Identifying essential ecological factors underpinning the development of a conservation plan for the Endangered Australian tree Alectryon ramiflorus

AbstractReintroduction of rare and threatened species often fails to yield quantifiable conservation benefits because insufficient attention is focused on the species’ habitat requirements and biology. We demonstrate the value of such data in informing a recovery plan for Alectryon ramiflorus S.Reyn. (Sapindaceae), a tree species endemic to a region on the southern coast of Queensland, Australia. When the species was categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 1997 the total known population consisted of only 26 adult plants, in five disjunct populations in remnant patches of native vegetation. Analysis of vegetation type, soil chemistry and composition data comparing remnant patches with and without A. ramiflorus revealed that the species is not restricted to a specific soil type but prefers sites with relatively fertile soil and a more complex vegetation structure. The species is cryptically dioecious, displays asynchronous flowering between individuals, and requires insect-vectored pollination. The low rate of seedling production recorded within individual patches was attributed to the scarcity of trees of both genders, asynchronous flowering of individual trees and, in smaller patches, a sparse population of pollinating insect species. Successful reintroduction of A. ramiflorus will require consideration of these aspects of demographic success. The findings highlight the importance to species recovery plans of the knowledge of habitat requirements, interspecific relationships and critical dependencies, as well as species reproductive biology.

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Ecological patterns and effectiveness of protected areas in the preservation of Mimusops species’ habitats under climate change

10.21504/rur.c.5374178.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Gisèle K. Sinasson ◽

Charlie M. Shackleton ◽

Oscar Teka ◽

Brice Sinsin

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Threatened Species ◽

Sustainable Management ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Habitat Requirements ◽

Climate Change Scenarios ◽

Management Actions ◽

Ecological Patterns ◽

Suitable Habitats

Understanding the niche and habitat requirements of useful and threatened species, their shifts under climate change and how well protected areas (PAs) preserve these habitats is relevant for guiding sustainable management actions. Here we assessed the ecological factors underlying the distribution of two multipurpose and threatened species, Mimusops andongensis and M. kummel, in Benin, and potential changes in the suitable habitats covered by PAs, under climate change scenarios. Fifty seven occurrence points were collected for M. andongensis and 81 for M. kummel.

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Distributional range, ecology, and mating system of the Cape mole-rat (Georychus capensis) family Bathyergidae

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/cjz-2017-0016 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 95 (10) ◽

pp. 713-726 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J.H. Visser ◽

N.C. Bennett ◽

B. Jansen van Vuuren

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Mating System ◽

Vegetation Type ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Disjunct Distribution ◽

Testis Size ◽

Extrinsic Factors ◽

Mole Rat ◽

Testicular Size ◽

Life History Patterns

Interpopulation variation in life-history patterns are influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Life-history patterns have been intensely studied in the eusocial African bathyergid species, largely neglecting the solitary species. Of these solitary genera, the Cape mole-rat (Georychus capensis (Pallas, 1778)) is endemic to South Africa with a disjunct distribution across its range. Knowledge regarding this species is rudimentary; therefore, this study aimed to investigate the current distribution of the species with particular attention to common ecological variables, differences in body size between localities and sexes, as well as its reproduction and mating system. Georychus is a habitat specialist restricted to specific ecological areas. A lack of sexual size dimorphism and correlation between male testis size and number of females in the population, suggests a polygynous mating system, facilitated by the spatial distribution of the sexes. A positive relationship between male testes size and percentage of females in populations sampled suggests that larger sperm reserves (i.e., larger testes) are required in populations with a higher percentage of females. In addition, mating variables (testicular size and litter size) are linked to ecological factors (elevation, aridity, soil type, and vegetation type) that could impact mate searching, mating success, and food resources.

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Fig. 5. The portion of Mimusops andongensis suitable areas covered by protected areas, under current (A) and future projections in 2050 under (B) CNRM-CM5 and (C) HadGEM2-ES model climates with scenario RCP8.5, and (D) CNRM-CM5 and (E) HadGEM2-ES model climates with scenario RCP4.5.

10.21504/rur.14406620 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Gisèle K.Sinasson ◽

Charlie M. Shackleton ◽

Oscar Teka ◽

Brice Sinsin

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Threatened Species ◽

Sustainable Management ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Habitat Requirements ◽

Climate Change Scenarios ◽

Future Projections ◽

Management Actions ◽

Suitable Habitats

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Landscape habitat occupancy and distribution of the Wild Ground Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) in Zimbabwe’s Protected Areas (PAs)

Global Journal of Ecology ◽

10.17352/gje.000052 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 105-111

Author(s):

Mahakata Innocent ◽

Gonhi Prudence ◽

Matindike Spencer ◽

Masumba Yvonne ◽

Hungwe Christopher

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Environmental Variables ◽

Vegetation Type ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Services Research ◽

