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Murphy WJ, Harris AJ. Toward telomere-to-telomere cat genomes for precision medicine and conservation biology. Genome Res 2024; 34:655-664. [PMID: 38849156 PMCID: PMC11216403 DOI: 10.1101/gr.278546.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Genomic data from species of the cat family Felidae promise to stimulate veterinary and human medical advances, and clarify the coherence of genome organization. We describe how interspecies hybrids have been instrumental in the genetic analysis of cats, from the first genetic maps to propelling cat genomes toward the T2T standard set by the human genome project. Genotype-to-phenotype mapping in cat models has revealed dozens of health-related genetic variants, the molecular basis for mammalian pigmentation and patterning, and species-specific adaptations. Improved genomic surveillance of natural and captive populations across the cat family tree will increase our understanding of the genetic architecture of traits, population dynamics, and guide a future of genome-enabled biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Murphy
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4458, USA;
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4458, USA
- Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4458, USA
| | - Andrew J Harris
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4458, USA
- Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4458, USA
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2
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Morris DR, McWhorter TJ, Boardman WSJ, Simpson G, Wentzel J, Coetzee J, Moodley Y. Unravelling the maternal evolutionary history of the African leopard ( Panthera pardus pardus). PeerJ 2024; 12:e17018. [PMID: 38618571 PMCID: PMC11016244 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) has lost a significant proportion of its historical range, notably in north-western Africa and South Africa. Recent studies have explored the genetic diversity and population structure of African leopards across the continent. A notable genetic observation is the presence of two divergent mitochondrial lineages, PAR-I and PAR-II. Both lineages appeared to be distributed widely, with PAR-II frequently found in southern Africa. Until now, no study has attempted to date the emergence of either lineage, assess haplotype distribution, or explore their evolutionary histories in any detail. To investigate these underappreciated questions, we compiled the largest and most geographically representative leopard data set of the mitochondrial NADH-5 gene to date. We combined samples (n = 33) collected in an altitudinal transect across the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, where two populations of leopard are known to be in genetic contact, with previously published sequences of African leopard (n = 211). We estimate that the maternal PAR-I and PAR-II lineages diverged approximately 0.7051 (0.4477-0.9632) million years ago (Ma). Through spatial and demographic analyses, we show that while PAR-I underwent a mid-Pleistocene population expansion resulting in several closely related haplotypes with little geographic structure across much of its range, PAR-II remained at constant size and may even have declined slightly in the last 0.1 Ma. The higher genetic drift experienced within PAR-II drove a greater degree of structure with little haplotype sharing and unique haplotypes in central Africa, the Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the South African Highveld. The phylogeographic structure of PAR-II, with its increasing frequency southward and its exclusive occurrence in south-eastern South Africa, suggests that this lineage may have been isolated in South Africa during the mid-Pleistocene. This hypothesis is supported by historical changes in paleoclimate that promoted intense aridification around the Limpopo Basin between 1.0-0.6 Ma, potentially reducing gene flow and promoting genetic drift. Interestingly, we ascertained that the two nuclear DNA populations identified by a previous study as East and West Mpumalanga correspond to PAR-I and PAR-II, respectively, and that they have come into secondary contact in the Lowveld region of South Africa. Our results suggest a subdivision of African leopard mtDNA into two clades, with one occurring almost exclusively in South Africa, and we identify the potential environmental drivers of this observed structure. We caution that our results are based on a single mtDNA locus, but it nevertheless provides a hypothesis that can be further tested with a dense sample of nuclear DNA data, preferably whole genomes. If our interpretation holds true, it would provide the first genetic explanation for the smaller observed size of leopards at the southernmost end of their range in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Declan R. Morris
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - Todd J. McWhorter
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - Wayne S. J. Boardman
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - Gregory Simpson
- Department of Wildlife Studies, Faculty of Veterinary of Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Jeanette Wentzel
- Department of Wildlife Studies, Faculty of Veterinary of Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Gauteng, South Africa
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Hans Hoheisen Wildlife Research Station, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Jannie Coetzee
- Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa
| | - Yoshan Moodley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa
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3
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Blake K, Anderson SC, Gleave A, Veríssimo D. Impact on species' online attention when named after celebrities. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14184. [PMID: 37700661 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Celebrities can generate substantial attention and influence public interest in species. Using a large-scale examination of publicly available data, we assessed whether species across 6 taxonomic groups received more page views on Wikipedia when the species was named after a celebrity than when it was not. We conducted our analysis for 4 increasingly strict thresholds of how many average daily Wikipedia page views a celebrity had (1, 10, 100, or 1000 views). Overall, we found a high probability (0.96-0.98) that species named after celebrities had more page views than their closest relatives that were not named after celebrities, irrespective of the celebrity threshold. The multiplicative effect on species' page views was larger but more uncertain as celebrity page-view thresholds increased. The range for thresholds of 1 to 1000 was 1.08 (95% credible interval [CI] 1.00-1.18) to 1.76 (95% CI 0.96-2.80), respectively. The hierarchical estimates for the taxa tended to be positive. The strongest effects were for invertebrates, followed by amphibians, reptiles, fish, and mammals, whereas the weakest effect was for birds at lower page-view thresholds. Our results suggest that naming species after celebrities could be particularly significant for those belonging to taxonomic groups that are generally less popular than others (e.g., invertebrates). Celebrities may further influence the effectiveness of this marketing strategy, depending on their likability and connection to the species named after them. Eponyms may serve as a reminder of the disproportionate power dynamics between populations and some namesakes' untenable actions. However, they also provide an opportunity to recognize remarkable individuals and promote equity, inclusivity, and diversity in taxonomic practice. We encourage taxonomists to examine whether naming threatened species after celebrities could affect conservation support, especially for species that are otherwise typically overlooked by the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Blake
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sean C Anderson
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, Canada
- Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
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Hare D, Dickman AJ, Johnson PJ, Rono BJ, Mutinhima Y, Sutherland C, Kulunge S, Sibanda L, Mandoloma L, Kimaili D. Public perceptions of trophy hunting are pragmatic, not dogmatic. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20231638. [PMID: 38351797 PMCID: PMC10865007 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Fierce international debates rage over whether trophy hunting is socially acceptable, especially when people from the Global North hunt well-known animals in sub-Saharan Africa. We used an online vignette experiment to investigate public perceptions of the acceptability of trophy hunting in sub-Saharan Africa among people who live in urban areas of the USA, UK and South Africa. Acceptability depended on specific attributes of different hunts as well as participants' characteristics. Zebra hunts were more acceptable than elephant hunts, hunts that would provide meat to local people were more acceptable than hunts in which meat would be left for wildlife, and hunts in which revenues would support wildlife conservation were more acceptable than hunts in which revenues would support either economic development or hunting enterprises. Acceptability was generally lower among participants from the UK and those who more strongly identified as an animal protectionist, but higher among participants with more formal education, who more strongly identified as a hunter, or who would more strongly prioritize people over wild animals. Overall, acceptability was higher when hunts would produce tangible benefits for local people, suggesting that members of three urban publics adopt more pragmatic positions than are typically evident in polarized international debates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darragh Hare
