Assessing rarity and threat in an arid-zone flora

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 336 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Silcock ◽  
R. J. Fensham ◽  
T. G. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Plant Biology ◽  
The Status ◽  
Narrow Endemics ◽  
Threatening Processes ◽  
Current List

An understanding of rarity and how it relates to extinction risk is a central concern of conservation biology. Classic conceptions of rarity revolve around spatial rarity, based on distribution and abundance, rather than temporal rarity, where species may be common following certain conditions but rare for most of the time. This form of rarity is likely to be especially prevalent in highly variable arid systems. Rarity in the arid zone is also characterised by poorly understood threats, such as grazing, and may also reflect low collection effort given the vast and inaccessible areas involved. This study explores rarity and threat in the arid zone, based on the flora of a large region of western Queensland. The status of all species known to occur in the study area was systematically assessed, and the current list of threatened species was examined for bias in forms of rarity, life forms and habitats. Five threat syndromes were identified, arising from the interaction of plant biology and threatening processes. Over 60 potentially threatened species have been overlooked in the listing process. The list is dominated by narrow endemics from residual and spring habitats and the species from springs at least are genuinely threatened. Widespread but sparsely occurring species are under-represented in the current list, as are grasses. With the exception of spring-dependent species, plant conservation in western Queensland is currently constrained by lack of basic data on distribution, abundance, population dynamics and realistic threat syndromes for nearly all species. Separating the influence of genuine rarity, temporal rarity and low collection effort, as well as a more detailed understanding of threatening processes are needed to address plant conservation in the arid zone.

Using evidence of decline and extinction risk to identify priority regions, habitats and threats for plant conservation in Australia

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (7) ◽  
pp. 541 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Silcock ◽  
R. J. Fensham
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
State Legislation ◽  
Risk Of Extinction ◽  
The Status ◽  
Species Lists ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Efficient Recovery

Threatened species lists are used at global, national and regional scales to identify species at risk of extinction. Many species are listed due to restricted population size or geographic distribution, and decline is often inferred rather than quantified. Vascular plants comprise over 70% of nationally listed threatened species, but there is an incomplete picture of which species are most at risk of extinction, where these occur and the factors behind their declines. We compiled published information and the best available field knowledge including 125 expert interviews to identify declining and at risk species. The candidate list comprised 1135 taxa, which were mostly listed as Critically Endangered or Endangered under Federal and/or State legislation, but included 80 that are currently unlisted but considered to be highly threatened. In total, 418 taxa were assessed as having a documented, suspected or projected continuing decline. These were ranked based on extinction risk and magnitude of continuing decline, which suggest that 296 are at risk of extinction under current management regimes, including 55 at high risk of extinction. Declining and imperilled taxa are concentrated in a relatively small number of regions and habitats, and six threatening processes are driving the majority of declines. Field surveys and robust, repeatable monitoring are required to better inform population trends and extinction risk, as well as inform the status of almost 200 taxa that are potentially imperilled but poorly known. Identification of declining taxa can identify key issues for flora conservation across a continent, and allow for targeted and efficient recovery efforts.

scholarly journals A National assessment of aichi biodiversity target 12 – an international conservation initiative

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirandeep K Dhami
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
National Assessment ◽  
The Status ◽  
Aichi Biodiversity Targets ◽  
Conservation Plans ◽  
Taking Action

The Aichi Biodiversity targets are a set of twenty targets for the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) that were developed with the intention to help each participating country to measure the progress made in preventing the loss of biological diversity. These targets provide a 10-year period for taking action by the countries. These targets setup in 2010 are expected to be achieved within 2020 by all the 193 countries signatory to CBD. Aichi Biodiversity Target 12 is considered to be one of the most important targets, which is directly or indirectly linked to all of the other 19 CBD Targets. Aichi-12 sets up the goal for each country to prevent the extinction of known threatened species and improve the conservation status of those species that are on decline. This target calls for establishment of conservation plans for species that face a high risk to extinction. Hence, it is of urgent need to understand the extinction risk posed to each of the threatened species in the country and the factors that are responsible for the population decline in species. Therefore, it is important for taking initiatives to remove/reduce those factors posing risk to the survival of species. This study presents a brief overview of the status and progress made by India towards achievement of Aichi-12.

scholarly journals How Threatened Is Scincella huanrenensis? An Update on Threats and Trends

Conservation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-72
Author(s):  
Yucheol Shin ◽  
Kevin R. Messenger ◽  
Kyo Soung Koo ◽  
Sang Cheol Lee ◽  
Mian Hou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Republic Of China ◽  
The Status ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Dynamics Of Population

