1
|
Taylor M, Brook B, Johnson C, de Little S. Wildlife Conservation on Private Land: A Social-Ecological Systems Study. Environ Manage 2024; 73:1049-1071. [PMID: 38520553 PMCID: PMC11024003 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-024-01962-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
As human activity accelerates the global crisis facing wildlife populations, private land conservation provides an example of wildlife management challenges in social-ecological systems. This study reports on the research phase of 'WildTracker' - a co-created citizen science project, involving 160 landholders across three Tasmanian regions. This was a transdisciplinary collaboration between an environmental organisation, university researchers, and local landholders. Focusing on mammal and bird species, the project integrated diverse data types and technologies: social surveys, quantitative ecology, motion sensor cameras, acoustic recorders, and advanced machine-learning analytics. An iterative analytical methodology encompassed Pearson and point-biserial correlation for interrelationships, Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) for clustering, and Random Forest machine learning for variable importance and prediction. Taken together, these analyses revealed complex relationships between wildlife populations and a suite of ecological, socio-economic, and land management variables. Both site-scale habitat characteristics and landscape-scale vegetation patterns were useful predictors of mammal and bird activity, but these relationships were different for mammals and birds. Four focal mammal species showed variation in their response to ecological and land management drivers. Unexpectedly, threatened species, such as the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus), favoured locations where habitat was substantially modified by human activities. The research provides actionable insights for landowners, and highlights the importance of 'messy,' ecologically heterogeneous, mixed agricultural landscapes for wildlife conservation. The identification of thresholds in habitat fragmentation reinforced the importance of collaboration across private landscapes. Participatory research models such as WildTracker can complement efforts to address the wicked problem of wildlife conservation in the Anthropocene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Taylor
- College of Sciences and Engineering, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
| | - Barry Brook
- College of Sciences and Engineering, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Christopher Johnson
- College of Sciences and Engineering, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Spadetto L, Gómez-Ramírez P, Zamora-Marín JM, León-Ortega M, Díaz-García S, Tecles F, Fenoll J, Cava J, Calvo JF, García-Fernández AJ. Active monitoring of long-eared owl (Asio otus) nestlings reveals widespread exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides across different agricultural landscapes. Sci Total Environ 2024; 918:170492. [PMID: 38307270 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
The widespread use of anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) poses a worldwide threat to farmland wildlife. These compounds accumulate in tissues of both target and non-target species, potentially endangering both direct consumers and their predators. However, investigations on ARs in blood of free-ranging predatory birds are rare. Here, the long-eared owl (Asio otus) has been used as a model predator to assess AR exposure in different agricultural landscapes from a Mediterranean semiarid region. A total of 69 owlets from 38 nests were blood-sampled over 2021 and 2022, aiming to detect AR residues and explore factors that determine their exposure, such as land uses. In addition, prothrombin time (PT) test was conducted to assess potential effects of AR contamination. Overall, nearly all the samples (98.6 %) tested positive for at least one compound and multiple ARs were found in most of the individuals (82.6 %). Among the ARs detected, flocoumafen was the most common compound (88.4 % of the samples). AR total concentration (ΣARs) in blood ranged from 0.06 to 34.18 ng mL-1, detecting the highest levels in the most intensively cultivated area. The analysis of owl pellets from 19 breeding territories showed relevant among-site differences in the contribution of rodents and birds into the diet of long-eared owls, supporting its high dietary plasticity and indicating AR presence at multiple trophic levels. Moreover, a positive and significant correlation was found between ΣARs and PT (Rho = 0.547, p < 0.001), which demonstrates the direct effect of ARs on free-living nestlings. Our results provide a preliminary overview of AR exposure in a little-studied owl species inhabiting agricultural and rural landscapes. Despite the low detected levels, these findings indicate widespread exposure -often to multiple compounds- from early life stages, which raises concern and draws attention to an ongoing and unresolved contamination issue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Livia Spadetto
- Toxicology Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Pilar Gómez-Ramírez
- Toxicology Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - José Manuel Zamora-Marín
- ULULA Association for Owl Study and Conservation, 30100 Murcia, Spain; Department of Applied Biology, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche, Spain; Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Mario León-Ortega
- ULULA Association for Owl Study and Conservation, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Sarah Díaz-García
- ULULA Association for Owl Study and Conservation, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Fernando Tecles
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis (Interlab-UMU), Veterinary School, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - José Fenoll
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario, IMIDA, 30150 Murcia, Spain
| | - Juana Cava
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario, IMIDA, 30150 Murcia, Spain
| | - José Francisco Calvo
- Department of Ecology and Hydrology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Thomas R, Santodomingo A, Saboya-Acosta L, Quintero-Galvis JF, Moreno L, Uribe JE, Muñoz-Leal S. Hepatozoon (Eucoccidiorida: Hepatozoidae) in wild mammals of the Americas: a systematic review. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:108. [PMID: 38444020 PMCID: PMC10916324 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06154-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study of parasites provides insight into intricate ecological relationships in ecosystem dynamics, food web structures, and evolution on multiple scales. Hepatozoon Eucoccidiorida: Hepatozoidae) is a genus of protozoan hemoparasites with heteroxenous life cycles that switch infections between vertebrates and blood-feeding invertebrates. The most comprehensive review of the genus was published 26 years ago, and currently there are no harmonized data on the epizootiology, diagnostics, genotyping methods, evolutionary relationships, and genetic diversity of Hepatozoon in the Americas. METHODS Here, we provide a comprehensive review based on the PRISMA method regarding Hepatozoon in wild mammals within the American continent, in order to generate a framework for future research. RESULTS 11 out of the 35 countries of the Americas (31.4%) had data on Hepatozoon, with Carnivora and Rodentia orders having the most characterizations. Bats, ungulates, and shrews were the least affected groups. While Hepatozoon americanum, H. americanum-like, H. canis, H. didelphydis, H. felis, H. milleri, H. griseisciuri, and H. procyonis correspond to the identified species, a plethora of genospecies is pending for a formal description combining morphology and genetics. Most of the vectors of Hepatozoon in the Americas are unknown, but some flea, mite, and tick species have been confirmed. The detection of Hepatozoon has relied mostly on conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the implementation of specific real time PCR for the genus needs to be employed to improve its diagnosis in wild animals in the future. From a genetic perspective, the V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene has been widely sequenced for the identification of Hepatozoon in wild animals. However, mitochondrial and apicoplast markers should also be targeted to truly determine different species in the genus. A phylogenetic analysis of herein retrieved 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences showed two main clades of Hepatozoon: Clade I associated with small mammals, birds, and herpetozoa, and Clade II associated with Carnivora. The topology of the tree is also reflected in the haplotype network. CONCLUSIONS Finally, our review emphasizes Hepatozoon as a potential disease agent in threatened wild mammals and the role of wild canids as spreaders of Hepatozoon infections in the Americas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Thomas
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Adriana Santodomingo
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Liliana Saboya-Acosta
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Facultad de Estudios Ambientales y Rurales, Doctorado en Estudios Ambientales y Rurales, Carrera 7 N 40-62, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Julian F Quintero-Galvis
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- Millenium Nucleus of Patagonian Limit of Life (LiLi), Valdivia, Chile
| | - Lucila Moreno
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Juan E Uribe
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Blanco G, Carrete M, Navas I, García-Fernández AJ. Age and sex differences in pharmaceutical contamination in a keystone scavenger. Environ Res 2024; 251:118592. [PMID: 38442815 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Pharmaceutical contaminants have a recognized negative impact on wildlife health. However, there are still many knowledge gaps on the factors influencing exposure and metabolic processing of compound mixtures as a function of season and individual characteristics such as age and sex. We evaluated age and sex differences in a set of seventeen compounds, including eleven antibiotics, five NSAIDs and caffeine, evaluated by HPLC-MS-TOF analysis in griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) from central Spain. Pharmaceutical cocktails (up to 10 compounds simultaneously) were found in all individuals. Lincomycin was detected in all individuals, and fluoroquinolones were found at high frequencies, while NSAIDs were at low frequencies and concentrations, including flumixin meglumine, which can be lethal to vultures. A higher total number of compounds and sum of concentrations, as well as prevalence and concentration of several of the pharmaceuticals tested was found in females than in males for both nestlings and adults. This is the first study to present evidence of sex differences in the pharmacokinetics of dietary drug contaminants in a vulture species. Chronic exposure to "medications" in entire populations can potentially have sub-lethal health effects that affect fitness differently according to age and sex, with demographic implications for population viability. Specifically, if females have higher mortality after fledging due to high pharmaceutical contamination, this should be considered when modelling the population dynamic of this species for conservation purposes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Martina Carrete
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera, km. 1, 41013, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Isabel Navas
- Toxicology and Forensic Veterinary Service, Department of Socio-Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain; Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Antonio J García-Fernández
- Toxicology and Forensic Veterinary Service, Department of Socio-Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain; Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Taylor M, Davison A, Harwood A. Local Ecological Learning: Creating Place-based Knowledge through Collaborative Wildlife Research on Private Lands. Environ Manage 2024; 73:563-578. [PMID: 37950070 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-023-01907-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife across all land tenures is under threat from anthropogenic drivers including climate change, invasive species, and habitat loss. This study focuses on private lands, where effective management for wildlife conservation requires locally relevant knowledge about wildlife populations, habitat condition, threatening ecological processes, and social drivers of and barriers to conservation. Collaborative socio-ecological research can inform wildlife management by integrating the place-based ecological and social knowledge of private landholders with the theoretical and applied knowledge of researchers and practitioners, including that of Traditional Owners. In privately-owned landscapes, landholders are often overlooked as a source of local ecological knowledge grounded in learning through continuous embodied interaction with their environment and community. Here we report on WildTracker, a transdisciplinary socio-ecological research collaboration involving 160 landholders in Tasmania, Australia. This wildlife-focused citizen science project generated and integrated local socio-ecological knowledge in the research process. The project gathered quantitative and qualitative data on wildlife ecology, land management practices, and landholder learning via wildlife cameras, sound recorders, workshops, questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews. Through this on-going collaboration, landholders, researchers, and conservation practitioners established relationships based on mutual learning, gathering and sharing knowledge, and insights about wildlife conservation. Our project documents how local ecological knowledge develops and changes through everyday processes of enquiry and interaction with other knowledge holders including researchers and conservation practitioners. Qualitative insights derived from the direct experience and citizen science practices of landholders were integrated with quantitative scientific assessments of wildlife populations and habitat condition to produce a novel model of collaborative conservation research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Taylor
- School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
| | - Aidan Davison
- School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Andrew Harwood
- School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Tudor EP, Lewandrowski W, Tomlinson S. Integrating animal physiology into the adaptive management of restored landscapes. Environ Manage 2023:10.1007/s00267-023-01800-5. [PMID: 36781454 PMCID: PMC10372129 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-023-01800-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Global-scale ecological changes and intensifying habitat destruction and have caused alarming declines in wildlife populations, resulting in a great need for concerted efforts towards their conservation. Despite this, animals are frequently overlooked in restoration and management initiatives and therefore populations often do not reassemble following disturbance without re-establishing habitat that meets their abiotic and biotic requirements. However, restoration ecologists broadly lack insight into the physiological mechanisms that can govern the responses of fauna to environmental change and management. Therefore, we conducted a literature search for studies reporting a mechanistic understanding of faunal habitat suitability and selection in restored landscapes to deliver an updated perspective on the integration of animal ecophysiology and restoration ecology. Of the 75,442 studies that we identified discussing ecological restoration in the last 50 years, only 8,627 (11.4%) did so in the context of fauna from which 912 studies (1.2%) examined habitat selection, 35 studies (0.05%) integrated physiology and only 15 studies (0.02%) explored thermal biology, despite temperature being one of the most pervasive drivers of physiological functioning. To combat this, we developed a conceptual framework that can guide restoration ecophysiology and promote innovative, multidisciplinary research through an established adaptive management structure. While physiological tools and approaches are currently underutilised in restoration practice, integrating them into ecological restoration, and environmental management more broadly, will offer exciting new opportunities to describe, explain and predict the responses of fauna to environmental change occurring, and that yet to come.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily P Tudor
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia.
- Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.
| | - Wolfgang Lewandrowski
- Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Sean Tomlinson
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia
- Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Beaman JE, Mulligan C, Moore C, Mitchell D, Narayan E, Burke da Silva K. Resident wild koalas show resilience to large-scale translocation of bushfire-rescued koalas. Conserv Physiol 2023; 11:coac088. [PMID: 36726864 PMCID: PMC9885738 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife translocation is increasingly utilized as a conservation management action, to mitigate the immediate negative effects of habitat loss and fragmentation (e.g. from land clearing or bushfires). Previous research has shown that stress responses can help or hinder survival in translocated wildlife and determine the efficacy of translocation as a conservation action. Yet these translocated animals are only one side of the equation, with translocation also potentially impacting the animals in the recipient population. We measured physiological markers of stress (faecal cortisol metabolite concentrations and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios) and assessed health condition in a wild koala population one year after a major translocation of bushfire-rescued koalas on Kangaroo Island. We expected to find a high population density at the site (>0.75 koalas per hectare) and that resident koalas would show signs of chronic stress and ill health as a result of territorial conflict over food trees and reproductive opportunities. In contrast, we found that only one-fifth of the population remaining at the site were translocated koalas. The overall population density was also much lower (0.21 koalas per hectare) than anticipated. With no evidence of mass mortality at the site, we suggest that the majority of translocated koalas dispersed away from the site. Our stress marker measurements did not differ between the wild koalas and a sample of captive (non-display) koalas at the nearby Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park and were generally low compared to other studies. Veterinary examinations found that most koalas were in good body condition with very few diagnostic indicators of systemic ill health. Overall, our results suggest that, if there is adequate landscape-scale habitat connectivity and opportunity for dispersal, translocated koalas are likely to disperse from the site of release, with limited impacts on recipient koala populations at translocation release sites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julian E Beaman
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042
| | - Connor Mulligan
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042
| | - Claire Moore
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042
| | - Dana Mitchell
- Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, 4068 Playford Hwy, Duncan, South Australia 5223
- Kangaroo Island Koala & Wildlife Rescue Centre, 4068 Playford Hwy, Duncan, South Australia 5223
| | - Edward Narayan
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Lawes, Queensland 4343
| | - Karen Burke da Silva
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Gent R, Barbier ID, Atkin SL, Newell-Fugate AE, Swart AC. Ultra-performance convergence chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis of adrenal and gonadal steroid hormones in southern white rhinoceros(Ceratotherium simum simum) faeces and serum. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2023; 1215:123576. [PMID: 36529070 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2022.123576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Steroid hormone analysis is routinely undertaken in the assessment of stress response and reproductive function in the management of both captive and free-ranging wildlife species. Faecal samples have become the preferred sample type for analysis as collection is non-invasive and easily assessable. These investigations are generally aimed at aiding successful translocations, enhanced survival outcomes in captivity and improvement of reproductive rate. Immunoassays are the most common approach in the analysis of hormones, particularly in the case of the southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum). Non-specificity, attributed to structural similarity of steroid metabolites impedes accurate evaluations which can be eliminated by chromatographic techniques which are more specific, selective and provide comprehensive analyses. This study developed and validated three methods using ultra-performance convergence chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for the assessment of classical androgens, progestogens and adrenal steroids, as well as the C11-oxy androgens and C11-oxy progestogens in serum and faeces from white rhinoceros. The limit of detection and quantification were determined for each steroid, parameters such as accuracy (<19.8 % RSD) and precision (<20.2 % RSD) were established with recovery, matrix effect, and process efficiency within acceptable limits. Subsequent analysis of serum and faecal samples from five white rhinoceros identified novel steroids for the first time in this species. In addition to the classical adrenal steroids, the following C11-oxy steroids were detected in faecal samples: 11α-hydroxydihydroprogesterone (168 ng/g), 11α-hydroxyprogesterone (125.9 ng/g), 11β-hydroxyprogesterone (210.2 ng/g) and 11-ketoandrostenedione (3.3-19.6 ng/g) with 11-deoxycortisol being the major glucocorticoid (24.2-67.3 ng/g) together with 21-deoxycortisone (40.7 ng/g) and deoxycorticosterone (7.6-14.6 ng/g). In serum samples 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (0.35-2.34 ng/mL) and 11β-hydroxytestosterone (0.18-1.62 ng/mL) were the predominant androgens with cortisol (5.8-20.5 ng/mL), the predominant glucocorticoid, while corticosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone and aldosterone were also detected. These methods can be applied independently to assess either androgens, progestogens, or adrenal steroid panels or in combination to assess the cohort of gonadal and adrenal steroids in faeces and/or serum, in southern white rhinoceros as well as other wildlife species. Analysis would enable the accurate assessment of reproductive health and stress responses while also distinguishing between stress and distress thus contributing to the conservation of wildlife species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachelle Gent
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
| | - Inge D Barbier
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
| | - Stephen L Atkin
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Bahrain, Adliya, Bahrain
| | - Annie E Newell-Fugate
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, TX 77843, United States
| | - Amanda C Swart
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa; Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Santos SL, De la Fuente MF, Alves RRN. Patterns associated with hunting with dogs in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2022; 18:71. [PMID: 36529782 PMCID: PMC9759908 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-022-00570-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hunting has been an important cultural and subsistence activity for the survival of the human population. In the Brazilian semiarid region (Caatinga), the extreme seasonal changes and socioeconomic conditions have made local people dependent on the natural resources available, including wildlife. Although hunting with dogs can result in higher efficiency for hunters, it can also have implications for game species conservation. METHODS Using an ethnozoological approach (semi-structured questionnaires, free interviews, informal conversations, and free listing technique), this study aimed to analyze the patterns of hunting with dogs activities in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil by characterizing hunters' and hunting dogs' profiles, investigating target and nontarget prey species, hunters' practices, motivations, and perceptions regarding the efficiency of hunting with dogs. RESULTS We found that hunters that use dog assistance were mostly men, of different ages, with an occupation in agriculture, receiving less than a minimum wage, and with a low level of formal education. Hunters use two or more mixed-breed dogs with no clear preference regarding dogs' sex. The motivations for hunting with dogs included mainly food, sport, and trade. Hunters cited twenty species captured by dogs without distinction between prey's sex and age (14 mammals, 4 birds, and 2 reptiles). Only six of these were mentioned as being target prey when hunting with dogs. From nontarget species, eight carnivores are usually left at the site of kill, as they have no use to the hunters. Hunters perceived that hunting with dogs could be three times more efficient than hunting without dogs. CONCLUSION Overall, hunting with dogs represents a complex set of local variables, including characteristics of dogs and prey species, hunters' motivations, and practices that should be considered according to each particular situation. Considering the human dependence on natural resources in the semiarid region, hunters should be included in wildlife management debates to mitigate the threat to game species while allowing sustainable hunting practices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiana Lima Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
| | - María Fernanda De la Fuente
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Etnobiologia e Conservação da Natureza, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, 58019-753, Brazil.
