Assessing Suitable Habitats for Treefrog Species after Previous Declines in Costa Rica

Treefrogs represent 22% of amphibian species in Costa Rica, but gaps in the knowledge about this group of amphibians can impede conservation efforts. In this study, we first updated the status of Costa Rican treefrogs and found that a total of 38% of treefrog species are threatened according to the most recent IUCN assessment in 2019. Additionally, 21% of Costa Rican treefrog species have a high vulnerability to extinction according to environmental vulnerability scores. Then, we predicted the historical climatic suitability of eight target species that we expected to have exhibited changes in their ranges in the last 20 years. We assessed the location of new occurrence records since 2000 to identify recovery, range expansion, or previously underestimated ranges due to methodological limitations. We also estimated the area of each species’ suitable habitat with two metrics: extent of suitable habitat (ESH) and area of minimum convex polygon (AMCP). Six declined species exhibited recovery (i.e., new occurrences across historical range after 2000), with the widest recovery found in Agalychnis annae. We also found that Isthmohyla pseudopuma appears to have spread after the decline of sympatric species and that the range of I. sukia was originally underestimated due to inadequate detection. We found that the ESH was 32–49% smaller than the AMCP for species that are slowly recovering; however, the ESH is similar or greater than the AMCP for species that are recovering in most of their ranges, as well as rare species with widespread ranges. Results of this work can be used to evaluate the risk of environmental threats and prioritize regions for conservation purposes.

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DISTRIBUCIÓN POTENCIAL DE Musa velutina (MUSACEAE) EN LAS ÁREAS SILVESTRES PROTEGIDAS DE COSTA RICA

Revista Geográfica de América Central ◽

10.15359/rgac.1-54.8 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (54) ◽

pp. 171

Author(s):

Brayan Heiner Morera-Chacón

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Costa Rican ◽

Maxent Model ◽

Use Of Resources ◽

Musa Velutina ◽

Conservation Projects ◽

Suitable Habitats ◽

Moderate Elevation ◽

Altitude Level

El estudio determina cuales áreas silvestres protegidas presentan idoneidad de hábitat para Musa velutina utilizando el algoritmo de máxima entropía (MaxEnt), se corrió el modelo utilizando variables de biotemperatura, precipitación, humedad y piso altitudinal obtenidos del atlas 2008 del Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (TEC). El modelo muestra un buen rendimiento de acuerdo con el valor del área bajo la curva (AUC= 0.824). Las áreas con valores más altos de hábitat idóneo se encuentran en elevaciones medias de la vertiente Caribe, en el análisis de contribución de variables la que mayor contribución aporta al modelo es la biotemperatura. M. velutina podría encontrar dentro de muchas de las áreas protegidas de Costa Rica un ambiente idóneo para su establecimiento y posible invasión. Este modelo de distribución potencial de la especie tienen gran valor para la generación de información que permite hacer un uso más eficiente de los recursos, predecir potenciales escenarios, y de esta manera aumentar el éxito en proyectos de conservación. POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTION OF Musa velutina (MUSACEAE) IN PROTECTED WILD AREAS OF COSTA RICAABSTRACT By using the maximum entropy algorithm (MaxEnt) model, this study determined which protected wild areas are suitable habitats for Musa velutina. The variables used were biotemperature, precipitation, humidity, and the altitude level obtained from the 2008 atlas of the Costa Rican Technological Institute (TEC, for its name in Spanish). The model shows good performance according to the area under the curve (AUC = 0.824). Areas with higher levels of suitable habitats were located in moderate elevation levels on the Caribbean slope. When the contribution of variables were analyzed, the largest contributor to the model was biotemperature. M.velutina is widely distributed in many protected areas in Costa Rica, which can be an ideal environment for their establishment and high potential to become invasive. This model of potential species distribution is of great value when generating strategies for a more effiient use of resources and for predicting potential scena rios. This knowledge allows increasing success in conservation projects and management.

