Population and spatial breeding dynamics of a Critically Endangered Oriental White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis colony in Sindh Province, Pakistan

SummaryThe Critically Endangered Oriental White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis has declined across most of its range by over 95% since the mid-1990s. The primary cause of the decline and an ongoing threat is the ingestion by vultures of livestock carcasses containing residues of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, principally diclofenac. Recent surveys in Pakistan during 2010 and 2011 revealed very few vultures or nests, particularly of White-backed Vultures. From 2011 in the Tharparkar District of Sindh Province we monitored a colony of Oriental White-backed Vultures. Between 2011 and 2014 the number of active nests in this colony increased from 11 to 34 while nest density decreased from 13.7 to 9.2 nests km-2, suggesting that the colony is expanding. We conclude that the rate of increase is being subsidised by immigration, as the population demographics do not support the observed rate of increase in nests. We present the first analysis of spatial breeding dynamics for the Oriental White-backed Vulture and describe how a clustered pattern of nest trees in colonies supports a highly clustered pattern of nests. The spatial pattern of nests relies on both the distribution of trees and the ability of trees to support more than one nest. These results highlight that the preservation of larger nest trees and the sustainable management of timber resources are essential components for the conservation management of this species. We emphasise the high importance of this colony and a nearby Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus colony in this area of Pakistan. Recommended conservation management actions include the continuation of a Vulture Safe Zone established in 2012, measuring breeding success, assessing dispersal and determining the impact of mortality on these populations.

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Toxicity of diclofenac to Gyps vultures

Biology Letters ◽

10.1098/rsbl.2005.0425 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 279-282 ◽

Cited By ~ 107

Author(s):

Gerry E Swan ◽

Richard Cuthbert ◽

Miguel Quevedo ◽

Rhys E Green ◽

Deborah J Pain ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Asia ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Veterinary Drug ◽

Safety Testing ◽

Gyps Fulvus ◽

Gyps Indicus ◽

Gyps Bengalensis ◽

Alternative Drugs

Three endemic vulture species Gyps bengalensis , Gyps indicus and Gyps tenuirostris are critically endangered following dramatic declines in South Asia resulting from exposure to diclofenac, a veterinary drug present in the livestock carcasses that they scavenge. Diclofenac is widely used globally and could present a risk to Gyps species from other regions. In this study, we test the toxicity of diclofenac to a Eurasian ( Gyps fulvus ) and an African ( Gyps africanus ) species, neither of which is threatened. A dose of 0.8 mg kg −1 of diclofenac was highly toxic to both species, indicating that they are at least as sensitive to diclofenac as G. bengalensis , for which we estimate an LD 50 of 0.1–0.2 mg kg −1 . We suggest that diclofenac is likely to be toxic to all eight Gyps species, and that G. africanus , which is phylogenetically close to G. bengalensis , would be a suitable surrogate for the safety testing of alternative drugs to diclofenac.

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Genetic impacts of conservation management actions in a critically endangered parrot species

Conservation Genetics ◽

10.1007/s10592-020-01292-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (5) ◽

pp. 869-877 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Caitlin E. Morrison ◽

Rebecca N. Johnson ◽

Catherine E. Grueber ◽

Carolyn J. Hogg

Keyword(s):

Conservation Management ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Management Actions ◽

Parrot Species

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Status and population of vultures in Moyar Valley, southern India

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.2522.8.1.8358-8364 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 8358

Author(s):

R. Venkitachalam ◽

S. Senthilnathan

Keyword(s):

Southern India ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Flock Size ◽

Tiger Reserve ◽

Forest Division ◽

Survey Results ◽

Gyps Indicus ◽

Gyps Bengalensis ◽

First Time

Four species of vultures were surveyed using road transects in two parts of the Moyar Valley, three of these are Critically Endangered by IUCN criteria and one is Endangered. The vulture study was done for the first time in Nilgiri North Forest Division and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve of Moyar Valley to determine the flock size in the three species of vultures and also to get a rough estimation of vultures. The results show higher flock size and higher densities in Nilgiri North Forest Division than in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve and the most numerous of these was the White-rumped Vulture. There is also evidence of seasonal movements in Nilgiri North Forest Division. These data represent the first systematic survey results from the area and demonstrate the significance of the Moyar Valley for all four Endangered vulture species, probably the main stronghold remaining in southern India. They are White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Indian Vulture Gyps indicus, Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus and Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus. The study recommends that immediate long-term conservation efforts should be taken to save the Critically Endangered vultures in the Moyar Valley.<div> </div>

