scholarly journals High conservation priority of range-edge plant populations not matched by habitat protection or research effort

2020 ◽  
Vol 249 ◽  
pp. 108732
Author(s):  
P. Caissy ◽  
S. Klemet-N'Guessan ◽  
R. Jackiw ◽  
C.G. Eckert ◽  
A.L. Hargreaves
Keyword(s):  
Research Effort ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Plant Populations ◽  
Habitat Protection ◽  
Range Edge ◽  
High Conservation

scholarly journals High conservation priority of range-edge plant populations not matched by habitat protection or research effort

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Caissy ◽  
S. Klemet-N’Guessan ◽  
R. Jackiw ◽  
C.G. Eckert ◽  
A. L. Hargreaves
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Habitat Protection ◽  
Range Edge ◽  
Relative Conservation ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Edge Populations

ABSTRACTHigh-latitude countries tend to contain the polar range-edge of many species that are nationally rare but globally common. This can focus national conservation efforts toward range-edge populations, whose conservation needs and value are disputed. Using plants in Canada as a case study, we ask whether national species-conservation rankings prioritize range-edge populations, and whether conservation priority is matched by habitat protection and research effort. We found that >75% of federally-protected plants only occur in Canada peripherally, at the northernmost 20% or less of their total range, and that the most imperilled taxa had the smallest percentage of their range in Canada (endangered plants: median=1.0%). Occurring peripherally in Canada was associated with higher threat even after accounting for range area, potentially because range-edge taxa experienced 85% higher human population densities in their Canadian range than non-peripheral taxa. High conservation priority was not matched by habitat protection, as more imperilled and more peripheral taxa had smaller fractions of their Canadian range in protected areas. Finally, peer-reviewed research on plants at-risk in Canada was low. Only 42% of plants considered at-risk in Canada had been studied in Canada, and only 11% of species with large distributions outside Canada had been studied in the context of their wider geographic range—information that is critical to establishing their relative conservation value. Our results illustrate that plant conservation in Canada is fundamentally linked to conserving range-edge populations, yet edge populations themselves are understudied, a research gap we must close to improve evidence-based conservation.

Population densities and conservation assessments for three species of chameleons in the Toliara region of south-western Madagascar

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laza Andriamandimbiarisoa ◽  
Christopher Raxworthy ◽  
Kristopher Karsten ◽  
Stanley Fox
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Pet Trade ◽  
Anthropogenic Habitats ◽  
Spread F ◽  
Illegal Harvesting ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Conservation Assessments ◽  
Lower Population

AbstractMadagascar is a high conservation priority. Rainforests receive most of the focus, but the dry deciduous and spiny forests of south-western Madagascar house many endemics, are under high deforestation pressure, and remain largely unprotected. Charismatic vertebrates, like chameleons, face a secondary threat: harvesting for the commercial pet trade. Six chameleons inhabit the arid southwest near Toliara: Furcifer antimena, F. belalandaensis, F. labordi, F. lateralis, F. oustaleti, and F. verrucosus. We measured population densities of three of those species. Furcifer verrucosus has a large distribution, was dense (97.7 ha–1; 95% CI = 60.2-158.6), and inhabited forests and anthropogenic habitats. Furcifer labordi was much less dense (30.8 ha–1; 13.4-70.9), has a restricted range, and has a unique life history that makes it susceptible to perturbations from deforestation or illegal harvesting. Furcifer antimena was the least dense (17.0 ha–1; 9.3-30.9) and has an even smaller distribution range. We lack density data for F. lateralis, but this species was abundant in anthropogenic habitats. Within their respective ranges, there are currently no protected areas for F. antimena and only few for F. labordi; these two species are far less abundant than the more widely spread F. verrucosus. We recommend that high conservation priority be focused on F. antimena and the southern populations of F. labordi due to their restricted distributions, susceptibility to extirpation, lower population densities, and lack of formal protection. Establishing protected areas in the Ranobe region and north of the Fiherenana River, in the Belalanda region, would help protect important populations of these vulnerable species.

Revision of the Pachycondyla wasmannii-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 3609 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-141
Author(s):  
JEAN CLAUDE RAKOTONIRINA ◽  
BRIAN L. FISHER
Keyword(s):  
Identification Key ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Key To Species ◽  
Species Limits ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
High Conservation

Defining species limits and describing species of ants are important to identify taxa and habitats with elevated diversity in areas of high conservation priority such as the Malagasy region. The Pachycondyla wasmannii-group is revised in the Malagasy region where eight species are recognized, four of which are new: P. masoala sp. n., P. planicornis sp. n., P. tavaratra sp. n., and P. vazimba sp. n. Four species have been previously described: P. cambouei Forel, P. comorensis (André), P. perroti Forel, and P. wasmannii Forel. Pachycondyla perroti admista Forel is newly synonymized under P. perroti. Pachycondyla cambouei is widespread in eastern Madagascar, morphologically variable, and divided into seven morphotypes. An identification key to species and distribution maps are provided for the genus in the Malagasy region. All species are known only from Madagascar except P. wasmannii, which occurs also on Anjouan of the Comoros Islands.

