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Mouquet N, Langlois J, Casajus N, Auber A, Flandrin U, Guilhaumon F, Loiseau N, McLean M, Receveur A, Stuart Smith RD, Mouillot D. Low human interest for the most at-risk reef fishes worldwide. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj9510. [PMID: 39018399 PMCID: PMC466977 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj9510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Human interest in biodiversity is essential for effective conservation action but remains poorly quantified at large scales. Here, we investigated human interest for 2408 marine reef fishes using data obtained from online public databases and social media, summarized in two synthetic dimensions, research effort and public attention. Both dimensions are mainly related to geographic range size. Research effort is also linked to fishery importance, while public attention is more related to fish aesthetic value and aquarium trade importance. We also found a strong phylogenetic bias, with certain fish families receiving disproportional research effort and public attention. Most concerningly, species at the highest risk of extinction and those most vulnerable to future climate change tend to receive less research effort and public attention. Our results provide a lens through which examining the societal attention that species garner, with the ultimate goals to improve conservation strategies, research programs, and communication plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Mouquet
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
- FRB-CESAB, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Arnaud Auber
- IFREMER, Unité Halieutique Manche Mer du Nord, Laboratoire Ressources Halieutiques, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
| | - Ulysse Flandrin
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Nicolas Loiseau
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Matthew McLean
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403. USA
| | | | - Rick D. Stuart Smith
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - David Mouillot
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, 1 rue Descartes, Paris, France
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2
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Behrendorff L, King R, Allen BL. Trouble in paradise: When two species of conservation and cultural value clash, causing a management conundrum. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10726. [PMID: 38020708 PMCID: PMC10653987 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Threatened species throughout the world are in decline due to various causes. In some cases, predators of conservation or cultural value are causing the decline of threatened prey, presenting a conservation conundrum for managers. We surveyed marine turtle nests on K'gari (formally known as Fraser Island), Australia, to investigate dingo predation of green and loggerhead turtle nests, where each of these species is of conservation value. Our monitoring revealed that 84% of nests were predated by dingoes. Only 16% of nests were not consumed by dingoes, and only 5.7% of nests were confirmed to have successfully hatched. Up to 94% of nests were consumed in some areas, and predation rates were similar across different dingo packs. Information on the available numbers of nests and dingoes in the area indicated that turtle nests alone are sufficient to support extant dingoes over the summer. These results indicate that marine turtle eggs represent a previously unquantified but important food source for dingoes on K'gari, and that turtle nests at this rookery site are under serious threat from dingoes. This research should highlight the importance of prioritising the protection of turtle nests from dingoes or risk losing the entire rookery forever in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Behrendorff
- School of Agriculture and Food SciencesUniversity of QueenslandGattonQueenslandAustralia
- Queensland Government Department of Environment and ScienceQueensland Parks and Wildlife ServiceK'gariQueenslandAustralia
| | - Rachel King
- School of Mathematics, Physics and ComputingUniversity of Southern QueenslandToowoombaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Benjamin L. Allen
- Institute for Life Sciences and the EnvironmentUniversity of Southern QueenslandToowoombaQueenslandAustralia
- Centre for African Conservation EcologyNelson Mandela UniversityPort ElizabethSouth Africa
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Poulin R, Presswell B, Bennett J, de Angeli Dutra D, Salloum PM. Biases in parasite biodiversity research: why some helminth species attract more research than others. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 21:89-98. [PMID: 37182112 PMCID: PMC10172627 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.04.010] [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: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
As the number of known and described parasite species grows every year, one might ask: how much do we actually know about these species beyond the fact they exist? For free-living taxa, research effort is biased toward a small subset of species based on their properties or human-centric factors. Here, using a large data set on over 2500 helminth parasite species described in the past two decades, we test the importance of several predictors on two measures of research effort: the number of times a species description is cited following its publication, and the number of times a species' name is mentioned in the scientific literature. Our analysis highlights some taxonomic biases: for instance, descriptions of acanthocephalans and nematodes tend to receive more citations than those of other helminths, and species of cestodes are less frequently mentioned in the literature than other helminths. We also found that helminths infecting host species of conservation concern receive less research attention, perhaps because of the constraints associated with research on threatened animals, while those infecting host species of human use receive greater research effort. Intriguingly, we found that species originally described by many co-authors subsequently attract more research effort than those described by one or few authors, and that research effort correlates negatively with the human population size of the country where a species was discovered, but not with its economic strength, measured by its gross domestic product. Overall, our findings reveal that we have conducted very little research, or none at all, on the majority of helminth parasite species following their discovery. The biases in study effort we identify have serious implications for future research into parasite biodiversity and conservation.