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The potential effects of climate change on amphibian distribution, range fragmentation and turnover in China

10.7287/peerj.preprints.1681 ◽

2016 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ren-Yan Duan ◽

Xiao-Quan Kong ◽

Min-Yi Huang ◽

Sara Varela ◽

Xiang Ji

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Spatial Configuration ◽

Future Climate Change ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Climate Change Scenarios ◽

Amphibian Species ◽

Current Range ◽

The North ◽

Suitable Habitats ◽

Range Fragmentation

Many studies predict that climate change will cause species movement and turnover, but few studies have considered the effect of climate change on range fragmentation for current species and/or populations. We used MaxEnt to predict suitable habitat, fragmentation and turnover for 134 amphibian species in China under 40 future climate change scenarios spanning four pathways (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6 and RCP8.5) and two time periods (the 2050s and 2070s). Our results show that climate change will cause a major shift in the spatial patterns of amphibian diversity. Suitable habitats for over 90% of species will be located in the north of the current range, for over 95% of species in higher altitudes, and for over 75% of species in the west of the current range. The distributions of species predicted to move westwards, southwards and to higher altitudes will contract, while the ranges of the species not showing these trends will expand. Amphibians will lose 20% of their original ranges on average; the distribution outside current ranges will increase by 15%. Climate change will likely modify the spatial configuration of climatically suitable areas. Changes in area and fragmentation of climatically suitable patches are related, which means that species may be simultaneously affected by different stressors as a consequence of climate change.

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The potential effects of climate change on amphibian distribution, range fragmentation and turnover in China

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.2185 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. e2185 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Ren-Yan Duan ◽

Xiao-Quan Kong ◽

Min-Yi Huang ◽

Sara Varela ◽

Xiang Ji

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Future Climate Change ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Climate Change Scenarios ◽

Amphibian Species ◽

Current Range ◽

The North ◽

Major Shift ◽

Suitable Habitats ◽

Range Fragmentation

Many studies predict that climate change will cause species movement and turnover, but few have considered the effect of climate change on range fragmentation for current species and/or populations. We used MaxEnt to predict suitable habitat, fragmentation and turnover for 134 amphibian species in China under 40 future climate change scenarios spanning four pathways (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6 and RCP8.5) and two time periods (the 2050s and 2070s). Our results show that climate change may cause a major shift in spatial patterns of amphibian diversity. Amphibians in China would lose 20% of their original ranges on average; the distribution outside current ranges would increase by 15%. Suitable habitats for over 90% of species will be located in the north of their current range, for over 95% of species in higher altitudes (from currently 137–4,124 m to 286–4,396 m in the 2050s or 314–4,448 m in the 2070s), and for over 75% of species in the west of their current range. Also, our results predict two different general responses to the climate change: some species contract their ranges while moving westwards, southwards and to higher altitudes, while others expand their ranges. Finally, our analyses indicate that range dynamics and fragmentation are related, which means that the effects of climate change on Chinese amphibians might be two-folded.

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The potential effects of climate change on amphibian distribution, range fragmentation and turnover in China

10.7287/peerj.preprints.1681v1 ◽

2016 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ren-Yan Duan ◽

Xiao-Quan Kong ◽

Min-Yi Huang ◽

Sara Varela ◽

Xiang Ji

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Spatial Configuration ◽

Future Climate Change ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Climate Change Scenarios ◽

Amphibian Species ◽

Current Range ◽

The North ◽

Suitable Habitats ◽

Range Fragmentation

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The caddisfly genus Triaenodes in the Neotropics (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.511.1.1 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 511 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

