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Liao W, Cao S, Jiang Y, Shao W, Zhao L, Yan C. Predicting Conservation Status of Testudoformes under Climate Change Using Habitat Models. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2300. [PMID: 39199834 PMCID: PMC11350788 DOI: 10.3390/ani14162300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change promotes variations in distribution ranges, potentially leading to biodiversity loss and increased extinction risks for species. It is crucial to investigate these variations under future climate change scenarios for effective biodiversity conservation. Here, we studied the future distribution ranges of 268 Testudoformes species under climate change using habitat models, specifically species distribution models (SDMs), to assess their conservation status. Our results have indicated that over half of species are projected to experience declines in their potential distribution ranges under two scenarios. In particular, we found that three critically endangered species-Three-striped roofed turtle (Batagur dhongoka), Durango mud turtle (Kinosternon durangoense), and Colombian mud turtle (Kinosternon dunni)-displayed extraction of their distribution ranges and faced extinction under global climate change. Additionally, our analysis revealed that the potential distribution ranges of some species might increase under future climate scenarios. However, these findings must be interpreted with caution as they do not account for other significant factors such as biological invasions, population structure, land-use change, anthropogenic disturbances, and inter-organism interrelationships. Future studies should incorporate these factors to provide a more comprehensive assessment of extinction risks. Our findings suggest that climate change, in conjunction with habitat degradation and human activities, must be considered when assessing the extinction risks of Testudoformes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Liao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (S.C.); (Y.J.); (W.S.); (L.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- College of Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Shun Cao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (S.C.); (Y.J.); (W.S.); (L.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- College of Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Ying Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (S.C.); (Y.J.); (W.S.); (L.Z.)
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Weijie Shao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (S.C.); (Y.J.); (W.S.); (L.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- College of Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (S.C.); (Y.J.); (W.S.); (L.Z.)
- College of Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Chengzhi Yan
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (S.C.); (Y.J.); (W.S.); (L.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- College of Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
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Turvey ST, Lau EYX, Duncan C, Ma H, Liu H. Assessing the information-content of messy data to reconstruct population recovery dynamics for the world's rarest primate. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70089. [PMID: 39114163 PMCID: PMC11303811 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70089] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the dynamics of population recovery in threatened species requires robust longitudinal monitoring datasets. However, evidence-based decision-making is often impeded by variable data collection approaches, necessitating critical evaluation of restricted available baselines. The Hainan gibbon, the world's rarest primate, had possibly declined to only seven or eight individuals in 1978 at Bawangling National Nature Reserve but has experienced subsequent population growth. Past population estimates lack detailed reporting of survey effort, and multiple conflicting estimates are available, hindering assessment of gibbon recovery. We investigated all reported estimates of Bawangling gibbon population size from 1978 to 2022, to evaluate the biological signal of population trends and the extent to which noise associated with varying survey effort, reporting and estimation may mask or misrepresent any underlying signal. This longitudinal dataset demonstrates that the Bawangling population experienced a series of bottlenecks and recoveries, with three successive periods of growth interspersed by population crashes (1978-1989, 1989-2000 and 2000-2022). The rate of gibbon population recovery was progressively slower over time in each successive period of growth, and this potential decline in recovery rate following serial bottlenecks suggests that additional management strategies may be required alongside "nature-based solutions" for this species. However, population viability analysis suggests the 1978 founder population is unlikely to have been as low as seven individuals, raising concerns for interpreting reported historical population counts and understanding the dynamics of the species' recovery. We caution against overinterpreting potential signals within "messy" conservation datasets, and we emphasise the crucial importance of standardised replicable survey methods and transparent reporting of data and effort in all future surveys of Hainan gibbons and other highly threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Clare Duncan
- Institute of ZoologyZoological Society of LondonLondonUK
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterCornwallUK
| | - Heidi Ma
- Institute of ZoologyZoological Society of LondonLondonUK
| | - Hui Liu
- School of Tropical Agriculture and ForestryHainan UniversityHaikouChina