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Lambert JP, Zhang X, Shi K, Riordan P. The pikas of China: a review of current research priorities and challenges for conservation. Integr Zool 2023; 18:110-128. [PMID: 34937133 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12615] [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] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Of the approximately 30 extant species of pika (Ochotona; Ochotonidae; Lagomorpha), at least 23 occur in China. Of these, 8 are endemic, and 3 are classified as Endangered by the IUCN. Research into most Chinese species is scarce, and there is much to learn about basic aspects of their ecology. We reviewed the literature on the 23 Chinese Ochotona species, with the aim of highlighting knowledge gaps and biases in research allocation. Specifically, we identify (1) which pika species receive the most attention from researchers, (2) which topics are the most frequently studied, and (3) how well research satisfies conservation priorities. We covered a total of 879 articles, most of which were written in English or Chinese. Around 75% of all publications focused on the plateau pika Ochotona curzoniae. Seven species were represented by 10 or fewer publications each. Endangered and endemic species were particularly poorly represented. 204 papers treated pikas as a pest, while 13 studied conservation issues. Nine species were considered possible targets for pest control, including some poorly known endemics. We make some recommendations on how research into Chinese Ochotona could be improved, including: (1) recognizing that the current species-level taxonomy may be an ineffective way to prioritize conservation research in Ochotona, (2) directing more research toward threatened and endemic species, subspecies, and populations, (3) researching the ecosystem engineering effects of pikas, (4) collecting basic data on natural history of the many understudied species, and (5) researching threats, including climate change and pest control campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph P Lambert
- Wildlife Institute, School of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Kun Shi
- Wildlife Institute, School of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.,Eco-Bridge Continental, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Philip Riordan
- Wildlife Institute, School of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.,Marwell Wildlife, Winchester, Hampshire, UK
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Tanalgo KC, Oliveira HFM, Hughes AC. Mapping global conservation priorities and habitat vulnerabilities for cave-dwelling bats in a changing world. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 843:156909. [PMID: 35753458 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Research and media attention is disproportionately focused on taxa and ecosystems perceived as charismatic, while other equally diverse systems such as caves and subterranean ecosystems are often neglected in biodiversity assessments and prioritisations. Highlighting the urgent need for protection, an especially large fraction of cave endemic species may be undescribed. Yet these more challenging systems are also vulnerable, with karsts for example losing a considerable proportion of their area each year. Bats are keystone to cave ecosystems making them potential surrogates to understand cave diversity patterns and identify conservation priorities. On a global scale, almost half (48 %) of known bat species use caves for parts of their life histories, with 32 % endemic to a single country, and 15 % currently threatened. We combined global analysis of cave bats from the IUCN spatial data with site-specific analysis of 1930 bat caves from 46 countries to develop global priorities for the conservation of the most vulnerable subterranean ecosystems. Globally, 28 % of caves showed high bat diversity and were highly threatened. The highest regional concentration of conservation priority caves was in the Palearctic and tropical regions (except the Afrotropical, which requires more intensive cave data sampling). Our results further highlight the importance of prioritising bat caves by incorporating locally collected data and optimising parameter selection (i.e., appropriate landscape features and threats). Finally, to protect and conserve these ecosystems it is crucial that we use frameworks such as this to identify priorities in species and habitat-level and map vulnerable underground habitats with the highest biodiversity and distinctiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krizler C Tanalgo
- Landscape Ecology Group, Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, PR China; Center for Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, PR China; International College of the University Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China; Zukunftskolleg and the Centre for Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, Baden-Württemberg, Konstanz, Germany; Ecology and Conservation Research Laboratory (Eco/Con Lab), Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, North Cotabato, Philippines.
| | | | - Alice Catherine Hughes
- Landscape Ecology Group, Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, PR China; Center for Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, PR China; International College of the University Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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Tam J, Lagisz M, Cornwell W, Nakagawa S. Quantifying research interests in 7,521 mammalian species with h-index: a case study. Gigascience 2022; 11:6665406. [PMID: 35962776 PMCID: PMC9375528 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giac074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Taxonomic bias is a known issue within the field of biology, causing scientific knowledge to be unevenly distributed across species. However, a systematic quantification of the research interest that the scientific community has allocated to individual species remains a big data problem. Scalable approaches are needed to integrate biodiversity data sets and bibliometric methods across large numbers of species. The outputs of these analyses are important for identifying understudied species and directing future research to fill these gaps. FINDINGS In this study, we used the species h-index to quantity the research interest in 7,521 species of mammals. We tested factors potentially driving species h-index, by using a Bayesian phylogenetic generalized