A Review of the Ongoing Decline of the White-Tailed Jackrabbit

Abstract The distribution and abundance of the white-tailed jackrabbit Lepus townsendii have declined significantly since 1950, continuing a trend that began in some regions of its range in the late 1800s. We reviewed museum records and the literature to evaluate the status of the white-tailed jackrabbit in each state and province in its historical range and evaluated possible reasons for its decline. Our evaluation revealed its extirpation or decline throughout much of its range, but its legal or conservation status does generally not reflect this precarious status. We note its extirpation in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, and potential extirpation in British Columbia, Oregon, Illinois, and Wisconsin. We classified the white-tailed jackrabbit to be broadly extirpated in Iowa, Minnesota, Washington, Nebraska and California, and declining with local extirpations in Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and South Dakota. We consider it to be a relict in Ontario, and possibly declining in Alberta, Saskatchewan, North Dakota, Idaho, and Montana. We consider only Manitoba to have a possibly stable population. Determining the reasons for the species' reduced distribution is difficult, as the decline appears to be due to multiple factors, none of which provide a universal explanation. We dismissed road kills, recreational hunting, disease and parasites, and competition with black-tailed jackrabbits Lepus californicus as causes of the widespread population declines and extirpations. We concluded that habitat alterations and climate change are overriding factors, and that past depredation measures and increased predator populations have likely contributed to the decline. These hypotheses require further testing. We recommend more research on the distribution, abundance, ecology, and population dynamics of white-tailed jackrabbits, and management that includes a frank appraisal of the species' status, the potential for grassland restoration, and programs to reintroduce populations into prairie preserves and restored grasslands.

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A Review of the Ongoing Decline of the White-Tailed Jackrabbit

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management ◽

10.3996/042018-jfwm-026 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

David E. Brown ◽

Andrew T. Smith ◽

Jennifer K. Frey ◽

Brittany R. Schweiger

Keyword(s):

South Dakota ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Grassland Restoration ◽

Population Declines ◽

Species Status ◽

Habitat Alterations ◽

Multiple Factors ◽

The Status ◽

Lepus Californicus ◽

Historical Range

The distribution and abundance of the white-tailed jackrabbit Lepus townsendii have declined significantly since 1950, continuing a trend that began in some regions of its range in the late 1800s. We reviewed museum records and the literature to evaluate the status of the white-tailed jackrabbit in each state and province in its historical range and evaluated possible reasons for its decline. Our evaluation revealed its extirpation or decline throughout much of its range, but its legal or conservation status does generally not reflect this precarious status. We note its extirpation in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, and potential extirpation in British Columbia, Oregon, Illinois, and Wisconsin. We classified the white-tailed jackrabbit to be broadly extirpated in Iowa, Minnesota, Washington, Nebraska and California, and declining with local extirpations in Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and South Dakota. We consider it to be a relict in Ontario, and possibly declining in Alberta, Saskatchewan, North Dakota, Idaho, and Montana. We consider only Manitoba to have a possibly stable population. Determining the reasons for the species' reduced distribution is difficult, as the decline appears to be due to multiple factors, none of which provide a universal explanation. We dismissed road kills, recreational hunting, disease and parasites, and competition with black-tailed jackrabbits Lepus californicus as causes of the widespread population declines and extirpations. We concluded that habitat alterations and climate change are overriding factors, and that past depredation measures and increased predator populations have likely contributed to the decline. These hypotheses require further testing. We recommend more research on the distribution, abundance, ecology, and population dynamics of white-tailed jackrabbits, and management that includes a frank appraisal of the species' status, the potential for grassland restoration, and programs to reintroduce populations into prairie preserves and restored grasslands.

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The status of the conservation priority species Calicium corynellum in the British Isles

The Lichenologist ◽

10.1017/s0024282915000146 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 47 (4) ◽

pp. 205-214 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rebecca Yahr

Keyword(s):

Conservation Status ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Morphological Features ◽

Its Sequences ◽

Limited Resources ◽

Population Declines ◽

Conservation Priority ◽

The Status ◽

Priority Species ◽

The Common

AbstractConservation organisations are tasked with protection of biodiversity but are challenged by limited resources; consequently, the highest conservation priority species have designations that should correspond with the level of protection needed. In Britain, the saxicolous Calicium corynellum receives the highest conservation priority as a consequence of its rarity, combined with dramatic population declines over the last several decades, having disappeared from 2 of its 4 British sites and declined in one other. However, there is some uncertainty associated with the taxonomic status of the entity referred to as C. corynellum in Britain, partly because its common congener, C. viride has been recorded on trees overhanging several of the populations of C. corynellum, but also because the morphology of British material is very similar to the common C. viride, but found on rock. Standard fungal barcode nr ITS sequences of C. corynellum from both extant British populations of C. corynellum were successfully amplified, along with C. viride from trees overhanging one of the sites and from other British sites. In addition, morphological features were compared among specimens of both taxa. There is no evidence to support the distinction of British C. corynellum from its more common congener, and its conservation status is Britain should be re-evaluated.