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Amy J. Dickman
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Paul J. Johnson
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Betty J. Rono
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
| | - Yolanda Mutinhima
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe
| | - Chris Sutherland
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, School of Mathematics and Statistics, St Andrews University, St Andrews, UK
| | - Salum Kulunge
- Department of Wildlife Management, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
- Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Lovemore Sibanda
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Cheetah Conservation Project Zimbabwe, Dete, Zimbabwe
| | | | - David Kimaili
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, South Eastern Kenya University, Kitui, Kenya
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Edney G, Smart T, Howat F, Batchelor ZE, Hughes C, Moss A. Assessing the effect of interpretation design traits on zoo visitor engagement. Zoo Biol 2023; 42:567-576. [PMID: 36872861 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
In the past few decades, zoos have undergone a transformation from places of entertainment to centers for conservation, with education becoming a particular focus. Interpretation in zoos is a near-universal method for delivering education in zoos and has been shown to prompt learning and pro-conservation behavior change. However, there is limited understanding on how interpretation design itself can influence visitor engagement. Using unobtrusive visitor observations (n = 3890), this study measures visitor engagement of multiple pieces of interpretation with various design "traits," to provide a comprehensive overview of the key traits related to increased visitor engagement. The proportion of visitors who stopped at the interpretation (attraction power), and how long they stopped for (holding power), were our two outcome variables. From our models, we found that attraction and holding power are most strongly influenced by the type of interpretation, with interactive interpretation seeing nearly four times as many visitors stop, and for more than six times longer, when compared to standard text and graphics interpretation. We also found that location was significantly related to attraction power, with visitors more likely to stop at interpretation in more immersive exhibits. Lastly, interpretation containing images of humans were related to a higher holding power. We hope our findings will be used as a guide for designing interpretation that is both attractive and interesting to zoo visitors, maximizing the conservation education value of zoo-based interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Edney
- North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, Chester, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - Tom Smart
- North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, Chester, UK
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Frederick Howat
- North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, Chester, UK
| | - Zoe E Batchelor
- North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, Chester, UK
| | | | - Andrew Moss
- North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, Chester, UK
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6
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Henger CS, Straughan DJ, Xu CCY, Nightingale BR, Kretser HE, Burnham-Curtis MK, McAloose D, Seimon TA. A new multiplex qPCR assay to detect and differentiate big cat species in the illegal wildlife trade. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9796. [PMID: 37328525 PMCID: PMC10275956 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36776-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
All species of big cats, including tigers, cheetahs, leopards, lions, snow leopards, and jaguars, are protected under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This is due in large part to population declines resulting from anthropogenic factors, especially poaching and the unregulated and illegal trade in pelts, bones, teeth and other products that are derived from these iconic species. To enhance and scale up monitoring for big cat products in this trade, we created a rapid multiplex qPCR test that can identify and differentiate DNA from tiger (Panthera tigris), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), leopard (Panthera pardus), lion (Panthera leo), snow leopard (Panthera uncia), and jaguar (Panthera onca) in wildlife products using melt curve analysis to identify each species by its unique melt peak temperature. Our results showed high PCR efficiency (> 90%), sensitivity (detection limit of 5 copies of DNA per PCR reaction) and specificity (no cross amplification between each of the 6 big cat species). When paired with a rapid (< 1 h) DNA extraction protocol that amplifies DNA from bone, teeth, and preserved skin, total test time is less than three hours. This test can be used as a screening method to improve our understanding of the scale and scope of the illegal trade in big cats and aid in the enforcement of international regulations that govern the trade in wildlife and wildlife products, both ultimately benefiting the conservation of these species worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol S Henger
- Zoological Health Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USA.
| | - Dyan J Straughan
- OLE-National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Ashland, OR, USA
| | - Charles C Y Xu
- Redpath Museum and Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Heidi E Kretser
- Global Conservation Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Mary K Burnham-Curtis
- OLE-National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Ashland, OR, USA
| | - Denise McAloose
- Zoological Health Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Tracie A Seimon
- Zoological Health Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USA
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Van Huynh A. Effect of IUCN Red List category on public attention to mammals. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14050. [PMID: 36661058 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Cultural data is a powerful tool to analyze public awareness of key societal issues, including the conservation of nature. I used two publicly available repositories of cultural data, Google Trends and Google Ngram, to quantify the effect of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List conservation status on public attention toward 4539 mammal species. With Google Trends, I calculated whether Google searches for their common and scientific names have been increasing or decreasing over time. I also ran an anomaly detection analysis to investigate whether a change in red-list status directly results in an increase in Google searches. Additionally, I quantified the mentions of species' common and scientific names in English texts with Google Ngram. Overall, Google searches for most mammal species remained at similar levels or increased since 2008. The severity of species' IUCN Red List status was a significant predictor of increasing Google searches, although the effect size was relatively small. Red-list status seemed strongly confounded with mammal body size. Species that moved to a higher-risk category spiked significantly in Google searches directly after the new designation. The mention of species' common names in the Google Ngram's English 2019 corpus significantly increased as the red-list category increased. These results provide valuable insight into the importance of the IUCN Red List for increasing public awareness and the usefulness of publicly available cultural data on examining the effectiveness of specific conservation efforts and thus evaluating targets for support and funding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Van Huynh
- Department of Biology, Desales University, Center Valley, Pennsylvania, USA
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8