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Rodger JC, Clulow J. Resetting the paradigm of reproductive science and conservation. Anim Reprod Sci 2022; 246:106911. [PMID: 34955327 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In the application of reproductive science to conservation breeding, it has long been assumed that artificial insemination using frozen thawed sperm would be the default technology. This has always been problematic considering the wide range of tolerance to freeze thawing among vertebrate sperm. Furthermore, those providing leadership for genome banking should be proactive to preserve maximum genetic diversity, however, for many species there is little or no sperm motility after thawing of cryopreserved sperm. In this review article, there is the contention that a much wider range of tissues should be banked, and the range of evolving advanced reproductive and developmental technologies should be considered for conservation breeding programs, to realize the maximum opportunities of genome banking to contribute to conservation of animal species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John C Rodger
- FAUNA Research Alliance, PO Box 5092, Kahibah, NSW, Australia; Conservation Science Research Group, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
| | - John Clulow
- FAUNA Research Alliance, PO Box 5092, Kahibah, NSW, Australia; Conservation Science Research Group, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kerry RG, Montalbo FJP, Das R, Patra S, Mahapatra GP, Maurya GK, Nayak V, Jena AB, Ukhurebor KE, Jena RC, Gouda S, Majhi S, Rout JR. An overview of remote monitoring methods in biodiversity conservation. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2022; 29:80179-80221. [PMID: 36197618 PMCID: PMC9534007 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23242-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Conservation of biodiversity is critical for the coexistence of humans and the sustenance of other living organisms within the ecosystem. Identification and prioritization of specific regions to be conserved are impossible without proper information about the sites. Advanced monitoring agencies like the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) had accredited that the sum total of species that are now threatened with extinction is higher than ever before in the past and are progressing toward extinct at an alarming rate. Besides this, the conceptualized global responses to these crises are still inadequate and entail drastic changes. Therefore, more sophisticated monitoring and conservation techniques are required which can simultaneously cover a larger surface area within a stipulated time frame and gather a large pool of data. Hence, this study is an overview of remote monitoring methods in biodiversity conservation via a survey of evidence-based reviews and related studies, wherein the description of the application of some technology for biodiversity conservation and monitoring is highlighted. Finally, the paper also describes various transformative smart technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and/or machine learning algorithms for enhanced working efficiency of currently available techniques that will aid remote monitoring methods in biodiversity conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rout George Kerry
- Department of Biotechnology, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751004 India
| | | | - Rajeswari Das
- Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, School of Agriculture, GIET University, Gunupur, Rayagada, Odisha 765022 India
| | - Sushmita Patra
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Directorate of Foot and Mouth Disease-International Centre for Foot and Mouth Disease, Arugul, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 752050 India
| | | | - Ganesh Kumar Maurya
- Zoology Section, Mahila MahaVidyalya, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005 India
| | - Vinayak Nayak
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Directorate of Foot and Mouth Disease-International Centre for Foot and Mouth Disease, Arugul, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 752050 India
| | - Atala Bihari Jena
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | | | - Ram Chandra Jena
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751004 India
| | - Sushanto Gouda
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796009 India
| | - Sanatan Majhi
- Department of Biotechnology, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751004 India
| | - Jyoti Ranjan Rout
- School of Biological Sciences, AIPH University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 752101 India
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Musa F, Darman D. The Contingent Valuation Method contributes solutions for wildlife conservation: A case study at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Borneo, Malaysia. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022; 18:1174-1186. [PMID: 35765932 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Deforestation is an alarming issue that is prolific throughout world forests. Endemic fauna, flora, and wildlife habitat loss are serious concerns for world heritage. That is why Goal 15 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promotes the conserved use of these natural resources. Sabah, Malaysia is fortunate to have "Orang Hutan" literally "Jungle People" in the Sepilok Forest area. The government had designated the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre as their safeguard. Indeed, this is the world's first Rehabilitation Centre for Orangutans. However, the wildlife conservation of Orangutans needs to be translated into economic values. This study aims to determine the economic valuation of wildlife conservation through visitors' Willingness to Pay (WTP) via applying the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). A total of 143 questionnaires were distributed randomly to international and local visitors. The Logistic Regression was used to estimate the Mean WTP. Results showed that several significant sociodemographic variables influence the respondents' WTP. Nevertheless, most respondents were willing to pay a maximum of MYR16.73, while the mean was MYR7.27 only. In 2017, the estimated annual economic value of the Rehabilitation Centre was MYR9, 697 074.96 compared to the estimated conservation value of MYR96, 970 749.60. The findings of this study demonstrate the possible beneficial role of economic valuation in assisting not just Orangutan conservation but threatened species conservation elsewhere. The study has assisted the Centre's management in determining the appropriate entrance fees for the future, as they have not been revised in over a decade. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:1174-1186. © 2022 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fazilah Musa
- Faculty of Tropical Forestry, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Damri Darman
- Faculty of Tropical Forestry, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Perles L, de Macedo GC, Barreto WTG, Francisco GV, Herrera HM, Barros-Battesti DM, Machado RZ, André MR. Longitudinal dynamics and health impact of Hepatozoon procyonis (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) on naturally infected ring-tailed coatis Nasua nasua (Carnivora: Procyonidae) from Midwestern Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:101982. [PMID: 35716428 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to morphologically and molecularly detect Hepatozoon procyonis in ring-tailed coatis' (Nasua nasua) blood and associated ticks from central-western Brazil, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul state and also evaluate the impact of the protozoa in blood parameters and coati´s health. Samplings were performed in a conservation area Parque Estadual do Prosa (PEP) and in a Brazilian Air Force Private Area namely Vila da Base Aérea (VBA), between March 2018 and April 2019. We collected 165 blood samples, 61 from recaptured coatis. Peripheral blood smears were stained with Romanovsky-type stain for H. procyonis parasitemia assessment. DNA extracted from blood samples and ticks (Amblyomma spp.) were submitted to a nested PCR (nPCR) assay based on the 18S rRNA gene for Hepatozoon spp. Out of 104 individuals sampled, 80 (77%) were positive for H. procyonis in at least one capture. Overall, 67/165 (40.6%) blood smears showed H. procyonis gametocytes (PEP: 41/63 - 65%; VBA: 26/102 - 25.5%). Parasitemia based on 500 assessed leucocytes ranged from 1 (0.2%) to 50 (10%) and 1 (0.2%) to 25 (5%), from animals sampled in PEP and VBA, respectively. Fluctuation on the parasitemia was observed during recaptures. nPCR results showed higher positivity when compared to blood smears, i.e. 112/165 (68%) positive blood samples [PEP: 41/63 (65%), VBA: 26/102 (25.5%)]. In total, 63/248 (25.4%) tick DNA samples were positive at nPCR for Hepatozoon sp., including 32/87 (37%) pools (1 to 10 larvae) of Amblyomma larvae, 21/105 (20%) pools (1 to 5 nymphs) of Amblyomma sculptum nymphs, 9/43 (21%) pools (1 to 5 nymphs) of Amblyomma dubitatumnymphs, and 1/12 (8%) A. sculptum adult female. The partial 18S rRNA sequence from one coati's blood sample and one representative of each positive tick species randomly selected from each area for sequencing (1,000 bp) showed 100% identity with sequences of H. procyonis from GenBank previously detected in coatis. Regarding H. procyonis infection, no statistical differences were obtained when comparing males vs. females (p-value 0.67), immature animals vs. adults (p-value 0.31), rainy vs. dry season (p-value 0.51) and sampling location (p-value 0.42). No noticeable alteration in blood parameters or heath status was observed in parasite animals. H. procyonis circulates in a high prevalence in coatis from central-western Brazil. Parasitemia fluctuates among different coatis' recaptures and apparently the infection has no influence in coatis' hematological and clinical parameters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Perles
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - G C de Macedo
- Laboratory of Parasitic Biology, Environmental Sciences and Farming Sustainability, Dom Bosco Catholic University, Campo Grande 13471-410, MS, Brazil
| | - W T G Barreto
- Post Graduation Program of Ecology and Conservation, Mato Grosso do Sul Federal University, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - G V Francisco
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - H M Herrera
- Laboratory of Parasitic Biology, Environmental Sciences and Farming Sustainability, Dom Bosco Catholic University, Campo Grande 13471-410, MS, Brazil; Post Graduation Program of Ecology and Conservation, Mato Grosso do Sul Federal University, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - D M Barros-Battesti
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - R Z Machado
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - M R André
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Doubleday KF, Rubino EC. Tigers bringing risk and security: Gendered perceptions of tiger reintroduction in Rajasthan, India. Ambio 2022; 51:1343-1351. [PMID: 34697766 PMCID: PMC8931145 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01649-0] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Human-wildlife conflict has been documented to impact some communities heterogeneously, particularly along gender lines (e.g., women experiencing inequitably increased workloads and economic hardship, and decreased physical safety and psychological wellbeing), leading to different attitudes towards wildlife. Despite possible gendered discrepancies, women's perceptions of conservation management are often insufficiently explored, leading to incomplete understandings of conservation dynamics, and unjust conservation policies. In an effort to investigate if and how perceptions of tiger reintroductions are disparate, we conducted focus group discussions with women and men living in and around Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, India. Results demonstrate clear gendered delineations in perceptions, where male participants predominantly focused on economic and ecological benefits, and female participants highlighted threats to personal safety and hidden costs (e.g., potential abuse, dowry concerns). This research underscores the importance of documenting and understanding gendered perceptions of carnivores to achieve the broad community support necessary for successful reintroduction efforts worldwide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kalli F. Doubleday
- Department of Geography and the Environment, University of Texas at Austin, 305 E 23rd St, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Elena C. Rubino
- College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Forestry Building, B213, 110 University Court, Monticello, AR 71655 USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Sánchez-Montoya MM, Gómez R, Calvo JF, Bartonička T, Datry T, Paril P. Ecological values of intermittent rivers for terrestrial vertebrate fauna. Sci Total Environ 2022; 806:151308. [PMID: 34756905 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Rivers are generally considered critical habitats for biodiversity; however, this often ignores the fact that many rivers may run dry and support terrestrial as well as aquatic fauna. Here, we investigated the ecological value of intermittent rivers for terrestrial vertebrates by installing camera traps along rivers subject to varying dry periods in two contrasting European climatic zones. We then analysed i) species presence and behaviours (as a proxy of ecological functions) on perennial and intermittent streams; ii) environmental (hydrological and geomorphological) and anthropogenic factors affecting the frequency of occurrence and number of species recorded; and iii) the importance of hydrological factors as regards ecological functioning. In both study areas, we recorded a higher number of species and individuals along intermittent streams than perennial streams, with highest values in intermittent reaches exhibiting shorter dry periods. Both abundance and species richness were strongly affected by hydrological factors in both study areas, including not only the occurrence but also the duration of the dry period. Dry channels played a key role as migration corridors and as a source of food, being used more frequently than riparian habitats when the river ran dry. Our findings indicate that terrestrial vertebrate fauna benefit from dry phases in rivers. Intermittent rivers, supporting a high abundance and diversity of fauna, should be considered as target ecosystems for wildlife conservation. Not doing so will jeopardise urgently needed conservation strategies in the face of accelerating global climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María Mar Sánchez-Montoya
