scholarly journals Strengthening the Scientific Basis of Ecosystem Collapse Risk Assessments

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1252
Author(s):  
Adrian C. Newton
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Scientific Understanding ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Status Assessment ◽  
Conservation Assessments ◽  
Ecosystem Collapse

Progress is being made in assessing the conservation status of ecosystems, notably through initiatives such as the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) and the NatureServe Conservation Status Assessment (NCS). Both of these approaches consider conservation status in terms of the risk of ecosystem collapse. However, the scientific understanding of ecosystem collapse is still at a relatively early stage. Consequently, concerns have been raised regarding the scientific basis of ecosystem conservation assessments focusing on collapse risk. Here I explore how these concerns might potentially be addressed by considering how the concept is defined, and by briefly reviewing the theoretical basis of ecosystem collapse. I then examine the implications of recent research results for the design of ecosystem collapse risk assessments, and the challenges identified in those assessments conducted to date. Recommendations are made regarding how collapse risk assessments might be strengthened based on current scientific understanding, and how this understanding could be improved by further research. In addition, I examine the potential implications for conservation policy and practice if the scientific basis of collapse risk assessments is not strengthened in this way.

scholarly journals Global and Regional IUCN Red List Assessments: 6

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 31-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Fenu ◽  
Mohamed Abdelaal ◽  
Gianluigi Bacchetta ◽  
Luciano Bongiorni ◽  
Annalena Cogoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Global Level ◽  
Regional Assessment ◽  
Iucn Categories ◽  
Status Assessment

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of four vascular plants according to IUCN categories and criteria are presented. It includes the assessment ofEpipactismaricae(Croce, Bongiorni, De Vivo & Fori) Presser & S.Hertel at global level, and the regional assessment ofCerintheretortaSm. (Italy), PlatantherakuenkeleiH.Baumannsubsp.kuenkelei (Europe) andTyphaelephantinaRoxb. (Egypt).

scholarly journals Conservation status of polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) in relation to projected sea-ice declines

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 20160556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric V. Regehr ◽  
Kristin L. Laidre ◽  
H. Resit Akçakaya ◽  
Steven C. Amstrup ◽  
Todd C. Atwood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Polar Bear ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Arctic Sea Ice ◽  
Polar Bears ◽  
Near Term ◽  
Conservation Assessments ◽  
Global Population

Loss of Arctic sea ice owing to climate change is the primary threat to polar bears throughout their range. We evaluated the potential response of polar bears to sea-ice declines by (i) calculating generation length (GL) for the species, which determines the timeframe for conservation assessments; (ii) developing a standardized sea-ice metric representing important habitat; and (iii) using statistical models and computer simulation to project changes in the global population under three approaches relating polar bear abundance to sea ice. Mean GL was 11.5 years. Ice-covered days declined in all subpopulation areas during 1979–2014 (median −1.26 days year −1 ). The estimated probabilities that reductions in the mean global population size of polar bears will be greater than 30%, 50% and 80% over three generations (35–41 years) were 0.71 (range 0.20–0.95), 0.07 (range 0–0.35) and less than 0.01 (range 0–0.02), respectively. According to IUCN Red List reduction thresholds, which provide a common measure of extinction risk across taxa, these results are consistent with listing the species as vulnerable. Our findings support the potential for large declines in polar bear numbers owing to sea-ice loss, and highlight near-term uncertainty in statistical projections as well as the sensitivity of projections to different plausible assumptions.

scholarly journals The jaguar's spots are darker than they appear: assessing the global conservation status of the jaguar Panthera onca

Oryx ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 300-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Antonio de la Torre ◽  
José F. González-Maya ◽  
Heliot Zarza ◽  
Gerardo Ceballos ◽  
Rodrigo A. Medellín
Keyword(s):  
Human Population ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Conservation Policy ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Panthera Onca ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Area Of Occupancy ◽  
Global Status ◽  
Iucn Red List Criteria

AbstractThe IUCN Red List is widely used to guide conservation policy and practice. However, in most cases the evaluation of a species using IUCN Red List criteria takes into account only the global status of the species. Although subpopulations may be assessed using the IUCN categories and criteria, this rarely occurs, either because it is difficult to identify subpopulations or because of the effort involved. Using the jaguar Panthera onca as a model we illustrate that wide-ranging species that are assigned a particular category of threat based on the IUCN Red List criteria may display considerable heterogeneity within individual taxa in terms of the level of risk they face. Using the information available on the conservation status of the species, we evaluated the jaguar's current geographical range and its subpopulations. We identified the most threatened subpopulations, using the extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, population size and the level of threat to each subpopulation. The main outcome of this analysis was that although a large subpopulation persists in Amazonia, virtually all others are threatened because of their small size, isolation, deficient protection and the high human population density. Based on this approach, future conservation efforts can be prioritized for the most threatened subpopulations. Based on our findings we recommend that for future Red List assessments assessors consider the value of undertaking assessments at the subpopulation level. For the jaguar, sub-global assessments should be included on the Red List as a matter of urgency.