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Mikołajczak KM, Barlow J, Lees AC, Ives CD, Strack M, de Almeida OT, Souza AC, Sinclair F, Parry L. Evaluating the influence of nature connection and values on conservation attitudes at a tropical deforestation frontier. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023:e14067. [PMID: 36751965 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Inner phenomena, such as personal motivations for pursuing sustainability, may be critical levers for improving conservation outcomes. Most conservation research and policies, however, focus on external phenomena (e.g., ecological change or economic processes). We explored the factors shaping 9 conservation attitudes toward forest and wildlife protection among colonist farmers around an Amazonian deforestation frontier. Our data comprised 241 face-to-face quantitative surveys, complemented with qualitative insights from open-ended questionnaire responses and opportunistic semistructured interviews. To account for the full spectrum of possible inner motivations, we employed measures of nature connection (indicating biospheric motivation) and personal values organized around the traditionalism (traditionalist through to high openness to change) and universalism dimensions (egoistic through to altruistic motivations). We used averaged beta-binomial generalized linear models to assess the role of external factors (socioeconomic, sociodemographic, and environmental) and personal (inner) motivations on the variation in attitudes. Each attitude was modeled separately. The relative importance of each predictor was judged by the proportion of models where it appeared as significant. Proconservation views were expressed by the majority (at least 65%) of the respondents in 7 out of the 9 attitude models. The most consistent predictors were emotional nature connection and personal values (significant in 4-6 out of 9 models), rather than external phenomena (significant in 0-5 models). However, the poorest farmers had lower scores on the agreement with prioritizing nature over development (𝛽 = -0.52, 95% CI: -0.96 to -0.07). Qualitative data also indicated that economic barriers hinder forest conservation on farms. These results suggest that biospheric, traditionalistic, and altruistic motivations promote people's proconservation attitudes, but nurturing these latent motivations is unlikely to improve conservation outcomes if material poverty remains unaddressed. Integrating the inner-outer perspective into conservation thinking and practical interventions could foster environmental stewardship and increase human well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna M Mikołajczak
- Grantham Research Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Jos Barlow
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Alexander C Lees
- Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Micha Strack
- Georg-Elias-Müller-Institute for Psychology, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Frazer Sinclair
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Luke Parry
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
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Forster CY, Hochuli DF, Keith RJ, Latty T, White TE, Middleton EJT. Social media conservation messaging mirrors age‐old taxonomic biases in public domain. AUSTRAL ECOL 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlyn Y. Forster
- Heydon‐Laurence Building The University of Sydney Camperdown New South Wales Australia
| | - Dieter F. Hochuli
- Heydon‐Laurence Building The University of Sydney Camperdown New South Wales Australia
| | - Ryan J. Keith
- Heydon‐Laurence Building The University of Sydney Camperdown New South Wales Australia
| | - Tanya Latty
- Heydon‐Laurence Building The University of Sydney Camperdown New South Wales Australia
| | - Thomas E. White
- Macleay Building The University of Sydney Camperdown New South Wales Australia
| | - Eliza J. T. Middleton
- Heydon‐Laurence Building The University of Sydney Camperdown New South Wales Australia
- Michael Spence Building The University of Sydney Camperdown New South Wales Australia
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10
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Wild Felid Diversity, Space Use and Activity Patterns in the Eastern Himalaya, India. ECOLOGIES 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/ecologies4010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Species with similar resource requirements cannot coexist for long. To facilitate co-existence, carnivores adapt different strategies to partition the available resources in space and time. In high-altitude ecosystems with limited resources the operation becomes complex. We assessed species diversity and spatio-temporal resource partitioning among felid species inhabiting the intricate habitats of Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (KBR), Eastern Himalaya. We used systematic camera trap surveys along with abundance and overlap indices to generate information on their space use and activity patterns. We recorded six species of felids belonging to five genera, including four species of global conservation importance. The differential use of space by felids was observed with respect to the habitat types determined by sharp altitudinal gradients with varied levels of spatial and altitudinal overlap. Maximum overlap was observed among Asiatic golden cat Catopuma temminckii, jungle cat Felis chaus and clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa. The felids had distinct activity profiles from one other, particularly between golden cat and leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis. Pianka’s index also provided weak evidence for temporal overlap among species. The overall results indicate that habitat heterogeneity facilitates primary separation at the spatial scale, although species are also segregated temporally. Golden cat was the most adaptive felid in the area, depicting a peculiar pattern of spatio-temporal segregation with other species. We suspect either intense competition or dietary segregation among some species, and propose a further investigation of their diet and the activity patterns of their prey. The study presents an early template of carnivore community organization in resource-scarce high-altitude environments, thus, offering huge ecological and conservation significance.
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11
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Strampelli P, Campbell LAD, Henschel P, Nicholson SK, Macdonald DW, Dickman AJ. Trends and biases in African large carnivore population assessments: identifying priorities and opportunities from a systematic review of two decades of research. PeerJ 2022; 10:e14354. [PMID: 36452072 PMCID: PMC9703985 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
African large carnivores have undergone significant range and population declines over recent decades. Although conservation planning and the management of threatened species requires accurate assessments of population status and monitoring of trends, there is evidence that biodiversity monitoring may not be evenly distributed or occurring where most needed. Here, we provide the first systematic review of African large carnivore population assessments published over the last two decades (2000-2020), to investigate trends in research effort and identify knowledge gaps. We used generalised linear models (GLMs) and generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs) to identify taxonomic and geographical biases, and investigated biases associated with land use type and author nationality. Research effort was significantly biased towards lion (Panthera leo) and against striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena), despite the latter being the species with the widest continental range. African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) also exhibited a negative bias in research attention, although this was partly explained by its relatively restricted distribution. The number of country assessments for a species was significantly positively associated with its geographic range in that country. Population assessments were biased towards southern and eastern Africa, particularly South Africa and Kenya. Northern, western, and central Africa were generally under-represented. Most studies were carried out in photographic tourism protected areas under government management, while non-protected and trophy hunting areas received less attention. Outside South Africa, almost half of studies (41%) did not include authors from the study country, suggesting that significant opportunities exist for capacity building in range states. Overall, large parts of Africa remain under-represented in the literature, and opportunities exist for further research on most species and in most countries. We develop recommendations for actions aimed at overcoming the identified biases and provide researchers, practitioners, and policymakers with priorities to help inform future research and monitoring agendas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Strampelli
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Liz AD Campbell
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Samantha K. Nicholson
- Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa,The University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Amy J. Dickman
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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12
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Mitochondrial DNA variation of the caracal (Caracal caracal) in Iran and range-wide phylogeographic comparisons. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00328-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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13
