scholarly journals Association of human disturbance and gastrointestinal parasite infection of yellow baboons in western Tanzania

PLoS ONE ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0262481
Author(s):  
Bethan Mason ◽  
Alex K. Piel ◽  
David Modrý ◽  
Klára J. Petrželková ◽  
Fiona A. Stewart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Disturbance ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Parasite Prevalence ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Papio Cynocephalus ◽  
Disturbed Areas ◽  
Troop Size ◽  
Parasite Infections ◽  
Western Tanzania

Human disturbance is an ongoing threat to many wildlife species, manifesting as habitat destruction, resource overuse, or increased disease exposure, among others. With increasing human: non-human primate (NHP) encounters, NHPs are increasingly susceptible to human-introduced diseases, including those with parasitic origins. As such, epidemiology of parasitic disease is becoming an important consideration for NHP conservation strategies. To investigate the relationship between parasite infections and human disturbance we studied yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) living outside of national park boundaries in western Tanzania, collecting 135 fresh faecal samples from nine troops occupying areas with varying levels of human disturbance. We fixed all samples in 10% formalin and later evaluated parasite prevalence and abundance (of isotrichid ciliates and Strongylida). We identified seven protozoan and four helminth taxa. Taxa showed varied relationships with human disturbance, baboon troop size and host age. In four taxa, we found a positive association between prevalence and troop size. We also report a trend towards higher parasite prevalence of two taxa in less disturbed areas. To the contrary, high levels of human disturbance predicted increased abundance of isotrichid ciliates, although no relationship was found between disturbance and Strongylida abundance. Our results provide mixed evidence that human disturbance is associated with NHP parasite infections, highlighting the need to consider monitoring parasite infections when developing NHP conservation strategies.

Changes in escape behaviour of black iguanas (Ctenosaura similis) over an anthropogenic disturbance gradient

Behaviour ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Pooja Panwar ◽  
Pilar Angélica Gómez-Ruiz ◽  
Matthew N. Zipple ◽  
Luis Sandoval
Keyword(s):  
Human Disturbance ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Anthropogenic Disturbance ◽  
Escape Behaviour ◽  
Human Presence ◽  
Disturbed Areas ◽  
Disturbance Gradient ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ctenosaura Similis ◽  
Flight Initiation

Abstract Studies on the impact of human activity on animal behaviour are critical for understanding the extent to which humans affect ecological dynamics. Previous studies have found that human presence alters antipredator behaviours, which can be measured by flight initiation distance (FID). We investigated escape behaviour of 96 black iguanas (Ctenosaura similis) across a gradient of human disturbance in six sites inside a protected area in Costa Rica. We used a field experiment to test for effect of human disturbance on FID. We found that individuals from higher disturbance sites had shorter FIDs, meaning that black iguanas from disturbed areas allow closer approaches. This finding is consistent with the prediction that some animals become more habituated to human presence as the degree of human disturbance increases. We propose that black iguanas’ ability to alter their behaviour in response to humans’ presence could make them especially adept at invading new environments.

scholarly journals Diversity, Uses, and Threats in the Ghodaghodi Lake Complex, a Ramsar Site in Western Lowland Nepal

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pramod Lamsal ◽  
Krishna Prasad Pant ◽  
Lalit Kumar ◽  
Kishor Atreya
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Macrophytes ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Population Pressure ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Seepage Water ◽  
Ramsar Site ◽  
Anthropogenic Threats

This study documents aquatic and terrestrial/riparian biodiversity in an anthropogenically disturbed Ramsar site, the Ghodaghodi Lake complex, in the Western Nepal surveyed during the summer season (March-April) of 2007. The study site comprises three major interconnected lakes: Ghodaghodi (138 ha), Nakharodi (70 ha), and Bainshwa (10 ha). Five transect lines for aquatic macrophytes and three transect lines and 37 sampling plots were laid to sample terrestrial/riparian plants, birds, and animals. Five sample plots were established for fish and aquatic bird. A total of 45 species of aquatic macrophytes, 54 species of terrestrial/riparian vegetation, 19 fish species, 41 bird species, 17 mammals (endangered and vulnerable), and 5 reptiles (critically endangered, vulnerable, and near threatened) were recorded at the lake complex. Local people have used most of the aquatic and terrestrial plants for different purposes while many of the potential medicinal plant species were still untapped. Persistent anthropogenic threats, like excessive harvesting and poaching, habitat destruction—population pressure, forest fragmentation, siltation, fertilizer and pesticide seepage, water pollution, overgrazing, and unmanaged irrigation system found over the lake complex, endangered the existing biodiversity. The suggested remedial measures are further exploration of medicinal potential, prioritization of in situ biodiversity conservation strategies, and implementation of awareness program at local level against anthropogenic threats.

