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Kelley PH, Dietl GP. Core Competencies for Training Conservation Paleobiology Students in a Wicked World. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.851014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the promise conservation paleobiology holds for using geohistorical data and insights to solve conservation problems, training in the field typically does not equip students to be competent environmental problem solvers. The intention of this perspective piece is to start a conversation about how we might train conservation paleobiology students better, focusing on the competencies needed to promote deep engagement with “wicked” conservation problems that are difficult to solve. Ongoing conversations regarding design of academic programs in sustainability, a field allied with conservation science, can inform our discussion. The sustainability literature has defined an interrelated set of “core competencies” that go beyond general academic competencies to enable real-world sustainability problem solving: systems thinking, temporal thinking, normative thinking, strategic thinking, and interpersonal competence. Conservation paleobiology is usually taught within geology programs, where students are exposed to systems thinking and temporal thinking. However, the remaining competencies typically are absent or insufficiently developed. To infuse these competencies into conservation paleobiology curricula, we recommend: (1) enhancing connections with sustainability programs and encouraging a more cross-disciplinary approach to training; (2) developing a “menu” of concepts and methodologies for each competence from which to choose; and (3) recognizing that different skills are appropriate at different levels of education and experience. The proposed competency-based framework serves as a shared reference that can be used to develop pedagogies to better prepare conservation paleobiology students to navigate the wicked conservation challenges of our time.
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Marques AC, Migotto AE, Kitahara MV, Dias GM, Costa TM, Oliveira MC. Marine and coastal biodiversity studies, 60 years of research funding from FAPESP, what we have learned and future challenges. BIOTA NEOTROPICA 2022. [DOI: 10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2022-1385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Abstract In this study we survey and analyze 300 projects related to marine biodiversity funded by FAPESP from 1972 to 2021, of which 46 were nested in the BIOTA Program. From a unique project in the 1970’s, the number gradually increased until 2009, when BIOTA promoted a call on marine biodiversity, which led to a boost in the number of funded projects in the subsequent years. The geographical range of the projects expanded over the years and, from studies based on the coast of São Paulo State, the focus gradually shifted to broader areas of the Brazilian coast, then to other areas of the Atlantic, and eventually became global. The majority of projects focused on coastal benthic organisms living on hard-bottom. In terms of taxa, six groups accounted for about 60% of the projects (viz. Crustacea, Actinopterygii, Mollusca, Chondrichthyes, Cnidaria, and Rhodophyta), but it is observed an increase in the number of groups studied over the decades. The 300 projects refer to a set of 82 different topics, of which the top five are taxonomy, phylogeny, community, “omics”, and pollution. The analyses show a long-standing effort in marine biodiversity surveys, with ongoing updated approaches regarding scope and methods. Research on strategic areas is discussed, including deep-sea and marine microbiota. Climate change and the increasing pressure of human activity on the ocean, including pollution, acidification and invasive species, are among the main challenges for the future. Projects producing and using basic research data in an integrative and transdisciplinary way offer multiple perspectives in understanding changes in ecosystem functioning and, consequently, are essential to support public policies for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity at different scales. UNESCO’s Decade of Ocean (starting 2021) is a window of opportunity to strengthen marine research, to promote national and international collaboration, to build up networks involving the public and private sector, but particularly to draw society’s attention to the importance of knowing marine environments and using ocean resources in a sustainable way. The advancement of ocean literacy is one of the main legacies for future generations promoted by integrated research programs such as BIOTA-FAPESP.
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Rivera CJ, Mayo D, Hull V. Social-Ecological Interactions Influencing Primate Harvest: Insights From Madagascar. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.776897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, non-human primates face mounting threats due to unsustainable harvest by humans. There is a need to better understand the diverse drivers of primate harvest and the complex social-ecological interactions influencing harvest in shared human-primate systems. Here, we take an interdisciplinary, systems approach to assess how complex interactions among primate biological and ecological characteristics and human social factors affect primate harvest. We apply our approach through a review and synthesis of the literature on lemur harvest in Madagascar, a country with one of the highest primate species richness in the world coupled with high rates of threatened primate species and populations in decline. We identify social and ecological factors affecting primate harvest, including the characteristics of lemurs that may make them vulnerable to harvest by humans; factors describing human motivations for (or deterrents to) harvest; and political and governance factors related to power and accessibility. We then discuss social-ecological interactions that emerge from: (1) the prevalence of informal institutions (e.g., cultural taboos), (2) adoption of human predatory strategies, (3) synergies with habitat use and habitat loss, and (4) interactions among regional- and local-scale factors (multi-level interactions). Our results illustrate that social-ecological interactions influencing lemur harvest in Madagascar are complex and context-specific, while influenced by a combination of interactions between species-specific characteristics and human social factors. These context-specific interactions may be also influenced by local-level cultural practices, land use change, and effects from regional-level social complexities such as political upheaval and food insecurity. We conclude by discussing the importance of identifying and explicitly accounting for nuances in underlying social-ecological systems and putting forth ideas for future research on primate harvest in shared human-primate systems, including research on social-ecological feedbacks and the application of Routine Activities Theory.
