Assessing non-detrimental trade for a CITES Appendix II-listed plant species: the status of wild and cultivated Galanthus woronowii in Georgia

AbstractA process for the review of significant trade in species listed in CITES Appendix II was established to address problems with the application of CITES Article IV. Article IV states that international trade in Appendix II species requires a Scientific Authority of the state of export to determine that such trade will not be detrimental to the species’ survival in the wild. Such a review process was initiated for the plant species Galanthus woronowii Losinsk. as a result of continuing uncertainty over the sustainability of international exports of the plant from wild populations in Georgia, and the Georgian Management Authority was tasked with determining and reporting whether export levels conformed to Article IV. Here we report on the project that was established to address that task. Nationwide field surveys conducted in 2009 led to the recommendation of a conservative annual export quota of 15 million plants for the sites surveyed. Cultivated populations held significant stocks of harvestable plants but with varied cultivation histories, especially in relation to the extent and nature of supplementary planting. Future work should continue to monitor harvesting from wild populations and identify solutions for local communities wishing to cultivate the plant for international trade.

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Status of crocodiles in the U Minh Thuong Nature Reserve, southern Vietnam

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc020062 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 62 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Bryan L. Stuart ◽

Benjamin Hayes ◽

Bui Huu Manh ◽

Steven G. Platt

Keyword(s):

Nature Reserve ◽

Local People ◽

Swamp Forest ◽

Field Surveys ◽

Southern Vietnam ◽

The Status ◽

In The Wild ◽

Crocodylus Siamensis

Both species of native crocodile, Siamese Crocodile Crocodylus siamensis and Estuarine Crocodile C. porosus, are seriously threatened in the wild in Vietnam. The swamp forest of the U Minh region in southern Vietnam was recently suggested to harbor the last remaining wild Estuarine Crocodiles in the country. We investigated the status of crocodiles in the U Minh Thuong Nature Reserve by conducting field surveys and interviewing local people. Field surveys found no signs of living wild crocodiles, and interview results strongly suggested that wild crocodiles have not occurred at U Minh Thuong Nature Reserve for perhaps as long as 30 years.

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Genetic diversity and population structure of Amorphophallus albus, a plant species with extremely small populations (PSESP) endemic to dry-hot valley of Jinsha River

10.21203/rs.2.17641/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rong Tang ◽

Erxi Liu ◽

Yazhou Zhang ◽

Johann Schinnerl ◽

Weibang Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Population Structure ◽

Genetic Variation ◽

Plant Species ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Small Populations ◽

Wild Populations ◽

Jinsha River ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

Cultivated Populations

Abstract Background: Amorphophallus albus P. Y. Liu & J. F. Chen (Araceae) is a plant species with extremely small populations (PSESP) and an important economic crop endemic to dry-hot valleys along the Jinsha River. In order to gain information for sustaining the development and conservation of A. albus, we studied the genetic diversity and population structure of this species using microsatellite markers (SSR). In this study, we analysed 364 individuals belonging to 24 populations, including four wild populations and three ex-situ cultivated populations, collected in the provinces Yunnan, Sichuan and Hubei. Results: The population genetic analyses indicated that A. albus possesses moderate genetic diversity with the percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) from 69.23% to 100%, an expected heterozygosity (He) of 0.504 and an average Shannon's Information Index (I) 0.912. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that most of the variance (71%) resided within populations and the estimated gene flow (Nm) was 0.61. The results of UPGMA cluster tree, STRUCTURE analyses together with the Mantel test (R2 = 0.352, P < 0.01) indicated that geographically closely located populations are clustered together with some exceptions. Conclusions: Our results showed that A. albus still possesses moderate genetic variation in most of the studied populations, and for now, most cultivated populations were naturally distributed but still some reintroduction exists. For sustaining the present genetic variation, some protections measures are necessary for the wild populations and also for the cultivated ones with high genetic diversity.

