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Agricultural intensification and abandonment have led to a dramatic decrease of semi-natural grasslands such as low-intensity pastures and hay meadows. The Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) is a ground-nesting raptor of open grasslands that has severely suffered from these changes. We studied the habitat preferences of this umbrella species of open grasslands in its last permanent breeding area in Germany (East Frisian Islands, southern North Sea). We analysed the breeding-territory preferences based on 576 territories on six of the islands. Moreover, we assessed nest-site preferences of 13 breeding pairs on the German abundance hot spot, the island of Spiekeroog. Our investigation revealed that the Short-eared owl strongly preferred open dunes for breeding, especially dune grasslands. By contrast, built-up areas and small stands of trees were avoided. For nest-building, microhabitats with a high cover of the herb layer and litter resulting in tall vegetation were favoured. By contrast, the vegetation in the wider surrounding of the nest was characterised by more bare ground and shorter vegetation but still a high cover of the herb layer and litter. In conclusion, our study highlights the prime importance of extensive open grasslands with a pronounced litter layer and largely lacking human disturbance as breeding habitats for the Short-eared owl. At the nesting site, we suggest that tall and dense vegetation with a high cover of litter (i) might enhance concealment and (ii) causes a favourable microclimate by protecting fledglings against adverse weather conditions. In the wider surrounding of the nest, shorter vegetation with a pronounced litter layer (i) improves fledgling mobility, (ii) fosters vole abundance and (iii) increases prey accessibility.

Abstract Metacommunity theory has advanced scientific understanding of how species interactions and spatial processes influence patterns of biodiversity and community structure across landscapes. While the central tenets of metacommunity theory have been promoted as pivotal considerations for conservation management, few field experiments have tested the validity of metacommunity predictions. Here, we tested one key prediction of metacommunity theory—that decreasing habitat connectivity should erode metacommunity structure by hindering species movement between patches. For 2 years, we manipulated an experimental old‐field grassland ecosystem via mowing to represent four levels of habitat connectivity: (1) open control, (2) full connectivity, (3) partial connectivity, and (4) no connectivity. Within each treatment plot (10 × 10 m, n = 4 replicates), we measured the abundance and diversity (i.e., alpha and beta) of both flying and ground arthropods using sticky and pitfall traps, respectively. We found that the abundance and diversity of highly mobile flying arthropods were unaffected by habitat connectivity, whereas less mobile ground arthropods were highly impacted. The mean total abundance of ground arthropods was 2.5× and 2× higher in the control and partially connected plots compared to isolated patches, respectively. We also reveal that habitat connectivity affected the trophic interactions of ground arthropods, with predators (e.g., wolf spiders, ground spiders) being highly positively correlated with micro‐detritivores (springtails, mites) but not macro‐detritivores (millipedes, isopods) as habitat connectivity increased. Together these findings indicate that changes in habitat connectivity can alter the metacommunity structure for less mobile organisms such as ground arthropods. Because of their essential roles in terrestrial ecosystem functioning and services, we recommend that conservationists, restoration practitioners, and land managers include principles of habitat connectivity for ground arthropods when designing biodiversity management programs.

IntroductionAn understanding of animal behavior is critical to determine their ecological role and to inform conservation efforts. However, observing hidden behaviors can be challenging, especially for animals that spend most of their time underwater. Animal-borne devices are valuable tools to estimate hidden behavioral states.MethodsWe investigated the fine-scale behavior of internesting hawksbill turtles using the mixed-membership method for movement (M4) which integrated dive variables with spatial components and estimated latent behavioral states.ResultsFive latent behavioral states were identified: 1) pre-nesting, 2) transit, 3) quiescence, and 4) area restricted search within and 5) near the residence of turtles. The last three states associated with a residency period, showed lower activity levels. Notably, when compared to other behaviors the pre-nesting exhibited shallower and remarkably long dives of up to 292 minutes. We noted high fidelity to residence core areas and nesting beaches, within and between nesting seasons, with residence areas decreasing within a season.DiscussionThe latent behaviors identified provide the most detailed breakdown of turtle movement behaviors during the internesting period to date, providing valuable insights into their ecology and behavior. This information can inform marine turtle conservation and management efforts since utilization distributions of individual behavioral states can be used to determine spatially-explicit susceptibility of turtles to various threats based on their behavior. The analyses of utilization distribution revealed a minimal overlap with existing marine protected areas (0.4%), and we show how a new proposal would expand protection to 30%. In short, this study provides valuable guidance for conservation and management of internesting marine turtles at a fine spatiotemporal resolution and can be used to enhance national action plans for endangered species, including the expansion of existing Marine Protected Areas. By flexibly incorporating biologically informative parameters, this approach can be used to study behavior outside of the hawksbill breeding season or even beyond this species.

Incorporating local farmers' perceptions into conservation management has great significance because they have become the key stakeholders in wildlife conservation, especially that of waterbirds. The Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) interacts closely with local farmers throughout its distribution, resulting in human–bird conflict. The evaluation of ecosystem services/disservices among local populations should help to address this relationship. We examined local farmers' perceptions of agreement with the ecosystem services and disservices provided by the Black-necked Crane in one of its large wintering sites by conducting semi-structured interviews with farmers around Caohai Wetland in Guizhou Province, China. The influences of socio-demographic variables, ecological knowledge, and attitude on farmers' agreement with ecosystem services and disservices were explored by generalized linear mixed models. Most of the farmers perceived a few benefits from the Black-necked Crane, whereas approximately one-third of them regarded the species as harmful. The most mentioned service was aesthetic value, followed by leisure and ecotourism, and therapeutic value, while crop consumption was the most commonly mentioned disservice. Their levels of agreement with services were associated with attitude and age, while those with disservices were determined by education attainment and household size. Local government and conservation organizations could use social media platforms, such as TikTok and WeChat, to convey information on the benefits or ecosystem services provided by the black-necked crane, and ecological compensation could be implemented to alleviate farmer–bird conflict. This study demonstrated the significance of the inclusion of local stakeholders and ecosystem service evaluation in conservation management. This framework can be applied to other protected species or ecosystems facing similar situations.

