Effect of knowledge gain on species conservation status

Biodiversity loss is a global problem, accelerated by human-induced pressures. In the marine realm, one of the major threats to species conservation, together with climate change, is overfishing. In this context, having information on the conservation status of target commercial marine fish species becomes crucial for assuring safe standards. We put together fisheries statistics from the FAO, the IUCN Red List, FishBase, and RAM Legacy databases to understand to what extent top commercial species’ conservation status has been assessed. Levels of assessment for top-fished species were higher than those for general commercial or highly commercial species, but almost half of the species have outdated assessments. We found no relation between IUCN Red List traits and FishBase Vulnerability Index, depreciating the latter value as a guidance for extinction threat. The RAM database suggests good management of more-threatened species in recent decades, but more data are required to assess whether the trend has reverted in recent years. Outdated IUCN Red List assessments can benefit from reputed stock assessments for new reassessments. The future of IUCN Red List evaluations for commercial fish species relies on integrating new parameters from fisheries sources and improved collaboration with fisheries stakeholders and managers.

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Trends in the abundance of marine fishes

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f10-081 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 67 (8) ◽

pp. 1205-1210 ◽

Cited By ~ 66

Author(s):

Jeffrey A. Hutchings ◽

Cóilín Minto ◽

Daniel Ricard ◽

Julia K. Baum ◽

Olaf P. Jensen

Keyword(s):

Biological Diversity ◽

Biodiversity Loss ◽

Maximum Sustainable Yield ◽

Marine Fishes ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Global Database ◽

Top Predators ◽

2010 Target ◽

Rate Of Decline ◽

Demersal Species

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) established a target in 2002 to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010. Using a newly constructed global database for 207 populations (108 species), we examine whether the 2010 target has been met for marine fishes, while accounting for population biomass relative to maximum sustainable yield, BMSY. Although rate of decline has eased for 59% of populations declining before 1992 (a pattern consistent with a literal interpretation of the target), the percentage of populations below BMSY has remained unchanged and the rate of decline has increased among several top predators, many of which are below 0.5BMSY. Combining population trends, a global multispecies index indicates that marine fishes declined 38% between 1970 and 2007. The index has been below BMSY since the mid-1980s and stable since the early 1990s. With the exception of High Seas pelagic fishes and demersal species in the Northeast Pacific and Australia – New Zealand, the multispecies indices are currently below BMSY in many regions. We conclude that the 2010 CBD target represents a weak standard for recovering marine fish biodiversity and that meaningful progress will require population-specific recovery targets and associated time lines for achieving those targets.

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Factors Influencing the Sponsoring of Animals in Slovak Zoos

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani12010021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 21

Author(s):

Jana Fančovičová ◽

Pavol Prokop ◽

Róberta Repáková ◽

William Medina-Jerez

Keyword(s):

Anthropogenic Disturbance ◽

Animal Species ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Species Conservation ◽

Biodiversity Loss ◽

Ex Situ ◽

International Union ◽

The Public ◽

Factors Influencing

Anthropogenic disturbance causes biodiversity loss, and consequently the captive conservation (ex situ) of threatened animals may be an effective strategy in protecting species. We used estimated body mass, phylogenetic closeness with humans, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) conservation status, and species attractiveness scores, to examine the factors influencing the adoption likelihood of a species in all Slovak zoos. In general, vertebrates received more funding than invertebrates, and mammals were the preferred taxa by private contributors. In terms of funding, we propose that the perception of mammals as phylogenetically close to humans, and attractiveness factor, contribute to an advantage over less attractive and phylogenetically distant species. Conservation status also contributed to the amount of donations; however, the magnitude of these relationships was weak when compared to the effect of animal taxa. These results suggest that Slovak zoos might be more successful in raising donations by breeding threatened species, and raising public awareness about these animal species. Displaying popular, flagship species of non-mammal taxa may increase interest among the public as well, and may translate into a significant growth in the amount of donations.

