scholarly journals Swayne's hartebeest in Ethiopia: population estimate, genetic variability and competition with livestock

Oryx ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Misganaw Tamrat ◽  
Anagaw Atickem ◽  
Øystein Flagstad ◽  
Martha Fischer ◽  
Christian Roos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Population Genetic ◽  
National Park ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Ethiopian Rift ◽  
Population Genetic Analysis ◽  
D Loop

Abstract Swayne's hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei was once widely distributed in the Horn of Africa. By the early 20th century, however, it was extirpated across most of its range and is now limited to two relict populations in the Ethiopian Rift Valley and categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. In this study, we estimated the size and genetic diversity of these two remaining populations, with a particular focus on competition with livestock. We used a total block count method for both Swayne's hartebeest and livestock population counts, and faecal samples for a population genetic analysis. We estimated the total population of Swayne's hartebeest to be 1,528, with 518 individuals in Senkele Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary and 1,010 individuals in Maze National Park. Livestock densities were 212 and 153 times those of Swayne's hartebeest in Senkele Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary and Maze National Park, respectively. Among 73 mitochondrial D-loop sequences (34 from Senkele Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary and 39 from Maze National Park), we found 22 haplotypes (Senkele 12, Maze 16, shared 6). Population genetic parameters suggest only weak sub-structuring between the two populations (FST = 0.164). Despite the positive population trends in both protected areas, the spatial overlap with livestock may lead to future population decline as a result of resource competition and disease transmission. We therefore recommend further translocation to other protected areas within the species’ former range.

scholarly journals Dramatic decline of the Vulnerable Reeves's pheasant Syrmaticus reevesii, endemic to central China

Oryx ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 529-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunfa Zhou ◽  
Jiliang Xu ◽  
Zhengwang Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Central China ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Dramatic Decline ◽  
Syrmaticus Reevesii

AbstractThe current status and distribution of the Vulnerable Reeves's pheasant Syrmaticus reevesii, endemic to central China, is poorly known. To obtain updated information on its status we selected 89 candidate sites in six provinces and one municipality in central China and conducted interviews and field surveys from April 2011 to April 2012. Interviews demonstrated the pheasant has disappeared from 46% of the surveyed sites. Our results also revealed a population decline at 46 sites, including protected areas, although population densities in protected areas were higher than those in non-protected areas. Eighty-three, 26 and 20% of the surveyed sites had evidence of poaching, habitat loss and use of poison, respectively, which were the three major threats to this species. To ensure the long-term survival of Reeves's pheasant in China, protection and management need to be enforced in both protected and non-protected areas. We recommend that this species should be upgraded to a national first-level protected species in China and recategorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

scholarly journals Attitudes towards conservation of the Endangered red panda Ailurus fulgens in Nepal: a case study in protected and non-protected areas

Oryx ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 542-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hari P. Sharma ◽  
Jerrold L. Belant ◽  
Pei-Jen L. Shaner
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Red Panda ◽  
Ailurus Fulgens

AbstractThe red panda Ailurus fulgens is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is threatened by anthropogenic pressures such as livestock grazing. We surveyed people living in or near protected areas and people living away from protected areas in Nepal, to understand human attitudes towards red panda conservation. Given Nepal's participatory approach to managing protected areas, we hypothesized that local people living in or near protected areas would have more positive attitudes towards red panda conservation than those in non-protected areas. Ninety percent of the 142 respondents had positive attitudes, with people living in or near protected areas expressing less positive attitudes than those in non-protected areas. Despite this difference between protected and non-protected areas, people were generally positive towards red panda conservation. However, positive attitudes did not necessarily translate to sustainable resource-use behaviour. We found there was a high prevalence of both livestock grazing and livestock disease in red panda habitat. We suggest that alternative farming practices (e.g. stall-feeding of livestock) and awareness programmes (e.g. education on the conservation status and legal protection of red pandas, and livestock–wildlife disease transmission) could be important tools to improve conservation attitudes and protect red pandas in Nepal.

scholarly journals The Presence of IUCN Red List Tree Species in Dependence of Site Characteristics in the Vietnamese Cat Ba National Park

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 104
Author(s):  
Van Vien Pham ◽  
Christian Ammer ◽  
Peter Annighöfer
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Rock Surface ◽  
Cluster Sampling ◽  
Endangered Tree ◽  
Site Characteristics

Rare or endangered tree species are important components of forest ecosystems and play a crucial role in management and conservation. Understanding what influences their presence is critical for managers, conservationists and planners. This study presents results of a comprehensive inventory of the tree species and site characteristics in the Vietnamese Cat Ba National Park (CBNP). An adaptive cluster sampling technique was applied to study the effect of human disturbance, soil properties, and terrain conditions on the presence of IUCN Red List tree species (all individuals > 5 cm diameter at breast height) in three strictly protected areas in CBNP, which have varying levels of isolation. Data from 239 sample plots (500 m2 each) were analyzed. Tree species recorded during the inventory were assigned to two categories: IUCN Red List and other. Our results showed that site characteristics differed in the three protected areas along with the presence of IUCN Red List tree species. IUCN Red List tree species were more frequently found on less favorable soils (low soil depth) and in terrain with more pronounced slopes and with a higher rock surface area (%). However, there is no indication from existing information on the autecology of the different Red List species that the site conditions hosting the species are the ones favored by the species, even on the contrary for some. Although direct signs of human activity (paths, animal traps) could not be related to the presence of Red List tree species, the data suggest that the accessibility of the sites is a strong negative driver for the presence of Red List tree species. We conclude that protection of the forests of the Cat Ba Island should be stricter to allow the IUCN Red List tree species to grow under more appropriate conditions, which then would allow studying their ecology in more detail. This would further allow deriving more precise recommendations for their future protection.