Floristic composition and conservation value of the stubble-field weed community, dominated by Stachys annua in western Hungary

Biologia ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gyula Pinke ◽  
Robert Pál
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Ambrosia Artemisiifolia ◽  
Significant Decline ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Farmland Birds ◽  
Coturnix Coturnix ◽  
The Past ◽  
High Conservation

AbstractThe stubble-field weed community, dominated by Stachys annua, was generally distributed in Hungary until the 1950s on mid-heavy and heavy, base-rich soils. Stachys annua is an excellent nectar-producer, and from the nectar collected in its habitats popular stubble-honey was produced. This vegetation type has suffered significant decline, mainly due to the early ploughing of stubbles associated with the intensification of agriculture. In the present study, the floristic composition of this community is assessed based on 213 phytosociological records, and its distribution in the past ten years in western Hungary is mapped. Sixty-five percent of the species are of Eurasian, European and Mediterranean elements, and the largest proportion of the species are spring-germinating summer annuals. The proportion of insect-pollinated plant species is approximately 70%, and the species composition also offers significant seed food sources for farmland birds, e.g. Coturnix coturnix and Perdix perdix. Therefore this community should deserve a high conservation priority for biodiversity. The factors that offer the greatest threats to the continuing existence of this community type are intensive agricultural management and the increasing spread of Ambrosia artemisiifolia.

The phytogeography of rare vascular plants in Ontario and its bearing on plant conservation

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 469-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
George W. Argus
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Rare Plants ◽  
Hudson Bay ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Northern Ontario ◽  
Rare Taxa ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Further Development

The phytogeographic patterns displayed by the 550 rare vascular plant taxa in Ontario, including 349 that are rare nationally, are correlated with counties, site regions, and floristic provinces. Rare taxa are concentrated in southwestern Ontario decreasing northward, with secondary concentrations along the Hudson Bay coast. Rare taxa in Ontario are predominantly peripheral taxa, which have their main ranges outside of Ontario. Many of these taxa, however, have a high Canadian conservation priority because they are also at risk in adjacent states or provinces. Rare taxa with Appalachian and Coastal Plain affinities are most common in southwestern Ontario. Arctic and boreal affinities predominate in Northern Ontario. These patterns are correlated with temperature and moisture parameters, which are incorporated with the Hills' site regions classification. Most high conservation priority taxa occur in the Carolinian region, the most highly settled and most highly agriculturalized part of the province. There is an urgent need for conservation of the remaining forest and wetlands in this region. The fragmentary ecosystems still remaining must be protected from further development. There is a need to study the correlation of rare plant occurrences with existing parks and reserves throughout the province to facilitate the identification of priority regions for protection. Key words: rare plants, phytogeography, conservation, Ontario.

scholarly journals The genus Piper (Piperaceae) in the Mata das Flores State Park, Espírito Santo, Brazil

Rodriguésia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 1031-1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jheniffer Abeldt Christ ◽  
Valderes Bento Sarnaglia-Junior ◽  
Lucas Mesquita Barreto ◽  
Elsie Franklin Guimarães ◽  
Mário Luís Garbin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Espírito Santo ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Reliable Knowledge ◽  
Espirito Santo ◽  
First Time ◽  
Conservation And Management

Abstract The conservation and management of the Atlantic Forest depends upon reliable knowledge about how many and which species this biome shelters. Floristic inventories have an important role in this process, especially when conducted in poorly known remnants, with a high conservation priority. This paper presents the study of the genus Piper (Piperaceae) in the Mata das Flores State Park, Castelo municipality, Espírito Santo state (ES). The study was based on the analysis of dried specimens, as well as those observed in the field, from February 2012 to August 2015. Twenty species of piper were identified. Amongst these species, Piper dilatatum, P. macedoi and P. piliovarium were recorded for the first time for the Espírito Santo state. Piper bicorne, an endemic species from ES and known only for the Santa Leopoldina municipality, had its geographical distribution expanded to the Castelo municipality. Most of the Piper species in the MFSP occur in valleys, and they are commonly found near watercourses. This is worrying given that these areas are just the most affected by the expansion of the rural and urban areas that surround the Park.

Unprecedented calcareous algal reefs in northern Taiwan merit high conservation priority

Coral Reefs ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 1253-1253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-Yu Liou ◽  
Sung-Yin Yang ◽  
Chaolun Allen Chen
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Priority ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Northern Taiwan

scholarly journals The importance of conserving fragmented forest patches with high diversity of flowering plants in the northern Western Ghats: an example from Maharashtra, India

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 13833-13849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amol Kishor Kasodekar ◽  
Amol Dilip Jadhav ◽  
Rani Babanrao Bhagat ◽  
Rakesh Mahadev Pawar ◽  
Vidya Shrikant Gupta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Sampling Area ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Fragmented Forest ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
High Diversity

The northern Western Ghats (NWG) comprises of a patchy continuum of forests that have been severely fragmented mainly due to anthropogenic activities.  We documented tree diversity within a representative fragmented forest patch of the NWG to study the effects of fragmentation on forest structure and composition.  The floristic survey was conducted by replicated strip transect sampling method leading to a total sampling area of 0.3ha.  A total of 444 individual trees (Girth>10cm) were sampled, which represented 49 tree species belonging to 42 genera and 23 families.  Species richness per unit area and tree density were higher than previously reported values from similar forest type in various regions of NWG.  These variations, however, could have resulted due to differences in the sampling area, sampling method, and girth classes used across different studies.  Nevertheless, various diversity parameters such as N/S ratio, Simpson’s index, Shannon’s index, and Fisher’s α index were comparable with those reported in previous studies in the Western Ghats.  The observed species richness was close to species richness estimates such as abundance-based coverage estimate, Chao-1, and Jackknife estimators.  The present study also enumerates 108 species of understory flowering plants, which is provided as a checklist.  While access restrictions are imposed in protected areas having high conservation priority, such restrictions are not imposed in non-protected areas, which make them much more vulnerable to anthropogenic activities.  Hence, this study recommends that owing to their high diversity, the fragmented forest patches of NWG should also be given high conservation priority.

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