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Lanzas M, Pou N, Bota G, Pla M, Villero D, Brotons L, Sainz de la Maza P, Bach J, Pont S, Anton M, Herrando S, Hermoso V. Detecting management gaps for biodiversity conservation: An integrated assessment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 354:120247. [PMID: 38367497 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120247] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
The latest report on the state of nature in Europe (2013-2018) shows that biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate, with most protected species and habitats in poor condition. Despite an increasing volume of collected biodiversity information, urgent action is needed to integrate biodiversity data and knowledge to improve conservation efforts. We conducted a study in Catalonia (NE Spain), where we collected management measures implemented between 2013 and 2018, including allocation, budget, pressures aimed, and habitats/species potentially benefiting. We integrated information on pressures and habitats/species with the measures to identify non-spatial management gaps. Then, we integrated the spatially explicit information to determine the spatial management gap, identifying geographical areas where species/habitats are under pressure without registered measures. We demonstrated the importance of integrating existing information. Our findings revealed that resources were often not distributed adequately across species/habitats, with biases towards certain taxa being a common issue. The non-spatial management gap analysis identified taxonomic groups, especially plants and mollusks with the wider management gaps. We also identified threatened areas, especially in the northeast of the region with the larger spatial management gaps. These results could guide priority objectives to optimize conservation efforts. Integrating different information sources provided a broader view of the challenges that conservation science is facing nowadays. Our study offers a path toward bending the curve of biodiversity loss by providing an integrative framework that could optimize the use of the available information and help narrow the knowing-doing gap. In the context of the EU, this example demonstrates how information can be used to promote some environmental policy instruments, such as the Prioritized Action Frameworks (PAFs). Additionally, our findings highlight the importance of supporting decision-making with systematic assessments to identify deficiencies in the conservation process, reduce the loss of critical ecosystems and species, and avoid biases among taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Lanzas
- Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya, Solsona, Spain.
| | - Nuria Pou
- Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya, Solsona, Spain
| | - Gerard Bota
- Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya, Solsona, Spain
| | - Magda Pla
- Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya, Solsona, Spain; CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
| | - Dani Villero
- Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya, Solsona, Spain; CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
| | - Lluis Brotons
- Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya, Solsona, Spain; CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain; CSIC, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
| | - Pau Sainz de la Maza
- Generalitat de Catalunya, Direcció General de Polítiques Ambientals i Medi Natural, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Bach
- Generalitat de Catalunya, Direcció General de Polítiques Ambientals i Medi Natural, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Pont
- Generalitat de Catalunya, Direcció General de Polítiques Ambientals i Medi Natural, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Anton
- Catalan Ornithological Institute, Natural History Museum of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Herrando
- Catalan Ornithological Institute, Natural History Museum of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Virgilio Hermoso
- Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya, Solsona, Spain; Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain; Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
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Carraro L, Blackman RC, Altermatt F. Modelling environmental DNA transport in rivers reveals highly resolved spatio-temporal biodiversity patterns. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8854. [PMID: 37258598 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35614-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The ever-increasing threats to riverine ecosystems call for novel approaches for highly resolved biodiversity assessments across taxonomic groups and spatio-temporal scales. Recent advances in the joint use of environmental DNA (eDNA) data and eDNA transport models in rivers (e.g., eDITH) allow uncovering the full structure of riverine biodiversity, hence elucidating ecosystem processes and supporting conservation measures. We applied eDITH to a metabarcoding dataset covering three taxonomic groups (fish, invertebrates, bacteria) and three seasons for a catchment sampled for eDNA at 73 sites. We upscaled eDNA-based biodiversity predictions to approximately 1900 reaches, and assessed α- and β-diversity patterns across seasons and taxonomic groups over the whole network. Genus richness predicted by eDITH was generally higher than values from direct eDNA analysis. Both predicted α- and β-diversity varied depending on season and taxonomic group. Predicted fish α-diversity increased downstream in all seasons, while invertebrate and bacteria α-diversity either decreased downstream or were unrelated to network position. Spatial β-diversity mostly decreased downstream, especially for bacteria. The eDITH model yielded a more refined assessment of freshwater biodiversity as compared to raw eDNA data, both in terms of spatial coverage, diversity patterns and effect of covariates, thus providing a more complete picture of freshwater biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Carraro
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Eawag, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
| | - Rosetta C Blackman
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Eawag, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Eawag, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
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Nogueira JG, Lopes-Lima M, Beja P, Filipe AF, Froufe E, Gonçalves DV, da Silva JP, Sousa R, Teixeira A, Varandas S, Hermoso V. Identifying freshwater priority areas for cross-taxa interactions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 864:161073. [PMID: 36572307 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Information about biotic interactions (e.g. competition, predation, parasitism, diseases, mutualism, allelopathy) is fundamental to better understand species distribution and abundance, ecosystem functioning, and ultimately guide conservation efforts. However, conservation planning often overlooks these important interactions. Here, we aim to demonstrate a new framework to include biotic interactions into Marxan. For that, we use freshwater mussels and fish interaction (as mussels rely on fishes to complete their life cycle) in the Douro River basin (Iberian Peninsula) as a case study. While doing that, we also test the importance of including biotic interactions into conservation planning exercises, by running spatial prioritisation analysis considering either: 1) only the target species (freshwater mussels); 2) freshwater mussels and their obligatory hosts (freshwater fishes); 3) freshwater mussels, fishes and their interactions. With this framework we found that biotic interactions tend to be underrepresented when the data on both freshwater mussels and fishes is not simultaneously included in the spatial prioritisation. Overall, the priority areas selected across all scenarios are mostly located in the western part of the Douro River basin, where most freshwater mussels and fishes still occur. Given the low overlap of priority areas identified here and the current Natura 2000 network, our approach may be useful for establishing (or enlarging) protected areas, especially in light of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Also, this work may provide guidance for future habitat restoration and management of main threats to freshwater biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Garrido Nogueira
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
| | - Manuel Lopes-Lima
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Pedro Beja
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Filipa Filipe
- Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; TERRA Associate Laboratory, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Elsa Froufe
- CIIMAR, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Terminal de Cruzeiros de Leixões, Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Duarte V Gonçalves
- CIIMAR, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Terminal de Cruzeiros de Leixões, Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Janine P da Silva
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Ronaldo Sousa
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Amílcar Teixeira
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Simone Varandas
- CITAB-UTAD - Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Forestry Department, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Virgilio Hermoso
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Reina Mercedes, s*n, 41012 Sevilla, Spain; Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan 4111, Queensland, Australia
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Birnie‐Gauvin K, Lynch AJ, Franklin PA, Reid AJ, Landsman SJ, Tickner D, Dalton J, Aarestrup K, Cooke SJ. The
RACE
for freshwater biodiversity: Essential actions to create the social context for meaningful conservation. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kim Birnie‐Gauvin
- Section for Freshwater Fisheries and Ecology, National Institute for Aquatic Resources Technical University of Denmark Denmark
| | - Abigail J. Lynch
- U.S. Geological Survey National Climate Adaptation Science Center Maryland USA
| | - Paul A. Franklin
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research New Zealand
| | - Andrea J. Reid
- Centre for Indigenous Fisheries, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries University of British Columbia Canada
| | - Sean J. Landsman
- Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences and Department of Biology Carleton University Ottawa Ontario Canada
| | | | - James Dalton
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Switzerland
| | - Kim Aarestrup
- Section for Freshwater Fisheries and Ecology, National Institute for Aquatic Resources Technical University of Denmark Denmark
| | - Steven J. Cooke
- Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences and Department of Biology Carleton University Ottawa Ontario Canada
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Byers JE, Blaze JA, Dodd AC, Hall HL, Gribben PE. Exotic asphyxiation: interactions between invasive species and hypoxia. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:150-167. [PMID: 36097368 PMCID: PMC10087183 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Non-indigenous species (NIS) and hypoxia (<2 mg O2 l-1 ) can disturb and restructure aquatic communities. Both are heavily influenced by human activities and are intensifying with global change. As these disturbances increase, understanding how they interact to affect native species and systems is essential. To expose patterns, outcomes, and generalizations, we thoroughly reviewed the biological invasion literature and compiled 100 studies that examine the interaction of hypoxia and NIS. We found that 64% of studies showed that NIS are tolerant of hypoxia, and 62% showed that NIS perform better than native species under hypoxia. Only one-quarter of studies examined NIS as creators of hypoxia; thus, NIS are more often considered passengers associated with hypoxia, rather than drivers of it. Paradoxically, the NIS that most commonly create hypoxia are primary producers. Taxa like molluscs are typically more hypoxia tolerant than mobile taxa like fish and crustaceans. Most studies examine individual-level or localized responses to hypoxia; however, the most extensive impacts occur when hypoxia associated with NIS affects communities and ecosystems. We discuss how these influences of hypoxia at higher levels of organization better inform net outcomes of the biological invasion process, i.e. establishment, spread, and impact, and are thus most useful to management. Our review identifies wide variation in the way in which the interaction between hypoxia and NIS is studied in the literature, and suggests ways to address the number of variables that affect their interaction and refine insight gleaned from future studies. We also identify a clear need for resource management to consider the interactive effects of these two global stressors which are almost exclusively managed independently.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Byers
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, 140 E. Green St., Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Julie A Blaze
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, 140 E. Green St., Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Alannah C Dodd
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, 140 E. Green St., Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Hannah L Hall
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, 140 E. Green St., Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Paul E Gribben
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science, University of New South Wales, Rm 4115, Building E26, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia.,Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman, New South Wales, 2088, Australia
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6