Habitat Occupancy ◽

Study Results ◽

Online Sources ◽

Unique Species

The Smutsia temminckii is the only species of pangolin known to exist in Zimbabwe and is considered vulnerable under the IUCN Red List of threatened species. Distribution of wild S. temminckii in protected areas (PAs) and associated environmental variables are not well defined in Zimbabwe. The study sort to relate key environmental variables (Altitude, rainfall, temperature and vegetation type) to habitat occupancy and distribution of S. temminckii. Data was collected from forty-eight stations based on S.temminckii sightings historical records spanning ten years (2011-2021) done by field rangers, tourists and scientific services research personnel. A review of available literature was done from online sources and station records. A distribution map based on S. temminckii sightings across various PAs in Zimbabwe was developed for this study. Results of this study reveal that S. temminckii occupy PAs in South East low-veld areas, Northwestern Zimbabwe, Mid Zambezi Valley and Nyanga NP. No historical data on S. temminckii sighting in central PAs located in ecological regions IIa, IIb and III of Zimbabwe. Climatic conditions associated with S. temminckii distribution, except for Nyanga NP, are average temperatures above 220C and rainfall between 400mm to 900mm per annum. Landscapes ideal for S. temminckii habitat occupancy have an altitude between 262m-2000m above sea level. Associated vegetation types for habitat occupancy of S. temminckii are the Zambezian and mopane woodlands as well as montane forest grasslands mosaic of Nyanga NP. Future studies should focus on establishing distribution of S. temminckii outside PA, population status and density to inform conservation of this rare and unique species around Zimbabwe.

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Unraveling genetic variations of Dalbergia latifolia (Fabaceae) from Yogyakarta and Lombok Island, Indonesia

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity ◽

10.13057/biodiv/d210251 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kusumadewi S. Yulita ◽

TIKA D. ATIKAH ◽

WITA WARDANI ◽

SUSILA

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Diversity ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Genetic Variations ◽

Timber Species ◽

Population Genetic Analysis ◽

Medium Level ◽

Individual Trees ◽

Lombok Island

Abstract. Yulita KS, Atikah TD, Wardani W, Susila. 2020. Unraveling genetic variations of Dalbergia latifolia (Fabaceae) from Yogyakarta and Lombok Island, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 833-841. Dalbergia latifolia Roxb. (Fabaceae) or sonokeling is a timber species extracted for its beautiful heartwood used mainly for musical instruments. D. latifolia was listed in Appendix 2 of CITES since 1997, and the demand for its timber is increasing. The species is considered vulnerable (VU A1cd ver 2.3) to extinction according to the IUCN Red List, while cultivations were mainly done from a root cutting. To anticipate the further loss of population size while maintaining sustainable use of the species, it is essential to evaluate the genetic diversity since the genetic diversity level could serve as an indicator of plant adaptability to its environment. This present study was the first to report the genetic diversity of five populations of D. latifolia from Yogyakarta and Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Ten combinations of Sequence Random Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP) primers were used to amplify 48 samples of D. latifolia from five populations in Yogyakarta and Lombok Island. The 137 SRAP loci were used for a cluster, and population genetic analysis, with mean NPL, was of 13.6/locus, PLP of 56.18%, H of 0.16, and PIC for all population was of 0.28. The lowest gene diversity (H = 0.11) was observed in population WL 1 of Lombok Island, while the highest (H = 0.20) was recorded for population KP of Yogyakarta. The Yogyakarta and Lombok populations were genetically structured at a medium level (Gst = 0.27), with low genetic distance (0.0310-0.1281), and a moderate level of variation observed among individual trees (ca. 0.5 coefficient similarity). The results of this present study were expected to provide necessary information on further research of D. latifolia from Indonesia to support the sustainable use of D. latifolia in Indonesia and the preservation of this species.

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Vocal communication in wild chimpanzees: a call rate study

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.12326 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e12326

Author(s):

Anne-Sophie Crunchant ◽

Fiona A. Stewart ◽

Alex K. Piel

Keyword(s):

Vocal Communication ◽

Vegetation Type ◽

Species Conservation ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Call Rate ◽

Adult Males ◽

Calling Behaviour ◽

Animal Density ◽

Travelling Time ◽

Female Presence

Background Patterns of vocal communication have implications for species conservation: a change in calling behaviour can, for instance, reflect a disturbed habitat. More importantly, call rate is a parameter that allows conservation planners to convert call density into animal density, when detecting calls with a passive acoustic monitoring system (PAM). Methods We investigated chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) call rate during the late dry season in the Issa Valley, western Tanzania by conducting focal follows. We examined the socio-ecological factors that influence call production rate of savanna woodland chimpanzees. Results We found that sex, proportion of time spent in a vegetation type, proportion of time spent travelling, time of the day, party size and swollen parous female presence had a significant effect on the call rate. Call rate differed among the different demographic classes with subadult and adult males vocalising twice as often as the subadult and adult females and three times as often as the juveniles. Applications The use of PAM and recent statistical developments to estimate animal density is promising but relies on our knowing individual call rate, often not available for many species. With the improvement in automatic call detection, we anticipate that PAM will increasingly be broadly applied to primates but also across taxa, for conservation.

