Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kayla M. Fast, Brook L. Fluker, Bernard R. Kuhajda, Patrick E. O'Neil, Stuart W. McGregor, Matthew S. Piteo, Michael W. Sandel
Summary: The southeastern United States is a hotspot of biodiversity, but small-stream-inhabiting fish such as the Trispot Darter (Etheostoma trisella) face population declines and genetic isolation due to destruction and fragmentation of their habitats. This study used genetic markers to evaluate the population structure and diversity of E. trisella. The results showed evidence of historical connectivity between populations, but recent isolation. Three distinct genetic groups were identified, corresponding to different geographic localities. The study also highlighted the importance of riverine isolation in structuring populations. Understanding the distribution and habitat occupancy of E. trisella populations is crucial for future conservation efforts.
CONSERVATION GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Gisela Loretan, Federico Giri, Juan Manuel Cabrera, Florencia Coronel, Pablo Agustin Collins, Marcos Perez-Losada, Eva Carolina Rueda
Summary: Phylogeographic research reveals previously unrecognized units of biodiversity, as shown in the case of Aegla scamosa, a crab species inhabiting waterbodies in southern South America. This study characterized the phylogeography of A. scamosa in Argentina, identifying two independent evolutionarily units and a discrepancy between nuclear and mitochondrial markers. The findings highlight the importance of studying freshwater fauna for conservation purposes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Juan Sebastian Restrepo-Cardona, Maria Alejandra Parrado, Felix Hernan Vargas, Sebastian Kohn, Fausto Saenz-Jimenez, Yann Potaufeu, Fabricio Narvaez
Summary: The Andean Condor is one of the most threatened bird species globally, with a rapidly declining population and local extinctions in northern South America. In Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela, no quantitative assessments have been made regarding the threats affecting Andean Condor populations. This study compiled records of injured or killed condors between 1979 and 2021, revealing high mortality rates due to poisoning and shooting. Urgent actions such as environmental education, research, and management strategies based on scientific evidence are required to prevent human-induced threats and conserve the Andean Condor.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Delphine B. H. Chabanne, Simon J. Allen, William Bruce Sherwin, Hugh Finn, Michael Krutzen
Summary: The study conducted on Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in Perth found four behavioral communities with similar genetic structures but small differentiation due to related individuals within communities. The high levels of contemporary migration and related individuals among communities suggest a panmictic genetic population with continuous gene flow. Despite genetic similarity, each social community should be considered a distinct ecological unit for conservation due to exposure to different threats and occurrence in different habitats.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Rocio Lopez de la Lama, Nathan Bennett, Janette Bulkan, David Boyd, Kai M. A. Chan
Summary: Privately protected areas (PPAs) are a potentially innovative tool for conservation, but there is a lack of legal framework and government support for them in South America. We analyzed the commitment of landowners and government support for PPAs in South American countries. We found deficiencies in the legal framework, such as inadequate minimum duration of PPAs and vague guidelines. Government support was limited, which hinders the effectiveness of PPAs in the region.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Laura Kor, Katherine Homewood, Terence P. Dawson, Mauricio Diazgranados
Summary: Overexploitation is a significant factor driving global plant extinction, while useful plant species are essential for livelihoods worldwide. A review of literature on wild-collected plant use in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia revealed relatively balanced outcomes in terms of sustainability, with notable national differences. The importance of flexible, context-specific approaches and collaboration, particularly involving local communities and traditional ecological knowledge, was highlighted for effective conservation efforts.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Bethany A. Zumwalde, Bailie Fredlock, Emily Beckman Bruns, Drew Duckett, Ross A. McCauley, Emma Suzuki Spence, Sean Hoban
Summary: The study reveals that the genetic diversity of the threatened desert oak species is mostly conserved in ex situ populations, with one geographic region showing better conservation than the other. Genetic diversity conservation for the widespread species is lower compared to rarer taxa, and genetic diversity within each garden is influenced by the number of plants and source populations. Overall, measures of geographic and ecological conservation tended to be lower than direct assessment of genetic diversity.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Andres Moreira-Munoz, Maria Virginia Palchetti, Vanezza Morales-Fierro, Valeria Soledad Duval, Rudy Allesch-Villalobos, Carlos E. Gonzalez-Orozco
Summary: Substantial advances are needed in taxonomic, systematic, and distribution knowledge of plants and in the transmission of this information to society. The diversity patterns of the Solanaceae family in southern South America reveal the need for a geographically explicit conservation strategy to protect its richness and endemism.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Forestry
Raluca A. Mihai, Erly J. Melo Heras, Eliza A. Pinto Valdiviezo, Ivan A. Espinoza Caiza, Nelson S. Cubi Insuaste, Jean Pierre Mejia, Rodica D. Catana, Mirela M. Moldoveanu, Larisa I. Florescu
Summary: Human society is facing an increasing demand for forest resources, leading to overexploitation and biodiversity loss. South America, with its rich diversity, is crucial for medicinal trees. This review assesses the state of micropropagation through somatic embryogenesis of representative medicinal trees in South America and identifies priority species for conservation. The study highlights the scarcity of research on somatic embryogenesis in medicinal trees and emphasizes the need for further investigation.