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Sarmento-Soares LM, Martins-Pinheiro RF, Casagranda MD. Endemicity Analysis of the Ichtyofauna of the Rio Doce Basin, Southeastern Brazil. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2022; 94:e20210646. [PMID: 35766599 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202220210646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Rio Doce is a very important freshwater system in Brazil running through the Atlantic Forest, however available information about its biodiversity is scarce. In 2015, the Rio Doce basin was damaged by a burst of Fundão tailing dam in Mariana (Minas Gerais) causing an extraordinary environmental damage, with consequences still incompletely known. In the present paper we analyzed 6042 latitude/longitude records of 208 fish species from the Rio Doce deposited in collections prior to November 2015, in order to identify areas of endemism in the river before the burst. Several areas of endemism were identified along the basin, most of them describing small and novel patterns. Our analyses helped to identify areas of major diversity along the basin as well as information gaps concerning fish sampling. We hope this contribution will help obtaining quantitative measures on the impact caused by the Fundão dam catastrophe on fish biodiversity and will be useful to orient general actions towards the restoration of the basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa M Sarmento-Soares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Prédio Bárbara Weinberg, Campus de Goiabeiras, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, 29043-900 Vitória, ES, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Av. Transnordestina, s/n, Novo Horizonte, 44036-900 Feira de Santana, BA, Brazil.,Instituto Nossos Riachos (INR), Estrada de Itacoatiara, 356, Casa 4, 24348-095 Niterói, RJ, Brazil
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7
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Yang X, Qin F, Xue T, Xia C, Gadagkar SR, Yu S. Insights into plant biodiversity conservation in large river valleys in China: A spatial analysis of species and phylogenetic diversity. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8940. [PMID: 35600693 PMCID: PMC9120211 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Fei Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Tiantian Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Changying Xia
- School of Life Sciences Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation Southwest University Chongqing China
| | - Sudhindra R. Gadagkar
- Biomedical Sciences Program College of Graduate Studies Midwestern University Glendale Arizona USA
- College of Veterinary Medicine Midwestern University Glendale Arizona USA
| | - Shengxiang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
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Szabolcs M, Kapusi F, Carrizo S, Markovic D, Freyhof J, Cid N, Cardoso AC, Scholz M, Kasperidus HD, Darwall WRT, Lengyel S. Spatial priorities for freshwater biodiversity conservation in light of catchment protection and connectivity in Europe. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267801. [PMID: 35580083 PMCID: PMC9113586 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems host disproportionately high numbers of species relative to their surface area yet are poorly protected globally. We used data on the distribution of 1631 species of aquatic plant, mollusc, odonate and fish in 18,816 river and lake catchments in Europe to establish spatial conservation priorities based on the occurrence of threatened, range-restricted and endemic species using the Marxan systematic conservation planning tool. We found that priorities were highest for rivers and ancient lakes in S Europe, large rivers and lakes in E and N Europe, smaller lakes in NW Europe and karst/limestone areas in the Balkans, S France and central Europe. The a priori inclusion of well-protected catchments resulted in geographically more balanced priorities and better coverage of threatened (critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable) species. The a priori exclusion of well-protected catchments showed that priority areas that need further conservation interventions are in S and E Europe. We developed three ways to evaluate the correspondence between conservation priority and current protection by assessing whether a cathment has more (or less) priority given its protection level relative to all other catchments. Each method found that priority relative to protection was high in S and E Europe and generally low in NW Europe. The inclusion of hydrological connectivity had little influence on these patterns but decreased the coverage of threatened species, indicating a trade-off between connectivity and conservation of threatened species. Our results suggest that catchments in S and E Europe need urgent conservation attention (protected areas, restoration, management, species protection) in the face of imminent threats such as river regulation, dam construction, hydropower development and climate change. Our study presents continental-scale conservation priorities for freshwater ecosystems in ecologically meaningful planning units and will thus be important in freshwater biodiversity conservation policy and practice, and water management in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márton Szabolcs
- ELKH, Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Department of Tisza Research, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Felícia Kapusi
- ELKH, Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Department of Tisza Research, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Savrina Carrizo
- International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Global Species Programme, Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jörg Freyhof
- German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Núria Cid
- University of Barcelona, Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Cristina Cardoso
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Water Resources Unit, Ispra, Italy
| | - Mathias Scholz
- UFZ − Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Conservation Biology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hans D. Kasperidus
- UFZ − Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Conservation Biology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - William R. T. Darwall
- International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Global Species Programme, Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Szabolcs Lengyel
- ELKH, Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Department of Tisza Research, Debrecen, Hungary
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Hamilton H, Smyth RL, Young BE, Howard TG, Tracey C, Breyer S, Cameron DR, Chazal A, Conley AK, Frye C, Schloss C. Increasing taxonomic diversity and spatial resolution clarifies opportunities for protecting US imperiled species. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2534. [PMID: 35044023 PMCID: PMC9286056 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Continental- and regional-scale assessments of gaps in protected area networks typically use relatively coarse range maps for well documented species groups, creating uncertainty about the fate of unexamined biodiversity and providing insufficient guidance for land managers. By building habitat suitability models for a taxonomically diverse group of 2216 imperiled plants and animals, we revealed comprehensive and detailed protection opportunities in the conterminous United States. Summing protection-weighted range-size rarity (PWRSR, the product of the percent of modeled habitat outside of protected areas and the inverse of modeled habitat extent) uncovered novel patterns of biodiversity importance. Concentrations of unprotected imperiled species in places such as the northern Sierra Nevada, central and northern Arizona, the Rocky Mountains of Utah and Colorado, southeastern Texas, southwestern Arkansas, and Florida's Lake Wales Ridge have rarely if ever been featured in continental- and regional-scale analyses. Inclusion of diverse taxa (vertebrates, freshwater mussels, crayfishes, bumble bees, butterflies, skippers, and vascular plants) partially drove these new patterns. When analyses were restricted to groups typically included in previous studies (birds, mammals, and amphibians), up to 53% of imperiled species in other groups were left out. The finer resolution of modeled inputs (990 m) also resulted in a more geographically dispersed pattern. For example, 90% of the human population of the conterminous United States lives within 50 km of modeled habitat for one or more species with high PWRSR scores. Over one-half of the habitat for 818 species occurs within federally lands managed for biodiversity protection; an additional 360 species have over one-half of their modeled habitat on federal multiple use land. Freshwater animals occur in places with poorer landscape condition but with less exposure to climate change than other groups, suggesting that habitat restoration is an important conservation strategy for these species. The results provide fine-scale, taxonomically diverse inputs for local and regional priority-setting and show that although protection efforts are still widely needed on private lands, notable gains can be achieved by increasing protection status on selected federal lands.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Timothy G. Howard
- New York Natural Heritage Program, College of Environmental Science and ForestryState University of New YorkAlbanyNew YorkUSA
| | | | | | | | - Anne Chazal
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation–Division of Natural HeritageRichmondVirginiaUSA
| | - Amy K. Conley
- New York Natural Heritage Program, College of Environmental Science and ForestryState University of New YorkAlbanyNew YorkUSA
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10
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Basooma A, Nakiyende H, Olokotum M, Balirwa JS, Nkalubo W, Musinguzi L, Natugonza V. A novel index to aid in prioritizing habitats for site-based conservation. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8762. [PMID: 35356563 PMCID: PMC8956788 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Funding biodiversity conservation strategies are usually minimal, thus prioritizing habitats at high risk should be conducted. We developed and tested a conservation priority index (CPI) that ranks habitats to aid in prioritizing them for conservation. We tested the index using 1897 fish species from 273 African inland lakes and 34 countries. In the index, lake surface area, rarity, and their International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status were incorporated. We retrieved data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and IUCN data repositories. Lake Nyasa had the highest species richness (424), followed by Tanganyika (391), Nokoué (246), Victoria (216), and Ahémé (216). However, lakes Otjikoto and Giunas had the highest CPI of 137.2 and 52.1, respectively. Lakes were grouped into high priority (CPI > 0.5; n = 56) and low priority (CPI < 0.5; n = 217). The median surface area between priority classes was significantly different (W = 11,768, p < .05, effect size = 0.65). Prediction accuracy of Random Forest (RF) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) for priority classes were 0.912 and 0.954, respectively. Both models exhibited lake surface area as the variable with the highest importance. CPI generally increased with a decrease in lake surface area. This was attributed to less ecological substitutability and higher exposure levels of anthropogenic stressors such as pollution to a species in smaller lakes. Also, the highest species richness per unit area was recorded for high-priority lakes. Thus, smaller habitats or lakes may be prioritized for conservation although larger waterbodies or habitats should not be ignored. The index can be customized to local, regional, and international scales as well as marine and terrestrial habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Basooma
- Capture Fisheries & Biodiversity Conservation ProgrammeNational Fisheries Resources Research InstituteJinjaUganda
| | - Herbert Nakiyende
- Capture Fisheries & Biodiversity Conservation ProgrammeNational Fisheries Resources Research InstituteJinjaUganda
| | - Mark Olokotum
- Capture Fisheries & Biodiversity Conservation ProgrammeNational Fisheries Resources Research InstituteJinjaUganda
| | - John S. Balirwa
- Capture Fisheries & Biodiversity Conservation ProgrammeNational Fisheries Resources Research InstituteJinjaUganda
| | - Winnie Nkalubo
- Capture Fisheries & Biodiversity Conservation ProgrammeNational Fisheries Resources Research InstituteJinjaUganda
| | - Laban Musinguzi
- Capture Fisheries & Biodiversity Conservation ProgrammeNational Fisheries Resources Research InstituteJinjaUganda
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11
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Abstract
Deprivation of protection for aquatic hyphomycetes is disturbing because they are key players in freshwater ecosystems across the globe. To attain a more holistic conservation paradigm for biodiversity in freshwaters, it is necessary to broaden our ecological perception of microfungi, mainly in aquatic hyphomycetes. A considerable groundwork still needs to be accomplished in progressing towards conserving aquatic hyphomycetes. Overcoming the paucity of information regarding the rare and endangered species, biogeography and above all, a global biodiversity database, would be a significant contribution in the initiation of an overarching conservation strategy for aquatic hyphomycetes. Being aware that the biodiversity decline in freshwaters is alarming, here we seek to explore why biodiversity data of aquatic hyphomycetes are missing. This article closely examines the threats to the biodiversity of aquatic hyphomycetes and freshwater ecosystems. Moving forward, we advocate a structured approach to gaining a thorough understanding to embrace aquatic hyphomycetes biodiversity into the conservation strategies. Including aquatic hyphomycetes in the conservation objectives may attract more funding opportunities for global surveys to initiate a fungal inclusive conservation era. Fungal conservation ventures can profit from interdisciplinary collaborations and cutting-edge science and technology, leading to informed decision making for biodiversity assessment and management.
