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Established invasive species represent one of the most harmful and challenging threats to native biodiversity, necessitating methods for Early Detection and Rapid Response. Cryptic invasions are particularly challenging and often require expensive and time-consuming molecular surveys which limits their usefulness for management. We present a novel application of the Fluidigm SNP-Type Assay to identify rare non-native alleles that significantly reduces the cost and time to generate diagnostic results. We demonstrate the efficacy of this method using experimental Fluidigm pools (99% accuracy) and sequence data (96% accuracy). We apply our novel methodology to an endangered population of California tiger salamanders in Sonoma County where two individual non-native tiger salamander hybrids have previously been detected since 2008. We screened 5805 larvae in 387 sample-pools containing 15 larvae each. We did not detect any non-native hybrids in the population, a result that was verified with sequence data, though we strongly recommend additional years of sampling to confirm hybrid absence. Our success with a challenging, large-genome amphibian suggests this method may be applied to any system, and would be particularly useful when it is necessary for conservation practitioners to rapidly identify rare taxa or genes of interest.

Initiatives to protect 30% of Earth by 2030 prompt evaluation of how to efficiently target shortcomings in the global protected area (PA) network. Focusing on amphibians, the most vulnerable vertebrate class, we illustrate the conservation value of microreserves, a term we employ here to refer to reserves of

A few iconic examples have proven the value of facilitated gene flow for counteracting inbreeding depression and staving off extinction; yet, the practice is often not implemented for fear of causing outbreeding depression. Using genomic sequencing, climatic niche modeling, and demographic reconstruction, we sought to assess the risks and benefits of using translocations as a tool for recovery of endangered montane red fox (Vulpes vulpes) populations in the western United States. We demonstrated elevated inbreeding and homozygosity of deleterious alleles across all populations, but especially those isolated in the Cascade and Sierra Nevada ranges. Consequently, translocations would be expected to increase population growth by masking deleterious recessive alleles. Demographic reconstructions further indicated shallow divergences of less than a few thousand years among montane populations, suggesting low risk of outbreeding depression. These genomic-guided findings set the stage for future management, the documentation of which will provide a roadmap for recovery of other data-deficient taxa.

Climate change reduces snowpack, advances snowmelt phenology, drives summer warming, alters growing season precipitation regimes, and consequently modifies vegetation phenology in mountain systems. Elevational migrants track spatial variation in seasonal plant growth by moving between ranges at different elevations during spring, so climate-driven vegetation change may disrupt historic benefits of migration. Elevational migrants can furthermore cope with short-term environmental variability by undertaking brief vertical movements to refugia when sudden adverse conditions arise. We uncover drivers of fine-scale vertical movement variation during upland migration in an endangered alpine specialist, Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis sierrae) using a 20-year study of GPS collar data collected from 311 unique individuals. We used integrated step-selection analysis to determine factors that promote vertical movements and drive selection of destinations following vertical movements. Our results reveal that relatively high temperatures consistently drive uphill movements, while precipitation likely drives downhill movements. Furthermore, bighorn select destinations at their peak annual biomass and maximal time since snowmelt. These results indicate that although Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep seek out foraging opportunities related to landscape phenology, they compensate for short-term environmental stressors by undertaking brief up- and downslope vertical movements. Migrants may therefore be impacted by future warming and increased storm frequency or intensity, with shifts in annual migration timing, and fine-scale vertical movement responses to environmental variability.

Whitebark pine (WBP, Pinus albicaulis) is a white pine of subalpine regions in the Western contiguous United States and Canada. WBP has become critically threatened throughout a significant part of its natural range due to mortality from the introduced fungal pathogen white pine blister rust (WPBR, Cronartium ribicola) and additional threats from mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae), wildfire, and maladaptation due to changing climate. Vast acreages of WBP have suffered nearly complete mortality. Genomic technologies can contribute to a faster, more cost-effective approach to the traditional practices of identifying disease-resistant, climate-adapted seed sources for restoration. With deep-coverage Illumina short reads of haploid megagametophyte tissue and Oxford Nanopore long reads of diploid needle tissue, followed by a hybrid, multistep assembly approach, we produced a final assembly containing 27.6 Gb of sequence in 92,740 contigs (N50 537,007 bp) and 34,716 scaffolds (N50 2.0 Gb). Approximately 87.2% (24.0 Gb) of total sequence was placed on the 12 WBP chromosomes. Annotation yielded 25,362 protein-coding genes, and over 77% of the genome was characterized as repeats. WBP has demonstrated the greatest variation in resistance to WPBR among the North American white pines. Candidate genes for quantitative resistance include disease resistance genes known as nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLRs). A combination of protein domain alignments and direct genome scanning was employed to fully describe the 3 subclasses of NLRs. Our high-quality reference sequence and annotation provide a marked improvement in NLR identification compared to previous assessments that leveraged de novo-assembled transcriptomes.

UC Santa Barbara’s Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration(Cheadle Center) began working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to plan for theintroduction of the federally-endangered Ventura marsh milk-vetch (Astragalus pycnostachyus var. lanosissimus) at UCSB’s North Campus Open Space (NCOS) in 2018. The first individuals were planted in a sandy site with high sub-surface soil moisture on the upper edge of the highwater mark of the newly restored upper arm of Devereux Slough in November 2019. These individuals were grown from seed collected from the original population in Oxnard and obtainedfrom Mary Carroll. In an effort to elevate plants during episodes when the slough is fully ponded and to mimic conditions we believed may be related to success at planted locations in Ventura five east-west trending berms approximately 1.5 meters wide, 0.5 meters tall, and 10 meters long were constructed with a small tractor. These were to test the effect of subtle differences between north and south facing slopes as was observed in Ventura. At the same time, 6 vetch were outplanted in the “EEM” Swale, a willow woodland with sandy soils near an ephemeral stream. In November 2019, 231 (Sandy zone) and 6 other individuals, grown at the Cheadle Center nursery and about 10 months old, were planted, with subsequent planting taking placeon adjacent sandy mounds in September 2020 (55) and October 2020 (46) (Figure 1). Theseare detailed in previous reports.In December 2020, an estimated five cups of unprocessed seed were collected from themain population of previously planted individuals and dispersed experimentally across different zones of NCOS that were seen as potentially suitable habitat for the expansion of this initial population (Figure 1). The “sandy zone” is a northeast-facing slope and adjacent sandy plain just southeast of the main planted population and consists of recently exposed soils with a similar consistency and make up of fine beach sand. The “Tule Seep” is a perennially wet seepsurrounded by willow (Salix lasiolepis) and tule (Shoenoplectus californicus) and underlain byclay and clay loam soils. Whittier Pond is a small freshwater pond that holds water throughout the entire year. The “Bioswale” site is a string of low-lying swales or subtle vernal pools descending in elevation northwest from the mesa into the saltmarsh transition with dense clay soils. Finally, several square meter plots were seeded in South Parcel on sandy soils, in mixed riparian woodland and coastal sage habitats. Each of these five zones received one cup of collected seed and fruit material. Germinating seedlings were observed and monitored on a monthly basis during the growing season over the past 3 years.

Ventura marsh milk-vetch (Astragalus pycnostachyus var. lanosissimus) is a federally endangered plant in the pea family and adapted to sites generally characterized by sandy soils and an available sub-terranean water source for most of the year. With its annual dieback in the winter, it appears to be adapted to winter disturbance and flooding followed by resprouting and new seedling germination in the spring. The specific cues for seedling germination have not proved to be consistent in the field where wet years may not trigger as much germination as dryyears and flooded conditions may trigger more germination than less disturbed sites.Since Ventura marsh milk-vetch (milk-vetch, hereafter) was rediscovered in Oxnard in1997 plants have been planted and monitored on Coal Oil Point Reserve on the NW portion ofDevereux Slough and around the Dune Pond. After initial vigor, both populations were lost due,it appeared, to colonization of open sites by willows and ruderal natives or lost due to drought orflooding. Based on the success of milk-vetch on the sandy site on North Campus Open Space,the Cheadle Center proposed that a more comprehensive study designed to explore otherpotential outplanting sites on Coal Oil Point Reserve and adjacent to the campus lagoon in aback-dune swale at East Depression. With funding from USFWS Ventura Field Office, in the fallof 2022 and winter of 2023 sites were identified, index wells were established and seeds werespread in sandy sites that appeared to be potentially suitable.