Article
Ecology
Nina Vasiljevic, Nadja V. Morf, Josef Senn, Silvia Perez-Espona, Federica Mattucci, Nadia Mucci, Gaia Moore-Jones, Simone Roberto Rolando Pisano, Adelgunde Kratzer, Rob Ogden
Summary: This study investigates the recolonization of roe deer in Switzerland in the early 1800s and finds evidence of natural immigration from neighboring countries. The study also reveals weak genetic differentiation among different topographic regions in Switzerland. The genetic data support the recognition of a single roe deer management unit in Switzerland and the potential for geographic origin assignment using nuclear markers for law enforcement purposes.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Beatriz C. Afonso, Lourens H. Swanepoel, Beatriz P. Rosa, Tiago A. Marques, Luis M. Rosalino, Margarida Santos-Reis, Goncalo Curveira-Santos
Summary: Wildlife ecological patterns are influenced by both environmental factors and landscape-management schemes. Small mammal communities in southern Africa are impacted by different management contexts, with smaller species showing higher relative abundance in game reserves. However, overall rodent abundance is negatively affected by ungulate presence and human disturbance, indicating that management priorities across land uses can impact wildlife communities differently.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Siyu Qin, Marie Pratzer, Patrick Meyfroidt, Tobias Kuemmerle
Summary: International conservation funding to low- and middle-income countries has significantly increased in recent years. This study identified factors influencing conservation funding allocation in major deforestation regions of South America between 1987 and 2013. The study found that funding was mainly allocated to remote areas with high species richness and carbon storage, with climate-related concerns gaining more prominence after 2008. The study also highlighted a preference for the Amazon as a charismatic ecoregion and emphasized the importance of subnational analyses in aligning international conservation funding with local conservation needs.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xavier Roca-Rada, Gustavo Politis, Pablo G. Messineo, Nahuel Scheifler, Clara Scabuzzo, Mariela Gonzalez, Kelly M. Harkins, David Reich, Yassine Souilmi, Joao C. Teixeira, Bastien Llamas, Lars Fehren-Schmitz
Summary: Study of mitochondrial genomes from human skeletal remains in the Argentinian Pampas revealed distinct genetic makeup compared to other South Cone of South America (SCSA) populations, with earliest settlers estimated to have arrived in a single and rapid dispersal around 15,600 years ago. Present-day genetic differences between the Pampas and the rest of SCSA are attributed to founder effects, genetic drift, and a partial population replacement around 9,000 years ago.
