Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica V. Redfern, Kelly A. Kryc, Lena Weiss, Brooke C. Hodge, Orfhlaith O'Brien, Scott D. Kraus, Ester Quintana-Rizzo, Peter J. Auster
Summary: One of the current challenges in conservation is balancing economic goals dependent on ocean resource extraction with marine biodiversity conservation. Using NCSM as a case study, it was found that allowing commercial fishing reduces species protections and poses risks to marine species in surface and midwater regions. This demonstrates that a fisheries management policy is insufficient to protect unique ecological resources like those found in the NCSM.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Dominic Muenzel, Kay Critchell, Courtney Cox, Stuart J. Campbell, Raymond Jakub, Wahid Suherfian, La Sara, Iliana Chollett, Eric A. Treml, Maria Beger
Summary: This study used larval dispersal connectivity to design networks of no-take reserves in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Different methods, such as decision trees and Marxan, were used to consider the setting and expansion of marine reserve networks at different scales. The study found that there were differences in priority areas for protection and expected benefits among different species, and that reef quality should also be taken into account when interpreting larval dispersal patterns and evaluating conservation measures.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Linda R. Harris, Stephen D. Holness
Summary: Systematic conservation plans are becoming more prevalent as countries strive to identify priorities for meeting international conservation commitments. This study aimed to develop a robust heuristic approach for setting biodiversity targets in marine systematic conservation planning (SCP). The results showed that our heuristic targets outperformed fixed targets in terms of feature representation and cost efficiency. The approach developed in this study can be widely applied and adapted to other contexts.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zhilan Lin, Yuke Zhang, Liming Yong, Xingguang Yu, Xianyan Wang
Summary: Effective conservation protection requires considering biological information and socioeconomic costs, especially in coastal areas with overlapping human activities. This study explored the impact of different cost scenarios on the spatial priority of marine protected areas and found that using marine zone function as a cost surrogate achieved the optimal scenario. The results provide valuable reference data for the conservation planning of coastal species.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Oceanography
Devin A. Rowell, Nur Arafeh-Dalmau, Richard A. Fuller, Hugh P. Possingham, Bernat Hereu
Summary: Establishing marine reserves in highly populated coastal areas requires fine-scale assessments and local-scale data to effectively protect biodiversity.
OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Edward Tsyrlin, Melissa Carew, Ary A. Hoffmann, Simon Linke, Rhys A. Coleman
Summary: Family-level identification is commonly used for monitoring freshwater macroinvertebrates, but its effectiveness in reflecting regional biodiversity patterns in Australia is untested. This study compared family-level and species-level datasets for freshwater insects in Melbourne, Australia. The results showed a positive relationship between family and species richness, but the family-level dataset underestimated the sampling effort needed to accurately reflect species diversity and overlooked regionally rare species. It is recommended to include species-level identification in monitoring programs to understand regional biodiversity patterns and conservation priorities.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Constance M. Schere, Kate Schreckenberg, Terence P. Dawson, Carole Duval, Frederique Alban, Eric Le Gentil, Pascal Provost
Summary: Marine protected areas (MPAs) are important conservation tools that can be difficult to govern and manage. This study focuses on the governance structure of the Sept-iles National Nature Reserve in France and highlights issues with the current Advisory Committee, proposing new working groups for stakeholder participation. It also raises questions about the representation and future of the reserve.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paulo Andre Tavares, Alice Brites, Vinicius Guidotti, Paulo Guilherme Molin, Kaline de Mello, Zenilda Ledo dos Santos, Luis Fernando Guedes Pinto, Jean Paul Metzger, Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues, Carlos Alfredo Joly, Gerd Sparovek
Summary: The study examined the impact of different legal benchmarks on Legal Reserve coverage, with the forest deficit starting from 1934 being 3% lower compared to starting from 1965.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Kangshun Zhao, Steven D. Gaines, Jorge Garcia Molinos, Min Zhang, Jun Xu
Summary: The functional diversity of commercial marine fish communities significantly responds to climate change and fishing pressure. Climate warming has a positive effect on functional evenness but a negative effect on functional divergence. In contrast, increasing fishing pressure has the opposite effects. These findings are driven by the varying relative contributions of fish species or species groups to the functional space.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xianyan Wang, Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, Chalatip Junchompoo, Watchara Sakornwimon, Mo Chen, Fuxing Wu, Suwat Jutapruet, Shiang-Lin Huang
Summary: Holistic marine biodiversity conservation involves mapping critical habitats for marine protected area networks and using species distribution modelling and MARXAN software to protect marine ecosystems efficiently.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Monica D. Parisi, Patrick R. Huber, Steven E. Greco
Summary: Habitat connectivity is crucial for designing reserve networks to conserve species at risk. However, acquiring land to achieve connectivity for multiple species can be challenging due to limited data and complex models. In this study, four land acquisition strategies were compared in terms of their efficiency in meeting conservation targets, structural connectivity, and connectivity for focal species. The combination of 'Priority 1' and 'Corridor' parcels was found to be the most efficient solution.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jacqualyn Eales, Alison Bethel, James Fullam, Sandra Olmesdahl, Prawestari Wulandari, Ruth Garside
