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Harapan TS, Tan WH, Febriamansyah TA, Nurainas, Syamsuardi, Strijk JS. Lithocarpustapanuliensis (Fagaceae), a new stone oak from northern Sumatra and its role as an important resource for critically endangered orangutans. PHYTOKEYS 2023; 234:167-179. [PMID: 37901135 PMCID: PMC10612132 DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.234.106015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
A new species of stone oak, Lithocarpustapanuliensis Harapan, W.H.Tan, Nurainas & Strijk from South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, Indonesia is described. We provide colour photographs, a distribution map and a new IUCN conservation status assessment for inclusion on the global Red List. The unique cupule morphology, particularly the shape, placement and distinctness of the cupule protuberances, are distinctive from other Lithocarpus species in the region. Ecological interactions (e.g. consumption and nesting) with Tapanuli orangutans were recorded in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Try Surya Harapan
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, ChinaXishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesMenglaChina
- Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Southeast Asia Biodiversity Conservation & Yunnan Key Laboratory for Conservation of Tropical Rainforests and Asian Elephants, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, ChinaUniversitas AndalasPadangIndonesia
- Herbarium Andalas, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Andalas, Jl. Universitas Andalas, Limau Manis, Padang 25163, West Sumatra, IndonesiaYunnan International Joint Laboratory of Southeast Asia Biodiversity Conservation & Yunnan Key Laboratory for Conservation of Tropical Rainforests and Asian ElephantsMenglaChina
| | - Wei Harn Tan
- Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong BE1410, Darussalam, BruneiUniversiti Brunei DarussalamGadongBrunei
| | - Thoriq Alfath Febriamansyah
- Herbarium Andalas, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Andalas, Jl. Universitas Andalas, Limau Manis, Padang 25163, West Sumatra, IndonesiaYunnan International Joint Laboratory of Southeast Asia Biodiversity Conservation & Yunnan Key Laboratory for Conservation of Tropical Rainforests and Asian ElephantsMenglaChina
| | - Nurainas
- Herbarium Andalas, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Andalas, Jl. Universitas Andalas, Limau Manis, Padang 25163, West Sumatra, IndonesiaYunnan International Joint Laboratory of Southeast Asia Biodiversity Conservation & Yunnan Key Laboratory for Conservation of Tropical Rainforests and Asian ElephantsMenglaChina
| | - Syamsuardi
- Herbarium Andalas, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Andalas, Jl. Universitas Andalas, Limau Manis, Padang 25163, West Sumatra, IndonesiaYunnan International Joint Laboratory of Southeast Asia Biodiversity Conservation & Yunnan Key Laboratory for Conservation of Tropical Rainforests and Asian ElephantsMenglaChina
| | - Joeri Sergej Strijk
- Alliance for Conservation Tree Genomics, Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden, 06000 Luang Prabang, LaosAlliance for Conservation Tree Genomics, Pha Tad Ke Botanical GardenLuang PrabangLaos
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Teng SN, Svenning JC, Xu C. Large mammals and trees in eastern monsoonal China: anthropogenic losses since the Late Pleistocene and restoration prospects in the Anthropocene. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1607-1632. [PMID: 37102332 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12968] [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: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Massive human-induced declines of large-sized animals and trees (megabiota) from the Late Pleistocene to the Anthropocene have resulted in downsized ecosystems across the globe, in which components and functions have been greatly simplified. In response, active restoration projects of extant large-sized species or functional substitutes are needed at large scales to promote ecological processes that are important for ecosystem self-regulation and biodiversity maintenance. Despite the desired global scope of such projects, they have received little attention in East Asia. Here, we synthesise the biogeographical and ecological knowledge of megabiota in ancient and modern China, with relevant data mostly located in eastern monsoonal China (EMC), aiming to assess its potential for restoring functionally intact ecosystems modulated by megabiota. We found that during the Late Pleistocene, 12 mammalian megafaunal (carnivores ≥15 kg and herbivores ≥500 kg) species disappeared from EMC: one carnivore Crocuta ultima (East Asian spotted hyena) and 11 herbivores including six megaherbivores (≥1000 kg). The relative importance of climate change and humans in driving these losses remains debated, despite accumulating evidence in favour of the latter. Later massive depletion of megafauna and large-sized (45-500 kg) herbivores