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Rivera CJ, Macey SK, Blair ME, Sterling EJ. Assessing Ecological and Social Dimensions of Success in a Community-based Sustainable Harvest Program. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 67:731-746. [PMID: 33475792 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-021-01425-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Community-based conservation and resource management (CBCRM) programs often incorporate the dual goals of poverty alleviation and conservation. However, robust assessments of CBCRM program outcomes are relatively scarce. This study uses a multidisciplinary, systems approach to assess the ecological and social dimensions of success of an internationally acclaimed CBCRM program. This program, located in one of the largest protected areas in the Peruvian Amazon (Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve), strives for the sustainable harvest and trade of a turtle species (Podocnemis unifilis). We used mixed methods analysis, including interviews and population viability modeling, to understand three elements: how local perceptions of changes in the managed population compare to changes inferred by ecological analyses, the indicators stakeholders use to measure success, and the barriers to long-term program success and social-ecological system sustainability. We find that stakeholders perceive a growth trend in the managed turtle population, but this perception may diverge from our ecological understanding of the system under current management. Population viability analyses with a 1:1 sex ratio suggested population size will decline under two of three management scenarios (different degrees of harvest). Yet this and similar studies are plagued by a lack of species- and site-specific population parameters that could improve understanding of the system. Significant vulnerabilities exist for system sustainability, notably the recent decrease in foreign demand for the traded resource. Identifying a sustainable species-specific harvest rate, developing locally-grounded ecological and social indicators, and focusing on data-driven adaptive management will facilitate the identification of key leverage points for future management interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian J Rivera
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, 10th Floor Schermerhorn Ext., 1200 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
- Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY, 10024, USA.
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, PO Box 110430, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
| | - Suzanne K Macey
- Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY, 10024, USA
| | - Mary E Blair
- Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY, 10024, USA
| | - Eleanor J Sterling
- Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY, 10024, USA
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Biocultural approaches to well-being and sustainability indicators across scales. Nat Ecol Evol 2017; 1:1798-1806. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0349-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Blair ME, Le MD, Thạch HM, Panariello A, Vũ NB, Birchette MG, Sethi G, Sterling EJ. Applying systems thinking to inform studies of wildlife trade in primates. Am J Primatol 2017; 79. [DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Revised: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mary E. Blair
- Center for Biodiversity and ConservationAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryNew YorkNew York
| | - Minh D. Le
- Department of Environmental Ecology, Faculty of Environmental SciencesVietnam National UniversityHanoiVietnam
- Central Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental StudiesVietnam National UniversityHanoiVietnam
| | - Hoàng M. Thạch
- Department of AnthropologyVietnam National UniversityHanoiVietnam
| | - Anna Panariello
- Bard Center for Environmental Policy, Bard CollegeAnnandale‐on‐HudsonNew YorkNew York
| | - Ngọc B. Vũ
- Department of Environmental Ecology, Faculty of Environmental SciencesVietnam National UniversityHanoiVietnam
| | - Mark G. Birchette
- Department of BiologyLong Island University—BrooklynNew YorkNew York
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Bard Center for Environmental Policy, Bard CollegeAnnandale‐on‐HudsonNew YorkNew York
| | - Eleanor J. Sterling
- Center for Biodiversity and ConservationAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryNew YorkNew York
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Blair ME, Le MD, Sethi G, Thach HM, Nguyen VTH, Amato G, Birchette M, Sterling EJ. The Importance of an Interdisciplinary Research Approach to Inform Wildlife Trade Management in Southeast Asia. Bioscience 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/bix113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Blair ME, Le MD, Sterling EJ. Multidisciplinary studies of wildlife trade in primates: Challenges and priorities. Am J Primatol 2017; 79. [PMID: 29023874 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Wildlife trade is increasingly recognized as an unsustainable threat to primate populations and informing its management is a growing focus and application of primatological research. However, management policies based on ecological research alone cannot address complex socioeconomic or cultural contexts as drivers of wildlife trade. Multidisciplinary research is required to understand trade complexity and identify sustainable management strategies. Here, we define multidisciplinary research as research that combines more than one academic discipline, and highlight how the articles in this issue combine methods and approaches to fill