Rapid population decline of an endemic oceanic island plant despite resilience to extensive habitat destruction and occurrence within protected areas

Abstract The drastic reduction of the Brazilian Cerrado has transformed this savanna hotspot into vast swaths of commodity-based agriculture fields, mainly soybean, sugarcane, and beef-production pasturelands. The resulting habitat loss and fragmentation are the principal factors underlying population decline of native species inhabiting the Cerrado, particularly those with a high demand for space, low population density, and specialized diet, such as the endangered giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). Although the species has been studied in protected areas, we know much less about its ability to endure in disturbed landscapes. Here, we analyzed camera-trapping data to estimate a proxy of habitat use (ψ^; occupancy) and detection probabilities of the giant anteater, identifying environmental covariates influencing these parameters in landscapes with intensive agriculture and commercial forestry. We found this species using about half of the study area (model average ψ^ = 0.51, CI = 0.40–0.62), with two predictors strongly influencing habitat use: protected areas and unpaved roads. In turn, detection probability correlates positively with area of open Cerrado and negatively with area of settlements. The species is more likely to use unpaved roads inside protected areas (ψ^ = 0.90, CI = 0.47–0.75), compared to off road sites in the surrounding areas (ψ^ = 0.19, CI = 0.10–0.34). Our findings indicate that giant anteaters are dependent on nature reserves and native vegetation areas existing on private properties, whose protection is regulated by the Brazilian Native Vegetation Protection Law. Given the relative paucity of state-owned protected areas in the Brazilian Cerrado, increasing the adherence of rural owners to this law is, therefore, key for the conservation of the giant anteater. The intense use of unpaved roads might reflect travelling and/or foraging optimization, a behavioral response that, nevertheless, may compound this species’ susceptibility to suffer mortality from roadkill.

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Description of two new species of Avicularia Lamarck 1818 and redescription of Avicularia diversipes (C. L. Koch 1842) (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Aviculariinae)—three possibly threatened Brazilian species

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2223.1.2 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2223 (1) ◽

pp. 25-47 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

ROGÉRIO BERTANI ◽

CAROLINE SAYURI FUKUSHIMA

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Original Description ◽

Color Pattern ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Southern State ◽

Two New Species ◽

Specimen Identification ◽

Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest

Avicularia diversipes (C. L. Koch 1842) known previously only from its original description is redescribed along with Avicularia sooretama sp. nov. and Avicularia gamba sp. nov. The three species are endemic to Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. With other Avicularia species, they share a procurved anterior eye row, slender embolus and medially folded spermathecae, whereas they have unusual characters, such as a very long and spiraled embolus (A. diversipes) and spermathecae with multilobular apex (A. sooretama sp. nov.). Furthermore, the three species lack a tibial apophysis in males and share a distinctive color pattern ontogeny that is not known in any other Avicularia species. The conservation status of the three species is discussed, especially with respect to endemism, illegal trafficking and habitat destruction. The creation of protected areas in southern State of Bahia, Brazil, is recommended, as well as the inclusion of these species in IUCN and CITES lists. Appendices with figures and species information are presented to facilitate correct specimen identification by custom officers, in order to limit illegal traffic.

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Registro de la Serpiente Coral de Steindachneri Micrurus steindachneri (Squamata: Elapidae) en el Área Ecológica de Conservación Municipal Tinajillas-Río Gualaceño

Avances en Ciencias e Ingeniería ◽

10.18272/aci.v8i14.462 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (14) ◽

Author(s):

Veronica Lorena Urgiles ◽

Juan Carlos Sánchez ◽

Pedro Xavier Astudillo

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Protected Area ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Coral Snake

Registramos a la Serpiente Coral de Steindachner Micrurus steindachneri en el Área Ecológica de Conservación Municipal Tinajillas-Río Gualaceño, provincia de Morona Santiago, Ecuador. La especie ha sido previamente registrada en solo dos áreas protegidas nacionales en Ecuador. Este reporte es el primero en una zona protegida local y resalta la importancia de los sistemas naturales de protección municipal para la conservación de especies sensibles a la destrucción de su hábitat. Record of Steindachner Coral Snake Micrurus steindachneri (Squamata: Elapidae) in the Municipal Conservation Ecological Area Tinajillas-Río GualaceñoWe registered the Steindachner Coral Snake Micrurus steindachneri in the Municipal Conservation Ecological Area Tinajillas-Río Gualaceño, province of Morona Santiago, Ecuador. The species has been previously recorded in just two national protected areas in Ecuador. This report is the first in a local protected area, and highlights the importance of municipal protection for conservation of species that are vulnerable to habitat destruction.