has been closely associated with agricultural expansion and societal development, especially during the late Holocene. While forests rich in large timber trees (33 taxa in written records) were common in the region 2000-3000 years ago, millennial-long logging has resulted in considerable range contractions and at least 39 threatened species. The wide distribution of C. ultima, which likely favoured open or semi-open habitats (like extant spotted hyenas), suggests the existence of mosaic open and closed vegetation in the Late Pleistocene across EMC, in line with a few pollen-based vegetation reconstructions and potentially, or at least partially, reflecting herbivory by herbivorous megafauna. The widespread loss of megaherbivores may have strongly compromised seed dispersal for both megafruit (fleshy fruits with widths ≥40 mm) and non-megafruit plant species in EMC, especially in terms of extra-long-distance (>10 km) dispersal, which is critical for plant species that rely on effective biotic agents to track rapid climate change. The former occurrence of large mammals and trees have translated into rich material and non-material heritages passed down across generations. Several reintroduction projects have been implemented or are under consideration, with the case of Elaphurus davidianus a notable success in recovering wild populations in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, although trophic interactions with native carnivorous megafauna have not yet been restored. Lessons of dealing with human-wildlife conflicts are key to public support for maintaining landscapes shared with megafauna and large herbivores in the human-dominated Anthropocene. Meanwhile, potential human-wildlife conflicts, e.g. public health risks, need to be scientifically informed and effectively reduced. The Chinese government's strong commitment to improved policies of ecological protection and restoration (e.g. ecological redlines and national parks) provides a solid foundation for a scaling-up contribution to the global scope needed for solving the crisis of biotic downsizing and ecosystem degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqing N Teng
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jens-Christian Svenning
- Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO) & Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Chi Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
- Key Laboratory of Restoration and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystems in northwestern China of Ministry of Education, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, China
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Ramesh T, Milda D, Kalle R, Gayathri V, Thanikodi M, Ashish K, Giordano AJ. Drivers of human-megaherbivore interactions in the Eastern and Western Ghats of southern India. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 316:115315. [PMID: 35598453 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115315] [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: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The global effort to protect megaherbivore populations is largely dependent on how human-wildlife conflict is identified, prioritized, and remedied. We examined the socio-ecological and landscape-scale factors determining spatial patterns of human-megaherbivore (Asian elephant Elephas maximus and gaur Bos gaurus) interactions across sixteen Forest Divisions in Tamil Nadu, India. Using a systematic grid-based design, we conducted questionnaire-based surveys of 1460 households at the human-wildlife interface adjacent to Protected Areas, Reserve Forest and Fringe Areas. We specifically collected information on elephant and gaur conflict incidents (e.g., human death/injuries, property damage, and crop-raiding), cropland type, extent of crop area and area lost to crop-raiding, from each household. We found that human-elephant conflict increased with percentage of crop cover, diversity of major and minor crops grown, proximity to water source, flat terrain, and lower rates of precipitation. Human-gaur conflict was greatest with a high diversity of major crops, proximity to water source, moderate precipitation, and more undulating terrain. We identified ca. 7900 km2 hotspot area of contiguous high-intensity elephant conflict. For gaur, we identified high-frequency conflict hotspot areas covering ca. 625 km2, which were patchily distributed, highly localised, and attributed mostly to the recent changing land-use patterns. Our findings will help policymakers and park managers in developing landscape-scale human-wildlife conflict mitigation plans in the identified conflict hotspots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tharmalingam Ramesh
- Division of Conservation Ecology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641108, India; School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa; S.P.E.C.I.E.S. - The Society for the Preservation of Endangered Carnivores and Their International Ecological Study, P.O. Box 7403, Ventura, CA, 93006, USA.
