Article
Ecology
Somaye Vaissi
Summary: The study revealed that the Kaiser's mountain newt has two distinct lineages in the northern and southern regions that diverged in the Early-Pleistocene. Demographic analysis showed a slight increase in effective population size for both regions in the Mid-Pleistocene. Biogeography analysis indicated that both vicariance and dispersal events contributed to the current species distribution of N. kaiseri.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Rachel Jones, Nigel A. D. Bourn, Ilya M. D. Maclean, Robert J. Wilson
Summary: The study demonstrates that landscape-scale conservation can be achieved through local habitat management. By investigating the population dynamics of the Lulworth skipper butterfly in the UK and simulating the effects of habitat quality, the researchers found that changes in local habitat quality can overcome the constraints imposed by patch size and spatial location. Therefore, monitoring and managing local habitat quality are effective strategies for conservation in fragmented landscapes.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lynda Donaldson, Jonathan J. Bennie, Robert J. Wilson, Ilya M. D. Maclean
Summary: Research suggests that prioritizing protected area networks is an effective way to conserve multiple species. Prioritizing habitat quality achieves the highest levels of persistence and population size for individual species, while considering habitat connectivity is the most effective strategy to conserve multiple species in the same network.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Stephen G. Kearney, James E. M. Watson, April E. Reside, Diana O. Fisher, Martine Maron, Tim S. Doherty, Sarah M. Legge, John C. Z. Woinarski, Stephen T. Garnett, Brendan A. Wintle, Euan G. Ritchie, Don A. Driscoll, David Lindenmayer, Vanessa M. Adams, Michelle S. Ward, Josie Carwardine
Summary: Earth's extinction crisis is worsening and threat classification schemes are crucial for assessing the drivers and threats causing species declines. However, there is a lack of a complementary framework for evaluating the conservation responses needed to reduce these threats. In this study, an expert-driven threat-abatement framework was developed and applied to 1532 threatened species in Australia, highlighting the importance of retaining and restoring habitat, controlling invasive species and diseases, and improving fire management for species recovery. Integrated management responses are necessary for the survival and recovery of most species.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Florian Fumy, Thomas Fartmann
Summary: This study investigated the species richness of threatened butterflies and grasshoppers in mire and grassland ecosystems in the southern Black Forest in SW Germany. The study found significant differences in environmental conditions and assemblage composition of threatened butterfly and grasshopper species in different habitat types. Land-use intensity was identified as the key driver of habitat heterogeneity and species richness of threatened butterflies and grasshoppers. Recommendations were made for a conservation policy that promotes low-intensity land use and continuous large-scale cattle grazing.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Juan Antonio Calleja, Gemma Domenech, Llorenc Saez, Francisco Lara, Ricardo Garilleti, Belen Albertos
Summary: This study analyzed mosses in Spain and found differences in reproductive traits and habitat preferences between threatened and non-threatened species. Threatened mosses were more likely to exhibit lack of reproduction, asexual reproduction, monoicy, and preference for acidic and humid substrates.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Aino-Maija Maattanen, Raimo Virkkala, Niko Leikola, Risto K. Heikkinen
Summary: The study investigates the impact of forest management and habitat changes on biodiversity in protected areas in Finland. The results indicate that clear-cutting activities have led to significant forest degradation, especially in the southern and middle boreal zones. However, the most biologically valuable protected areas have experienced less forest cover change.
ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
David Lindenmayer, Christopher MacGregor, Maldwyn John Evans
Summary: This study examines the factors influencing the occurrence of the Eastern Bristlebird, including habitat suitability and response to disturbances like wildfires. The results show an increase in site occupancy over time, indicating conservation efforts have been successful. However, ongoing predator control remains important for the persistence of the species. The study also highlights the significance of the landscape mosaic and the need for long-term studies in fire-prone vegetation types.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jayden E. Engert, Robert L. Pressey, Vanessa M. Adams
Summary: Australia is a global leader in land clearing and biodiversity loss driven by agricultural conversion. The concentration of habitat protection in unproductive landscapes leads to unequal impacts on threatened vertebrate fauna, with productive lands receiving less protection and experiencing greater habitat loss. The study emphasizes the importance of protecting land capable of supporting productive uses to conserve the most affected threatened species.
