scholarly journals Conservation management of small core areas: key to survival of a Critically Endangered population of Irrawaddy river dolphins Orcaella brevirostris in Indonesia

Oryx ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 178-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniëlle Kreb ◽  
Budiono

Indonesia's only freshwater dolphin is the facultative Irrawaddy river dolphin Orcaella brevirostris in the Mahakam River in East Kalimantan, Borneo. To clarify the status of this Critically Endangered subpopulation we carried out a series of surveys from early 1999 until mid 2002 on abundance, habitat use, population dynamics and threats. Our estimates of total population size were 33–55 dolphins (95% confidence limits 31–76) based on direct counts, strip-transect analysis, and Petersen and Jolly-Seber mark-recapture analyses of photo-identified individuals. Mean minimum annual birth and mortality rates were similar, i.e. 13.6 and 11.4%, and no changes in abundance >8% were detected over 2.5 years. Dolphins died mainly from entanglement in gill-nets (73% of deaths). The dolphins' main habitat includes confluence areas between the main river and tributaries or lakes. Dolphins make intensive daily use of these confluences, moving up and downstream over an average length of 10 km of river and within a 1.1 km2 area. These areas are also important fishing grounds and subject to intensive motorized boat traffic. Sixty-four percent of deaths (1995–2001) with known location (n = 36) occurred in these areas. Interviews with local residents revealed a generally positive attitude towards the establishment of protected areas for this subpopulation. Because of the dolphins' dependence on areas that are also used intensively by people, primary conservation strategies should be to increase local awareness and introduce alternative fishing techniques.

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tahneal Hawke ◽  
Hayley Bates ◽  
Suzanne Hand ◽  
Michael Archer ◽  
Linda Broome

BackgroundThe Mountain Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus) is a critically endangered marsupial, endemic to alpine regions of southern Australia. We investigated the diet of a recently discovered population of the possum in northern Kosciuszko National Park, NSW, Australia. This new population occurs at elevations well below the once-presumed lower elevation limit of 1,600 m.Goals and MethodsFaecal material was analysed to determine if dietary composition differed between individuals in the newly discovered northern population and those in the higher elevation southern population, and to examine how diet was influenced by rainfall in the southern population and seasonal changes in resource availability in the northern population.Results and DiscussionThe diet ofB. parvusin the northern population comprised of arthropods, fruits and seeds. Results indicate the diet of both populations shares most of the same invertebrate orders and plant species. However, in the absence of preferred food types available to the southern population, individuals of the northern population opportunistically consumed different species that were similar to those preferred by individuals in higher altitude populations. Differing rainfall amounts had a significant effect on diet, with years of below average rainfall having a greater percentage composition and diversity of invertebrates. Seasonal variation was also recorded, with the northern population increasing the diversity of invertebrates in their diet during the Autumn months when Bogong Moths (Agrotis infusa) were absent from those sites, raising questions about the possum’s dependence on the speciesConclusionsMeasurable effects of rainfall amount and seasonal variation on the dietary composition suggest that predicted climatic variability will have a significant impact on its diet, potentially impacting its future survival. Findings suggest that it is likely thatB. parvusis not restricted by dietary requirements to its current pattern of distribution. This new understanding needs to be considered when formulating future conservation strategies for this critically endangered species.


Author(s):  
Weixue Mu ◽  
Jinpu Wei ◽  
Ting Yang ◽  
Yannan Fan ◽  
Le Cheng ◽  
...  

Nyssa yunnanensis is a deciduous tree in family Nayssaceae within the order Cornales. As only 8 individuals in 2 sites recorded in Yunnan province of China, the species was listed as the China’s national grade-I protection species in 1999, and also as one of 120 PSESP(Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations) in Implementation Plan of Rescuing and Conserving China’s Plant Species with extremely Small Populations(PSESP) (2011-2-15). N. yunnanensis was also been evaluated as Critically Endangered in IUCN red list and Threatened Species List of China's Higher Plants. Hence understanding the genomic characteristics of this highly endangered Tertiary relict tree species is essential, especially for developing conservation strategies. Here we sequenced and annotated the genome of N. yunnanensis using 10X genomics linked-reads sequencing data. The de novo assembled genome is 1474Mb in length with a scaffold N50 length of 985.59kb. We identified 823.51Mb of non-redundant sequence as repetitive elements and annotated 39,803 protein-coding genes in the assembly. Our result provided the genomic characteristics of N. yunnanensis, which will provide valuable resources for future genomic and evolutionary studies, especially for conservation biology studies of this extremely threatened tree species.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 15547-15556
Author(s):  
Hongying Li ◽  
Shusheng Zhang ◽  
Ji Zhang ◽  
Zupei Lei ◽  
Fangdong Zheng ◽  
...  

Illegal hunting and trading of the Chinese Pangolin Manis pentadactyla has pushed this Critically Endangered species close to extinction.  While local reports have suggested its continued presence in mainland China, this has not been confirmed by a research group except for a survey of presumed pangolin burrows in 2004.  We conducted a six-month field study using infrared camera surveillance and community questionnaire survey in Zhejiang Wuyanling National Nature Reserve in China, to determine the status of Chinese Pangolins and understand local attitudes towards the conservation of this species.  Our study details the first verifiable documentation of two visual records of a Chinese Pangolin in the wild, demonstrating the suitability of pangolin habitat in Wuyanling region, and suggests an increasing awareness and strong willingness in local communities to conserve the Chinese Pangolin.  