- Department of Ecology and Hydrology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain; Department of Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Calle Jose Antonio Novais, 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Rosa Gómez
- Department of Ecology and Hydrology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Jose F Calvo
- Department of Ecology and Hydrology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Tomáš Bartonička
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 61137 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Thibault Datry
- INRAE, UR RiverLy, Centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne, 5 rue de la Doua CS70077, 69626 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Petr Paril
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 61137 Brno, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Hohbein RR, Nibbelink N, Cooper RJ. Impacts of Decentralized Environmental Governance on Andean Bear Conservation in Colombia. Environ Manage 2021; 68:882-899. [PMID: 34495360 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-021-01532-4] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Decentralized environmental governance has become increasingly common across much of Latin America and in developing countries more generally, yet the impacts of decentralization on wildlife conservation remain unclear. Decentralized environmental governance is thought to improve efficiency, local compliance, and democratic potential of natural resource management. However, wildlife conservation, especially that of large mammals, poses unique challenges in the context of decentralized governance: wildlife conservation is often expensive, requires large expanses of contiguous habitat, and often offers few economic benefits. We analyzed Colombia's decentralized environmental governance and its performance in conserving a contentious and border-crossing wildlife species, the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus). We considered both decentralized institutions and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). This analysis is informed by 67 semi-structured interviews with conservation practitioners in Colombia. We found inconsistent program implementation across the country and little information exchange among institutions. These issues quite likely contribute to exacerbated human-bear conflict and thus more Andean bear deaths suggesting that the successful coordination of large-scale wildlife conservation may yet require the leadership of strong central institutions. A few international NGOs were working to improve Andean bear conservation in Colombia, but we saw little involvement at the national level of Colombian NGOs-some of whom felt they were being unfairly outcompeted by international elites. We recommend a greater engagement with Colombian NGOs (by both donors and international NGOs) as a means through which to ensure the integrity of Andean bear conservation into the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rhianna R Hohbein
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Nathan Nibbelink
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Center for Integrative Conservation Research, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Robert J Cooper
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Soresini G, Aguiar da Silva F, Leuchtenberger C, Mourão G. Total mercury concentration in the fur of free-ranging giant otters in a large Neotropical floodplain. Environ Res 2021; 198:110483. [PMID: 33212135 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The giant otter, Pteronura brasiliensis, (Zimmermann, 1780), is a semiaquatic carnivore that feeds mainly on fish. Mercury has high toxicity and high potential for bioaccumulation in tissues and biomagnification in organisms through food chains. Thus, as a top predator in the trophic chain, the giant otter has the potential to accumulate mercury by biomagnification. The objective of the present study was to measure the total mercury concentration in giant otter fur samples from an area in the southern Brazilian Pantanal. Fur samples from 19 otters from different social groups were collected from captured animals or were sampled with biopsy darts. Total mercury determination was performed by cold steam spectrophotometry. Mercury concentrations found in the giant otter fur were 7.15 ± 3.41 μg g-1 (2.01-12.06 μg g-1) dry weight. The values are above to the upper limit found in fur samples of otter species not exposed to contamination sources, which typically range from 1 to 5 μg g-1. The concentrations found in the study area indicate that even in the southern Pantanal, which is approximately 475 km from gold mining activity, mercury can be considered a threat for giant otters, as well as for riverside populations. It is also important to consider that other anthropogenic sources of mercury, such as pesticides used in agriculture, could affect this population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grazielle Soresini
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Do Sul, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ecologia e Conservação, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde - Cidade Universitária S/n - Caixa Postal 549, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, 79070-900, Brazil.
| | - Fabiano Aguiar da Silva
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Do Sul, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ecologia e Conservação, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde - Cidade Universitária S/n - Caixa Postal 549, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Caroline Leuchtenberger
- Instituto Federal Farroupilha - IFFAR, Coordenação de Ciências Biológicas, Rua Erechim, N° 860, Panambi, Rio Grande do Sul 98280-000, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Mourão
- Embrapa Pantanal, Laboratório de Vida Selvagem - Rua 21 de Setembro, N° 1880, Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, 79320-900, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Rasmussen SL, Kalliokoski O, Dabelsteen T, Abelson K. An exploratory investigation of glucocorticoids, personality and survival rates in wild and rehabilitated hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Denmark. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:96. [PMID: 34022803 PMCID: PMC8141197 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01816-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The European population of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) is declining. It is therefore essential to optimise conservation initiatives such as the rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs. Wild animals placed in captivity may be prone to chronic stress, potentially causing negative health effects. Therefore, the effects of these rehabilitation efforts should consequently be evaluated. Furthermore, hand-raising orphaned hedgehogs is a laborious and costly task, and it is therefore relevant to document whether they have equal post release survival rates compared to their wild conspecifics. The objectives of this research were therefore to conduct an exploratory study of glucocorticoid levels in hedgehogs from different backgrounds and compare the post release survival of translocated, rehabilitated and wild, juvenile hedgehogs as well as the possible effect on survival of differences in shy or bold behaviour (personality) exhibited by individuals. RESULTS We measured glucocorticoid levels in 43 wild-caught (n = 18) and rehabilitated (n = 25) hedgehogs and compared the post release survival and spatial behaviour of 18 translocated juvenile hedgehogs (eight hand-raised and ten wild) until hibernation. The possible effect on survival of differences in shy or bold behaviour (personality) exhibited by 17 juvenile individuals (seven hand-raised and ten wild) was also examined. Rehabilitated individuals and females had higher levels of faecal corticosterone metabolites compared to wild individuals and males, respectively. Rehabilitated individuals showed higher levels of saliva corticosterone than wild. The personality tests labelled 13 individuals as shy and 11 as bold. Post release survival was 57% for rehabilitated and 50% for wild individuals. Neither background nor personality affected post release survival. Home range measures were 3.54 and 4.85 ha. Mean dispersal length from the release sites was 217 ± 100 m. CONCLUSION The higher levels of corticosterone observed in rehabilitated compared to wild hedgehogs calls for consideration of the duration of admission to wildlife rehabilitation centres to reduce stress levels in the patients. Hand-raised juveniles appear to have the same prospects as wild, and personality does not seem to affect post release survival in hedgehogs, indicating that hand-raising of orphaned juvenile hedgehogs is a relevant contribution to the conservation of this species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Lund Rasmussen
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon, OX13 5QL, UK. .,Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej, 7H, 9220, Aaborg, Denmark. .,Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Building 12, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
| | - Otto Kalliokoski
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Torben Dabelsteen
- Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Building 12, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Klas Abelson
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Soto EH, Botero CM, Milanés CB, Rodríguez-Santiago A, Palacios-Moreno M, Díaz-Ferguson E, Velázquez YR, Abbehusen A, Guerra-Castro E, Simoes N, Muciño-Reyes M, Filho JRS. How does the beach ecosystem change without tourists during COVID-19 lockdown? Biol Conserv 2021; 255:108972. [PMID: 36533087 PMCID: PMC9746931 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.108972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Urban tourist beach ecosystems provide the essential service of recreation. These ecosystems also support critical ecological functions where biodiversity conservation is not usually a priority. The sudden lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic created a unique opportunity to evaluate the effects of human absence in these urban-coastal ecosystems. This study examined bioindicators from 29 urban tourist beaches in seven Latin-American countries and assesses their response to lockdown about some relevant anthropogenic stressors such as pollution, noise, human activities, and user density. The presence of animals and plants, as well as the intensity of stressors, were assessed through a standardized protocol during lockdown conditions. Additionally, the environmental conditions of the beaches before and during lockdown were qualitatively compared using multivariate non-parametric statistics. We found notable positive changes in biological components and a clear decrease in human stressors on almost all the beaches. Dune vegetation increased on most sites. Similarly, high burrow densities of ghost crabs were observed on beaches, except those where cleaning activity persisted. Because of the lockdown, there was an exceptionally low frequency of beach users, which in turn reduced litter, noise and unnatural odors. The observed patterns suggest that tourist beaches can be restored to natural settings relatively quickly. We propose several indicators to measure changes in beaches once lockdown is relaxed. Adequate conservation strategies will render the recreational service of tourist beaches more environmental-friendly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E H Soto
- Centro de Observación Marino para Estudios de Riesgos del Ambiente Costero (COSTAR), Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y de Recursos Naturales, Universidad de Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Chile
- Proplayas Network
| | - C M Botero
- Escuela de Derecho, Universidad Sergio Arboleda, Santa Marta, Colombia
- Proplayas Network
| | - C B Milanés
- Universidad de La Costa, Departamento Civil y Ambiental, Barranquilla, Colombia
- Proplayas Network
| | | | | | - E Díaz-Ferguson
- Estación Científica Coiba (Coiba AIP), Ciudad del Saber, Clayton, Panamá
- Proplayas Network
| | - Y R Velázquez
- Centro de Estudios Multidisciplinarios de Zonas Costeras (CEMZOC), Universidad de Oriente, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
- Proplayas Network
| | - A Abbehusen
- Universidade Católica do Salvador, Centro de Ecologia e Conservação animal, ECOA, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Proplayas Network
| | - E Guerra-Castro
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mérida, Yucatán, México
- Laboratorio Nacional de Resiliencia Costera, Laboratorios Nacionales, CONACYT, Mexico
- Proplayas Network
| | - N Simoes
- Laboratorio Nacional de Resiliencia Costera, Laboratorios Nacionales, CONACYT, Mexico
- Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación Sisal (UMDI-SISAL), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Sisal, Yucatán, México
- Proplayas Network
| | - M Muciño-Reyes
- Laboratorio Nacional de Resiliencia Costera, Laboratorios Nacionales, CONACYT, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
- Proplayas Network
| | - J R Souza Filho
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Baiano - IFBAIANO, Bahia, Brazil
- Proplayas Network