| | - David Milda
- Division of Conservation Ecology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641108, India
| | - Riddhika Kalle
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa; S.P.E.C.I.E.S. - The Society for the Preservation of Endangered Carnivores and Their International Ecological Study, P.O. Box 7403, Ventura, CA, 93006, USA; Division of Environmental Impact Assessment, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641108, India
| | - V Gayathri
- Division of Conservation Ecology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641108, India
| | - M Thanikodi
- Division of Conservation Ecology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641108, India
| | - K Ashish
- Division of Conservation Ecology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641108, India
| | - Anthony J Giordano
- S.P.E.C.I.E.S. - The Society for the Preservation of Endangered Carnivores and Their International Ecological Study, P.O. Box 7403, Ventura, CA, 93006, USA
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Acknowledging the Relevance of Elephant Sensory Perception to Human–Elephant Conflict Mitigation. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12081018. [PMID: 35454264 PMCID: PMC9031250 DOI: 10.3390/ani12081018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Elephants have a unique sensory perspective of the world, using their complex olfactory and auditory systems to make foraging and social decisions. All three species of elephants are endangered and inhabit environments, which are being affected rapidly by human development. Anthropogenic disturbances can have significant effects on elephants’ abilities to perceive sensory information and communicate with one another, potentially further endangering their survival. Conflicts over high-quality resources also arise from the overlapping habitation of humans and elephants. While many different methods have been employed to reduce this conflict, we propose that elephants’ unique olfactory and acoustic sensory strengths be considered in future mitigation strategies to achieve coexistence. Abstract Elephants are well known for their socio-cognitive abilities and capacity for multi-modal sensory perception and communication. Their highly developed olfactory and acoustic senses provide them with a unique non-visual perspective of their physical and social worlds. The use of these complex sensory signals is important not only for communication between conspecifics, but also for decisions about foraging and navigation. These decisions have grown increasingly risky given the exponential increase in unpredictable anthropogenic change in elephants’ natural habitats. Risk taking often develops from the overlap of human and elephant habitat in Asian and African range countries, where elephants forage for food in human habitat and crop fields, leading to conflict over high-quality resources. To mitigate this conflict, a better understanding of the elephants’ sensory world and its impact on their decision-making process should be considered seriously in the development of long-term strategies for promoting coexistence between humans and elephants. In this review, we explore the elephants’ sensory systems for audition and olfaction, their multi-modal capacities for communication, and the anthropogenic changes that are affecting their behavior, as well as the need for greater consideration of elephant behavior in elephant conservation efforts.
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McConkey KR, Aldy F, Ong L, Sutisna DJ, Campos‐Arceiz A. Lost mutualisms: Seed dispersal by Sumatran rhinos, the world’s most threatened megafauna. Biotropica 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kim R. McConkey
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Selangor Malaysia
| | - Firmann Aldy
- Konservasi Rimba Indonesia Kota Depok West Java Indonesia
| | - Lisa Ong
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Selangor Malaysia
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences & Center for Integrative Conservation Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan China
| | | | - Ahimsa Campos‐Arceiz
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences University of Nottingham Malaysia Kajang Selangor Malaysia
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences & Center for Integrative Conservation Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan China
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Htet NNP, Chaiyarat R, Thongthip N, Anuracpreeda P, Youngpoy N, Chompoopong P. Population and distribution of wild Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus) in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11896. [PMID: 34395103 PMCID: PMC8325913 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The populations of wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) have increased recently after a period of worldwide decline in protected areas. It is important to understand the dynamics and distribution of the remaining populations to ensure their conservation and prevent human-elephant conflicts. Methods We monitored the population distribution of elephants between 2016 and 2019 in the Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. We set one hundred forty-nine camera trap locations; cameras recorded 38,834 photos over 6,896 trap nights. Elephants were captured in 4,319 photographs. The maximum entropy modeling software MaxEntwas used to identify elephants’ habitat preferences within 49 of the 149 total camera trap locations according to five environmental factors. Results One hundred fourteen elephants were identified. We identified 30 adult males, 43 adult females, 14 sub-adult males, nine sub-adult females, 11 juveniles, and seven calves. The age structure ratio based on adult femaleswas 0.7:1:0.3:0.2:0.3:0.2, and the ratio of reproductive ability between adult females, juveniles, and calves was 1:0.2:0.1. A suitable elephant habitat was determined to be 1,288.9 km2 using Area Under the Curve (AUC). An AUC = 0.061 indicated good performance. Our model classified habitat preferences associated with elevation, forests, salt licks, human activity, and slope. Conclusions According to our probability map this sanctuary can provide a suitable habitat for elephants. Our results indicate that effective management practices can protect wild Asian elephants in the region and reduce conflict between humans and elephants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nyi Nyi Phyo Htet
- Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand
| | - Rattanawat Chaiyarat
- Wildlife and Plant Research Center, Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand
| | - Nikorn Thongthip
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampang Saen, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand
| | - Panat Anuracpreeda
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand
| | - Namphung Youngpoy
- Wildlife and Plant Research Center, Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand
| | - Phonlugsamee Chompoopong
- Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Khon San District, Chaiyaphum Province, Thailand
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