scholarly journals Determining priority areas for an Endangered cold-adapted snake on warming mountaintops

Oryx ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Edvárd Mizsei ◽  
Márton Szabolcs ◽  
Loránd Szabó ◽  
Zoltán Boros ◽  
Kujtim Mersini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Range Shift ◽  
Conservation Value ◽  
Systematic Conservation Planning ◽  
Remotely Sensed Data ◽  
Cold Adapted ◽  
Priority Areas ◽  
Spatial Prioritization

Abstract Spatial prioritization in systematic conservation planning has traditionally been developed for several to many species and/or habitats, and single-species applications are rare. We developed a novel spatial prioritization model based on accurate estimates of remotely-sensed data and maps of threats potentially affecting long-term species persistence. We used this approach to identify priority areas for the conservation of the Endangered Greek meadow viper Vipera graeca, a cold-adapted species inhabiting mountaintops in the Pindos Mountains of Greece and Albania. We transformed the mapped threats into nine variables to estimate conservation value: habitat suitability (climate suitability, habitat size, occupancy, vegetation suitability), climate change (future persistence, potential for altitudinal range shift) and land-use impact (habitat alteration, degradation, disturbance). We applied the Zonation systematic conservation planning tool with these conservation value variables as biodiversity features to rank the areas currently occupied by the species and to identify priority areas where the chances for population persistence are highest. We found that 90% of current habitats will become unsuitable by the 2080s and that conservation actions need to be implemented to avoid extinction as this is already a threatened species with a narrow ecological niche. If threats are appropriately quantified and translated into variables of conservation value, spatial conservation planning tools can successfully identify priority areas for the conservation of single species. Our study demonstrates that spatial prioritization for single umbrella, flagship or keystone species is a promising approach for the conservation of species for which few data are available.

scholarly journals Systematic Conservation Planning for Intraspecific Genetic Diversity

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Paz-Vinas ◽  
Géraldine Loot ◽  
Virgilio Hermoso ◽  
Charlotte Veyssiere ◽  
Nicolas Poulet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Allelic Richness ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Intraspecific Diversity ◽  
Systematic Conservation Planning ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Conservation Units ◽  
Priority Areas

AbstractIntraspecific diversity informs the demographic and evolutionary histories of populations, and should be a main conservation target. Although approaches exist for identifying relevant biological conservation units, attempts to identify priority conservation areas for intraspecific diversity are scarce, especially within a multi-specific framework. We used neutral molecular data on six European freshwater fish species (Squalius cephalus, Phoxinus phoxinus, Barbatula barbatula, Gobio occitaniae, Leuciscus burdigalensis and Parachondrostoma toxostoma) sampled at the riverscape scale (i.e. the Garonne-Dordogne River basin, France) to determine hot- and cold-spots of genetic diversity, and to identify priority conservation areas using a systematic conservation planning approach. We demonstrate that systematic conservation planning is efficient for identifying priority areas representing a predefined part of the total genetic diversity of a whole landscape. With the exception of private allelic richness, classical genetic diversity indices (allelic richness, genetic uniqueness) were poor predictors for identifying priority areas. Moreover, we identified weak surrogacies among conservation solutions found for each species, implying that conservation solutions are highly species-specific. Nonetheless, we showed that priority areas identified using intraspecific genetic data from multiple species provide more effective conservation solutions than areas identified for single species or on the basis of traditional taxonomic criteria.

scholarly journals Systematic conservation planning for intraspecific genetic diversity

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1877) ◽  
pp. 20172746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Paz-Vinas ◽  
Géraldine Loot ◽  
Virgilio Hermoso ◽  
Charlotte Veyssière ◽  
Nicolas Poulet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Allelic Richness ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Intraspecific Diversity ◽  
Systematic Conservation Planning ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Conservation Units ◽  
Priority Areas