scholarly journals Chromosome-scale assembly and whole-genome sequencing of 266 giant panda roundworms provide insights into their evolution, adaptation and potential drug targets

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Han ◽  
Tianming Lan ◽  
Desheng Li ◽  
Haimeng Li ◽  
Linhua Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Population Genetic ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Giant Panda ◽  
Host Population ◽  
Potential Drug ◽  
Chitin Synthesis ◽  
Population Genetic Analysis ◽  
A Genome ◽  
The Impact

Helminth diseases have long been a threat to the health of humans and animals. Roundworms are important organisms for studying parasitic mechanisms, disease transmission and prevention. The study of parasites in the giant panda is of importance for understanding how roundworms adapt to the host. Here, we report a high-quality chromosome-scale genome of Baylisascaris schroederi with a genome size of 253.60 Mb and 19,262 predicted protein-coding genes. We found that gene families related to epidermal chitin synthesis and environmental information processes in the roundworm genome have expanded significantly. Furthermore, we demonstrated unique genes involved in essential amino acid metabolism in the B. schroederi genome, inferred to be essential for the adaptation to the giant panda-specific diet. In addition, under different deworming pressures, we found that four resistance-related genes (glc-1, nrf-6, bre-4 and ced-7) were under strong positive selection in a captive population. Finally, 23 known drug targets and 47 potential drug target proteins (essential homologues linked to lethal phenotypes) were identified. The genome provides a unique reference for inferring the early evolution of roundworms and their adaptation to the host. Population genetic analysis and drug sensitivity prediction provide insights revealing the impact of deworming history on population genetic structure of importance for disease prevention.

scholarly journals Chromosome-scale assembly and whole-genome sequencing of 266 giant panda roundworms provide insights into their evolution, adaptation and potential drug targets

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Han ◽  
Tianming Lan ◽  
Desheng Li ◽  
Haimeng Li ◽  
Linhua Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Population Genetic ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Giant Panda ◽  
Chitin Synthesis ◽  
Population Genetic Analysis ◽  
Adaptation Mechanism ◽  
Living Fossil ◽  
A Genome ◽  
The Impact

Helminth diseases have long been a threat to the health of humans and animals. Roundworms are important organisms for studying parasitic mechanisms, disease transmission and prevention. The study of parasites in the living fossil giant panda is of great significance for understanding the adaptation mechanism of roundworms to the host. Here, we report a high-quality chromosome-scale genome of Baylisascaris schroederi with a genome size of 262 Mb and 19,291 predicted protein-coding genes. We found a significant expansion of genes related to epidermal chitin synthesis and environmental information processing in roundworms genome. Furthermore, we demonstrated unique genes involved in essential amino acid metabolism in the B. schroederi genome, inferred to be essential for the adaptation to the giant panda-specific diet. In addition, under different deworming pressures, we found that four resistance-related genes (glc-1, nrf-6, bre-4 and ced-7) were under strong positive selection in captive population. Finally, 23 known drug targets and 47 potential target proteins were identified. The genome provides a unique reference for inferring the early evolution of roundworms and the mechanisms underlying adaptive. Population genetic analysis and drug prediction provide insights for revealing the impact of deworming history on population genetic structure and prevention.

scholarly journals Human-related factors regulate the presence of domestic dogs in protected areas

Oryx ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 254-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina A. Soto ◽  
Francisco Palomares
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Native Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Domestic Dogs ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Doñana National Park ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Management Actions

AbstractThe presence of domestic species such as dogs Canis familiaris in protected areas can cause problems for native species as a result of competition, predation and disease transmission. To improve our ability to design effective control policies we investigated the factors affecting detection of dog tracks in a Mediterranean national park.We investigated the presence of dogs across 69 2 × 2 km grid squares in Doñana National Park in south-west Spain and used logistic regression models to analyse the associated environmental and human constraints. We did not detect dogs in areas away from the edges of the national park close to human settlements (track census effort > 470 km) and the detection of dog tracks was correlated with human presence. We conclude that domestic dogs occasionally enter the Park from the surrounding area and are a direct threat to wildlife at the edges of the Park. Management actions to reduce the effects of domestic dogs in protected areas where feral dog populations are not established should focus on the spatial extent of local settlements, regulation and awareness-raising to encourage responsible dog-ownership, and control measures such as removing un-owned dogs from boundaries and areas close to human dwellings, and forbidding unleashed dogs in public facilities.

scholarly journals No Limits of Acceptable Change: A Proposed Research Framework for Informing Visitor Use Management in the Context of Cultural Resources

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 377
Author(s):  
Zachary D. Miller ◽  
Wayne Freimund ◽  
Stefani A. Crabtree ◽  
Ethan P. Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
National Park ◽  
Cultural Resources ◽  
Cultural Resource ◽  
Limits Of Acceptable Change ◽  
The Us ◽  
Visitor Use ◽  
Material Evidence

Cultural resources are commonly defined as resources that provide material evidence of past human activities. These resources are unique, as they are both finite and non-renewable. This provides a challenge for traditional visitor use management since these resources have no limits of acceptable change. However, with nearly every national park in the US containing cultural resources, coupled with ever-growing visitation, it is essential that managers of parks and protected areas have the ability to make science-informed decisions about cultural resources in the context of visitor use management. We propose a framework that can help provide context and exploration for these challenges. Drawing on previous literature, this framework includes risk-based approaches to decision making about visitor use; visitor cognitions related to cultural resources; emotions, mood, and affect related to cultural resource experiences; creating and evaluating interpretive programs; deviant visitor behaviors related to cultural resources; and co-management.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document