scholarly journals Cercopithecine and Colobine Abundance Across Protected and Unprotected Land in the Greater Mahale Ecosystem, Western Tanzania

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 687-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward McLester ◽  
Lilian Pintea ◽  
Fiona A. Stewart ◽  
Alex K. Piel
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Human Activity ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Red Colobus ◽  
Papio Anubis ◽  
Forest Reserves ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Chlorocebus Pygerythrus ◽  
Western Tanzania

AbstractMost primates live in unprotected land where abundances and threats may differ from those in protected areas. We therefore need to establish population densities in both unprotected and protected areas to effectively inform conservation planning. The Greater Mahale Ecosystem in western Tanzania is a region of mixed protected status with seven cercopithecine and colobine species: blue (Cercopithecus mitis doggetti), red-tailed (C. ascanius schmidi), and vervet (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) monkeys; ashy red colobus (Piliocolobus tephrosceles); black-and-white colobus (Colobus angolensis); and olive (Papio anubis) and yellow (P. cynocephalus) baboons. These species may be threatened by increasing human activity; however, except for ashy red colobus, no data on local abundances are available. We walked over 350 km of line transects in legally protected (Village Forest Reserves) and unprotected general land between August 2011 and October 2012 to estimate densities of primates and human activity. Primate densities were consistently low across the Greater Mahale Ecosystem. Blue and red-tailed monkey and ashy red colobus densities were especially low compared to populations in predominantly forested landscapes. Primate and human activity densities did not differ significantly inside and outside of reserves. Low primate densities could be natural responses to the lower proportions and quality of riparian forest habitat in the region. High levels of human activity and the absence of significantly higher primate densities in reserves suggest unprotected land could provide important refuges for primates in the Greater Mahale Ecosystem. This result further reinforces a broad need to include unprotected areas in primate conservation strategies.

scholarly journals The Relative Importance of Agricultural and Wetland Habitats to Waterbirds in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta of California

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
W. David Shuford ◽  
Matthew Reiter ◽  
Kristin Sesser ◽  
Catherine Hickey ◽  
Gregory Golet
Keyword(s):  
Central Valley ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
San Joaquin River ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Surrounding Landscape ◽  
Abundance And Distribution

Biodiversity loss from agricultural intensification underscores the urgent need for science-based conservation strategies to enhance the value of agro-ecosystems for birds and other wildlife. California’s Central Valley, which has lost over 90% of its historical wetlands and currently is dominated by agriculture, still supports waterbird populations of continental importance. A better understanding of how waterbirds use available habitat is particularly needed in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, an ecosystem under threat. From 2013 to 2015, we studied waterbird habitat associations in the Delta during fall migration and winter by conducting diurnal counts at random locations in key waterbird habitats throughout the Delta. Waterbird use of cover types (agricultural crops and managed wetlands) varied substantially among waterbird groups, by season, and among geographic sub-regions of the Delta. Overall, wetlands were particularly important to waterbirds in fall. In winter, wetlands and flooded rice and corn were important to many waterbird groups, and non-flooded corn and irrigated pasture to geese and cranes. The factors that influenced waterbird abundance and distribution also varied substantially among groups and differed at various geographic scales. In both seasons, most groups had a positive association at the field level with flooded ground and open water, and a negative association with vegetation. Given the great uncertainty in the future extent and pace of habitat loss and degradation in the Delta, prioritizing the conservation actions needed to maintain robust waterbird populations in this region is urgent. For the Delta to retain its importance to waterbirds, a mosaic of wetlands and wildlife-friendly crops that accounts for the value of the surrounding landscape must be maintained. This includes restoring additional wetlands and maintaining corn, rice, alfalfa, and irrigated pasture, and ensuring that a substantial portion of corn and rice is flooded in winter.

scholarly journals Aridity-driven shift in biodiversity–soil multifunctionality relationships

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weigang Hu ◽  
Jinzhi Ran ◽  
Longwei Dong ◽  
Qiajun Du ◽  
Mingfei Ji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Soil Microbial Diversity ◽  
Ecosystem Multifunctionality