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Klich D, Kitowski I, Łopucki R, Wiącek D, Olech W. Essential differences in the mineral status of free-ranging European bison Bison bonasus populations in Poland: The effect of the anthroposphere and lithosphere. Sci Total Environ 2021; 757:143926. [PMID: 33316529 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Tracking the concentration of elements in the organs of endangered animal species can provide significant knowledge about environmental hazards and allows more targeted protective measures to be taken. In this paper the differences in concentrations of 27 elements in the livers of free-ranging European bison were studied. The ICP-OES method was applied to study the four main Polish populations, which live in lowland (Białowieska, Knyszyńska and Borecka forests) and mountain (Bieszczady) habitats. The study was based on a unique and relatively large amount of comparative material. It was found that European bison populations that live in different locations differ from each other in terms of the hepatic concentrations of 17 of the elements studied in this work. The mountain population in Bieszczady was most distinctive due to the higher concentrations of Ba, Ca, Cd, Se, and the lower concentrations of Mo and V (compared to the other populations). Additionally, even geographically close lowland populations sometimes have different hepatic concentrations of particular elements. The sex and age of individuals have a weak effect on mineral status. Although the lithosphere is the primary factor that affects the availability of elements for the European bison, the soil parameters and biosphere can significantly affect the availability of elements, e.g. by accumulation. It was also shown that the anthroposphere plays a role, but this is mainly through agriculture as feeding on arable fields significantly changes the mineral status of European bison. The need for further research, especially on Cd, Se and Cu, was indicated. It was concluded that toxic elements or deficiencies in essential elements in the populations of the studied species should be considered locally as this would allow better understanding of the health condition of individual populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Klich
- Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Ignacy Kitowski
- State School of Higher Education in Chełm, Pocztowa 54, 22-100 Chełm, Poland
| | - Rafał Łopucki
- The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
| | - Dariusz Wiącek
- Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland
| | - Wanda Olech
- Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Chaipipat S, Prukudom S, Sritabtim K, Kuwana T, Piyasanti Y, Sinsiri R, Piantham C, Sangkalerd S, Boonsanong S, Pitiwong K, Pidthong A, Wanghongsa S, Siripattarapravat K. Primordial germ cells isolated from individual embryos of red junglefowl and indigenous pheasants of Thailand. Theriogenology 2021; 165:59-68. [PMID: 33640587 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Interspecific germline chimerism mediated by transplantation of primordial germ cells (PGCs) of wild species to domestic hosts promises the conservation of wild birds. Cryopreservation of avian eggs and embryos is impracticable, and currently only frozen PGCs enable conservation of both the male and female descendants. Purebred offspring have been obtained from germline chimeras of wild avian species, proving the feasibility of such technology. In vitro propagation has been optimized for avian PGCs of domestic species; however, evidence is rather limited for successful isolation as well as long-term culture from a single embryo of wild species. With accelerating biodiversity loss, we have committed to preserving current genetic resources by freezing PGCs isolated from individual embryos in addition to their genetic material. We have devised a reliable protocol for the isolation and proliferation of PGCs from wild fowls in the family Phasianidae that are conserved in captive breeding (red junglefowl, bar-tailed pheasant, kalij pheasant, Siamese fireback pheasant, and silver pheasant). We obtained individual isolates of cultured circulating PGCs (49.7%, 79/155) as well as tissue PGCs (92.9%, 144/155). The specific co-culture conditions of autologous embryonic cells, without additional growth factors, facilitated the proliferation of so-called tissue PGCs (the remaining PGCs in embryonic tissue following blood aspiration). Only circulating PGCs left in blood vessels and of PGCs migrating to developing gonads have been previously reported. However, the present study is the first to report on the harvest of ectopic PGCs. The defined conditions sustained continuous proliferation of tissue PGCs for at least six months and maintained PGC identity following cryopreservation. Cultured tissue PGCs of these wild species were extensively characterized for their expression of the germ cell-specific proteins, chicken vasa homolog (CVH) and deleted in azoospermia-like (DAZL), as well as the ability to colonize chicken embryonic gonads. The novel protocol is practical for generating enough PGCs for cryopreservation, transplantation, and additionally, it enables isolation of PGCs from both blood circulation and embryonic tissue simultaneously. For conservation purposes, this approach is potentially applicable more widely to other non-domestic birds than those in the family Phasianidae that were investigated in the present study.
Collapse
|
22
|
Jayathilake HM, Prescott GW, Carrasco LR, Rao M, Symes WS. Drivers of deforestation and degradation for 28 tropical conservation landscapes. Ambio 2021; 50:215-228. [PMID: 32152906 PMCID: PMC7708588 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-020-01325-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Analysing the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in conservation landscapes can provide crucial information for conservation management. While rates of forest loss can be measured through remote sensing, on the ground information is needed to confirm the commodities and actors behind deforestation. We administered a questionnaire to Wildlife Conservation Society's landscape managers to assess the deforestation drivers in 28 tropical conservation landscapes. Commercial and subsistence agriculture were the main drivers of deforestation, followed by settlement expansion and infrastructure development. Rice, rubber, cassava and maize were the crops most frequently cited as drivers of deforestation in these emblematic conservation landscapes. Landscape managers expected deforestation trends to continue at similar or greater magnitude in the future, calling for urgent measures to mitigate these trends.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H. Manjari Jayathilake
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543 Singapore
| | - Graham W. Prescott
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543 Singapore
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenber-grain 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - L. Roman Carrasco
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543 Singapore
| | - Madhu Rao
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543 Singapore
- Wildlife Conservation Society, 2 Science Park Drive 01 03 Ascent, Singapore, 118222 Singapore
| | - William S. Symes
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543 Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Wright PGR, Newton J, Agnelli P, Budinski I, Di Salvo I, Flaquer C, Fulco A, Georgiakakis P, Martinoli A, Mas M, Mazija M, Mucedda M, Papadatou E, Petrov B, Rodrigues L, Mathews F, Russo D. Hydrogen isotopes reveal evidence of migration of Miniopterus schreibersii in Europe. BMC Ecol 2020; 20:52. [PMID: 32993600 PMCID: PMC7526252 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-020-00321-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Schreiber’s bat, Miniopterus schreibersii, is adapted to long-distance flight, yet long distance movements have only been recorded sporadically using capture-mark-recapture. In this study, we used the hydrogen isotopic composition of 208 wing and 335 fur specimens from across the species' European range to test the hypothesis that the species migrates over long distances. Results After obtaining the hydrogen isotopic composition (δ2H) of each sample, we performed geographic assignment tests by comparing the δ2H of samples with the δ2H of sampling sites. We found that 95 bats out of 325 showed evidence of long-distance movement, based on the analysis of either fur or wing samples. The eastern European part of the species range (Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia) had the highest numbers of bats that had moved. The assignment tests also helped identify possible migratory routes, such as movement between the Alps and the Balkans. Conclusions This is the first continental-scale study to provide evidence of migratory behaviour of M. schreibersii throughout its European range. The work highlights the need for further investigation of this behaviour to provide appropriate conservation strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason Newton
- National Environmental Isotope Facility, Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Glasgow, UK
| | - Paolo Agnelli
- Sistema Museale dell'Università di Firenze, Museo di Storia Naturale, Sede di Zoologia "La Specola", via Romana 17, 50125, Firenze, Italy
| | - Ivana Budinski
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" - National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Carles Flaquer
- Museu de Ciències Naturals de Granollers, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Fulco
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Laboratorio di Zoologia applicata, Università degli Studi di Palermo, via Archirafi 18, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Adriano Martinoli
- Unità di Analisi e Gestione delle Risorse Ambientali, Guido Tosi Research Group, Dipartimento di Scienze Teoriche e Applicate, Universita' degli Studi dell'Insubria,, via J. H. Dunant, 3, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Maria Mas
- Museu de Ciències Naturals de Granollers, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mirna Mazija
- Samostalna djelatnost / Freelance Consultant, Koledinečka 3, 10 040, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | | | | | - Luisa Rodrigues
- Divisão de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas, Lisbon, PT, Portugal
| | | | - Danilo Russo
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Università 100, 80055, Portici (Napoli), Italy
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Oduor AMO. Livelihood impacts and governance processes of community-based wildlife conservation in Maasai Mara ecosystem, Kenya. J Environ Manage 2020; 260:110133. [PMID: 32090829 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Community-based wildlife conservation (CBWC) programmes have been a pervasive paradigm in the conservation circles since the 1970s. The key elements of such programmes are that local communities are given ownership rights or custodianship and management responsibilities over wildlife, and that they gain social and economic benefits from conservation of the resources. However, to date, there have been only a few studies that offer in-depth analyses of the interplay between governance processes and livelihood impacts of CBWC programmes. Here, I conducted key informant interviews and focus group discussions in five wildlife conservancies in the Maasai Mara ecosystem in Kenya to address the following questions: i) What are the perceived impacts of the wildlife conservancies on livelihoods of the local people? ii) To what extent are the wildlife conservancies governed in relation to the principles of environmental governance? I assessed impacts on livelihoods by applying the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework to explore perceived conservancy-related benefits and costs (i.e. perceived changes in social, financial, human, physical, and natural capitals). I assessed governance by asking the respondents whether the following eight principles of environmental governance were applied: legitimacy, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, fairness, integration, capability, and adaptability. Perceived benefits of participating in wildlife co-management were identified as: enhanced income from gainful employment and new business opportunities, membership to cooperative societies and participation in community work (e.g. school bursary and feeding programmes), enhanced social relations, improved access to credit and health facilities, enhanced physical infrastructure (schools, roads and bridges), improved physical security and coordinated sharing of provisioning ecosystem services like pasture and water. The principles of legitimacy, inclusiveness, and integration had reportedly been well implemented in wildlife co-management. However, the institutional mechanisms for sharing resources within the conservancies lacked transparency, accountability, and fairness, and tended to favour those who were politically connected to the leadership of the conservancies. Moreover, most of the conservancies had weak systems and few resources to facilitate delivery on responsibilities (i.e. had low capability), and had some costs associated with human-wildlife conflicts. For an improved co-management of wildlife to be achieved in these conservancies, local institutions should be reconfigured to allow active participation by conservancy landowners in decision-making, information sharing, and equitable access to conservancy-related benefits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ayub M O Oduor
- Department of Applied and Technical Biology, The Technical University of Kenya, P.O Box 52428-00200, Nairobi, Kenya; United Nations Environment Programme - International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP), C/o Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 11A Datun Road, Beijing, 10010, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Guerrero-Casado J, Cedeño RI, Johnston JC, Gunther MS. New records of the critically endangered Ecuadorian white-fronted capuchin (Cebus aequatorialis) detected by remote cameras. Primates 2020; 61:175-9. [PMID: 31915955 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-019-00787-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The Ecuadorian white-fronted capuchin (Cebus aequatorialis) is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List at both international and national levels in Ecuador, and the majority of detections have been recorded from direct observation. In this work, we report the occurrence of this species in a new location in the Coastal Region of Ecuador recorded by remote cameras. Overall, eight separate detections were recorded by three unique cameras from 19 Aug to 10 Dec 2016, over seven individual days, with a detection rate of 1.4 records per 1000 camera days. One additional detection was recorded in a brief remote camera survey conducted in January and February 2018. Only two direct observations were recorded in many visits to the study area over the past several years, suggesting that the use of remote cameras could be an effective method to detect the occurrence of Ecuadorian white-fronted capuchin, particularly in tropical dry forests with low tree coverage.
