
En total en los últimos 6 años se registraron 236 especímenes objetos del tráfico ilegal, correspondientes a 44 especies, siendo las aves (66%) y los reptiles (22%) los grupos más traficados. De las 44 especies
registradas objeto de tráfico, 13 se encuentran en algún grado de amenaza, de las cuales seis están en el Apéndice I y una en el Apéndice II del CITES. Conclusiones: Se evidencia la falta de controles
sistemáticos y adecuada recopilación de la información, lo cual podría estar agravando la situación, más aun en áreas fronterizas por donde las personas pueden movilizar más fácilmente estas especies. Se
requiere fortalecer las actividades de control y mitigación, y generar estrategias de educación que ayuden a disminuir esta amenaza para la conservación de la biodiversidad y los ecosistemas en la región.

The Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) or capungan Banggai (often abbreviated as BCF) is a marine fish endemic to the waters around the Banggai Archipelago, caught in large numbers for the marine aquarium trade. The conservation of this endemic species became an international issue, in 2007 the BCF was proposed for CITES listing by the USA and listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List. The CITES proposal was withdrawn, with Indonesia committed to conserve the Banggai Cardinalfish through a sustainable ornamental fishery approach. The multi-stakeholder Banggai Cardinalfish Action Plan (2007-2012) and other initiatives have aimed towards this goal; however the initiative to secure limited protected status in 2011 failed. Studies during 2011-2012 found many positive developments in the BCF fishery, and if the carrying capacity (stocks and ecosystems) was similar to the early 2000's, current official exploitation levels should be sustainable. However a stock assessment analysis using FISAT II revealed a high exploitation level (0.5), indicating catches may have reached or possibly exceeded sustainable limits. Survey/monitoring results indicate the endemic population is not in a steady state, with sharp declines in the past decade. There are strong indications that habitat degradation is the main cause of this decline, including over-exploitation of key BCF micro-habitat (sea urchins and sea anemones). Without an effective solution to protect the supporting ecosystem, P. Kauderni will be increasingly threatened with extinction, with or without fishing pressure. The case of the BCF highlights the importance of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries policy and management.

The endemic and threatened angiosperms of Chhattisgarh state are enumerated with habit and phenology. Four species are strictly endemic to Chhattisgarh state and 116 species which are endemic to other states and found in Chhattisgarh are also reported.

Ceropegia mahabalei Hemadri & Ansari is a herbaceous plant known from three locations in Pune, Satara and Thane District of Maharashtra.  This communication records a new location of this species from Nashik District which is the northeastern most record for this species.  The small existing population in this new location is threatened by cattle grazing, and trampling by tourists.