Overview on the distribution of gorgonian species in Tunisian marine coastal waters (central Mediterranean)

Gorgonian species play an important ecological role in the structure and function of marine communities. Human activities are negatively affecting the conservation status of gorgonian populations in the Mediterranean. Acquiring knowledge of gorgonian distribution is therefore a key step required to promote efficient management and conservation actions. However, information on the distribution of gorgonian species is lacking in many Mediterranean areas. This study aimed to provide an overview of the geographic and bathymetric distributions of gorgonians in the coastal waters of the Tunisian coast (1136 km). The sampling design encompassed three sectors, 27 localities and 87 sites. Information was collected from scuba diving (26 sites) and local ecological knowledge surveys of fishermen and divers (132 interviews), as well as from a literature review. Overall, the occurrence of eight gorgonians was confirmed at 54 out of the 87 sites surveyed in Tunisian coastal waters (7-120 m depth). The species that were found were Eunicella singularis, Eunicella cavolini, Paramuricea clavata, Paramuricea macrospina, Leptogorgia sarmentosa, Eunicella verrucosa, Corallium rubrum and Ellisella paraplexauroides. The highest gorgonian species richness and abundance was recorded in northern, followed by eastern Tunisian waters. In the southern areas only one species was recorded. This pattern was related to the rocky substrate that characterizes the northern and eastern coasts of Tunisia. This study is the first to report the occurrence of E. singularis, E. cavolini, E. verrucosa and Leptogorgia sarmentosa in northern and eastern Tunisian waters. The results are discussed in the hope of guiding future conservation and management actions for gorgonian assemblages in Tunisia.

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Local ecological knowledge to assist conservation status assessments in data poor contexts: a case study with the threatened sharks of the Brazilian Northeast

Biodiversity and Conservation ◽

10.1007/s10531-021-02119-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Antoine O. H. C. Leduc ◽

Fábio H. D. De Carvalho ◽

Nigel E. Hussey ◽

José Amorim Reis-Filho ◽

Guilherme O. Longo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Local Ecological Knowledge ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Ecological Knowledge ◽

Brazilian Northeast

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Integrating ecological monitoring and local ecological knowledge to evaluate conservation outcomes

10.1101/2021.05.31.446466 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Michelle-María Early-Capistrán ◽

Elena Solana-Arellano ◽

F. Alberto Abreu-Grobois ◽

Gerardo Garibay-Melo ◽

Jeffrey A. Seminoff ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gulf Of California ◽

Local Ecological Knowledge ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Ecological Monitoring ◽

Monitoring Data ◽

Ecological Knowledge ◽

Population Declines ◽

Conservation Actions ◽

Ecological Science

Successful conservation of long-lived species requires reliable understanding of long-term trends and historical baselines. Using a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) foraging aggregation in the northern Gulf of California, Mexico as case study, we integrated scientific monitoring data with historic catch rate reconstructions derived from Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK). Models fit to LEK and monitoring data indicate that turtle abundance is increasing, but only after ~40 years of safeguarding the species' nesting and foraging habitats in Mexico. However, as population declines occurred 75% faster than increases, and current abundance is at ~60% of historical baseline levels, indicating the need for sustained, long-term conservation actions. This study demonstrates the potential of linking LEK and ecological science to provide critical information for conservation, by establishing reference baselines and gauging population status, while promoting equitable and sustainable futures for local communities.

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Linking co-monitoring to co-management: bringing together local, traditional, and scientific knowledge in a wildlife status assessment framework

Arctic Science ◽

10.1139/as-2019-0019 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 247-266

Author(s):

Stephanie J. Peacock ◽

Fabien Mavrot ◽

Matilde Tomaselli ◽

Andrea Hanke ◽

Heather Fenton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Scientific Knowledge ◽

Wildlife Conservation ◽

Population Change ◽

Local Ecological Knowledge ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Ecological Knowledge ◽

