Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gregory M. Mueller, Kelmer Martins Cunha, Tom W. May, Jessica L. Allen, James R. S. Westrip, Catia Canteiro, Diogo Henrique Costa-Rezende, Elisandro Ricardo Drechsler-Santos, Aida M. Vasco-Palacios, Antony Martyn Ainsworth, Genivaldo Alves-Silva, Frank Bungartz, Amanda Chandler, Susana C. Goncalves, Irmgard Krisai-Greilhuber, Reda Irsenaite, John Bjarne Jordal, Thiago Kosmann, James Lendemer, Richard Troy McMullin, Armin Mesic, Viviana Motato-Vasquez, Yoshihito Ohmura, Rikke Reese Naesborg, Claudia FerMi, Irja Saar, Diego Simijaca, Rebecca Yahr, Anders Dahlberg
Summary: Fungal species are also vulnerable to the threats faced by animals and plants, and recent efforts have led to an increase in the number of published fungal assessments. The 597 assessed fungal species in the 2022-1 IUCN Red List update provide the first global review of the extinction risk and threats faced by fungi. Nearly 50% of the assessed species are threatened, with habitat loss/degradation, climate change, invasive species, and pollution identified as the primary threats.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elin A. Thomas, Aoife Molloy, Nova B. Hanson, Monika Boehm, Mary Seddon, Julia D. Sigwart
Summary: The study shows that 62% of molluscs endemic to hydrothermal vents are under threat, with some species fully protected while others facing threats from deep-sea mining. The relative threat index highlights greater risks at vent fields in the Indian Ocean, while vent sites within established marine protected areas have a higher proportion of species assessed as Least Concern.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Liping Li, Haining Qin, Eimear Nic Lughadha, Yaomin Zheng, Huawei Wan, Jack Plummer, Melanie-Jayne R. Howes, Huiyuan Liu, Yangming Jiang, Tuo Wang, Huihui Zhao, Zhanfeng Shen, Huiping Huang
Summary: Based on the assessments in 2013 and 2020, a total of 4,088 (10.39%) species of Chinese higher plants are threatened in 2020, with 2,875 (7.31%) considered Near Threatened and 27,593 (70.16%) categorized as Least Concern. The Red List Index showed different patterns in the two years, indicating effective protection for threatened plant species in China. Attention should be given to non-threatened species in the future for conservation purposes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DIGITAL EARTH
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Peter Sjolte Ranke, Beatrice Modest Kessy, Franco Peniel Mbise, Martin Reinhardt Nielsen, Augustine Arukwe, Eivin Roskaft
Summary: In many low-income countries, the conservation of natural resources in protected areas is heavily dependent on tourism revenue. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reduced tourist numbers in Africa, posing a threat to the conservation of these important protected areas. Through the analysis of gate pass records in Tanzanian national parks, we illustrate the immediate and severe impact of the pandemic and associated restrictions on tourist numbers and revenues, and explore whether international and local tourists were equally affected. We discuss strategies to mitigate future negative impacts, such as diversifying revenue sources and reducing dependence on international tourists, and emphasize the importance of external funding options and involving local communities in conservation efforts.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Victor Cazalis, Moreno Di Marco, Stuart H. M. Butchart, H. Resit Akcakaya, Manuela Gonzalez-Suarez, Carsten Meyer, Viola Clausnitzer, Monika Bohm, Alexander Zizka, Pedro Cardoso, Aafke M. Schipper, Steven P. Bachman, Bruce E. Young, Michael Hoffmann, Ana Benitez-Lopez, Pablo M. Lucas, Nathalie Pettorelli, Guillaume Patoine, Michela Pacific, Theresa Jorger-Hickfang, Thomas M. Brooks, Carlo Rondinini, Samantha L. L. Hill, Piero Visconti, Luca Santini
Summary: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species plays a central role in biodiversity conservation, but insufficient resources hinder its long-term growth. While models and automated calculations have been proposed, their integration into assessment practice is limited, showing a critical research-implementation gap. Bridging this gap can be achieved by fostering communication between academic researchers and Red List practitioners and developing user-friendly platforms for automated application of these methods. The development of methods that better encompass Red List criteria, systems, and drivers is the next priority for supporting the Red List.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shijia Peng, Nawal Shrestha, Yuan Luo, Yaoqi Li, Hongyu Cai, Haining Qin, Keping Ma, Zhiheng Wang