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Status, distribution and recommendations for monitoring of the Seychelles black parrot Coracopsis (nigra) barklyi

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605312000300 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 47 (4) ◽

pp. 561-568 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

A. Reuleaux ◽

N. Bunbury ◽

P. Villard ◽

M. Waltert

Keyword(s):

Conservation Status ◽

Distance Sampling ◽

Habitat Type ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Point Count ◽

The Status ◽

Seychelles Islands ◽

Function Density ◽

Historical Range

AbstractThe Seychelles black parrot Coracopsis (nigra) barklyi, endemic to the Seychelles islands, is the only surviving parrot on the archipelago. Although originally classified as a subspecies of the lesser vasa parrot Coracopsis nigra evidence now indicates that the Seychelles population may be a distinct species, in which case its conservation status also requires reassessment. Here, we address the status of the C. (n.) barklyi population on the islands of its current and likely historical range, Praslin and Curieuse, assess the effect of habitat type on relative abundance, and identify the most appropriate point count duration for monitoring the population. We conducted point count distance sampling at 268 locations using habitat type as a covariate in the modelling of the detection function. Density on Praslin was estimated to be 0.14–0.24 individuals per ha, resulting in an estimate of a total of 520–900 individuals (95% confidence interval). The highest densities occurred in endemic palm and mixed forests. Habitats with a high proportion of palms were more likely to support parrots than habitats without palms. As no parrots were detected on Curieuse the number estimated on Praslin is the global wild population. The small size of this population necessitates its categorization as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Our main recommendation for the conservation of C. (n.) barklyi, in addition to continued monitoring, is the preservation and expansion of the parrot's endemic palm forest habitat.

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A conservation assessment of the freshwater gastropods of South Dakota based on historical records and recent observations

10.1101/309385 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Bruce J. Stephen

Keyword(s):

South Dakota ◽

Historical Data ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Nominal Species ◽

Conservation Assessment ◽

Gastropod Species ◽

Freshwater Gastropods ◽

Freshwater Gastropod ◽

The Status ◽

Conservation Evaluation

In South Dakota, like most U.S. states, up-to-date knowledge of the distribution of freshwater gastropod species is lacking and historical data suffers from a host of synonyms. I consulted literature records and online museum databases to compile a list of freshwater gastropods historically recorded for South Dakota. I used systematic studies and regional records to evaluate each historically-listed species reducing 54 nominal species to 25 expected to inhabit South Dakota. This, along with recent survey data from across the state, enable a benchmark conservation status to be established for the freshwater gastropods of South Dakota. My preliminary conservation evaluation indicates Planorbula armigera is critically imperiled (S1), while three species; Ferrissia rivularis, Campeloma decisum, and Amnicola limosus are imperiled (S2). The status of historical species not observed recently, and suspected inhabitants known from adjacent states are discussed.

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Barrmaelia oxyacanthae. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

IMI Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria ◽

10.1079/dfb/20133341856 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

P. F. Cannon

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

New Jersey ◽

North America ◽

South Dakota ◽

North Dakota ◽

Geographical Distribution ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Former Yugoslavia

Abstract A description is provided for Barrmaelia oxyacanthae, saprobic on wood of various trees. Some information on its dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Africa (South Africa), North America (Canada, USA (New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia)), Asia (Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan (Aktyubinskaya oblast), Pakistan), Europe (Belarus, Belgium, former Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, former Yugoslavia)). B. oxyacanthae is sometimes found on elm twigs previously gnawed by rabbits.