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12
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Dickel L, Monsimet J, Lafage D, Devineau O. Characterization of habitat requirements of European fishing spiders. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12806. [PMID: 35178294 PMCID: PMC8815374 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Wetlands are among the most threatened habitats in the world, and so are their species, which suffer habitat loss due to climate and land use changes. Freshwater species, and especially arthropods, receive comparatively little attention in conservation plans, and the goals to stop and reverse the destruction of wetlands published 25 years ago in a manifesto by the Union of Concerned Scientists have not been reached. In this study, we investigated the occurrence and habitat requirements at two spatial scales of two species of European fishing spiders Dolomedes, which rely heavily on declining wetland habitats in Sweden and southern Norway. We collected occurrence data for Dolomedes plantarius and Dolomedes fimbriatus, using a live-determination method. We modelled the placement of nursery webs to describe fine-scale habitat requirements related to vegetation and micro-climate. Using a machine learning approach, we described the habitat features for each species and for co-occurrence sites, thus providing insight into variables relevant for the presence and detectability of Dolomedes. Nursery placement is mostly dependent on proximity to water, presence of Carex sp. (Sedges) and crossing vegetation structures, and on humidity, while detection can be affected by weather conditions. Furthermore, co-occurrence sites were more similar to D. plantarius sites than to D. fimbriatus sites, whereby surrounding forest, water type and velocity, elevation and latitude were of importance for explaining which species of Dolomedes was present. Overall, habitat requirements were narrower for D. plantarius compared to D. fimbiratus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Dickel
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Campus Evenstad, Koppang, Norway,Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Sciences and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jérémy Monsimet
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Campus Evenstad, Koppang, Norway
| | - Denis Lafage
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences/Biology, Karslstad University, Karlstad, Sweden,CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, Évolution)-UMR 6553, University of Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Olivier Devineau
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Campus Evenstad, Koppang, Norway
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13
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Becker FK, Shabangu FW, Gridley T, Wittmer HU, Marsland S. Sounding out a continent: seven decades of bioacoustics research in Africa. BIOACOUSTICS 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2021.2021987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Frowin K. Becker
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington/Te Herenga Waka, Wellington, New Zealand
- National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project, Maun, Botswana
| | - Fannie W. Shabangu
- Fisheries Management Branch, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Cape Town, South Africa
- Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Tess Gridley
- Sea Search Research and Conservation Npc, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Heiko U. Wittmer
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington/Te Herenga Waka, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Stephen Marsland
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Victoria University of Wellington/Te Herenga Waka, Wellington, New Zealand
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14
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Davison CW, Rahbek C, Morueta-Holme N. Land-use change and biodiversity: Challenges for assembling evidence on the greatest threat to nature. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:5414-5429. [PMID: 34392585 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Land-use change is considered the greatest threat to nature, having caused worldwide declines in the abundance, diversity, and health of species and ecosystems. Despite increasing research on this global change driver, there are still challenges to forming an effective synthesis. The estimated impact of land-use change on biodiversity can depend on location, research methods, and taxonomic focus, with recent global meta-analyses reaching disparate conclusions. Here, we critically appraise this research body and our ability to reach a reliable consensus. We employ named entity recognition to analyze more than 4000 abstracts, alongside full reading of 100 randomly selected papers. We highlight the broad range of study designs and methodologies used; the most common being local space-for-time comparisons that classify land use in situ. Species metrics including abundance, distribution, and diversity were measured more frequently than complex responses such as demography, vital rates, and behavior. We identified taxonomic biases, with vertebrates well represented while detritivores were largely missing. Omitting this group may hinder our understanding of how land-use change affects ecosystem feedback. Research was heavily biased toward temperate forested biomes in North America and Europe, with warmer regions being acutely underrepresented despite offering potential insights into the future effects of land-use change under novel climates. Various land-use histories were covered, although more research in understudied regions including Africa and the Middle East is required to capture regional differences in the form of current and historical land-use practices. Failure to address these challenges will impede our global understanding of land-use change impacts on biodiversity, limit the reliability of future projections and have repercussions for the conservation of threatened species. Beyond identifying literature biases, we highlight the research priorities and data gaps that need urgent attention and offer perspectives on how to move forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles W Davison
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carsten Rahbek
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Center for Global Mountain Biodiversity, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Ecology, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK
- Danish Institute for Advanced Study, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Naia Morueta-Holme
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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15
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Basel AM, Simaika JP, Samways MJ, Midgley GF, MacFadyen S, Hui C. Assemblage reorganization of South African dragonflies due to climate change. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13422] [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] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh M. Basel
- Biodiversity Informatics Unit Department of Mathematical Sciences Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
- Centre for Invasion Biology Faculty of Sciences Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
| | - John P. Simaika
- IHE Delft Institute for Water Education Delft The Netherlands
- Department of Soil Science Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
| | - Michael J. Samways
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
| | - Guy F. Midgley
- Department of Botany and Zoology Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
| | - Sandra MacFadyen
- Biodiversity Informatics Unit Department of Mathematical Sciences Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
| | - Cang Hui
- Biodiversity Informatics Unit Department of Mathematical Sciences Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
- Centre for Invasion Biology Faculty of Sciences Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
- Theoretical Ecology Group African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Cape Town South Africa
- International Initiative for Theoretical Ecology London UK
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16
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Nogueira JG, Sousa R, Benaissa H, De Knijf G, Ferreira S, Ghamizi M, Gonçalves DV, Lansdown R, Numa C, Prié V, Riccardi N, Seddon M, Urbańska M, Valentini A, Vikhrev I, Varandas S, Teixeira A, Lopes‐Lima M. Alarming decline of freshwater trigger species in western Mediterranean key biodiversity areas. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2021; 35:1367-1379. [PMID: 34355419 PMCID: PMC9292581 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Theidentification of key biodiversity areas (KBA) was initiated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2004 to overcome taxonomic biases in the selection of important areas for conservation, including freshwater ecosystems. Since then, several KBAs have been identified mainly based on the presence of trigger species (i.e., species that trigger either the vulnerability and or the irreplaceability criterion and thus identify a site as a KBA). However, to our knowledge, many of these KBAs have not been validated. Therefore, classical surveys of the taxa used to identify freshwater KBAs (fishes, molluscs, odonates, and aquatic plants) were conducted in Douro (Iberian Peninsula) and Sebou (Morocco) River basins in the Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot. Environmental DNA analyses were undertaken in the Moroccan KBAs. There was a mismatch between the supposed and actual presence of trigger species. None of the trigger species were found in 43% and 50% of all KBAs surveyed in the Douro and Sebou basins, respectively. Shortcomings of freshwater KBA identification relate to flawed or lack of distribution data for trigger species. This situation results from a misleading initial identification of KBAs based on poor (or even inaccurate) ecological information or due to increased human disturbance between initial KBA identification and the present. To improve identification of future freshwater KBAs, we suggest selecting trigger species with a more conservative approach; use of local expert knowledge and digital data (to assess habitat quality, species distribution, and potential threats); consideration of the subcatchment when delineating KBAs boundaries; thoughtful consideration of terrestrial special areas for conservation limits; and periodic field validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Garrido Nogueira
- CIBIO/InBIO – Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic ResourcesUniversity of PortoVairãoPortugal
| | - Ronaldo Sousa
- CBMA – Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of BiologyUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
| | - Hassan Benaissa
- Université Cadi Ayyad, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle de Marrakech, Laboratoire Eau, Biodiversité et Changement ClimatiqueMarrakechMorocco
| | - Geert De Knijf
- Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)BrusselsBelgium
| | - Sónia Ferreira
- CIBIO/InBIO – Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic ResourcesUniversity of PortoVairãoPortugal
| | - Mohamed Ghamizi
- Université Cadi Ayyad, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle de Marrakech, Laboratoire Eau, Biodiversité et Changement ClimatiqueMarrakechMorocco
| | - Duarte V. Gonçalves
- CIBIO/InBIO – Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic ResourcesUniversity of PortoVairãoPortugal
- CIIMAR/CIMAR – Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental ResearchUniversity of PortoMatosinhosPortugal
| | | | | | - Vincent Prié
- CIBIO/InBIO – Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic ResourcesUniversity of PortoVairãoPortugal
- Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité ISYEB – Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRSSorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des AntillesParisFrance
- SPYGEN, Savoie TechnolacLe Bourget‐du‐LacFrance
| | - Nicoletta Riccardi
- Water Research Institute (IRSA)National Research Council (CNR)VerbaniaItaly
| | | | - Maria Urbańska
- Department of ZoologyPoznan University of Life SciencesPoznańPoland
| | | | - Ilya Vikhrev
- Federal Center for Integrated Arctic ResearchRussian Academy of SciencesArkhangelskRussia
| | - Simone Varandas
- CITAB‐UTAD – Centre for Research and Technology of Agro‐Environment and Biological SciencesUniversity of Trás‐os‐Montes and Alto Douro, Forestry DepartmentVila RealPortugal
| | - Amílcar Teixeira
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO)Instituto Politécnico de BragançaBragançaPortugal
| | - Manuel Lopes‐Lima
- CIBIO/InBIO – Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic ResourcesUniversity of PortoVairãoPortugal
- CIIMAR/CIMAR – Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental ResearchUniversity of PortoMatosinhosPortugal
- IUCN SSC Molluscs Specialist GroupDevonUK
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17
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de Paz V, Baños-Picón L, Rosas-Ramos N, Tobajas E, Tormos J, Asís JD. The role of artificial ponds in maintaining dragonfly populations in an intensified farmland landscape. A case of study in Zamora, Spain. J NAT HIST 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1850901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Víctor de Paz
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Ecología, Parasitología, Edafología y Química Agrícola, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, España
| | - Laura Baños-Picón
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Ecología, Parasitología, Edafología y Química Agrícola, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, España
| | - Natalia Rosas-Ramos
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Ecología, Parasitología, Edafología y Química Agrícola, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, España
| | - Estefanía Tobajas
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Ecología, Parasitología, Edafología y Química Agrícola, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, España
| | - José Tormos
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Ecología, Parasitología, Edafología y Química Agrícola, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, España
| | - Josep D. Asís
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Ecología, Parasitología, Edafología y Química Agrícola, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, España
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18
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Ramvilas G, Dhyani S, Kumar B, Sinha N, Raghavan R, Selvaraj G, Divakar N, Anoop VK, Shalu K, Sinha A, Kulkarni A, Das S, Molur S. Insights on COVID-19 impacts, challenges and opportunities for India's biodiversity research: From complexity to building adaptations. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 2021; 255:109003. [PMID: 35125501 PMCID: PMC8798314 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every sphere of human society. The paradigm shift of focus to COVID-related research and management has significantly affected various scientific domains, including biodiversity conservation. We assessed the perceptions of early-career researchers working for biodiversity conservation across India, to understand the impacts of the ongoing pandemic on their research. We administered an online questionnaire survey to 565 respondents, who identified four key areas that are affected by the pandemic: (1) research, (2) conservation (3) education, and (4) communication and networking. Respondents (89.2%) perceived that their fieldwork, followed by travel for meetings and funding were the most affected due to COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown. Nonetheless, responses on the impact varied between different professional categories and were disproportionate. Our study highlights that majority of the respondents (80%) advocate for stakeholder-driven policies and management practices as the most effective strategy to promote biodiversity conservation, in the post-COVID-19 world. To this end, as a post-pandemic response, we propose holistic solutions such as optimising research funding and collaborations, and supporting and strengthening them by citizen science and big data analytics. Our findings and recommendations will also serve as a paradigm for post-COVID-19 biodiversity policy, advocacy and implementation of the post 2020 biodiversity action plan that supports eco civilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghosh Ramvilas
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Kochi, India
| | - Shalini Dhyani
- Critical Zone Research Group, CSIR National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, India
- Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM), International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Gland, Switzerland
| | - Biju Kumar
- Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Neha Sinha
- Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Rajeev Raghavan
- Department of Fisheries Resource Management, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Kochi, India
- South Asia Office, IUCN SSC/WI Freshwater Fish Specialist Group (FFSG)
| | | | - Nithin Divakar
- Conservation Research Group, St. Albert's College, Kochi, India
| | - V K Anoop
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Kochi, India
| | - Kannan Shalu
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Kochi, India
| | | | - Apoorva Kulkarni
- Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development, Somerville College, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sandeep Das
- Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Peechi, India
| | - Sanjay Molur
- Zoo Outreach Organization (ZOO), Coimbatore, India
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19
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Leal CG, Lennox GD, Ferraz SFB, Ferreira J, Gardner TA, Thomson JR, Berenguer E, Lees AC, Hughes RM, Mac Nally R, Aragão LEOC, de Brito JG, Castello L, Garrett RD, Hamada N, Juen L, Leitão RP, Louzada J, Morello TF, Moura NG, Nessimian JL, Oliveira-Junior JMB, Oliveira VHF, de Oliveira VC, Parry L, Pompeu PS, Solar RRC, Zuanon J, Barlow J. Integrated terrestrial-freshwater planning doubles conservation of tropical aquatic species. Science 2020; 370:117-121. [PMID: 33004520 DOI: 10.1126/science.aba7580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Conservation initiatives overwhelmingly focus on terrestrial biodiversity, and little is known about the freshwater cobenefits of terrestrial conservation actions. We sampled more than 1500 terrestrial and freshwater species in the Amazon and simulated conservation for species from both realms. Prioritizations based on terrestrial species yielded on average just 22% of the freshwater benefits achieved through freshwater-focused conservation. However, by using integrated cross-realm planning, freshwater benefits could be increased by up to 600% for a 1% reduction in terrestrial benefits. Where freshwater biodiversity data are unavailable but aquatic connectivity is accounted for, freshwater benefits could still be doubled for negligible losses of terrestrial coverage. Conservation actions are urgently needed to improve the status of freshwater species globally. Our results suggest that such gains can be achieved without compromising terrestrial conservation goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecília G Leal
- Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, CEP 13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. .,Departamento de Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Lavras, CEP 37200-900, Lavras, MG, Brazil
| | - Gareth D Lennox
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
| | - Silvio F B Ferraz
- Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, CEP 13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Joice Ferreira
- EMBRAPA Amazônia Oriental, CEP 66095-100, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Toby A Gardner
- Stockholm Environment Institute, Linegatan 87D, 11523, Stockholm Sweden
| | - James R Thomson
- Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Heidelberg, Vic, Australia
| | - Erika Berenguer
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.,Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alexander C Lees
- Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GD, UK.,Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Robert M Hughes
- Amnis Opes Institute, Corvallis, OR, USA.,Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Ralph Mac Nally
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Luiz E O C Aragão
- Tropical Ecosystems and Environmental Sciences Group (TREES), Remote Sensing Division, National Institute for Space Research-INPE, Avenida dos Astronautas, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.,College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Janaina G de Brito
- Escola Estadual Maria Miranda Araújo, Secretaria de Educação do Estado de Mato Grosso, Av. Aeroporto, s/n, CEP 78336-000, Colniza, MT, Brazil
| | - Leandro Castello
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Rachael D Garrett
- Environmental Policy Lab, Departments of Environmental System Science and Humanities, Social, and Political Science, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Neusa Hamada
- Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Avenida André Araújo, 2.936, Petrópolis, CEP 69067-375, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Leandro Juen
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Rua Augusto Correia, No. 1, Bairro Guamá, CEP 66075-110, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Rafael P Leitão
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, CP 486, CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Julio Louzada
- Departamento de Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Lavras, CEP 37200-900, Lavras, MG, Brazil
| | | | | | - Jorge L Nessimian
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, CEP 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - José Max B Oliveira-Junior
- Instituto de Ciências e Tecnologia das Águas, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Rua Vera Paz, s/n (Unidade Tapajós), Bairro Salé, CEP 68040-255, Santarém, PA, Brazil
| | - Victor Hugo F Oliveira
- Departamento de Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Lavras, CEP 37200-900, Lavras, MG, Brazil
| | - Vívian C de Oliveira
- Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Avenida André Araújo, 2.936, Petrópolis, CEP 69067-375, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Luke Parry
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Paulo S Pompeu
- Departamento de Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Lavras, CEP 37200-900, Lavras, MG, Brazil
| | - Ricardo R C Solar
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, CP 486, CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Jansen Zuanon
- Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Avenida André Araújo, 2.936, Petrópolis, CEP 69067-375, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Jos Barlow
- Departamento de Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Lavras, CEP 37200-900, Lavras, MG, Brazil.,Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
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20
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Abell
- Conservation International, Arlington, VA, USA.