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Loveridge AJ, Sousa LL, Cushman S, Kaszta Ż, Macdonald DW. Where have all the lions gone? Establishing realistic baselines to assess decline and recovery of African lions. DIVERS DISTRIB 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. Loveridge
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Recanati‐Kaplan Centre, Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Lara L. Sousa
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Recanati‐Kaplan Centre, Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Samuel Cushman
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Recanati‐Kaplan Centre, Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
- US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station Flagstaff Arizona USA
| | - Żaneta Kaszta
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Recanati‐Kaplan Centre, Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Recanati‐Kaplan Centre, Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
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14
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Jane SF, Smith KM, Baker D, Saroni A, Cutler E, Carvalho P. News media and fisheries-independent data reveal hidden impacts of hurricanes. AMBIO 2022; 51:2169-2181. [PMID: 35384617 PMCID: PMC9378804 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-022-01732-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Climate change will likely intensify hurricane activity in coastal regions. A thorough understanding of hurricane impacts to marine fauna is necessary to prepare for and mitigate potential impacts to social systems dependent upon adjacent fauna. Yet, research attention, conservation funding, and policy all can be biased toward taxa of societal interest, potentially favoring a limited understanding of hurricane impacts. Here, we analyzed the frequency of mentions of taxa in newspaper articles in relation to hurricane activity at three coastal US locations coupled with analysis of long-term fisheries-independent data. While economically important taxa dominate media discourse, we observed long-term hurricane-related abundance declines in ecologically important taxa having little direct human utility. We conclude that there is a potential for research and policy biases related to hurricane impacts. Preparation and mitigation efforts will benefit from researchers and managers making directed efforts to identify and incorporate hurricane sensitive taxa into their work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F. Jane
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th St., Troy, NY 12180 USA
- Present Address: Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, Fernow Hall, 226 Mann Dr., Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Kayla M. Smith
- Department of Environmental Science, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Dr., Syracuse, NY 13210 USA
| | - Dana Baker
- Duke University Marine Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd, Beaufort, NC 28516 USA
| | - Allison Saroni
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249 USA
| | - Emma Cutler
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755 USA
| | - Paul Carvalho
- Department of Fisheries, Animal, and Veterinary Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881 USA
- University of California, Santa Cruz, Coastal Biology Building, 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA
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15
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Hooykaas MJD, Holierhoek MG, Westerveld JS, Schilthuizen M, Smeets I. Animal biodiversity and specificity in children's picture books. PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE (BRISTOL, ENGLAND) 2022; 31:671-688. [PMID: 35532077 PMCID: PMC9131409 DOI: 10.1177/09636625221089811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
While animal biodiversity is declining globally, cultural representations of animals are highly prevalent in society and play an increasing part in shaping children's perceptions of animal diversity. We studied animal portrayals in children's picture books in the Netherlands, and coded over 2,200 animals from 217 award-winning books. We found a strong bias toward vertebrates, mammals in particular. Mammals were featured more often than other animals, played more prominent roles in the story, and were visually and textually specified more strongly. Furthermore, exotic and domestic species outnumbered native species. Picture books currently are likely to reinforce children's perceptions toward only a small part of animal biodiversity. While we realize that picture books have other primary aims, picture book makers could be inspired and encouraged to diversify and specify their portrayals of the natural world. This would broaden children's perceptions of the animal kingdom and could help foster lasting connections to biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiel Jan Dirk Hooykaas
- Michiel Jan Dirk Hooykaas, Science Communication and Society, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | - Menno Schilthuizen
- Leiden University, The Netherlands; Naturalis Biodiversity Center, The Netherlands
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16
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What's in a name? Common name misuse potentially confounds the conservation of the wild camel Camelus ferus. ORYX 2022. [DOI: 10.1017/s0030605322000114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Common names allow species diversity to be acknowledged by experts and non-specialists alike; they are descriptors with both scientific and cultural implications. However, a lack of clarity when using a common name could risk altering perceptions of threatened species. This is the case for the Critically Endangered wild camel Camelus ferus, which, despite extensive evidence of its species status, is frequently referred to in English as wild Bactrian camel. However, the wild camel (Mongolian: хавтгай, khavtgai; Chinese: 野骆驼, ye luo tuo) is not a wild version of the domestic Bactrian camel Camelus bactrianus but a separate species near extinction, with an estimated population of c. 950. Failure to clearly separate Bactrian and wild camels in name risks masking the plight of the few remaining wild camels with the visible abundance of the domesticated species. Here we advocate the use of the accurate English common name wild camel for C. ferus ideally alongside its Indigenous names to correctly represent its cultural and conservation importance.
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Macdonald D, Johnson P, Burnham D, Dickman A, Hinks A, Sillero-Zubiri C, Macdonald E. Understanding Nuanced Preferences For Carnivore Conservation: To Know Them Is Not Always To Love Them. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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18
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The Mephitidae in the Americas: a review of the current state of knowledge and future research priorities. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00249-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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When information isn’t enough: The limits of demand reduction messaging as a tool to change the consumption choices of Chinese wildlife tourists. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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20
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Williamson MJ, Curnick DJ, Jacoby DM, Durant SM, O’Neill HM. Ethical considerations in natural history film production and the need for industry-wide best practice. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Abstract
Abstract
Carnivore population declines are a time-sensitive global challenge in which mitigating decreasing populations requires alignment of applied practice and research priorities. However, large carnivore conservation is hindered by gaps among research, conservation practice and policy formation. One potential driver of this research–implementation gap is research bias towards charismatic species. Using depredation of livestock by large carnivores in sub-Saharan Africa as a case study, we examined whether taxonomic bias could be detected and explored the potential effects of such a bias on the research–implementation gap. Via a literature review, we compared the central large carnivore species in research to the species identified as the primary livestock depredator. We detected a substantial misalignment between these factors for two species. Spotted hyaenas Crocuta crocuta were the most common depredator of livestock (58.5% of studies), but were described as a central species among only 20.7% of the studies. In comparison, African lions Panthera leo were the most common central species (45% of studies) but were the primary depredator in just 24.4% of studies. Such patterns suggest that taxonomic bias is prevalent within this research. Although spotted hyaenas may depredate livestock most often, their low charisma in comparison to sympatric species such as the African lion and leopard Panthera pardus may be limiting research-informed conservation efforts for them. Efforts to mitigate human-carnivore conflict designed for one species may not be applicable to another co-occurring species, and thus, taxonomic bias could undermine the efficacy of interventions built to reduce livestock depredation by carnivores.