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The Cactaceae, a family threatened by trade

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605300018998 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 148-151

Author(s):

Sara Oldfield

Keyword(s):

International Trade ◽

Legal Protection ◽

Botanic Gardens ◽

Wild Populations ◽

Conservation Unit ◽

Scientific Authority ◽

The Us ◽

Royal Botanic Gardens

Many people are fascinated by cacti and the trade that has grown up to meet the demand from collectors has depleted many wild populations. Threatened cacti species receive legal protection in some countries, notably the US, but attempts to control international trade through CITES are frustrated by poor enforcement. The author works at the Conservation Unit at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which is the UK's Scientific Authority for plants under CITES.

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The bulb trade—a threat to wild plant populations

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605300022833 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 127-134 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mike Read

Keyword(s):

International Trade ◽

Endangered Species ◽

Wild Plant ◽

Wild Populations ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Plant Populations ◽

Wild Fauna ◽

In The Wild ◽

Garden Plants

Every year millions of bulbs, corms and tubers are being dug up in the wild to supply the market for garden plants. In many cases the level of exploitation is so high that it threatens some species with extinction in their natural habitats. Some have already been lost. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which has been so successful in controlling damaging trade in certain species of animals, has yet to address the bulb trade effectively. One of the difficulties to be overcome is assessing its true extent and its effect on wild populations. In 1987 the FFPS contracted its staff botanist, Mike Read, to investigate the trade in wild-collected plants in Turkey. The findings reported here point clearly to the need for further research, more legislation and the promotion of sustainable methods of propagation in the countries of origin.

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The historical and current status of Pink-headed Duck Rhodonessa caryophyllacea in Myanmar

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270908000063 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 38-52 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Andrew W. Tordoff ◽

Tim Appleton ◽

Jonathan C. Eames ◽

Karin Eberhardt ◽

Htin Hla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nature Conservation ◽

Direct Evidence ◽

Current Status ◽

Museum Specimens ◽

Historical Records ◽

Field Surveys ◽

Critically Endangered Species ◽

The Status ◽

In The Wild ◽

Wetland Habitats

AbstractPink-headed Duck Rhodonessa caryophyllacea is a Critically Endangered species that has not been confirmed in the wild since 1948–1949. Historical records of the species are concentrated in India, although there are also a few from Myanmar. Between 2003 and 2005, BirdLife International and the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA) conducted a series of field surveys of wetland habitats in the lowlands of Kachin state, an area with a cluster of historical records of the species. These were the first targeted efforts to assess the status of the species in Myanmar. These surveys were complemented by reviews of museum specimens and literature relating to the species in Myanmar. Two specimen records represent very strong evidence that the species occurred in Myanmar historically, although they shed little light on its seasonal status in the country. The surveys conducted by BirdLife International and BANCA were unable to confirm the continued occurrence of Pink-headed Duck in Myanmar. However, they did generate a limited amount of equivocal direct evidence, most notably two possible but unconfirmed sightings. There are several reasons for believing that the species may still persist in the lowlands of Kachin state and, perhaps, elsewhere in Myanmar. Shyness, combined with rarity, possible nocturnal habits and the impenetrability of its habitats, means that the species tended to be under-recorded historically, and may continue to be so currently. Further surveys are required to confirm this.

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Which frog's legs do froggies eat? The use of DNA barcoding for identification of deep frozen frog legs (Dicroglossidae, Amphibia) commercialized in France

European Journal of Taxonomy ◽

10.5852/ejt.2017.271 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Annemarie Ohler ◽

Violaine Nicolas

Keyword(s):

Dna Barcoding ◽

Large Scale ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Morphological Diversity ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Red List ◽