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Chasing the phantom: biogeography and conservation of Vipera latastei-monticola in the Maghreb (North Africa)

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/15685381-17000197 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

pp. 145-161 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Inês Freitas ◽

Soumia Fahd ◽

Guillermo Velo-Antón ◽

Fernando Martínez-Freiría

Keyword(s):

North Africa ◽

Habitat Degradation ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Niche Modelling ◽

Habitat Transformation ◽

Mountain Ranges ◽

Management Actions ◽

Suitable Space ◽

The Impact

Abstract The Maghreb region (North Africa) constitutes a major component of the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot. During the last centuries, a consistent human population growth has led to an unprecedented rate of habitat transformation and loss in the region and thus, threatening its biodiversity. The Western Mediterranean viper Vipera latastei-monticola inhabits humid and subhumid areas in the main mountain ranges of the Maghreb, facing such threatening factors; however, its elusive character and rarity hindered data collection for distinct biological purposes. Here, we study the biogeographical patterns and conservation status of the Maghrebian V. latastei-monticola resulting from recent sampling campaigns in Morocco and Tunisia. We update species distribution, and integrate phylogeographic and ecological niche modelling analyses at both species and lineage level to identify suitable areas, and to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic transformation and level of protection of their suitable space. We identified four highly divergent mitochondrial lineages, including a new lineage endemic to the Western High Atlas, with allopatric distributions and restricted to mountain ranges, supporting the role of mountains as past climatic refugia. Despite the remoteness of suitable areas, we report widespread habitat degradation and identify the low effectiveness of the current protected areas system in preserving the species and lineages range. Our study shows the urgent need to apply management actions for the long-term conservation of this vulnerable species and suggests a revaluation of the specific status of V. monticola, as these populations likely represent an ecotype of V. latastei.

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Crisis Management in Higher Education in the Time of Covid-19: The Case of Actor Training

Education Sciences ◽

10.3390/educsci11030132 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 132

Author(s):

Anna McNamara

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Crisis Management ◽

High Frequency ◽

High Reliability ◽

Actor Training ◽

Management Actions ◽

The Usa ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact ◽

High Frequency Words

The impact of Covid-19 placed Higher Education leadership in a state of crisis management, where decision making had to be swift and impactful. This research draws on ethea of mindfulness, actor training techniques, referencing high-reliability organisations (HRO). Interviews conducted by the author with three leaders of actor training conservatoires in Higher Education institutions in Australia, the UK and the USA reflect on crisis management actions taken in response to the impact of Covid-19 on their sector, from which high-frequency words are identified and grouped thematically. Reflecting on these high-frequency words and the thematic grouping, a model of mindful leadership is proposed as a positive tool that may enable those in leadership to recognise and respond efficiently to wider structural frailties within Higher Education, with reference to the capacity of leaders to operate with increased mindfulness, enabling a more resilient organisation that unlocks the locus of control.

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Long-term changes in the plant ecology of an African savanna landscape and the implications for ecosystem theory and conservation management

Ecological Processes ◽

10.1186/s13717-021-00286-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

David Western ◽

Victor N. Mose ◽

David Maitumo ◽

Caroline Mburu

Keyword(s):