Summary: Global changes have led to species distribution shifts, population declines, and local extinctions. The IUCN Red List is widely used to assess species extinction risk, but it often overlooks the risks induced by future global changes. This study updated the Red List for endemic woody species in China and found increased threats to species and inadequate protection for newly identified threatened species. The findings suggest that not considering future global changes in Red Lists underestimates extinction risks and biases conservation priorities, potentially hindering the achievement of global conservation targets.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Edwin S. Uribe, Andres Etter, Andrea Luna-Acosta, Maria Claudia Diazgranados, David Alonso, Luis Chasqui, Adriana Osorno, Alberto Acosta, Alexandra Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Constanza Ricaurte-Villota, Luisa Escobar, Alan Giraldo
Summary: This study provides a quantitative assessment of anthropogenic and climatic threats in the marine and coastal areas of Colombia. The results show that the Caribbean Sea is more threatened than the Pacific Ocean, and continental areas are more threatened than oceanic ones. Climate warming and habitat transformation are the most impactful threats to coastal and marine ecosystems.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Daniel W. S. Challender, Patricia J. J. Cremona, Kelly Malsch, Janine E. E. Robinson, Alyson T. T. Pavitt, Janet Scott, Rachel Hoffmann, Ackbar Joolia, Thomasina E. E. Oldfield, Richard K. B. Jenkins, Dalia A. A. Conde, Craig Hilton-Taylor, Michael Hoffmann
Summary: Overexploitation poses a significant threat to biodiversity and is regulated by CITES. A systematic mechanism using the IUCN Red List has been developed to identify species at risk from international trade, with 40% of potentially threatened species being overlooked by CITES. The findings highlight the need for balanced measures to regulate both international and local trade in order to effectively address species overexploitation.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Chloe Schmidt, Sean Hoban, Margaret Hunter, Ivan Paz-Vinas, Colin J. Garroway
Summary: The IUCN Red List is an important tool for assessing extinction risk, but it does not consider genetic diversity. Previous studies have shown that species with higher extinction risk tend to have lower genetic diversity across all marker types.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Candace E. Fallon, Anna C. Walker, Sara Lewis, Joseph Cicero, Lynn Faust, Christopher M. Heckscher, Cisteil X. Perez-Hernandez, Ben Pfeiffer, Sarina Jepsen
Summary: The study found that 14% of firefly species in North America are threatened with extinction, primarily due to habitat loss, light pollution, and climate change. Additionally, 53% of the species could not be evaluated due to insufficient data, emphasizing the need for further research.
Article
Biology
Paulo Branco, Pedro Segurado, Maria Joao Costa, Afonso Teixeira, Jose Maria Santos, Maria Teresa Ferreira, Goncalo Duarte
Summary: The study found that 99% of threats to freshwater-dependent species lack validated published scientific knowledge support, potentially impacting the effectiveness of conservation plans. Additional funding to study and address knowledge gaps is crucial for these species' conservation.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gill T. Braulik, Barbara L. Taylor, Gianna Minton, Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Tim Collins, Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho, Enrique A. Crespo, Louisa S. Ponnampalam, Michael C. Double, Randall R. Reeves
Summary: To understand the loss of biodiversity on a global scale, standardized tools are required. Using data from the IUCN Red List, the study assessed the conservation status and extinction risk of cetaceans. The results showed that 26% of cetacean species were threatened with extinction, with 11% near threatened and 10% data deficient. The proportion of threatened cetaceans has increased over time, and small geographic range and coastal and freshwater habitats pose the greatest threat. An analysis of distribution revealed a global hotspot of threatened cetaceans in Southeast Asia.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Cristina Lopez-Gallego, Paula A. Morales-Morales
Summary: Conserving trees is crucial for maintaining forests and protecting global biodiversity. This study focuses on Colombia's endemic trees, which are at risk of extinction, and highlights the importance of conservation planning and actions to protect them.