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jessica L. Roberts, W. Justin Cooper, David Luther
Summary: Conservation actions such as habitat protection, restoration, and translocations are essential in preventing further extinctions of threatened species. By analyzing the habitat quality of 152 threatened species recommended for conservation translocations, it was found that a significant number of species require habitat management, invasive species control, or protection measures. Additionally, key differences were identified between species recommended for reintroductions and benign introductions, highlighting the importance of protected areas for successful restoration efforts.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Houlang Duan, Xiubo Yu
Summary: This study evaluated the historical changes in habitat quality and connectivity for migratory shorebirds in the Yellow River Delta using various analyses. The results showed a significant decrease in habitat connectivity due to land reclamation, with high-quality areas being converted to industrial and mariculture sites. Additionally, important habitat patches were converted to non-habitat or low-importance habitat patches. The study recommends expanding the boundaries of the national nature reserve to protect these unprotected areas.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Christophe Sauser, Loic Commagnac, Cyril Eraud, Matthieu Guillemain, Sophie Morin, Thibaut Powolny, Alexandre Villers, Herve Lormee
Summary: Changes in agriculture have led to a decline in biodiversity, particularly for farmland birds like the European turtle dove. This study investigates the impact of foraging and nesting habitats on turtle dove abundance in France. The results indicate that fallow lands positively affect turtle dove abundance, whereas fodder crop area has a negative effect. Increasing hedgerows length has a positive effect on the population, while the relationship with forest edges length is bell-shaped. Targeted measures such as increasing fallow lands and hedgerows length could help stabilize or increase the turtle dove population.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Abbey E. Camaclang, Iadine Chades, Tara G. Martin, Hugh P. Possingham
Summary: Deciding when to protect threatened species habitat is a common conservation problem when knowledge about the habitat extent is uncertain. This study quantifies the trade-off between gaining knowledge and taking conservation action, determining the optimal time to spend learning about a species' habitat before protecting it. The research provides guidelines on allocating resources between habitat identification and protection, taking into account the impact of threatening processes and rates of habitat loss.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kelly Rayner, Cheryl A. Lohr, Sean Garretson, Peter Speldewinde
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of predictive modelling in improving the success rate of translocation programs, highlighting the importance of quantifying habitat availability and considering different threats at potential release sites. The comparison between two species, Djoongari and golden bandicoots, shows that the latter has higher demographic plasticity, habitat flexibility, and resilience to natural disasters, which contributed to its successful establishment after translocation.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Samantha E. Andres, Jeff R. Powell, Nathan C. Emery, Paul D. Rymer, Rachael V. Gallagher
Summary: Climate change risk assessments are crucial for species conservation and management under future climates. This study illustrates how exposure to climate change and sensitivity of species based on their traits can be combined to predict climate change risk in threatened and unlisted plant species. Results show a significant decline in habitat suitability for all species at current locations under future climates, with a 32-95% reduction in suitable habitat area by 2060. Seven out of the eight species assessed ranked high for overall climate sensitivity, suggesting that listing status may not be a good indicator of climate change risk for plant species.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Rasoul Khosravi, Mahmoud-Reza Hemami, Shima Malakoutikhah, Mohammad Reza Ashrafzadeh, Samuel A. Cushman
Summary: The study found that incorporating prey availability into species distribution models significantly affects the predicted outcomes for Persian leopards, but has minimal impact on predictions for Asiatic cheetahs when considering climate change.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Robert S. Arkle, David S. Pilliod
Summary: The study shows that the design of different habitat characteristics in post-mining stream restoration projects can lead to significantly different ecological outcomes. Restoration of physical characteristics and increased heterogeneity can quickly promote the recovery of stream ecosystems, although details are crucial for success.
Article
Ecology
Hugo Cayuela, Yann Dorant, Brenna R. Forester, Dan L. Jeffries, Rebecca M. Mccaffery, Lisa A. Eby, Blake R. Hossack, Jerome M. W. Gippet, David S. Pilliod, W. Chris Funk
Summary: Temperature plays a crucial role in shaping ecological parameters and genomic characteristics of ectotherms, potentially impacting growth, longevity, and senescence. Thermal adaptation may be a key factor in driving life-history shifts in wild populations, highlighting the importance of further research on the underlying mechanisms.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Masoumeh Aghababaei, Ataollah Ebrahimi, Ali Asghar Naghipour, Esmaeil Asadi, Jochem Verrelst
Summary: This study compared pixel-based and object-based classification methods for identifying Plant Ecological Units (PEUs) in heterogeneous rangelands in Central Zagros, Iran using four selected different algorithms. Object-based classification, particularly with the Classification Tree Analysis (CTA) algorithm and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) auxiliary data, produced the most accurate results with an overall accuracy of 89%.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Masoumeh Aghababaei, Ataollah Ebrahimi, Ali Asghar Naghipour, Esmaeil Asadi, Jochem Verrelst
Summary: This study utilized multi-temporal datasets to improve the accuracy of VTs classification in Central Zagros, Iran, with results showing that multi-temporal datasets favored accurate VTs classification. The research highlights the importance of open access cloud-computing platforms like the Google Earth Engine for identifying optimal periods and multi-temporal imagery for VTs classification.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zoltan Bagi, Katalin Balog, Bianka Toth, Milan Feher, Peter Barsony, Edina Baranyai, Sandor Harangi, Mohammad Reza Ashrafzadeh, Bettina Hegedus, Laszlo Stundl, Szilvia Kusza
Summary: Spinal deformity is a significant unsolved problem in intensive fish farming systems, causing economic and animal welfare issues in the fish sector. This study investigated the gene expression and element content in tissues associated with spinal deformity in common carps. The results revealed significant correlations between gene expression, element content, and tissue types, suggesting that genes regulating the nervous system and growth, as well as elements and tissues, are closely associated with spinal deformity. The findings of this study can provide direction and momentum for further exploration of these complex processes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
David S. Pilliod, Robert S. Arkle, Russell F. Thurow, Daniel J. Isaak
Summary: Bull trout and tailed frogs, both cold-water specialists, are experiencing rapid environmental change in the Pacific Northwest due to warming climate and enhanced wildfire activity. Examining their habitat associations and conditions for co-occupancy can inform future conservation efforts.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Brenna R. Forester, Melanie Murphy, Chad Mellison, Jeffrey Petersen, David S. Pilliod, Rachel Van Horne, Jim Harvey, W. Chris Funk
Summary: This study uses genomic data, landscape, dispersal, and occupancy data to inform CU delineation in populations of the Columbia spotted frog in Nevada. The study assesses support for ESUs, evaluates and revises current delineation of MUs, and evaluates genetic diversity and connectivity to inform management actions. The findings suggest potential revisions to MUs and the need for management interventions such as translocations and genetic rescue.