Intraspecific diversity informs the demographic and evolutionary histories of populations, and should be a main conservation target. Although approaches exist for identifying relevant biological conservation units, attempts to identify priority conservation areas for intraspecific diversity are scarce, especially within a multi-specific framework. We used neutral molecular data on six European freshwater fish species (Squalius cephalus,Phoxinus phoxinus, Barbatula barbatula,Gobio occitaniae,Leuciscus burdigalensisandParachondrostoma toxostoma) sampled at the riverscape scale (i.e. the Garonne-Dordogne river basin, France) to determine hot- and coldspots of genetic diversity, and to identify priority conservation areas using a systematic conservation planning approach. We demonstrate that systematic conservation planning is efficient for identifying priority areas representing a predefined part of the total genetic diversity of a whole landscape. With the exception of private allelic richness (PA), classical genetic diversity indices (allelic richness, genetic uniqueness) were poor predictors for identifying priority areas. Moreover, we identified weak surrogacies among conservation solutions found for each species, implying that conservation solutions are highly species-specific. Nonetheless, we showed that priority areas identified using intraspecific genetic data from multiple species provide more effective conservation solutions than areas identified for single species or on the basis of traditional taxonomic criteria.

scholarly journals Systematic conservation planning in Tsay Keh Dene Territory: incorporating climate change and interweaving traditional ecological knowledge

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Christopher Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
British Columbia ◽  
Traditional Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Geospatial Analysis ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Western Science ◽  
Conservation Value ◽  
Systematic Conservation Planning ◽  
North Central

Systematic Conservation Planning (SCP) is the practice of comprehensively assessing a landscape for its conservation value via geospatial analysis. This research project applied SCP principles and tools to Tsay Keh Dene Nation Territory in north-central British Columbia, Canada. Working with the Tsay Keh Dene community, we articulated conservation goals and determined important features on the landscape that helped attain those goals. This effort also examined climate change and connectivity impacts on conservation, comparing which lands are most worth conserving today versus 30 and 60 years from now. Finally, this work explored the interweaving of Traditional Ecological Knowledge with the Western science-based SCP framework to ensure a more holistic and inclusive outcome. Our findings both validated ongoing conservation efforts in the Territory and identified additional high-value areas for future consideration. This research can also serve as a guide for other accessible TEK-focused or community-led SCP efforts.

scholarly journals Systematic conservation planning in the eastern English Channel: comparing the Marxan and Zonation decision-support tools

2011 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliette Delavenne ◽  
Kristian Metcalfe ◽  
Robert J. Smith ◽  
Sandrine Vaz ◽  
Corinne S. Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Systematic Conservation Planning ◽  
Decision Support Tools ◽  
English Channel ◽  
Priority Areas ◽  
Support Tools

Abstract Delavenne, J., Metcalfe, K., Smith, R. J., Vaz, S., Martin, C. S., Dupuis, L., Coppin, F., and Carpentier, A. 2012. Systematic conservation planning in the eastern English Channel: comparing the Marxan and Zonation decision-support tools. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 75–83. The systematic conservation approach is now commonly used for the design of efficient marine protected area (MPA) networks, and identifying these priority areas often involves using specific conservation-planning software. Several such software programmes have been developed in recent years, each differing in the underlying algorithms used. Here, an investigation is made into whether the choice of software influences the location of priority areas by comparing outputs from Marxan and Zonation, two widely used conservation-planning, decision-support tools. Using biological and socio-economic data from the eastern English Channel, outputs are compared and it is shown that the two software packages identified similar sets of priority areas, although the relatively wide distribution of habitat types and species considered offered much flexibility. Moreover, the similarity increased with increasing spatial constraint, especially when using real-world cost data, suggesting that the choice of cost metric has a greater influence on conservation-planning analyses than the choice of software. However, Marxan generally produced more efficient results and Zonation produced results with greater connectivity, so the most appropriate software package will depend on the overall goals of the MPA planning process.

scholarly journals Global synthesis of conservation studies reveals the importance of small habitat patches for biodiversity

2018 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 909-914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan A. Wintle ◽  
Heini Kujala ◽  
Amy Whitehead ◽  
Alison Cameron ◽  
Sam Veloz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Island Biogeography ◽  
Conservation Policy ◽  
Conservation Value ◽  
Systematic Conservation Planning ◽  
Island Size ◽  
Habitat Patches ◽  
Island Biogeography Theory ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Conservation Decisions

Island biogeography theory posits that species richness increases with island size and decreases with isolation. This logic underpins much conservation policy and regulation, with preference given to conserving large, highly connected areas, and relative ambivalence shown toward protecting small, isolated habitat patches. We undertook a global synthesis of the relationship between the conservation value of habitat patches and their size and isolation, based on 31 systematic conservation planning studies across four continents. We found that small, isolated patches are inordinately important for biodiversity conservation. Our results provide a powerful argument for redressing the neglect of small, isolated habitat patches, for urgently prioritizing their restoration, and for avoiding simplistic application of island biogeography theory in conservation decisions.