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21
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Hernandez M, Shenk MK, Perry GH. Factors influencing taxonomic unevenness in scientific research: a mixed-methods case study of non-human primate genomic sequence data generation. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:201206. [PMID: 33047065 PMCID: PMC7540799 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.201206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Scholars have noted major disparities in the extent of scientific research conducted among taxonomic groups. Such trends may cascade if future scientists gravitate towards study species with more data and resources already available. As new technologies emerge, do research studies employing these technologies continue these disparities? Here, using non-human primates as a case study, we identified disparities in massively parallel genomic sequencing data and conducted interviews with scientists who produced these data to learn their motivations when selecting study species. We tested whether variables including publication history and conservation status were significantly correlated with publicly available sequence data in the NCBI Sequence Read Archive (SRA). Of the 179.6 terabases (Tb) of sequence data in SRA for 519 non-human primate species, 135 Tb (approx. 75%) were from only five species: rhesus macaques, olive baboons, green monkeys, chimpanzees and crab-eating macaques. The strongest predictors of the amount of genomic data were the total number of non-medical publications (linear regression; r 2 = 0.37; p = 6.15 × 10-12) and number of medical publications (r 2 = 0.27; p = 9.27 × 10-9). In a generalized linear model, the number of non-medical publications (p = 0.00064) and closer phylogenetic distance to humans (p = 0.024) were the most predictive of the amount of genomic sequence data. We interviewed 33 authors of genomic data-producing publications and analysed their responses using grounded theory. Consistent with our quantitative results, authors mentioned their choice of species was motivated by sample accessibility, prior published work and relevance to human medicine. Our mixed-methods approach helped identify and contextualize some of the driving factors behind species-uneven patterns of scientific research, which can now be considered by funding agencies, scientific societies and research teams aiming to align their broader goals with future data generation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Hernandez
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Authors for correspondence: Margarita Hernandez e-mail:
| | - Mary K. Shenk
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - George H. Perry
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Authors for correspondence: George H. Perry e-mail:
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22
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Pinkert S, Zeuss D, Dijkstra KB, Kipping J, Clausnitzer V, Brunzel S, Brandl R. Climate–diversity relationships underlying cross‐taxon diversity of the African fauna and their implications for conservation. DIVERS DISTRIB 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Pinkert
- Faculty of Biology Ecology – Animal Ecology Philipps‐Universität Marburg Marburg Germany
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Yale University New Haven CT USA
| | - Dirk Zeuss
- Faculty of Geography Environmental Informatics Philipps‐Universität Marburg Marburg Germany
| | | | - Jens Kipping
- Department of Architecture Faculty Management and Geoinformation University of Applied Sciences Anhalt Köthen Germany
- BioCart Kipping, Environmental Consultant Taucha Germany
| | | | - Stefan Brunzel
- Faculty of Landscape Architecture, Biodiversity and Species Conservation University of Applied Sciences Erfurt Erfurt Germany
| | - Roland Brandl
- Faculty of Biology Ecology – Animal Ecology Philipps‐Universität Marburg Marburg Germany
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Barros GD, Brito MTDS, Peluso LM, Faria ÉD, Izzo TJ, Teixido AL. Biased research generates large gaps on invertebrate biota knowledge in Brazilian freshwater ecosystems. Perspect Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pecon.2020.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Altermatt F, Little CJ, Mächler E, Wang S, Zhang X, Blackman RC. Uncovering the complete biodiversity structure in spatial networks: the example of riverine systems. OIKOS 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.06806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Altermatt
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Inst. of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dept of Aquatic Ecology Überlandstrasse 133 CH‐8600 Dübendorf Switzerland
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Univ. of Zurich Winterthurerstr. 190 CH‐8057 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Chelsea J. Little
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Inst. of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dept of Aquatic Ecology Überlandstrasse 133 CH‐8600 Dübendorf Switzerland
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Univ. of Zurich Winterthurerstr. 190 CH‐8057 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Elvira Mächler
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Inst. of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dept of Aquatic Ecology Überlandstrasse 133 CH‐8600 Dübendorf Switzerland
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Univ. of Zurich Winterthurerstr. 190 CH‐8057 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Shaopeng Wang
- Inst. of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Science, and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking Univ. Beijing PR China
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing Univ. Nanjing PR China
| | - Rosetta C. Blackman
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Inst. of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dept of Aquatic Ecology Überlandstrasse 133 CH‐8600 Dübendorf Switzerland
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Univ. of Zurich Winterthurerstr. 190 CH‐8057 Zürich Switzerland
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Reid AJ, Carlson AK, Creed IF, Eliason EJ, Gell PA, Johnson PTJ, Kidd KA, MacCormack TJ, Olden JD, Ormerod SJ, Smol JP, Taylor WW, Tockner K, Vermaire JC, Dudgeon D, Cooke SJ. Emerging threats and persistent conservation challenges for freshwater biodiversity. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2018; 94:849-873. [PMID: 30467930 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 739] [Impact Index Per Article: 123.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In the 12 years since Dudgeon et al. (2006) reviewed major pressures on freshwater ecosystems, the biodiversity crisis in the world's lakes, reservoirs, rivers, streams and wetlands has deepened. While lakes, reservoirs and rivers cover only 2.3% of the Earth's surface, these ecosystems host at least 9.5% of the Earth's described animal species. Furthermore, using the World Wide Fund for Nature's Living Planet Index, freshwater population declines (83% between 1970 and 2014) continue to outpace contemporaneous declines in marine or terrestrial systems. The Anthropocene has brought multiple new and varied threats that disproportionately impact freshwater systems. We document 12 emerging threats to freshwater biodiversity that are either entirely new since 2006 or have since intensified: (i) changing climates; (ii) e-commerce and invasions; (iii) infectious diseases; (iv) harmful algal blooms; (v) expanding hydropower; (vi) emerging contaminants; (vii) engineered nanomaterials; (viii) microplastic pollution; (ix) light and noise; (x) freshwater salinisation; (xi) declining calcium; and (xii) cumulative stressors. Effects are evidenced for amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, microbes, plants, turtles and waterbirds, with potential for ecosystem-level changes through bottom-up and top-down processes. In our highly uncertain future, the net effects of these threats raise serious concerns for freshwater ecosystems. However, we also highlight opportunities for conservation gains as a result of novel management tools (e.g. environmental flows, environmental DNA) and specific conservation-oriented actions (e.g. dam removal, habitat protection policies, managed relocation of species) that have been met with varying levels of success. Moving forward, we advocate hybrid approaches that manage fresh waters as crucial ecosystems for human life support as well as essential hotspots of biodiversity and ecological function. Efforts to reverse global trends in freshwater degradation now depend on bridging an immense gap between the aspirations of conservation biologists and the accelerating rate of species endangerment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea J Reid
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Andrew K Carlson
- Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, U.S.A
| | - Irena F Creed
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5C8, Canada
| | - Erika J Eliason
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, U.S.A
| | - Peter A Gell
- School of Life and Health Sciences, University Drive, Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, 3350, Australia
| | - Pieter T J Johnson
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, U.S.A
| | - Karen A Kidd
- Department of Biology and School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Tyson J MacCormack
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mount Allison University, Sackville, E4L 1G8, Canada
| | - Julian D Olden
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-5020, U.S.A
| | - Steve J Ormerod
- Water Research Institute & School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, U.K
| | - John P Smol
- Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Lab (PEARL), Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - William W Taylor
- Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, U.S.A
| | - Klement Tockner
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, 12587, Germany
| | - Jesse C Vermaire
- Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - David Dudgeon
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Steven J Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, K1S 5B6, Canada.,Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, K1S 5B6, Canada
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Parker SS, Pauly GB, Moore J, Fraga NS, Knapp JJ, Principe Z, Brown BV, Randall JM, Cohen BS, Wake TA. Adapting the bioblitz to meet conservation needs. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2018; 32:1007-1019. [PMID: 29493001 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
When conservation strategies require new, field-based information, practitioners must find the best ways to rapidly deliver high-quality survey data. To address this challenge, several rapid-assessment approaches have been developed since the early 1990s. These typically involve large areas, take many months to complete, and are not appropriate when conservation-relevant survey data are urgently needed for a specific locale. In contrast, bioblitzes are designed for quick collection of site-specific survey data. Although bioblitzes are commonly used to achieve educational or public-engagement goals, conservation practitioners are increasingly using a modified bioblitz approach to generate conservation-relevant data while simultaneously enhancing research capacity and building working partnerships focused on conservation concerns. We term these modified events expert bioblitzes. Several expert bioblitzes have taken place on lands of conservation concern in Southern California and have involved collaborative efforts of government agencies, nonprofit organizations, botanic gardens, museums, and universities. The results of expert bioblitzes directly informed on-the-ground conservation and decision-making; increased capacity for rapid deployment of expert bioblitzes in the future; and fostered collaboration and communication among taxonomically and institutionally diverse experts. As research and conservation funding becomes increasingly scarce, expert bioblitzes can play an increasingly important role in biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie S Parker
- The Nature Conservancy, 445 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 1950, Los Angeles, CA, 90071, U.S.A
| | - Gregory B Pauly
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90007, U.S.A
| | - James Moore
- The Nature Conservancy, 915 E. Bonneville Avenue, Las Vegas, NV, 89101, U.S.A
| | - Naomi S Fraga
- Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Avenue, Claremont, CA, 91711, U.S.A
| | - John J Knapp
- The Nature Conservancy, 532 E. Main Street, Suite 200, Ventura, CA, 93001, U.S.A
| | - Zachary Principe
- The Nature Conservancy, 402 W. Broadway, Suite 1350, San Diego, CA, 92101, U.S.A
| | - Brian V Brown
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90007, U.S.A
| | - John M Randall
- The Nature Conservancy, 402 W. Broadway, Suite 1350, San Diego, CA, 92101, U.S.A
| | - Brian S Cohen
- The Nature Conservancy, 402 W. Broadway, Suite 1350, San Diego, CA, 92101, U.S.A
| | - Thomas A Wake
- Zooarchaeology Laboratory, The Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, U.S.A
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Hrbek T, Meliciano NV, Zuanon J, Farias IP. Remarkable Geographic Structuring of Rheophilic Fishes of the Lower Araguaia River. Front Genet 2018; 9:295. [PMID: 30154824 PMCID: PMC6102472 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapids and waterfalls, and their associated fauna and flora are in peril. With the construction of each new hydroelectric dam, more rapids and waterfalls are destroyed, leading to the disappearance of associated fauna and flora. Areas of rapids harbor distinct, highly endemic rheophilic fauna and flora adapted to an extreme environment. Rheophilic habitats also have disjunct distribution both within and across rivers. Rheophilic habitats thus represent islands of suitable habitat separated by stretches of unsuitable habitat. In this study, we investigated to what extent, if any, species of cichlid and anostomid fishes associated with rheophilic habitats were structured among the rapids of Araguaia River in the Brazilian Amazon. We tested both for population structuring as well as non-random distribution of lineages among rapids. Eight of the nine species had multiple lineages, five of these nine species were structured, and three of the eight species with multiple lineages showed non-random distribution of lineages among rapids. These results demonstrate that in addition to high levels of endemicism of rheophilic fishes, different rapids even within the same river are occupied by different lineages. Rheophilic species and communities occupying different rapids are, therefore, not interchangeable, and this realization must be taken into account when proposing mitigatory/compensatory measures in hydroelectric projects, and in conservation planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Hrbek
- Laboratório de Evolução e Genética Animal, Departmento de Genética, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Natasha V. Meliciano
- Laboratório de Evolução e Genética Animal, Departmento de Genética, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Instituto de Saúde e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Coari, Brazil
| | - Jansen Zuanon
- Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Izeni P. Farias
- Laboratório de Evolução e Genética Animal, Departmento de Genética, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
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Miranda I, Gomes KM, Ribeiro FB, Araujo PB, Souty-Grosset C, Schubart CD. Molecular systematics reveals multiple lineages and cryptic speciation in the freshwater crayfish Parastacus brasiliensis (von Martens, 1869) (Crustacea : Decapoda : Parastacidae). INVERTEBR SYST 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/is18012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The characterisation of intraspecific genetic diversity in representatives of the South American crayfish genus Parastacus Huxley, 1879 is here carried out for the first time by comparing populations of Parastacus brasiliensis (von Martens, 1869) as currently defined. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers indicate the existence of multiple lineages, of which only one can be considered as P. brasiliensis sensu stricto. In addition, there are seven other lineages, one of which is the subspecies Parastacus brasiliensis promatensis Fontoura & Conter, 2008, which is here elevated to species level. We thereby increase to 14 the number of recognised species within Parastacus in South America. Genetic distances among P. brasiliensis sensu stricto and the lineages ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ increase with geographical distances, suggesting isolation by distance as an important driver of diversification, and eventually speciation, in these burrowing crayfishes. Parastacus brasiliensis occurs mainly in the Guaíba Lake basin and studied populations show limited connectivity and gene flow, probably due to habitat fragmentation. On the basis of genetic and distribution data, the conservation status of P. brasiliensis sensu stricto is confirmed as Near Threatened (NT). These findings lead us to encourage the establishment of preservation areas for isolated populations. The importance of preserving the newly recognised distinct gene pools in order to maintain overall genetic diversity is emphasised.