Wild Populations ◽

16S Gene ◽

The Status ◽

In The Wild

Several millions frogs captured in the wild in Indonesia are sold for food yearly in French supermarkets, as deep frozen frog legs. They are commercialized as Rana macrodon, but up to 15 look-alike species might also be concerned by this trade. From December 2012 to May 2013, we bought 209 specimens of deep frozen frog legs, and identified them through a barcoding approach based on the 16S gene. Our results show that 206 out of the 209 specimens belong to Fejervarya cancrivora, two to Limnonectes macrodon and one to F. moodiei. Thus only 0.96 % of the frogs were correctly identified. Unless misclassification was intentional, it seems that Indonesian frog leg exporters are not able to discriminate between the species. The quasi absence of L. macrodon in our samples might be an indication of its rarity, confirming that its natural populations are declining rapidly, in agreement with its “vulnerable” status according to the IUCN Red List. Our results show that the genetic and morphological diversity of the frogs in trade is much higher than the genetic and morphological diversity measured so far by scientific studies. These results underline the need for large scale studies to assess the status of wild populations.

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Genetic diversity and population structure of Amorphophallus albus, a plant species with extremely small populations (PSESP) endemic to dry-hot valley of Jinsha River

10.21203/rs.2.17641/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Rong Tang ◽

Erxi Liu ◽

Yazhou Zhang ◽

Johann Schinnerl ◽

Weibang Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Population Structure ◽

Genetic Variation ◽

Plant Species ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Small Populations ◽

Wild Populations ◽

Jinsha River ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

Cultivated Populations

Abstract Background Amorphophallus albus P. Y. Liu & J. F. Chen (Araceae) is a plant species with extremely small populations (PSESP) and important economic crop endemic to dry-hot valleys along the Jinsha River. In order to gain information for sustaining the development and conservation of A. albus , we studied the genetic diversity and population structure of this species using microsatellite markers (SSR). In this study, we analyzed 364 individuals belonging to 24 populations, including four wild populations and three ex-situ cultivated populations, collected in the provinces Yunnan, Sichuan and Hubei.Results The population genetic analyses indicated that A. albus possesses moderate genetic diversity with the percentage of polymorphic loci ( PPL ) from 69.23% to 100%, an expected heterozygosity ( He ) of 0.504 and an average Shannon's Information Index ( I ) 0.912. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that most of the variance (71%) resided within populations and the estimated gene flow ( Nm ) was 0.61. The results of UPGMA cluster tree, STRUCTURE analyses together with the Mantel test (R 2 = 0.352, P < 0.01) indicated that geographically closely located populations are cluster together with some exceptions.Conclusions Our results showed that A. albus still possesses moderate genetic variation in most of the studied populations, and for now, most cultivated populations were naturally distributed but still some reintroduction exists. For sustaining the present genetic variation, some protections measures are necessary for the wild populations and also for the cultivated ones with high genetic diversity.

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Genetic diversity and population structure of Amorphophallus albus, a plant species with extremely small populations (PSESP) endemic to dry-hot valley of Jinsha River

BMC Genetics ◽

10.1186/s12863-020-00910-x ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rong Tang ◽

Erxi Liu ◽

Yazhou Zhang ◽

Johann Schinnerl ◽

Weibang Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Population Structure ◽

Genetic Variation ◽

Plant Species ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Small Populations ◽

Wild Populations ◽

Jinsha River ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

Cultivated Populations

Abstract Background Amorphophallus albus P. Y. Liu & J. F. Chen (Araceae) is a plant species with extremely small populations (PSESP) and an important economic crop endemic to dry-hot valleys along the Jinsha River. In order to gain information for sustaining the development and conservation of A. albus, we studied the genetic diversity and population structure of this species using microsatellite markers (SSR). In this study, we analysed 364 individuals belonging to 24 populations, including four wild populations and three ex-situ cultivated populations, collected in the provinces Yunnan, Sichuan and Hubei. Results The population genetic analyses indicated that A. albus possesses moderate genetic diversity with the percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) from 69.23 to 100%, an expected heterozygosity (He) of 0.504 and an average Shannon’s Information Index (I) 0.912. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that most of the variance (71%) resided within populations and the estimated gene flow (Nm) was 0.61. The results of UPGMA cluster tree, STRUCTURE analyses together with the Mantel test (R2 = 0.352, P < 0.01) indicated that geographically closely located populations are clustered together with some exceptions. Conclusions Our results showed that A. albus still possesses moderate genetic variation in most of the studied populations, and for now, most cultivated populations were naturally distributed but still some reintroduction exists. For sustaining the present genetic variation, some protections measures are necessary for the wild populations and also for the cultivated ones with high genetic diversity.