It is important to understand the dynamics of population size to accurately assess threats and implement conservation activities when required. However, inaccurate estimates are harming both the threat estimation process, and the resulting conservation actions. Here, we address the extinction threats to Scincella huanrenensis, a species described in the People’s Republic of China, but also occurring on the Korean peninsula. Estimating the threats to the species is not an easy task due to its unknown population status in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Here we analysed the literature to acquire the known presence point for the species, along with datapoints originating from opportunistic field surveys, and employed habitat suitability models to estimate the range of the species. We then followed the categories and criteria of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species to assess the extinction risk of the species. We found the species not to be fitting the threatened category at the global scale based on the range size, the only category for which enough data was available. We recommend the status of the species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species to be updated as it is now listed as critically endangered (CR), a listing fitting a national assessment for the People’s Republic (PR) of China. While this species is possibly less threatened than currently listed, this is not a genuine improvement, and specific conservation aspects should not be neglected due to its specialisation to medium to high elevation habitat.

scholarly journals Brazilian Botanic Gardens

2017 ◽  
pp. 97-117
Author(s):  
Maria Lucia M.N Da Costa ◽  
Mike Maunder ◽  
Tania S. Pereira ◽  
Ariane L. Peixoto
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Loss ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Red List ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
The Status ◽  
Ex Situ Collections ◽  
Technical Capacity

We argue that botanic gardens, as plant conservation focused institutions, have been tested in temperate regions that possess a relatively robust conservation infrastructure and a relatively low number of threatened species. The ability of the Brazilian botanic gardens to support plant conservation is especially challenging, given their small number relative to Brazil’s plant diversity and the increasing rate of habitat loss and plant endangerment. This study, the first for Brazil, assesses the conservation capacity of Brazilian botanic gardens. An assessment is made of the status of conservation facilities in Brazilian botanic gardens and the conservation status of their plant collections.This was based on a survey sent to thirty-six Brazilian botanic gardens in 2011– 2013 using information from the 2008 Brazilian Red List, and seven state conservation lists. The results identified a small percentage of threatened species (n =102/21 per cent) in ex situ collections of 22 botanic gardens and less than 10 per cent representation for each state red list. An assessment based on the updated Brazilian Red List (2014) showed that 425 threatened species were maintained in living collections of 18 botanic gardens. Despite the extensive size of some collections, the proportion of threatened species in the collections was found to be very low. Improvement in infrastructure, technical capacity, including horticultural skills, and development of policies and protocols will benecessary to increase the effectiveness of the collections for conservation aims.

scholarly journals The Demographic History of Micro-endemics: Have Rare Species Always Been Rare?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Helmstetter ◽  
Stuart Cable ◽  
Franck Rakotonasolo ◽  
Romer Rabarijaona ◽  
Mijoro Rakotoarinivo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Rare Species ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Demographic History ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Conservation Assessment ◽  
History Of ◽  
Narrow Endemics ◽  
Data Deficient

AbstractExtinction has increased as human activities impact ecosystems. Conservation assessments for the IUCN red list are a fundamental tool in aiding the prevention of further extinction, yet, relatively few species have been thoroughly assessed. To increase the efficiency of assessments, novel approaches are needed to highlight threatened species that are currently data deficient. Many Madagascan plant species currently have extremely narrow ranges, but this may not have always been the case. To assess this, we used high-throughput DNA sequencing for 2-5 individuals of each species - reflecting the paucity of samples available for rare species. We estimated effective population size (Ne) for each species and compared this to census population (Nc) sizes when known. In each case, Ne was an order of magnitude larger than Nc – a signature of rapid, recent population decline. We then estimated the demographic history of each species, tracking changes in Ne over time. Five out of ten species displayed significant population declines towards the present (68–90% decreases). Our results for palm trees indicate that it is possible to predict extinction risk, particularly in the most threatened species. We performed simulations to show that our approach has the power to detect population decline during the Anthropocene, but performs less well when less data is used. Similar declines to those in palms were observed in data deficient species or those assessed as of least concern. These analyses reveal that Madagascar’s narrow endemics were not always rare, having experienced rapid decline in their recent history. Our approach offers the opportunity to target species in need of conservation assessment with little prior information, particularly in regions where human modification of the environment has been rapid.SummaryCurrent IUCN conservation assessment methods are reliant on observed declines in species population and range sizes over the last one hundred years, but for the majority of species this information is not available. We used a population genetic approach to reveal historical demographic decline in the rare endemic flora of Madagascar. These results show that it is possible to predict extinction risk from demographic patterns inferred from genetic data and that destructive human influence is likely to have resulted in the very high frequency of narrow endemics present on the island. Our approach will act as an important tool for rapidly assessing the threatened status of poorly known species in need of further study and conservation, particularly for tropical flora and fauna.