linear mixed model (GLMM). We found that a third of the mammals had a species h-index of zero, while a select few had inflated research interest. Further, mammals with higher species h-index had larger body masses; were found in temperate latitudes; had their humans uses documented, including domestication; and were in lower-risk International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List categories. These results surprisingly suggested that critically endangered mammals are understudied. A higher interest in domesticated species suggested that human use is a major driver and focus in mammalian scientific literature. CONCLUSIONS Our study has demonstrated a scalable workflow and systematically identified understudied species of mammals, as well as identified the likely drivers of this taxonomic bias in the literature. This case study can become a benchmark for future research that asks similar biological and meta-research questions for other taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Tam
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Malgorzata Lagisz
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Will Cornwell
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
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Langlois J, Guilhaumon F, Baletaud F, Casajus N, De Almeida Braga C, Fleuré V, Kulbicki M, Loiseau N, Mouillot D, Renoult JP, Stahl A, Stuart Smith RD, Tribot AS, Mouquet N. The aesthetic value of reef fishes is globally mismatched to their conservation priorities. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001640. [PMID: 35671265 PMCID: PMC9173608 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Reef fishes are closely connected to many human populations, yet their contributions to society are mostly considered through their economic and ecological values. Cultural and intrinsic values of reef fishes to the public can be critical drivers of conservation investment and success, but remain challenging to quantify. Aesthetic value represents one of the most immediate and direct means by which human societies engage with biodiversity, and can be evaluated from species to ecosystems. Here, we provide the aesthetic value of 2,417 ray-finned reef fish species by combining intensive evaluation of photographs of fishes by humans with predicted values from machine learning. We identified important biases in species’ aesthetic value relating to evolutionary history, ecological traits, and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) threat status. The most beautiful fishes are tightly packed into small parts of both the phylogenetic tree and the ecological trait space. In contrast, the less attractive fishes are the most ecologically and evolutionary distinct species and those recognized as threatened. Our study highlights likely important mismatches between potential public support for conservation and the species most in need of this support. It also provides a pathway for scaling-up our understanding of what are both an important nonmaterial facet of biodiversity and a key component of nature’s contribution to people, which could help better anticipate consequences of species loss and assist in developing appropriate communication strategies. The most beautiful reef fish are tightly packed into small regions of both the phylogenetic tree and the ecological trait space of the world’s reef fish fauna and are less threatened than unattractive fish. This study highlights likely important mismatches between potential public support for conservation and the species most in need of this support.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - François Guilhaumon
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
- UMR 9220 ENTROPIE, IRD, Université de la Réunion, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, IFREMER, CNRS, La Réunion, France
| | - Florian Baletaud
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Valentine Fleuré
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Nicolas Loiseau
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - David Mouillot
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, 1 rue Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Julien P. Renoult
- CEFE, UMR 5175, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, University Paul Valery Montpellier, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Aliénor Stahl
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Rick D. Stuart Smith
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Anne-Sophie Tribot
- MIO, Univ Aix-Marseille, Univ Toulon, CNRS, IRD, Marseille, France
- UMR TELEMMe, Univ Aix-Marseille, CNRS, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Nicolas Mouquet
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
- FRB–CESAB, Montpellier, France
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Abstract
Carnivore population declines are a time-sensitive global challenge in which mitigating decreasing populations requires alignment of applied practice and research priorities. However, large carnivore conservation is hindered by gaps among research, conservation practice and policy formation. One potential driver of this research–implementation gap is research bias towards charismatic species. Using depredation of livestock by large carnivores in sub-Saharan Africa as a case study, we examined whether taxonomic bias could be detected and explored the potential effects of such a bias on the research–implementation gap. Via a literature review, we compared the central large carnivore species in research to the species identified as the primary livestock depredator. We detected a substantial misalignment between these factors for two species. Spotted hyaenas Crocuta crocuta were the most common depredator of livestock (58.5% of studies), but were described as a central species among only 20.7% of the studies. In comparison, African lions Panthera leo were the most common central species (45% of studies) but were the primary depredator in just 24.4% of studies. Such patterns suggest that taxonomic bias is prevalent within this research. Although spotted hyaenas may depredate livestock most often, their low charisma in comparison to sympatric species such as the African lion and leopard Panthera pardus may be limiting research-informed conservation efforts for them. Efforts to mitigate human-carnivore conflict designed for one species may not be applicable to another co-occurring species, and thus, taxonomic bias could undermine the efficacy of interventions built to reduce livestock depredation by carnivores.