Climate change, habitat loss, and human disturbance are major threats to biodiversity. Protecting habitats plays a pivotal role in biodiversity conservation, and there is a global imperative to establish an effective system of protected areas (PAs) to implement habitat conservation and halt biodiversity decline. However, the protected patch size of habitat for a species is just as important for biodiversity conservation as the expansion of areas already under protection. In China, conservation management is often carried out based on administrative divisions. Therefore, here, an analytical conservation management framework was developed based on administrative divisions to assess whether the current network of PAs can effectively meet species' conservation needs using the minimum area requirements (MARs) of species as criteria for medium and large‐sized mammals in China. This study found that the MAR of medium and large‐sized mammals was larger in the northwest and smaller in the southeast, while taking the Hu line as the dividing line. Precipitation seasonality, elevation, annual mean temperature, and annual precipitation are the main environmental factors driving the distribution of a species MAR. Compared with MAR for each species, the maximum protected patch size of habitat is severely undersized in most provinces where those species primarily distribute, and this is particularly true for large carnivores and threatened species. The densely populated provinces of eastern China are particularly affected by this. The present study's framework can identify the provinces needing to expand PAs or implement other effective area‐based conservation measures and habitat restoration. This analytical framework is also relevant for biodiversity conservation in different taxa and regions around the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prescribed fire is a management tool that is frequently used to foster biodiversity. Simultaneously, insects that provide essential ecosystem services are globally declining. Within the pyroentomology literature, there are mixed reports of positive and negative effects that prescribed fires have on insect communities. This is likely due to not accounting for fire heterogeneity created by fire severity. To better understand prescribed fire severity effects on insect communities, we used multispectral reflectance data collected by Sentinel-2 to methodically quantify prescribed fire severity and compared ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) taxonomic and functional community composition responses between an unburned site and two burned sites with contrasting fire impacts. We found 23 ground beetle species and used 30 morphological, physiological, phenological, and ecological functional traits for each species. We found that our moderate fire severity site had different taxonomic and functional community compositions from both our unburned and high-severity sites. Surprisingly, we did not find a strong difference in taxonomic or functional ground beetle composition between our unburned and high-severity sites. Our results encourage future pyroentomology studies to account for fire severity, which will help guide conservation managers to make more accurate decisions and predictions about prescribed fire effects on insect biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals that live in seasonal environments adjust their reproduction cycle to optimize seasonal forage quality. Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are seasonal altitudinal migrants that feed on bamboo shoots and leaves with different nutritional quality. However, the importance of bamboo shoots to giant pandas, especially small and isolated populations, is not fully appreciated. Here, we explored whether mating time of giant pandas is shaped by bamboo shoot phenology. We also assessed the intensity of ongoing bamboo shoot harvesting by local communities in 42 giant panda reserves based on questionnaire surveys. Varying intensity and protection levels of bamboo shoot harvesting were found. From these data, we developed a priority ranking scheme of protection areas for this key food resource. Our study showed that pandas time their mating behavior to coincide with bamboo shoot phenology due to the high nutritional demands associated with mating and pregnancy. We also found that bamboo shoots were not well protected in many places. Liangshan, Daxiangling, and Xiaoxiangling, containing the most isolated panda populations, were identified as the areas with the most urgent need of protection. Furthermore, equal attention should be paid to the QiongL-B population, as this region holds considerable potential to serve as a corridor between the Minshan and Qionglai populations. To address the challenges posed by bamboo shoot harvesting, we recommend establishing more practical bamboo shoot management policies, increasing public awareness of bamboo shoot protection, and providing alternative sources of income for local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butterflies are the bio-indicator species for monitoring the health of the ecosystem. A preliminary checklist of the butterfly diversity was prepared by a long-term survey from 2019 to 2022 in varied habitats in the agriculture landscape of the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University (HPAU), India. The study recorded 74 butterfly species belonging to six families Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Hesperiidae, Papilionidae and Riodinidae. In addition, there are some rare records of butterfly species such as Common Wall (Lasiommata schakra), Dark Blue Tiger (Tirumala septentrionis), Ringed Argus (Callerebia annada) and Pioneer (Belenois aurota). Some butterflies are habitat specific and few also show local migration from high-elevation areas of the surrounding Dhauladhar ranges. The preliminary checklist prepared from the present study was also compared with Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) located in the similar landscape of the study area. This will help to understand the long-term effect of habitat degradation from human-modified environment and agricultural activities to facilitate effective conservation strategies to protect Himalayan ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maximising conservation outcomes for threatened species in multi-use landscapes is likely to require a multi-stakeholder, coordinated approach that is tenure blind. Here, we conduct a review of a research program targeting the endangered northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia; an area with a high concentration of mining and pastoral activities. To inform ongoing investment to support northern quoll conservation, we identify future directions that either add value to research already undertaken or are based on the original priorities that have not been addressed. The original program was developed using a collaborative process involving workshops attended by multiple stakeholders to identify research priorities. To date, the program has significantly improved our knowledge of Pilbara northern quolls, particularly in relation to effective survey and monitoring techniques, the influence of habitat quantity, configuration, and composition on occupancy, movement ecology, population dynamics and structure, and the threat posed by introduced predators. The efficacy of artificial refuges that were created to replicate natural denning habitat has also been investigated. Suggested future research directions focus on refining the northern quoll regional monitoring program, understanding how interacting threats such as introduced predators, fire, and herbivore grazing influence northern quoll populations in the Pilbara, and how best to mitigate other threats such as mining associated activities and the impending cane toad invasion. Northern quolls in the Pilbara are genetically distinct from other populations, and as cane toads are yet to reach this region, it is considered a stronghold for the species. Even so, the region is a mining hotspot and, until relatively recently, knowledge on how the northern quoll population was faring was lacking. Here, we provide a review of a research program that has greatly improved our ecological understanding of the species in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphibian populations are declining worldwide. These declines are caused by a variety of factors, one of which is the use of fertilizers in agriculture. This is especially true for tadpoles, which may develop in fertilizer-polluted agricultural water bodies. Nevertheless, there is little data on the toxicological consequences of fertilizers on amphibians. The goal of this study was to determine the acute and chronic toxicity of urea fertilizer on marsh frogs' (Pelophylax sp.) embryonic, larval, and metamorphic stages. For this purpose, in a static-renewal test, individuals were exposed to twelve nominal concentrations (0 to 15000 mg/L) of urea for 122 days to determine hatching success, survival, growth, development, and metamorphic traits, as well as histological consequences. Based on the results, at concentrations greater than 500 mg/L, no hatching occurred. Survivorship was unaffected for the first 72 hours, but it reached 0% on day 26 at concentrations greater than 150 mg/L. Survival and development rates decreased significantly in 100 and 150 mg/L treatments after a longer duration (day 86). Growth was reduced as well, but it was only significant at 150 mg/L. Metamorphosis time and percentage were significantly impacted, but not metamorphosis size. Increased urea fertilizer concentrations had significant histopathological consequences for the skin, gills, liver, kidneys, and striated muscles. Our results suggest that urea fertilizer, at concentrations commonly found in agroecosystems, may pose a serious threat to temperate anuran species inhabiting these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities and climate change have significantly impacted the quantity and sustainable utilization of medicinal plants. Gentiana manshurica Kitagawa, a high-quality original species of Gentianae Radix et Rhizoma, has significant medicinal value. However, wild resources have experienced a sharp decline due to human excavation, habitat destruction, and other factors. Consequently, it has been classified as an Endangered (EN) species on the IUCN Red List and is considered a third-level national key-protected medicinal material in China. The effects of climate change on G. manshurica are not yet known in the context of the severe negative impacts of climate change on most species. In this study, an optimized MaxEnt model was used to predict the current and future potential distribution of G. manshurica. In addition, land use data in 1980, 2000, and 2020 were used to calculate habitat quality by InVEST model and landscape fragmentation by the Fragstats model. Finally, using the above-calculated results, the priority protection areas and wild tending areas of G. manshurica were