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22
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Adavoudi R, Pilot M. Consequences of Hybridization in Mammals: A Systematic Review. Genes (Basel) 2021; 13:50. [PMID: 35052393 PMCID: PMC8774782 DOI: 10.3390/genes13010050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hybridization, defined as breeding between two distinct taxonomic units, can have an important effect on the evolutionary patterns in cross-breeding taxa. Although interspecific hybridization has frequently been considered as a maladaptive process, which threatens species genetic integrity and survival via genetic swamping and outbreeding depression, in some cases hybridization can introduce novel adaptive variation and increase fitness. Most studies to date focused on documenting hybridization events and analyzing their causes, while relatively little is known about the consequences of hybridization and its impact on the parental species. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a systematic review of studies on hybridization in mammals published in 2010-2021, and identified 115 relevant studies. Of 13 categories of hybridization consequences described in these studies, the most common negative consequence (21% of studies) was genetic swamping and the most common positive consequence (8%) was the gain of novel adaptive variation. The total frequency of negative consequences (49%) was higher than positive (13%) and neutral (38%) consequences. These frequencies are biased by the detection possibilities of microsatellite loci, the most common genetic markers used in the papers assessed. As negative outcomes are typically easier to demonstrate than positive ones (e.g., extinction vs hybrid speciation), they may be over-represented in publications. Transition towards genomic studies involving both neutral and adaptive variation will provide a better insight into the real impacts of hybridization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Małgorzata Pilot
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Nadwiślańska 108, 80-680 Gdańsk, Poland;
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Fančovičová J, Prokop P, Repáková R, Medina-Jerez W. Factors Influencing the Sponsoring of Animals in Slovak Zoos. Animals (Basel) 2021; 12:ani12010021. [PMID: 35011128 PMCID: PMC8749688 DOI: 10.3390/ani12010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary To achieve conservation goals with ex situ programs, zoos have two alternatives: government funding and private donations. By using published data from 2018 on the amount of money received by zoos through adoption programs (if any), we investigated the factors influencing donations in all Slovak zoos. Generalized linear mixed models were applied throughout statistical analyses. Although the majority of animal species in the zoos included in this study had low a conservation status, a few others, like amphibians, were rarely listed as threatened species. In general, vertebrates received more funding than invertebrates, and mammals were the preferred taxa by private contributors. Mammals were sponsored more frequently than non-mammal species, except for reptiles. We submit that zoo managers could concentrate their efforts on the breeding of threatened animals to support their reintroduction to the wild and to enhance people’s awareness of these animal species. Abstract Anthropogenic disturbance causes biodiversity loss, and consequently the captive conservation (ex situ) of threatened animals may be an effective strategy in protecting species. We used estimated body mass, phylogenetic closeness with humans, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) conservation status, and species attractiveness scores, to examine the factors influencing the adoption likelihood of a species in all Slovak zoos. In general, vertebrates received more funding than invertebrates, and mammals were the preferred taxa by private contributors. In terms of funding, we propose that the perception of mammals as phylogenetically close to humans, and attractiveness factor, contribute to an advantage over less attractive and phylogenetically distant species. Conservation status also contributed to the amount of donations; however, the magnitude of these relationships was weak when compared to the effect of animal taxa. These results suggest that Slovak zoos might be more successful in raising donations by breeding threatened species, and raising public awareness about these animal species. Displaying popular, flagship species of non-mammal taxa may increase interest among the public as well, and may translate into a significant growth in the amount of donations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Fančovičová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Trnava University, Priemyselná 4, 918 43 Trnava, Slovakia; (J.F.); (R.R.)
| | - Pavol Prokop
- Department of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +421-6-02-96236
| | - Róberta Repáková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Trnava University, Priemyselná 4, 918 43 Trnava, Slovakia; (J.F.); (R.R.)
| | - William Medina-Jerez
- Teacher Education Department, College of Education, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA;
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Pérez-Flores J, Mardero S, López-Cen A, Contreras-Moreno FM. Human-wildlife conflicts and drought in the greater Calakmul Region, Mexico: implications for tapir conservation. NEOTROPICAL BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.16.e71032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Wildlife conservation efforts in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor have focused on reducing negative interactions between humans and charismatic species. In recent years, droughts have increased in frequency and intensity in southeastern Mexico exacerbating conflicts with wildlife as they compete with humans for limited water. In the Yucatan Peninsula, Greater Calakmul Region of southeastern Mexico, Baird’s tapirs (Tapirus bairdii) are increasingly encroaching into local villages (ejidos) in search of water. This behavior could increase tapir mortality from hunting by Calakmul ejidos residents. We evaluated the trends between annual precipitation and tapir sightings near or within Calakmul ejidos from 2008 to 2019 to determine if the frequency of reported conflicts increased relative to decreased precipitation. In addition, with community participation, from 2016 to 2018 we monitored one of the ejidos where human-tapir conflicts were reported to be increasing to better describe the nature of conflicts. We did not find any relationship between the number of tapir sightings reported and annual precipitation. However, more tapirs were documented near ejidos in 2019, which is one of the years with the lowest rainfall (626.6 mm) in the last decade. Tapirs were reported as the most common wildlife species observed at waterholes (35.4%) and apiaries (32.1%). Our findings suggested that water scarcity has increased tapirs’ incursions into human-populated areas and subsequently the potential for human-tapir conflicts. We recommend that managers consider developing alternative water sources that could mitigate human-tapir conflicts and contribute to the long-term viability of other wildlife species that inhabit the Greater Calakmul Region of southeastern Mexico.