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Impact of community participation in adaptive wildlife resources management at Mole National Park, Ghana

Journal of Sustainable Tourism and Entrepreneurship ◽

10.35912/joste.v1i2.245 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 139-149

Author(s):

Benjamin Makimilua Tiimub ◽

◽

Braimah Gbolo ◽

Richard Wonnsibe Tiimob ◽

Ernestina Laatman Tiimo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Participation ◽

Wildlife Management ◽

Value Chain ◽

National Park ◽

Population Decline ◽

Market Value ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Resources Management ◽

Market Value Chain ◽

Trade Market

Purpose: Wildlife resources constitute indispensable nature’s strongholds for human livelihoods strategies in forest, savanna zones across Ghana and the worldwide although, it often engendered conflicts. Impact of community participation on adaptive wildlife resources management was strategically assessed at Mole National Park. Research methodology: 60 randomly selected park environs residents were interviewed for valid responses using semi-structured questionnaires. Findings: High wildlife products demand has transformed bush meat into lucrative business through poaching by thousands of youths and adults, causing habitat destruction and sharp wildlife population decline. Hunters, poachers, middlemen, restaurant operators constituted game-trade-market-value chain. Limitations: Funding subjectivity reduced scope of the study to only few communities in dry season. Temptation to reject the questionnaires on suspicion of force evacuation plots against some park adjoining villages was later refuted. Hence, recovery rate was 100%. Contribution: We recommend that Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission should strengthen synergies on community participation in adaptive wildlife management by coopting educational interventions that positively influence indigenous behaviors through seminars, workshops, face-to-face interactions. This will better define the rights, roles, responsibilities of key partners towards resolving communal wildlife conflicts. Keywords: Community participation, Wildlife management, Park sustainability, Poaching, Game-trade-market-value chain

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Status of the relict population of the Critically Endangered Madagascar spider tortoise Pyxis arachnoides

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605311001293 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 457-463 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ryan C. J. Walker ◽

Tsilavo H. Rafeliarisoa

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Distance Sampling ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Species Range ◽

Line Transect ◽

Anthropogenic Pressures ◽

Community Based Conservation ◽

Relict Population ◽

Distance Model ◽

C 71

AbstractThe Madagascar spider tortoise Pyxis arachnoides is endemic to the coastal dry forests of south-west Madagascar. In recent years its range has been reduced by c. 71%, with the species now confined to eight fragmented populations occupying a total of 2,464 km2. These remaining populations are facing a significant threat of extinction because of habitat destruction and other anthropogenic pressures. We developed methodology for a line transect distance sampling survey and applied it systematically across the species' range. The resulting distance model estimated a mean density of 226.9 tortoises km−2 (95% confidence interval, CI, 168.1–306.3) and a total population of 664,980 (95% CI 492,680–897,550). Fragmentation of the species’ range suggests the current population could be <30% of the historical population. Of the remaining population 73.5% falls within protected areas. However, nine of these 12 protected areas are designated as IUCN category III, V or VI parks, allowing some extractive activities to be undertaken. The most effective strategy for the conservation of P. arachnoides would be to reduce the threats to this species and its habitat, and to develop and expand the current community-based conservation and poverty alleviation programmes in the region.

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Revealing the origin of wildcat reappearance after presumed long-term absence

European Journal of Wildlife Research ◽

10.1007/s10344-020-01433-7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 66 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Sarah A. Mueller ◽

Tobias E. Reiners ◽

Katharina Steyer ◽

Alina von Thaden ◽

Annika Tiesmeyer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Range Expansion ◽

Population Decline ◽

Biosphere Reserve ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Mountain Region ◽

Forest Patches ◽

The North ◽

Genetic Sampling ◽

Complex Population ◽

Open Land

AbstractFollowing severe population decline and local extinction due to massive habitat destruction and persecution, wildcats have recently reappeared in several parts of Germany’s low mountain region. It remains unknown how this reemergence occurred, specifically if local populations have been overlooked at low densities or if the species has successfully spread across the highly fragmented anthropogenic landscape. In the central German Rhön Mountains, for instance, wildcats were believed to be extinct during most of the twentieth century, however, the species was recently detected and subsequent genetic monitoring found the presence of a sizeable population. In this study, we used microsatellite and SNP genotypes from 146 wildcat individuals from 2008 to 2017 across a ~ 15,000 km2 area in the central German low mountain region to understand the population re-establishment of wildcats in the region. Bayesian clustering and subsequent analyses revealed that animals in the Rhön Mountains appear to be a mix from the two adjacent populations in the North and South of the area, suggesting a recent range expansion from two different directions. Both populations meet in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve, leading to an admixture of the northern, autochthonous, and the southern reintroduced wildcat population. While we cannot completely exclude the possibility of undetected population persistence, the high genetic homogeneity in the central German wildcat population and the lack of any signatures of past population decline in the Rhön favor a scenario of natural expansion. Our findings thus suggest that wildcats are well capable of rapid range expansion across richly structured landscape mosaics consisting of open land, settlements, and forest patches and document the potential of massive non-invasive genetic sampling when aiming to reconstruct the complex population and range dynamics of wildlife.

