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Huang RM, van Aarde RJ, Pimm SL, Chase MJ, Leggett K. Mapping potential connections between Southern Africa's elephant populations. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275791. [PMID: 36219597 PMCID: PMC9553058 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Southern Africa spans nearly 7 million km2 and contains approximately 80% of the world’s savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) mostly living in isolated protected areas. Here we ask what are the prospects for improving the connections between these populations? We combine 1.2 million telemetry observations from 254 elephants with spatial data on environmental factors and human land use across eight southern African countries. Telemetry data show what natural features limit elephant movement and what human factors, including fencing, further prevent or restrict dispersal. The resulting intersection of geospatial data and elephant presences provides a map of suitable landscapes that are environmentally appropriate for elephants and where humans allow elephants to occupy. We explore the environmental and anthropogenic constraints in detail using five case studies. Lastly, we review all the major potential connections that may remain to connect a fragmented elephant metapopulation and document connections that are no longer feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan M. Huang
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RMH); (RJA)
| | - Rudi J. van Aarde
- Conservation Ecology Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa
- * E-mail: (RMH); (RJA)
| | - Stuart L. Pimm
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Conservation Ecology Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa
| | | | - Keith Leggett
- Fowlers Gap Arid Zone Research Station, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Fowlers Gap, Australia
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Lassiter E, Garcés O, Higgins K, Baitchman E, Evans M, Guerrel J, Klaphake E, Snellgrove D, Ibáñez R, Gratwicke B. Spindly leg syndrome in Atelopus varius is linked to environmental calcium and phosphate availability. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235285. [PMID: 32598402 PMCID: PMC7323948 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Spindly leg syndrome (SLS) is a relatively common musculoskeletal abnormality associated with captive-rearing of amphibians with aquatic larvae. We conducted an experiment to investigate the role of environmental calcium and phosphate in causing SLS in tadpoles. Our 600-tadpole experiment used a fully-factorial design, rearing Atelopus varius tadpoles in water with either high (80mg/l CaCO3), medium (50mg/l CaCO3), or low calcium hardness (20mg/l CaCO3), each was combined with high (1.74 mg/l PO4) or low (0.36 mg/l PO4) phosphate levels. We found that calcium supplementation significantly improved tadpole survival from 19% to 49% and that low calcium treatments had 60% SLS that was reduced to about 15% at the medium and high calcium treatments. Phosphate supplementation significantly reduced SLS prevalence in low calcium treatments. This experimental research clearly links SLS to the calcium: phosphate homeostatic system, but we were unable to completely eliminate the issue, suggesting an interactive role of other unidentified factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliot Lassiter
- Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panamá
| | - Orlando Garcés
- Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panamá
| | - Kathleen Higgins
- Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panamá
- Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Matthew Evans
- Reptile Discovery Center, Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Jorge Guerrel
- Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panamá
| | - Eric Klaphake
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Donna Snellgrove
- Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom
| | - Roberto Ibáñez
- Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panamá
- Sistema Nacional de Investigación, Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Panama City, Panamá
| | - Brian Gratwicke
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, United States of America
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Wasser SK, Torkelson A, Winters M, Horeaux Y, Tucker S, Otiende MY, Sitam FA, Buckleton J, Weir BS. Combating transnational organized crime by linking multiple large ivory seizures to the same dealer. Sci Adv 2018; 4:eaat0625. [PMID: 30255141 PMCID: PMC6155029 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat0625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Rapid growth in world trade has enabled transnational criminal networks to conceal their contraband among the 1 billion containers shipped worldwide annually. Forensic methods are needed to identify the major cartels moving the contraband into transit. We combine DNA-based sample matching and geographic assignment of tusks to show that the two tusks from the same elephant are often shipped by the same trafficker in separate large consignments of ivory. The paired shipments occur close in time from the same initial place of export and have high overlap in the geographic origins of their tusks. Collectively, these paired shipments form a linked chain that reflects the sizes, interconnectedness, and places of operation of Africa's largest ivory smuggling cartels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel K. Wasser
- Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Box 351800, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Amy Torkelson
- Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Box 351800, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Misa Winters
- Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Box 351800, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Yves Horeaux
- Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Box 351800, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Sean Tucker
- Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Box 351800, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Moses Y. Otiende
- Forensic and Genetics Laboratory, Kenya Wildlife Service, Box 40241-0100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Frankie A.T. Sitam
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, KM10 Jalan Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - John Buckleton
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Box 359461, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Bruce S. Weir
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Box 359461, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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