The fundamental goal of a rare plant translocation is to create self-sustaining populations with the evolutionary resilience to persist in the long term. Yet, most plant translocation syntheses focus on a few factors influencing short-term benchmarks of success (e.g., survival and reproduction). Short-term benchmarks can be misleading when trying to infer future growth and viability because the factors that promote establishment may differ from those required for long-term persistence. We assembled a large (n = 275) and broadly representative data set of well-documented and monitored (7.9 years on average) at-risk plant translocations to identify the most important site attributes, management techniques, and species' traits for six life-cycle benchmarks and population metrics of translocation success. We used the random forest algorithm to quantify the relative importance of 29 predictor variables for each metric of success. Drivers of translocation outcomes varied across time frames and success metrics. Management techniques had the greatest relative influence on the attainment of life-cycle benchmarks and short-term population trends, whereas site attributes and species' traits were more important for population persistence and long-term trends. Specifically, large founder sizes increased the potential for reproduction and recruitment into the next generation, whereas declining habitat quality and the outplanting of species with low seed production led to increased extinction risks and a reduction in potential reproductive output in the long-term, respectively. We also detected novel interactions between some of the most important drivers, such as an increased probability of next-generation recruitment in species with greater seed production rates, but only when coupled with large founder sizes. Because most significant barriers to plant translocation success can be overcome by improving techniques or resolving site-level issues through early intervention and management, we suggest that by combining long-term monitoring with adaptive management, translocation programs can enhance the prospects of achieving long-term success.

Objective: To support the declining wild population of Delta Smelt, a conservation hatchery has expanded its mission from maintaining a backup population as insurance against extinction to also producing fish for release into the wild. The substantially higher production demands require a balance between producing large numbers of fish while adhering to conservation genetic principles that maximize retention of effective population size (Ne) and thus overall diversity. Methods: We performed spawning experiments at the hatchery to evaluate the genetic consequences of two spawning strategies: (1) a pooled strategy where we fertilized premixed eggs from three dams with premixed milt from three sires and (2) a partial-factorial strategy where eggs from three dams were mixed and then apportioned among three containers, each container then receiving milt from one sire. We used genetic parentage analysis of larval offspring to determine the reproductive success of spawners in 10 replicate crosses of each strategy. Result: The contributions of parents to offspring were more even in partial-factorial crosses and consequently resulted in higher Ne (average Ne = 5.50 ± 0.38; expected Ne = 6.0), suggesting its potential for maintaining genetic diversity over time. In contrast, our pooled spawning experiment produced lower and more variable Ne values (average Ne = 3.86 ± 1.30), demonstrating that this more efficient method of production entails high costs in terms of long-term genetic management. Treating our experiments as hypothetical pools of fish for release, we combined the Ne values for pooled or partial-factorial crosses to calculate the effective size of a release population (NeR). Unequal family sizes reduced NeR for our pooled experiment to half of the expected value, whereas the partial-factorial experiment NeR was 88% of the expected value. Conclusion: We discuss the benefits and risks of each method and how these can be considered when designing a spawning strategy for Delta Smelt supplementation.

The Northern California Current is a highly productive marine upwelling ecosystem that is economically and ecologically important. It is home to both commercially harvested species and those that are federally listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Recently, there has been a global shift from single-species fisheries management to ecosystem-based fisheries management, which acknowledges that more complex dynamics can reverberate through a food web. Here, we have integrated new research into an end-to-end ecosystem model (i.e., physics to fisheries) using data from long-term ocean surveys, phytoplankton satellite imagery paired with a vertically generalized production model, a recently assembled diet database, fishery catch information, species distribution models, and existing literature. This spatially-explicit model includes 90 living and detrital functional groups ranging from phytoplankton, krill, and forage fish to salmon, seabirds, and marine mammals, and nine fisheries that occur off the coast of Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. This model was updated from previous regional models to account for more recent changes in the Northern California Current (e.g., increases in market squid and some gelatinous zooplankton such as pyrosomes and salps), to expand the previous domain to increase the spatial resolution, to include data from previously unincorporated surveys, and to add improved characterization of endangered species, such as Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and southern resident killer whales (Orcinus orca). Our model is mass-balanced, ecologically plausible, without extinctions, and stable over 150-year simulations. Ammonium and nitrate availability, total primary production rates, and model-derived phytoplankton time series are within realistic ranges. As we move towards holistic ecosystem-based fisheries management, we must continue to openly and collaboratively integrate our disparate datasets and collective knowledge to solve the intricate problems we face. As a tool for future research, we provide the data and code to use our ecosystem model.

Detection sensitivity of aquatic species using environmental DNA (eDNA) generally decreases in turbid water but is poorly characterized. In this study, eDNA detection targeted delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus), a critically endangered estuarine fish associated with turbid water. eDNA sampling in the field was first paired with a trawl survey. Species-specific detection using a Taqman qPCR assay showed concordance between the methods, but a weak eDNA signal. Informed by the results of field sampling, an experiment was designed to assess how turbidity and filtration methods influence detection of a rare target. Water from non-turbid (5 NTU) and turbid (50 NTU) estuarine sites was spiked with small volumes (0.5 and 1 mL) of water from a delta smelt tank to generate low eDNA concentrations. Samples were filtered using four filter types: cartridge filters (pore size 0.45 μm) and 47 mm filters (glass fiber, pore size 1.6 μm and polycarbonate, pore sizes 5 and 10 μm). Prefiltration was also tested as an addition to the filtration protocol for turbid water samples. eDNA copy numbers were analyzed using a censored data method for qPCR data. The assay limits and lack of PCR inhibition indicated an optimized assay. Glass fiber filters yielded the highest detection rates and eDNA copies in non-turbid and turbid water. Prefiltration improved detection in turbid water only when used with cartridge and polycarbonate filters. Statistical analysis identified turbidity as a significant effect on detection probability and eDNA copies detected; filter type and an interaction between filter type and prefilter were significant effects on eDNA copies detected, suggesting that particulate-filter interactions can affect detection sensitivity. Pilot experiments and transparent criteria for positive detection could improve eDNA surveys of rare species in turbid environments.