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Linked indicator sets for addressing biodiversity loss

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s003060531100024x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. 411-419 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Tim H. Sparks ◽

Stuart H. M. Butchart ◽

Andrew Balmford ◽

Leon Bennun ◽

Damon Stanwell-Smith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Diversity ◽

Biodiversity Loss ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

The Status ◽

2010 Target ◽

Response Pressure ◽

Anthropogenic Threats ◽

Aid Decision ◽

Pressure State ◽

Indicator Sets

AbstractThe target adopted by world leaders of significantly reducing the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010 was not met but this stimulated a new suite of biodiversity targets for 2020 adopted by the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in October 2010. Indicators will be essential for monitoring progress towards these targets and the CBD will be defining a suite of relevant indicators, building on those developed for the 2010 target. Here we argue that explicitly linked sets of indicators offer a more useful framework than do individual indicators because the former are easier to understand, communicate and interpret to guide policy. A Response-Pressure-State-Benefit framework for structuring and linking indicators facilitates an understanding of the relationships between policy actions, anthropogenic threats, the status of biodiversity and the benefits that people derive from it. Such an approach is appropriate at global, regional, national and local scales but for many systems it is easier to demonstrate causal linkages and use them to aid decision making at national and local scales. We outline examples of linked indicator sets for humid tropical forests and marine fisheries as illustrations of the concept and conclude that much work remains to be done in developing both the indicators and the causal links between them.

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The Convention on Biological Diversity's 2010 target

Himalayan Journal of Sciences ◽

10.3126/hjs.v3i5.460 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 3 (5) ◽

pp. 43-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andrew Balmford ◽

Leon Bennun ◽

Ben Ten Brink

Keyword(s):

Scientific Knowledge ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Biodiversity Loss ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Geochemical Processes ◽

Short Term ◽

2010 Target ◽

Policy Forum

Governments are often accused of responding only to short-term and parochial considerations. It is therefore remarkable that representatives of 190 countries recently committed themselves at the Convention on Biological Diversity to reducing biodiversity loss. This presents conservation biologists with perhaps their greatest challenge of the decade. The authors of this Policy Forum describe approaches to identifying more of the earth’s biological diversity; understanding how biological, geophysical, and geochemical processes interact; and presenting scientific knowledge in time to contribute to and achieve the 2010 target. Himalayan Journal of Sciences 3(5) 2005 p.43-45

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Monitoring Biodiversity Loss with Primary Species-occurrence Data: Toward National-level Indicators for the 2010 Target of the Convention on Biological Diversity

AMBIO ◽

10.1579/0044-7447-38.1.29 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 29-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Jorge Soberón ◽

A. Townsend Peterson

Keyword(s):

Biological Diversity ◽

National Level ◽

Biodiversity Loss ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Species Occurrence ◽

Occurrence Data ◽

2010 Target

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Giant otter Pteronura brasiliensis density and abundance in Llanos Orientales de Colombia in the Orinoco basin

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605320000058 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Germán Garrote ◽

Beyker Castañeda ◽

Jose Manuel Escobar ◽

Laura Pérez ◽

Brayan Marín ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Population Size ◽

20Th Century ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Species Conservation ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Red List ◽

Recreational Fishing ◽

Pteronura Brasiliensis ◽

Direct Counts

Abstract The giant otter Pteronura brasiliensis, categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, was once widely distributed throughout South America. By the middle of the 20th century the giant otter had become locally extinct along the main rivers of the Orinoco basin. Although some populations seem to have recovered, the paucity of information available does not permit a full evaluation of the species' conservation status. The objective of this study was to estimate the abundance and density of the giant otter population along the Orinoco river in the municipality of Puerto Carreño, Vichada, Colombia, where there is important commercial and recreational fishing. Thirty-nine linear km were surveyed, repeatedly, with a total of 315 km of surveys. Population size was estimated by direct counts of individuals. All individuals detected were photographed and identified individually from their throat pelage patterns. In total, 30 otters were identified, giving a minimum density of 0.77 individuals per km, one of the highest reported for the species in Colombia. Given the high density in this well-developed area, our results highlight the importance of this population for the conservation of the species.