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Carrizo SF, Jähnig SC, Bremerich V, Freyhof J, Harrison I, He F, Langhans SD, Tockner K, Zarfl C, Darwall W. Freshwater Megafauna: Flagships for Freshwater Biodiversity under Threat. Bioscience 2017; 67:919-927. [PMID: 29599539 PMCID: PMC5862257 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/bix099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Freshwater biodiversity is highly threatened and is decreasing more rapidly than its terrestrial or marine counterparts; however, freshwaters receive less attention and conservation investment than other ecosystems do. The diverse group of freshwater megafauna, including iconic species such as sturgeons, river dolphins, and turtles, could, if promoted, provide a valuable tool to raise awareness and funding for conservation. We found that freshwater megafauna inhabit every continent except Antarctica, with South America, Central Africa, and South and Southeast Asia being particularly species rich. Freshwater megafauna co-occur with up to 93% of mapped overall freshwater biodiversity. Fifty-eight percent of the 132 megafauna species included in the study are threatened, with 84% of their collective range falling outside of protected areas. Of all threatened freshwater species, 83% are found within the megafauna range, revealing the megafauna's capacity as flagship and umbrella species for fostering freshwater conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savrina F Carrizo
- Dr. Sonja Jähnig is a group leader, Vanessa Bremerich a technician, Dr. Jörg Freyhof a project leader, Dr. Simone D. Langhans a postdoctoral researcher, and Fengzhi He a doctoral student at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, in Berlin, Germany; FH is also affiliated with the Institute of Biology at Freie Universität Berlin. Dr. Savrina F. Carrizo was a program officer with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit at the time of this research. Dr. Ian Harrison is working for the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, in Flagstaff, Arizona. Professor Klement Tockner currently serves as the president of the Austrian Science Fund, in Vienna. Dr. Christiane Zarfl is a junior professor at the Center for Applied Geosciences at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, in Germany. Dr. William Darwall is the head of the IUCN Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, in Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sonja C Jähnig
- Dr. Sonja Jähnig is a group leader, Vanessa Bremerich a technician, Dr. Jörg Freyhof a project leader, Dr. Simone D. Langhans a postdoctoral researcher, and Fengzhi He a doctoral student at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, in Berlin, Germany; FH is also affiliated with the Institute of Biology at Freie Universität Berlin. Dr. Savrina F. Carrizo was a program officer with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit at the time of this research. Dr. Ian Harrison is working for the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, in Flagstaff, Arizona. Professor Klement Tockner currently serves as the president of the Austrian Science Fund, in Vienna. Dr. Christiane Zarfl is a junior professor at the Center for Applied Geosciences at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, in Germany. Dr. William Darwall is the head of the IUCN Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, in Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Vanessa Bremerich
- Dr. Sonja Jähnig is a group leader, Vanessa Bremerich a technician, Dr. Jörg Freyhof a project leader, Dr. Simone D. Langhans a postdoctoral researcher, and Fengzhi He a doctoral student at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, in Berlin, Germany; FH is also affiliated with the Institute of Biology at Freie Universität Berlin. Dr. Savrina F. Carrizo was a program officer with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit at the time of this research. Dr. Ian Harrison is working for the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, in Flagstaff, Arizona. Professor Klement Tockner currently serves as the president of the Austrian Science Fund, in Vienna. Dr. Christiane Zarfl is a junior professor at the Center for Applied Geosciences at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, in Germany. Dr. William Darwall is the head of the IUCN Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, in Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jörg Freyhof
- Dr. Sonja Jähnig is a group leader, Vanessa Bremerich a technician, Dr. Jörg Freyhof a project leader, Dr. Simone D. Langhans a postdoctoral researcher, and Fengzhi He a doctoral student at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, in Berlin, Germany; FH is also affiliated with the Institute of Biology at Freie Universität Berlin. Dr. Savrina F. Carrizo was a program officer with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit at the time of this research. Dr. Ian Harrison is working for the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, in Flagstaff, Arizona. Professor Klement Tockner currently serves as the president of the Austrian Science Fund, in Vienna. Dr. Christiane Zarfl is a junior professor at the Center for Applied Geosciences at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, in Germany. Dr. William Darwall is the head of the IUCN Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, in Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Harrison
- Dr. Sonja Jähnig is a group leader, Vanessa Bremerich a technician, Dr. Jörg Freyhof a project leader, Dr. Simone D. Langhans a postdoctoral researcher, and Fengzhi He a doctoral student at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, in Berlin, Germany; FH is also affiliated with the Institute of Biology at Freie Universität Berlin. Dr. Savrina F. Carrizo was a program officer with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit at the time of this research. Dr. Ian Harrison is working for the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, in Flagstaff, Arizona. Professor Klement Tockner currently serves as the president of the Austrian Science Fund, in Vienna. Dr. Christiane Zarfl is a junior professor at the Center for Applied Geosciences at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, in Germany. Dr. William Darwall is the head of the IUCN Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, in Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Fengzhi He
- Dr. Sonja Jähnig is a group leader, Vanessa Bremerich a technician, Dr. Jörg Freyhof a project leader, Dr. Simone D. Langhans a postdoctoral researcher, and Fengzhi He a doctoral student at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, in Berlin, Germany; FH is also affiliated with the Institute of Biology at Freie Universität Berlin. Dr. Savrina F. Carrizo was a program officer with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit at the time of this research. Dr. Ian Harrison is working for the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, in Flagstaff, Arizona. Professor Klement Tockner currently serves as the president of the Austrian Science Fund, in Vienna. Dr. Christiane Zarfl is a junior professor at the Center for Applied Geosciences at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, in Germany. Dr. William Darwall is the head of the IUCN Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, in Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Simone D Langhans
- Dr. Sonja Jähnig is a group leader, Vanessa Bremerich a technician, Dr. Jörg Freyhof a project leader, Dr. Simone D. Langhans a postdoctoral researcher, and Fengzhi He a doctoral student at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, in Berlin, Germany; FH is also affiliated with the Institute of Biology at Freie Universität Berlin. Dr. Savrina F. Carrizo was a program officer with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit at the time of this research. Dr. Ian Harrison is working for the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, in Flagstaff, Arizona. Professor Klement Tockner currently serves as the president of the Austrian Science Fund, in Vienna. Dr. Christiane Zarfl is a junior professor at the Center for Applied Geosciences at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, in Germany. Dr. William Darwall is the head of the IUCN Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, in Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Klement Tockner
- Dr. Sonja Jähnig is a group leader, Vanessa Bremerich a technician, Dr. Jörg Freyhof a project leader, Dr. Simone D. Langhans a postdoctoral researcher, and Fengzhi He a doctoral student at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, in Berlin, Germany; FH is also affiliated with the Institute of Biology at Freie Universität Berlin. Dr. Savrina F. Carrizo was a program officer with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit at the time of this research. Dr. Ian Harrison is working for the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, in Flagstaff, Arizona. Professor Klement Tockner currently serves as the president of the Austrian Science Fund, in Vienna. Dr. Christiane Zarfl is a junior professor at the Center for Applied Geosciences at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, in Germany. Dr. William Darwall is the head of the IUCN Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, in Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Christiane Zarfl
- Dr. Sonja Jähnig is a group leader, Vanessa Bremerich a technician, Dr. Jörg Freyhof a project leader, Dr. Simone D. Langhans a postdoctoral researcher, and Fengzhi He a doctoral student at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, in Berlin, Germany; FH is also affiliated with the Institute of Biology at Freie Universität Berlin. Dr. Savrina F. Carrizo was a program officer with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit at the time of this research. Dr. Ian Harrison is working for the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, in Flagstaff, Arizona. Professor Klement Tockner currently serves as the president of the Austrian Science Fund, in Vienna. Dr. Christiane Zarfl is a junior professor at the Center for Applied Geosciences at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, in Germany. Dr. William Darwall is the head of the IUCN Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, in Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - William Darwall