Using GPS–GSM trackers, data on the spatial distribution and habitat features during the wintering period were obtained for five young greater spotted eagles (Clanga clanga) tagged in the center of European Russia or the Middle Volga region. The wintering areas of the studied birds, with the exception of one individual in the second and third winters, were located in the Middle East (Israel, northern Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran), in South Africa (Sudan and South Sudan), and in Azerbaijan. The uneven distribution of greater spotted eagles in winter territories was revealed, within which the birds spent most of their time in preferred areas where they stayed for long periods. The size and configuration of winter territories depended on the availability of forage lands. The ecological features of the territories created a difference in the area of wintering grounds and the character of daytime movements of different individuals. A bird wintering in the arid landscapes of the Arabian Peninsula with extremely poor forage conditions was forced to make maximal daily movements in search of prey. At the same time, individuals wintering in the deltaic Caspian plains in Iran and in the Prikubanskaya Plain in southern Russia found areas with rich and accessible food which necessitated minimal daily movements and a minimum radius of the daytime territory. Based on telemetry and visual observations, a previously unknown area of sustainable wintering of greater spotted eagles in the southern part of European Russia has been located. The paddy rice fields in the Prikubanskaya Plain as the most important forage habitat and the likely significance of the numerous and available brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) as the main prey species in winter are discussed. The data obtained form an important basis for the development of a strategy for the protection of this rare vulnerable species across the entire distribution range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazilian Cerrado is recognised as a biodiversity hotspot due to the presence of endemic species with great biological potential. Particularly, Lomatozona artemisiifolia, is a rare species found in the Cerrado region in midwestern Brazil. Efforts have been made for its conservation in the Cerrado, such as the use of in vitro micropropagation, demanding a comparative analysis between grown plants and those collected from nature. For this purpose, we performed the chemical study of L. artemisiifolia by LC-ESI-MS/MS and molecular networking analysis in the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) with in silico annotation using Network Annotation Propagation (NAP), which led to the observation of labdane diterpenes and flavonoid subclasses as the most representative specialised metabolites of this plant. In addition, molecular networking and chemometric analysis were correlated, allowing the metabolite profile emerging from field growth and micropropagation conditions to be observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountains harbour one third of the world's biodiversity and much of it is under increasing anthropogenic pressure. Yet, global assessments of the occurrence, and threat status of most mountain taxa, especially elusive ones are lacking, thereby hindering conservation and research prioritisation. In this study, we synthesise the distribution and conservation status of bats, a species rich taxon on mountains. By using data on geographical and elevational distribution ranges from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), we examined bat species richness on mountains, species that predominantly occur in mountains ('mountain dwelling species'), and those restricted to upper montane and alpine regions within mountains ('highland dwelling species'). We also used published trait datasets to investigate the traits that are associated with mountain dwelling in bats. Globally, we identified 148 mountain dwelling and 46 highland dwelling bat species. Bat diversity is highest in the Northern Andes and Guiana Highlands. The mountain dwelling nature of bat species was found to be significantly associated with biogeographic realm. Importantly, our results show that mountain dwelling species are proportionately more data deficient than species that predominantly occur in lowlands. Additionally, highland dwelling species are proportionately more threatened than lowland species. Our results highlight a significant dearth of knowledge on mountain dwelling bat species. We conclude that more research is needed for bats specialised on mountain ecosystems. Our results draw attention towards improving the knowledge and protection of bat species that occur predominantly at high elevations across the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protected areas (PAs) are one of the main tools used to promote species persistence and biodiversity conservation worldwide. Assessing the use and effectivity of protected areas (e.g., PAs and Nature 2000 network), by using forefront methods such as GPS technology, has grown in importance over the last decades due to the advantages these methods offer. In the case of birds, the use of these technologies provides vital information to identify key areas and habitats throughout their movement ecology and has become a particularly useful tool to identify key areas for threatened species of birds that should be declared legally protected. The Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus is an Endangered social scavenger species. Though roosts are key for the species, the protection is mainly centred on nesting places and not at roosting sites, most of which are unknown. We used year-round movement data from 11 Egyptian vultures to identify and analyse the use of their night roosts according to the frequency of use and we assessed their protection. We identified 50 'multi-use roosts', 80 'occasional roosts' and 339 'one-night roosts'. PAs cover 12.5% of the identified roosting sites, while Nature 2000 network sites give cover to only 20% of the identified night roosts under a legal protection figure. However, Important Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), a network without a legal figure, cover 71% of these roosts identified. We thus encourage managers and conservation practitioners to use tracking technologies to identify vital areas for threatened species and assess their protection in combination with fieldwork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The causes of heterogeneity in evolutionary rates are a key question in macroevolution. Origination and extinction rates are closely related to abiotic factors, such as climate 1,2 and geography, 3,4 as well as biotic factors such as taxonomic richness 5,6 and morphology, 7 which are influenced by phylogeny. 8,9 Studies on the relationship between morphology and macroevolution have focused on morphological traits, including body size, 6,7,9 shape, 10 color, 11,12 and complexity, 13,14,15 and have proposed biological laws, such as the zero-force evolutionary law 16 and Cope's rule. 17 However, the relationship between morphological complexity and turnover rates remains poorly defined because of the lack of suitable measures for various subjects. 18,19 Here, we establish a quantitative method, the two-dimensional ornamentation index (2D-OI), which allows the description of the ornamental complexity of ammonoids. Ammonoids are one of the most abundant and well-studied fossil groups, with complex conch structures. 20 Ammonoids display some similarities with trilobites and mammals 21,22 in terms of their high evolutionary rates; however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Moreover, ammonoids exhibit marked heterogeneity in turnover rates across spatiotemporal scales 23 and clades, 23,24 making them key clades for investigating the relationship between turnover rates and morphological complexity. The results show that morphologically complex genera and species often have higher origination and extinction rates than morphologically simple taxa. Diversity fluctuations of taxa with complex ornamentation generally overimprint and control the overall net diversification rates of ammonoids. This double-edged sword of rapid evolution and increased extinction risk driven by complex morphologies has significant implications for our understanding of how species survive over geological timescales. • New method ("2D-OI") to estimate the ornamentation complexity in shelled animals • Complex morphologic ammonoids generally exhibit shorter longevity than simple taxa • Complex morphologic taxa have higher origination and extinction rates than simple taxa • Complex taxa dominate overall fluctuations in ammonoid diversification rates Miao et al. show that morphologically complex ammonoid genera and species generally have shorter longevity and faster rates of turnover than morphologically simple taxa. The diversification rate of taxa with complex morphology controls the apparent overall diversification fluctuations of ammonoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wildfires can have complex effects on wildlife populations. Understanding how post-fire conditions affect the movement ecology of threatened species can assist in better conservation and management, including informing the release of rescued and rehabilitated animals. The 2019–2020 megafires in Australia resulted in thousands of animals coming into care due to injury or concerns over habitat degradation. This included hundreds of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), for which relatively little was known about how fire affected habitat suitability, or when rehabilitated animals could be returned to burnt areas. Methods: We compared the movements of koalas across three experimental groups–non-rehabilitated koalas in burnt habitat, non-rehabilitated koalas in nearby unburnt habitat, and rehabilitated koalas returned to their rescue location in burnt habitat in New South Wales, Australia. We GPS-tracked 32 koalas for up to nine months and compared, across treatment groups, home ranges, mean nightly distance moved, the farthest distance moved from their release site and total displacement distance. Results: We found no differences in koala movements and home range size between non-rehabilitated koalas in burnt and unburnt habitat. However, rehabilitated koalas moved farther from their release site, had larger displacement distances, and larger home ranges than non-rehabilitated individuals. Regardless of their experimental group, we also found that males moved further than females each night. Additionally, our resource selection analysis showed that, koalas preferred low and moderately burnt habitats over all other fire severity classes. Conclusions: Experimental frameworks that incorporate "treatment" and "control" groups can help isolate disturbance effects on animal movements. Encouragingly, despite catastrophic wildfires, burnt woodlands provided adequate resources for koalas to persist and recover. Furthermore, rehabilitated koalas re-integrated into the burnt landscape despite moving farther from their release sites than non-rehabilitated individuals. Studies like this improve our understanding of the ecological impacts of fire on species and their habitats, and will be instrumental in informing wildlife management and conservation efforts as wildfires increase in frequency and severity worldwide in response to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Making timely management decisions is often hindered by uncertainty. Monitoring reduces two key types of uncertainty. First, it serves to reduce structural uncertainty of how the system works and provides support for expectations of how a system works. Second, it serves to reduce parametric uncertainty of the drivers of system dynamics. By combining monitoring data and quantitative models, we can reduce structural and parametric uncertainty. To demonstrate this, we focus on the Shenandoah salamander (Plethodon shenandoah), a United States Federally Endangered Species. Early work suggested that P. shenandoah extinction risk results from competition with a conspecific (Plethodon cinereus). However, more recent work has found equivocal support for this claim, instead suggesting that abiotic factors, such as moisture and temperature, drive P. shenandoah persistence. Using long-term monitoring data, we find that while competition may play a part in P. shenandoah extinction risk, measures of surface moisture are better predictors of occupancy dynamics. Further, we find decreased detection rates of P. shenandoah when P. cinereus is present, suggesting a conflation of detection probability with actual competition, which cautions against making inference from unadjusted observations of occurrence. Using multiple lines of inquiry allows for more robust understanding of system drivers in the face of high uncertainty, increasing opportunities to manage extinction risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consequences of intraguild predation on vulnerable subordinate species are an important consideration in the recovery of endangered species. In prairie ecosystems, coyotes (Canis latrans) are the primary predator of endangered black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes ; hereafter, ferrets) and presumably compete for prairie dog (Cynomys spp.) prey. Coyote predation of ferrets is thought to occur at night when ferrets are active aboveground; however, the apparent source of competition, diurnal prairie dogs, are belowground and inaccessible to coyotes at this time, presenting a perplexing temporal mismatch between actual and expected times that coyotes and ferrets come into conflict. Our study used remote wildlife cameras, occupancy models, and overlap of circadian activity patterns to investigate how landscape features, prairie dog colony attributes, and attraction to sympatric species, i.e. American badgers (Taxidea taxus ; hereafter, badgers) and lagomorphs (cottontail rabbits and jackrabbits) influence Coyote use of prairie dog colonies and potential Coyote–ferret interactions. We first evaluated Coyote use (i.e. occupancy) between prairie dog colonies and surrounding available grasslands, finding that coyotes whose home ranges include prairie dog colonies used colonies nearly twice as much as surrounding grasslands. Next, we investigated biotic and abiotic factors that may influence Coyote use and frequency of use (i.e. detection probability) on prairie dog colonies. We found high Coyote use across all areas on prairie dog colonies; however, their frequency of use increased in areas that were also used by badgers. High overlap between Coyote and badger activity patterns (81%) further supports the spatial use patterns revealed by our occupancy analysis, and badgers and coyotes are known to form hunting associations. Interspecific competition and overlapping patterns of resource use between badgers and ferrets have been documented in previous studies; our study supports these findings and suggests that Coyote attraction to badger activity may influence Coyote–ferret interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the extinction risk of species based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List (RL) is key to guiding conservation policies and reducing biodiversity loss. This process is resource demanding, however, and requires continuous updating, which becomes increasingly difficult as new species are added to the RL. Automatic methods, such as comparative analyses used to predict species RL category, can be an efficient alternative to keep assessments up to date. Using amphibians as a study group, we predicted which species are more likely to change their RL category and thus should be prioritized for reassessment. We used species biological traits, environmental variables, and proxies of climate and land‐use change as predictors of RL category. We produced an ensemble prediction of IUCN RL category for each species by combining 4 different model algorithms: cumulative link models, phylogenetic generalized least squares, random forests, and neural networks. By comparing RL categories with the ensemble prediction and accounting for uncertainty among model algorithms, we identified species that should be prioritized for future reassessment based on the mismatch between predicted and observed values. The most important predicting variables across models were species' range size and spatial configuration of the range, biological traits, climate change, and land‐use change. We compared our proposed prioritization index and the predicted RL changes with independent IUCN RL reassessments and found high performance of both the prioritization and the predicted directionality of changes in RL categories. Ensemble modeling of RL category is a promising tool for prioritizing species for reassessment while accounting for models' uncertainty. This approach is broadly applicable to all taxa on the IUCN RL and to regional and national assessments and may improve allocation of the limited human and economic resources available to maintain an up‐to‐date IUCN RL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve sustainable shark fisheries, it is key to understand not only the biological drivers and environmental consequences of overfishing, but also the social and economic drivers of fisher behavior. The extinction risk of sharks is highest in coastal tropical waters, where small‐scale fisheries are most prevalent. Small‐scale fisheries provide a critical source of economic and nutritional security to coastal communities, and these fishers are among the most vulnerable social and economic groups. We used Kenya's and Zanzibar's small‐scale shark fisheries, which are illustrative of the many data‐poor, small‐scale shark fisheries worldwide, as case studies to explore the relationship between extinction risk and the economic and nutritional value of sharks. To achieve this, we combined existing data on shark landings, extinction risk, and nutritional value with sales data at 16 key landing sites and information from interviews with 476 fishers. Shark fisheries were an important source of economic and nutritional security, valued at >US$4 million annually and providing enough nutrition for tens of thousands of people. Economically and nutritionally, catches were dominated by threatened species (72.7% and 64.6–89.7%, respectively). The most economically valuable species were large and slow to reproduce (e.g. mobulid rays, wedgefish, and bull, silky, and mako sharks) and therefore more likely to be threatened with extinction. Given the financial incentive and intensive fishing pressure, small‐scale fisheries are undoubtedly major contributors to the decline of threatened coastal shark species. In the absence of effective fisheries management and enforcement, we argue that within small‐scale fisheries the conditions exist for an economically incentivized feedback loop in which vulnerable fishers are driven to persistently overfish vulnerable and declining shark species. To protect these species from extinction, this feedback loop must be broken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International and national conservation policies almost exclusively focus on conserving species in their historic native ranges, thus excluding species that have been introduced by people and some of those that have extended their ranges on their own accord. Given that many of such migrants are threatened in their native ranges, conservation goals that explicitly exclude these populations may overlook opportunities to prevent extinctions and respond dynamically to rapidly changing environmental and climatic conditions. Focusing on terrestrial mammals, we quantified the number of threatened mammals that have established new populations through assisted migration (i.e., introduction). We devised 4 alternative scenarios for the inclusion of assisted‐migrant populations in mainstream conservation policy with the aim of preventing global species extinctions. We then used spatial prioritization algorithms to simulate how these scenarios could change global spatial conservation priorities. We found that 22% (70 species out of 265) of all identified assisted‐migrant mammals were threatened in their native ranges, mirroring the 25% of all mammals that are threatened. Reassessing global threat statuses by combining native and migrant ranges reduced the threat status of 23 species (∼33% of threatened assisted migrants). Thus, including migrant populations in threat assessments provides a more accurate assessment of actual global extinction risk among species. Spatial prioritization simulations showed that reimagining the role of assisted‐migrant populations in preventing species extinction could increase the importance of overlooked landscapes, particularly in central Australia, Europe, and the southwestern United States. Our results indicated that these various and nonexhaustive ways to consider assisted‐migrant populations, with due consideration of potential conservation conflicts with resident taxa, may provide unprecedented opportunities to prevent species extinctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the world, the exceptional biodiversity and endemism of spring ecosystems are threatened by the expansion of invasive species. However, mechanisms affecting the distribution and impact of invasive species on spring macroinvertebrate communities remain poorly understood.We investigated the impact of the invasive New Zealand mud snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum on the native gastropod assemblages of 43 karstic springs in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Firstly, we showed that P. antipodarum invaded only human‐modified low‐altitude springs with lower dissolved oxygen concentrations (7.61 mg/L), where it co‐occurred only with four other gastropod species (out of the 17 recorded in our dataset), two of which are endemic Dinaric karst spring specialists. Then, by comparing the n‐dimensional ecological space of the springs invaded and uninvaded by the mud snail, we showed that low‐altitude springs have a higher risk of invasion.Finally, we characterized the shift in the niche optimum exhibited by native endemic gastropods in invaded springs using Huisman–Olff–Fresco models.Overall, we showed that human alterations of low‐altitude springs might facilitate the invasion of P. antipodarum, which possibly out‐competes endemic crenic species by displacing them to suboptimal niches. The use of Huisman–Olff–Fresco models and n‐dimensional hypervolumes together provided a useful framework for quantifying the response of endemic and endangered species to the spread of invaders in globally endangered spring habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paeonia tenuifolia is a rare steppe species that is protected in Romania. Anthropogenic influences have led to a decline in the size and number of P. tenuifolia populations. There is currently insufficient data on this species' phytocoenology and habitat preferences. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the habitat preferences of P. tenuifolia in Romania. 65 relevés from the Banat, Transylvania, and Dobrogea regions were analyzed to achieve this. The size of the plots varied from 25 m2 to 200 m2. Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) was used to classify the vegetation, in the GINKGO program. The relationship between floristic composition and environmental variables was assessed using Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), in CANOCO. The environmental variables were represented by climatic variables (mean annual temperature, annual precipitation), topographic variables (elevation) and edaphic variables (pH, P, and K). The study results showed that AHC allowed the identification of 11 clusters. P. tenuifolia occurs most frequently in the associations Agropyro pontici-Thymetum zygioidis and Festuco rupicolae-Brachypodietum pinnati. CCA results imply strong relationships between floristic composition and annual precipitation (BIO12). Among the three analyzed regions, P. tenuifolia was confirmed only in the Dobrogea and Transylvania regions. Knowledge of the floristic composition and its correlation with environmental variables in the analyzed areas should guide future conservation strategies and management efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Many tree species may be threatened with declines in range and biomass, or even extinction, if they cannot disperse or adapt quickly enough to keep pace with climate change. One potential, and potentially risky, strategy to mitigate this threat is assisted migration (AM), the intentional movement of species to facilitate population range shifts to more climatically suitable locations under climate change. The ability for AM to minimise risk and maximise conservation and forestry outcomes depends on a multi‐faceted decision process for determining, what, where and how much to move. We provide an assessment on how the benefits and risks of AM could affect the decision‐making process. Location: Mountainous coastal western United States. Taxon: Trees. Methods: We used a dynamic vegetation model parameterised with 23 tree species. Results: We found that most of the modelled species are likely to experience a substantial decline in biomass, with many potentially facing regional extinction by 2100 under the high‐emission SSP5‐85 climate‐change scenario. Though simulations show AM had little effect on the forestry goal of total biomass across all species, its effects on the conservation goal of promoting individual species' persistence were far more substantial. Among eight AM strategies (differing in the life cycle stage of movement and target destination selection criteria), the approach that conserved the highest biomass for individual species involved relocating target seedlings to areas that recently experienced fire. Although this strategy significantly reduced extinction risk for six at‐risk species compared with no action, it also slightly reduced biomass of four species, due to increasing competition. Species with relatively weak tolerance to drought, fire or high temperature were the most likely candidate groups for AM. Main Conclusions: Our simulations indicate that AM can aid conservation by reducing extinction risks for species vulnerable to climate change, but it has limited impact on forestry‐specific goals, affecting overall biomass minimally. This model framework could be applied to other forest ecosystems to evaluate the efficacy of AM globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To estimate patterns of potential species richness (PSR) and identify shallow‐water Ophiuroidea hotspots based on their modelled distribution throughout the eastern Pacific Ocean (EP). Location: Eastern Pacific Ocean. Taxon: Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea. Methods: We compiled and analysed the occurrence of 137 shallow‐water (≤200 m) species of Ophiuroidea from the EP using Species Distribution Models (SDM; use of Maxent) and buffering for rare species to create the first maps of PSR of the class in the EP to gain insight into their patterns. Results: The highest PSR was found in mid‐latitudes, decreasing towards high latitudes, denoting a robust latitudinal pattern. All PSR hotspots were found in mid‐latitudes and correspond to northern Mexico, the area between Corinto (Nicaragua) and the Gulf of Panama, and the Galapagos Islands. The pattern is mainly linked to topographic configuration, although the models also suggest temperature and other environmental factors as important. Additionally, the pattern correlates (R = 98) with the pattern of the family Amphiuridae, suggesting that its richness can be used as a proxy for exploring Ophiuroidea richness patterns elsewhere. Main Conclusions: The richness of Ophiuroidea from the EP follows a latitudinal pattern as do other invertebrate groups. The Gulf of California, Central America, and Galapagos Islands are confirmed as hotspots of Ophiuroidea richness. However, other significant areas include the west coast of southern Baja California, Chiapas, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. PSR patterns are influenced by diverse environmental variables and the distribution patterns of the most conspicuous families. SDMs are useful for understanding large‐scale distribution patterns. This work is the first PSR assessment of marine invertebrates from the EP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translocating amphibians to alternative, suitable habitat is a climate adaptation strategy aimed at minimizing the risk of extinction due to projected global warming and drying. Projected conditions could undermine their physiological performance, and thus survival and reproduction. Translocations minimize risks of extinction by increasing spatial redundancy across climate-resilient habitats, particularly for dispersal-limited species. However, outcomes of amphibian translocation attempts are poorly documented, and their effectiveness remains unclear. We released and tracked 34 Eleutherodactylus coqui to determine early postrelease survival of a control (nontranslocated) group (n = 14) and experimental (translocated) group (n = 20) moved 0.8 km from their capture location in west-central Puerto Rico in 2021. We defined "initial" as the first 17 d postrelease, a period during which we hypothesized that experimental individuals would have lower survival rates because they transitioned from known-familiar to novel-unfamiliar habitat. We found no evidence in the data to support our hypothesis. Daily survival rates were better explained by a model with no group effect but negatively influenced by in situ temperature. However, the effect of in situ temperature (proxy of operative temperature) was weak (95% confidence intervals overlapped 0). After 17 d, all but one of the recaptured frogs lost weight for a combined weight loss of 0.28 ± 0.13 g. However, weight loss was significantly higher in translocated frogs (0.81 ± 0.33 g). Average daily movements did not hinder survival even though experimental individuals traveled farther (∼ eight times) than control ones. Our findings suggested that managed translocations have the potential to become a useful conservation tool, not an additive source of mortality. We outline challenges that remain before translocations of Eleutherodactylus species can be broadly applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to determine the spatial distribution of rare species is critical to understanding the environmental factors that influence them. Maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling of spatial distributions addresses this problem by allowing inferences about species distributions under environmental change from occurrence data. Using this method, the current and potential geographic distributions of two rare species of desert myxomycetes, Didymium mexicanum and Didymium nullifilum were mapped. Models of potential global species distributions were created using bioclimatic data and MaxEnt software to model species habitat suitability under the current conditions (~1950–2000) and under projected changes in the future climate (2100 AD) based on 18 spatial distribution points for D. mexicanum and four points for D. nullifilum. A detailed morphological description is given for the species. We identified the species D. mexicanum for the first time in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of this study represent an optimization protocol for clonal micropropagation of four species of the genus Aristolochia, section Siphisia. Plants of these species are rare, endemic, and medicinal plants. 