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Malacofaunal inventory in Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary, West Bengal, India

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.4456.13.2.17807-17826 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 17807-17826

Author(s):

S.K. Sajan ◽

Swati Das ◽

Basudev Tripathy ◽

Tulika Biswas

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Protected Areas ◽

West Bengal ◽

Land Snails ◽

Faunal Composition ◽

Marine Molluscs ◽

As Species ◽

The Family ◽

Conservation Plan ◽

First Time

The knowledge on the floral and faunal composition of protected areas (PAs) is crucial for formulating suitable conservation plan. In this paper, inventory and species richness of non-marine molluscs of Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary has been made and is for the first time from any PA of West Bengal. A total of 276 specimens belonging to 22 species (10 species of land snails and 12 species of freshwater) of non-marine molluscs (land and freshwater) were collected and examined from this sanctuary. The malacofaunal inventory comprises of nine genera under seven families among land snails and 12 genera & seven families from both gastropods & bivalves under the freshwater forms. As far as species richness is concerned, the family Ariophantidae was found to be dominant among land forms whereas species of the families Thiaridae and Unionidae were dominant among freshwater forms.

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Prioritising species of special concern for monitoring in Table Mountain National Park: The challenge of a species-rich, threatened ecosystem

Koedoe ◽

10.4102/koedoe.v53i2.1019 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 53 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Tony G. Rebelo ◽

Stefanie Freitag ◽

Chad Cheney ◽

Melodie A. McGeoch

Keyword(s):

Threatened Species ◽

National Park ◽

Animal Species ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Table Mountain ◽

Large Numbers ◽

As Species ◽

Cape Peninsula ◽

Priority Species ◽

Special Concern

Conservation requires that species are monitored to ensure the persistence of species and ecosystem processes. In areas with large numbers of threatened species, this can be a major challenge. Here we explore prioritising species of special concern on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, conserved primarily in the Table Mountain National Park. With 307 terrestrial plant and animal species listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List (plus 208 as non-least concern) and 332 endemic to the Peninsula, it is impossible to monitor and manage all species with current resources. At a workshop of conservation managers and ecosystem and taxonomical specialists, 14 variables were incorporated into a simple scoring scheme to develop a priority listing of these species. Despite care to ensure that variables were independent, there was strong autocorrelation amongst biotic versus management variables. There was concern that biotic variables would be masked by management criteria, but this was not the case. We propose that monitoring should focus on as many top-scoring species as resources allow (including volunteers) and that setting a cut-off value for delimiting sensitive species should be eschewed. A major challenge is that many species are typical of lowland ecosystems, which are poorly represented in the national park. Although priority species for monitoring have been identified, this will need to be tempered with the monitoring costs and logistics of implementing the programme.Conservation implications: Owing to the large number of threatened and endemic species in the Cape Peninsula, it is impossible to monitor all species with current resources. Management must focus on ecosystem maintenance as species-focused management will inevitably result in conflict with other threatened species. Monitoring should focus on as many top-scoring species as resources allow. The costs and logistics of a monitoring programme still need to be worked out.

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Reappearance of the rare Shingle Urchin Colobocentrotus (Podophora) atratus (Camarodonta: Echinometridae) after eight decades from the rocky shore of Kodiyaghat (Port Blair), South Andaman Islands, India

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.2406.8.11.9377-9380 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 9377 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vikas Pandey ◽

T. Ganesh

Keyword(s):

Coastal Waters ◽

Marine Species ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Andaman Islands ◽

The South ◽

South Andaman ◽

Sparse Population ◽

Initial Description ◽

Iucn Red List Criteria ◽

Available Information

The present work is aimed at facilitating conservation efforts of a rare species of sea urchin (Colobocentrotus atratus) reported nearly eight decades after its initial description by Bell (1887) and later by Clarke (1925) from the coastal waters of south Andaman Islands. Recently, during a three years study (2011-14) on the macrobenthic epifauna along the south Andaman coast, five live specimens of C. atratus were recorded from Kodiyaghat (11031'532''N; 092043'457'' E), south Andaman Islands. Available information shows that this species has reappeared in the south Andaman Islands seventy nine years after the citation by Sastry (1994) collected in the year 1935. The disappearance of this species from the literature in the intermittent years and a sparse population in coastal reaches of south Andaman Islands at present suggest that this species makes a candidate taxa for inclusion in the list of ‘endangered’ or ‘vulnerable’ Indian marine species following IUCN Red List criteria to Wild species.

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