Summary: The study focuses on the interaction between marine conservation management and the health and well-being of coastal communities in Southeast Asia. Through a systematic review, it identifies knowledge gaps and calls for further research to explore these connections.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuexin Liu, Zhonghao Zhang, Qingling Lu, Lihan Cui, Yang Gao, Tiantian Nie
Summary: A high rate of urbanization leads to reductions in biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES). This study provides a spatial conservation prioritization framework to achieve a win-win situation for BES provision and biodiversity protection. Using Hohhot city, China as a study case, different weighting scenarios with species and five ecosystem services were set up to determine the optimal protected area network. The study highlights the need for an appropriate weighting of ecosystem services in decisions seeking to identify protected areas.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Katharina Teschke, Rebecca Konijnenberg, Hendrik Pehlke, Thomas Brey
Summary: This study compares different reserve configurations used in the process of designing a Weddell Sea MPA in Antarctica using univariate and multivariate statistics. The results show that different target level settings for conservation features significantly affect the configuration of the solutions. The mixed-target scenario was found to be the most flexible and well balanced, providing multiple options for consideration.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
B. K. Varnes, E. M. Olsen
Summary: The biodiversity of an ecosystem is crucial for maintaining its key functions during environmental change. This study compared fish species composition, richness, diversity, catch per unit effort (CPUE), and fish size between a 1.5 km(2) no-take marine protected area (MPA) and a nearby fished area on the southern Norwegian coast over a decade. The study found no significant effect of protection on species richness, diversity, or evenness. However, there was a significant decline in the mean body size of selected species in the MPA, indicating a response to protection involving trophic interactions. The MPA had no significant effect on the CPUE or body size of Atlantic cod, suggesting that the small size of the MPA may limit its effectiveness.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michelle Ward, James E. M. Watson, Hugh P. Possingham, Stephen T. Garnett, Martine Maron, Jonathan R. Rhodes, Chris MacColl, Richard Seaton, Nigel Jackett, April E. Reside, Patrick Webster, Jeremy S. Simmonds
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the extirpation of threatened birds in Australia by mapping their past and current potential habitats. The results indicate a significant loss of habitat and range contraction for these species, with some having been extirpated from the majority of their former potential habitat.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jaramar Villarreal-Rosas, Jessie A. Wells, Laura J. Sonter, Hugh P. Possingham, Jonathan R. Rhodes
Summary: Land use change has led to significant declines in ecosystem services globally, impacting different beneficiaries unevenly. This study focused on the Brigalow Belt Bioregion in Australia to assess how land use change affects flood protection for urban residents, rural communities, and the food sector. Results showed net declines in flood protection for all sectors, with urban residents experiencing the greatest impact.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(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)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Walter Jetz, Jennifer McGowan, D. Scott Rinnan, Hugh P. Possingham, Piero Visconti, Brian O'Donnell, Maria Cecilia Londono-Murcia
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Christopher M. Baker, Patricia T. Campbell, Iadine Chades, Angela J. Dean, Susan M. Hester, Matthew H. Holden, James M. McCaw, Jodie McVernon, Robert Moss, Freya M. Shearer, Hugh P. Possingham
Summary: Scientific knowledge and advances play a crucial role in modern society, but there is a perpetual challenge in translating scientific insight into policy. Decision science provides a solution by framing scientific questions in a way that benefits policy development, allowing scientists to contribute more effectively to important societal problems.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michelle Ward, Josie Carwardine, James E. M. Watson, Anna Pintor, Stephanie Stuart, Hugh P. Possingham, Jonathan R. Rhodes, Alexander R. Carey, Nancy Auerbach, April Reside, Chuan Ji Yong, Ayesha I. T. Tulloch
Summary: Researchers have developed a decision-support framework to prioritize conservation actions for species affected by megafires. Their study in the areas burned in the Australian megafires showed that selecting complementary locations for recovery actions can lead to cost savings and reduce threats to all species.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Truly Santika, Julie Sherman, Maria Voigt, Marc Ancrenaz, Serge A. Wich, Kerrie A. Wilson, Hugh Possingham, Emily Massingham, Dave J. I. Seaman, Alison M. Ashbury, Taufiq S. Azvi, Graham L. Banes, Elizabeth J. Barrow, David F. R. P. Burslem, Robert A. Delgado, Andi Erman, Gabriella Fredriksson, Benoit Goossens, Max Houghton, Tito P. Indrawan, Ricko L. Jaya, Tomoko Kanamori, Cheryl D. Knott, Ashley Leiman, Darmawan Liswanto, Martin Mach, Andrew J. Marshall, Julien G. A. Martin, Lelyana Midora, Adam Miller, Sol Milne, Courtney Morgans, Nardi Nardiyono, Dyah Perwitasari-Farajallah, Dolly Priatna, Robert Risch, Galuh M. Riyadi, Anne Russon, Juhardi Sembiring, Endro Setiawan, Mohammad Sidiq, Donna Simon, Stephanie Spehar, Matthew J. Struebig, Ibrahim Sumardi, Albertus Tjiu, Rizki Wahyudi, Achmad Yanuar, Erik Meijaard
Summary: Conservation strategies are often not evaluated systematically, which leads to a lack of transparency and inefficiency in resource deployment. This study used a spatiotemporal framework to evaluate conservation investments in orangutan conservation. The findings show that habitat protection, patrolling, and public outreach are the most effective strategies for maintaining orangutan populations, with different benefits depending on the region and conservation activities. The study highlights the importance of understanding the relationship between conservation investments and outcomes, and provides guidance for more effective biodiversity conservation.