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Ma H, Wang Z, Han P, Fan P, Chapman CA, Garber PA, Fan P. Small apes adjust rhythms to facilitate song coordination. Curr Biol 2024; 34:935-945.e3. [PMID: 38266649 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Song coordination is a universal characteristic of human music. Many animals also produce well-coordinated duets or choruses that resemble human music. However, the mechanism and evolution of song coordination have only recently been studied in animals. Here, we studied the mechanism of song coordination in three closely related species of wild Nomascus gibbons that live in polygynous groups. In each species, song bouts were dominated by male solo sequences (referred to hereafter as male sequence), and females contributed stereotyped great calls to coordinate with males. Considering the function of rhythm in facilitating song coordination in human music and animal vocalizations, we predicted that adult males adjust their song rhythm to facilitate song coordination with females. In support of this prediction, we found that adult males produced significantly more isochronous rhythms with a faster tempo in male sequences that were followed by successful female great calls (a complete sequence with "introductory" and "wa" notes). The difference in isochrony and tempos between successful great call sequences and male sequences was smaller in N. concolor compared with the other two species, which may make it difficult for females to predict a male's precise temporal pattern. Consequently, adult females of N. concolor produced more failed great call (an incomplete sequence with only introductory notes) sequences. We propose that the high degree of rhythm change functions as an unambiguous signal that can be easily perceived by receivers. In this regard, gibbon vocalizations offer an instructive model to understand the origins and evolution of human music.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haigang Ma
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China
| | - Zidi Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China
| | - Pu Han
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China
| | - Penglai Fan
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin 541006, Guangxi, China; Endangered Animal Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541006, Guangxi, China
| | - Colin A Chapman
- Biology Department, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5, Canada; Wilson Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA; School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa; Shanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, China
| | - Paul A Garber
- Department of Anthropology, Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; International Centre of Biodiversity and Primate Conservation, Dali University, Dali 671003, Yunnan, China
| | - Pengfei Fan
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China.
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Garber PA, Dolins F, Lappan S. Scientific activism to protect the world's primates and their environments from extinction: Introduction to the special issue. Am J Primatol 2024; 86:e23601. [PMID: 38284477 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Nonhuman primates and their habitats are facing an impending extinction crisis. Approximately 69% of primate species are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as threatened and 93% have declining populations. Human population growth (expected to reach 10.9 billion by the year 2100), the unsustainable demands of a small number of consumer nations for forest-risk commodities, deforestation and habitat conversion, the expansion of roads and rail networks, cattle ranching, the hunting and trapping of wild primate populations, and the potential spread of infectious diseases are among the primary drivers of primate population decline. Climate change will only exacerbate the current situation. The time to act to protect primate populations is now! In this special issue of the American Journal of Primatology, we present a series of commentaries, formulated as "Action Letters." These are designed to educate and inform primatologists, conservation biologists, wildlife ecologists, political leaders, and global citizens about the conservation challenges faced by particular primate taxa and particular world regions, and present examples of specific actions that one can take, individually and collectively, to promote the persistence of wild primate populations and environmental justice for local human populations and impacted ecological communities. As scientists, researchers, and educators, primatologists are in a unique position to lead local, national, and international efforts to protect biodiversity. In this special issue, we focus on primates of the Brazilian Amazon, lemurs of northeast Madagascar, Temminck's red colobus monkey (Piliocolobus badius temminckii), night monkeys (Aotus spp.), long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), the primate pet trade, and professional capacity building to foster conservation awareness and action. We encourage primatologists, regardless of their research focus, to engage in both advocacy and activism to protect wild primate populations worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Garber
- Department of Anthropology, and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- International Centre of Biodiversity and Primate Conservation, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
| | - Francine Dolins
- Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Michigan, Dearborn, Michigan, USA
| | - Susan Lappan
- Department of Anthropology, Malaysian Primatological Society, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, USA
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