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Ground beetles (Carabidae) of field margin habitats

Biologia ◽

10.2478/s11756-020-00424-y ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 75 (10) ◽

pp. 1631-1641

Author(s):

Janina Bennewicz ◽

Tadeusz Barczak

Keyword(s):

Conservation Status ◽

Ground Beetle ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Ground Beetles ◽

Field Margin ◽

Poecilus Cupreus ◽

The Status ◽

Beetle Assemblages ◽

Anchomenus Dorsalis ◽

Pterostichus Melanarius

Abstract The aim of this study was to identify the role of field margin habitats in preserving the diversity and abundance of ground beetle assemblages, including potentially entomophagous species and those with conservation status in Poland. Research material was collected in 2006–2007 in four types of margin habitats – a forest, bushes, ditches and in two arable fields. Insects were captured into pitfalls, without preservation liquid or bait added to the traps. Traps were inspected twice a week, between May and August, and one sample was a weekly capture. In field margin habitats the most abundant species were Limodromus assimilis, Anchomenus dorsalis, Pterostichus melanarius and Carabus auratus. A lower abundance of species was noted on fields, with dominant Poecilus cupreus and P. melanarius. The group of zoophagous carabids found in our study includes 30 species from field margin habitats, i.e. 37.5% of all captured Carabidae taxa and 58.3% of all specimens. The share of aphidophagous species was 84.9% among bushes, 86.7% near ditches, and 88.0% in the forest habitat. Several species captured during the study are under protection in Poland. These include the partly protected Carabus convexus, which also has the status of near threatened species, the partly protected Calosoma auropunctatum, and Broscus cephalotes. Considering all the investigated field margin habitats, ground beetles were most numerous in the oak-hornbeam habitat, defined as bushes, formed predominantly by Prunus spinosa, Crataegus leavigata, Sambucus nigra and Rosa canina. Thus, this habitat was the most important reservoir/refugium for the ground beetles.

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Changes in landscape composition influence the decline of a threatened woodland caribou population

10.26686/wgtn.12971855 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Heiko Wittmer ◽

B McLellan ◽

R Serrouya ◽

C Apps

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Apparent Competition ◽

Timber Harvesting ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Vital Rates ◽

Population Declines ◽

Woodland Caribou ◽

Habitat Alterations

Large-scale habitat loss is frequently identified with loss of biodiversity, but examples of the direct effect of habitat alterations on changes in vital rates remain rare. Quantifying and understanding the relationship between habitat composition and changes in vital rates, however, is essential for the development of effective conservation strategies. It has been suggested that the decline of woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou populations in North America is precipitated by timber harvesting that creates landscapes of early seral forests. Such habitat changes have altered the predator-prey system resulting in asymmetric predation, where predators are maintained by alternative prey (i.e. apparent competition). However, a direct link between habitat condition and caribou population declines has not been documented. We estimated survival probabilities for the threatened arboreal lichen-feeding ecotype of woodland caribou in British Columbia, Canada, at two different spatial scales. At the broader scale, observed variation in adult female survival rates among 10 distinct populations (range = 0.67-0.93) was best explained by variation in the amount of early seral stands within population ranges and population density. At the finer scale, home ranges of caribou killed by predators had lower proportions of old forest and more mid-aged forest as compared with multi-annual home ranges where caribou were alive. These results are consistent with predictions from the apparent competition hypothesis and quantify direct fitness consequences for caribou following habitat alterations. We conclude that apparent competition can cause rapid population declines and even extinction where changes in species composition occur following large scale habitat change. © 2007 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2007 British Ecological Society.

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Studies in Australian amphibia II..Taxonomy, ecology and evolution of the genus Heleioporus Gray (Anura : Leptodactylidae)

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo9670367 ◽

1967 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 367 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

AK Lee

Keyword(s):

Species Status ◽

Breeding Sites ◽

Ephemeral Ponds ◽

Mating Call ◽

The Status ◽

Water Courses ◽

Species Groups ◽

Western Australian ◽

Winter Rain

The status of the five existing species of the genus Heleioporus Gray, H. albopunctatus Gray, H. australiacus (Shaw), H. eyrei (Gray), H. inornatus Lee & Main, and H. psammophilus Lee & Main are confirmed on the basis of morphological and behavioural criteria and the results of interpopulation in vitro crosses. The Western Australian population, formerly included under H. australiacus, is raised to species status on the basis of consistent differences in morphology and mating call. Each species is redescribed, and descriptions of the larvae and juveniles are included. The results of in vitro crosses support the recognition of two species groups, a bassian group comprising H. australiacus, the H. australiacus-like frog, and H. inornatus, and an eyrean group comprising H. albopunctatus, H. eyrei, and H. psammophilus. The breeding biology of all of the western species appears closely tied to the Mediterranean climate of south-western Australia. All species breed in April and May. Rain sufficient to moisten the soil, and declining temperatures are the two most obvious environmental factors influencing the timing of breeding. Breeding sites include ephemeral ponds and water courses, and the edges of coastal lakes. Breeding occurs before these are covered by water, in winter. Males call from burrows, and copulation, oviposition, and embryonic development all occur at the bottom of these burrows. Where they occur together, the burrows of H. albopunctatus, H. eyrei, and H. psammophilus are found scattered through the centre of a swamp and those of H. inornatus, around the periphery. The eggs are laid in froth, and development to hatching takes between 1 and 3 weeks. Hatching may be delayed by withholding the eggs from water. The period between the onset of calling and hatching of the embryos roughly corresponds to the period between the onset of winter rain and the flooding of larval sites. The larvae of H. albopunctatus, H. eyrei, and H, psammophilus are found in ponds, those of H. inornatus in collapsed, flooded breeding burrows, and those of H. australiacus and the H. australiacus-like frog in creeks.