- Dr. Sonja Jähnig is a group leader, Vanessa Bremerich a technician, Dr. Jörg Freyhof a project leader, Dr. Simone D. Langhans a postdoctoral researcher, and Fengzhi He a doctoral student at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, in Berlin, Germany; FH is also affiliated with the Institute of Biology at Freie Universität Berlin. Dr. Savrina F. Carrizo was a program officer with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit at the time of this research. Dr. Ian Harrison is working for the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, in Flagstaff, Arizona. Professor Klement Tockner currently serves as the president of the Austrian Science Fund, in Vienna. Dr. Christiane Zarfl is a junior professor at the Center for Applied Geosciences at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, in Germany. Dr. William Darwall is the head of the IUCN Global Species Programme's Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, in Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Bamford AJ, Razafindrajao F, Young RP, Hilton GM. Profound and pervasive degradation of Madagascar's freshwater wetlands and links with biodiversity. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182673. [PMID: 28792516 PMCID: PMC5549726 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Reflecting a global trend, freshwater wetlands in Madagascar have received little conservation or research attention. Madagascar is a global conservation priority due to its high level of species endemism but most work has focused on protecting forests. For the first time, we investigated the state of wetlands across the country to determine the effects of human disturbance. We conducted a rapid survey of 37 wetlands, using waterbirds and benthic invertebrates as ecological indicators. We recorded nine variables relating to human disturbance, revealing widespread wetland destruction. Principal Components Analysis reduced the nine variables to a single Principal Component (PC) that explained 50% of the dataset variance, demonstrating that different forms of human disturbance are ubiquitous and inseparable. The disturbance PC provides an index of how pristine a lake is and in Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) was significantly inversely related to the number of waterbird species present and the density of Chironomidae. The disturbance PC was estimated for every wetland in a GIS-derived dataset of wetland locations in Madagascar, giving a country-wide frequency distribution of disturbance. To validate the estimated PC values, we used the GLMs to predict the number of endemic bird species at an independent sample of 22 lakes. The predicted values correlated with the observed number of species, demonstrating that our procedure can identify lakes with high biodiversity value. The disturbance PC provides a convenient method for ranking sites, and a country-wide ranking demonstrates that the only near-pristine lakes in Madagascar are small sites that have been preserved by remoteness from human activity and not conservation management. The strategy of conserving high biodiversity remnants is insufficient because existing remnants suffer some degree of degradation and only support small populations of threatened species. Large-scale restoration of degraded wetlands is required for the long-term conservation of Madagascar’s freshwater biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. Bamford
- Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Richard P. Young
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Les Augrès Manor, Trinity, Jersey, United Kingdom
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Geoff M. Hilton
- Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
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Ilg C, Oertli B. Effectiveness of amphibians as biodiversity surrogates in pond conservation. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2017; 31:437-445. [PMID: 27503782 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Amphibian decline has led to worldwide conservation efforts, including the identification and designation of sites for their protection. These sites could also play an important role in the conservation of other freshwater taxa. In 89 ponds in Switzerland, we assessed the effectiveness of amphibians as a surrogate for 4 taxonomic groups that occur in the same freshwater ecosystems as amphibians: dragonflies, aquatic beetles, aquatic gastropods, and aquatic plants. The ponds were all of high value for amphibian conservation. Cross-taxon correlations were tested for species richness and conservation value, and Mantel tests were used to investigate community congruence. Species richness, conservation value, and community composition of amphibians were weakly congruent with these measures for the other taxonomic groups. Paired comparisons for the 5 groups considered showed that for each metric, amphibians had the lowest degree of congruence. Our results imply that site designation for amphibian conservation will not necessarily provide protection for freshwater biodiversity as a whole. To provide adequate protection for freshwater species, we recommend other taxonomic groups be considered in addition to amphibians in the prioritization and site designation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Ilg
- hepia Geneva Member of the HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, 150 route de Presinge, 1254, Jussy-Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Beat Oertli
- hepia Geneva Member of the HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, 150 route de Presinge, 1254, Jussy-Geneva, Switzerland
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Di Marco M, Chapman S, Althor G, Kearney S, Besancon C, Butt N, Maina JM, Possingham HP, Rogalla von Bieberstein K, Venter O, Watson JE. Changing trends and persisting biases in three decades of conservation science. Glob Ecol Conserv 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2017.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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Donaldson MR, Burnett NJ, Braun DC, Suski CD, Hinch SG, Cooke SJ, Kerr JT. Taxonomic bias and international biodiversity conservation research. Facets (Ott) 2017. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2016-0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
While greater research on threatened species alone cannot ensure their protection, understanding taxonomic bias may be helpful to address knowledge gaps in order to identify research directions and inform policy. Using data for over 10 000 animal species listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, we investigated taxonomic and geographic biodiversity conservation research trends worldwide. We found extreme bias in conservation research effort on threatened vertebrates compared with lesser-studied invertebrates in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats at a global scale. Based on an analysis of common threats affecting vertebrates and invertebrates, we suggest a path forward for narrowing the research gap between threatened vertebrates and invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R. Donaldson
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Nicholas J. Burnett
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
- Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Douglas C. Braun
- Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Cory D. Suski
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Scott G. Hinch
- Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Steven J. Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Jeremy T. Kerr
- Canadian Facility for Ecoinformatics Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
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Carrizo SF, Lengyel S, Kapusi F, Szabolcs M, Kasperidus HD, Scholz M, Markovic D, Freyhof J, Cid N, Cardoso AC, Darwall W. Critical catchments for freshwater biodiversity conservation in Europe: identification, prioritisation and gap analysis. J Appl Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Savrina F. Carrizo
- Freshwater Biodiversity Unit; IUCN Global Species Programme; The David Attenborough Building Pembroke Street Cambridge CB2 3QZ UK
| | - Szabolcs Lengyel
- Department of Tisza Research; Danube Research Institute; Centre for Ecological Research; Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Bem tér 18/c 4026 Debrecen Hungary
| | - Felícia Kapusi
- Pál Juhász-Nagy Doctoral School; University of Debrecen; Egyetem tér 1 4032 Debrecen Hungary
| | - Márton Szabolcs
- Department of Tisza Research; Danube Research Institute; Centre for Ecological Research; Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Bem tér 18/c 4026 Debrecen Hungary
- Pál Juhász-Nagy Doctoral School; University of Debrecen; Egyetem tér 1 4032 Debrecen Hungary
| | - Hans D. Kasperidus
- Department Conservation Biology; UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research; Permoserstraße 15 04318 Leipzig Germany
| | - Mathias Scholz
- Department Conservation Biology; UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research; Permoserstraße 15 04318 Leipzig Germany
| | - Danijela Markovic
- Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences; Caprivistraße 30 A 49076 Osnabrück Germany
| | - Jörg Freyhof
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries; Müggelseedamm 310 12587 Berlin Germany
| | - Núria Cid
- European Commission; Joint Research Centre (JRC); Directorate D - Sustainable Resources; Water and Marine Resources Unit; Via Enrico Fermi 2749 21027 Ispra VA Italy
| | - Ana C. Cardoso
- European Commission; Joint Research Centre (JRC); Directorate D - Sustainable Resources; Water and Marine Resources Unit; Via Enrico Fermi 2749 21027 Ispra VA Italy
| | - William Darwall
- Freshwater Biodiversity Unit; IUCN Global Species Programme; The David Attenborough Building Pembroke Street Cambridge CB2 3QZ UK
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35
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Fugère V, Kasangaki A, Chapman LJ. Land use changes in an afrotropical biodiversity hotspot affect stream alpha and beta diversity. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- V. Fugère
- Department of Biology McGill University Montreal Quebec H3A 1B1 Canada
| | - A. Kasangaki
- National Agricultural Research OrganizationNational Fisheries Resources Research Institute P.O. Box 343 Jinja Uganda
| | - L. J. Chapman
- Department of Biology McGill University Montreal Quebec H3A 1B1 Canada
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The significance of droughts for hyporheic dwellers: evidence from freshwater crayfish. Sci Rep 2016; 6:26569. [PMID: 27225308 PMCID: PMC4880899 DOI: 10.1038/srep26569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Freshwater biodiversity is globally threatened by various factors while severe weather events like long-term droughts may be substantially devastating. In order to remain in contact with the water or stay in a sufficiently humid environment at drying localities, the ability to withstand desiccation by dwelling in the hyporheic zone, particularly through vertical burrowing is crucial. We assessed the ability of three European native and five non-native crayfish as models to survive and construct vertical burrows in a humid sandy-clayey substrate under a simulated one-week drought. Three native species (Astacus astacus, A. leptodactylus, and Austropotamobius torrentium) suffered extensive mortalities. Survival of non-native species was substantially higher while all specimens of Cherax destructor and Procambarus clarkii survived. The native species and Pacifastacus leniusculus exhibited no ability to construct vertical burrows. Procambarus fallax f. virginalis and P. clarkii constructed bigger and deeper burrows than C. destructor and Orconectes limosus. In the context of predicted weather fluctuations, the ability to withstand desiccation through constructing vertical burrows into the hyporheic zone under drought conditions might play a significant role in the success of particular crayfish species, as well as a wide range of further hyporheic-dwelling aquatic organisms in general.