Applying systematic conservation planning to improve the allocation of restoration actions at multiple spatial scales

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben L. Gilby ◽  
Andrew D. Olds ◽  
Christopher J. Brown ◽  
Rod M. Connolly ◽  
Christopher J. Henderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Systematic Conservation Planning ◽  
Multiple Spatial Scales

scholarly journals INVESTIGATING CROSS CONGRUENCE BETWEEN BUTTERFLY TAXA AND ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF SYSTEMATIC CONSERVATION PLANNING: A CASE STUDY FROM LESSER CAUCASUS ECOREGION OF TURKEY

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Banu Kaya özdemirel
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Systematic Conservation Planning ◽  
Ecological Community ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Lesser Caucasus

Cross taxa congruence was investigated between butterfly taxa and ecological community for fine spatial scale (10 × 10 km² UTM grids) in north-eastern part of Turkey. The study area was evaluated within the scope of systematic conservation planning, and analyses were performed for sets of priority protected areas composed using complementarity-based site selection software Marxan. Cross taxa congruence was subsequently examined both in species richness and ecologic complementarity. Accordingly, it has been observed that the cross-taxon congruence between butterfly taxa and ecological community was relatively better than the results of previous studies. Another remarkable finding is that ecological community was a more robust surrogate than butterfly taxa. Although the results are valuable for conservation studies, they highlight the fact that a simple surrogate-based site selection would be inadequate to represent overall biodiversity.  The weakness of congruence patterns among surrogates would also lead to gaps in biodiversity conservation. These findings therefore draw attention to the necessities of incorporating surrogates of distinct ecology or some other surrogates like environmental parameters into conservation planning. Otherwise, there may be mistakes regarding species representation and the vast majority of species may be misrepresented in protected areas and protected area plans. At this point, it should be emphasized that understating cross taxa congruence and/or relationships is a key component for efficient biodiversity conservation.

scholarly journals Are trade-offs between flexibility and efficiency in systematic conservation planning avoidable ?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrine Drira ◽  
Frida Ben Rais Lasram ◽  
Tarek Hattab ◽  
Yunne Jai Shin ◽  
Amel Ben Rejeb Jenhani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Efficient Solutions ◽  
Reserve Selection ◽  
Systematic Conservation Planning ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Selection Framework ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractSpecies distribution models (SDMs) have been proposed as a way to provide robust inference about species-specific sites suitabilities, and have been increasingly used in systematic conservation planning (SCP) applications. However, despite the fact that the use of SDMs in SCP may raise some potential issues, conservation studies have overlooked to assess the implications of SDMs uncertainties. The integration of these uncertainties in conservation solutions requires the development of a reserve-selection approach based on a suitable optimization algorithm. A large body of research has shown that exact optimization algorithms give very precise control over the gap to optimality of conservation solutions. However, their major shortcoming is that they generate a single binary and indivisible solution. Therefore, they provide no flexibility in the implementation of conservation solutions by stakeholders. On the other hand, heuristic decision-support systems provide large amounts of sub-optimal solutions, and therefore more flexibility. This flexibility arises from the availability of many alternative and sub-optimal conservation solutions. The two principles of efficiency and flexibility are implicitly linked in conservation applications, with the most mathematically efficient solutions being inflexible and the flexible solutions provided by heuristics suffering sub-optimality. In order to avoid the trade-offs between flexibility and efficiency in systematic conservation planning, we propose in this paper a new reserve-selection framework based on mathematical programming optimization combined with a post-selection of SDM outputs. This approach leads to a reserve-selection framework that might provide flexibility while simultaneously addressing efficiency and representativeness of conservation solutions and the adequacy of conservation targets. To exemplify the approach we a nalyzed an experimental design crossing pre- and post-selection of SDM outputs versus heuristics and exact mathematical optimizations. We used the Mediterranean Sea as a biogeographical template for our analyses, integrating the outputs of 8 SDM techniques for 438 fishes species.

Systematic Conservation Planning: Past, Present and Future

2011 ◽  
pp. 136-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. M. Watson ◽  
Hedley S. Grantham ◽  
Kerrie A. Wilson ◽  
Hugh P. Possingham
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Systematic Conservation Planning
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