RALPH W. HOLZENTHAL ◽

TROND ANDERSEN

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

New Species ◽

Costa Rica ◽

Costa Rican ◽

Life History Stages ◽

The World ◽

The Status ◽

World Fauna ◽

First Descriptions

The genus Triaenodes as it occurs in the Neotropics is diagnosed and discussed in the context of the world fauna. Twenty new species are described and illustrated: T. acanthus (Mexico), T. chirripo (Costa Rica), T. clauseni (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama), T. cuyotenango (Guatemala), T. flintorum (Mexico), T. guadaloupe (Panama), T. hodgesi (Ecuador), T. hornitos (Panama), T. kilambe (Nicaragua), T. mexicanus (Mexico), T. moncho (Costa Rica), T. morai (Costa Rica, Nicaragua), T. nicaraguensis (Nicaragua), T. oaxacensis (Mexico), T. tajo (Costa Rica), T. talamanca (Costa Rica), T. tapanti (Costa Rica, Panama), T. tico (Costa Rica, Panama), T. tuxtlensis (Mexico), and T. woldai (Panama). In addition, 4 previously described species are redescribed and figured: T. abruptus Flint 1991 (Colombia), T. anomalus Flint 1967 (Nicaragua, Mexico), T. delicatus Nav s 1924 (Costa Rica, Panama), and T. peruanus Flint & Reyes 1991 (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru). The status of Triaenodes columbicus Ulmer 1909, is discussed. The larval and pupal stages of a Costa Rican species and the females of 9 species are described, representing the first descriptions of these life history stages for Neotropical Triaenodes. The genus Ylodes Milne is returned to synonymy with Triaenodes, as a subgenus. A key to the males of Neotropical Triaenodes is provided.

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Parity without Equality

10.1093/oso/9780190851224.003.0009 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jennifer M. Piscopo

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Party System ◽

Political Representation ◽

Costa Rican ◽

Women In Politics ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Economic Problems ◽

Crisis Of Representation ◽

Female Legislators ◽

Female President

Jennifer M. Piscopo examines how the crisis of representation in Costa Rica has placed a ceiling on gender equality in representation. The restructuring of the Costa Rican party system and party fragmentation has made electing multiple candidates from any one ballot more difficult. Top spots have become even more prestigious and more likely to be allocated to men, which reduces women’s electoral chances. Corruption scandals, party breakdown, citizen frustration, and economic problems tainted the administration of the nation’s first female president, Laura Chinchilla. Female legislators have often worked to promote women’s issues and feminist policies, but Chinchilla eschewed feminism, even though several of her policies did benefit women. Overall, her failed presidency may create difficulties for other women seeking top political offices and could have negative consequences for views of women in politics. These challenges notwithstanding, Piscopo concludes that Costa Rica remains at the vanguard of women’s political representation in Latin America.

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The Impact of Human Pressure and Climate Change on the Habitat Availability and Protection of Cypripedium (Orchidaceae) in Northeast China

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10010084 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 84

Author(s):

Huanchu Liu ◽

Hans Jacquemyn ◽

Xingyuan He ◽

Wei Chen ◽

Yanqing Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Northeast China ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Changbai Mountains ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Human Pressure ◽

Terrestrial Orchids ◽

The Future ◽

Suitable Habitats ◽

The Impact

Human pressure on the environment and climate change are two important factors contributing to species decline and overall loss of biodiversity. Orchids may be particularly vulnerable to human-induced losses of habitat and the pervasive impact of global climate change. In this study, we simulated the extent of the suitable habitat of three species of the terrestrial orchid genus Cypripedium in northeast China and assessed the impact of human pressure and climate change on the future distribution of these species. Cypripedium represents a genus of long-lived terrestrial orchids that contains several species with great ornamental value. Severe habitat destruction and overcollection have led to major population declines in recent decades. Our results showed that at present the most suitable habitats of the three species can be found in Da Xing’an Ling, Xiao Xing’an Ling and in the Changbai Mountains. Human activity was predicted to have the largest impact on species distributions in the Changbai Mountains. In addition, climate change was predicted to lead to a shift in distribution towards higher elevations and to an increased fragmentation of suitable habitats of the three investigated Cypripedium species in the study area. These results will be valuable for decision makers to identify areas that are likely to maintain viable Cypripedium populations in the future and to develop conservation strategies to protect the remaining populations of these enigmatic orchid species.

