The importance of fluvial habitats for amphibian conservation in the Mediterranean climate

Amphibian Community ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Conservation Concern ◽

Fluvial Habitat ◽

Significant Positive Selection

The importance of standing water habitat for amphibians is widely known and recognized. However, in some arid or semiarid zones the availability of these temporal habitats is uncertain and fluvial habitats could play a very important role for amphibian conservation. For example, in the Mediterranean region many fluvial habitats have a temporary character, lacking predatory fish populations and hosting diverse amphibian communities. To compare the relative importance of various fluvial and still water habitats, we studied the breeding amphibian community over a wide area from 2006 to 2008 in southwestern Spain. All amphibian species found in the area were present in lotic habitats and the highest amphibian diversity was found in temporary stream habitats. Fluvial habitats were among the most important habitats used for reproduction by eight amphibian species of conservation concern, whereas for seven species a significant positive selection was found towards one or several fluvial habitat types as reproduction habitats. The conservation of fluvial habitats including rigorous impact assessments and management programs can be very important for the conservation of endangered amphibians in these semi-arid areas.

Is stocking barramundi (Lates calcarifer) in north-eastern Queensland a threat to aquatic biodiversity?

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf12261 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 64 (10) ◽

pp. 992 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

D. J. Russell ◽

P. A. Thuesen ◽

F. E. Thomson ◽

T. N. Power

Keyword(s):

Ecological Impacts ◽

Predatory Fish ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Main Body ◽

Lates Calcarifer ◽

Eastern Australia ◽

North Eastern ◽

Conservation Concern ◽

Coastal River

The stocking of predators can have significant consequences on recipient aquatic ecosystems. We investigated some potential ecological impacts of stocking a predatory fish (Lates calcarifer) into a coastal river and a large impoundment in north-eastern Australia. L. calcarifer was mostly found in slower-moving, larger reaches of the river or in the main body of the impoundment where there was abundant suitable habitat. In the tidally influenced freshwater reaches of the coastal river, L. calcarifer predominately consumed aytid and palaemonid shrimp that were associated with local macrophyte beds or littoral grasses. In this area the diets of juvenile stocked and wild L. calcarifer were similar and stocked fish displayed a high degree of site fidelity. Further upstream in the river, away from tidal influence, and in the impoundment, fish were the main prey item. Cannibalism was uncommon and we suggest that, at the current stocking densities, there was little dietary evidence of predatory impacts from L. calcarifer on species of conservation concern. We caution against introducing novel predatory species such as L. calcarifer in or near areas that are outside their natural range and are known to support rare, threatened or endangered species.

Herpetofaunal diversity and community structure in the Murchison Falls - Albert Delta Ramsar site, Uganda

European Journal of Ecology ◽

10.17161/eurojecol.v6i2.13792 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Luca Luiselli ◽

Mathias Behangana ◽

Raymond Katumba ◽

David Ochanda ◽

Stephen Kigoolo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Nile Delta ◽

Field Studies ◽

Ramsar Site ◽

Pitfall Trapping ◽

Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽

Amphibian Species ◽

Reptile Species ◽

1. The area of the Murchison Falls-Albert Delta is among the most important for conservation in East Africa dueto the high species richness, and the presence of several endemic species of conservation concern.2. Here, we report a study on the diversity patterns and community structure of the herpetofauna of this area.3. Field studies were conducted in the Albert Nile Delta Ramsar site between 1st October 2017 and 9th September2018. The data collection relied on Visual Encounter Surveys (VES), pitfall trapping, and dip netting. Descriptive statistics, i.e. species numbers in each transect were used as a measure of the present biodiversity, whereasChao1 and Chao species estimator algorithms were used to predict the potential number of species found ineach site/habitat.4. A total of 898 individuals representing 25 reptile species belonging to four orders, 15 families, and 20 generawere recorded during the 12 months of surveys.5. The data shows some non-random spatial and temporal patterns whereby there is a cyclic reptilian diversitypeaking during the December-March and again towards June-August-September which are peaks of the dryseason.6. The most frequently encountered species were Varanus niloticus, Crocodylus niloticus, Agama agama, Trachylepis maculilabris, and Lygodactylus guttularis, which accounted for almost 90% of all recorded individuals.7. A total of 27 amphibian species, belonging to nine families and 10 genera were recorded during the periodof the survey. The diversity and abundance graphs would indicate amphibians having bimodal peaks (September-December, and March-May). The diversity seemed to dip during the dry season months – which is theopposite case for reptiles.