AbstractRelationships between biodiversity and multiple ecosystem functions (that is, ecosystem multifunctionality) are context-dependent. Both plant and soil microbial diversity have been reported to regulate ecosystem multifunctionality, but how their relative importance varies along environmental gradients remains poorly understood. Here, we relate plant and microbial diversity to soil multifunctionality across 130 dryland sites along a 4,000 km aridity gradient in northern China. Our results show a strong positive association between plant species richness and soil multifunctionality in less arid regions, whereas microbial diversity, in particular of fungi, is positively associated with multifunctionality in more arid regions. This shift in the relationships between plant or microbial diversity and soil multifunctionality occur at an aridity level of ∼0.8, the boundary between semiarid and arid climates, which is predicted to advance geographically ∼28% by the end of the current century. Our study highlights that biodiversity loss of plants and soil microorganisms may have especially strong consequences under low and high aridity conditions, respectively, which calls for climate-specific biodiversity conservation strategies to mitigate the effects of aridification.

scholarly journals Community ecology of the metazoan parasites of white sea catfish, Netuma barba (Osteichthyes: Ariidae), from the coastal zone of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2004 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. E. R. Tavares ◽  
J. L. Luque
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Zone ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Parasite Prevalence ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
The State ◽  
Metazoan Parasites ◽  
Total Length ◽  
Interspecific Associations ◽  
Host Sex

Between March 2000 and April 2001, 63 specimens of N. barba from Angra dos Reis, coastal zone of the State of Rio de Janeiro (23°0'S, 44°19'W), Brazil, were necropsied to study their infracommunities of metazoan parasites. Fifteen species of metazoan parasites were collected: 2 digeneans, 1 monogenean, 2 cestodes, 1 acantocephalan, 2 nematodes, 6 copepods, and 1 hirudinean. Ninety-six percent of the catfishes were parasitized by at least one metazoan parasite species. A total of 646 individual parasites was collected, with mean of 10.3 ± 16.6 parasites/fish. The copepods were 37.5% of the total parasite specimens collected. Lepeophtheirus monacanthus was the most dominant species and the only species with abundance positively correlated with the host total length. Host sex did not influence parasite prevalence or mean abundance of any species. The mean diversity in the infracommunities of N. barba was H = 0.130 ± 0.115 with no correlation with host's total length and without differences in relation to sex of the host. One pair of endoparasites (Dinosoma clupeola and Pseudoacanthostomum floridensis) showed positive association and covariation between their abundances and prevalences. The parasite community of N. barba from Rio de Janeiro can be defined as a complex of species with low prevalence and abundance and with scarcity of interspecific associations. However, because of both the presence of assemblages of sympatric ariid species as well as the spawning behavior characteristic of these fishes, additional comparative studies of the parasite component communities of ariids are necessaries to elucidate this pattern.

scholarly journals High Genetic Diversity and Low Differentiation in Michelia shiluensis, an Endangered Magnolia Species in South China

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanwen Deng ◽  
Tingting Liu ◽  
Yuqing Xie ◽  
Yaqing Wei ◽  
Zicai Xie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Population Structure ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Human Disturbance ◽  
Haplotype Diversity ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
High Genetic Diversity ◽  
Cpdna Markers

Research Highlights: This study is the first to examine the genetic diversity of Michelia shiluensis (Magnoliaceae). High genetic diversity and low differentiation were detected in this species. Based on these results, we discuss feasible protection measures to provide a basis for the conservation and utilization of M. shiluensis. Background and Objectives: Michelia shiluensis is distributed in Hainan and Guangdong province, China. Due to human disturbance, the population has decreased sharply, and there is thus an urgent need to evaluate genetic variation within this species in order to identify an optimal conservation strategy. Materials and Methods: In this study, we used eight nuclear single sequence repeat (nSSR) markers and two chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) markers to assess the genetic diversity, population structure, and dynamics of 78 samples collected from six populations. Results: The results showed that the average observed heterozygosity (Ho), expected heterozygosity (He), and percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) from nSSR markers in each population of M. shiluensis were 0.686, 0.718, and 97.92%, respectively. For cpDNA markers, the overall haplotype diversity (Hd) was 0.674, and the nucleotide diversity was 0.220. Analysis of markers showed that the genetic variation between populations was much lower based on nSSR than on cpDNA (10.18% and 77.56%, respectively, based on an analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA)). Analysis of the population structure based on the two markers shows that one of the populations (DL) is very different from the other five. Conclusions: High genetic diversity and low population differentiation of M. shiluensis might be the result of rich ancestral genetic variation. The current decline in population may therefore be due to human disturbance rather than to inbreeding or genetic drift. Management and conservation strategies should focus on maintaining the genetic diversity in situ, and on the cultivation of seedlings ex-situ for transplanting back to their original habitat.

