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

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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Habitat degradation threatens the survival of the Ethiopian bush crow Zavattariornis stresemanni

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605305000086 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 44-49 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Luca Borghesio ◽

Fabio Giannetti

Keyword(s):

Land Cover ◽

Satellite Images ◽

Habitat Degradation ◽

Fire Suppression ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Grazing Pressure ◽

Southern Ethiopia ◽

Population Decrease ◽

Landsat Satellite ◽

The Impact

The Ethiopian bush crow Zavattariornis stresemanni is one of the most remarkable ornithological discoveries of the 20th century. It is restricted to an area of c. 5,000 km2 in southern Ethiopia, and a large part of its range is protected inside Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary. We report on the results of roadside counts carried out in 1989, 1995 and 2003 showing that the population of the species has decreased by 80% during this time. By comparing two Landsat satellite images from 1986 and 2002, we highlight land cover trends within the range of the species. These include a general increase in bush density, probably related to increasing grazing pressure by domestic animals, fire suppression (only in the Sanctuary) and the disappearance of wild herbivores. Land cover trends differed between the Sanctuary and the area outside, where open areas expanded, apparently indicating an increase in agricultural exploitation. Satellite images also showed that, within its range, the bush crow selects areas having relatively open terrain. Our data suggest that the population decrease within the Sanctuary could be due to the encroachment of open savannah by dense bush and that, therefore, the Sanctuary has failed to protect the bush crow. More research is urgently needed to evaluate its conservation status outside the Sanctuary and the impact of human activities on the species.

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The impact of Pleistocene sea-level oscillations on plant genetic diversity: the case of the western Mediterranean endemic Carduncellus dianius (Asteraceae)

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society ◽

10.1093/botlinnean/boz058 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 191 (3) ◽

pp. 399-420

Author(s):

Sonia Herrando-Moraira ◽

Sergi Massó ◽

Deborah Zani ◽

Jordi López-Pujol ◽

Roser Vilatersana

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Sea Level ◽

Plastid Dna ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Early Pleistocene ◽

Niche Modelling ◽

Long Distance ◽

Sea Level Fluctuations ◽

Genetic Diversity And Structure ◽

The Impact

Abstract To what extent Pleistocene sea-level fluctuations have affected the genetic diversity of species is one of the current topics in biogeographical research. Carduncellus dianius is a Mediterranean narrow endemic species, restricted to < 20 populations distributed along coastal areas in Alicante (mainland eastern Iberian Peninsula) and on the island of Ibiza (Balearic Islands). To get insights into its evolutionary history and its genetic diversity and structure, we combined the analysis of molecular markers (three plastid DNA regions and AFLP) with ecological niche modelling. Results from dated phylogeographical analyses revealed that this species might have originated in the continental region during the early Pleistocene. The colonization of Ibiza could have occurred by a single long-distance dispersal event, with a subsequent back-colonization from the island to the same continental area of origin. These results corroborate the role of islands as sources for mainland colonization (biodiversity reservoirs) and as refugia during glacial periods. Notably, we detected that populations located on stable landmasses (i.e. not affected by sea rising during interglacial cycles) harboured significantly higher genetic diversity than those that were periodically submerged during the periods of marine transgressions. Our results point out sea-level fluctuations as a factor to be considered in phylogeographical studies focused on species distributed along coastlines.

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Assessing the global conservation status of the rock rose Helianthemum caput-felis

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605318001424 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 54 (2) ◽

pp. 197-205 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Elena Sulis ◽

Gianluigi Bacchetta ◽

Donatella Cogoni ◽

Domenico Gargano ◽

Giuseppe Fenu

Keyword(s):

Extinction Risk ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Legal Protection ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Red List ◽