Climatic Variables Differentially Influence Neotropical Plant Species of Conservation Concern

Journal of Sustainable Forestry ◽

10.1080/10549811.2021.1944878 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-16

Author(s):

Pablo Antúnez ◽

Christian Wehenkel ◽

Collins Byobona Kukunda ◽

José Ciro Hernández-Díaz

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Climatic Variables ◽

Using impact assessment study designs for addressing impacts to species of conservation concern

Wildlife Society Bulletin ◽

10.1002/wsb.179 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 36 (3) ◽

pp. 450-456 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mike E. Marshall ◽

Ashley M. Long ◽

Shannon L. Farrell ◽

Heather A. Mathewson ◽

Michael L. Morrison ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Impact Assessment ◽

Impact Assessment Study ◽

Assessment Study ◽

Conservation Concern ◽

Study Designs

White-nose syndrome-related changes to Mid-Atlantic bat communities across an urban-to-rural gradient

BMC Zoology ◽

10.1186/s40850-021-00079-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sabrina Deeley ◽

Joshua B. Johnson ◽

W. Mark Ford ◽

J. Edward Gates

Keyword(s):

The United States ◽

Myotis Lucifugus ◽

National Capital Region ◽

Conservation Areas ◽

White Nose Syndrome ◽

National Capital ◽

Park Service ◽

Bat Conservation ◽

Abstract Background White-nose Syndrome (WNS) has reduced the abundance of many bat species within the United States’ Mid-Atlantic region. To determine changes within the National Park Service National Capital Region (NCR) bat communities, we surveyed the area with mist netting and active acoustic sampling (2016–2018) and compared findings to pre-WNS (2003–2004) data. Results The results indicated the continued presence of the threatened Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Long-eared bat) and species of conservation concern, including Perimyotis subflavus (Tri-colored bat), Myotis leibii (Eastern Small-footed bat) and Myotis lucifugus (Little Brown bat). However, we documented a significant reduction in the abundance and distribution of M. lucifugus and P. subflavus, a decrease in the distribution of M. septentrionalis, and an increase in the abundance of Eptesicus fuscus (Big Brown bat). Conclusions Documented post-WNS M. septentrionalis recruitment suggests that portions of the NCR may be important bat conservation areas. Decreases in distribution and abundance of P. subflavus and M. lucifugus indicate probable extirpation from many previously occupied portions of the region.

Deep genetic structure at a small spatial scale in the endangered land snail Xerocrassa montserratensis

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-87741-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Cristina Català ◽

Vicenç Bros ◽

Xavier Castelltort ◽

Xavier Santos ◽

Marta Pascual

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Land Snail ◽

Snail Species ◽

Small Spatial Scale ◽

Geographic Ranges ◽

Genetic Groups ◽

Conservation Actions ◽

Conservation Concern ◽

Single Locality

AbstractSpecies with small geographic ranges do not tend to have a high genetic structure, but some land snail species seem to be an exception. Xerocrassa montserratensis, an endangered land snail endemic to Catalonia (northeastern Iberian Peninsula), is an excellent model to study the processes affecting the phylogeography of specialized species of conservation concern. This species is restricted to xerophilous stony slopes and occurs within a small and fragmented area of ca. 500 km2. We sequenced the COI barcode region of 152 individuals from eight sites covering the entire range of the species. We found four genetic groups mostly coincident with their geographic distribution: a central ancestral group containing shared haplotypes among five localities and three groups restricted to a single locality each. Two of these derived groups were geographically and genetically isolated, while the third and most differentiated group was not geographically isolated. Geomorphologic and paleoclimatic processes during the Pleistocene can explain the divergence found between populations of this low dispersal species with historical fragmentation and secondary contacts. Nonetheless, recent passive large dispersal through streams was also detected in the central group. Overall, our study uncovered four evolutionary units, partially matching morphologically described subspecies, which should be considered in future conservation actions.

Integrating citizen science and remotely sensed data to help inform time-sensitive policy decisions for species of conservation concern

Biological Conservation ◽

10.1016/j.biocon.2019.07.025 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 237 ◽

pp. 463-469 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ashley M. Long ◽

Brian L. Pierce ◽

Amanda D. Anderson ◽

Kevin L. Skow ◽

Addie Smith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Citizen Science ◽

Remotely Sensed ◽

Policy Decisions ◽

Remotely Sensed Data ◽

Using a capture-recapture approach for modelling the detectability and distribution of Houbara Bustard in southern Tunisia

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270911000487 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 288-298 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

M. CHAMMEM ◽

S. SELMI ◽

T. KHORCHANI ◽

S. NOUIRA

Keyword(s):