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Delibes‐Mateos M, Glikman JA, Lafuente R, Villafuerte R, Garrido FE. Support to Iberian lynx reintroduction and perceived impacts: Assessments before and after reintroduction. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Regina Lafuente
- Instituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados (IESA‐CSIC) Córdoba Spain
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26
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Obino Mastella AM, Rodrigues CE, Kist TBL, Ramos Pereira MJ. Take a good catch at the scat: carboxylic and sulfonic acid profiles as a non-invasive tool for species identification and sex determination in neotropical carnivores. STUDIES ON NEOTROPICAL FAUNA AND ENVIRONMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/01650521.2021.1994786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maria Obino Mastella
- BiMaLab – Bird and Mammal Evolution, Systematics and Ecology Lab, Ppgban – Graduate Program in Animal Biology, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Carlos Eduardo Rodrigues
- Ppgbcm – Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Laboratory of Methods, Department of Biophysics, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Tarso B. Ledur Kist
- Laboratory of Methods, Department of Biophysics, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Maria João Ramos Pereira
- BiMaLab – Bird and Mammal Evolution, Systematics and Ecology Lab, Ppgban – Graduate Program in Animal Biology, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Cesam – Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
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Mayer CH. Understanding Wildlife Crime from Eco-Existential and African Perspectives: A Psycho-Philosophical Investigation. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:11675. [PMID: 34770189 PMCID: PMC8582875 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Wildlife crime has huge consequences regarding global environmental changes to animals, plants and the entire ecosystem. Combatting wildlife crime effectively requires a deep understanding of human-wildlife interactions and an analysis of the influencing factors. Conservation and green criminology are important in reducing wildlife crime, protecting wildlife and the ecosystem and informing policy-makers about best practices and strategies. However, the past years have shown that wildlife crime is not easy to combat and it is argued in this article that there are underlying existential "givens" and culture-specific aspects that need to be investigated to understand why wildlife crime is still on the rise. This theoretical article explores (eco-)existential perspectives, Greening's four givens and selected African philosophical concepts, aiming to understand the complexities behind the prevalence of wildlife crime within global and African contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claude-Hélène Mayer
- Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa
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28
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Jones L, Boeri M, Christie M, Durance I, Evans KL, Fletcher D, Harrison L, Jorgensen A, Masante D, McGinlay J, Paterson DM, Schmucki R, Short C, Small N, Southon G, Stojanovic T, Waters R. Can we model cultural ecosystem services, and are we measuring the right things? PEOPLE AND NATURE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Boeri
- Queen's University of Belfast Belfast UK
- RTI Health Solutions Belfast UK
| | - Mike Christie
- Aberystwyth Business School Aberystwyth University Wales UK
| | | | - Karl L. Evans
- The Department of Landscape Architecture The University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | | | - Laura Harrison
- Department of Environment and Geography University of York York UK
| | - Anna Jorgensen
- The Department of Landscape Architecture The University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | | | - James McGinlay
- Cranfield University Bedford UK
- Department of Land Economy University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - David M. Paterson
- (Marine and coastal environment team) School of Geography & Sustainable Development Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | | | - Chris Short
- CCRI University of Gloucestershire Cheltenham UK
| | - Natalie Small
- Cardiff School of Biosciences Cardiff University Cardiff UK
| | - Georgina Southon
- The Department of Landscape Architecture The University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Timothy Stojanovic
- (Marine and coastal environment team) School of Geography & Sustainable Development Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
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29
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Shreedhar G. Evaluating the impact of storytelling in Facebook advertisements on wildlife conservation engagement: Lessons and challenges. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ganga Shreedhar
- The London School of Economics & Political Science London UK
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30
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McGaley J, Paszkowski U. Visualising an invisible symbiosis. PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET 2021; 3:462-470. [PMID: 34938955 PMCID: PMC8651000 DOI: 10.1002/ppp3.10180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Despite the vast abundance and global importance of plant and microbial species, the large majority go unnoticed and unappreciated by humans, contributing to pressing issues including the neglect of study and research of these organisms, the lack of interest and support for their protection and conservation, low microbial and botanical literacy in society, and a growing disconnect between people and nature. The invisibility of many of these organisms is a key factor in their oversight by society, but also points to a solution: sharing the wealth of visual data produced during scientific research with a broader audience. Here, we discuss how the invisible can be visualised for a public audience, and the benefits it can bring. SUMMARY Whether too small, slow or concealed, the majority of species on Earth go unseen by humans. One such rather unobservable group of organisms are the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, who form beneficial symbioses with plants. AM symbiosis is ubiquitous and vitally important globally in ecosystem functioning, but partly as a consequence of its invisibility, it receives disproportionally little attention and appreciation. Yet AM fungi, and other unseen organisms, need not remain overlooked: from decades of scientific research there exists a goldmine of visual data, which if shared effectively we believe can alleviate the issues of low awareness. Here, we use examples from our experience of public engagement with AM symbiosis as well as evidence from the literature to outline the diverse ways in which invisible organisms can be visualised for a broad audience. We highlight outcomes and knock-on consequences of this visualisation, ranging from improved human mental health to environmental protection, making the case for researchers to share their images more widely for the benefit of plants (and fungi and other overlooked organisms), people and planet.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Uta Paszkowski
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
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31
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Kuiper T, Loveridge AJ, Macdonald DW. Robust mapping of human–wildlife conflict: controlling for livestock distribution in carnivore depredation models. Anim Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Kuiper
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Department of Zoology The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre University of Oxford Tubney Oxon UK
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Andrew J. Loveridge
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Department of Zoology The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre University of Oxford Tubney Oxon UK
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Department of Zoology The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre University of Oxford Tubney Oxon UK
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Whole genome survey of big cats (Genus: Panthera) identifies novel microsatellites of utility in conservation genetic study. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14164. [PMID: 34238947 PMCID: PMC8266911 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92781-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Big cats (Genus: Panthera) are among the most threatened mammal groups of the world, owing to hunting, habitat loss, and illegal transnational trade. Conservation genetic studies and effective curbs on poaching are important for the conservation of these charismatic apex predators. A limited number of microsatellite markers exists for Panthera species and researchers often cross-amplify domestic cat microsatellites to study these species. We conducted data mining of seven Panthera genome sequences to discover microsatellites for conservation genetic studies of four threatened big cat species. A total of 32 polymorphic microsatellite loci were identified in silico and tested with 152 big cats, and were found polymorphic in most of the tested species. We propose a set of 12 novel microsatellite markers for use in conservation genetics and wildlife forensic investigations of big cat species. Cumulatively, these markers have a high discriminatory power of one in a million for unrelated individuals and one in a thousand for siblings. Similar PCR conditions of these markers increase the prospects of achieving efficient multiplex PCR assays. This study is a pioneering attempt to synthesise genome wide microsatellite markers for big cats.
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Prokop P, Zvaríková M, Zvarík M, Pazda A, Fedor P. The Effect of Animal Bipedal Posture on Perceived Cuteness, Fear, and Willingness to Protect Them. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.681241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Human–animal relationships have long been the subject of controversy because they are shaped by several cultural, inter-individual, and evolutionary factors. Understanding these relationships, however, is important to optimize conservation efforts. There is agreement that perceived similarity between animals and humans is associated with more positive attitudes. The human–animal similarity could be caused by phylogenetic closeness. We hypothesized that the bipedal posture of an animal may be perceived as a cue of phenotypic similarity with humans. We examined this topic by comparing perceived cuteness, fear, and willingness to protect animals differing in body posture, body size, and phylogenetic closeness with humans on a sample of N = 349 Slovak participants. We found that the bipedal posture enhanced perceived cuteness, but this effect was most pronounced in small-bodied animals, particularly those with direct eye contact. Phylogenetically close and small-bodied species (e.g., small mammals) received greater conservation support than phylogenetically distant species (e.g., invertebrates). However, anthropomorphic-looking animals received greater conservation support, suggesting that pictures of animals that more closely resemble humans can be used in conservation campaigns.