Conservation Strategy ◽

Red Lists ◽

Global Conservation ◽

Management Actions ◽

Starting Point

AbstractThe assessment of the conservation status of a species is the first step in developing a conservation strategy. IUCN Red Lists assessments are an important starting point for conservation actions and the most commonly applied method for assessing the extinction risk of a species. In this study, the global conservation status of the rock rose Helianthemum caput-felis Boiss. (Cistaceae), a perennial Mediterranean plant, was evaluated using the Red List criteria. The distribution of the species was determined by monitoring historical localities and all other suitable sites along the western Mediterranean coasts for 6 years. For each confirmed locality, the ecological and population parameters and the main threats were recorded; these data were used in a quantitative analysis of the species' extinction risk. Our findings indicate there have been several recent extinctions, and there is a continuing decline in the species' area of occurrence, habitat quality and number of reproductive plants. The main threats are related to human activities. Extinction models indicate a probability of quasi-extinction risk of c. 30% in five generations or c. 45% in three generations, with the species likely to become extinct in seven currently known localities within the next 10 years. Application of the Red List criteria indicates H. caput-felis should be categorized as Endangered. This study confirms that legal protection and passive conservation measures are insufficient to guarantee the persistence of a plant species. Active conservation and management actions are needed to protect this and other threatened species of the Mediterranean Basin.

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The synanthropic Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) in North Africa: The Impact of habitat degradation on breeding performances

Zoology and Ecology ◽

10.35513/21658005.2021.1.4 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 15-23

Author(s):

Awatif Talbi ◽

Laïd Touati ◽

Mohammed Athamnia ◽

Farrah Samraoui ◽

Corrado Battisti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

North Africa ◽

Habitat Degradation ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Land Conversion ◽

Breeding Performance ◽

Dry Land ◽

North Eastern ◽

The Common ◽

Eastern Algeria ◽

The Impact

We carried out a study on dynamics of the Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus, a synanthropic rallid (Aves, Gruiformes), to elucidate the adverse effects this species has possibly suffered from the markedly increased habitat degradation that has been taking place over the last decades at Boussedra Pond, north-eastern Algeria. During the period 2015–2018, this wetland-related species showed an annual 35.4% decrease in its numbers, and the number of breeding pairs, which was monitored between 2008 and 2018, experienced an annual drop of 4.9%. The clutch size, a key determinant of breeding performance, averaged 4.7 ± 1.0 eggs (N = 26 clutches) in 2018 and was significantly lower than those reported in previous studies. As a result of anthropogenic activities, the size of the marsh decreased by more than 50% over the 1984–2018 period. The long-lasting shrinkage of this relict wetland was accompanied by the expansion of built-up areas (>50%) and cultivated plots, and, also, by a marked reduction in natural both wet- and dry-land habitats in its vicinity. We suggest that the decrease in the population trend and the breeding performance of the Common Moorhen could be indicative of the species stress response to the long-lasting land conversion, pressuring the relict habitat of Boussedra Pond.

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The Impact Of Financial Sector Development On Economic Growth In The Middle East And North Africa

10.35516/1250-006-001-005 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 81

Author(s):

محمد سعيد محمود بللور ◽

عامر عبدالفتاح زكريا باكير

Keyword(s):

Economic Growth ◽

Middle East ◽

North Africa ◽

Financial Sector ◽

Financial Sector Development ◽

The Impact

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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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The Dessau Grassland Experiment—Impact of Fertilization on Forage Quality and Species Assembly in a Species-Rich Alluvial Meadow

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11040339 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 339

Author(s):

Sandra Dullau ◽

Knut Rydgren ◽

Anita Kirmer ◽

Urs Georg Jäger ◽

Maren Helen Meyer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fertilization ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Forage Quality ◽

Habitats Directive ◽

Long Term Experiment ◽

Phosphorus And Potassium ◽

Eu Habitats Directive ◽

Summer Flood ◽

The Impact ◽

Species Assembly

Since alluvial meadows of river valleys of the Cnidion dubii are protected by the EU Habitats Directive, reconciling farmers’ demands for forage quality with the objective of maintaining them in good conservation status is an important issue in grassland research. In a long-term experiment from 2010 to 2018, we investigated the impact of fertilizing on forage quality and species assembly on a species-rich and twice-mown alluvial grassland in the Dessau Elbe floodplain (Germany). The experiment was composed of an unfertilized control, PK, N60, N60PK and N120PK applications. A significant improvement in forage quality was achieved by nitrogen fertilization only for crude protein, with higher feeding requirements for sheep met only in individual years. The legume cycle was inhibited by the application of nitrogen and high grass cover was maintained, but not increased, at the highest nitrogen application after an exceptional summer flood. The target forbs persisted in numbers over the study period in all treatments. For cover, the low-competitive target forbs responded neutrally to nitrogen fertilization, whereas detrimental effects were demonstrated for the competitive ones. Thus, we recommend not applying more than 60 kg year−1 of nitrogen and only in combination with phosphorus and potassium.