Article
Ecology
Sarah Maria Vargas, Ana Carolina Barcelos, Rita Gomes Rocha, Paula Guimaraes, Lais Amorim, Arturo Martinelli, Fabricio Rodrigues Santos, Jose Erickson, Ana Claudia Jorge Marcondes, Sandra Ludwig
Summary: This study conducted genetic assessment of the South West Atlantic subpopulation of leatherback turtles and found genetic differences and two different genetic clusters. The low number of reproductive females in the subpopulation may be due to breeding occurrence in other nesting areas, as well as mating behaviors and inbreeding avoidance. The low remigration rates estimated for the subpopulation may be related to high mortality rates at sea.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Francisco Zumpano, Sofia Copello, Marco Favero, German O. Garcia
Summary: This study aims to review current research trends in recreational fishing in South America, analyzing the main topics addressed in peer-reviewed papers. A total of 135 articles were found and categorized into four types: 'Environmental Issues', 'Target Species', 'Management', and 'Socioeconomic'. There was no association between the distribution of categories and the ecosystems where the research was conducted.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Guilherme Frainer, Simon Elwen, Sasha Dines, Bridget James, Els Vermeulen, Gwenith Penry, O. Alejandra Vargas-Fonseca, Shanan Atkins, Danielle Conry, Tess Gridley
Summary: This study investigates the prevalence of abnormal rostrum conditions in Indian Ocean humpback dolphins inhabiting South African coastal waters. The research finds that injuries to the rostrums are likely caused by interactions with sharks and/or reef-associated hunting strategies. Despite these injuries, the dolphins are able to survive for extended periods. Understanding the causes of these injuries is crucial for the conservation of this endangered species.
INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
A. P. B. Costa, F. I. Archer, P. E. Rosel, W. F. Perrin
Summary: Through a re-examination of the morphological differences among several common dolphin species in the eastern Pacific, it was found that offshore dolphins in the eastern tropical Pacific (ETP) differ significantly in skull and body size from dolphins in other regions. Therefore, it is recommended to recognize ETP offshore dolphins as a distinct subspecies, Tursiops truncatus nuuanu.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chris J. Brauer, Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo, Katie Gates, Michael P. Hammer, Peter J. Unmack, Louis Bernatchez, Luciano B. Beheregaray
Summary: Under climate change, species without the ability to shift their range rely on genetic variation for adaptation. Genomic vulnerability studies often overlook hybridization as a source of adaptive variation. This study found that hybrid populations of rainbowfish showed reduced vulnerability to climate change compared to pure narrow endemics, highlighting the importance of hybrid populations and adaptive introgression in the evolutionary rescue of species with narrow environmental ranges.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
R. P. Bourman, C. V. Murray-Wallace, C. Wilson, L. Mosley, J. Tibby, D. D. Ryan, E. D. De Carli, A. Tulley, A. P. Belperio, D. Haynes, A. Roberts, C. Westell, E. J. Barnett, S. Dillenburg, L. B. Beheregaray, P. A. Hesp
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Katie Gates, Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo, Chris J. Brauer, Peter J. Unmack, Martin Laporte, Louis Bernatchez, Luciano B. Beheregaray
Summary: In order to preserve the diversity of ecological and genetic factors in hotspots like tropical rainforests, it is important to understand the forces behind biodiversity. Through studying an Australian rainbowfish, Melanotaenia splendida splendida, across wet tropical regions, we found that environmental gradients and terrain structure strongly influence genetic and morphological variation. While neutral genetic population structure is mostly affected by limited gene flow, ecological variables are equally effective in explaining overall genetic variation and better at explaining body shape variation. The strongest environmental predictors are hydrological and thermal variables, which are correlated with heritable habitat-associated dimorphism in rainbowfish. Climate-associated genetic variation is significantly associated with morphology, supporting the heritability of shape variation. These results highlight the evolved functional differences among localities and emphasize the importance of hydroclimate in early stages of diversification. It is expected that tropical rainforest endemics will need to undergo significant evolutionary responses to mitigate fitness losses caused by climate change.
Article
Fisheries
A. Bertram, J. Bell, C. J. Brauer, A. Fowler, P. Hamer, J. Sandoval-Castillo, J. Stewart, M. Wellenreuther, L. B. Beheregaray
Summary: In southeastern Australia, population genomic differentiation in snapper is concordant with coastal biogeographic boundaries and related to spawning and recruitment dynamics. The current management boundaries align with genetic breaks at bioregional boundaries or local-scale variation. This study highlights the value of population genomic surveys in uncovering stock boundaries and demographic variation related to spawning and recruitment in species with high dispersal potential, and emphasizes the importance of marine biogeography in shaping population structure in commercially important species.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Eduardo P. Renault-Braga, Karina R. Groch, Paulo C. Simoes-Lopes
Summary: Southern right whales in Brazilian breeding grounds have been severely depleted by whaling but are now restricted to the southern waters of Brazil. Using photo identification data and mark-recapture methods, a population size of 397 reproductive females was estimated between 2004 and 2021. This is the first update on population trends since 2010.