Collapse
|
26
|
Campos LB, da Silva AM, Praxedes ECG, Bezerra LGP, Gama Lins TLB, Menezes VG, de Matos MHT, Lima GL, Rodrigues APR, Silva AR. Vitrification of collared peccary ovarian tissue using open or closed systems and different intracellular cryoprotectants. Cryobiology 2019; 91:77-83. [PMID: 31639331 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2019.10.193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate different vitrification methods using distinct cryoprotectants (CPAs) for the preservation of collared peccary ovarian preantral follicles (PFs). Ovarian pairs from six females were fragmented and three fragments (fresh control group) were immediately evaluated for morphology, viability, cell proliferation capacity (assessed by quantifying the number of argyrophilic nucleolus organizer regions - NORs), and apoptosis (by the identification of activated caspase-3 expression). The remaining 18 fragments were vitrified using the solid surface vitrification (SSV) method or the ovarian tissue cryosystem (OTC) with 3 M ethylene glycol (EG), 3 M dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), or a combination of the two (1.5 M EG/1.5 M DMSO). After two weeks, samples were rewarmed and evaluated as described previously. The OTC with any of the CPAs provided a similar conservation of morphologically normal PFs as the fresh control group (75.6 ± 8.6%); however, the SSV was only efficient with DMSO alone (63.9 ± 7.6%). Regarding the viability or cell proliferation, all tested groups provided post rewarming values similar to those observed for the fresh control group, 84.0 ± 2.9% viable cells with 2.0 ± 0.2 NORs. Related to apoptosis analysis, only the OTC with EG (46.7%) and the SSV method with EG (43.4%) or the combination of EG and DMSO (33.4%) provided similar values to those found for the fresh control group (36.7%). Our findings indicate the utilization of a closed system, the OTC, with 3 M EG as the CPA for the vitrification of collared peccary ovarian tissue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lívia Batista Campos
- Laboratory of Animal Germplasm Conservation (LCGA), Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - Andréia Maria da Silva
- Laboratory of Animal Germplasm Conservation (LCGA), Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - Erica Camila Gurgel Praxedes
- Laboratory of Animal Germplasm Conservation (LCGA), Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | | | - Thae Lanne Barbosa Gama Lins
- Laboratory of Biotechnology Applied to Ovarian Follicle Development (BIOFOV), Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina, PE, Brazil
| | - Vanúzia Gonçalves Menezes
- Laboratory of Biotechnology Applied to Ovarian Follicle Development (BIOFOV), Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina, PE, Brazil
| | - Maria Helena Tavares de Matos
- Laboratory of Biotechnology Applied to Ovarian Follicle Development (BIOFOV), Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina, PE, Brazil
| | | | - Ana Paula Ribeiro Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Manipulation of Oocytes and Preantral Follicles (LAMOFOPA), Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Rodrigues Silva
- Laboratory of Animal Germplasm Conservation (LCGA), Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Pruvot M, Khammavong K, Milavong P, Philavong C, Reinharz D, Mayxay M, Rattanavong S, Horwood P, Dussart P, Douangngeun B, Theppangna W, Fine AE, Olson SH, Robinson M, Newton P. Toward a quantification of risks at the nexus of conservation and health: The case of bushmeat markets in Lao PDR. Sci Total Environ 2019; 676:732-745. [PMID: 31054417 PMCID: PMC7112076 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Trade of bushmeat and other wildlife for human consumption presents a unique set of challenges to policy-makers who are confronted with multiple trade-offs between conservation, food security, food safety, culture and tradition. In the face of these complex issues, risk assessments supported by quantitative information would facilitate evidence-based decision making. We propose a conceptual model for disease transmission risk analysis, inclusive of these multiple other facets. To quantify several processes included in this conceptual model we conducted questionnaire surveys with wildlife consumers and vendors in semi-urban centers in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR, Laos) and direct observations of consumer behaviors. Direct observation of market stalls indicated an estimated average of 10 kg bushmeat biomass per stall per hour. The socio-demographic data suggested that consumption of bushmeat in urban areas was not for subsistence but rather driven by dietary preference and tradition. Consumer behavioral observations indicated that each animal receives an average of 7 contacts per hour. We provide other key parameters to estimate the risk of disease transmission from bushmeat consumption and illustrate their use in assessing the total public health and socio-economic impact of bushmeat consumption. Pursuing integrative approaches to the study of bushmeat consumption is essential to develop effective and balanced policies that support conservation, public health, and rural development goals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Pruvot
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Health Program, 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460, USA.