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Framing of visual content shown on popular social media may affect viewers' attitudes to threatened species. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13512. [PMID: 34188096 PMCID: PMC8241864 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92815-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Content published on social media may affect user's attitudes toward wildlife species. We evaluated viewers' responses to videos published on a popular social medium, focusing particularly on how the content was framed (i.e., the way an issue is conveyed to transmit a certain meaning). We analyzed videos posted on YouTube that showed vultures interacting with livestock. The videos were negatively or positively framed, and we evaluated viewers' opinions of these birds through the comments posted. We also analyzed negatively framed videos of mammalian predators interacting with livestock, to evaluate whether comments on this content were similar to those on vultures. We found that the framing of the information influenced the tone of the comments. Videos showing farmers talking about their livestock losses were more likely to provoke negative comments than videos not including farmer testimonies. The probability of negative comments being posted on videos about vultures was higher than for mammalian predators. Finally, negatively framed videos on vultures had more views over time than positive ones. Our results call for caution in the presentation of wildlife species online, and highlight the need for regulations to prevent the spread of misinformed videos that could magnify existing human-wildlife conflicts.
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Singh H, Bhardwaj GS, Gokulakannan N, Agasti S, Aditya K. First photographic evidence and distribution of the Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata (Mammalia: Pholidota: Manidae) in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India. JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA 2021. [DOI: 10.11609/jott.6290.13.7.18888-18893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Indian Pangolin, although considered to be widely distributed due to its elusive nature and low detection probability its status and distribution records are very limited. Rampant hunting for local consumption, and illegal wildlife trade for medicinal and ornamental purposes has pushed the species towards serious decline. Herein, we report the first photographic records of the Indian Pangolin in Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR), Rajasthan, India. During our camera trapping study from June 2018 to April 2019, out of 29,220 camera trapping nights the species was recorded on four occasions, at two different locations in STR. The species was recorded in the open forest areas near natural water bodies situated in the middle of dense Anogeissus pendula forests.
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Austen GE, Dallimer M, Irvine KN, Maund PR, Fish RD, Davies ZG. Exploring shared public perspectives on biodiversity attributes. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gail E. Austen
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology School of Anthropology and Conservation University of Kent Kent UK
| | - Martin Dallimer
- Sustainability Research Institute School of Earth and Environment University of Leeds Leeds UK
| | - Katherine N. Irvine
- Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Department The James Hutton Institute Aberdeen UK
| | - Phoebe R. Maund
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology School of Anthropology and Conservation University of Kent Kent UK
| | - Robert D. Fish
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology School of Anthropology and Conservation University of Kent Kent UK
| | - Zoe G. Davies
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology School of Anthropology and Conservation University of Kent Kent UK
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Boulet M, Borg K, Faulkner N, Smith L. Evenly split: Exploring the highly polarized public response to the use of lethal methods to manage overabundant native wildlife in Australia. J Nat Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2021.125995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Mittermeier JC, Roll U, Matthews TJ, Correia R, Grenyer R. Birds that are more commonly encountered in the wild attract higher public interest online. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Uri Roll
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research Ben‐Gurion University of the Negev Beersheba Israel
| | - Thomas J. Matthews
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Birmingham Institute of Forest Research University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK
- CE3C – Centre for Ecology Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group and Univ. dos Açores – Depto de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente Angra do Heroísmo Portugal
| | - Ricardo Correia
- Helsinki Lab of Interdisciplinary Conservation Science (HELICS), Department of Geosciences and Geography University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
- Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Rich Grenyer
- School of Geography and The Environment University of Oxford Oxford UK
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Curveira-Santos G, Sutherland C, Tenan S, Fernández-Chacón A, Mann GKH, Pitman RT, Swanepoel LH. Mesocarnivore community structuring in the presence of Africa's apex predator. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20202379. [PMID: 33715442 PMCID: PMC7944110 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Apex predator reintroductions have proliferated across southern Africa, yet their ecological effects and proposed umbrella benefits of associated management lack empirical evaluations. Despite a rich theory on top-down ecosystem regulation via mesopredator suppression, a knowledge gap exists relating to the influence of lions (Panthera leo) over Africa's diverse mesocarnivore (less than 20 kg) communities. We investigate how geographical variation in mesocarnivore community richness and occupancy across South African reserves is associated with the presence of lions. An interesting duality emerged: lion reserves held more mesocarnivore-rich communities, yet mesocarnivore occupancy rates and evenness-weighted diversity were lower in the presence of lions. Human population density in the reserve surroundings had a similarly ubiquitous negative effect on mesocarnivore occupancy. The positive association between species richness and lion presence corroborated the umbrella species concept but translated into small differences in community size. Distributional contractions of mesocarnivore species within lion reserves, and potentially corresponding numerical reductions, suggest within-community mesopredator suppression by lions, probably as a result of lethal encounters and responses to a landscape of fear. Our findings offer empirical support for the theoretical understanding of processes underpinning carnivore community assembly and are of conservation relevance under current large-predator orientated management and conservation paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo Curveira-Santos
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes – cE3c, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Chris Sutherland
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Simone Tenan
- National Research Council, Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), Arsenale, Tesa 104, Castello 2737/F, 30122 Venezia, Italy
| | - Albert Fernández-Chacón
- Centre for Coastal Research, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Agder, 4604 Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Gareth K. H. Mann
- Panthera, 8 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Ross T. Pitman
- Panthera, 8 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Lourens H. Swanepoel
- Department of Zoology, School of Mathematical & Natural Sciences, University of Venda, 0950 Thohoyandou, South Africa
- African Institute for Conservation Ecology, 0929 Levubu, South Africa
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Movement behavior of a solitary large carnivore within a hotspot of human-wildlife conflicts in India. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3862. [PMID: 33594130 PMCID: PMC7887241 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83262-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
With a rise in human induced changes to natural habitats, large predators are forced to share space and resources with people to coexist within multiple-use landscapes. Within such shared landscapes, co-occurrence of humans and predators often leads to human-carnivore conflicts and pose a substantial challenge for biodiversity conservation. To better elucidate large carnivore space use within a hotspot of human-wildlife conflicts, we used GPS data for leopards (N = 6) to identify behavioral states and document spatial patterns of resource selection in response to season and human activity periods within a fragmented landscape of North Bengal, eastern India. We identified two major behavioral states (i.e. resting and travelling). From the resource selection models, we found leopards selected habitats with dense to moderate vegetation cover and proximity to water while resting and travelling within the landscape. During the dry season, when risk of human-leopard conflicts is highest, leopards selected tea plantations, forest patches but avoided protected areas. These results suggest a potential for increase in human-carnivore conflicts and a strategy to conserve large predators within multiple-use landscapes of South Asia.