MARINE ECOLOGY-AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Solene Derville, Leigh G. Torres, Seth D. Newsome, Christopher J. Somes., Luciano O. Valenzuela., Hannah B. Vander. Zanden, C. Scott Baker, Martine Berube, Geraldine Busquets-Vass, Kris Carlyon, Simon J. Childerhouse, Rochelle Constantine, Glenn Dunshea, Paulo A. C. Flores, Simon D. Goldsworthy, Brittany Graham, Karina Groch, Darren R. Groecke, Robert Harcourt, Mark A. Hindell, Pavel Hulva, Jennifer A. Jackson, Amy S. Kennedy, David Lundquist, Alice I. Mackay, Petra Neveceralova, Larissa Oliveira, Paulo H. Ott, Per J. Palsboll, Nathalie J. Patenaude, Victoria Rowntree, Mariano Sironi, Els Vermeuelen, Mandy Watson, Alexandre N. Zerbini, Emma L. Carroll
Summary: Assessing environmental changes in the Southern Ocean ecosystems is challenging due to remoteness and limited data availability. However, studying the distribution patterns of marine predators, such as southern right whales, can provide valuable insights into anthropogenic effects on ecosystems. Using isotope analysis of skin samples from different populations, this study found that southern right whales have increased their use of mid-latitude foraging grounds in the south Atlantic and southwest Indian oceans over the past three decades, while maintaining stability in their use of these areas since the 18th century.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Morgane Dromby, Fernando Felix, Ben Haase, Paulo C. Simoes-Lopes, Ana P. B. Costa, Aude Lalis, Celine Bens, Michela Podesta, Giuliano Doria, Andre E. Moura
Summary: Skull shape analysis is useful for studying wildlife ecology and local adaptations, especially in distinguishing between coastal and offshore populations. This study compared the skull shape variation between coastal populations from the Gulf of Guayaquil and the Mediterranean Sea, as well as offshore specimens from multiple oceans. The results showed distinct skull shape differences between coastal populations and offshore specimens, with variations in the rostrum length and shape of specific bones. The findings suggest that feeding and sound production patterns may be influenced by the local environment and contribute to the morphological differences observed.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Karl Moy, Jason Schaffer, Michael P. Hammer, Catherine R. M. Attard, Luciano B. Beheregaray, Richard Duncan, Mark Lintermans, Culum Brown, Peter J. Unmack
Summary: The study explores the threat of translocating species on freshwater fish biodiversity and presents a successful case of conserving Running River rainbowfish. By captive-breeding wild fish and translocating them to unoccupied habitats, two populations of Running River rainbowfish were established, but challenges of predation and release timing remain. This provides valuable insights for similar conservation programs involving short-lived fish species.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Ana P. B. Costa, Lynsey A. Wilcox, Richard C. Sabin, Patricia E. Rosel
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Els Vermeulen, Matthew Germishuizen, Amy Kennedy, Christopher Wilkinson, Caroline R. Weir, Alexandre Zerbini
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Natalie Pilakouta, Joseph L. Humble, Iain D. C. Hill, Jessica Arthur, Ana P. B. Costa, Bethany A. Smith, Bjarni K. Kristjansson, Skuli Skulason, Shaun S. Killen, Jan Lindstrom, Neil B. Metcalfe, Kevin J. Parsons
Summary: Testing for divergent evolution in wild populations from different thermal environments is a powerful approach for predicting population responses to climate change.
Article
Biology
Macarena Agrelo, Carina F. Maron, Fabio G. Daura-Jorge, Victoria J. Rowntree, Mariano Sironi, Philip S. Hammond, Simon N. Ingram, Florencia O. Vilches, Jon Seger, Paulo C. Simoes-Lopes
Summary: Kelp gulls commonly feed on southern right whales in the near shore waters of Peninsula Valdes, Argentina. The gull attacks have caused changes in the behavior of the whales and an increase in gull-inflicted wounds on calves. The severity of the wounds has been found to have a significant impact on calf survival, indicating the potential influence of gull harassment on the population dynamics of southern right whales.