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Ellison G, Jones M, Cain B, Bettridge CM. Taxonomic and geographic bias in 50 years of research on the behaviour and ecology of galagids. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261379. [PMID: 34910792 PMCID: PMC8673608 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying knowledge gaps and taxonomic and geographic bias in the literature is invaluable for guiding research towards a more representative understanding of animal groups. Galagids are nocturnal African primates and, for many species, detailed information on their behaviour and ecology is unavailable. To identify gaps and bias in the literature we reviewed published peer-reviewed research articles on galagid behaviour and ecology over a 50-year period from January 1971 to December 2020. Using the Web of Science and Google Scholar databases, we identified 758 articles, assessed 339 full texts for eligibility and included 211 in the review. Species of Otolemur have been extensively researched in comparison to other genera (78.2% of studies; Euoticus: 13.3% of studies; Galago: 66.4% of studies; Galagoides: 20.9% of studies; Paragalago: 22.3% of studies; Sciurocheirus: 15.2% of studies). The most common category of research was physiology (55.0% of studies), followed by behavioural ecology (47.4% of studies), and fewer studies were on genetics and taxonomy (16.1% of studies) and habitat and distribution (14.2% of studies). Text mining revealed that the word 'behaviour' was the most common word used in abstracts and keywords, and few words were related to ecology. Negative binomial regression revealed that mean body mass and geographic range size were significant positive predictors of the total number of scientific outputs on each species. Research on wild populations was carried out in only 24 (60%) of the 40 countries galagids are thought to inhabit. Studies were undertaken in locations with lower mean annual temperatures and higher human population densities over warmer and less populated areas. We encourage a more equal sampling effort both taxonomically and geographically that in particular addresses the paucity of research on smaller species and those with restricted ranges. Research on in situ populations, especially in warmer and remote areas, is urgently needed, particularly in West, Central and some Southern African countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Ellison
- Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Jones
- Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Bradley Cain
- Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline M. Bettridge
- Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Barbero S, Teta P, Cassini GH. A comprehensive review of dietary strategies of sigmodontine rodents of central-eastern Argentina: linking diet, body mass, and stomach morphology. CAN J ZOOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2021-0042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Information on dietary ecology plays a key role in a wide array of biological research and conservation decisions, but its availability is biased towards large and charismatic taxa, whereas small mammals are underrepresented. Of the scarce publications on the Neotropical sigmodontine rodents, most are concentrated in central-eastern Argentina and, up until now, no revision of the totality of these data has been made available. In this work, we performed a thorough review of the dietary information from over 50 publications on 22 species, finding omissions and errors propagated up to the present time. This resulted in a robust database, the proposal of a posteriori dietary categories, and a list of the species that have been neglected in feeding ecology research. In turn, we used that database to test whether the patterns which associate diet and morphology in medium-sized and large mammals could be replicated in these small rodents, despite their overall generalist habits and the restrictions characteristic to their size. We found that larger species tend towards a low-protein diet. Additionally, we identified some stomach types that are restricted to specific diets. These results are consistent with the observations for larger species and shed light on the biology of small mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofía Barbero
- División Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Avenida Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo Teta
- División Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Avenida Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guillermo H. Cassini
- División Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Avenida Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Nacional de Luján, Ruta 5 y Avenida Constitución s/n, Luján (6700), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Lavadinović VM, Islas CA, Chatakonda MK, Marković N, Mbiba M. Mapping the Research Landscape on Poaching: A Decadal Systematic Review. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.630990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Poaching is a widespread activity that affects wildlife management goals and undermines conservation efforts worldwide. Despite its complexity, poaching is still commonly addressed by researchers as a one-dimensional phenomenon. To deepen the scientific understanding of poaching, we conducted a systematic literature review in the Web of Science and Scopus databases for the last 10 years, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses methodology. We found that most studies were carried out in Africa, although 43% of all articles on poaching were published by researchers from the United States and the United Kingdom. The most studied species are elephants (22%), rhinos (19%), wolves (9%), and bears (6%). Although this study identified a wide range of motives and drivers behind poaching activities, more than half of the analyzed articles do not attempt to provide a deeper understanding of this phenomenon. Its understanding of poaching usually does not go beyond the environmental impact of illegal hunting. Our study’s potential limitations may relate to the focus on exclusively English-language articles and, among them, only those discussing mammal, bird, and reptile species. Our findings indicate that global scientific knowledge on poaching in the last 10 years is biased. There is an imbalance between the developed countries that mostly produce knowledge on poaching (usually from Northern America and Europe) and the developing countries commonly an object of interest. This bias is potentially challenging, as the global scientific knowledge on poaching comes from limited experience based on charismatic species and selective case studies. To overcome this gap and develop a deeper understanding of poaching, the scientific community needs to overcome this bias and address illegal hunting wherever it affects the environment and undermines conservation efforts.
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13
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Moore HA, Dunlop JA, Jolly CJ, Kelly E, Woinarski JCZ, Ritchie EG, Burnett S, van Leeuwen S, Valentine LE, Cowan MA, Nimmo DG. A brief history of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus): a systematic review. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/am21002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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14
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Egan SL, Taylor CL, Austen JM, Banks PB, Northover AS, Ahlstrom LA, Ryan UM, Irwin PJ, Oskam CL. Haemoprotozoan surveillance in peri-urban native and introduced wildlife from Australia. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2021; 1:100052. [PMID: 35284862 PMCID: PMC8906138 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2021.100052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Siobhon L. Egan
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
- Corresponding author.
| | - Casey L. Taylor
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Camperdown, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Jill M. Austen
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Peter B. Banks
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Camperdown, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Amy S. Northover
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Liisa A. Ahlstrom
- Elanco Animal Health, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, 2113, Australia
| | - Una M. Ryan
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Peter J. Irwin
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Charlotte L. Oskam
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
- Corresponding author.