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Pandey P, Hyun JY, Yu M, Lee H. Microsatellite characterization and development of unified STR panel for big cats in captivity: a case study from a Seoul Grand Park Zoo, Republic of Korea. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:1935-1942. [PMID: 33566223 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06202-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The zoos manage small populations of endangered big cat species like tiger, lion, and leopard for display, research, and conservation breeding. Genetic management of these populations is essential to ensure long term survival and conservation utility. Here we propose a simple and cost effective microsatellite based protocol for the genetic management of captive big cats. We sampled 36 big cat individuals from Seoul Grand Park Zoo (Republic of Korea) and amplified 33 published microsatellite loci. Overall, allelic richness and gene diversity was found highest for leopards, followed by lions and tigers. Twelve of the thirty-three markers showed a high degree of polymorphism across all target species. These microsatellites provide a high degree of discrimination for tiger (1.45 × 10-8), lion (1.54 × 10-10), and leopard (1.88 × 10-12) and thus can be adopted for the genetic characterization of big cats in accredited zoos globally. During captive breeding, zoo authorities rely on pedigree records maintained in studbooks to ensure mating of genetically fit unrelated individuals. Several studies have reported errors in studbook records of big cat species. Microsatellites are simple and cost effective tool for DNA fingerprinting, estimation of genetic diversity, and paternity assessment. Our unified microsatellite panel (12-plex) for big cats is efficient and can easily be adopted by zoo authorities for regular population management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puneet Pandey
- Conservation Genome Resource Bank for Korean Wildlife and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1 Gwanak-gu, Gwanak-ro, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jee Yun Hyun
- Conservation Genome Resource Bank for Korean Wildlife and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1 Gwanak-gu, Gwanak-ro, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mihyeon Yu
- Seoul Grand Park Zoo, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Hang Lee
- Conservation Genome Resource Bank for Korean Wildlife and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1 Gwanak-gu, Gwanak-ro, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Heinrich S, Leupen BT, Bruslund S, Owen A, Shepherd CR. A case for better international protection of the Sumatran Laughingthrush (Garrulax bicolor). Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Khorozyan I, Waltert M. A global view on evidence‐based effectiveness of interventions used to protect livestock from wild cats. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Igor Khorozyan
- Department of Conservation Biology Georg‐August‐Universität Göttingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Matthias Waltert
- Department of Conservation Biology Georg‐August‐Universität Göttingen Göttingen Germany
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Coals P, Moorhouse TP, D’Cruze NC, Macdonald DW, Loveridge AJ. Preferences for lion and tiger bone wines amongst the urban public in China and Vietnam. J Nat Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2020.125874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Bavin D, MacPherson J, Denman H, Crowley SL, McDonald RA. Using Q‐methodology to understand stakeholder perspectives on a carnivore translocation. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- David Bavin
- Vincent Wildlife Trust Ledbury UK
- Environment and Sustainability Institute University of Exeter Penryn UK
| | | | | | - Sarah L. Crowley
- Environment and Sustainability Institute University of Exeter Penryn UK
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Lindsey P, Allan J, Brehony P, Dickman A, Robson A, Begg C, Bhammar H, Blanken L, Breuer T, Fitzgerald K, Flyman M, Gandiwa P, Giva N, Kaelo D, Nampindo S, Nyambe N, Steiner K, Parker A, Roe D, Thomson P, Trimble M, Caron A, Tyrrell P. Conserving Africa’s wildlife and wildlands through the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. Nat Ecol Evol 2020; 4:1300-1310. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-020-1275-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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McLeod LJ, Evans D, Jones B, Paterson M, Zito S. Understanding the Relationship between Intention and Cat Containment Behaviour: A Case Study of Kitten and Cat Adopters from RSPCA Queensland. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1214. [PMID: 32708752 PMCID: PMC7401661 DOI: 10.3390/ani10071214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In Australia, cat owners are encouraged to keep their pet cats contained on their property at all times. This study explores the relationship between the intentions and behaviours of 72 kitten and cat adopters from a RSPCA Queensland animal shelter, to provide a more in-depth understanding of the factors influencing the adoption of cat containment behaviours. At the time of adoption, 64 participants (89%) indicated they were intending to keep their cat fully contained. Eight weeks after adoption, 63 participants (87%) reported they were doing so (59 who had stated their intention at the time of adoption, and 4 who had not). We found cat owner containment behaviour was moderately correlated with containment intentions. For some of the participants when it came to enacting this behaviour, their intentions and the provided education information was not enough to overcome the more compelling capability, opportunity and motivational factors which presented themselves once they got home. We were able to identify these factors and suggest additional behaviour change strategies that would assist. Although it is important to provide cat adopters with advice about how to contain their cats properly, these results also highlight the importance of focusing attention on other behaviour change strategies that address the particular barriers faced by some cat-owners who are unsuccessful in keeping their cat contained on their property.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynette J. McLeod
- School of Psychology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
| | - Di Evans
- RSPCA Australia, PO Box 265, Deakin West, ACT 2600, Australia; (D.E.); (B.J.); (S.Z.)
| | - Bidda Jones
- RSPCA Australia, PO Box 265, Deakin West, ACT 2600, Australia; (D.E.); (B.J.); (S.Z.)
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Mandy Paterson
- RSPCA Queensland, Locked Bag 3000, Archerfield BH, Qld 4108, Australia;
| | - Sarah Zito
- RSPCA Australia, PO Box 265, Deakin West, ACT 2600, Australia; (D.E.); (B.J.); (S.Z.)
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Elliot NB, Bett A, Chege M, Sankan K, Souza N, Kariuki L, Broekhuis F, Omondi P, Ngene S, Gopalaswamy AM. The importance of reliable monitoring methods for the management of small, isolated populations. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas B. Elliot
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of ZoologyUniversity of Oxford, Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney House, Abingdon Road Tubney Oxfordshire OX13 5QL UK
- Kenya Wildlife Trust P.O. Box 86‐00502 Karen Nairobi Kenya
| | - Alice Bett
- Kenya Wildlife Service Box 40241‐0100 Nairobi Kenya
| | - Monica Chege
- Kenya Wildlife Service Box 40241‐0100 Nairobi Kenya
| | - Kasaine Sankan
- Kenya Wildlife Trust P.O. Box 86‐00502 Karen Nairobi Kenya
| | - Nadia Souza
- Lion Guardians P.O. Box 15550‐00509, Langata Nairobi Kenya
| | | | - Femke Broekhuis
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of ZoologyUniversity of Oxford, Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney House, Abingdon Road Tubney Oxfordshire OX13 5QL UK
| | | | | | - Arjun M. Gopalaswamy
- Statistics and Mathematics UnitIndian Statistical Institute—Bangalore Centre Bengaluru 560059 India
- Wildlife Conservation SocietyGlobal Conservation Programs 2300, Southern Boulevard Bronx New York 10460 USA
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