Regression Analyses ◽

Species Occurrence ◽

Imperfect Detection ◽

Southern Tunisia ◽

Habitat Factors ◽

Houbara Bustard ◽

Capture Recapture ◽

Conservation Concern ◽

Free Ranging

SummaryModelling the distribution of species of conservation concern is an important issue in population ecology. Classically, logistic regression analyses are conducted to estimate species’ distributions from detection/non-detection data in a sample of sites and to test for the significance of several environmental variables in predicting the probability of occurrence. These modelling approaches assume that species detection probability is constant and equals one in all sampled sites, which is critical, notably in the case of rare, shy and cryptic species. The capture-recapture-like approach developed by Mackenzie et al. (2002, 2003) provides a reliable tool that accounts for imperfect detection when estimating species occurrence, as well as for assessing the relevance of site features as predictors of species occurrence probability. The aim of this study was to explore the possibility of using this approach in the context of Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata in southern Tunisia. Our results show once more the low detectability of this emblematic species and stress the need to take this factor into account when estimating Houbara spatial distribution. The distribution of Houbara in southern Tunisia is more likely to be shaped by human-related than by habitat factors. In particular, Houbara occurrence was positively associated with site remoteness and camel numbers. Houbara seemed to avoid areas with high human presence and shared the most remote and agriculture-free zones with free-ranging camels.

Adjacent land-use affects amphibian community composition and species richness in managed forests in New Brunswick, Canada

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x11-066 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 41 (8) ◽

pp. 1687-1697 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lee Jacobs ◽

Jeff E. Houlahan

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Species Richness ◽

New Brunswick ◽

Community Composition ◽

Managed Forests ◽

Road Density ◽

Amphibian Species ◽

Precommercial Thinning ◽

Amphibian Community ◽

Land Use Effects

Here, we examine the effects of adjacent land use in a managed forest on pond-breeding amphibian species richness and community composition at 34 New Brunswick, Canada, ponds. Amphibian species richness was negatively correlated with the proportion of roads, precommercial thinning, and hardwood forest and positively correlated with the proportion of wetlands in adjacent lands. These land-use effects peak at 180 m from the ponds. Road density was negatively correlated with Lithobates catesbeiana and Lithobates septentrionalis presence. Precommercial thinning was negatively correlated with Ambystoma spp. presence and positively correlated with Anaxyrus americanus presence. Wetlands were positively correlated with L. septentrionalis and Notopthalamus viridescens presence. Correlations were also found between water table height and A. americanus, Lithobates palustris , and Ambystoma spp. presence. In addition, L. catesbeiana and N. viridescens presence–absence was positively correlated with the proportion of mature and overmature forest on the landscape (at scales of 500 and 1000 m, respectively). Lastly, the proportion of regenerating and sapling forest on the landscape was negatively correlated with L. palustris presence–absence but, by contrast, was positively correlated with A. americanus. These results suggest that the effects of adjacent land use may significantly impact amphibian populations in managed eastern Canadian forests.

Intrinsic Prey Preference and Selection of the Giant Gartersnake: A Threatened Predator in a Nonnative Prey-Dominated Community

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management ◽

10.3996/062019-jfwm-051 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 164-173

Author(s):

Julia S.M. Ersan ◽

Brian J. Halstead ◽

Erica L. Wildy ◽

Michael L. Casazza ◽

Glenn D. Wylie

Keyword(s):

Exotic Species ◽

Native Species ◽

Prey Selection ◽

Central Valley ◽

Prey Preference ◽

Live Prey ◽

Conservation Concern ◽

Behavioral Trials ◽

Selection Of

Abstract The introduction of exotic species into an environment can introduce great change in the trophic dynamics of native species. This is of even greater concern if the native species is of conservation concern. The giant gartersnake, Thamnophis gigas, an endemic predator of the Central Valley of California and a species of conservation concern at the state and federal levels, has declined as a result of conversion of its once vast wetland habitat to agriculture. Another anthropogenic factor contributing to this snake's changing ecology is the introduction of nonnative prey into the species' habitats. These introductions have resulted in a prey community that is almost completely composed of exotic species and have potential for considerable effects. In order to assess prey preference and selection we performed three sets of behavioral trials on naïve neonates. We examined 1) neonate prey preference in response to olfactory cues of prepared prey extracts, 2) neonate consumption of different live prey items presented simultaneously; and 3) terrestrial feeding behavior and/or latency to successful attack. Results from the olfactory study suggest that native Sierran treefrogs, Pseudacris sierra, are preferred by neonates. Results from consumption trials suggest that neonates are more likely to select frog species than fish species. This is the first study that we are aware of that examines prey selection of this threatened species and serves to inform its conservation and management.