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Lenda M, Skórka P, Mazur B, Sutherland W, Tryjanowski P, Moroń D, Meijaard E, Possingham HP, Wilson KA. Effects of amusing memes on concern for unappealing species. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2020; 34:1200-1209. [PMID: 32348597 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
There is limited knowledge of the mechanisms that can inspire people's concern and engagement in the protection of unpopular and unappealing species. We analyzed Polish people's interest in themed internet memes featuring the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) and the consequences of this interest for conservation marketing. We examined Google Trends data, used Google Search, and searched popular media materials to estimate interest in the proboscis monkey in Poland. Photos of the proboscis monkey when presented with humor in internet memes attracted as much interest as usually more popular species (e.g., koala, panda, and orangutan) used in marketing by nongovernmental organizations. Amusing internet memes spread by social media positively correlated with increasing interest in the unappealing species, such as proboscis monkey. Interest in amusing internet memes positively correlated with individuals' decisions to donate to 6 crowdfunding actions. Thus, conservation marketing that includes amusing memes and social media may provide a worthwhile complement to traditional campaigns and are likely to influence individuals who are unaffected by the usual means.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Lenda
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Mickiewicza 33, Kraków, 31-120, Poland
| | - Pjoter Skórka
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Mickiewicza 33, Kraków, 31-120, Poland
| | - Błażej Mazur
- Department of Empirical Analyses of Economic Stability, Cracow University of Economics, Rakowicka 27, Cracow, 31-510, Poland
| | - William Sutherland
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, U.K
| | - Piotr Tryjanowski
- Institute of Zoology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, 60-625, Poland
| | - Dawid Moroń
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Slawkowska 17, Krakow, 31-016, Poland
| | - Erik Meijaard
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Borneo Futures, Block C, Unit C8, Second Floor, Lot 51461, Kg Kota Batu, Mukim Kota Batu, Negara, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Hugh P Possingham
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- The Nature Conservancy, 4245 Fairfax Dr., #100, Arlington, VA, 22203, U.S.A
| | - Kerrie A Wilson
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
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Silva AFD, Malhado AC, Correia RA, Ladle RJ, Vital MV, Mott T. Taxonomic bias in amphibian research: Are researchers responding to conservation need? J Nat Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2020.125829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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17
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Santos JW, Correia RA, Malhado ACM, Campos‐Silva JV, Teles D, Jepson P, Ladle RJ. Drivers of taxonomic bias in conservation research: a global analysis of terrestrial mammals. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J. W. Santos
- Institute of Biological Science and Health Federal University of Alagoas Maceió Brazil
| | - R. A. Correia
- Institute of Biological Science and Health Federal University of Alagoas Maceió Brazil
- Department of Geosciences and Geography Helsinki Lab of Interdisciplinary Conservation Science University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
- Helsinki Institute for Sustainability Science University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - A. C. M. Malhado
- Institute of Biological Science and Health Federal University of Alagoas Maceió Brazil
| | - J. V. Campos‐Silva
- Institute of Biological Science and Health Federal University of Alagoas Maceió Brazil
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management Norwegian University of Life Sciences Ås Norway
| | - D. Teles
- Institute of Biological Science and Health Federal University of Alagoas Maceió Brazil
| | | | - R. J. Ladle
- Institute of Biological Science and Health Federal University of Alagoas Maceió Brazil
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Srivathsan A, Nagarajan N, Meier R. Boosting natural history research via metagenomic clean-up of crowdsourced feces. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000517. [PMID: 31697678 PMCID: PMC6863569 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Biodiversity is in crisis due to habitat destruction and climate change. The conservation of many noncharismatic species is hampered by the lack of data. Yet, natural history research—a major source of information on noncharismatic species—is in decline. We here suggest a remedy for many mammal species, i.e., metagenomic clean-up of fecal samples that are “crowdsourced” during routine field surveys. Based on literature data, we estimate that this approach could yield natural history information for circa 1,000 species within a decade. Metagenomic analysis would simultaneously yield natural history data on diet and gut parasites while enhancing our understanding of host genetics, gut microbiome, and the functional interactions between traditional and new natural history data. We document the power of this approach by carrying out a “metagenomic clean-up” on fecal samples collected during a single night of small mammal trapping in one of Alfred Wallace’s favorite collecting sites. Natural history research is in crisis and non-charismatic species are increasingly ignored; this Community Page article argues and demonstrates that shotgun sequencing of serendipitously obtained faecal samples could reverse this trend for 1000 mammal species within 10 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrita Srivathsan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Niranjan Nagarajan
- Computational and Systems Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore
- School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rudolf Meier
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail:
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Santini L, Butchart SHM, Rondinini C, Benítez‐López A, Hilbers JP, Schipper AM, Cengic M, Tobias JA, Huijbregts MAJ. Applying habitat and population-density models to land-cover time series to inform IUCN Red List assessments. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2019; 33:1084-1093. [PMID: 30653250 PMCID: PMC6767507 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List categories and criteria are the most widely used framework for assessing the relative extinction risk of species. The criteria are based on quantitative thresholds relating to the size, trends, and structure of species' distributions and populations. However, data on these parameters are sparse and uncertain for many species and unavailable for others, potentially leading to their misclassification or classification as data deficient. We devised an approach that combines data on land-cover change, species-specific habitat preferences, population abundance, and dispersal distance to estimate key parameters (extent of occurrence, maximum area of occupancy, population size and trend, and degree of fragmentation) and hence predict IUCN Red List categories for species. We applied our approach to nonpelagic birds and terrestrial mammals globally (∼15,000 species). The predicted categories were fairly consistent with published IUCN Red List assessments, but more optimistic overall. We predicted 4.2% of species (467 birds and 143 mammals) to be more threatened than currently assessed and 20.2% of data deficient species (10 birds and 114 mammals) to be at risk of extinction. Incorporating the habitat fragmentation subcriterion reduced these predictions 1.5-2.3% and 6.4-14.9% (depending on the quantitative definition of fragmentation) for threatened and data deficient species, respectively, highlighting the need for improved guidance for IUCN Red List assessors on the application of this aspect of the IUCN Red List criteria. Our approach complements traditional methods of estimating parameters for IUCN Red List assessments. Furthermore, it readily provides an early-warning system to identify species potentially warranting changes in their extinction-risk category based on periodic updates of land-cover information. Given our method relies on optimistic assumptions about species distribution and abundance, all species predicted to be more at risk than currently evaluated should be prioritized for reassessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Santini
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Faculty of ScienceRadboud UniversityP.O. Box 9010NL‐6500 GLNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Stuart H. M. Butchart
- BirdLife internationalDavid Attenborough Building, Pembroke StreetCambridgeCB23QZU.K.