Assessment Framework ◽

Holistic Understanding ◽

Status Assessment

Effective wildlife management requires accurate and timely information on conservation status and trends, and knowledge of the factors driving population change. Reliable monitoring of wildlife population health, including disease, body condition, and population trends and demographics, is central to achieving this, but conventional scientific monitoring alone is often not sufficient. Combining different approaches and knowledge types can provide a more holistic understanding than conventional science alone and can bridge gaps in scientific monitoring in remote and sparsely populated areas. Inclusion of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is core to the wildlife co-management mandate of the Canadian territories and is usually included through consultation and engagement processes. We propose a status assessment framework that provides a systematic and transparent approach to including TEK, as well as local ecological knowledge (LEK), in the design, implementation, and interpretation of wildlife conservation status assessments. Drawing on a community-based monitoring program for muskoxen and caribou in northern Canada, we describe how scientific knowledge and TEK/LEK, documented through conventional monitoring, hunter-based sampling, or qualitative methods, can be brought together to inform indicators of wildlife health within our proposed assessment framework. Atuttiaqtut angutikhat aulatauni piyalgit nalaumayumik piyarakittumiklu tuhagakhat nunguttailininut qanuritni pitquhitlu, ilihimanilu pityutit pipkaqni amigaitnit alanguqni. Naahuriyaulat munarini angutikhat amigaitni aaniaqtailini, ilautitlugit aaniarutit, timai qanuritnit, amigaitnitlu pitquhit hiamaumanilu, atugauniqhauyut pitaqninut una, kihimik atuqtauvaktut naunaiyaiyit munariyauni kihimik amihuni naamangitmata. Ilaliutyaqni allatqit pityuhit ilihimanitlu qanuritni piqarutaulat tamatkiumaniqhanik kangiqhimani atuqtauvaktuniunganit naunaiyaiyit munarinit ahiniittut akuttuyunik amigaitni inait. Ilaliutyaqni pitquhit uumatyutit ilihimani (TEK) qitqanittut angutikhat aulaqataunit havariyaqaqtai tapkuat Kanatamiuni nunatagauyut ilaliutivakniqhatlu atuqhugit uqaqatigikni piqataunilu pityuhiit. Uuktutigiyavut qanuritnia naunaiyaqni havagut piqaqtitiyuq havagutikhainik hatqiumanilu pityuhit ilautitlugit Pitquhit Uumatyutit Ilihimanit (TEK), tapkualuttauq nunalikni uumatyutit ilihimanit (LEK), hanatyuhikhaini, atuqpaliani, tukiliuqnilu angutikhat nunguttailini qanuritnit naunaiyaqni. Pivigiplugit nunaliuyuningaqtut munaqhityutit havagutit umingmaknut tuktutlu ukiuqtaqtuani Kanata, unnirtuqtavut qanuq naunaiyaiyit ilihimani tapkuatlu TEK/LEK, titiqhimani atuqhugit atuqtauvaktut munaqhityutaunit, angunahuaqtumingaqtut naunaiyagat, uvaluniit nakuuninut pityuhit, atauttimuktaulat tuhaqhitninut naunaipkutat angutikhat tahamani uuktutauyuq naunaiyaqni havagutai.

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Conserving Mekong Megafishes: Current Status and Critical Threats in Cambodia

Water ◽

10.3390/w12061820 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 1820 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Teresa Campbell ◽

Kakada Pin ◽

Peng Ngor ◽

Zeb Hogan

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Habitat Degradation ◽

Local Ecological Knowledge ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Current Status ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Ecological Knowledge ◽

Population Declines ◽

Illegal Fishing ◽

Maximum Body

Megafishes are important to people and ecosystems worldwide. These fishes attain a maximum body weight of ≥30 kg. Global population declines highlight the need for more information about megafishes’ conservation status to inform management and conservation. The northern Cambodian Mekong River and its major tributaries are considered one of the last refugia for Mekong megafishes. We collected data on population abundance and body size trends for eight megafishes in this region to better understand their conservation statuses. Data were collected in June 2018 using a local ecological knowledge survey of 96 fishers in 12 villages. Fishers reported that, over 20 years, most megafishes changed from common to uncommon, rare, or locally extirpated. The most common and rarest species had mean last capture dates of 4.5 and 95 months before the survey, respectively. All species had declined greatly in body size. Maximum body weights reported by fishers ranged from 11–88% of their recorded maxima. Fishers identified 10 threats to megafishes, seven of which were types of illegal fishing. Electrofishing was the most prevalent. Results confirm that Mekong megafishes are severely endangered. Species Conservation Strategies should be developed and must address pervasive illegal fishing activities, alongside habitat degradation and blocked migrations, to recover declining populations.

