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Lamka GF, Willoughby JR. Habitat remediation followed by managed connectivity reduces unwanted changes in evolutionary trajectory of high extirpation risk populations. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304276. [PMID: 38814889 PMCID: PMC11139274 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304276] [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] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
As we continue to convert green spaces into roadways and buildings, connectivity between populations and biodiversity will continue to decline. In threatened and endangered species, this trend is particularly concerning because the cessation of immigration can cause increased inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity, leading to lower adaptability and higher extirpation probabilities in these populations. Unfortunately, monitoring changes in genetic diversity from management actions such as assisted migration and predicting the extent of introduced genetic variation that is needed to prevent extirpation is difficult and costly in situ. Therefore, we designed an agent-based model to link population-wide genetic variability and the influx of unique alleles via immigration to population stability and extirpation outcomes. These models showed that management of connectivity can be critical in restoring at-risk populations and reducing the effects of inbreeding depression. However, the rescued populations were more similar to the migrant source population (average FST range 0.05-0.10) compared to the historical recipient population (average FST range 0.23-0.37). This means that these management actions not only recovered the populations from the effects of inbreeding depression, but they did so in a way that changed the evolutionary trajectory that was predicted and expected for these populations prior to the population crash. This change was most extreme in populations with the smallest population sizes, which are representative of critically endangered species that could reasonably be considered candidates for restored connectivity or translocation strategies. Understanding how these at-risk populations change in response to varying management interventions has broad implications for the long-term adaptability of these populations and can improve future efforts for protecting locally adapted allele complexes when connectivity is restored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina F. Lamka
- College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Janna R. Willoughby
- College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
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Cheng SH, Costedoat S, Sigouin A, Calistro GF, Chamberlain CJ, Lichtenthal P, Mills M, Nowakowski AJ, Sterling EJ, Tinsman J, Wiggins M, Brancalion PHS, Canty SWJ, Fritts-Penniman A, Jagadish A, Jones K, Mascia MB, Porzecanski A, Zganjar C, Brenes CLM. Assessing evidence on the impacts of nature-based interventions for climate change mitigation: a systematic map of primary and secondary research from subtropical and tropical terrestrial regions. ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE 2023; 12:21. [PMID: 39294699 PMCID: PMC11378798 DOI: 10.1186/s13750-023-00312-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nature-based interventions (NbIs) for climate change mitigation include a diverse set of interventions aimed at conserving, restoring, and/or managing natural and modified ecosystems to improve their ability to store and sequester carbon and avoid greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Recent projections estimate that terrestrial NbIs can lead to more than one-third of the climate change mitigation necessary to meet the Paris Climate Agreement by 2030. Further, these interventions can provide co-benefits in the form of social and ecological outcomes. Despite growing recognition of the potential benefits, a clear characterization of the distribution and occurrence of evidence which supports linkages between different types of NbIs and outcomes for climate change mitigation, ecosystems, and people remains poorly understood. METHODS This systematic map assesses the evidence base on the links between NbIs and climate change mitigation, social, and ecological outcomes in tropical and subtropical terrestrial regions. We searched three bibliographic databases, 65 organization websites, and conducted backward citation chasing within 39 existing evidence syntheses to identify relevant articles. Additionally, we reached out to key informants for additional sources of evidence. We then used machine learning to rank returned results by relevance at the title and abstract stage and manually screened for inclusion using predefined criteria at the title, abstract, and full text stages. We extracted relevant meta-data from included articles using an a priori coding scheme. Lastly, we conducted a targeted, complementary search to identify relevant review and synthesis articles to provide broader context for the findings of the systematic map. REVIEW FINDINGS We included 948 articles in this systematic map. Most of the evidence base (56%) examined links between protection, natural resource management, and restoration interventions with changes to 'proxy' outcomes for climate change mitigation (changes to land condition, land cover, and/or land use). Other areas with high occurrence of articles included linkages between interventions within natural resource management and trees in croplands categories and changes to aboveground carbon storage and/or sequestration (17% of articles). A key knowledge gap was on measured changes in GHG emissions across all intervention types (6% of articles). Overall, articles in the evidence base did not often assess changes in co-benefits alongside direct or indirect changes for climate change mitigation (32%). In most cases, the evidence base contained studies which did not explicitly test for causal linkages using appropriate experimental or quasi-experimental designs. CONCLUSIONS The evidence base for NbIs is significant and growing; however, key gaps in knowledge hamper the ability to inform ongoing and future investment and implementation at scale. More comprehensive evidence is needed to support causal inference between NbIs and direct outcomes for climate change mitigation to better determine additionality, permanence, leakage, and other unintended consequences. Similarly, priorities emerging from this map include the need for coordinated and harmonized efforts to collect diverse data types to better understand whether and how other outcomes (e.g. social, ecological) of NbIs can be achieved synergistically with mitigation objectives. Understanding potential benefits and trade-offs of NbIs is particularly urgent to inform rapidly expanding carbon markets for nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha H Cheng
- World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th St NW, Washington, DC, 20037, USA.
- Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 10024, USA.
| | - Sebastien Costedoat
- The Betty and Gordon Moore Center for Science, Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA
| | - Amanda Sigouin
- Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 10024, USA
| | - Gabriel F Calistro
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Catherine J Chamberlain
- The Betty and Gordon Moore Center for Science, Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA
- The Nature Conservancy, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Peter Lichtenthal
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | | | - A Justin Nowakowski
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Rd, Edgewater, MD, 21037, USA
- Working Land and Seascapes, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA
| | - Eleanor J Sterling
- Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 10024, USA
- Hawai'I Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Mānoa, HI, USA
| | - Jen Tinsman
- Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 10024, USA
| | | | - Pedro H S Brancalion
- Department of Forest Sciences, 'Luiz de Queiroz' College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Steven W J Canty
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Rd, Edgewater, MD, 21037, USA
- Saturday Academy, University of Portland, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR, 97203, USA
| | | | - Arundhati Jagadish
- The Betty and Gordon Moore Center for Science, Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA
| | - Kelly Jones
- Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1480, USA
| | - Michael B Mascia
- The Betty and Gordon Moore Center for Science, Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA
| | - Ana Porzecanski
- Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 10024, USA
| | | | - Carlos L Muñoz Brenes
- The Betty and Gordon Moore Center for Science, Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA
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Moore LJ, Petrovan SO, Bates AJ, Hicks HL, Baker PJ, Perkins SE, Yarnell RW. Demographic effects of road mortality on mammalian populations: a systematic review. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1033-1050. [PMID: 36843247 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
In light of rapidly expanding road networks worldwide, there is increasing global awareness of the growing amount of mammalian roadkill. However, the ways in which road mortality affects the population dynamics of different species remains largely unclear. We aimed to categorise the demographic parameters in mammalian populations around the world that are directly or indirectly affected by road mortality, as well as identify the most effective study designs for quantifying population-level consequences of road mortality. We conducted a comprehensive systematic review to synthesise literature published between 2000 and 2021 and out of 11,238 unique studies returned, 83 studies were retained comprising 69 mammalian species and 150 populations. A bias towards research-intensive countries and larger mammals was apparent. Although searches were conducted in five languages, all studies meeting the inclusion criteria were in English. Relatively few studies (13.3%) provided relevant demographic context to roadkill figures, hampering understanding of the impacts on population persistence. We categorised five direct demographic parameters affected by road mortality: sex- and age-biased mortality, the percentage of a population killed on roads per year (values up to 50% were reported), the contribution of roadkill to total mortality rates (up to 80%), and roadkill during inter-patch or long-distance movements. Female-biased mortality may be more prevalent than previously recognised and is likely to be critical to population dynamics. Roadkill was the greatest source of mortality for 28% of studied populations and both additive and compensatory mechanisms to roadkill were found to occur, bringing varied challenges to conservation around roads. In addition, intra-specific population differences in demographic effects of road mortality were common. This highlights that the relative importance of road mortality is likely to be context specific as the road configuration and habitat quality surrounding a population can vary. Road ecology studies that collect data on key life parameters, such as age/stage/sex-specific survival and dispersal success, and that use a combination of methods are critical in understanding long-term impacts. Quantifying the demographic impacts of road mortality is an important yet complex consideration for proactive road management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren J Moore
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst Lane, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, NG25 0QF, UK
| | - Silviu O Petrovan
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 3QZ, UK
| | - Adam J Bates
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst Lane, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, NG25 0QF, UK
| | - Helen L Hicks
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst Lane, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, NG25 0QF, UK
| | - Philip J Baker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6AH, UK
| | - Sarah E Perkins
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Richard W Yarnell
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst Lane, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, NG25 0QF, UK
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White TB, Petrovan SO, Booth H, Correa RJ, Gatt Y, Martin PA, Newell H, Worthington TA, Sutherland WJ. Determining the economic costs and benefits of conservation actions: A decision support framework. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas B. White
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Silviu O. Petrovan
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Biosecurity Research Initiative at St Catharine's (BioRISC), St Catharine's College Cambridge UK
| | - Hollie Booth
- The Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science (ICCS), Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Wildlife Conservation Society New York City New York USA
| | - Roberto J. Correa
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Yasmine Gatt
- Centre for Nature‐Based Climate Solutions, Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
| | - Philip A. Martin
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Biosecurity Research Initiative at St Catharine's (BioRISC), St Catharine's College Cambridge UK
- Basque Centre for Climate Change Leioa Spain
| | | | - Thomas A. Worthington
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - William J. Sutherland
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Biosecurity Research Initiative at St Catharine's (BioRISC), St Catharine's College Cambridge UK
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