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) (0.5, 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 mg/L) and indolylbutyric acid (IBA) (0.5 and 1.0 mg/L) were used in this work. The use of subcultivation with different nutrient media (MS supplemented with 0.5 mg/L BAP at the propagation stage and 1/2 WPM with the addition of 0.5 mg/L IBA at the rooting stage) contributes to the mass production of microplants. The maximum values of the microshoot height for each species were detected on the medium with 0.5 mg/L BAP. Explants of A. macrophylla and A. manshuriensis were characterized with the greatest reproduction coefficient (34 pcs.), while A. californica explants displayed the smallest coefficient (18.6 pcs.). The difference is associated with the activation of a different number of buds in each species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Himalayan ranges are well-known biological diversity hotspot. This attempt has been made to prepare the first avifaunal checklist of the Narendra Nagar Forestdivision, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, a part of the Western Himalaya, India, from October 2020 to December 2022. A total of 177 avian species belonging to 50 families were observed. Among of these, a total of 133 (75%), 28 (16%) and 16 (9%) avian species were identified as resident, winter visitor and summer visitor respectively. The family Muscicapidae was found to be the most diverse family with 17 bird species having the highest relative diversity index followed by Picidae (10), Accipitridae (8), Corvidae, Columbidae and Cuculidae (7), Leiothrichidae (6), etc. We also encountered of few species belonging to important conservation status such as Near Threatened (Alexandrine Parakeet, Great Thick-knee, River Lapwing, Himalayan Griffon), and Endangered (Egyptian Vulture and Pallas's fish eagle) categories as per IUCN Red data book. This study provides the first baseline information about the avian species of the study area. The presence of threatened species indicates that more conservation efforts are needed in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchids are among the plant species facing the most severe threat of extinction worldwide. A better understanding of the morphological and chemical structures of their seeds would contribute to addressing the challenges encountered during seed germination and, consequently, developing more effective conservation strategies. This study conducted morphometric and FTIR chemical analyses on the seeds of Anacamptis morio (L.) R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W. Chase, Anacamptis sancta (L.) R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W. Chase, Neotinea maculata (Desf.) Stearn, Neotinea tridentata (Scop.) R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W. Chase, Orchis anatolica Boiss, and Orchis italica Poir. When evaluating the morphometric measurements of the seeds, it was observed that the genera showed distinct differences, while species belonging to the same genus clustered together. Parameters such as seed size, embryo size, and cavity percentage had a positive impact on this differentiation. The similarity of the analysed species' FTIR spectra confirms their belonging to the same family. However, the secondary order FTIR spectra clearly revealed variations in absorbance values, highlighting differences between genera and species. It was observed that species belonging to the orchid genus and the genus Anacamptis exhibited similarities among themselves, whereas N. tridentata showed distinct differences from other species. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) based on FTIR results further supported these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mating between species occurs within many insect orders. The result of heterospecific mating depends upon the effectiveness of pre‐ and post‐reproductive barriers. Incomplete reproductive barriers lead to introgression of DNA into one species or both. Intricate genital morphology among dragonflies provides little assurance of species specificity given that heterospecific mating or mating attempts have been observed among many species. The genetic consequence is unknown for many heterospecific matings. For example, Somatochlora species mating and genetic exchange have been hypothesized based on observational records and individuals with hybrid morphology. We investigate the potential of heterospecific mating between North American Somatochlora species as inferred from multi‐gene phylogenies. We used mitochondrial genes (COI and ND3) and nuclear genes (EF1‐α and ITS2) to construct phylogenies using maximum parsimony. Observation of non‐monophyletic mtDNA lineages but monophyletic nDNA lineages between Somatochlora sister‐species would indicate mtDNA introgression and suggest heterospecific matings. Our results highlighted three instances of non‐monophyly of mtDNA clades in the following groups: (i) S. hineana + S. tenebrosa; (ii) S. kennedyi + S. forcipata + S. franklini; and (iii) S. calverti + S. provocans + S. filosa. Analysis of partitioned Bremer support indicates that mtDNA COI largely contributed to the non‐monophyly of these species, thus suggesting mtDNA introgression resulting from heterospecific matings. Additionally, the topology resulting from the combined data analysis was concordant with previous taxonomic understanding of Somatochlora species groups. These multi‐gene phylogenies of North American Somatochlora are the first, providing a foundation for future ecological and evolution studies and knowledge for effective decision‐making and public policy, which is especially important for the endangered species, S. hineana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosourcing seed of 'local genetic stock' for ecological restoration has been practiced in New Zealand for about 50 years. However, we believe that it has become unnecessarily restrictive. Ecosourcing ensures plants used for restoration are adapted to local conditions and maintains current distributional patterns. It also restricts genetic diversity, confines species to their historic range, and reduces the conservation options for threatened species. For example, New Zealand tree species, the life form most frequently used in restoration plantings, have low population genetic differentiation and high net migration of alleles throughout their range. Therefore, very little is gained through restrictive ecosourcing of tree seed. Furthermore, avoidance of the danger of inbreeding depression and widening the scope for closer environmental matching, argues for larger rather smaller source areas. Climate change, extinctions across multiple trophic levels, habitat loss and fragmentation, spread of invasive species, and novel habitats have completely altered the contemporary biotic landscape. Conservation needs to engage with these changes if it is to protect and restore ecosystems. Restrictive ecosourcing is counter-productive as it limits utilising genotypic, phenotypic and ecotypic diversity, and thus the evolutionary potential of indigenous species and ecosystems. It also reduces opportunities to protect biodiversity when populations are small, and limits response to climate change. A new approach is needed. We recommend that phylogeographic patterns and biogeographic boundaries be used to set nine broad ecosourcing regions and, within these regions, phenotypic adaptation to particular environments be used as a guide to seed selection. This more relaxed approach to ecosourcing will improve restoration outcomes through increasing species and genetic diversity, reducing the detrimental effects of inbreeding and promoting the genetic rescue of populations of threatened species. Examples of adopting an eco-evolutionary approach to ecosourcing are provided for the early-successional coloniser Kunzea ericoides and late-successional conifer species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic pollution represents a global environmental issue. Awareness of plastic pollution in marine organisms increased strongly during the last decades, including chondrichthyans. Due to a lack of a broad and comprehensive view of this global issue in chondrichthyans, we synthesized the 48 publications covering 54 species since 2002, and employed bibliometric analysis and data exploration to summarize the historical progression of the development, characteristics of plastics in chondrichthyans and evaluate their potential impacts across various regions, habitats, and Red List categories. The bibliometric analysis revealed that the investigation of plastic distribution in demersal sharks inhabiting the nearshore areas of the Mediterranean and northeastern Atlantic Ocean is a major research focus. Based on the current evaluation, plastics have been ubiquitously discovered within sharks, skates, and rays; however, only less than 5% of chondrichthyans worldwide have been investigated. Among these, 25 species are classified under one of the three threatened categories (critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable), according to IUCN Red List. The average abundance (all specimens) and load (specimens that contained plastics) in chondrichthyans were 2.86 ± 7.71 items/individual and 4.91 ± 9.39 items/individual, respectively. Plastic abundance/load is not influenced by the sampling regions, habitats, or Red List categories; however, higher records were found in the endangered and near threatened species. The plastics are predominantly fibrous in shape, with blue and black being the predominant colors, along with polypropylene and polyethylene in polymer type. Notably, inconsistencies in sampling, processing, and identification methods across studies might impeded the integration and comparison of data. This review highlights the potential implications of plastic pollution from chondrichthyans on biodiversity conservation and emphasizes the necessity to consider intra- and inter-specific variations in biometric and ecological characteristics, as well as establish standardized protocols to facilitate effective comparisons in contamination dynamics between studies of chondrichthyans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iris brandzae is one of the most threatened plant species in Romania. The current distribution of this species is very fragmented, and the population size has been reduced in the last 30 years. Information on the habitat preferences of the species has not been summarized yet. In this context, this study aimed to identify the habitat preferences of the species I. brandzae in Romania. The study was carried out in the NE (Moldova) and SE (Muntenia) regions of Romania. For the vegetation analysis, a total of 46 relevés were used. To classify the vegetation, we applied the hierarchical agglomerative clustering method, using the ß-flexible algorithm with ß = -0.25 and the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity. The data were represented as mean percentage values, according to the the Braun-Blanquet scale. Relationships between floristic composition and environmental variables were analyzed with Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). The vegetation analysis showed that I. brandzae grows in xerophilous, mesophilous and halophilous grasslands and ash-alpine alluvial forests. The species occurs in the communities of the Stipion lessingianae alliance, of the Festucetalia valesiacae order, mainly. The results of the CCA analysis indicate that the variation of the floristic composition of I. brandzae is influenced by the annual mean temperature (BIO1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating introgression rates between two sympatric species is crucial when one of the species is threatened with extinction. For instance, hybridization between endangered Houston toads (Bufo [= Anaxyrus] houstonensis) and sympatric Gulf Coast toads (Bufo [= Incilius] nebulifer) could turn small and fragmented populations of B. houstonensis into hybrid swarms. Multilocus genotype data revealed that 3.9% of B. houstonensis showed admixture with B. nebulifer, when Houston toads were at critically low numbers. We repeated an assessment of interspecific admixture for B. houstonensis at the same study site in Bastrop, Texas, USA to test whether increased detections of breeding Houston toads resulted in lower rates of interspecific admixture. We used multilocus genotypes and mitochondrial sequence data to quantify admixture in contemporary Houston toad populations (2020–2021) and compared it to previous measures (2000–2008). However, we found no decrease (5.4%) of interspecific admixture in Houston toads. We speculate that environmental conditions may additionally enable overlap in breeding activity for these sympatric toads. We suggest further investigation of demographic changes and temporal isolation in breeding activity for these sympatric toads. Our study suggests additional management strategies are required to mitigate the breakdown in prezygotic isolating mechanisms, to alleviate hybridization and its associated problems in this endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rattans are climbing palms, known for strong flexible canes and are important Non-Timber Forest Products in south and southeast Asian countries. Of the five rattan genera, Calamus holds a pivotal position owing to huge local and global market demand. A substantial part of these NTFPs is harvested from the natural populations, leading many economically exploited rattans to the verge of extinction. The present work intended to study the consequences of population decline on the genetic diversity parameters of four economically exploited threatened Calamus species (C. brandisii, C. acanthospathus, C. nambariensis and C. andamanicus) distributed in the three geographical zones of India. The study generated a draft genome of C. brandisii of 848.89 Mb size, which has been used to develop microsatellite markers. Population genetic analysis revealed deviations from Hardy-Weinberg proportions and an excess of heterozygosity, which were interpreted as indicators of small population size combined with obligatory outcrossing, stemming from population decline. Distinct populations with strong genetic structures were identified along with evidence for genetic bottlenecks. The existing ex-situ populations of C. acanthospathus and C. nambariensis have been found inadequate for representing and conserving the available gene pool in the wild. Through MAXENT modeling, highly suitable ecological niche were predicted for C. brandisii. Conservation and management plans, both in-situ and ex-situ need to prioritize the protection of genetically unique populations. In light of the observed sex skewness in rattan populations, augmentation programs should focus on safeguarding mature individuals, enhancing population size and age structure, and monitoring and balancing the sex ratio in wild populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive crayfish, alongside their associated pathogens, have accelerated the decline of their Eurasian native counterparts, restricting their distributions to small populations nearing extinction. Using past sampling records, as well as conducting two field sampling campaigns with baited traps and environmental DNA (eDNA) in 2021 and 2023, we studied the distribution of invasive crayfish and their associated pathogen (Aphanomyces astaci) in the Rhine-Main-Observatory (RMO), a long-term ecological research (LTER) site in central Germany. This area of 1,058 km2 was naturally occupied by the native endangered noble crayfish Astacus astacus exclusively. We only captured one native individual and detected two positive eDNA signals to A. astacus in the northeastern part of the RMO, suggesting a retraction of its historical range to a few headwater streams. In contrast, since 2000, four invasive crayfish species have been documented in large parts of the lower basin, with the signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, progressing upstream. The upper stretches of the basin exhibited no traces of either invasive crayfish nor signs of the pathogen A. astaci, so that reintroduction programmes could be considered following careful assessment. Management actions are needed in potential contact zones where native and invasive populations can coexist, to protect the almost relict distribution of A. astacus in this German river basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve global biodiversity targets, expanding protected area (PA) networks has been regarded as a major strategy in international commitments. However, the PA strategy often fails to achieve its objective – preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services. In addition, the expansion of PA areas could replicate and amplify historical injustices such as forced evictions, state-led physical violence, assimilation of culture and loss of traditional ecological knowledge, affecting communities' livelihood, quality of life and rights. There is an increasing consensus that the post-2020 biodiversity conservation framework should be rights-based and sensitive to the role and contributions of local communities towards achieving the PAs' targets. India's Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006 may be considered a useful framework for biodiversity conservation in the context of this new conservation vision. It puts local people at the centre stage, making them active participants in designing and managing conservation. PAs following 'fortress conservation' approach were based on the flawed idea that human interference endangers biodiversity and therefore habitats should be preserved by force if required. Such an idea contradicts the recent understanding that ecosystems once perceived as 'wilderness', have been transformed by people. PAs undermine the intricate and intertwined relationship of humans with their immediate ecosystem. The conservation model proposed by FRA 2006, on the other hand, recognises local communities as an integral part of ecosystem and thereby acknowledges people's rights and agency in conservation. It ensures locals' equitable benefits from economic activities, and provides equitable opportunities to participate in decision-making. Though various provisions under FRA empowered local people in conservation, it faces various challenges during the implementation on the ground. It is argued that a clear and appropriate institutional arrangement specifying various stakeholders' power, roles and responsibilities in the conservation and management of bioresources (including the protection of endangered species) should be developed for transformative change in biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current context of global changes, threatened flora is declining and homogenising at the expense of rare and protected species. Among conservation biology and ecological restoration techniques, plant translocation is one of the recommendations increasingly used. However, translocation remains risky and is recommended as a last resort to conserve protected flora in land use planning. Furthermore, it raises ethical questions partly linked to genetic processes. In this context, we studied how plant translocations are perceived by conservation actors in France, including their genetic aspects. The analysis of translocation perception complements that of feedback on concrete translocation operations and allows us to provide a qualitative assessment of current practices. We have adopted an interdisciplinary approach to survey different types of actors in nature conservation, involved or not in at least one stage of translocation operations (preparation, implementation and monitoring). Three main types of translocation perception divide our sample quite strongly (50% favourable/ 45% unfavourable/ 5% undecided). Surprisingly, their professional activity or the level of involvement in such an operation have no influence on their opinion on translocation, nor on the proposals of alternative measures. Only 15% of the actors involved in translocations used genetic data at least once. To conclude, it would be necessary to promote the sharing of feedback from past experiences. This would allow an up-to-date list of species unacceptable for translocation. Comparing the results of different protocols and implementation conditions for the same species or group should improve overall translocation success rates. Highlights: Plant translocation is a solution for the conservation of threatened species. This solution is currently ecologically risky and raises ethical and genetic questions. We identified three main perceptions (50% favourable/45% unfavourable/5% undecided). These ratios are similar among the different professional activities of respondents. Improving the feedback and success of translocations should improve its perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil has a rich diversity of native bees, crucial as pollinators. This study aimed to inventory cleptoparasitic bees in the Cerrado region of Mato Grosso, specifically in three preserved areas, characterized by Cerrado vegetation. Species richness and distribution over time were evaluated, and new occurrences are reported for the study area. Biweekly sampling was used to collect specimens and monitor the nesting behaviour of bees (Apoidea). A total of 24 individuals from the subfamily Nomadinae, covering five genera and six species, were collected. Results showed new occurrences, including Acanthopus palmatus (Ericrocidini), Odyneropsis armata (Epeolini), and Rhathymus unicolour (Rhatimini). Seasonal variation was observed mainly at the beginning and end of the rainy season. For the first time, the interaction between the parasite and host species Mesoplia decorata and Epicharis maculata was reported. We conclude that long-term inventories are essential to reveal rare species and describe new associations in understudied areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses how global online trade is contributing to the decline of poison dart frogs, a family of amphibians known as Dendrobatidae. The trade in wildlife species, including amphibians, poses a significant threat to biodiversity, with many species facing extinction due to habitat loss, pollution, diseases, and trade. The research conducted in the article focuses on the online trade of poison dart frogs, highlighting the extent of the trade, the species involved, and the potential impact on conservation efforts. The study found that many dendrobate species are threatened with extinction, with habitat loss and illegal trade being major drivers of their decline. [Extracted from the article]