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of CambridgeDowning StreetCambridgeCB23EJU.K.
| | - Carlo Rondinini
- Department of Biology and BiotechnologiesSapienza Università di RomaViale dell'Università 3200185RomeItaly
| | - Ana Benítez‐López
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Faculty of ScienceRadboud UniversityP.O. Box 9010NL‐6500 GLNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Jelle P. Hilbers
- PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment AgencyP.O. Box 303142500 GHThe HagueThe Netherlands
| | - Aafke M. Schipper
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Faculty of ScienceRadboud UniversityP.O. Box 9010NL‐6500 GLNijmegenThe Netherlands
- PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment AgencyP.O. Box 303142500 GHThe HagueThe Netherlands
| | - Mirza Cengic
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Faculty of ScienceRadboud UniversityP.O. Box 9010NL‐6500 GLNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Joseph A. Tobias
- Department of Life SciencesImperial College LondonSilwood Park, Buckhurst RoadAscotBerkshireSL5 7PYU.K.
| | - Mark A. J. Huijbregts
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Faculty of ScienceRadboud UniversityP.O. Box 9010NL‐6500 GLNijmegenThe Netherlands
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Gaulke S, Martelli E, Johnson L, Letelier CG, Dawson N, Nelson CR. Threatened and endangered mammals of Chile: Does research align with conservation information needs? CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.99] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Gaulke
- Department of Ecosystem and Conservation SciencesUniversity of Montana Missoula Montana
| | - Enzo Martelli
- Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile
| | - Luke Johnson
- Department of Ecosystem and Conservation SciencesUniversity of Montana Missoula Montana
| | - Carlos G. Letelier
- Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile
| | - Natalie Dawson
- Department of Ecosystem and Conservation SciencesUniversity of Montana Missoula Montana
| | - Cara R. Nelson
- Department of Ecosystem and Conservation SciencesUniversity of Montana Missoula Montana
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21
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Kapitza K, Zimmermann H, Martín-López B, von Wehrden H. Research on the social perception of invasive species: a systematic literature review. NEOBIOTA 2019. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.43.31619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
We conducted a systematic literature review of the current state of research on the social perceptions of invasive species, aiming to provide guidance towards transdisciplinary research and participatory decision making. In order to detect patterns regarding publication trends and factors determining social perceptions of invasive species, we applied qualitative content as well as quantitative data analysis. By applying content analysis, we identified five main categories of influence on the perception of invasive species: ecological conditions, social conditions, values and beliefs, impacts, and benefits. The disciplinary focus of the research was predominantly interdisciplinary, followed by a social sciences approach. Our review revealed a disproportionate use of quantitative methods in research on social perceptions of invasive species, yet quantitative methods were less likely to identify benefits as factors determining the perception of invasive species. However, without the understanding of perceived benefits, researchers and managers lack the socio-cultural context these species are embedded in. Our review also revealed the geographical, methodological and taxonomic bias of research on perceptions of invasive species. The majority of studies focused on the local public, whereas fewer than half of the studies focused on decision-makers. Furthermore, our results showed differences in the social perceptions of invasive species among different stakeholder groups. Consensus over the definition and terminology of invasive species was lacking whereas differences in terminology were clearly value-laden. In order to foster sustainable management of invasive species, research on social perceptions should focus on a transdisciplinary and transparent discourse about the inherent values of invasion science.