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Use of local ecological knowledge in the management of algal blooms

Environmental Conservation ◽

10.1017/s0376892910000305 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 210-221 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

THOMAS A. SCHLACHER ◽

STEWART LLOYD ◽

AARON WIEGAND

Keyword(s):

Coastal Waters ◽

Local Governments ◽

Algal Blooms ◽

Cross Validation ◽

Local Ecological Knowledge ◽

Environmental Conservation ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Ecological Knowledge ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Wind Regimes

SUMMARYMore frequent and severe algal blooms are symptomatic of increasing ecosystem stress in coastal waters. Economic losses typically follow and local governments are forced to ‘manage’ this issue. Because many blooms are not monitored, local ecological knowledge (LEK) and oral history are the only practical tools to obtain data on bloom characteristics and identify their drivers. LEK was applied to outbreaks of brown algae on popular tourist beaches in south-east Queensland (Australia). Structured interviews with local citizens who had a close and frequent connection with the ocean provided 541 bloom records, which showed that blooms are regional (≥400 km) rather than local, and that they are a historical (≥40 years) rather than a recent phenomenon. LEK frequently cited that particular wind regimes coincided with the arrival of blooms, but this could not be verified by statistical cross-validation with empirical data. Harnessing LEK was valuable in engaging citizens, in generating testable hypotheses about plume causes, in providing a previously unrecognized historical perspective and in identifying the correct spatial scale of the issue. Multi-pronged approaches will be most effective in addressing blooms where local mitigation actions are combined with broader regional coastal environmental conservation efforts.

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Abundance patterns at the invasion front: the case of Siganus luridus in Linosa (Strait of Sicily, Central Mediterranean Sea)

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf16024 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 68 (4) ◽

pp. 697 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Ernesto Azzurro ◽

Giulio Franzitta ◽

Marco Milazzo ◽

Michel Bariche ◽

Emanuela Fanelli

Keyword(s):

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Local Ecological Knowledge ◽

Small Scale ◽

Ecological Knowledge ◽

Depth Range ◽

Central Mediterranean ◽

Underwater Visual Census ◽

Strait Of Sicily ◽

Temporal Windows

The dusky spinefoot (Siganus luridus) has spread through much of the eastern Mediterranean since its introduction in 1920. In the present study, we monitored the abundance of this invader around the island of Linosa (Strait of Sicily), where the species was first recorded in 2003. Data were periodically collected along two temporal windows, 2005–06 and 2012–15, by both underwater visual census and surface snorkelling. Local ecological knowledge was investigated to gain complementary information. Both approaches highlighted significant proliferation of this tropical invader, with an average abundance of 0.36 individuals per 250m2 across the 0–30-m depth range. Dense aggregations of more than 100 adult individuals were observed in September 2015, and a coherent spatial structure at the small scale (<1km) was demonstrated. Considering the biogeographical relevance of this population, located at the western edge of its exotic distribution, these findings can be taken as a valuable case study for understanding invasion processes in the marine environment.

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Conservation of the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus in Spain (1966–2011): a bibliometric review of threats, research and adaptive management

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270913000427 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 178-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

R. MORENO-OPO ◽

A. MARGALIDA

Keyword(s):

Adaptive Management ◽

Food Availability ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Breeding Population ◽