| | - Kongsy Khammavong
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Lao PDR Program, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic
| | - Phonesavanh Milavong
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Lao PDR Program, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic
| | | | - Daniel Reinharz
- Institut de la Francophonie pour la Médecine Tropicale, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic; Département de Médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Mayfong Mayxay
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sayapeth Rattanavong
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic
| | - Paul Horwood
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia; Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | | | - Bounlom Douangngeun
- National Animal Health Laboratory, Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Ban Khunta, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic
| | - Watthana Theppangna
- National Animal Health Laboratory, Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Ban Khunta, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic
| | - Amanda E Fine
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Health Program, 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - Sarah H Olson
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Health Program, 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - Matthew Robinson
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Newton
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Spirhanzlova P, Fini JB, Demeneix B, Lardy-Fontan S, Vaslin-Reimann S, Lalere B, Guma N, Tindall A, Krief S. Composition and endocrine effects of water collected in the Kibale national park in Uganda. Environ Pollut 2019; 251:460-468. [PMID: 31103006 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Pesticides are used worldwide with potential harmful effects on both fauna and flora. The Kibale National Park in Uganda, a site renowned for its biodiversity is surrounded by tea, banana and eucalyptus plantations as well as maize fields and small farms. We previously showed presence of pesticides with potential endocrine disruptive effects in the vicinity. To further investigate the water pollution linked to agricultural pressure in this protected area, we implemented a complementary monitoring strategy based on: analytical chemistry, effects based methods and the deployment of Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers (POCIS). Chemical analysis of the POCIS extracts revealed the presence of 13 pesticides: carbofuran, DEET, 2.4-D amine, carbaryl, ametryn, isoproturon, metolachlor, terbutryn, dimethoate, imidacloprid, picaridin, thiamethoxam, carbendazim, with the first three being present in the largest quantities. Water samples collected at the POCIS sampling sites exhibited thyroid and estrogen axis disrupting activities in vivo, in addition to developmental and behaviour effects on Xenopus laevis tadpoles model. Based on our observations, for the health of local human and wildlife populations, further monitoring as well as actions to reduce agrochemical use should be considered in the Kibale National Park and in regions exposed to similar conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Petra Spirhanzlova
- UMR 7221 Evolution of Endocrine Regulations, Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle, 7 Rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - Jean-Baptiste Fini
- UMR 7221 Evolution of Endocrine Regulations, Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle, 7 Rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Barbara Demeneix
- UMR 7221 Evolution of Endocrine Regulations, Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle, 7 Rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Lardy-Fontan
- Laboratoire de Métrologie et D'Essais, 1, Rue Gaston Boissier, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Sophie Vaslin-Reimann
- Laboratoire de Métrologie et D'Essais, 1, Rue Gaston Boissier, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Béatrice Lalere
- Laboratoire de Métrologie et D'Essais, 1, Rue Gaston Boissier, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France
| | | | | | - Sabrina Krief
- UMR 7206 CNRS/MNHN/P7, Eco-anthropologie et D'ethnobiologie, Hommes et Environnements, Muséum National D'Histoire Naturelle, Musée de L'Homme, 17 Place Du Trocadéro, 75016, Paris, France; Great Ape Conservation Project (GACP), Sebitoli Research Station, Kibale National Park, Fort Portal, Uganda
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Carpenter S. A cross-national comparison of the efficacy of community-based and national governance approaches on the protection of the African elephant. J Environ Manage 2019; 231:336-344. [PMID: 30366312 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This study uses a longitudinal cross-national carcass database to analyze the relative effectiveness of community-based and national governance approaches at conserving elephant populations. Controlling for variables previously identified as impacting poaching levels, an increase in land area under either community or national governance is found to be correlated with an increased likelihood of illegal elephant deaths, with community-based governance being associated with an increase roughly twice that of national governance. This finding suggests that community-based governance may be less effective than national governance at protecting commercially valuable wildlife such as elephants, but neither approach has been able to demonstrate sustained success. Consequently, rather than declaring either conservation approach as clearly preferable, policymakers should instead focus on ensuring that selected conservation approaches are tailored to site-specific natural, institutional, and socio-economic characteristics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Carpenter
- School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Abstract
Both survival and reproduction are important fitness components, and thus critical to the viability of wildlife populations. Preventing one death (survival) or contributing one newborn (reproduction), has arguably the same effect on population dynamics-in each instance the population grows or is maintained by one additional member. However, for the conservation of slow-growing animal populations, the importance of reproduction is sometimes overlooked when evaluating wildlife management options. This has to do with the use of demographic sensitivity analyses, which quantify the relative contribution of vital rates to population growth. For slow-growing populations, the results of such analyses typically show that growth rates are more sensitive to changes in survival than to equal proportional changes in reproduction. Consequently, for slow-growing taxa, survival has been labelled a better fitness surrogate than reproduction. However, such a generalization, derived from conventional sensitivity analyses, is based on flawed approaches, such as omitting appropriate scaling of vital rates, and sometimes misinterpretations. In this chapter, I make the case that for the conservation of slow-growing species the role of reproduction is considerably greater than conventional sensitivity analyses would suggest. This is illustrated by case studies on wildlife populations that underscore the importance of reproduction for the conservation of slow-growing birds, ungulates, carnivores, and cetaceans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Manlik
- Biology Department, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. .,Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Petrigh RS, Cafrune MM, Fugassa MH. First mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences of Lamanema chavezi (Nematoda: Molineidae): Novel findings to improve its identification in feces from South American camelids. Parasitol Int 2018; 68:60-62. [PMID: 30342118 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2018.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Lamanema chavezi (Family Molineidae) is a parasitic nematode of South American camelids (SACs). A few studies have reported this parasite in SACs, mainly in domestic camelid species (llama and alpaca). Parasite identification by means of copro-parasitological methods is non-invasive and allows performing epidemiological studies. However, egg misidentification and difficulty to culture third-stage larvae do not allow identifying nematodes to species level. In contrast, molecular tools allow identifying eggs of gastrointestinal nematodes more accurately. However, the little genomic information available in databases for some species prevents an accurate diagnosis. In the present work, L. chavezi females present in feces of llamas from northwestern Argentina were molecularly characterized to obtain genomic information and improve parasitological diagnosis of L. chavezi-like eggs present in guanaco feces from southeastern Argentina. An 833-bp fragment of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and a 434-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene from both L. chavezi females and eggs were amplified and sequenced. Comparison between sequences from females and eggs showed 99-99.6% identity to rDNA and 99.5-96.1% to the cox1 gene fragments, confirming egg morphological assignment. A higher divergence between sequences was observed in the cox1 fragment, with a maximum variation of 3.9%. The examination of eggs found in guanaco feces from southeastern Argentina and their specific molecular identification represent the first record for this host in Argentine Patagonia and contribute to improving the diagnosis of gastrointestinal nematodes in SACs, mainly in wild camelids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Romina S Petrigh
- CONICET - Laboratorio de Parasitología de Sitios Arqueológicos, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Calle Funes 3350, Mar del Plata 7600, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - María M Cafrune
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), CIAP, Instituto de Investigación Animal del Chaco Semiárido, Área de Investigación en Salud Animal - E.E.A. Salta, Ruta Nacional 68 - km 172, A4403 Cerrillos, Salta, Argentina
| | - Martín H Fugassa
- CONICET - Laboratorio de Parasitología de Sitios Arqueológicos, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Calle Funes 3350, Mar del Plata 7600, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Souto WMS, Barboza RRD, Fernandes-Ferreira H, Júnior AJCM, Monteiro JM, Abi-chacra ÉDA, Alves RRN. Zootherapeutic uses of wildmeat and associated products in the semiarid region of Brazil: general aspects and challenges for conservation. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2018; 14:60. [PMID: 30223856 PMCID: PMC6142313 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-018-0259-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hunting wildlife for medicinal purposes is a widespread practice throughout Brazil; however, studies about the animals used for zootherapeutic practices have been performed almost exclusively with traders (herbalists) and end consumers, and not hunters. This makes it difficult to completely understand the market chain, trade strategies, and drivers of this practice. The present study investigated the species hunted or trapped for traditional medicinal uses by collecting data about the use and trade of the zootheurapeutic species. METHODS We collected data through semi-structured questionnaires complemented by free interviews and informal conversations with hunters in five municipalities of semiarid region of the NE Brazil. We calculated the Use-Value (UV) index to determine the relative importance of each species reported by interviewees. The Multiple Linear Regression model was used to assess the influence of socioeconomic factors (age, schooling, residence zone, trade of zootherapeutic species) on species richness exploited by hunters. RESULTS Hunters reported a significant richness of species (n = 39) intentionally or opportunistically captured for use as remedies for treatment of 92 diseases or conditions in humans or livestock. Respondents also reported trade strategies that were well-organized and quickly directed the selling of wild animals or byproducts via modern technology. We found a weak positive relationship only between species richness and hunters' age via MLR model. CONCLUSIONS The hunting and use of wild species for medicinal purposes are culturally disseminated activities among hunters. Our results demonstrate the importance of studying hunters in order to understanding the dynamics of bushmeat exploitation and to develop more efficient strategies for wildlife use and conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wedson Medeiros Silva Souto
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Zoology, Wildlife Use and Conservation (ZUCON), Federal University of Piaui (UFPI), Campus Ministro Petrônio Portella, Teresina, Piaui Zip code/CEP 64049-550 Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Federal University of Paraiba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraiba CEP 58059-970 Brazil
| | - Raynner Rilke Duarte Barboza
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Federal University of Paraiba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraiba CEP 58059-970 Brazil
- Department of Biology, State University of Paraiba (UEPB), Av. Baraúnas n. 351, Campina Grande, Paraiba CEP 58109-753 Brazil
| | - Hugo Fernandes-Ferreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Federal University of Paraiba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraiba CEP 58059-970 Brazil
- State University of Ceara (UECE), Faculdade de Educação, Ciências e Letras do Sertão Central, Quixadá, Ceará CEP 63900-000 Brazil
| | | | - Julio Marcelino Monteiro
- Biological Sciences Course, UFPI, Campus Amílcar Ferreira Sobral (CAFS), Floriano, Piaui CEP 64800-000 Brazil
| | - Érika de Araújo Abi-chacra
- Department of Parasitology and Microbiology (DPM), Federal University of Piaui (UFPI), Campus Ministro Petrônio Portella, Teresina, Piaui Zip code/CEP 64049-550 Brazil
| | - Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves
- Department of Biology, State University of Paraiba (UEPB), Av. Baraúnas n. 351, Campina Grande, Paraiba CEP 58109-753 Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Abstract
In recent years, wildlife conservation has attracted great public attention. However, substantial distinctions can be found in the prevailing concepts of wildlife conservation, particularly with the recent notion that emphasizes animal rights. Wildlife welfare and wildlife rights are not synonymous, with welfare more compatible with the reasonable and legal utilization of wildlife. The key to scientific wildlife conservation is the appropriate awareness and appreciation of the relationship between wildlife conservation and utilization and the theoretical basis of holism. Nevertheless, rational biases regarding the public's understanding of wildlife conservation and the spread of information via social media still exist. As such, expansion of the concept of scientific wildlife conservation requires the application of several measures. Wildlife conservation researchers should be regarded as the most important disseminators of scientifically-based information, with education in schools and universities of growing importance. Furthermore, the media should shoulder the social responsibility for the accurate dissemination of conservation information.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Hong Zhou
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Xiao-Tong Wan
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Yu-Hui Jin
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Verma A, van der Wal R, Fischer A. Microscope and spectacle: on the complexities of using new visual technologies to communicate about wildlife conservation. Ambio 2015; 44 Suppl 4:648-60. [PMID: 26508351 PMCID: PMC4623859 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-015-0715-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife conservation-related organisations increasingly employ new visual technologies in their science communication and public engagement efforts. Here, we examine the use of such technologies for wildlife conservation campaigns. We obtained empirical data from four UK-based organisations through semi-structured interviews and participant observation. Visual technologies were used to provide the knowledge and generate the emotional responses perceived by organisations as being necessary for motivating a sense of caring about wildlife. We term these two aspects 'microscope' and 'spectacle', metaphorical concepts denoting the duality through which these technologies speak to both the cognitive and the emotional. As conservation relies on public support, organisations have to be seen to deliver information that is not only sufficiently detailed and scientifically credible but also spectacular enough to capture public interest. Our investigation showed that balancing science and entertainment is a difficult undertaking for wildlife-related organisations as there are perceived risks of contriving experiences of nature and obscuring conservation aims.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Verma
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Auris, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK.