Human Impact ◽

National Parks ◽

Conservation Management ◽

Plant Ecology ◽

Ecological Resilience ◽

Pasture Production ◽

Ecosystem Theory ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Studies of the African savannas have used national parks to test ecological theories of natural ecosystems, including equilibrium, non-equilibrium, complex adaptive systems, and the role of top-down and bottom-up physical and biotic forces. Most such studies have excluded the impact of pastoralists in shaping grassland ecosystems and, over the last half century, the growing human impact on the world’s rangelands. The mounting human impact calls for selecting indicators and integrated monitoring methods able to track ecosystem changes and the role of natural and human agencies. Our study draws on five decades of monitoring the Amboseli landscape in southern Kenya to document the declining role of natural agencies in shaping plant ecology with rising human impact. Results We show that plant diversity and productivity have declined, biomass turnover has increased in response to a downsizing of mean plant size, and that ecological resilience has declined with the rising probability of extreme shortfalls in pasture production. The signature of rainfall and physical agencies in driving ecosystem properties has decreased sharply with growing human impact. We compare the Amboseli findings to the long-term studies of Kruger and Serengeti national parks to show that the human influence, whether by design or default, is increasingly shaping the ecology of savanna ecosystems. We look at the findings in the larger perspective of human impact on African grasslands and the world rangelands, in general, and discuss the implications for ecosystem theory and conservation policy and management. Conclusions The Amboseli study shows the value of using long-term integrated ecological monitoring to track the spatial and temporal changes in the species composition, structure, and function of rangeland ecosystems and the role of natural and human agencies in the process of change. The study echoes the widespread changes underway across African savannas and world’s rangelands, concluding that some level of ecosystem management is needed to prevent land degradation and the erosion of ecological function, services, and resilience. Despite the weak application of ecological theory to conservation management, a plant trait-based approach is shown to be useful in explaining the macroecological changes underway.

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Can farm-management practices reduce the impact of house mouse populations on crops in an irrigated farming system?

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr03063 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 31 (6) ◽

pp. 597 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Peter R. Brown ◽

Micah J. Davies ◽

Grant R. Singleton ◽

J. David Croft

Keyword(s):

House Mouse ◽

Management Practices ◽

Farming System ◽

Farm Management ◽

Advisory Panel ◽

Farming Practices ◽

Management Actions ◽

Winter Cereals ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

The impacts of a range of farm-management practices on house mouse (Mus domesticus) populations were tested in a large replicated field study in a complex irrigated farming system in southern New South Wales, Australia. An advisory panel, made up of farmers, extension officers, industry representatives and scientists developed a series of best-practice farm-management actions to minimise the impact of mice. Twelve experimental sites were split into six treated sites, where farmers were encouraged to conduct the recommended practices, and six untreated sites, where farmers conducted their normal farming practices. Mouse abundance was generally low to moderate for the 4-year project (5–60% adjusted trap success). We found significant reductions in population abundance of mice on treated sites when densities were moderate, but no differences when densities were low. Biomass of weeds and grasses around the perimeter of crops were significantly lower on treated sites because of applications of herbicide sprays and grazing by sheep. We could not detect any significant difference in mouse damage to crops between treated and untreated sites; however, levels of damage were low (<5%). Yields of winter cereals and rice crops were significantly higher on treated sites by up to 40%. An analysis of benefits and costs of conducting farming practices on treated sites compared with untreated sites showed a 2 : 1 benefit to cost ratio for winter cereals, 9 : 1 for rice and 4 : 1 for soybeans.

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Population genetic structure and dispersal of Pinus occidentalis in the Dominican Republic by chloroplastic SSR with implications for its conservation, management, and reforestation

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/cjfr-2021-0282 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Luis E. Rodríguez de Francisco ◽

Rosanna Carreras-De León ◽

Rafael M. Navarro Cerrillo ◽

Liz A. Paulino-Gervacio ◽

María-Dolores Rey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Dominican Republic ◽

Population Genetic Structure ◽

Population Genetic ◽

Conservation Management ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Limited Information ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

The Impact ◽

Pinus Occidentalis

Pinus occidentalis is the dominant species of forest ecosystems in the Dominican Republic, located between 200 and 3000 meters above sea level, with extensive and overexploited natural populations. However, over the years, various restoration plans have been performed, which could affect the genetic structure of P. occidentalis. Despite being the species with the highest occurrence in the Dominican forests, there is no existing information on genetic structure and molecular characterization among natural populations with limited information on both phenological and productive characterization. In this study, the genetic structure, diversity, and gene flow of the five P. occidentalis natural populations of the Dominican Republic were determined using microsatellite markers. A total of 145 individuals were genotyped with eight polymorphic chloroplastic microsatellites, producing an average of 41 haplotypes with high genetic diversity across populations (HE = 0.90). Significant population genetic structure was found between populations (FST = 0.123). These results reflect the impact of reforestation programs on natural populations and diluting the natural genetic signature. Analysis of population genetic data is, therefore, crucial for the breeding and conservation programs of P. occidentalis in the country.