PLANTS PEOPLE PLANET
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Michael B. J. Harfoot, Alison Johnston, Andrew Balmford, Neil D. Burgess, Stuart H. M. Butchart, Maria P. Dias, Carolina Hazin, Craig Hilton-Taylor, Michael Hoffmann, Nick J. B. Isaac, Lars L. Iversen, Charlotte L. Outhwaite, Piero Visconti, Jonas Geldmann
Summary: The study used expert information from the IUCN Red List to generate global maps of the six major threats to terrestrial amphibians, birds, and mammals, showing that agriculture and logging are widespread in the tropics, and that hunting and trapping pose the most geographically widespread threat to mammals and birds. The study also highlights that current representations of human pressure on biodiversity underestimate the overall pressure, particularly in areas of high biodiversity importance.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lerato N. Hoveka, Michelle Bank, T. Jonathan Davies
Summary: This study evaluates the effectiveness of protected areas in conserving threatened plant biodiversity in South Africa under future climate projections. The results show that the existing reserve network is surprisingly robust to projected range shifts, but improvements are needed in certain regions to enhance species protection. It is also important to better incorporate future climate threats into species extinction risk assessments.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Review
Fisheries
Paul Woodcock, Bethan C. O'Leary, Michel J. Kaiser, Andrew S. Pullin
FISH AND FISHERIES
(2017)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Callum M. Roberts, Bethan C. O'Leary, Douglas J. McCauley, Philippe Maurice Cury, Carlos M. Duarte, Jane Lubchenco, Daniel Pauly, Andrea Saenz-Arroyo, Ussif Rashid Sumaila, Rod W. Wilson, Boris Worm, Juan Carlos Castilla
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2017)
Letter
Biodiversity Conservation
Bethan C. O'Leary, Marit Winther-Janson, John M. Bainbridge, Jemma Aitken, Julie P. Hawkins, Callum M. Roberts
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2017)
Article
Biology
Bethan C. O'Leary, Natalie C. Ban, Miriam Fernandez, Alan M. Friedlander, Pablo Garcia-Borboroglu, Yimnang Golbuu, Paolo Guidetti, Jean M. Harris, Julie P. Hawkins, Tim Langlois, Douglas J. Mccauley, Ellen K. Pikitch, Robert H. Richmond, Callum M. Roberts
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Bethan C. O'Leary, Callum M. Roberts
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2018)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Bethan C. O'Leary, Philip Fieldhouse, Colin J. McClean, Adriana E. S. Ford, Polly Burns, Julie P. Hawkins, Callum M. Roberts
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2019)
Article
Biology
Callum M. Roberts, Bethan C. O'Leary, Julie P. Hawkins
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Oceanography
Bethan C. O'Leary, George Hoppit, Adam Townley, Harriet L. Allen, Christina J. McIntyre, Callum M. Roberts
OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bethan C. O'Leary, Joshua P. Copping, Nibedita Mukherjee, Sandra L. Dorning, Bryce D. Stewart, Emma McKinley, Prue F. E. Addison, Chris Williams, Griffin Carpenter, David Righton, Katherine L. Yates
Summary: The study reveals a substantial amount of evidence related to evaluating the effectiveness of spatial management measures against ecological outcomes. However, there are key knowledge gaps in evaluating social and economic outcomes, overall merit and worth, marine plans, networks of sites, real-time or seasonal closures, and spatial management in offshore waters and lagoon or estuary environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Paul S. Kemp, Gowshika Subbiah, Richard Barnes, Kristina Boerder, Bethan C. O'Leary, Bryce D. Stewart, Chris Williams
Summary: The UK Fisheries Act provides a framework for sustainable marine resource management after leaving the EU. The importance of social-economic concerns and securing natural capital for fisheries is emphasized. The upcoming Joint Fisheries Statement aims to achieve the objectives of the Act. However, this article challenges the current management framework and suggests a focus on ecological regeneration and maximizing societal benefits. Recommendations include an integrated resource management approach, the use of best available technologies for monitoring compliance, and changing the media narrative and public opinion.
Article
Environmental Studies
Paul S. Kemp, Gowshika Subbiah, Richard Barnes, Kristina Boerder, Bethan C. O'Leary, Bryce D. Stewart, Chris Williams
Summary: UK fisheries have suffered from a decline due to the focus on social-economic value rather than recognizing them as social-ecological systems. The Fisheries Act and Joint Fisheries Statement provide an opportunity to correct this. A more sustainable future for UK fisheries can be achieved by implementing quota based on Maximum Sustainable Yield, reducing fishing capacity, and applying stricter restrictions on damaging fishing techniques in marine protected areas.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Bryce D. Stewart, Charlotte Burns, Adam P. Hejnowicz, Viviane Gravey, Bethan C. O'Leary, Kevin Hicks, Fay M. Farstad, Sue E. Hartley
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bethan C. O'Leary, Bryce D. Stewart, Emma McKinley, Prue F. E. Addison, Chris Williams, Griffin Carpenter, David Righton, Katherine L. Yates
ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE
(2019)
Article
Environmental Studies
Chris Williams, Griffin Carpenter, Robert Clark, Bethan C. O'Leary
Review
Environmental Sciences
Bethan C. O'Leary, Paul Woodcock, Michel J. Kaiser, Andrew S. Pullin
ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE
(2017)