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

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605313000914 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 49 (3) ◽

pp. 529-534 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

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.

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Human-provoked amphibian decline in central Italy and the efficacy of protected areas

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr09167 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 37 (7) ◽

pp. 547 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Manuela D'Amen ◽

Biancamaria Pietrangeli ◽

Marco A. Bologna

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Multiple Stressors ◽

Population Decline ◽

Central Italy ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Amphibian Declines ◽

Additive Models ◽

Management Approach ◽

Amphibian Species

Context Today, more than 32% of amphibian species are threatened and more than 43% face a steep decline in numbers. Most species are being affected simultaneously by multiple stressors and habitat protection is often inadequate to prevent declines. Aims The main goal of the present research was to understand the consequences of alternative human land use in producing landscape disturbance for amphibians. At the same time, we also evaluated the effect of changing climatic conditions as additional potential drivers of population decline. Another goal was to determine whether and to what extent the existing nature reserves have been effective in protecting species in recent decades. Methods We used generalised additive models (GAMs) to investigate the association between the state (stable/decline) of amphibian populations in 5 × 5 km cells in central Italy and proxies of different typology of anthropogenic stressors, climatic variables and protection measures. Key results We found a significant association between anthropogenic landscape modifications and species decline. This negative relationship was revealed with agricultural predictors for the majority of the species, whereas urban fabrics had a slightly smaller impact. We found significant associations between amphibian declines and climatic variation, particularly the increasing number of dry days. Protected areas protected declines of two species only. Conclusions Our results showed that the status of amphibians in this region warrants greater attention than has been given previously. The detrimental effect of agricultural practices, combined with increasing aridity, makes amphibian populations particularly susceptible to extinction, and the conservation measures applied till now are inadequate for species protection in this region. Implications Our results should stimulate the implementation of environmental policies that focus not only on the protection of single habitats, but also on ensuring the environmental quality of the surrounding landscapes. Moreover, an adaptive management approach should be applied to take into account future modification of hydrology and climate.

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An Overview of Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla): Its General Biology, Status, Distribution and Conservation Threats in Nepal

The Initiation ◽

10.3126/init.v5i0.10267 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 164-170 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Prakash Thapa

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Illegal Trade ◽

General Biology ◽

The Status ◽

Manis Pentadactyla ◽

Conservation Threats ◽

Scientific Attention

Chinese Pangolin is nocturnal, shy, non-aggressive, solitary, strange and burrowing mammal which has received low scientific attention. Little information is known about its biology, distribution and status. In Nepal it is distributed in many districts and protected areas. The status of this mammal is decreasing in the country but there is no any research regarding its biology, status and distribution. Although, this mammal is protected nationally and internationally, it is facing too much problems due to habitat destruction and illegal trade. This article mainly focuses on the biology, status, distribution and conservation threats of this ecologically beneficial handsome creature. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10267 The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 164-170

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GIS-BASED LAND SUITABILITY ANALYSIS FOR EX-SITU PRODUCTION OF THREATENED Citropsis articulata IN UGANDA

Environment & Ecosystem science ◽

10.26480/ees.02.2021.101.111 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 101-111

Author(s):

Rapheal Wangalwa ◽

Eunice Apio Olet ◽

Grace Kagoro-Rugunda ◽

Casim Umba Tolo ◽

Patrick. E. Ogwang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

In Situ Conservation ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Suitability Analysis ◽

Natural Production ◽

Evaluation Approach ◽

Multi Criteria Evaluation ◽

Alternative Sources ◽

High Precipitation

Citropsis articulata (Spreng.) is a potent medicinal plant that is increasingly threatened by unsustainable harvesting and habitat destruction due to deforestation. This calls for enhancement of ex-situ conservation of C. articulata through offsite production. However, the success of offsite production of this species heavily rests on precisely assessing the suitability of the land for its production. In this study, an integrated GIS based multi-criteria evaluation approach was used to depict suitable areas for production of C. articulata based on key factors of; climate, soil and topography. Results revealed that only 13.04% (31495.77 km2) of Uganda’s land is very suitable to support natural production of C. articulata and is mainly situated in the western and central regions. Findings further revealed that 76.4% (24062.77 km2) of very suitable land area is situated outside protected areas, thus implying availability of potential sites for ex-situ and commercial production of C. articulata in the country. Findings also indicated that C. articulata has potential of thriving in well drained, moderately acidic soils and pleasantly warm regions endowed with moderately high precipitation and humidity. Since current stocks of C. articulata are mainly restricted to protected areas, cultivating this species will provide alternative sources of the plant harvest. This will help to relieve current pressures on the wild populations of C. articulata, thus providing a safety backup to the current in-situ conservation efforts.

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