| | - René van der Wal
- School of Biological Sciences, Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), University of Aberdeen, Auris, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK.
| | - Anke Fischer
- Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Group, James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, Scotland, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Viljoen IM, van Helden PD, Millar RP. Mycobacterium bovis infection in the lion (Panthera leo): Current knowledge, conundrums and research challenges. Vet Microbiol 2015; 177:252-60. [PMID: 25891424 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2014] [Revised: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Mycobacterium bovis has global public-health and socio-economic significance and can infect a wide range of species including the lion (Panthera leo) resulting in tuberculosis. Lions are classified as vulnerable under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and have experienced a 30% population decline in the past two decades. However, no attempt has been made to collate and critically evaluate the available knowledge of M. bovis infections in lions and potential effects on population. In this review we set out to redress this. Arguments suggesting that ingestion of infected prey animals are the main route of infection for lions have not been scientifically proven and research is needed into other possible sources and routes of infection. The paucity of knowledge on host susceptibility, transmission directions and therefore host status, manifestation of pathology, and epidemiology of the disease in lions also needs to be addressed. Advances have been made in diagnosing the presence of M. bovis in lions. However, these diagnostic tests are unable to differentiate between exposure, presence of infection, or stage of disease. Furthermore, there are contradictory reports on the effects of M. bovis on lion populations with more data needed on disease dynamics versus the lion population's reproductive dynamics. Knowledge on disease effects on the lion reproduction and how additional stressors such as drought or co-morbidities may interact with tuberculosis is also lacking. Filling these knowledge gaps will contribute to the understanding of mycobacterial infections and disease in captive and wild lions and assist in lion conservation endeavours.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ignatius M Viljoen
- SA MRC Centre for TB Research, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa; Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Lynwood Road, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa.
| | - Paul D van Helden
- SA MRC Centre for TB Research, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
| | - Robert P Millar
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Lynwood Road, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; MRC Receptor Biology Unit, IDM, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7935, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Schlacher TA, Schoeman DS, Jones AR, Dugan JE, Hubbard DM, Defeo O, Peterson CH, Weston MA, Maslo B, Olds AD, Scapini F, Nel R, Harris LR, Lucrezi S, Lastra M, Huijbers CM, Connolly RM. Metrics to assess ecological condition, change, and impacts in sandy beach ecosystems. J Environ Manage 2014; 144:322-335. [PMID: 25014753 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2014] [Revised: 05/29/2014] [Accepted: 05/30/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Complexity is increasingly the hallmark in environmental management practices of sandy shorelines. This arises primarily from meeting growing public demands (e.g., real estate, recreation) whilst reconciling economic demands with expectations of coastal users who have modern conservation ethics. Ideally, shoreline management is underpinned by empirical data, but selecting ecologically-meaningful metrics to accurately measure the condition of systems, and the ecological effects of human activities, is a complex task. Here we construct a framework for metric selection, considering six categories of issues that authorities commonly address: erosion; habitat loss; recreation; fishing; pollution (litter and chemical contaminants); and wildlife conservation. Possible metrics were scored in terms of their ability to reflect environmental change, and against criteria that are widely used for judging the performance of ecological indicators (i.e., sensitivity, practicability, costs, and public appeal). From this analysis, four types of broadly applicable metrics that also performed very well against the indicator criteria emerged: 1.) traits of bird populations and assemblages (e.g., abundance, diversity, distributions, habitat use); 2.) breeding/reproductive performance sensu lato (especially relevant for birds and turtles nesting on beaches and in dunes, but equally applicable to invertebrates and plants); 3.) population parameters and distributions of vertebrates associated primarily with dunes and the supralittoral beach zone (traditionally focused on birds and turtles, but expandable to mammals); 4.) compound measurements of the abundance/cover/biomass of biota (plants, invertebrates, vertebrates) at both the population and assemblage level. Local constraints (i.e., the absence of birds in highly degraded urban settings or lack of dunes on bluff-backed beaches) and particular issues may require alternatives. Metrics - if selected and applied correctly - provide empirical evidence of environmental condition and change, but often do not reflect deeper environmental values per se. Yet, values remain poorly articulated for many beach systems; this calls for a comprehensive identification of environmental values and the development of targeted programs to conserve these values on sandy shorelines globally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Schlacher
- School of Science and Engineering, The University of the Sunshine Coast, Q-4558 Maroochydore, Australia.
| | - David S Schoeman
- School of Science and Engineering, The University of the Sunshine Coast, Q-4558 Maroochydore, Australia.
| | - Alan R Jones
- Division of Invertebrates, The Australian Museum, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
| | - Jenifer E Dugan
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6150, USA.
| | - David M Hubbard
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6150, USA.
| | - Omar Defeo
- UNDECIMAR, Facultad de Ciencias, Igua 4225, PO Box 10773, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Charles H Peterson
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA.
| | - Michael A Weston
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia.
| | - Brooke Maslo
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
| | - Andrew D Olds
- School of Science and Engineering, The University of the Sunshine Coast, Q-4558 Maroochydore, Australia.
| | - Felicita Scapini
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze, Italy.
| | - Ronel Nel
- Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa.
| | - Linda R Harris
- Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa.
| | - Serena Lucrezi
- TREES-Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
| | - Mariano Lastra
- Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, Faculty of Marine Science, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain.
| | - Chantal M Huijbers
- Australian Rivers Institute, Coast and Estuaries, and School of Environment, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Queensland, 4222, Australia.
| | - Rod M Connolly
- Australian Rivers Institute, Coast and Estuaries, and School of Environment, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Queensland, 4222, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Paparini A, Macgregor J, Irwin PJ, Warren K, Ryan UM. Novel genotypes of Trypanosoma binneyi from wild platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) and identification of a leech as a potential vector. Exp Parasitol 2014; 145:42-50. [PMID: 25045852 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2014.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Revised: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 07/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about the prevalence and pathogenesis of trypanosomes in Australian monotremes, and few genetic characterisation studies have been conducted with these haemoparasites. During the present investigation, molecular and microscopic methods were used to screen peripheral blood (n=28) and ectoparasites (n=10 adult ticks; n=5 tick nymphs; n=1 leech; and n>500 tick eggs) collected from wild Tasmanian platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), for the presence of trypanosomatid-specific DNA and/or trypomastigotes. The genes for the small ribosomal subunit RNA (18S rDNA) and glycosomal glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) were amplified and sequenced, prior to conducting phylogenetic analyses. The detection rate of the parasite-specific 18S rDNA in platypus blood was 85.7% (n=24/28), and the leech was also positive at both loci. Microscopically, high parasitaemia and the presence of abundant trypomastigotes, morphologically consistent with Trypanosoma binneyi Mackerras (1959), were observed in the blood films. Phylogenetic analyses at the 18S locus revealed the existence of four trypanosomatid-like genotypes, with variable similarity to two previously-described genotypes of T. binneyi (range of genetic p-distance: 0.0-0.5%). For the gGAPDH locus, for which only one T. binneyi sequence is available in GenBank, three genotypes closely related T. binneyi were identified (range of genetic p-distance: 0.1-0.4%). The leech-derived trypanosome isolate was virtually identical (at the two loci studied) to the other parasites sequenced from infected platypuses; however, the molecular or morphological identification of the leech species was not possible. Although further studies are required, the molecular detection of trypanosomes in an aquatic leech removed from a platypus, suggests the possibility that these haematophagous hirudineans may be a vector for T. binneyi (and closely related genotypes).
Collapse
|
38
|
Veldhoen N, Beckerton JE, Mackenzie-Grieve J, Stevenson MR, Truelson RL, Helbing CC. Development of a non-lethal method for evaluating transcriptomic endpoints in Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus). Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2014; 105:43-50. [PMID: 24780232 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2014.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2013] [Revised: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
With increases in active mining and continued discharge associated with former mine operations, evaluating the health of watersheds in the Canadian Yukon Territory is warranted. Current environmental assessment approaches often employ guidelines established using sentinel species not relevant to Arctic monitoring programs. The present study focused on the successful development of a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay directed towards the indigenous Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) and examines the feasibility of using non-lethal sampling from the caudal fin as a means for evaluation of mRNA abundance profiles reflective of environmental conditions. In a proof of concept study performed blind, qPCR results from animals in an area with elevated water concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) and higher body burdens of Cd, Zn, and lead (Pb) were compared to a reference location in the Yukon Territory. Lower condition factor and a higher abundance of hepatic and caudal fin gene transcripts encoding the metallothionein isoforms (mta/mtb), in addition to elevated heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) and catalase (cat) mRNAs in liver, were observed in fish from the test site. The strong positive correlation between metal body burden and caudal fin mta/mtb mRNA abundance demonstrates a high potential for use of the Arctic grayling assay in non-lethal environmental monitoring programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nik Veldhoen
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3055, STN CSC, Victoria, BC, Canada V8W 3P6.
| | - Jean E Beckerton
- Water Resources Branch, Environment Yukon, Government of Yukon, Box 2703 (V-310), Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada Y1A 2C6.
| | | | - Mitchel R Stevenson
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3055, STN CSC, Victoria, BC, Canada V8W 3P6.
| | - Robert L Truelson
- Water Resources Branch, Environment Yukon, Government of Yukon, Box 2703 (V-310), Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada Y1A 2C6.
| | - Caren C Helbing
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3055, STN CSC, Victoria, BC, Canada V8W 3P6.
| |
Collapse
|