planned in ZONATION software. The results show that the suitable area is mainly distributed in the central part of the Songnen Plain. Bio15, bio03, bio01, and clay content are the environmental variables affecting the distribution. In general, the future potential distribution is expected to show an increasing trend. However, the species is expected to become threatened as carbon emission scenarios and years increase gradually. At worst, the high suitability area is expected to disappear completely under SSP585-2090s. Combined with the ttest, this could be due to pressure from bio01. The migration trends of climate niche centroid are inconsistent and do not all move to higher latitudes under different carbon emission scenarios. Over the past 40 years, habitat quality in the current potential distribution has declined yearly, and natural habitat has gradually fragmented. Existing reserves protect only 9.52% of G. manshurica’s priority conservation area. To avoid extinction risk and increase the practicality of the results, we clarified the hotspot counties of priority protection area gaps and wild tending areas. These results can provide an essential reference and decision basis for effectively protecting G. manshurica under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partnerships between organizations that engage in land protection are promoted as a way to improve the efficiency of limited conservation budgets. However, limited empirical exploration of the types of organizations involved in partnering and their organizational objectives precludes a holistic understanding of how to integrate partnering into planning for improved conservation outcomes. Using data on protected areas from California, United States, we explored the frequency and extent of partnering between managing organizations. In addition, we analyzed mission statements of partnering and non‐partnering organizations to explore whether organizational objectives were related to observed partnering behavior. We estimated that partnerships managed about 7 million acres, comprising 8% of total protected land area, in California. Furthermore, the organizations that we observed partnering tended to use more environmental themed language in their mission statements, while non‐partnering organizations tended to use language with socioeconomic themes. These results provide empirical evidence of partnering and support further exploration of it as a potentially important mechanism to improve conservation outcomes. In addition, they suggest that current partnering patterns and future opportunities to expand partnerships in protected land management likely depend on organizations pursuing wildlife and nature focused conservation objectives, and to a lesser extent socioeconomic objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although parasites make up a substantial proportion of the biotic component of ecosystems, in terms of both biomass and number of species, they are rarely considered in conservation planning, except where they are thought to pose a threat to the conservation of their hosts. In this review, we address a number of unresolved questions concerning parasite conservation. Arguments for conserving parasite species refer to the intrinsic value conferred by their evolutionary heritage and potential, their functional role in the provision of ecosystem services, and their value as indicators of ecosystem quality. We propose that proper consideration of these arguments mean that it is not logically defensible to automatically exclude parasite species from conservation decisions; rather, endangered hosts and parasites should be considered together as a threatened ecological community. The extent to which parasites are threatened with extinction is difficult to estimate with any degree of confidence, because so many parasite species have yet to be identified and, even for those which have been formally described, we have limited information on the factors affecting their distribution and abundance. This lack of ecological information may partially explain the under-representation of parasites on threatened species lists. Effective conservation of parasites requires maintaining access to suitable hosts and the ecological conditions that permit successful transmission between hosts. When implementing recovery plans for threatened host species, this may be best achieved by attempting to restore the ecological conditions that maintain the host and its parasite fauna in dynamic equilibrium. Ecosystem-centred conservation may be a more effective strategy than species-centred (or host-parasite community-centred) approaches for preventing extinction of parasites, but the criteria which are typically used to identify protected areas do not provide information on the ecological conditions required for effective transmission. We propose a simple decision tree to aid the identification of appropriate conservation actions for threatened parasites. [Display omitted] • Parasites are common in all ecosystems. • Parasites should be conserved for their intrinsic value and ecosystem services. • Parasites are usually regarded only as threats by conservation managers. • A decision tree for integrating parasites into conservation planning is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the population size and breeding ecology of the Red-billed Tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus, a poorly studied pantropical seabird, at St Helena, South Atlantic. The population size of 81–246 pairs and 272–564 individuals identifies the study population as the largest colony of Red-billed Tropicbirds in the South Atlantic, but also an internationally important part of the global population. We estimated the survival from laying to fledging of 158 nests between 2004 and 2017 at only 33%, among the lowest values reported globally for the species. Most nest failures occurred during incubation, with predation identified as the predominant cause of fledging failure. Intervals between breeding attempts were longer after successful nesting attempts than failed attempts. Previous breeding interval and nest cavity fidelity further influenced the interval between breeding attempts, while the presence of replacement clutches did not. Multiple nest site and cavity characteristics were important predictors of cavity use, nest site selection and productivity. Management options for reducing mammalian predators to ensure the long-term viability of this important population at St Helena are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Conservation often requires that people change their behaviour or accept interventions that seek to improve the conservation and welfare of wildlife and the safety and well-being of people. In this study, we show that a short educational video can improve community support for an intervention (electric fencing) that is advocated by experts as a sustainable and cost-effective intervention to keep baboons out of urban residential areas. By varying the timing of the video within a survey exploring support for an electric fence, we demonstrate the value of education, which increased the average marginal probability of support by 15 percentage points. Women were more likely to change their attitude to fences once apprised of the relevant facts than men. This study contributes to the emerging literature on the importance of education in managing conservation conflicts and the need for evidence-based interventions. Few studies test whether education can help increase support for wildlife management interventions. This mixed methods study sought to test the importance of educating a community on the use of a baboon-proof electric fence to mitigate negative interactions between humans and Chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) in a residential suburb of the City of Cape Town, South Africa. An educational video on the welfare, conservation and lifestyle benefits of a baboon-proof electric fence was included in a short online survey. The positioning of the video within the survey was randomised either to fall before or after questions probing the level of support for an electric fence. The results showed that watching the video before most survey questions increased the average marginal probability of supporting an electric fence by 15 percentage points. The study also explored whether the educational video could change people's minds. Those who saw the video towards the end of the survey were questioned again about the electric fence. Many changed their minds after watching the video, with support for the fence increasing from 36% to 50%. Of these respondents, the results show that being female raised the average marginal probability of someone changing their mind in favour of supporting the fence by 19%. Qualitative analysis revealed that support for or against the fence was multi-layered and that costs and concern for baboons were not the only relevant factors influencing people's choices. Conservation often needs to change people's behaviours. We need to know what interventions are effective. We show in the real world that an educational video can be effective and can moderately change people's opinions and that women are more likely to change their position in light of the facts than men. This study contributes to the emerging literature on the importance of education in managing conservation conflicts and the need for evidence-based interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For species without parental care, such as sea turtles, nest site selection is particularly important for embryo development, hatchling survival and, ultimately, reproductive success. We conducted an 8-year (2012–2019) capture–mark–recapture study of the re-nesting behaviour of loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta to identify both inter- and intra-beach patterns of nest site selection. Our study site, Maio Island in the archipelago of Cabo Verde, hosts one of the largest loggerhead turtle nesting colonies globally. Of 1,060 females analysed, 77% laid repeated clutches within 15 km of their previous nesting sites both between and within nesting seasons. This site fidelity was particularly high (64–71%) for turtles nesting on the east coast of Maio Island. In two areas of the island (north-west and south-east) individual nesting zone consistency was extremely low (10–25%). In all cases extra-zone re-nesting events mainly occurred on the east coast. We also found that females avoided re-nesting near the shoreline, which is particularly relevant in the context of rising sea levels. Overall, loggerhead turtles nesting in Maio Island are philopatric but are using a bet-edging strategy to distribute nests amongst several beaches, choosing the safest area within each beach to maximize their reproductive success. This study highlights the priority sites for protection on Maio Island and could help to optimize capture–mark–recapture programmes. The data reveal the potential for adaptive responses to projected sea level rises.