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New tools for old problems — comparing drone- and field-based assessments of a problematic plant species

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment ◽

10.1007/s10661-021-08852-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 193 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Jens Oldeland ◽

Rasmus Revermann ◽

Jona Luther-Mosebach ◽

Tillmann Buttschardt ◽

Jan R. K. Lehmann

Keyword(s):

Image Analysis ◽

Plant Species ◽

Just In Time ◽

Post Processing ◽

Tall Grass ◽

Field Surveys ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

Object Based Image Analysis ◽

Object Based ◽

Before And After

AbstractPlant species that negatively affect their environment by encroachment require constant management and monitoring through field surveys. Drones have been suggested to support field surveyors allowing more accurate mapping with just-in-time aerial imagery. Furthermore, object-based image analysis tools could increase the accuracy of species maps. However, only few studies compare species distribution maps resulting from traditional field surveys and object-based image analysis using drone imagery. We acquired drone imagery for a saltmarsh area (18 ha) on the Hallig Nordstrandischmoor (Germany) with patches of Elymus athericus, a tall grass which encroaches higher parts of saltmarshes. A field survey was conducted afterwards using the drone orthoimagery as a baseline. We used object-based image analysis (OBIA) to segment CIR imagery into polygons which were classified into eight land cover classes. Finally, we compared polygons of the field-based and OBIA-based maps visually and for location, area, and overlap before and after post-processing. OBIA-based classification yielded good results (kappa = 0.937) and agreed in general with the field-based maps (field = 6.29 ha, drone = 6.22 ha with E. athericus dominance). Post-processing revealed 0.31 ha of misclassified polygons, which were often related to water runnels or shadows, leaving 5.91 ha of E. athericus cover. Overlap of both polygon maps was only 70% resulting from many small patches identified where E. athericus was absent. In sum, drones can greatly support field surveys in monitoring of plant species by allowing for accurate species maps and just-in-time captured very-high-resolution imagery.

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Phenotypic plasticity of labile traits in the wild

Current Zoology ◽

10.1093/czoolo/59.4.485 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 59 (4) ◽

pp. 485-505 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Jon E. Brommer

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Phenotypic Plasticity ◽

Statistical Approach ◽

Scale Up ◽

Population Level ◽

Wild Populations ◽

Quantitative Genetic ◽

In The Wild ◽

The Individual ◽

Quantitative Genetic Parameters

Abstract Individual-based studies allow quantification of phenotypic plasticity in behavioural, life-history and other labile traits. The study of phenotypic plasticity in the wild can shed new light on the ultimate objectives (1) whether plasticity itself can evolve or is constrained by its genetic architecture, and (2) whether plasticity is associated to other traits, including fitness (selection). I describe the main statistical approach for how repeated records of individuals and a description of the environment (E) allow quantification of variation in plasticity across individuals (IxE) and genotypes (GxE) in wild populations. Based on a literature review of life-history and behavioural studies on plasticity in the wild, I discuss the present state of the two objectives listed above. Few studies have quantified GxE of labile traits in wild populations, and it is likely that power to detect statistically significant GxE is lacking. Apart from the issue of whether it is heritable, plasticity tends to correlate with average trait expression (not fully supported by the few genetic estimates available) and may thus be evolutionary constrained in this way. Individual-specific estimates of plasticity tend to be related to other traits of the individual (including fitness), but these analyses may be anti-conservative because they predominantly concern stats-on-stats. Despite the increased interest in plasticity in wild populations, the putative lack of power to detect GxE in such populations hinders achieving general insights. I discuss possible steps to invigorate the field by moving away from simply testing for presence of GxE to analyses that ‘scale up’ to population level processes and by the development of new behavioural theory to identify quantitative genetic parameters which can be estimated.

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