Article
Ecology
Robert S. Arkle, David S. Pilliod, Matthew J. Germino, Michelle Jeffries, Justin L. Welty
Summary: Seedling occupancy of sagebrush was uncommon in the first 1-2 years post-wildfire, but aerial seeding significantly increased seedling occupancy, especially in low resistance to invasive species and resilience to disturbance areas. However, high mortality rates were observed, with occupancy rates declining by up to 50% between the first and second years after the fire.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mohammad Reza Ashrafzadeh, Rasoul Khosravi, Alireza Mohammadi, Ali Asghar Naghipour, Hadi Khoshnamvand, Maryam Haidarian, Vincenzo Penteriani
Summary: This study assessed the impact of climate change on the distribution and habitat of brown bears in western Iran. The results showed that the bear's range will decline by 10% to 45% by 2050 to 2070, and the area covered by conservation and no-hunting areas will also decrease. This has implications for bear-human conflict and highlights the importance of re-evaluating and establishing more protected areas.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Masoumeh Aghababaei, Ataollah Ebrahimi, Ali Asghar Naghipour, Esmaeil Asadi, Adrian Perez-Suay, Miguel Morata, Jose Luis Garcia, Juan Pablo Rivera Caicedo, Jochem Verrelst
Summary: Accurate plant-type detection is crucial for sustainable land management. This study presents a GUI software package for training, validating, and applying MLCA models to satellite images. An analysis in Southwest Iran demonstrated varying accuracy results of 21 MLCAs, with Gaussian process classifier showing the best performance.
Article
Ecology
Mark W. Vandever, Kenneth Elgersma, Sarah K. Carter, Ai Wen, Justin L. Welty, Robert S. Arkle, Timothy J. Assal, David S. Pilliod, David M. Mushet, Rich Iovanna
Summary: The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has been implemented in the United States for nearly 40 years to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and provide habitat for wildlife and pollinators. However, a decline in enrolled CRP land over the past decade has greatly diminished the program's environmental benefits. This study assessed the enduring benefits of the program in the central and western United States by examining the persistence of CRP cover after contract expiration, the type of agricultural production that replaced CRP fields, and the differences in vegetation and management activities between expired and enrolled CRP fields. The findings demonstrate that CRP-type cover frequently persists for more than three years after contract expiration and provides significant benefits across the region.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Deanna H. Olson, David S. Pilliod
Summary: Amphibians and reptiles have low social capital and receive fewer conservation resources compared to other at-risk vertebrates. The importance of their conservation needs to be recognized and prioritized.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ali Asghar Naghipour, Sima Teimoori Asl, Mohammad Reza Ashrafzadeh, Maryam Haidarian
Summary: This study used ensemble modeling to predict the impact of climate change on the spatial distribution of the plant species Crataegus azarolus L. in a specific region in Iran, finding that precipitation seasonality, isothermality, and mean temperature of the wettest quarter had the highest contribution to the species distribution model. The predicted decline of suitable habitats highlights the significant impact of climate change. The Random Forest model was identified as the most reliable for species prediction.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE AND BIODIVERSITY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Fereydoun Ghaedi Bardeh, Mohammad Reza Ashrafzadeh, Iraj Hashemzadeh Segherloo, Ruhollah Rahimi
Summary: Habitat loss, fragmentation, and alteration are major threats to freshwater pond turtles, with scarce data on suitable habitats and connectivity in Iran. This study used MaxEnt to predict habitat suitability for the Caspian pond turtle, finding that 10.46% of the study area could be considered suitable, but only about 6.23% of these areas are covered by conservation efforts. The findings highlight the importance of prioritizing habitat protection and connectivity for conservation efforts.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE AND BIODIVERSITY
(2021)