The dataset contains records of spiders collected in the northeast of Luhansk Oblast in the periods 1982-1989, 2009-2011 and 2021. It aimed at the inventory of spider fauna of the Striltsivskyi Steppe Nature Reserve and species distribution in the main grassland and forest habitats of the region. The research was also concerned with the impact of conservation management ‒ hay mowing or strict protection and man-induced steppe fire on spider communities.The dataset includes records from seven geographical localities in the northeast of Luhansk Oblast with 1,955 occurrences of 6662 individuals. For the first time, it provides detailed information about spider species composition, phenology and habitat distiribution within the study area, including two conservation areas and the primary material on the studies on the impact of hay making and steppe fire on spider communities. All the records of 246 spider species with georeferencing were published in GBIF.

Australia's largest sea turtle is the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea). Leatherbacks do not nest, or only rarely, in Australia, and hence receive relatively little research attention. Here we review the knowledge of leatherback turtle occurrence in south-east (SE) Australia, drawing on sightings information as well as satellite tracking data from turtles equipped at their nesting beaches in Indonesia, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea that then travelled to Australia. These data reveal that SE Australia likely provides a globally important foraging area for this species. Sea turtle temperatures assigned to sightings of live leatherbacks, showed 95% were seen at SSTs ≥ 14 °C. Similar to other parts of the world, such as the North Atlantic, the 12–15 °C isotherms likely constrain the seasonal pole-wards migration of leatherbacks searching for their gelatinous prey. Climate warming is likely moving the foraging range of leatherbacks poleward. This study also highlights the vulnerability of this SE Australian population to anthropogenic threats. Of 605 sightings of leatherbacks, 11.6% were of dead individuals, generally washed ashore, in most cases likely after entanglement in fishing gear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Threatened species with restricted ranges are at risk from habitat fragmentation and loss, which amplifies genetic bottleneck and impacts of small changes to their environments. Ecological models including population viability analyses (PVAs) can predict the trajectory of populations in a way that is not invasive or detrimental to the study species. They can therefore be a vital tool in modeling populations for conservation purposes. Although habitat suitability models have been used in studies to suggest areas for protected area designation, PVAs are generally not used in this regard. Dryophytes suweonensis and Dryophytes flaviventris are two threatened treefrog species endemic to the Korean Peninsula. The two species face threats of habitat loss and degradation and predation by invasive species among others. We used an integrated modeling approach combining ecological niche, connectivity, and PVAs in Vortex to determine the likelihood of extinction of each species under baseline and protected area designation scenarios. Designation scenarios were simulated in Vortex through halting future reduction in carrying capacity (halting future degradation to sites through protected area status), reducing effects of catastrophes (mitigating the effects of drought), and reducing mortality rates (controlling invasive predator populations and ex situ raising of tadpoles to maturity). We classified the combination of these management efforts as "active management" as opposed to "no management," which is currently being practiced. We additionally used a stepwise approach to determine designation priority of individual patches. Under current conditions (no management), the resulting effective metapopulations after 100 years were 167 ± 325 individuals with an 86.5% extinction probability for D. suweonensis and 165 ± 200 individuals with a 90.3% extinction probability for D. flaviventris. Under active management of all sites (93 sites covering 426.9 km2), the extinction probability was 0% for both species with significantly increased metapopulation sizes, 15 910 ± 2855 for D. suweonensis, and 4400 ± 874 for D. flaviventris. Determining designation priority can inform the regulatory bodies on which habitat to designate and whether active or passive management should be applied. Without intervention, these species will be likely to face imminent extinction. In addition to being useful for government‐imposed conservation management, our study can be followed by future studies as a methodology for prioritizing sites for protected area designation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Captive breeding programmes can play an important role in the conservation of species threatened with extinction in the wild. White rhinoceros, Ceratotherium simum, have suffered drastic declines due to illegal poaching across their range, and captive populations have the potential to safeguard this species from extinction. However, white rhinoceros birth rates in captivity have been extremely low, and there is substantial variation in breeding success between different institutions. A better understanding of the factors limiting their reproduction in captivity could improve their breeding management and conservation potential. This study used studbook data (n = 467) and comparisons with wild populations in Kenya (n = 236) to assess the breeding performance and viability of the European captive southern white rhinoceros, Ceratotherium simum simum, population. Our results show that the European population is declining 2% annually under current demographic parameters. On average, just 10% of females calved annually, in comparison to almost 40% across wild populations. To become self‐sustaining, this must increase to a minimum of 17%, though reaching this target may lead to additional management challenges. Further analyses using studbook (n = 134 individuals) and multi‐institutional questionnaire data (n = 20 institutions) suggest that modifying the social structure of captive groups could improve female breeding success. Institutions housing larger groups had proportionally greater breeding success, and females were more likely to copulate if housed with another breeding female, and more receptive to bulls if housed in a group with a lower mean age. These findings highlight the importance of considering social conditions in captive breeding programmes, particularly for species with complex social systems and low reproductive rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental education (EE) applications can support wildlife conservation practices by improving school children's understanding of environmental issues, including endangered species conservation, such as the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana). This study aimed to identify and assess school children's perceptions of elephant conservation in three schools: South Africa, Kenya, and England. Questionnaires were completed by students at one school per location, with the age range of 10–16 (n = 364). The responses were then analysed independently and collectively using descriptive statistics (n = 364). School children feared elephants where elephants were native. The importance of elephants was not acknowledged by students in South Africa and England and included a lack of awareness of how elephants benefit other species. There was an unclear understanding of the threats to elephants. Collectively, a wildlife guide as a career choice was not highly valued. The results of this study have reflected key narratives of elephant conservation from selected countries; Kenya leading in anti-poaching and anti-trade campaigns, anti-poaching campaigns by various NGOs in the U.K., and elephant management around expanding populations in South Africa, which have given significant insights into areas of improvement for environmental education practices to support wildlife conservation globally. Furthermore, this new research has identified and compared school children's awareness of elephant conservation on a greater spatial scale than what is currently understood, compounding the importance of understanding effective wildlife conservation in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citizen‐science projects focused on ecology and conservation have been growing in popularity in recent years, offering many opportunities for researchers and volunteers alike. Two principal approaches to citizen‐science projects in ecology can be characterized as the data‐first approach and the question‐first approach. Here, we highlight the value of question‐first citizen‐science projects for providing insights into the ecology and management of urban wildlife, using case studies on (1) beneficial insects (pollinators, predators and parasitoids) and (2) possums and gliders in Australian cities and towns. The question‐first approach has many benefits, offering a platform to engage volunteers with the scientific process and the broader context of an ecological or conservation problem, while also connecting them with their local environment. Identifying the questions to be addressed in a citizen‐science project ahead of data collection allows for co‐design and stronger collaboration with volunteers, community groups, local experts, and landscape managers. Question‐first citizen science can also provide valuable ecological data that extend substantially beyond presence‐only records, including presence‐absence data collected via timed surveys and information on animal behavior and interspecific interactions. However, establishing and maintaining question‐first citizen‐science projects can be challenging, requiring the building and maintenance of many relationships and a multidisciplinary approach that goes well beyond the usual activities of an academic researcher. Well‐designed, question‐first citizen science has the capacity to achieve both scientific rigor and meaningful engagement with volunteer participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm agroforestry systems associated with conservation management practices have been proposed as a more sustainable alternative to monoculture. We examined whether oil palm agroforestry systems (less and more diversified) under conservation management contribute to improving soil fertility (an indicator of soil sustainability), using a secondary forest fragment as a reference. We analyzed the effects of the agroforestry systems and the secondary forest on the following variables in the arable layer (0–20 cm) and in the layers along the soil profile (0–5, 5–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm): active acidity (pH), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), aluminum (Al), organic matter, potential acidity (H + Al), potential cation-exchange capacity (CEC), effective cation-exchange capacity (ECEC), Al saturation (AS), and base saturation (BS). Overall, soil acidity was lower in the agroforestry systems than in the forest, in all layers. In the arable layer, the pH, Ca, Mg, K, P, and BS values were higher in the agroforestry systems than in the forest. Liming, inorganic and organic fertilization, and the maintenance of organic matter on the soil may have contributed to improving soil fertility in the oil palm agroforestry systems. Our results suggest that, in the eastern Amazon, oil palm growing in agroforestry systems associated with conservation practices can contribute to the maintenance of soil fertility at adequate levels for the species cultivated in these systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species' distributions are moving polewards in response to climate change, and although range expansions of relatively warm‐adapted species are widely reported, reports of range retractions in cool‐adapted species are less common. Here, we analysed species' distribution shifts for 76 cool‐adapted moths in Great Britain using citizen science occurrence records from the National Moth Recording Scheme over a 40‐year period. Although we find evidence for trailing edge shifts to higher latitudes, shifts in species' range centroids are oriented towards the north‐west, and are more closely correlated with directional changes in total precipitation than average temperature. We also found that species' local extinction risk is higher in areas where temperature is high and precipitation is low, but this risk diminishes as precipitation increases. Adaptation efforts should therefore focus on maintaining or increasing water availability as the climate continues to change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An inventory of the botanical resources of Doe Mountain Recreation Area, comprising 3480 ha on the boundary of the Blue Ridge and Ridge and Valley ecoregions in extreme northeastern Tennessee, was