Author(s):  
Maurício Hostim-Silva ◽  
Áthila A. Bertoncini ◽  
Maíra Borgonha ◽  
Jonas Rodrigues Leite ◽  
Matheus O. Freitas ◽  
...  

<em>Abstract</em>.—Traditional approaches to fish conservation have focused on the protection of small habitat patches or on individual species at risk of extinction. These strategies have been important yet largely have been too little and too late for widespread protection of aquatic faunas. Such small-scale and reactive approaches also are costly in terms of recovery programs and aggressive in terms of regulatory controls. Further, the linear nature of streams and the networked configuration of drainage systems suggest that a fundamentally different approach to reserve design and protected areas is necessary for effective conservation of freshwater communities when compared to terrestrial systems. Larger-scale, multispecies approaches to native fish conservation offer a more efficient and effective conservation strategy because entire fish communities and the ecological processes that support maintenance of habitat diversity can be sustained before the status of individual species deteriorates to critical levels. Protecting entire communities and watersheds also offers some resistance to climate change impacts, which rapidly are altering flow regimes and disturbance dynamics in aquatic systems. Identification and protection of high-value aquatic communities will provide an important supplement to current conservation strategies during times of increasing threats and future uncertainty.


1970 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
PK Sharma

The study was carried out in haor areas situated in Nikli upazila under Kishoregong district to explore the socioeconomic vulnerabilities status of the people residing near deep haor areas and their dependency on its natural resources. Total 110912 local residents who depend on the wetland for their survival are poor, with an annual average per capita income Tk 3175, a literacy rate is 20.5%.Total cultivable land 17912.75 hectares, fallow land 1007.59 hectares; single crop 79.32% and double crop land 20.68%; land under irrigation 90%.This paper also sheds light on the status of livelihood using resources and face problems are barriers to sustainable livelihood development. There haor based alternative activity is fishing (20%) followed by duck rearing (3%), Beef fating (6.6%), The study find 71% households were found effectively landless of which about 55% were absolutely landless and 17% households were migrated and 78.9% haor households are suffered from food insecurity mainly because of landlessness, mono-crop cultivation, seasonal unemployment and natural calamities. The study suggests that the avenues for prospective coping strategies are to put a stop to existing leasing system of haor water bodies, making proper arrangements for creating alternative income generating activities throughout the year. Change the money lending system and taking preventives and curative measures for natural calamities. Keywords: Socioeconomic; Indicator; Sustainable livelihood; Climate change DOI: 10.3329/jbau.v8i2.7939 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 8(2): 283-290, 2010


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Otieno Outa ◽  
Edwine Omollo Yongo ◽  
James Last A. Keyombe ◽  
Erick O. Ogello ◽  
David Namwaya Wanjala

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-184
Author(s):  
Megan Wainwright ◽  
Namhla Sicwebu ◽  
Christopher J. Colvin ◽  
Estelle Gong ◽  
Rachel Henderson ◽  
...  

Background: Learning by experience in field schools (FSs) depends implicitly on the willingness of local residents to engage with students. Although critical perspectives have highlighted the potential harms of study abroad on local people, their views are less frequently investigated. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to explore the perspectives and motivations of local residents who agreed to be interviewed by American undergraduates undertaking a 5-week FS in community health research methods in Cape Town, South Africa. Methodology/Approach: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 residents to explore their perspectives on why they, and others, were willing to be interviewed by students. These were thematically analyzed. Findings/Conclusions: Emphasis was given to the status implicit in being “a student” and “a visitor” and the respect, hospitality, and support this status engendered. To be a student was to be a child and not in a position to help. However, expectations were that help would come later. Residents valued the conversations they had which were seen as opportunities for enjoyment, exchange, and bridging social divides. Implications: In experiential learning programs such as these, local residents are a key community learning resource. Certain design features appear to help optimize the engagement and relationship-building valued by students and residents alike.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (26) ◽  
pp. 121-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clinton David van der Merwe

Abstract Heritage tourism is a significant contemporary facet of tourism in many developing countries. This paper analyses the economic opportunities for battlefield- heritage tourism in South Africa by examining the battlefields route within KwaZulu-Natal. Through structured interviews with stakeholders and structured questionnaires with visitors and local residents, this research explores the understanding of heritage tourism as well as perceptions of its influence on the physical landscape and gauges the importance of this form of tourism as a driver for local economic development in South Africa. Dundee, a small coal-mining town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa - where several battlefields are found, is used as a case study. The study demonstrates that several issues need to be addressed if this niche of cultural and heritage tourism is to be a sustainable and responsible form of tourism in South Africa.


1996 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 101-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. K. Pundir ◽  
P. K. Vij ◽  
Ran Vir Singh ◽  
A. E. Nivsarkar

SUMMARYBhadawari buffaloes are reputed for high milk fat and are found in the Agra & Etawah districts of Uttar Pradesh and the Bhind & Morena districts of Madhya Pradesh. Information on the status, management practices, morphological characteristics, body measurements and performance of the Bhadawari breed were recorded from its breeding tract. Animals true to the breed are copper in colour and have a white ring on the lower side of the neck. The population of this breed is declining at a fast pace and efforts are needed for its conservation. Strategies for its improvement and conservation are also discussed.


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