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Predicting Impacts of Climate Change on Northward Range Expansion of Invasive Weeds in South Korea

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10081604 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1604

Author(s):

Sun Hee Hong ◽

Yong Ho Lee ◽

Gaeun Lee ◽

Do-Hun Lee ◽

Pradeep Adhikari

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

South Korea ◽

Habitat Suitability ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Southern Region ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Invasive Weeds ◽

Northern Regions ◽

Suitable Habitats ◽

Control And Management

Predicting the distribution of invasive weeds under climate change is important for the early identification of areas that are susceptible to invasion and for the adoption of the best preventive measures. Here, we predicted the habitat suitability of 16 invasive weeds in response to climate change and land cover changes in South Korea using a maximum entropy modeling approach. Based on the predictions of the model, climate change is likely to increase habitat suitability. Currently, the area of moderately suitable and highly suitable habitats is estimated to be 8877.46 km2, and 990.29 km2, respectively, and these areas are expected to increase up to 496.52% by 2050 and 1439.65% by 2070 under the representative concentration pathways 4.5 scenario across the country. Although habitat suitability was estimated to be highest in the southern regions (<36° latitude), the central and northern regions are also predicted to have substantial increases in suitable habitat areas. Our study revealed that climate change would exacerbate the threat of northward weed invasions by shifting the climatic barriers of invasive weeds from the southern region. Thus, it is essential to initiate control and management strategies in the southern region to prevent further invasions into new areas.

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Use of a spatially explicit individual-based model to predict population trajectories and habitat connectivity for a reintroduced ursid

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605320000447 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Desiree Andersen ◽

Yoonjung Yi ◽

Amaël Borzée ◽

Kyungmin Kim ◽

Kwang-Seon Moon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Dynamics ◽

Radio Telemetry ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Large Carnivores ◽

Environmental Interactions ◽

Dispersal Capability ◽

The Republic ◽

Suitable Habitats ◽

Mixed Modelling ◽

Population Equilibrium

Abstract Reintroductions of large carnivore species present unique opportunities to model population dynamics as populations can be monitored from the beginning of a reintroduction. However, analysis of the population dynamics of such reintroduced populations is rare and may be limited in incorporating the complex movements and environmental interactions of large carnivores. Starting in 2004, Asiatic black bears Ursus thibetanus were reintroduced and tracked in the Republic of Korea, along with their descendants, using radio telemetry, yielding 33,924 tracking points over 12 years. Along with information about habitat use, landscape, and resource availability, we estimated the population equilibrium and dispersal capability of the reintroduced population. We used a mixed modelling approach to determine suitable habitat areas, population equilibria for three different resources-based scenarios, and least-cost pathways (i.e. corridors) for dispersal. Our population simulations provided a mean population equilibrium of 64 individuals at the original reintroduction site and a potential maximum of 1,438 individuals in the country. The simulation showed that the bear population will disperse to nearby mountainous areas, but a second reintroduction will be required to fully restore U. thibetanus. Northern suitable habitats are currently disconnected and natural re-population is unlikely to happen unless supported. Our methodologies and findings are also relevant for determining the outcome and trajectories of reintroduced populations of other large carnivores.

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Scaling up ideals to freedom: are densities of red knots across western Europe consistent with ideal free distribution?

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2011.0026 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 278 (1719) ◽

pp. 2728-2736 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Gwenaël Quaintenne ◽

Jan A. van Gils ◽

Pierrick Bocher ◽

Anne Dekinga ◽

Theunis Piersma

Keyword(s):

Uniform Distribution ◽

Western Europe ◽

Ideal Free Distribution ◽

Scale Up ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Distribution Models ◽

Free Distribution ◽

Wintering Areas ◽

Wintering Area ◽

Suitable Habitats

Local studies have shown that the distribution of red knots Calidris canutus across intertidal mudflats is consistent with the predictions of an ideal distribution, but not a free distribution. Here, we scale up the study of feeding distributions to their entire wintering area in western Europe. Densities of red knots were compared among seven wintering sites in The Netherlands, UK and France, where the available mollusc food stocks were also measured and from where diets were known. We tested between three different distribution models that respectively assumed (i) a uniform distribution of red knots over all areas, (ii) a uniform distribution across all suitable habitat (based on threshold densities of harvestable mollusc prey), and (iii) an ideal and free distribution (IFD) across all suitable habitats. Red knots were not homogeneously distributed across the different European wintering areas, also not when considering suitable habitats only. Their distribution was best explained by the IFD model, suggesting that the birds are exposed to interference and have good knowledge about their resource landscape at the spatial scale of NW Europe, and that the costs of movement between estuaries, at least when averaged over a whole winter, are negligible.

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