scholarly journals Global extinction risk for seahorses, pipefishes and their near relatives (Syngnathiformes)

Oryx ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Riley A. Pollom ◽  
Gina M. Ralph ◽  
Caroline M. Pollock ◽  
Amanda C.J. Vincent
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Habitat Degradation ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Selective Extraction ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Point Estimate ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
Data Deficient

Abstract Few marine taxa have been comprehensively assessed for their conservation status, despite heavy pressures from fishing, habitat degradation and climate change. Here we report on the first global assessment of extinction risk for 300 species of syngnathiform fishes known as of 2017, using the IUCN Red List criteria. This order of bony teleosts is dominated by seahorses, pipefishes and seadragons (family Syngnathidae). It also includes trumpetfishes (Aulostomidae), shrimpfishes (Centriscidae), cornetfishes (Fistulariidae) and ghost pipefishes (Solenostomidae). At least 6% are threatened, but data suggest a mid-point estimate of 7.9% and an upper bound of 38%. Most of the threatened species are seahorses (Hippocampus spp.: 14/42 species, with an additional 17 that are Data Deficient) or freshwater pipefishes of the genus Microphis (2/18 species, with seven additional that are Data Deficient). Two species are Near Threatened. Nearly one-third of syngnathiformes (97 species) are Data Deficient and could potentially be threatened, requiring further field research and evaluation. Most species (61%) were, however, evaluated as Least Concern. Primary threats to syngnathids are (1) overexploitation, primarily by non-selective fisheries, for which most assessments were determined by criterion A (Hippocampus) and/or (2) habitat loss and degradation, for which assessments were determined by criterion B (Microphis and some Hippocampus). Threatened species occurred in most regions but more are found in East and South-east Asia and in South African estuaries. Vital conservation action for syngnathids, including constraining fisheries, particularly non-selective extraction, and habitat protection and rehabilitation, will benefit many other aquatic species.

scholarly journals Conservation Status of Marine Biodiversity in Oceania: An Analysis of Marine Species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth A. Polidoro ◽  
Cristiane T. Elfes ◽  
Jonnell C. Sanciangco ◽  
Helen Pippard ◽  
Kent E. Carpenter
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Conservation Action

Given the economic and cultural dependence on the marine environment in Oceania and a rapidly expanding human population, many marine species populations are in decline and may be vulnerable to extinction from a number of local and regional threats. IUCN Red List assessments, a widely used system for quantifying threats to species and assessing species extinction risk, have been completed for 1190 marine species in Oceania to date, including all known species of corals, mangroves, seagrasses, sea snakes, marine mammals, sea birds, sea turtles, sharks, and rays present in Oceania, plus all species in five important perciform fish groups. Many of the species in these groups are threatened by the modification or destruction of coastal habitats, overfishing from direct or indirect exploitation, pollution, and other ecological or environmental changes associated with climate change. Spatial analyses of threatened species highlight priority areas for both site- and species-specific conservation action. Although increased knowledge and use of newly available IUCN Red List assessments for marine species can greatly improve conservation priorities for marine species in Oceania, many important fish groups are still in urgent need of assessment.

Recent Developments

2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 268-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon C. Lovett
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Global Strategy ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
International Botanical ◽  
International Botanical Congress ◽  
The Status ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Essential Resource

At the 1999 International Botanical Congress held in St Louis, Missouri, the President of the Congress, Dr Peter Raven, presented a keynote address emphasizing the importance of plants to human existence and underlined concerns that the Earth is undergoing a human-induced extinction crisis. One of the resolutions of the congress was to establish a new co-ordinating body associated with the United Nations to monitor the status of plants throughout the world and take steps to conserve them. The resolutions were followed up with a meeting in Gran Canaria on 3–4 April, 2000 when leading botanists met to formulate a declaration which could be taken forward to the fifth Conference of the Parties (CoP5) to the Convention on Biological Diversity held in Nairobi in May 2000. CoP5 recognized that plant diversity is a common concern of humankind and an essential resource for the planet, with as many as two-thirds of the world's plant species in danger of extinction, and proposed that at the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP6) the establishment of a global strategy for plant conservation should be considered. A strategy with 16 targets was presented and adopted at the CoP6 meeting held in The Hague in April 2002. These targets differ from the normal approach adopted in the Convention on Biological Diversity of using general principles that can be interpreted by national policy, in that they are quantified.

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