Review
Engineering, Environmental
Tong Wu
Summary: In recent decades, intensification of the socioeconomic and environmental drivers has contributed to the risk of pandemics such as COVID-19, including ecosystem conversion, meat consumption, urbanization, and connectivity among cities and countries. To mitigate these risks, policy measures such as habitat protection and restrictions on the wildlife trade are necessary.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yiwen Zeng, Fangqi Twang, L. Roman Carrasco
Summary: Land and environmental defenders play a crucial role in protecting the environment and biodiversity, but they are increasingly facing violence and death due to conflicts caused by unsustainable resource extraction. Global studies have shown that higher rates of homicides of these defenders are often found in areas with limited or underutilized resources, highlighting the impact of environmental factors on these killings.
Review
Environmental Studies
Eduardo J. Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Jesus Gil-Morion, Juan J. Negro
Summary: Certain feral populations with genetic or cultural importance should receive extended recognition and protection, including extinct wild ancestors and populations occupying unique ecological niches.
Article
Business
Benedikt Heid, Laura Marquez-Ramos
Summary: International environmental agreements, such as CITES, play a significant role in addressing global environmental problems. However, debates about the effectiveness of CITES are ongoing and evidence is scarce. This study shows that in countries with thorough enforcement, wildlife populations increase by about 66% after more than 20 years of inclusion into CITES, regardless of the level of trade restrictions. Therefore, the focus of discussions should shift towards better enforcement rather than the extent of trade restrictions.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elina A. Virtanen, Maria Soderholm, Atte Moilanen
Summary: Conservation planning requires threat data, which is often lacking. This article outlines a systematic review methodology to explore the application of threats in conservation planning.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. H. Hilderink, I. I. de Winter
Summary: The contact between humans and wildlife plays a crucial role in the spread of zoonotic diseases. Measures like protecting wildlife habitats, providing alternative protein sources, and regulating wildlife trade are essential in reducing the risk of new zoonotic diseases emerging.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Elodie C. M. Camprasse, Matthias Klapperstueck, Adam P. A. Cardilini
Summary: The transformation of global environments into human-dominated landscapes has significant effects on wildlife, leading to population declines, disruption of social bonds, biodiversity loss, imperilment of threatened species, and harm to individual animals. Quantifying human and non-human threats to wildlife is challenging, especially in urban environments. The Wildlife Emergency Response Services (WERS) in Victoria, Australia provides valuable data on threats to wildlife and the need for rescue services.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Voigt, Jatna Supriatna, Nicolas J. Deere, Agustinus Kastanya, Simon L. Mitchell, Isabel M. D. Rosa, Truly Santika, Rondang Siregar, Johny S. Tasirin, Adi Widyanto, Nurul L. Winarni, Zuliyanto Zakaria, Sonny Mumbunan, Zoe G. Davies, Matthew J. Struebig
Summary: The Wallacea biogeographic region is facing increasing deforestation and fragmentation, with projected future deforestation continuing to rise. Key biodiversity areas are particularly vulnerable to deforestation and need targeted conservation measures.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Shane C. McPherson, Petra Sumasgutner, Ben H. Hoffman, Bruce D. L. Padbury, Mark Brown, Tammy P. Caine, Colleen T. Downs
Summary: This study examines negative interactions between African Crowned Eagles and humans in urban landscapes in South Africa, discussing causes of conflict and providing management recommendations. Key issues include predation on pets and livestock, as well as balancing economic or social harm mitigation with conservation goals for threatened species. Mitigation measures are identified, with a focus on anthropogenic causes of mortality and strategies such as rehabilitation and falconry to promote coexistence.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Martina Vasutova, Martin Jirousek, Michal Hajek
Summary: The study revealed that fungal communities in boreal ecosystems are primarily influenced by substrate identity rather than site differences. Only a few fungi behave as generalists across different plant species, while most specific fungi are found in dead parts of specific plants.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Raahil Madhok, Sumeet Gulati
Summary: This study examines the change in urban avian species richness during India's COVID-19 lockdown using birdwatching data and difference-in-difference techniques. The results show a 16% increase in the number of bird species during lockdown, even when controlling for observer effort. This suggests that the increase in species diversity was due to gradual population recovery, rather than improved detection. The study also highlights the presence of at-risk and rare species reclaiming urban areas, indicating the importance of reducing human disturbance for the protection of threatened species. Additionally, the findings suggest that the reduction in noise and air pollution associated with the lockdown likely contributed to the increased species diversity, emphasizing the conservation co-benefits of urban policies in designing sustainable cities.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hongbo Yang, Qiongyu Huang, Jindong Zhang, Melissa Songer, Jianguo Liu
Summary: Protected areas are essential for global conservation efforts, but their impact on wildlife habitat quality is still poorly understood. Research indicates that nature reserves have a significant positive impact on giant panda habitat suitability, especially in areas vulnerable to human pressure, with central government-supported reserves performing better than locally supported ones.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Dennis Choon Yung Ten, Rohana Jani, Noor Hashida Hashim, Salman Saaban, Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, Mohd Tajuddin Abdullah
Summary: The critically endangered Malayan tiger is facing a population crash due to factors such as poaching, roadkill, and human-tiger conflict. Despite an existing conservation management plan, reevaluation and realignment of legislation and regulations are needed to prevent further decline and potential extinction.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexandros Vezyrakis, Vasileios Bontzorlos, Georgios Rallis, Maria Ganoti
Summary: The ultimate goal of Wildlife Rehabilitation Centres is to release wild animals back into the wild, after providing care and treatment according to protocol. The data collected during the process can be a valuable resource to understand the impact of human activities on wildlife populations. In this study, the records of ANIMA, a Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Athens, Greece, were analyzed to draw connections between admission causes and outcomes for different animals. The findings highlight the importance of using rehabilitation data to assess human impact and propose management strategies for biodiversity conservation.
JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Sally O. A. Westworth, Carl Chalmers, Paul Fergus, Steven N. Longmore, Alex K. Piel, Serge A. Wich
Summary: This study evaluates the impact of various factors on wildlife and human detection and classification in camera trap images using both analyst and machine learning approaches. Factors such as occlusion, distance, and vegetation density have significant effects on detection and classification performance. The results show that the analyst approach outperforms machine learning in detecting and classifying wildlife, while both methods have similar performance in detecting humans. The study suggests that the machine learning approach can be a valuable tool for time-sensitive threat monitoring in biodiversity conservation, provided that users follow recommended guidelines.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Victoria Dominguez Almela, Stephen C. F. Palmer, Demetra Andreou, Phillipa K. Gillingham, Justin M. J. Travis, J. Robert Britton
Summary: The study found that river complexity, species traits, and introduction location have significant impacts on the dispersal and population growth rates of invasive fish species. It was revealed that introduction location and habitat quality are the most important factors influencing the dispersal and colonization rates of alien freshwater fishes.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Review
Fisheries
John Robert Britton
Summary: Introductions of non-native freshwater fish are increasing globally, but only a small proportion result in invasions. These invasive populations can have ecological impacts through various processes, some of which are harmful enough to be considered contributors to ecosystem collapse.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
J. Robert Britton, Abigail J. Lynch, Helge Bardal, Stephanie J. Bradbeer, Julie A. Coetzee, Neil E. Coughlan, Tatenda Dalu, Elena Tricarico, Belinda Gallardo, Mark Lintermans, Frances Lucy, Chunlong Liu, Julian D. Olden, Rajeev Raghavan, Eleri G. Pritchard
Summary: The Emergency Recovery Plan for freshwater biodiversity recognizes that addressing nonnative species is one of the key actions to prevent loss of freshwater biodiversity. The plan emphasizes the importance of preventing introductions of nonnative species, but also highlights the need for early detection and rapid reaction measures in case of introduction. Control and containment measures are recommended for invasive species, along with invasion risk assessment and species-specific eradication methods.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Fatima Amat-Trigo, Demetra Andreou, Phillipa K. Gillingham, J. Robert Britton
Summary: Behavioural thermoregulation allows freshwater fish to adapt to different temperature environments, especially in extreme thermal conditions. Fish of different species and spatial scales move in response to temperature changes, with age and migratory ability affecting their tolerance to temperature differences. Research has primarily focused on studying the behavior of cold-water salmonids during summer, leaving a need for further study on the thermoregulatory behaviors of other non-salmonid fishes in warming conditions.
FISH AND FISHERIES
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Paul Castagne, Ivan Paz-Vinas, Stephanie Bouletreau, Jessica Ferriol, Geraldine Loot, Charlotte Veyssiere, Robert Arlinghaus, Robert Britton, Marlene Chiarello, Emili Garcia-Berthou, Pavel Horky, Delphine Nicolas, Annamaria Nocita, Oscar Nordahl, Michaël Ovidio, Filipe Ribeiro, Ondrej Slavik, Chloe Vagnon, Simon Blanchet, Frederic Santoul
Summary: Biological invasions are a significant component of global change, but they can also have negative impacts on native populations. Efficient management policies are needed to prevent the spread of invasive species in non-native areas while protecting native populations. Genetic variation analysis can help assess the genetic state, identify invasion pathways, determine management strategies, and identify populations requiring conservation measures.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ben Parker, J. Robert Britton, Iain D. Green, Fatima Amat-Trigo, Demetra Andreou
Summary: Microplastics are an environmental contaminant that can negatively affect aquatic biota. This study investigated the interaction between microplastic exposure and parasite infection on the freshwater fish Squalius cephalus. Contrary to predictions, microplastic exposure did not affect parasite abundance, but parasite infection led to lower feeding rates. The results suggest that the effects of parasitism are stronger than microplastic exposure, and the impact of microplastics may be relatively minor compared to other stressors.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Miguel Baltazar-Soares, J. Robert Britton, Adrian Pinder, Andrew J. Harrison, Andrew D. Nunn, Bernardo R. Quintella, Catarina S. Mateus, Jonathan D. Bolland, Jamie R. Dodd, Pedro R. Almeida, Victoria Dominguez Almela, Demetra Andreou
Summary: This study provided the first genome-wide characterization of genetic diversity in the European range of sea lamprey. It revealed a single metapopulation that includes freshwater spawning sites within the North Eastern Atlantic and the North Sea, with some limitations to dispersal at northern latitudes. The study also found that oxygen concentration and river runoffs impose spatially varying selection pressures across their distribution range in the ocean.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Mark I. A. Yeldham, J. Robert Britton, Charles Crundwell, Peter Davies, Jamie R. Dodd, Andrew D. Nunn, Randolph Velterop, Jonathan D. Bolland
Summary: The timing of entry into freshwater by mature anadromous fishes is determined by migration cues, particularly photoperiod, and shows high individual repeatability. This study used passive acoustic telemetry to track 71 twaite shad returning to the River Severn's upper estuary over multiple spawning seasons, and found that the timing of river entry was consistent between years and strongly predicted by increasing day length. Water temperatures and flow rates, however, were weak predictors and highly variable between years. The results highlight the importance of understanding migration cues and their variability in assessing the migration phenology of anadromous species.