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Spatial distribution of the Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara) in Sardinia explained by land use and climate

European Journal of Wildlife Research ◽

10.1007/s10344-021-01519-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 67 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Gianpasquale Chiatante ◽

Marta Giordano ◽

Anna Vidus Rosin ◽

Oreste Sacchi ◽

Alberto Meriggi

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Distance Sampling ◽

Strong Relationship ◽

European Population ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Brood Rearing ◽

Management Actions ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Study Sites

AbstractMore than half of the European population of the Barbary Partridge is in Sardinia; nonetheless, the researches concerning this species are very scarce, and its conservation status is not defined because of a deficiency of data. This research aimed to analyse the habitat selection and the factors affecting the abundance and the density of the Barbary Partridge in Sardinia. We used the data collected over 8 years (between 2004 and 2013) by spring call counts in 67 study sites spread on the whole island. We used GLMM to define the relationships between the environment (topography, land use, climate) both the occurrence and the abundance of the species. Moreover, we estimated population densities by distance sampling. The Barbary Partridge occurred in areas at low altitude with garrigue and pastures, avoiding woodlands and sparsely vegetated areas. We found a strong relationship between the occurrence probability and the climate, in particular, a positive relation with temperature and a negative effect of precipitation, especially in April–May, during brood rearing. Furthermore, dry crops positively affected the abundance of the species. We estimated a density of 14.1 partridges per km2, similar to other known estimates. Our findings are important both because they increase the knowledge concerning this species, which is considered data deficient in Italy, and because they are useful to plan management actions aimed to maintain viable populations if necessary.

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

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605320000782 ◽

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.

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Influence of COVID-19 on lifestyle behaviors in the Middle East and North Africa Region: a survey of 5896 individuals

Journal of Translational Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12967-021-02767-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mohamed Abouzid ◽

◽

Dina M. El-Sherif ◽

Nael Kamel Eltewacy ◽

Nesrine Ben Hadj Dahman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Middle East ◽

Food Consumption ◽

North Africa ◽

Fast Food ◽

Online Survey ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Lifestyle Behaviors ◽

Mena Region ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has affected health and lifestyle behaviors of people globally. This project aims to identify the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle behavior of individuals in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during confinement. Methods We conducted an online survey in 17 countries (Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Iraq, and Sudan) from the MENA region on August and September 2020. The questionnaire included self-reported information on lifestyle behaviors, including physical activity, eating habits, smoking, watching television, social media use and sleep before and during the pandemic. Logistic regression was performed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle behaviors. Results A total of 5896 participants were included in the final analysis and 62.8% were females. The BMI of the participants was 25.4 ± 5.8 kg/m2. Around 38.4% of the participants stopped practicing any physical activities during the confinement (P < 0.001), and 57.1% reported spending more than 2 h on social media (P < 0.001). There were no significant changes in smoking habits. Also, 30.9% reported an improvement in their eating habits compared with 24.8% reported worsening of their eating habits. Fast-food consumption decreased significantly in 48.8% of the study population. This direct/indirect exposure to COVID-19 was associated with an increased consumption of carbohydrates (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.02–1.17; P = 0.01), egg (OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.02–1.16; P = 0.01), sugar (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.02–1.16; P = 0.02), meat, and poultry (OR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.06–1.20; P < 0.01). There was also associated increase in hours spent on watching television (OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.02–1.12; P < 0.01) and social media (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.01–1.18; P = 0.03). However, our results showed a reduction in sleeping hours among those exposed to COVID-19 infection (OR = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.77–0.94; P < 0.01). Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in food consumption and sedentary life. Being exposed to COVID-19 by direct infection or through an infected household is a significant predictor of amplifying these changes. Public health interventions are needed to address healthy lifestyle behaviors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

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