key gaps and offer a more comprehensive understanding of underlying drivers of wildlife trade including consumer demand, enforcement patterns, source population status, and accessibility of targeted species. These articles also focus on how these drivers interact at different scales, how trade patterns relate to ethics, and the potential effectiveness of different policy interventions in reducing wildlife trade. We propose priorities for future research on primate trade including expanding from multidisciplinary to interdisciplinary research questions and approaches co-created by research teams that integrate across different disciplines such as cultural anthropology, ecology, economics, and public policy. We also discuss challenges that limit the integration of information across disciplines to meet these priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Blair
- American Museum of Natural History, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, New York, New York
| | - Minh D Le
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Central Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, Department of Environmental Ecology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Eleanor J Sterling
- American Museum of Natural History, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, New York, New York
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Lyver PO, Akins A, Phipps H, Kahui V, Towns DR, Moller H. Key biocultural values to guide restoration action and planning in New Zealand. Restor Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashli Akins
- CSAFE; University of Otago; PO Box 56 Dunedin 9054 New Zealand
| | - Hilary Phipps
- Landcare Research; PO Box 69040 Lincoln 7640 New Zealand
| | - Viktoria Kahui
- Department of Economics; University of Otago; PO Box 56 Dunedin 9054 New Zealand
| | - David R. Towns
- Department of Conservation; Private Bag 68908 Newton Auckland 1145 New Zealand
- Institute for Applied Ecology; Auckland University of Technology; Private Bag 92019 Auckland 1142 New Zealand
| | - Henrik Moller
- CSAFE; University of Otago; PO Box 56 Dunedin 9054 New Zealand
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Granger V, Bez N, Fromentin J, Meynard C, Jadaud A, Mérigot B. Mapping diversity indices: not a trivial issue. Methods Ecol Evol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Granger
- Université Montpellier UMR 9190 MARBEC “Marine biodiversity, exploitation & conservation” (CNRS, IFREMER, IRD, UM) Sète France
| | - Nicolas Bez
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement UMR 9190 MARBEC “Marine biodiversity, exploitation & conservation” (CNRS, IFREMER, IRD, UM) Sète France
| | - Jean‐Marc Fromentin
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer UMR 9190 MARBEC “Marine biodiversity, exploitation & conservation” (CNRS, IFREMER, IRD, UM) Sète France
| | - Christine Meynard
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science College of William and Mary P.O. Box 1346 Gloucester Point VA 23062 USA
| | - Angélique Jadaud
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer UMR 9190 MARBEC “Marine biodiversity, exploitation & conservation” (CNRS, IFREMER, IRD, UM) Sète France
| | - Bastien Mérigot
- Université Montpellier UMR 9190 MARBEC “Marine biodiversity, exploitation & conservation” (CNRS, IFREMER, IRD, UM) Sète France
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Faith DP, Richards ZT. Climate change impacts on the tree of life: changes in phylogenetic diversity illustrated for acropora corals. BIOLOGY 2012; 1:906-32. [PMID: 24832524 PMCID: PMC4009810 DOI: 10.3390/biology1030906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2012] [Revised: 12/10/2012] [Accepted: 12/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The possible loss of whole branches from the tree of life is a dramatic, but under-studied, biological implication of climate change. The tree of life represents an evolutionary heritage providing both present and future benefits to humanity, often in unanticipated ways. Losses in this evolutionary (evo) life-support system represent losses in "evosystem" services, and are quantified using the phylogenetic diversity (PD) measure. High species-level biodiversity losses may or may not correspond to high PD losses. If climate change impacts are clumped on the phylogeny, then loss of deeper phylogenetic branches can mean disproportionately large PD loss for a given degree of species loss. Over time, successive species extinctions within a clade each may imply only a moderate loss of PD, until the last species within that clade goes extinct, and PD drops precipitously. Emerging methods of "phylogenetic risk analysis" address such phylogenetic tipping points by adjusting conservation priorities to better reflect risk of such worst-case losses. We have further developed and explored this approach for one of the most threatened taxonomic groups, corals. Based on a phylogenetic tree for the corals genus Acropora, we identify cases where worst-case PD losses may be avoided by designing risk-averse conservation priorities. We also propose spatial heterogeneity measures changes to assess possible changes in the geographic distribution of corals PD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zoe T Richards
- Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, WA 6106, Australia.
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Mérigot B, Gaertner JC. Incorporation of phylogeny in biological diversity measurement: Drawbacks of extensively used indices, and advantages of quadratic entropy. Bioessays 2011; 33:819-22. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201100103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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