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Brooks EGE, Holland RA, Darwall WRT, Eigenbrod F, Tittensor D. Global evidence of positive impacts of freshwater biodiversity on fishery yields. GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY : A JOURNAL OF MACROECOLOGY 2016; 25:553-562. [PMID: 27587980 PMCID: PMC4984834 DOI: 10.1111/geb.12435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
AIM An often-invoked benefit of high biodiversity is the provision of ecosystem services. However, evidence for this is largely based on data from small-scale experimental studies of relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem function that may have little relevance to real-world systems. Here, large-scale biodiversity datasets are used to test the relationship between the yield of inland capture fisheries and species richness from 100 countries. LOCATION Inland waters of Africa, Europe and parts of Asia. METHODS A multimodel inference approach was used to assess inland fishery yields at the country level against species richness, waterside human population, area, elevation and various climatic variables, to determine the relative importance of species richness to fisheries yields compared with other major large-scale drivers. Secondly, the mean decadal variation in fishery yields at the country level for 1981-2010 was regressed against species richness to assess if greater diversity reduces the variability in yields over time. RESULTS Despite a widespread reliance on targeting just a few species of fish, freshwater fish species richness is highly correlated with yield (R2 = 0.55) and remains an important and statistically significant predictor of yield once other macroecological drivers are controlled for. Freshwater richness also has a significant negative relationship with variability of yield over time in Africa (R2 = 0.16) but no effect in Europe. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The management of inland waters should incorporate the protection of freshwater biodiversity, particularly in countries with the highest-yielding inland fisheries as these also tend to have high freshwater biodiversity. As these results suggest a link between biodiversity and stable, high-yielding fisheries, an important win-win outcome may be possible for food security and conservation of freshwater ecosystems. However, findings also highlight the urgent need for more data to fully understand and monitor the contribution of biodiversity to inland fisheries globally.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert Alan Holland
- Centre for Biological Sciences University of Southampton Southampton SO17 1BJ UK
| | | | - Felix Eigenbrod
- Centre for Biological Sciences University of Southampton Southampton SO17 1BJ UK
| | - Derek Tittensor
- Centre for Biological Sciences University of Southampton Southampton SO17 1BJ UK
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38
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Sousa R, Varandas S, Teixeira A, Ghamizi M, Froufe E, Lopes-Lima M. Pearl mussels (Margaritifera marocana) in Morocco: Conservation status of the rarest bivalve in African fresh waters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 547:405-412. [PMID: 26789376 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Revised: 01/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Margaritifera marocana is one of the rarest freshwater mussel species (listed as critically endangered), and is endemic to Morocco. Despite its constrained distribution and low abundance, to date there are no quantitative studies addressing the conservation status of this species. Surveys were conducted in 36 sites along the Oum Er Rbia river basin (Rivers Derna, Laabid and Oum Er Rbia) to assess the distribution, abundance, population structure and genetic diversity of M. marocana. Just one specimen was found on River Oum Er Rbia and none on River Derna; however, a high abundance was found in the lower section of River Laabid (e.g., site Laabid 6 reached a mean density of 11.0 ± 6.8 ind.m(-2)). Contrary to earlier information, which reported an overall population size fewer than 250 individuals in a restricted area and no juvenile presence, this study showed that a much higher abundance exists in River Laabid alone. In addition, the species is present in more than 50 km of this river and is still recruiting since small specimens were found. Regarding genetic diversity, six of nine loci previously used in Margaritifera margaritifera were polymorphic and suitable in M. marocana. The spatial range contraction of this species is likely to be very recent, since no strong signature was detected by the molecular diversity indices. Information gathered in this study can be used as a reference to the present conservation status of M. marocana, and guide future research and management initiatives to better conserve it. We conclude discussing the potential major threats for the future survival of M. marocana and suggest some management measures (and research needs) that should be urgently applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronaldo Sousa
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Simone Varandas
- CITAB-UTAD - Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Forestry Department, Apartado 1013, 5001-811 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Amílcar Teixeira
- CIMO-ESA-IPB - Mountain Research Centre, School of Agriculture, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Apartado 1172, 5301-854 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Mohamed Ghamizi
- Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle de Marrakech, Université Cadi Ayyad, Faculté des Sciences, Semlalia, B.P. 2390 Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Elsa Froufe
- CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
| | - Manuel Lopes-Lima
- CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
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39
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Howard JK, Klausmeyer KR, Fesenmyer KA, Furnish J, Gardali T, Grantham T, Katz JVE, Kupferberg S, McIntyre P, Moyle PB, Ode PR, Peek R, Quiñones RM, Rehn AC, Santos N, Schoenig S, Serpa L, Shedd JD, Slusark J, Viers JH, Wright A, Morrison SA. Patterns of Freshwater Species Richness, Endemism, and Vulnerability in California. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0130710. [PMID: 26147215 PMCID: PMC4493109 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The ranges and abundances of species that depend on freshwater habitats are declining worldwide. Efforts to counteract those trends are often hampered by a lack of information about species distribution and conservation status and are often strongly biased toward a few well-studied groups. We identified the 3,906 vascular plants, macroinvertebrates, and vertebrates native to California, USA, that depend on fresh water for at least one stage of their life history. We evaluated the conservation status for these taxa using existing government and non-governmental organization assessments (e.g., endangered species act, NatureServe), created a spatial database of locality observations or distribution information from ~400 data sources, and mapped patterns of richness, endemism, and vulnerability. Although nearly half of all taxa with conservation status (n = 1,939) are vulnerable to extinction, only 114 (6%) of those vulnerable taxa have a legal mandate for protection in the form of formal inclusion on a state or federal endangered species list. Endemic taxa are at greater risk than non-endemics, with 90% of the 927 endemic taxa vulnerable to extinction. Records with spatial data were available for a total of 2,276 species (61%). The patterns of species richness differ depending on the taxonomic group analyzed, but are similar across taxonomic level. No particular taxonomic group represents an umbrella for all species, but hotspots of high richness for listed species cover 40% of the hotspots for all other species and 58% of the hotspots for vulnerable freshwater species. By mapping freshwater species hotspots we show locations that represent the top priority for conservation action in the state. This study identifies opportunities to fill gaps in the evaluation of conservation status for freshwater taxa in California, to address the lack of occurrence information for nearly 40% of freshwater taxa and nearly 40% of watersheds in the state, and to implement adequate protections for freshwater taxa where they are currently lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanette K. Howard
- The Nature Conservancy, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Kirk R. Klausmeyer
- The Nature Conservancy, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | | | - Joseph Furnish
- USDA Forest Service, Vallejo, California, United States of America
| | - Thomas Gardali
- Point Blue Conservation Science, Petaluma, California, United States of America
| | - Ted Grantham
- Center for Watershed Sciences and Department of Wildlife Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Jacob V. E. Katz
- Center for Watershed Sciences and Department of Wildlife Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Sarah Kupferberg
- Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Patrick McIntyre
- Biogeographic Data Branch, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, California, United States of America
| | - Peter B. Moyle
- Center for Watershed Sciences and Department of Wildlife Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Peter R. Ode
- Aquatic Bioassessment Laboratory, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Rancho Cordova, California, United States of America
| | - Ryan Peek
- Center for Watershed Sciences and Department of Wildlife Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Rebecca M. Quiñones
- Center for Watershed Sciences and Department of Wildlife Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Andrew C. Rehn
- Biogeographic Data Branch, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, California, United States of America
| | - Nick Santos
- Center for Watershed Sciences and Department of Wildlife Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Steve Schoenig
- Biogeographic Data Branch, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, California, United States of America
| | - Larry Serpa
- The Nature Conservancy, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Jackson D. Shedd
- The Nature Conservancy, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Joe Slusark
- Biogeographic Data Branch, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, California, United States of America
| | - Joshua H. Viers
- School of Engineering, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Amber Wright
- Department of Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Scott A. Morrison
- The Nature Conservancy, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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40
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Baker DJ, Hartley AJ, Burgess ND, Butchart SHM, Carr JA, Smith RJ, Belle E, Willis SG. Assessing climate change impacts for vertebrate fauna across the West African protected area network using regionally appropriate climate projections. DIVERS DISTRIB 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- D. J. Baker
- School of Biological & Biomedical Sciences; Durham University; Mountjoy Site Durham DH1 3LE UK
| | - A. J. Hartley
- Met Office Hadley Centre; FitzRoy Road Exeter Devon EX1 3PB UK
| | - N. D. Burgess
- UNEP-WCMC; 219 Huntington Road Cambridge UK
- Center for Macroecology; Evolution and Climate; Natural History Museum; University of Copenhagen; Copenhagen Denmark
| | | | - J. A. Carr
- IUCN Global Species Programme; 219c Huntingdon Road Cambridge UK
| | - R. J. Smith
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology; School of Anthropology and Conservation; University of Kent; Canterbury Kent CT2 7NR UK
| | - E. Belle
- UNEP-WCMC; 219 Huntington Road Cambridge UK
| | - S. G. Willis
- School of Biological & Biomedical Sciences; Durham University; Mountjoy Site Durham DH1 3LE UK
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41
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Richman NI, Böhm M, Adams SB, Alvarez F, Bergey EA, Bunn JJS, Burnham Q, Cordeiro J, Coughran J, Crandall KA, Dawkins KL, DiStefano RJ, Doran NE, Edsman L, Eversole AG, Füreder L, Furse JM, Gherardi F, Hamr P, Holdich DM, Horwitz P, Johnston K, Jones CM, Jones JPG, Jones RL, Jones TG, Kawai T, Lawler S, López-Mejía M, Miller RM, Pedraza-Lara C, Reynolds JD, Richardson AMM, Schultz MB, Schuster GA, Sibley PJ, Souty-Grosset C, Taylor CA, Thoma RF, Walls J, Walsh TS, Collen B. Multiple drivers of decline in the global status of freshwater crayfish (Decapoda: Astacidea). Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 370:20140060. [PMID: 25561679 PMCID: PMC4290432 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2014.0060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rates of biodiversity loss are higher in freshwater ecosystems than in most terrestrial or marine ecosystems, making freshwater conservation a priority. However, prioritization methods are impeded by insufficient knowledge on the distribution and conservation status of freshwater taxa, particularly invertebrates. We evaluated the extinction risk of the world's 590 freshwater crayfish species using the IUCN Categories and Criteria and found 32% of all species are threatened with extinction. The level of extinction risk differed between families, with proportionally more threatened species in the Parastacidae and Astacidae than in the Cambaridae. Four described species were Extinct and 21% were assessed as Data Deficient. There was geographical variation in the dominant threats affecting the main centres of crayfish diversity. The majority of threatened US and Mexican species face threats associated with urban development, pollution, damming and water management. Conversely, the majority of Australian threatened species are affected by climate change, harvesting, agriculture and invasive species. Only a small proportion of crayfish are found within the boundaries of protected areas, suggesting that alternative means of long-term protection will be required. Our study highlights many of the significant challenges yet to come for freshwater biodiversity unless conservation planning shifts from a reactive to proactive approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia I Richman
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Monika Böhm
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Susan B Adams
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research, 1000 Front St., Oxford, MS 38655-4915, USA
| | - Fernando Alvarez
- Colección Nacional de Crustáceos, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-153, México 04510 DF, México
| | - Elizabeth A Bergey
- Oklahoma Biological Survey and Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - John J S Bunn
- School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Quinton Burnham
- School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jay Cordeiro
- Northeast Natural History and Supply, 24 North Grove St., Middleboro, MA 02346, USA
| | - Jason Coughran
- School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia Jagabar Environmental, PO Box 634, Duncraig, Western Australia 6023, Australia
| | - Keith A Crandall
- Computational Biology Institute, George Washington University, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA
| | - Kathryn L Dawkins
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Queensland 4222, Australia
| | - Robert J DiStefano
- Missouri Department of Conservation, 3500 East Gans Road, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - Niall E Doran
- Bookend Trust and the School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, PO Box 310, Sandy Bay, Tasmania 7006, Australia
| | - Lennart Edsman
- Institute of Freshwater Research, Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 178 93 Drottningholm, Sweden
| | - Arnold G Eversole
- School of Agricultural, Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Leopold Füreder
- River Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - James M Furse
- Griffith School of Environment and the Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Queensland 4222, Australia
| | - Francesca Gherardi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze, Italy
| | - Premek Hamr
- Upper Canada College, 200 Lonsdale Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4V 1W6
| | - David M Holdich
- Crayfish Survey and Research, Peak Ecology Limited, Arden House, Deepdale Business Park, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1GT, UK
| | - Pierre Horwitz
- School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Kerrylyn Johnston
- Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South St., Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia Marine and Freshwater Research Laboratory, Murdoch University, 90 South St., Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Clive M Jones
- James Cook University, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, PO Box 6811, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia
| | - Julia P G Jones
- School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Robert L Jones
- Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Museum of Natural Science, 2148 Riverside Drive, Jackson, MS 39202-1353, USA
| | - Thomas G Jones
- Department of Integrated Science and Technology, Marshall University, 1 John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV 25755, USA
| | - Tadashi Kawai
- Wakkanai Fisheries Institute, 4-5-15 Suehiro, Wakkanai, 097-0001 Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Susan Lawler
- Department of Environmental Management and Ecology, La Trobe University, Wodonga, Victoria 3690, Australia
| | - Marilu López-Mejía