Management Actions ◽

Conservation Actions ◽

Bibliometric Review ◽

Cinereous Vulture ◽

Game Hunting ◽

Conservation Threats

SummaryDetecting and quantifying threats and researching and implementing management actions are key to improving the conservation status of endangered species. Bibliometric analysis can constitute a useful tool for the evaluation of such questions from a long-term perspective. Taking as a case study the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus in Spain, we tested relationships between population dynamics, research efforts, existing threats and conservation milestones. The population growth of the species (from 206 pairs in 1976 to 2,068 in 2011) was parallelled by the increase in the total number of publications, the number of articles in SCI journals and the number of published works dealing with aspects of conservation, threats and management. These results are discussed in terms of cause-effect relationships taking into account that the influence of other non-mutually exclusive factors could also probably explain such associations. Similarly, we analysed the trend of the Cinereous Vulture breeding population with respect to different threats and indices of food availability, obtaining a positive correlation with the increase in big-game hunting bags in Spain. With respect to conservation milestones, we concluded that the current situation is positive in terms of the protection of the species and its habitat, with the situation in relation to food availability being unclear. Finally, we reviewed the main conservation actions that have been taken for the species in Spain and how these have been progressively modified based on new scientific and technical evidence, as an example of adaptive management applied to conservation.

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PENGETAHUAN EKOLOGI MASYARAKAT LOKAL SEBAGAI INDIKATOR PENILAIAN POTENSI LAMUN (SEAGRASS) DI TANJUNG LUAR LOMBOK TIMUR

JURNAL BIOLOGI TROPIS ◽

10.29303/jbt.v13i2.153 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Abdul Syukur

Keyword(s):

Higher Plants ◽

Local Ecological Knowledge ◽

Local Communities ◽

Ecological Knowledge ◽

Marine Life ◽

Enhalus Acoroides ◽

The People ◽

Long Time ◽

Quota Sampling ◽

And Function

AbstraksLamun adalah jenis tumbuhan tingkat tinggi yang telah dikenal cukup lama olehmasyarakat di wilayah pesisir. Tujuan dari artikel ini adalah memformulasikan secarakonseptual bentuk pengetahuan ekologi masyarakat lokal sebagai instrumen penilaianperubahan kondisi lamun. Teknik sampling yang digunakan adalah quota sampling dengankriteria responden umurnya ≥ 40 tahun dan jenis pekerjaan utama sebagai nelayan. Selain ituuntuk mendapatkan informasi yang lebih lengkap dan mendalam digunakan teknik snowballsampling. Analisis data di lakukan secara diskriftif. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwapengetahuan ekologi masyarakat lokal cukup komprehensip. tentang lamun. Klasifikasi jenislamun oleh masyarakat lokal menjadi 4 jenis yaitu lamun kaken (Enhalus acoroides), lamunranten (alga), lamun hijau dan lamun pupak (rumput). Distribusi tiap jenis lamun dan fungsilamun terhadap ikan dan biota laut dalam perspektif masyarakat tidak berbeda dengan yangdijelaskan oleh sumber-sumber secara ilmiah. Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini adalahpengetahuan ekologi masyarakat lokal dapat menjadi instrumen pengelolaan lamun, terutamadalam mendeteksi perubahan kondisi lamun akibat gangguan baik dari alam maupunantropogenik.Kata kunci: Pengetahuan Ekologi dan Potensi LamunABSTRACTSeagrass is a kind of higher plants that have been known for a long time by the people in thecoastal areas . The purpose of this article is to formulate a conceptual form of local ecologicalknowledge as an instrument of change in the condition assessment of seagrass . The samplingtechnique used was quota sampling criteria respondents aged ≥ 40 years and the main job as afisherman . Moreover, to obtain more detailed information and in-depth use snowballsampling technique . Data analysis was done in descriptive . The results of this study indicatethat local ecological knowledge quite comprehensively . on seagrass . Classification ofseagrass by local communities into 4 types: seagrass Kaken ( Enhalus acoroides ) , seagrassRanten ( algae ) , seagrass and seagrass pupak green ( grass ) . Distribution and function ofeach type of seagrass seagrass on fish and marine life in the perspective of society notdissimilar to that described by scientific sources . The conclusion of this study is localecological knowledge can be instrumental seagrass management , especially in the detectionof changes in the condition of seagrass due to interference from both natural andanthropogenic .Key Words: Ecology Knowledge and Potential Seagrass

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