conducted to help guide conservation-based management. A total of 486 species (including subspecies and varieties) was found comprising 95 families, 286 genera, 11 species tracked on the state rare plant list, 153 county records, and 77 exotic species. The relatively high ratio of county records to exotics indicated an area of conservation merit, but the ratio was lower than in floras from comparable areas in eastern Tennessee. The vast majority of county records were of common species, suggestive of an under-collected county. However, some of the noteworthy county records and state-listed species were from unusual habitats such as acid seeps, wetlands, and xeric ridges. Two species, Liatris virgata and Lycopodiella inundata, were new to the state. Water in the seep that supports L. inundata was an order of magnitude more acidic (pH=3.56) than at other sites. An analysis of the wildland–urban interface showed that the periphery of the site had more human impact than the county as a whole with the highest impact on the northern half; only 13% of the area was classified as uninhabited. Management recommendations, some of which were already adopted, targeted protection of acid seeps and xeric roadside slopes, curtailing mowing and herbicide use near a wetland that supports a state endangered species, and reconnaissance for exotic invasions in a biodiverse power line corridor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Shallow soils on acidic bedrock in dry areas of Central Europe support dry grasslands and heathlands that were formerly used as extensive pastures. These habitats are of high conservation value, but their abandonment in the 20th century triggered slow natural succession that poses a threat to specialized plant species. We asked how this vegetation and its plant diversity have changed over the past three decades and whether protected areas have positively affected habitat quality. Location: Southwestern and central Moravia, Czech Republic. Methods: In 2018–2019, we resurveyed 94 vegetation plots first sampled in 1986–1991 at 47 acidic dry grassland and heathland sites. We compared the number of all vascular plant species, Red List species and alien species per plot using parametric and non‐parametric tests, life‐form spectra using the chi‐square test, species composition using detrended correspondence analysis, and indicator values using a permutation test. We also compared these changes between sites within and outside protected areas. Results: Vegetation changes over the past three decades have been relatively small. However, we detected a decrease in total species richness, the number of Red List species and the number of characteristic species of dry grasslands. Neophytes were infrequent, while archaeophytes increased slightly. The competitive tall grass Arrhenatherum elatius, annual species and young woody plants increased in abundance or newly established at many sites. Indicator values did not change except for a slight increase in nutrient values. These negative trends occurred both within and outside protected areas but were more pronounced outside. Conclusions: Formerly grazed acidic dry grasslands and heathlands in Moravia are slowly losing habitat specialists, including threatened plant species, and are increasingly dominated by Arrhenatherum elatius. Conservation management, especially cutting in protected areas, slows down the negative trends of decline in plant diversity and habitat quality but is insufficient to halt these processes completely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The habitat of Javan deer in Pangandaran Nature Reserve (PNR) faced natural changes, particularly due to the succession process of vegetation community in grazing areas, and inadequate infrastructures that affected the deer to roam outside PNR. This study aimed to formulate strategies for the conservation of Javan deer in PNR, focusing on ecological aspects and conservation management. The methods were encountering Javan deer individuals; scan sampling and continuous recording to observe the behaviour of Javan deer; calculating the productivity of grazing area by defoliation experiment and vegetation analysis; reviewing documents, reports and interviews; and analysing strategy using SWOT-QSPM. Results showed there were 43 Javan deer encountered roaming in PNR and outside the conservation area, and nine individuals gathered in Cikamal grassland. The productivity of the grazing areas (5.61 ha) was 93,826 kg of feed annually and was only sufficient for 23 individuals. The grazing areas were dominated by Cynodon dactylon. Javan deer spent their time feeding. Javan deer herd in Cikamal is more intolerant to humans compared to the herd in Pangandaran Nature Tourist Park (PNTP). This study recommends: considering the management status of Javan deer in the conservation management of PNR and PNTP; improving the conservation management of Javan deer and its habitat; improving facilities and the management system of those facilities and conservation-supporting infrastructures;collaboration with researchers to perform some research and innovations for Javan deer conservation; improving the capability of PNR staff theoretically and practically; and educating and empowering the local people in terms of Javan deer conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural intensification and abandonment of traditional agricultural practices are main drivers of current insect declines. The resulting loss of feeding and nesting opportunities has led to a decrease in pollinator populations like wild bees. While the restoration of floral resources has been widely implemented in wild bee conservation, nesting resources, particularly for ground‐nesting species, are barely considered.We assessed wild bee diversity in a wine‐growing area in Germany in 15 study sites along a soil gradient and evaluated whether wild bees were distinctly affected by different vineyard types (vertically oriented, terraced, abandoned), local conditions (e.g. shrub and flower cover) and landscape factors in response to divergent nesting needs (above‐ground vs. ground‐nesting).We found that wild bees responded more strongly to the availability of nesting sites than to flower resources. While ground‐nesting bees were determined by the suitability of soil aspects for nesting irrespective of vineyard management types, above‐ground‐nesting bees profited from vineyard abandonment and shrub encroachment in vineyard fallows and were enhanced by the availability of semi‐natural habitats (SNHs) in the surrounding landscape. In contrast, floral resource availability in managed vineyards had only marginal effects on above‐ground‐nesting bees.Synthesis and applications: Life‐history traits like nesting strategies have long been neglected in wild bee conservation approaches, but proved to be highly relevant, especially for ground‐nesting bees. For this, agri‐environmental schemes can no longer solely focus on the restoration of floral resources, but should equally address nesting resources. Therefore, management efforts for enhancing wild bees in vineyard landscapes should aim at complementing nesting resources for ground‐nesting bees (e.g. exposed bare ground patches) and above‐ground‐nesting bees (e.g. woody elements, hedges) in addition to floral resources. At the landscape level, conserving heterogeneous landscapes at a mixture of actively managed vineyards and semi‐natural and woody elements is significant to maintain diverse bee communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are Critically Endangered and Guinea is a key stronghold for this subspecies. However, Guinea is also rich in minerals with some of the highest‐grade iron‐ore deposits in the world. Specifically, the Nimba Mountains, home to western chimpanzees, is one of the sites under consideration for mining activities. To assess the impact of mining activities in the area, we used non‐invasive genetic sampling to estimate chimpanzee population size, sex ratio, community composition, and range boundaries on the western flank of the massif. The level of genetic diversity and affinity between communities was estimated and recommendations for future genetic censusing provided. Between 2003 and 2018, we collected 999 fecal samples of which 663 were analyzed using a panel of 26 microsatellites. We identified a minimum of 136 chimpanzees in four communities, with evidence of migratory events, a high level of shared ancestry and genetic diversity. We assessed sampling intensities and capture rates for each community. Saturation was reached in two communities with sampling between 3.2 and 4.3 times the estimated number of chimpanzees. Our findings highlight the utility of genetic censusing for temporal monitoring of ape abundance, as well as capturing migratory events and gauging genetic diversity and population viability over time. We recommend genetic sampling, combined with camera trapping, for use in future Environmental and Social Impact Assessments, as these methods can yield robust baselines for implementing the mitigation hierarchy, future biomonitoring and conservation management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humpback dolphins (Sousa spp.), throughout their distribution ranges, are often designated as flagship species for coastal ecosystem conservation. Most of the early research on humpback dolphins was carried out in Chinese waters, and in the last two decades, numerous studies have provided abundant conservation‐valuable findings.In this study, a systematic review was conducted to gain a comprehensive understanding of the distributional ecology of humpback dolphins in Chinese waters, to establish an updated national knowledge base about key conservation baselines on this flagship species.Currently, there are at least eight main distribution areas of humpback dolphins along the coast of southern China, representing a clear picture of place‐based conservation units. However, the overall biogeographical distribution pattern is discontinuous, and existing marine protected areas are far from sufficient to protect these key areas for the survival of humpback dolphins.Based on the photo‐identification technique, cross‐matching of humpback dolphin individuals revealed extremely low inter‐population connectivity among most of the known populations. Genetic studies suggested that several examined populations have low haplotype diversity levels, with limited inter‐population gene flow. Morphological and behavioural evidence also supports population differentiation among geographical locations.These findings provide key baselines for the promotion of conservation management initiatives for humpback dolphins in Chinese waters. All recognizable geographical populations, together with each key habitat, should be considered as independent conservation units. With small distribution areas, low genetic diversity and unfavourable geographical isolation, several populations may be at a high risk of regional extinction.A country‐led scheme with cross‐regional collaboration is required for science‐based, action‐focused and timely conservation efforts. Future conservation management initiatives should aim to increase or at least maintain key habitats, inter‐population connectivity, population‐level genetic diversity and effective population size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diverse, often inter-disciplinary, approaches have been proposed to advance the conservation of lions (Panthera leo) and their natural habitats. The IUCN guidelines for the conservation of lions in Africa call for effective national policies at all scales, and legal frameworks with specific Action Plans preferably at a regional/population level, to achieve the goals of lion conservation while also planning for the equitable distribution of costs and benefits amongst local communities. However, general approaches must be tailored to specific circumstances, so here we provide an overview of the factors relevant to the particular case of Asiatic lions (p.l.leo). Taking stock of what has contributed to the remarkable recovery of these lions from the brink of extinction, we provide readers with background understanding of the steadily growing lion population in Gujarat, India. We focus on the management challenges that have arisen during the past two decades during which lions have increasingly moved, and dispersed, beyond the Gir Protected Area (Gir PA). We illustrate how the positive intersection between cultural predisposition, regulatory frameworks, and management interventions have contributed to this accomplishment. Despite the apparent history of success, the currently fruitful intersection of these factors are in fact dynamic and, to remain positive, need continuous review and adaptation. We highlight how mitigations that may strongly foster conservation when applied in moderation may be counter-productive in excess and also go on to evaluate the extent to which some of the lessons learnt can be generalised.