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Two new species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from the Western Ghats, India

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.334.3.4 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 334 (3) ◽

pp. 233 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

BINCE MANI ◽

SINJUMOL THOMAS ◽

S. JOHN BRITTO

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Western Ghats ◽

Pollen Morphology ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Species Conservation ◽

Diagnostic Characters ◽

Two New Species ◽

The Western Ghats

Impatiens saulierea and I. josephia, two new species, are described from the Western Ghats, India. The former is collected from Kakkayam, Kozhikode and the latter from Idukki, Kerala. A detailed description of both taxa along with diagnostic characters between allied species, conservation status, pollen morphology and colour photographs are provided.

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Contrasting research approaches to managing mistletoes in commercial forests and wooded pasturesThis minireview is one of a collection of papers based on a presentation from the Stem and Shoot Fungal Pathogens and Parasitic Plants: the Values of Biological Diversity session of the XXII International Union of Forestry Research Organization World Congress meeting held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, in 2005.

Botany ◽

10.1139/b08-109 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 87 (1) ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Nick Reid ◽

Simon F. Shamoun

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Biodiversity Loss ◽

Classical Biological Control ◽

Dwarf Mistletoe ◽

Silvicultural Treatments ◽

Inundative Biological Control

Many mistletoe species are pests in agricultural and forest ecosystems throughout the world. Mistletoes are unusual “weeds” as they are generally endemic to areas where they achieve pest status and, therefore, classical biological control and broad-scale herbicidal control are usually impractical. In North American coniferous forests, dwarf mistletoe ( Arceuthobium spp.) infection results in major commercial losses and poses a public liability in recreation settings. Hyperparasitic fungi have potential as biological control agents of dwarf mistletoe, including species which attack shoots, berries, and the endophytic systems of dwarf mistletoe. Development of an inundative biological control strategy will be useful in situations where traditional silvicultural control is impractical or undesirable. In southern Australia, farm eucalypts are often attacked and killed by mistletoes ( Amyema spp.) in grazed landscapes where tree decline and biodiversity loss are major forms of land degradation. Although long-term strategies to achieve a balance between mistletoe and host abundance are promoted, many graziers want short-term options to treat severely infected trees. Recent research has revisited the efficiency and efficacy of silvicultural treatments and selective herbicides in appropriate situations. The results of recent research on these diverse management strategies in North America and Australia are summarized.

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Nepal’s National Red List of Birds

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.2855.9.1.9700-9722 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 9700 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Carol Inskipp ◽

Hem Sagar Baral ◽

Tim Inskipp ◽

Ambika Prasad Khatiwada ◽

Monsoon Pokharel Khatiwada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endangered Species ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Bird Species ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Wetland Birds ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

Critically Endangered Species ◽

Passerine Species ◽

Over Exploitation

The main objectives of the Nepal National Bird Red Data Book were to provide comprehensive and up-to-date accounts of all the bird species found in Nepal, assess their status applying the IUCN Guidelines at Regional Levels, identify threats to all bird species and recommend the most practical measures for their conservation. It is hoped that the Bird RDB will help Nepal achieve the Convention on Biological Diversity target of preventing the extinction of known threatened species and improving their conservation status. As population changes of Nepal’s birds have been studied for only a few species, assessments of species’ national status were mainly made by assessing changes in distribution. Species distribution maps were produced for all of Nepal’s bird species except vagrants and compared to maps that were produced in 1991 using the same mapping system. Of the 878 bird species recorded, 168 species (19%) were assessed as nationally threatened. These comprise 68 (40%) Critically Endangered species, 38 (23%) Endangered species and 62 (37%) Vulnerable species. A total of 62 species was considered Near Threatened and 22 species Data Deficient. Over 55% of the threatened birds are lowland grassland specialists, 25% are wetland birds and 24% tropical and sub-tropical broadleaved forest birds. Larger birds appear to be more threatened than smaller birds with 98 (25%) non-passerine species threatened and 67 (14%) passerine species. Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation are the most important threats. Other threats include chemical poisoning, over-exploitation, climate change, hydropower, invasive species, intensification of agriculture, disturbance, and limited conservation measures and research. Measures to address these threats are described. It was also concluded that re-assessments of the status of certain bird groups carried out every five years and the setting up of a national online system for storing and reporting bird sightings would be useful.

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