- Evolutionary Biology and Population Genetics Laboratory, Universidad de Quintana Roo, Unidad Académica Cozumel, Av. Andrés Quintana Roo con Calle 110s/n, Frente a Col. San Gervasio, Cozumel 77600, Q. Roo, México
| | - Rebecca M Miller
- International Union for Conservation of Nature, Global Ecosystem Management Programme, 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK
| | - Carlos Pedraza-Lara
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Facultad de Medicina, Circuito Interior, Ciudad Universitaria, Av. Universidad 3000, CP 04510. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Biología, tercer circuito s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, México DF CP 04510, México
| | - Julian D Reynolds
- Trinity College Dublin, 115 Weirview Drive, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Mark B Schultz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville, 3010 Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Peter J Sibley
- Environment Agency, Wessex Area, Rivers House, East Quay, Bridgwater TA6 4YS, UK
| | - Catherine Souty-Grosset
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Université de Poitiers, Equipe Ecologie Evolution Symbiose, UMR CNRS 7267, Poitiers Cedex, France
| | - Christopher A Taylor
- Prairie Research Institute, Illinois Natural History Survey, 1816 S. Oak, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Roger F Thoma
- Midwest Biodiversity Institute, 4673 Northwest Parkway, Hilliard, OH 43026, USA
| | - Jerry Walls
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University Alexandria, 8100 Highway 71 S, Alexandria, LA 71302, USA
| | - Todd S Walsh
- 34 McKenzie St, Lismore, New South Wales 2480, Australia
| | - Ben Collen
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environmental Research, University College London, Gower St., London WC1E 6BT, UK
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Thomsen M, Wernberg T, Olden J, Byers JE, Bruno J, Silliman B, Schiel D. Forty years of experiments on aquatic invasive species: are study biases limiting our understanding of impacts? NEOBIOTA 2014. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.22.6224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Bush A, Hermoso V, Linke S, Nipperess D, Turak E, Hughes L. Freshwater conservation planning under climate change: demonstrating proactive approaches for Australian Odonata. J Appl Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Bush
- Department of Biological Sciences; Macquarie University; Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Virgilio Hermoso
- Australian Rivers Institute; Griffith University; Brisbane QLD Australia
| | - Simon Linke
- Australian Rivers Institute; Griffith University; Brisbane QLD Australia
| | - David Nipperess
- Department of Biological Sciences; Macquarie University; Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Eren Turak
- Office of Environment and Heritage New South Wales; Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Lesley Hughes
- Department of Biological Sciences; Macquarie University; Sydney NSW Australia
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Westgate MJ, Barton PS, Lane PW, Lindenmayer DB. Global meta-analysis reveals low consistency of biodiversity congruence relationships. Nat Commun 2014; 5:3899. [DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2013] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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Bush A, Nipperess DA, Theischinger G, Turak E, Hughes L. Testing for taxonomic bias in the future diversity of Australian Odonata. DIVERS DISTRIB 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Bush
- Macquarie University; Sydney NSW Australia
| | | | - Gunther Theischinger
- Office of Environment and Heritage NSW; Sydney NSW Australia
- Australian Museum; 6 College Street Sydney NSW 2010 Australia
| | - Eren Turak
- Office of Environment and Heritage NSW; Sydney NSW Australia
- Australian Museum; 6 College Street Sydney NSW 2010 Australia
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Bush AA, Nipperess DA, Duursma DE, Theischinger G, Turak E, Hughes L. Continental-scale assessment of risk to the Australian odonata from climate change. PLoS One 2014; 9:e88958. [PMID: 24551197 PMCID: PMC3923880 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2013] [Accepted: 01/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is expected to have substantial impacts on the composition of freshwater communities, and many species are threatened by the loss of climatically suitable habitat. In this study we identify Australian Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) vulnerable to the effects of climate change on the basis of exposure, sensitivity and pressure to disperse in the future. We used an ensemble of species distribution models to predict the distribution of 270 (85%) species of Australian Odonata, continent-wide at the subcatchment scale, and for both current and future climates using two emissions scenarios each for 2055 and 2085. Exposure was scored according to the departure of temperature, precipitation and hydrology from current conditions. Sensitivity accounted for change in the area and suitability of projected climatic habitat, and pressure to disperse combined measurements of average habitat shifts and the loss experienced with lower dispersal rates. Streams and rivers important to future conservation efforts were identified based on the sensitivity-weighted sum of habitat suitability for the most vulnerable species. The overall extent of suitable habitat declined for 56-69% of the species modelled by 2085 depending on emissions scenario. The proportion of species at risk across all components (exposure, sensitivity, pressure to disperse) varied between 7 and 17% from 2055 to 2085 and a further 3-17% of species were also projected to be at high risk due to declines that did not require range shifts. If dispersal to Tasmania was limited, many south-eastern species are at significantly increased risk. Conservation efforts will need to focus on creating and preserving freshwater refugia as part of a broader conservation strategy that improves connectivity and promotes adaptive range shifts. The significant predicted shifts in suitable habitat could potentially exceed the dispersal capacity of Odonata and highlights the challenge faced by other freshwater species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex A Bush
- Dept. of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David A Nipperess
- Dept. of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daisy E Duursma
- Dept. of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Eren Turak
- Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lesley Hughes
- Dept. of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Dulvy NK, Fowler SL, Musick JA, Cavanagh RD, Kyne PM, Harrison LR, Carlson JK, Davidson LN, Fordham SV, Francis MP, Pollock CM, Simpfendorfer CA, Burgess GH, Carpenter KE, Compagno LJ, Ebert DA, Gibson C, Heupel MR, Livingstone SR, Sanciangco JC, Stevens JD, Valenti S, White WT. Extinction risk and conservation of the world's sharks and rays. eLife 2014; 3:e00590. [PMID: 24448405 PMCID: PMC3897121 DOI: 10.7554/elife.00590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 603] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid expansion of human activities threatens ocean-wide biodiversity. Numerous marine animal populations have declined, yet it remains unclear whether these trends are symptomatic of a chronic accumulation of global marine extinction risk. We present the first systematic analysis of threat for a globally distributed lineage of 1,041 chondrichthyan fishes—sharks, rays, and chimaeras. We estimate that one-quarter are threatened according to IUCN Red List criteria due to overfishing (targeted and incidental). Large-bodied, shallow-water species are at greatest risk and five out of the seven most threatened families are rays. Overall chondrichthyan extinction risk is substantially higher than for most other vertebrates, and only one-third of species are considered safe. Population depletion has occurred throughout the world’s ice-free waters, but is particularly prevalent in the Indo-Pacific Biodiversity Triangle and Mediterranean Sea. Improved management of fisheries and trade is urgently needed to avoid extinctions and promote population recovery. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00590.001 Ocean ecosystems are under pressure from overfishing, climate change, habitat destruction and pollution. These pressures have led to documented declines of some fishes in some places, such as those living in coral reefs and on the high seas. However, it is not clear whether these population declines are isolated one-off examples or, instead, if they are sufficiently widespread to risk the extinction of large numbers of species. Most fishes have a skeleton that is made of bone, but sharks and rays have a skeleton that is made of cartilage. A total of 1,041 species has such a skeleton and they are collectively known as the Chondrichthyes. To find out how well these fish are faring, Dulvy et al. worked with more than 300 scientists around the world to assess the conservation status of all 1,041 species. Based on this, Dulvy et al. estimate that one in four of these species are threatened with extinction, mainly as a result of overfishing. Moreover, just 389 species (37.4% of the total) are considered to be safe, which is the lowest fraction of safe species among all vertebrate groups studied to date. The largest sharks and rays are in the most peril, especially those living in shallow waters that are accessible to fisheries. A particular problem is the ‘fin trade’: the fins of sharks and shark-like rays are a delicacy in some Asian countries, and more than half of the chondrichthyans that enter the fin trade are under threat. Whether targeted or caught by boats fishing for other species, sharks and rays are used to supply a market that is largely unmonitored and unregulated. Habitat degradation and loss also pose considerable threats, particularly for freshwater sharks and rays. Dulvy et al. identified three main hotspots where the biodiversity of sharks and rays was particularly seriously threatened—the Indo-Pacific Biodiversity Triangle, Red Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea—and argue that national and international action is needed to protect them from overfishing. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00590.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas K Dulvy
- IUCN Species Survival Commission Shark Specialist Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
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Collen B, Whitton F, Dyer EE, Baillie JEM, Cumberlidge N, Darwall WRT, Pollock C, Richman NI, Soulsby AM, Böhm M. Global patterns of freshwater species diversity, threat and endemism. GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY : A JOURNAL OF MACROECOLOGY 2014; 23:40-51. [PMID: 26430385 PMCID: PMC4579866 DOI: 10.1111/geb.12096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
AIM Global-scale studies are required to identify broad-scale patterns in the distributions of species, to evaluate the processes that determine diversity and to determine how similar or different these patterns and processes are among different groups of freshwater species. Broad-scale patterns of spatial variation in species distribution are central to many fundamental questions in macroecology and conservation biology. We aimed to evaluate how congruent three commonly used metrics of diversity were among taxa for six groups of freshwater species. LOCATION Global. METHODS We compiled geographical range data on 7083 freshwater species of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fishes, crabs and crayfish to evaluate how species richness, richness of threatened species and endemism are distributed across freshwater ecosystems. We evaluated how congruent these measures of diversity were among taxa at a global level for a grid cell size of just under 1°. RESULTS We showed that although the risk of extinction faced by freshwater decapods is quite similar to that of freshwater vertebrates, there is a distinct lack of spatial congruence in geographical range between different taxonomic groups at this spatial scale, and a lack of congruence among three commonly used metrics of biodiversity. The risk of extinction for freshwater species was consistently higher than for their terrestrial counterparts. MAIN CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that broad-scale patterns of species richness, threatened-species richness and endemism lack congruence among the six freshwater taxonomic groups examined. Invertebrate species are seldom taken into account in conservation planning. Our study suggests that both the metric of biodiversity and the identity of the taxa on which conservation decisions are based require careful consideration. As geographical range information becomes available for further sets of species, further testing will be warranted into the extent to which geographical variation in the richness of these six freshwater groups reflects broader patterns of biodiversity in fresh water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Collen
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of
LondonRegent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Felix Whitton
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of
LondonRegent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
- Synchronicity Earth32a Thurloe Place, London, SW7 2HQ, UK
| | - Ellie E Dyer
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of
LondonRegent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment,
University College LondonGower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Jonathan E M Baillie
- Conservation Programmes, Zoological Society of
LondonRegent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Neil Cumberlidge
- Department of Biology, Northern Michigan
UniversityMarquette, MI, 49855, USA
| | | | - Caroline Pollock
- Global Species Programme, IUCN219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, UK
| | - Nadia I Richman
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of
LondonRegent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Anne-Marie Soulsby
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of
LondonRegent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Monika Böhm
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of
LondonRegent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
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Sousa R, Amorim Â, Sobral C, Froufe E, Varandas S, Teixeira A, Lopes-Lima M. Ecological status of a Margaritifera margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758) population at the southern edge of its distribution (River Paiva, Portugal). ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2013; 52:1230-1238. [PMID: 23820847 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-013-0117-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2012] [Accepted: 06/20/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
An important population of the critically endangered pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758) was surveyed at the edge of its southern distribution (River Paiva, Portugal). Although an earlier study suggested that this population had a very low number of individuals (<500), a narrow distribution, and was mainly comprised by old specimens our data contradict these findings. Our assessment estimated a population with probably more than 5,000 individuals distributed across 80 km of the river length. From the 32 sites surveyed, 19 contained M. margaritifera with higher abundances verified in the middle and upper parts of the river (a maximum of 78 ind. per 100 m of river stretch was recorded). The pearl mussels showed a clear preference for areas near the banks, in shallow water, sandier and gravel sediments, and a high degree of riparian vegetation cover. The population structure was skewed with a very high percentage of large (and old) animals but 3.7 % of the individuals collected were juveniles (<60 mm in length); therefore, this population can be considered functional. Environmental characterization indicated that this river is still in excellent or good condition although some areas showed deterioration due to discharge of domestic effluents. The main conservation requirements of M. margaritifera in the River Paiva include maintaining the water quality (and if possible stopping the discharge of domestic effluents), increasing riparian vegetation cover, removing several weirs to increase connectivity, and increasing trout density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronaldo Sousa
- CBMA-Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal,
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Alofs KM, Liverpool EA, Taphorn DC, Bernard CR, López-Fernández H. Mind the (information) gap: the importance of exploration and discovery for assessing conservation priorities for freshwater fish. DIVERS DISTRIB 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Karen M. Alofs
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; University of Toronto; 25 Willcocks St. Toronto ON Canada M5S 3B2
| | - Elford A. Liverpool
- Guyana National Museum; Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; Company Path Georgetown Guyana
| | - Donald C. Taphorn
- Department of Natural History; Royal Ontario Museum; 100 Queen's Park Toronto ON Canada M5S 2C6
| | - Calvin R. Bernard
- Centre for the Study of Biological Diversity; University of Guyana; Georgetown Guyana
| | - Hernán López-Fernández
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; University of Toronto; 25 Willcocks St. Toronto ON Canada M5S 3B2
- Department of Natural History; Royal Ontario Museum; 100 Queen's Park Toronto ON Canada M5S 2C6
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