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22
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Ashman KR, Watchorn DJ, Whisson DA. Prioritising research efforts for effective species conservation: a review of 145 years of koala research. Mamm Rev 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kita R. Ashman
- Centre for Integrative EcologySchool of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin University Geelong Victoria 3216 Australia
| | - Darcy J. Watchorn
- Centre for Integrative EcologySchool of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin University Geelong Victoria 3216 Australia
| | - Desley A. Whisson
- Centre for Integrative EcologySchool of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin University Burwood New South Wales 3215 Australia
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23
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Jarić I, Correia RA, Roberts DL, Gessner J, Meinard Y, Courchamp F. On the overlap between scientific and societal taxonomic attentions - Insights for conservation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 648:772-778. [PMID: 30138876 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Attention directed at different species by society and science is particularly relevant within the field of conservation, as societal preferences will strongly impact support for conservation initiatives and their success. Here, we assess the association between societal and research interests in four charismatic and threatened species groups, derived from a range of different online sources and social media platforms as well as scientific publications. We found a high level of concordance between scientific and societal taxonomic attention, which was consistent among assessed species groups and media sources. Results indicate that research is apparently not as disconnected from the interests of society as it is often reproached, and that societal support for current research objectives should be adequate. While the high degree of similarity between scientific and societal interest is both striking and satisfying, the dissimilarities are also interesting, as new scientific findings may constitute a constant source of novel interest for the society. In that respect, additional efforts will be necessary to draw scientific and societal focus towards less charismatic species that are in urgent need of research and conservation attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Jarić
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Na Sádkách 702/7, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Viseslava 1, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Ricardo A Correia
- DBIO & CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Institute of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Av. Lourival Melo Mota, s/n, Tabuleiro do Martins, 57072-90, Maceió, AL, Brazil; School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, United Kingdom
| | - David L Roberts
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology & Conservation, Marlowe Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NR, United Kingdom
| | - Jörn Gessner
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Yves Meinard
- Université Paris Dauphine, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR7243, Place Lattre de Tassigny, F-75016 Paris, France
| | - Franck Courchamp
- Ecologie, Systématique, and Evolution, Univ. Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91400, Orsay, France
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24
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Smith KJ, Fleming PA, Kreplins TL, Wilson BA. Population monitoring and habitat utilisation of the ash-grey mouse (Pseudomys albocinereus) in Western Australia. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1071/am17061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Although Australia has a diverse native rodent fauna, the population dynamics and habitat requirements of most species have not yet been identified. Effective management for conservation of these species is therefore hindered. The aim of the present study was to investigate the habitat use and population dynamics of the ash-grey mouse (Pseudomys albocinereus) through trapping and radio-tracking in Boonanarring Nature Reserve, Western Australia. Although there was no relationship between capture rate and time since fire, ash-grey mice selected dense understorey vegetation. Burrows (47% of 19 unique daytime locations), Xanthorrhoea spp. (26%), tree hollows (11%), shrubs (11%), and logs were selected as daytime refuges. Mean (±s.e.) short-term home-range size was 1.70±0.97ha (n=9) (maximum=9.15ha). There was some evidence that ash-grey mice may be excluded from favourable habitat by a high abundance of house mice (Mus musculus). Management to prevent declines of ash-grey mice should minimise threats to significant habitat features – areas with dense understorey vegetation, soils suitable for burrowing, grasstrees, hollow logs, and tree hollows. Suitable management strategies include: retention or rehabilitation of remnant vegetation; exclusion of livestock; low-intensity, small-area burns; and control of weeds, introduced predators and Phytophthora cinnamomi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bayu Broto
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology; University of Maine; 5755 Nutting Hall Orono ME 04469 USA
| | - Alessio Mortelliti
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology; University of Maine; 5755 Nutting Hall Orono ME 04469 USA
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26
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Tydecks L, Jeschke JM, Wolf M, Singer G, Tockner K. Spatial and topical imbalances in biodiversity research. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199327. [PMID: 29975719 PMCID: PMC6033392 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid erosion of biodiversity is among the biggest challenges human society is facing. Concurrently, major efforts are in place to quantify changes in biodiversity, to understand the consequences for ecosystem functioning and human wellbeing, and to develop sustainable management strategies. Based on comprehensive bibliometric analyses covering 134,321 publications, we report systematic spatial biases in biodiversity-related research. Research is dominated by wealthy countries, while major research deficits occur in regions with disproportionately high biodiversity as well as a high share of threatened species. Similarly, core scientists, who were assessed through their publication impact, work primarily in North America and Europe. Though they mainly exchange and collaborate across locations of these two continents, the connectivity among them has increased with time. Finally, biodiversity-related research has primarily focused on terrestrial systems, plants, and the species level, and is frequently conducted in Europe and Asia by researchers affiliated with European and North American institutions. The distinct spatial imbalances in biodiversity research, as demonstrated here, must be filled, research capacity built, particularly in the Global South, and spatially-explicit biodiversity data bases improved, curated and shared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tydecks
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biology—Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jonathan M. Jeschke
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biology—Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Max Wolf
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Gabriel Singer
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Klement Tockner
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biology—Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Der Wissenschaftsfond (FWF), Vienna, Austria
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27
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Geyle HM, Woinarski JCZ, Baker GB, Dickman CR, Dutson G, Fisher DO, Ford H, Holdsworth M, Jones ME, Kutt A, Legge S, Leiper I, Loyn R, Murphy BP, Menkhorst P, Reside AE, Ritchie EG, Roberts FE, Tingley R, Garnett ST. Quantifying extinction risk and forecasting the number of impending Australian bird and mammal extinctions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/pc18006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
A critical step towards reducing the incidence of extinction is to identify and rank the species at highest risk, while implementing protective measures to reduce the risk of extinction to such species. Existing global processes provide a graded categorisation of extinction risk. Here we seek to extend and complement those processes to focus more narrowly on the likelihood of extinction of the most imperilled Australian birds and mammals. We considered an extension of existing IUCN and NatureServe criteria, and used expert elicitation to rank the extinction risk to the most imperilled species, assuming current management. On the basis of these assessments, and using two additional approaches, we estimated the number of extinctions likely to occur in the next 20 years. The estimates of extinction risk derived from our tighter IUCN categorisations, NatureServe assessments and expert elicitation were poorly correlated, with little agreement among methods for which species were most in danger – highlighting the importance of integrating multiple approaches when considering extinction risk. Mapped distributions of the 20 most imperilled birds reveal that most are endemic to islands or occur in southern Australia. The 20 most imperilled mammals occur mostly in northern and central Australia. While there were some differences in the forecasted number of extinctions in the next 20 years among methods, all three approaches predict further species loss. Overall, we estimate that another seven Australian mammals and 10 Australian birds will be extinct by 2038 unless management improves.