Abstract Partnerships between organizations that engage in land protection are promoted as a way to improve the efficiency of limited conservation budgets. However, limited empirical exploration of the types of organizations involved in partnering and their organizational objectives precludes a holistic understanding of how to integrate partnering into planning for improved conservation outcomes. Using data on protected areas from California, United States, we explored the frequency and extent of partnering between managing organizations. In addition, we analyzed mission statements of partnering and non‐partnering organizations to explore whether organizational objectives were related to observed partnering behavior. We estimated that partnerships managed about 7 million acres, comprising 8% of total protected land area, in California. Furthermore, the organizations that we observed partnering tended to use more environmental themed language in their mission statements, while non‐partnering organizations tended to use language with socioeconomic themes. These results provide empirical evidence of partnering and support further exploration of it as a potentially important mechanism to improve conservation outcomes. In addition, they suggest that current partnering patterns and future opportunities to expand partnerships in protected land management likely depend on organizations pursuing wildlife and nature focused conservation objectives, and to a lesser extent socioeconomic objectives.

Wetlands are among the most important habitats of highly wetland-dependent waterbirds but are subject to ongoing habitat loss and degradation owing to intensified anthropogenic activities. The scarcity of human and natural resources makes effective habitat protection an important concern. Here, we aimed to investigate waterbird habitat protection methods for Anhui Province, China, a critical stopover and wintering area on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway that features rich wetland resources subject to significant habitat loss and degradation. We evaluated the status and importance of 306 wintering waterbird habitats and identified the key environmental influences and current protection gaps using the entropy weights method and generalized additive modeling. We found 73 important habitats for waterbirds in Anhui Province, which were classified into levels of importance (descending from I to V) according to the natural discontinuity method. Level I and Level II habitats were mainly located in the Yangtze River floodplain and Level IV habitats in the Huaihe River floodplain. The gap analysis showed that 42 important waterbird habitats had protection gaps, accounting for 57.53% of the total area. Waterbird habitat importance was significantly correlated with elevation, normalized vegetation index, lake area, and lake circumference but not with distance from roads or population density. The results of this study provide scientific information for waterbird habitat conservation planning, which is crucial for maintaining wetland ecosystem functions.

BackgroundShared decision making may be particularly complex for the older patient with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), in part because of family involvement. Nephrologists' perspectives on the family's role in ESRD decision making have not been explored.Study designSemi-structured, individual, qualitative interviews.Setting & participantsPracticing US and English adult nephrologists.MethodologyParticipants were purposively sampled based on age, race, sex, geographic location, and practice type. Each was asked about his or her perspectives and experiences related to foregoing and withdrawing dialysis therapy.Analytical approachInterviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using narrative and thematic analysis.ResultsWe conducted 59 semi-structured interviews with nephrologists from the United States (n = 41) and England (n = 18). Most participants were 45 years or younger, men, and white. Average number of years since completing nephrology training was 14.2 (SD, 11.6). Nephrologists in both countries identified how patients' families may act to facilitate or impede decisions to forego and withdraw dialysis therapy, which fell within the following subthemes: (1) emotional response to decision making, (2) involvement in patient health care/awareness of illness, (3) trust in physician, and (4) acceptance of patient wishes. Only US nephrologists raised families' financial dependence on patients as an impediment to foregoing or withdrawing dialysis therapy.LimitationsParticipants' views may not fully capture those of all US or English nephrologists.ConclusionsNephrologists in the United States and England identified several ways that patients' families help and hinder ESRD decision making in keeping with patient prognosis and preferences. Nephrologists should hone their communication skills to better navigate these interactions.

Abstract Plant–animal interactions (PAI) represent major channels of energy transfer through ecosystems, where both positive and antagonistic interactions simultaneously contribute to ecosystem functioning. Monitoring PAI therefore increases the understanding of environmental health, integrity, and functioning, and studying complex interactions through accurate, cost‐effective sampling can aid in the management of detrimental anthropogenic impacts. Environmental DNA (eDNA)‐based monitoring represents an increasingly common, nondestructive approach for biodiversity monitoring, which could help to elucidate PAI. Here, we aim to provide an overall discussion on the potential of using eDNA to study PAI. We assessed the existing literature on this subject from 2009 to 2021 using a freely accessible web search tool. The search was conducted by using keywords involving eDNA and PAI, including both species‐specific and metabarcoding approaches, recovering 43 studies. We summarized the advantages and current limitations of such approaches, and we outline research priorities to improve future eDNA‐based methods for PAI analysis. Among the 43 studies identified using eDNA to measure PAI such as pollination, herbivory, mutualistic, and parasitic relationships, they have often identified higher taxonomic diversity in several direct comparisons with DNA‐based gut/bulk sampling and conventional survey methods. Research needs include the following: better understanding of the influencing factors of eDNA detection involved in PAI (e.g., eDNA degradation, origin, and types), methodological standardization (sampling methods and primer development), and more inclusive sequence reference databases. If these research priorities are addressed, it will have a significant impact to enable PAI biodiversity monitoring with eDNA. In the future, the implementation of eDNA methods to study PAI can particularly benefit the scalability of environmental biomonitoring surveys that are imperative for ecosystem health assessments.