Lost in time and space: re-assessment of conservation status in an arid-zone flora through targeted field survey

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 674 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Silcock ◽  
A. J. Healy ◽  
R. J. Fensham
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Arid Zones ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
The Status ◽  
Conservation Assessments

Lack of basic data to assess plant species against IUCN Red List criteria is a major impediment to assigning accurate conservation status throughout large areas of the world. Erroneous assessments will be most prevalent in vast poorly surveyed areas where herbarium collections are sparse. In arid environments, assessments are further confounded by extreme temporal variability and poor understanding of the nature and magnitude of threats. We systematically re-assess the conservation status of an arid-zone flora. The status of all 1781 vascular plant species occurring across 635 300 km2 of inland eastern Australia was initially assessed through herbarium records and expert interviews. This process generated a list of apparently rare and potentially threatened species, which guided a targeted survey program over 4 years. Search effort and key data on populations of candidate species found were recorded and used to assess 91 species against IUCN criteria. One-third of species were widespread and abundant at least in certain seasons, but had been deemed rare due to sparse collections. The conservation status of 20, mostly newly recognised species from restricted habitats, was upgraded and 14 remained listed because of having restricted areas of occupancy. With the exception of 12 artesian spring species, continuing declines were documented for just six species. The criterion that allows for listing of species because of extreme fluctuations (in combination with restricted and fragmented populations) needs to be carefully interpreted in arid zones, where these fluctuations may be apparent rather than real, and may actually confer resilience to grazing for some species. Our approach facilitates robust conservation assessments across vast and poorly known arid regions, distinguishing species that have merely been lost in space and time from those that are at risk of extinction.

scholarly journals Global and regional IUCN red list assessments: 12

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 77-84
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Fenu ◽  
Thomas Abeli ◽  
Gianluigi Bacchetta ◽  
Donatella Cogoni ◽  
Martina D’Agostino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Global Level ◽  
Iucn Categories ◽  
Status Assessment

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of two vascular plants according to IUCN categories and criteria are presented. It includes the assessment of Genista nuragica Bacch., Brullo & Giusso and Jacobaea incana (L.) Veldkamp at global level.

scholarly journals Global and regional IUCN Red List assessments: 7

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 107-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Orsenigo ◽  
Michele Adorni ◽  
Alessandro Alessandrini ◽  
Stefano Armiraglio ◽  
Miris Castello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Regional Level ◽  
Iucn Categories ◽  
Status Assessment

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of four vascular plants according to IUCN categories and criteria are presented. It includes the assessments of Aurinialeucadea (Guss.) K.Koch, Chondrillachondrilloides (Ard.) H.Karst., Daphnecneorum L., and Ophioglossumazoricum C.Presl at regional level (Italy).

scholarly journals Conservation status assessment of the amphibians and reptiles of Uruguay

2010 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 05-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés Canavero ◽  
Santiago Carreira ◽  
José A. Langone ◽  
Federico Achaval ◽  
Claudio Borteiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Status Assessment ◽  
Data Deficient ◽  
Iucn Red List Criteria ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Near Threatened

The native species of amphibians and reptiles of Uruguay were categorized according to the IUCN Red List criteria. Out of 47 amphibian species, seven are listed as Critically Endangered (CR), five as Endangered (EN), one as Vulnerable (VU), three as Near Threatened (NT), and two as Data Deficient (DD); the remaining species are considered to be Least Concern (LC). Among the 64 species of reptiles evaluated, one is listed as Critically Endangered (CR), seven as Endangered (EN), two as Vulnerable (VU), one as Near Threatened (NT) and seven as Data Deficient (DD); the rest are considered to be Least Concern (LC). The use of these results as an additional criterion in the definition of protected areas in Uruguay will contribute towards the conservation of the aforementioned threatened species and their associated ecosystems.

scholarly journals Validation of Gastrochilus prionophyllus (Vandeae, Orchidaceae), a new species from Yunnan Province, China

PhytoKeys ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 130 ◽  
pp. 161-169
Author(s):  
Xun-Feng Wu ◽  
De-Ping Ye ◽  
Bo Pan ◽  
Xiang-Qun Lin ◽  
Hong Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Yunnan Province ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Iucn Red List Categories ◽  
Status Assessment ◽  
Red List Categories ◽  
A New Species

Gastrochilus prionophyllus, which was previously not validly published, is here validated. The species is described along with illustration and photos. Morphologically, the long and pendulous stem and distichous leaves of this new species indicate that it belongs to the sect. Microphyllae. It is unique in having thick fleshy leaves and margin significantly serrate, small flowers, reniform epichile and margin with dentations, thickened cushion on the central epichile and subconic hypochile. Meanwhile, a preliminary conservation status assessment according to IUCN Red List categories and criteria is given to the new species.

scholarly journals Global and Regional IUCN Red List Assessments: 8

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 17-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Fenu ◽  
Liliana Bernardo ◽  
Roberta Calvo ◽  
Pierluigi Cortis ◽  
Antonio De Agostini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Global Level ◽  
Regional Assessment ◽  
Iucn Categories ◽  
Status Assessment

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of four vascular plants according to IUCN categories and criteria are presented. It includes the assessment of Ophrys normanii J.J.Wood at global level, and the regional assessment of Genista anglica L., Helianthemum lippii (L.) Dum.Cours., and Scrophularia lucida L. (Italy).

scholarly journals Global and Regional IUCN Red List Assessments: 3

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 83-98
Author(s):  
Simone Orsenigo ◽  
Giovanni Astuti ◽  
Fabrizio Bartolucci ◽  
Sandra Citterio ◽  
Fabio Conti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Global Level ◽  
Regional Assessment ◽  
Iucn Categories ◽  
Status Assessment

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of four vascular plants are presented according to IUCN categories and criteria. It includes the assessment at global level of CrepislaceraTensubsp.titani (Pamp.) Roma-Marzio, G.Astuti & Peruzzi and AnthyllishermanniaeL.subsp.sicula Brullo & Giusso and the regional assessment of Commicarpusplumbagineus (Cav.) Standl. (Spain and Europe) and Ambrosiamaritima L. (Italy).

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