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Distribution and habitat associations of the Critically Endangered frog Walkerana phrynoderma (Anura: Ranixalidae), with an assessment of potential threats, abundance, and morphology

Phyllomedusa Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v17i1p21-37 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 21

Author(s):

Arun Kanagavel ◽

Sethu Parvathy ◽

Abhiijth P. Chundakatil ◽

Neelesh Dahanukar ◽

Benjamin Tapley

Keyword(s):

Western Ghats ◽

Tamil Nadu ◽

Habitat Associations ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Time Activity ◽

Western Ghats Of India ◽

Pesticide Runoff ◽

The Impact ◽

The Western Ghats

Distribution and habitat associations of the Critically Endangered frog Walkerana phrynoderma (Anura: Ranixalidae), with an assessment of potential threats, abundance, and morphology. Little is known about Walkerana phrynoderma, a frog endemic to the Anamalai Hills of the Western Ghats of India. Baseline information (i.e., distribution, threats, habitat characteristics, activity patterns, and relative abundance) is provided for this species, with the aim of improving our understanding of the status of the species in the wild. Visual-encounter, transect, and time-activity budget surveys were conducted in and around the Anamalai Hills of the Western Ghats. The frog skin was swabbed to determine the presence/absence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, and habitat and environmental characteristics were recorded at sites where W. phrynoderma was found. These data were compared with those of sites apparently lacking this species that had suitable habitat. Walkerana phrynoderma is restricted to evergreen forests between 1300 and 1700 m a.s.l. in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve and at Munnar; thus, its range was extended from the state of Tamil Nadu to the adjoining state of Kerala. Pesticide runoff and human disturbance are the most severe threats to the species; B. dendrobatidis was not detected. This nocturnal anuran prefers forest edges and is associated with well-shaded forest foors in cool areas near freshwater streams. Walkerana phrynoderma is rarely encountered whereas its congener, W. leptodactyla, is more common. The impact of anthropogenic disturbances, especially waste disposal and development of tourism infrastructure, should be evaluated. The land that is owned by the Forest Department peripheral to the protected areas could be designated as eco-sensitive sites to prevent changes in land use that could have an adverse effect on W. phrynoderma.

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SEPARATED KIN: RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION AND MENTAL HEALTH TRAJECTORIES OF OLDER ADULTS LEFT BEHIND IN RURAL CHINA

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.3223 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S880-S880

Author(s):

Zhiyong Lin

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Rural China ◽

Well Being ◽

Migrant Children ◽

Urban Migration ◽

Left Behind ◽

Rate Of Increase ◽

The Impact

Abstract As the processes of urbanization and globalization have intensified across the world, a burgeoning literature has documented the impact of emigration on the health of family members left behind in emigrant communities. Although the association between children’s migration and parental well-being is well documented, few have examined the health implications of children’s migration in the milieu of multiple children and further differentiated between children’s short-term and long-term migration. Therefore, I argue that it is not the geographic locality of a single child but the composition of all children’s location that matters. I further suggest that the impact of children’s migration on parental wellbeing is conditioned on the duration of children’s migration. Using a six waves longitudinal data (2001-2015) collected in rural China, this paper compares mental health (measured as depressive symptoms) trajectories of old adults (aged 60 and older) across different compositions of local and migrant children over a 14-year span. Results from growth curve models show that parents having more migrant children relative to local children experience a more rapid increase in depressive symptoms. In addition, older adults who have their most children migrate away for three or more waves of data have experienced the steepest rate of increase in depressive symptoms. These findings provide new evidence to support the life course processes of mental health disparities among older adults from the perspective of intergenerational proximity.

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