Review
Fisheries
J. Robert Britton, Adrian C. Pinder, Josep Alos, Robert Arlinghaus, Andy J. Danylchuk, Wendy Edwards, Katia M. F. Freire, Casper Gundelund, Kieran Hyder, Ivan Jaric, Robert Lennox, Wolf-Christian Lewin, Abigail J. Lynch, Stephen R. Midway, Warren M. Potts, Karina L. Ryan, Christian Skov, Harry V. Strehlow, Sean R. Tracey, Jun-ichi Tsuboi, Paul A. Venturelli, Jessica L. Weir, Marc Simon Weltersbach, Steven J. Cooke
Summary: The global COVID-19 pandemic led to restrictions on people's movements in many jurisdictions, affecting recreational angling. After the restrictions were lifted, initial surveys suggested increased participation and altered angler demographics, but evidence remained limited. This study examines changes in angling interest, licence sales, and angling effort in different regions during the 'pre-pandemic,' 'acute pandemic,' and 'COVID-acclimated' periods. It suggests that efforts to retain younger anglers and provide more urban angling opportunities could increase overall participation levels and enhance resilience in recreational fisheries.
REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES
(2023)
Review
Fisheries
Dani Latorre, Guillem Maso, Carlos Cano-Barbacil, Jose M. Zamora-Marin, David Almeida, Lorenzo Vilizzi, J. Robert Britton, Alejandra Cruz, Carlos Fernandez-Delgado, Anni G. Gonzalez-Rojas, Rafael Miranda, Francesc Rubio-Gracia, Ali Serhan Tarkan, Mar Torralva, Anna Vila-Gispert, Gordon H. Copp, Filipe Ribeiro
Summary: The bleak Alburnus alburnus is a medium-sized leuciscid fish that is naturally distributed across central European and western Asian fresh waters. It has been widely introduced in Europe and northern Africa as a forage species for game fishes. In its native range, it feeds mainly on zooplankton, but non-native populations show high phenotypic plasticity in their biological attributes, adapting to local environmental conditions and invading different ecosystems. This plasticity, coupled with broad physiological tolerance, is likely to facilitate its adaptation and invasion of new habitats in the future.
REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Irmak Kurtul, Ali Serhan Tarkan, J. Robert Britton
Summary: Non-lethal sampling methods can be used for trophic studies on inshore flatfish populations of high value. Fin tissue and epidermal mucus can serve as alternatives to muscle for stable isotope analysis. Differences in isotopic values can be predicted and converted using linear regression. These tissue alternatives allow for non-lethal sampling and analysis of flatfish populations.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Bertram I. C. Warren, Adrian C. Pinder, Ben Parker, A. Serhan Tarkan, J. Robert Britton
Summary: This study assessed the trophic ecology of a translocated chub population using stable isotope metrics and compared it with native chub populations. The results suggest that the colonization of lowland rivers by translocated chub is facilitated by their isotopic relationships with other fishes similar to those observed in their native range.
Article
Fisheries
Irmak Kurtul, Ali Serhan Tarkan, J. Robert Britton
Summary: Studies show that scale and fin tissue can be used as non-lethal alternatives for stable isotope analysis in European perch and pumpkinseed populations. Conversion equations are provided to standardize the values of scale and fin tissue to dorsal muscle values for comparative studies.
KNOWLEDGE AND MANAGEMENT OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
J. Robert Britton, Abigail J. Lynch, Helge Bardal, Stephanie J. Bradbeer, Julie A. Coetzee, Neil E. Coughlan, Tatenda Dalu, Elena Tricarico, Belinda Gallardo, Mark Lintermans, Frances Lucy, Chunlong Liu, Julian D. Olden, Rajeev Raghavan, Eleri G. Pritchard
Summary: The Emergency Recovery Plan for freshwater biodiversity emphasizes the importance of addressing nonnative species as one of the primary actions to protect freshwater biodiversity. Prevention of introductions is the most effective management measure, while early detection and rapid reaction can prevent establishment and dispersal. If a species becomes invasive, control and containment measures can minimize its spread and impact.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS
(2023)