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29
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Foley CM, Lynch MA, Thorne LH, Lynch HJ. Listing Foreign Species under the Endangered Species Act: A Primer for Conservation Biologists. Bioscience 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/bix027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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30
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Allsop SE, Dundas SJ, Adams PJ, Kreplins TL, Bateman PW, Fleming PA. Reduced efficacy of baiting programs for invasive species: some mechanisms and management implications. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1071/pc17006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
‘Bait-resistance’ is defined as progressive decreases in bait efficacy in controlled pest species populations. Understanding the mechanisms by which bait-resistance can develop is important for the sustainable control of pests worldwide, for both wildlife conservation programs and agricultural production. Bait-resistance is influenced by both behavioural (innate and learned bait-avoidance behaviour) and physiological aspects of the target pest species (its natural diet, its body mass, the mode of action of the toxin, and the animal’s ability to biochemically break down the toxin). In this review, we summarise the scientific literature, discuss factors that can lead to innate and learned aversion to baits, as well as physiological tolerance. We address the question of whether bait avoidance or tolerance to 1080 could develop in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), an introduced predator of significant economic and environmental importance in Australia. Sublethal poisoning has been identified as the primary cause of both bait avoidance and increased toxin-tolerance, and so, finally, we provide examples of how management actions can minimise the risk of sublethal baits in pest species populations.
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Jarić I, Courchamp F, Gessner J, Roberts DL. Data mining in conservation research using Latin and vernacular species names. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2202. [PMID: 27547528 PMCID: PMC4957995 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
In conservation science, assessments of trends and priorities for actions often focus on species as the management unit. Studies on species coverage in online media are commonly conducted by using species vernacular names. However, the use of species vernacular names for web-based data search is problematic due to the high risk of mismatches in results. While the use of Latin names may produce more consistent results, it is uncertain whether a search using Latin names will produce unbiased results as compared to vernacular names. We assessed the potential of Latin names to be used as an alternative to vernacular names for the data mining within the field of conservation science. By using Latin and vernacular names, we searched for species from four species groups: diurnal birds of prey, Carnivora, Primates and marine mammals. We assessed the relationship of the results obtained within different online sources, such as Internet pages, newspapers and social media networks. Results indicated that the search results based on Latin and vernacular names were highly correlated, and confirmed that one may be used as an alternative for the other. We also demonstrated the potential of the number of images posted on the Internet to be used as an indication of the public attention towards different species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Jarić
- Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Franck Courchamp
- Ecologie, Systématique, and Evolution, Univ. Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris Sud (Paris XI) , Orsay , France
| | - Jörn Gessner
- Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries , Berlin , Germany
| | - David L Roberts
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology & Conservation, Marlowe Building, University of Kent , Canterbury , Kent , United Kingdom
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Wardell-Johnson G, Wardell-Johnson A, Bradby K, Robinson T, Bateman PW, Williams K, Keesing A, Braun K, Beckerling J, Burbridge M. Application of a Gondwanan perspective to restore ecological integrity in the south-western Australian global biodiversity hotspot. Restor Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Grant Wardell-Johnson
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, School of Science; Curtin University; GPO Box U1987 Perth WA 6845 Australia
| | - Angela Wardell-Johnson
- Centre for Human Rights Education; Curtin University; GPO Box U1987 Perth WA 6845 Australia
| | - Keith Bradby
- Gondwana Link Ltd; PO Box 5276 Albany WA 6332 Australia
| | - Todd Robinson
- Department of Spatial Sciences, School of Mines; Curtin University; GPO Box U1987 Perth WA 6845 Australia
| | - Philip W. Bateman
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, School of Science; Curtin University; GPO Box U1987 Perth WA 6845 Australia
| | - Kim Williams
- Department of Parks and Wildlife; PO Box 1693 Bunbury WA 6231 Australia
| | | | - Klaus Braun
- ICS Group; 111 Mira Flores Avenue Porongurup WA 6324 Australia
| | | | - Mike Burbridge
- Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute; Curtin University; GPO Box U1987 Perth WA 6845 Australia
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