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DNA barcode identification of commercial fish sold in Mexican markets

Genome ◽

10.1139/gen-2017-0222 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 61 (6) ◽

pp. 457-466 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Stephanie Sarmiento-Camacho ◽

Martha Valdez-Moreno

Keyword(s):

Conservation Status ◽

Dna Barcode ◽

Common Species ◽

Morphological Identification ◽

Dna Barcodes ◽

Commercial Fish ◽

Sphyrna Lewini ◽

Pangasianodon Hypophthalmus ◽

Makaira Nigricans ◽

The Status

The substitution of high-value fish species for those of lower value is common practice. Although numerous studies have addressed this issue, few have been conducted in Mexico. In this study, we sought to identify fresh fillets of fish, sharks, and rays using DNA barcodes. We analyzed material from “La Viga” in Mexico City, and other markets located on the Gulf and Caribbean coasts of Mexico. From 134 samples, we obtained sequences from 129, identified to 9 orders, 28 families, 38 genera, and 44 species. The most common species were Seriola dumerili, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, Carcharhinus falciformis, Carcharhinus brevipinna, and Hypanus americanus. Pangasianodon hypophthalmus was most commonly used as a substitute for higher-value species. The substitution rate was 18% of the total. A review of the conservation status of the specimens identified against the IUNC list enabled us to establish that some species marketed in Mexico are threatened: Makaira nigricans, Lachnolaimus maximus, Hyporthodus flavolimbatus, and Isurus oxyrinchus are classified as vulnerable; Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps and Sphyrna lewini are endangered; and the status of Hyporthodus nigritus is critical. These results will demonstrate to the Mexican authorities that DNA barcoding is a reliable tool for species identification, even when morphological identification is difficult or impossible.

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Biology, Management, and Conservation of Lampreys in North America

Biology, Management, and Conservation of Lampreys in North America ◽

10.47886/9781934874134.ch18 ◽

2009 ◽

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Sea Lamprey ◽

Great Lakes Basin ◽

Brook Lamprey ◽

The Status ◽

Lethenteron Camtschaticum ◽

Special Concern ◽

Data Deficient ◽

Lamprey Species

Abstract.—There are 11 lamprey species in Canada: Vancouver lamprey Entosphenus macrostomus (formerly Lampetra macrostoma), Pacific lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus (formerly Lampetra tridentata), chestnut lamprey Ichthyomyzon castaneus, northern brook lamprey Ichthyomyzon fossor, silver lamprey Ichthtyomyzon unicuspis, river lamprey Lampetra ayresii, western brook lamprey Lampetra richardsoni, Alaskan brook lamprey Lethenteron alaskense, American brook lamprey Lethenteron appendix (formerly Lampetra appendix), Arctic lamprey Lethenteron camtschaticum (formerly Lampetra camtschatica), and sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus. Entosphenus and Lethenteron were previously synonymized with Lampetra, but Nelson (2006) recognized these as three distinct genera. Conservation status has been assessed in only five species and in two of these (western brook lamprey and chestnut lamprey), only for portions of their Canadian population. The 2007 Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada list indicates that the enigmatic population of western brook lamprey in Morrison Creek, British Columbia, is endangered; the Vancouver lamprey in British Columbia is threatened; the chestnut lamprey in Saskatchewan and Manitoba is special concern; the northern brook lamprey in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec is of special concern in the latter two provinces and data deficient in the former; and the Alaskan brook lamprey in the Northwest Territories is data deficient. The threats to the four species at risk were collectively related to habitat degradation and loss, sensitivity to a catastrophic event, and sensitivity to lampricide used to control the invasive sea lamprey in the Great Lakes basin. Despite much lamprey work being conducted in the past decade, there still remain a number of knowledge gaps. These gaps include unequivocal evidence as to whether parasitic and nonparasitic members of a paired species should be considered distinct species and information on the distribution and population sizes and trends of the native lamprey species.

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