Sideritis gulendamii is a perennial, endangered plant endemic to Türkiye with narrow and fragmented populations encountered in gypsum and marl soil. This species is known as mountain tea and also has a significant potential for use for medicinal and aromatic purposes. Assessing the genetic diversity of this species holds significant importance in its conservation efforts due to its specific habitat requirements, small and isolated populations, and recent threats imposed on these populations. This study determined genetic diversity at the species and population levels using the inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) fingerprinting method on 157 individuals from seven natural populations. We observed that the species-level genetic diversity is relatively high (H = 0.189, I = 0.298), but the population-level is low (H = 0.150, I = 0.231). The greater total genetic variation within populations was determined as 76% using the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). The obtained value of genetic differentiation (Gst = 0.208, Φpt = 0.24) among populations is considered to be at a moderate level, whereas gene flow appears to be high (Nm = 1.899). Supportive results were reached using the STRUCTURE cluster analysis, Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Averages (UPGMA) dendrogram, and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA). The positive correlation between the matrices of genetic distance and geographic distance is determined to be statistically significant, with values of r = 0.566 and p < 0.001 in the Mantel test. Some strategies were developed using the genetic variability pattern of this endangered species for its conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant loss of semi-natural grasslands in Japan has led to a decline in the populations of grassland specialist insects. We studied the population structure and basic ecology of a grassland specialist, the red-winged grasshopper Celes skalozubovi akitanus, a critically endangered species in Japan, to enable conservation management of grasshoppers and their habitats. A field survey using transect counts and a mark–release–recapture survey was conducted over two years (2016 and 2017). We found that C. s. akitanus fed on a variety of grassland plants in the study area but not on the dominant species Miscanthus sinensis and Pteridium aquilinum. The recapture rate of C. s. akitanus was considerably high (approximately 68% or more), and two isolated populations were found in the studied grassland. The estimated total population size was < 120–140 individuals, indicating that the study population was extremely small. Our results show that this species exhibits a strong sedentary behaviour because most of the adults move less than 5 m in a season and prefer bare ground within the grassland. The continued implementation of the annual prescribed burning and partial mowing of the habitat is necessary to conserve C. s. akitanus. In addition, creating continuity between two populations is effective for the survival of populations in this study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choosing the most efficient sampling methods is the basis of surveys aimed at detecting and monitoring species for conservation purposes. In the context of the current biodiversity crisis, reported in many parts of the world, the need to identify new areas of occurrence due to anthropogenic changes (including changes due to global warming) and to fill the gap in the available data for many endangered species are increasingly important. Here, we report the use of UV light as an experimental tool for sampling the caterpillars of Proserpinus proserpina, a protected moth in Europe. The results indicated a clear advantage of night surveys using this technique, allowing the caterpillars to be spotted three times more frequently compared to using a normal flashlight. For this reason, this method could further improve data collection, even with little experience and, therefore, we recommend it. Finally, a monitoring method was provided that integrated this sampling technique, aimed at making the surveillance of this protected species more practical and effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many records from citizen science (CS) are used in scientific research related to biodiversity. Photographs of living species are valuable data from CS that are applicable to a range of ecological studies. The geographical ranges of threatened Brazilian butterflies were estimated based exclusively on data from photographs from CS sources, and these results were compared with estimates obtained without CS data. A total of 37 butterfly taxa (58.7% of all threatened butterflies from the Brazilian Red List) were identified from 335 photographic records taken by 187 citizen scientists from various CS surveyed sources. Comparing the estimates of geographical range with and without CS data, changes (all increases) were obtained for 26 taxa (70.3% of the taxa in this study). The presented results demonstrate the importance of CS to increase knowledge on threatened Brazilian butterflies, especially in data related to their conservation status. The involvement of general public in scientific research should be constantly encouraged, as the simple act of sharing photographs on the internet of a living organism in nature has the potential to contribute accurately and valuably to conservation science. Implications for insect conservation: The use of citizen science data is opportune and useful for many porpouses, as in the case of this study in improving the estimates of the geographical range of threatened species. Such data may lead to a new perspective in the conservation assessments of these taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For effective conservation management of endangered taxa, it is important to define operational units for conservation. In the absence of detailed genetic analyses, morphology-based taxonomy is often used as a surrogate. The Apollo butterfly, Parnassius apollo, is one of the most endangered butterfly species in Europe (considered as a flagship species) with 26 subspecies rank taxa described from the Carpatho-Pannonian region (Central Europe), often based on old, one-by-one descriptions. We applied landmark-based geometric morphometrics on wing shape to determine the number of morphologically distinguishable groups in the region, based on 949 males and 477 females from 20 Carpatho-Pannonian putative subspecies (both extant and potentially extinct). We found a single division between the Eastern Carpathian populations (described as two subspecies: ssp. transsylvanicus and ssp. rosenius) and the rest of the populations (including our outgroup from the Swiss Alps). Since P. apollo was not observed in the Eastern Carpathians in the last two decades, and the currently known extant populations in the Carpatho-Pannonian region are all located in the Northern Carpathians, our results support a single conservation unit in the region. We suggest that (i) extensive monitoring is needed to reveal whether the unique Eastern Carpathian populations have really gone extinct and (ii) more taxonomical/phylogenetic studies on Central European P. apollo are needed for establishing the taxonomy of the species and efficient conservation strategies. We emphasize that modern integrative taxonomy is not only important for clarifying taxonomical issues, but also for providing basis for sound conservation management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aim Location Time Period Major Taxa Studied Methods Results Main Conclusions We aimed to delimit hotspots for terrestrial threatened vertebrate species (HTV) through novel macroecological and statistical approaches.Global.Present day (1979–2024).Terrestrial threatened vertebrate species (n = 7188).In comparison with previous delimitations of hotspots, we: (i) considered richness and degree of endemism together through a robust statistical framework; (ii) focused on a priority set of species extremely important in terms of conservation, based on IUCN threat status; and (iii) used a fine spatial scale which allowed us to define key sub‐areas within classic hotspots. We also assessed the degree of protection and human impact within the proposed HTV.We propose 20 global hotspots for threatened terrestrial vertebrates. In comparison with classic hotspots, proposed HTV have a significantly more limited distribution, covering ~27% of classic hotspots' area. In addition, a large proportion of HTV (~27%) does not match with classic hotspots. The overlap between HTV and protected areas (PAs) is low (< 11%), and extremely low when only strict protected areas are considered (< 1.5%). Also, a great degree of HTV exhibits high to extreme levels of human modification. On average, the velocity of climate change within HTV has been low, but attention must be given to notable areas presenting medium to high velocities. Interestingly, the geographical locations of highly endemic and rich areas considerably varied across individual vertebrate taxa. Yet, a high proportion of these priority areas for individual taxa are covered by the proposed HTV (74%–89%).Our findings present key areas of the world for threatened terrestrial vertebrate species, many of these at high risk due to an interplay among low levels of protection, extreme levels of human modification and climate change. The proposed HTV are highly relevant in terms of decision‐making, serving as a guide for allocating the limited conservation resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past years, there have been several observations of pequi trees (Caryocar brasiliense Cambess.) being infested with a large wood boring insect that compromises the structural integrity and health of the trees. However, the economic losses caused by this damage were attributed to an unidentified cossid. The present study aims to identify the species causing this damage in the Brazilian Savanna by monitoring trees exhibiting damage with the goal of capturing emerging adults. In total, 12 adults were collected, preserved and identified by comparison of the genitalia. All specimens (male and female) were identified as Cossula duplex Dyar & Schaus, 1937. This species was previously not recorded from Brazilian Savannah regions and is reported for the first time from the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais and Goias. Further studies are needed to evaluate the association of this species to the mortality of C. brasiliense, an economically important and endangered species of the Brazilian Savannah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]