Globally, endemic species and natural habitats have been significantly impacted by climate change, and further considerable impacts are predicted. Therefore, understanding how endemic species are impacted by climate change can aid in advancing the necessary conservation initiatives. The use of niche modeling is becoming a popular topic in biological conservation to forecast changes in species distributions under various climate change scenarios. This study used the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator version 1 (ACCESS-CM2) general circulation model of coupled model intercomparison project phase 6 (CMIP6) to model the current distribution of suitable habitat for the four threatened Annonaceae species endemic to East Africa (EA), to determine the impact of climate change on their suitable habitat in the years 2050 (average for 2041–2060) and 2070 (average for 2061–2080). Two shared socio-economic pathways (SSPs) SSP370 and SSP585 were used to project the contraction and expansion of suitable habitats for Uvariodendron kirkii, Uvaria kirkii, Uvariodendron dzomboense and Asteranthe asterias endemic to Kenya and Tanzania in EA. The current distribution for all four species is highly influenced by precipitation, temperature, and environmental factors (population, potential evapotranspiration, and aridity index). Although the loss of the original suitable habitat is anticipated to be significant, appropriate habitat expansion and contraction are projections for all species. More than 70% and 40% of the original habitats of Uvariodendron dzombense and Uvariodendron kirkii are predicted to be destroyed by climate change, respectively. Based on our research, we suggest that areas that are expected to shrink owing to climate change be classified as important protection zones for the preservation of Annonaceae species.

Butterflies are the bio-indicator species for monitoring the health of the ecosystem. A preliminary checklist of the butterfly diversity was prepared by a long-term survey from 2019 to 2022 in varied habitats in the agriculture landscape of the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University (HPAU), India. The study recorded 77 butterfly species belonging to six families Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Hesperiidae, Papilionidae and Riodinidae. In addition, there are some rare records of butterfly species such as Common Wall (Lasiommata schakra), Dark Blue Tiger (Tirumala septentrionis), Ringed Argus (Callerebia annada) and Pioneer (Belenois aurota). Some butterflies are habitat specific and few also show local migration from high-elevation areas of the surrounding Dhauladhar ranges. The preliminary checklist prepared from the present study was also compared with Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) located in the similar landscape of the study area. This will help to understand the long-term effect of habitat degradation from human-modified environment and agricultural activities to facilitate effective conservation strategies to protect Himalayan ecosystem.

Abstract Citizen‐science projects focused on ecology and conservation have been growing in popularity in recent years, offering many opportunities for researchers and volunteers alike. Two principal approaches to citizen‐science projects in ecology can be characterized as the data‐first approach and the question‐first approach. Here, we highlight the value of question‐first citizen‐science projects for providing insights into the ecology and management of urban wildlife, using case studies on (1) beneficial insects (pollinators, predators and parasitoids) and (2) possums and gliders in Australian cities and towns. The question‐first approach has many benefits, offering a platform to engage volunteers with the scientific process and the broader context of an ecological or conservation problem, while also connecting them with their local environment. Identifying the questions to be addressed in a citizen‐science project ahead of data collection allows for co‐design and stronger collaboration with volunteers, community groups, local experts, and landscape managers. Question‐first citizen science can also provide valuable ecological data that extend substantially beyond presence‐only records, including presence‐absence data collected via timed surveys and information on animal behavior and interspecific interactions. However, establishing and maintaining question‐first citizen‐science projects can be challenging, requiring the building and maintenance of many relationships and a multidisciplinary approach that goes well beyond the usual activities of an academic researcher. Well‐designed, question‐first citizen science has the capacity to achieve both scientific rigor and meaningful engagement with volunteer participants.

ObjectivePhellodendron amurense, a special species in Northeast Asia, is the source of the wild medicinal Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex, the second-level key protection in China. Because of its dual value of medicine and timber, it has been cut in large quantities, resulting in a sharp decline in wild resources. It has been listed as a national first-class rare tree species. Here, we aim to plan protection area and wild tending area for Chinese P. amurense in the context of climate change.MethodIn this study, based on the Biomod2 model, the main environmental factors affecting the distribution and the potentially suitable areas of the current and future were investigated. Furthermore, the correlation between the main environmental factors and the chemical components was determined by full subset regression. Habitat quality and landscape pattern change were determined by InVEST and Fragstats software based on the land use data in 1980, 2000, and 2020. Then, Zonation software was used to plan the priority protection and wild tending areas.ResultsThe results showed that in the future, the potential habitat of P. amurense will gradually move to the high latitude and high altitude areas in the northwest direction, and the high suitability area will decrease sharply. Since 1980, the habitat quality of P. amurense habitat has gradually deteriorated, and the fragmentation has gradually intensified. In the future, the central part of the Greater Khingan Mountains and the forest area of the Lesser Khingan Mountains will be the long-term stable sanctuary. Fengcheng City and Tonghua County are the most suitable for the wild tending areas.ConclusionThe existing nature reserve only contains 6.01% of the priority protection area, so we propose to expand the area to cover a larger proportion of the sanctuary and implement management and restoration plans to increase the suitability and connectivity. These results can support the protection action and provide a reference and scientific basis for further research, rational development, and utilization of P. amurense.

ABSTRACT Application of organic fertilizers of animal origin can increase organic carbon in the soil and increase its content in macroaggregates. This study aimed to evaluate carbon contents and fractions in two classes of soil aggregates in response to the application of organic and mineral fertilizers in an integrated crop-livestock system. The experiment was established in Concórdia, Santa Catarina State, in a Nitossolo Vermelho Eutroférrico típico, (Rhodic Kandiudox according to the WRB system) (0.00-0.05, 0.05-0.10, and 0.10-0.20 m), in an integrated crop-livestock, with corn and soybean in the summer, black oat and rye in the winter, shepherded by sheep. The design used was randomized blocks, with treatments in factorial design (5 × 3 + 1), with four replications, five sources of fertilizers, three rates and the control with no fertilization. Three organic fertilizers were applied: poultry litter, pig manure and compost; and two minerals fertilizers: M1 (formulated according to the composition of the pig slurry) and M2 (adjusted according to the composition of the poultry litter), combined with three applications rates, corresponding to 75, 100 and 150 % of the recommendation for the crop of interest, based on the element with greater demand. Total organic carbon (TOC), particulate (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAC) contents were determined in two classes of soil aggregates C1 (8.00 to 4.76 mm) and C2 (4.76 to 2.00 mm), in samples collected in the 2018/2020 crop season. Crop yields were determined in every season. The results were analyzed using analysis of variance to compare sources and polynomial regression analysis for fertilizer rates. The soil has high aggregate stability, even so, the use of organic and mineral fertilizers increased aggregation. The poultry litter organic fertilizer increases aggregation, forming largely aggregates with a size of 8.00-4.76 mm, and increases the contents of total fractions of soil organic carbon, providing the system with a more stabilized carbon. In the 0.00-0.05 m layer, organic fertilizers increased the content of total organic carbon. The stabilized fraction (MAC) showed a higher proportion of total soil organic carbon than particulate organic carbon (POC).

Abstract Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are Critically Endangered and Guinea is a key stronghold for this subspecies. However, Guinea is also rich in minerals with some of the highest‐grade iron‐ore deposits in the world. Specifically, the Nimba Mountains, home to western chimpanzees, is one of the sites under consideration for mining activities. To assess the impact of mining activities in the area, we used non‐invasive genetic sampling to estimate chimpanzee population size, sex ratio, community composition, and range boundaries on the western flank of the massif. The level of genetic diversity and affinity between communities was estimated and recommendations for future genetic censusing provided. Between 2003 and 2018, we collected 999 fecal samples of which 663 were analyzed using a panel of 26 microsatellites. We identified a minimum of 136 chimpanzees in four communities, with evidence of migratory events, a high level of shared ancestry and genetic diversity. We assessed sampling intensities and capture rates for each community. Saturation was reached in two communities with sampling between 3.2 and 4.3 times the estimated number of chimpanzees. Our findings highlight the utility of genetic censusing for temporal monitoring of ape abundance, as well as capturing migratory events and gauging genetic diversity and population viability over time. We recommend genetic sampling, combined with camera trapping, for use in future Environmental and Social Impact Assessments, as these methods can yield robust baselines for implementing the mitigation hierarchy, future biomonitoring and conservation management.