Conservation Status of Pittosporum eriocarpum (Cheesewood of Doon) in Uttarakhand

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 127-130
Author(s):  
Kapil Joshi ◽  
Aishwarya Gobbur ◽  
Swati Dumbre
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Present Status ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
The State ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Extensive Survey

The combination of global warming and habitat destruction is the sole reason for the disappearance of many plants from earth’s surface. Pittosporum eriocarpum is also one among many other species which is at the verge of extinction. Based upon an extensive survey during 1997-98 in the state of Uttarakhand, the occurrence of Pittosporum eriocarpum is rated as endangered. This study gives focus on the present status and conservation strategies regarding Pittosporum eriocarpum.

Genetic variation in two Chamaecrista species (Leguminosae), one endangered and narrowly distributed and another widespread in the Serra do Espinhaço, Brazil

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (7) ◽  
pp. 629-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reinaldo Moreira da Silva ◽  
G. Wilson Fernandes ◽  
Maria Bernadete Lovato
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Random Amplified Polymorphic Dna ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Lower Percentage ◽  
Endemic Plant ◽  
Endemic Plant Species ◽  
Two Populations ◽  
Shannon’S Diversity Index

The Serra do Espinhaço in Brazil is under continuous and increasing levels of human disturbance. It has a large number of endemic plant species such as Chamaecrista semaphora (Irwin and Barneby), an endangered species with extremely narrow range. We studied the genetic diversity of C. semaphora and compared it with Chamaecrista mucronata (Spreng.) Irwin and Barneby, a widespread congeneric species distributed over the entire Serra do Espinhaço, in an attempt to provide information for conservation strategies. Two populations of C. mucronata and the only two known populations of C. semaphora from Serra do Cipó were screened for variability using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Populations of C. semaphora exhibited a lower percentage of polymorphic markers (16.9%) and Shannon’s Diversity Index (H′pop = 0.124) than C. mucronata populations (43.3% and H′pop = 0.299). Most of the genetic variability of both species studied was distributed within populations; C. semaphora populations (ΦST = 0.198) were less divergent than C. mucronata populations (ΦST = 0.378). The risk of extinction for C. semaphora is large owing to its low level of genetic diversity compared with its widespread congener and because of increasing habitat destruction. Both populations of C. semaphora urgently need protection to maximize the genetic diversity of this species and diminish further substantial loss within the populations.

scholarly journals Predicting distributions of rare species: the case of the false coral snake Rhinobothryum bovallii (Serpentes: Colubridae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-164
Author(s):  
Fabio Leonardo Meza-Joya ◽  
Julián Andrés Rojas-Morales ◽  
Eliana Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Rare Species ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Disjunct Distribution ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Coral Snake ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Core Habitat ◽  
Precipitation Seasonality

Predicting distributions of rare species: the case of the false coral snake Rhinobothryum bovallii (Serpentes: Colubridae). Typically, the lack of enough high-quality occurrence data makes it diffcult to defne the geographic distribution of rare species. However, species distribution models provide a powerful tool for biodiversity management, including efforts to predict the distributions of rare species. Herein, new and historical data are used to model the distribution of the False Tree Coral snake, Rhinobothryum bovallii. The prediction map reveals a disjunct distribution for this species, from the Central American Isthmus to the northwestern portion of South America, with the species occupying lowlands and premontane forests below about 1500 m elevation. We identifed 491,516 km2 of suitable habitat for R. bovallii (minimum training presence threshold of 0.424) and 59,353 km2 of core habitat, with concentrations in three relatively isolated core areas (10-percentile training presence threshold of 0.396), as follow: (1) a “northern core” along the Pacifc and Caribbean coasts of Panama; (2) a “central core” in the Middle Magdalena Valley in Colombia; and (3) a “southern core” in the Ecuadorian Chocó. The occurrence of this species has a strong positive association with low precipitation seasonality, high precipitation in the warmest quarter, and low variability in annual temperature. Xeric and semiarid areas are unsuitable for this species and may pose environmental barriers limiting its distributional range. These results may lead to the discovery of additional populations of R. bovallii, identify priority survey areas, and by determining the extent of its natural habitat promote effective conservation strategies.

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