Small populations are vulnerable to increased genetic load and drift that can lead to reductions in fitness and adaptive potential. By analyzing 66 individual whole genomes of Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) from multiple populations, we illustrate how genetic load is dynamic over evolutionary time. We show that Montezuma Quail are evolving like a ring species, where the terminal extant populations from Arizona and Texas have been separated for ~16,500 years. The Texas populations have remained small but stable since the separation, whereas the Arizona population is much larger today but has been contracting for thousands of years. Most deleterious mutations across the genome are young and segregating privately in each population and a greater number of deleterious alleles are present in the larger population. Our data indicate that ancestral load is purged during strong bottlenecks, but the reduced efficiency of selection in small populations means that segregating deleterious mutations are more likely to rise in frequency over time. Forward-time simulations indicate that severe population declines in historically large populations is more detrimental to individual fitness, whereas long-term small populations are more at risk for reduced adaptive potential and population-level fitness. Our study highlights the intimate connections among evolutionary history, historical demography, genetic load, and evolutionary potential in wild populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Threatened ecosystem conservation requires an understanding of the effectiveness of management and the challenges hindering successful protection and recovery. Bringing together researchers, land managers and policymakers to identify key threats, management needs, and knowledge gaps provides a unified account of the evidence and tools needed to improve threatened ecosystem management. We undertook a research prioritization process for Australian alpine and subalpine peatlands with experts across policy, research, and management. Through individual interviews, structured group discussions, and voting, we generated 25 priority research questions that, if addressed, would enhance our capacity to conserve peatlands. Knowledge gaps spanned four topics: understanding peatland dynamics, impacts of threats, methods to manage these, and the effectiveness of management. Consistent monitoring standards, an open‐access knowledge platform and commitment to long‐term joint research and management were identified as vital. This collaboration enabled development of a shared agenda of research priorities to target knowledge gaps for informing policy and management of threatened alpine peatlands. Our findings substantiate the importance of stronger ongoing collaboration among researchers, land managers and policymakers across jurisdictions to support conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome sequencing is a powerful tool that can inform the management of threatened species. Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are a globally recognized species that captured the hearts and minds of the world during the 2019/2020 Australian megafires. In 2022, koalas were listed as 'Endangered' in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory. Populations have declined because of various threats such as land clearing, habitat fragmentation, and disease, all of which are exacerbated by climate change. Here, we present the Koala Genome Survey, an open data resource that was developed after the Australian megafires. A systematic review conducted in 2020 demonstrated that our understanding of genomic diversity within koala populations was scant, with only a handful of SNP studies conducted. Interrogating data showed that only 6 of 49 New South Wales areas of regional koala significance had meaningful genome-wide data, with only 7 locations in Queensland with SNP data and 4 locations in Victoria. In 2021, we launched the Koala Genome Survey to generate resequenced genomes across the Australian east coast. We have publicly released 430 koala genomes (average coverage: 32.25X, range: 11.3–66.8X) on the Amazon Web Services Open Data platform to accelerate research that can inform current and future conservation planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For species without parental care, such as sea turtles, nest site selection is particularly important for embryo development, hatchling survival and, ultimately, reproductive success. We conducted an 8-year (2012–2019) capture–mark–recapture study of the re-nesting behaviour of loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta to identify both inter- and intra-beach patterns of nest site selection. Our study site, Maio Island in the archipelago of Cabo Verde, hosts one of the largest loggerhead turtle nesting colonies globally. Of 1,060 females analysed, 77% laid repeated clutches within 15 km of their previous nesting sites both between and within nesting seasons. This site fidelity was particularly high (64–71%) for turtles nesting on the east coast of Maio Island. In two areas of the island (north-west and south-east) individual nesting zone consistency was extremely low (10–25%). In all cases extra-zone re-nesting events mainly occurred on the east coast. We also found that females avoided re-nesting near the shoreline, which is particularly relevant in the context of rising sea levels. Overall, loggerhead turtles nesting in Maio Island are philopatric but are using a bet-edging strategy to distribute nests amongst several beaches, choosing the safest area within each beach to maximize their reproductive success. This study highlights the priority sites for protection on Maio Island and could help to optimize capture–mark–recapture programmes. The data reveal the potential for adaptive responses to projected sea level rises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, pockmarks and seamounts are widely distributed on the ocean floor. Over the last fifty years, the knowledge about these volcanic-associated marine ecosystems has notably increased, yet available information is still limited, scattered, and unsuitable to support decision-making processes for the conservation and management of the marine environment. Methods: Here we searched the Scopus database and the platform Web of Science to collect the scientific information available for these ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea. The collected literature and the bio-geographic and population variables extracted are provided into a systematic map as an online tool that includes an updated database searchable through a user-friendly R-shiny app. Results: The 433 literature items with almost one thousand observations provided evidence of more than 100 different volcanic-associated marine ecosystem sites, mostly distributed in the shallow waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Less than 30% of these sites are currently included in protected or regulated areas. The updated database available in the R-shiny app is a tool that could guide the implementation of more effective protection measures for volcanic-associated marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea within existing management instruments under the EU Habitats Directive. Moreover, the information provided in this study could aid policymakers in defining the priorities for the future protection measures needed to achieve the targets of the UN Agenda 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An international assessment of wetlands is important for quantifying the current state of development of international wetland structure and function. At present, the management department and public lack a comprehensive understanding of the ecological status of internationally important wetlands in China. Here, using annual ecological monitoring data and hierarchical analysis, an evaluation index system was constructed with water environment, biological environment, biodiversity, and disturbance pressure as influencing factors, and an evaluation of the ecological status of 63 wetlands of international importance (WOII) in China was carried out, it is helpful to formulate technical plans for the ecological management of wetlands of international importance (WOII). The results showed that the average ecological status score of these wetlands was 0.714 ± 0.075, and there were differences in this score between different regions. The ecological status of wetlands in northeastern and northern coastal areas were mostly evaluated as 'excellent' and 'good', while some wetlands in other areas of China were evaluated as 'poor'. The type and protection level of wetlands have an important impact on their ecological status. The ecological status of wetlands according to type were ranked swamp wetlands > coastal wetlands > river wetlands > lake wetlands, while those with national level protection were ranked higher than those with provincial level protection. The ecological status of WOII in China is generally good, but is adversely affected by human activities, alien species invasion, and other factors. Hence, there needs to be a focus on improving the protection and management mechanisms for WOII, promoting improvements in the ecological status of these wetlands, and transforming ecological product value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about manta ray population size, structure and connectivity in the Philippines. In collaboration with dive operators, non‐governmental organizations and authorities, sightings of manta rays were collated into a single national database. Using in‐water photographs and videos gathered through citizen science and dedicated research efforts, this study compiled sightings between 2004 and 2020, showing 22 separate sites throughout the archipelago with manta rays present. A total of 392 individual reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) and 107 oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) were identified from the collected footage. Four specific sites in the provinces of Masbate and Palawan together hosted 89% of all identified individuals and accounted for 95% of sightings, highlighting these areas are key aggregation sites. This study also reports the movements of M. birostris within the Philippines, based on photo‐identification of three individuals moving 150 km between Cebu and Masbate. Despite the growing number of recreational divers in Daanbantayan and San Jacinto, an 80% decline in M. birostris sightings was observed at these sites. To ensure effective future conservation, it is recommended that efforts focus on the identification and protection of manta ray hotspots and migratory corridors, the creation of a sustainable tourism framework and, most important, the implementation of mitigation strategies to reduce fisheries interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]