Review
Ecology
Maria Beger, Anna Metaxas, Arieanna C. Balbar, Jennifer A. McGowan, Remi Daigle, Caitlin D. Kuempel, Eric A. Treml, Hugh P. Possingham
Summary: This study explores the inclusion of connectivity in conservation planning objectives and proposes methods to design spatial management areas that benefit from biodiversity resulting from connectivity.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ronald B. Souza, Margareth S. Copertino, Gilberto Fisch, Marcelo F. Santini, Walter H. D. Pinaya, Fabiane M. Furlan, Rita de Cassia M. Alves, Osmar O. Moller, Luciano P. Pezzi
Summary: This study measured the atmospheric CO2 concentrations in a salt marsh in southern Brazil and analyzed the CO2 exchange fluxes between vegetation and the atmosphere using eddy correlation techniques. The results showed that the CO2 fluxes were modulated by transient atmospheric systems and surrounding water level variations. It was found that the salt marsh acted as a CO2 sink during daytime and a CO2 source during nighttime. The seasonal changes in CO2 fluxes were influenced by sunlight, temperature, marsh inundation, winds, and plant biomass.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jasmine R. Lee, Aleks Terauds, Josie Carwardine, Justine D. Shaw, Richard A. Fuller, Hugh P. Possingham, Steven L. Chown, Peter Convey, Neil Gilbert, Kevin A. Hughes, Ewan McIvor, Sharon A. Robinson, Yan Ropert-Coudert, Dana M. Bergstrom, Elisabeth M. Biersma, Claire Christian, Don A. Cowan, Yves Frenot, Stephanie Jenouvrier, Lisa Kelley, Michael J. Lee, Heather J. Lynch, Birgit Njastad, Antonio Quesada, Ricardo M. Roura, E. Ashley Shaw, Damon Stanwell-Smith, Megumu Tsujimoto, Diana H. Wall, Annick Wilmotte, Iadine Chades
Summary: Antarctic terrestrial biodiversity is under multiple threats, and current conservation efforts are deemed insufficient. A participatory study estimates that up to 65% of native terrestrial taxa and land-associated seabirds may decline by 2100. Implementing 10 key threat management strategies could benefit up to 84% of Antarctic taxa.
Article
Ecology
Benjamin S. Halpern, Carl Boettiger, Michael C. Dietze, Jessica A. Gephart, Patrick Gonzalez, Nancy B. Grimm, Peter M. Groffman, Jessica Gurevitch, Sarah E. Hobbie, Kimberly J. Komatsu, Kristy J. Kroeker, Heather J. Lahr, David M. Lodge, Christopher J. Lortie, Julie S. S. Lowndes, Fiorenza Micheli, Hugh P. Possingham, Mary H. Ruckelshaus, Courtney Scarborough, Chelsea L. Wood, Grace C. Wu, Lina Aoyama, Eva E. Arroyo, Christie A. Bahlai, Erin E. Beller, Rachael E. Blake, Karrigan S. Bork, Trevor A. Branch, Norah E. M. Brown, Julien Brun, Emilio M. Bruna, Lauren B. Buckley, Jessica L. Burnett, Max C. N. Castorani, Samantha H. Cheng, Sarah C. Cohen, Jessica L. Couture, Larry B. Crowder, Laura E. Dee, Arildo S. Dias, Ignacio J. Diaz-Maroto, Martha R. Downs, Joan C. Dudney, Erle C. Ellis, Kyle A. Emery, Jacob G. Eurich, Bridget E. Ferriss, Alexa Fredston, Hikaru Furukawa, Sara A. Gagne, Sarah R. Garlick, Colin J. Garroway, Kaitlyn M. Gaynor, Angelica L. Gonzalez, Eliza M. Grames, Tamar Guy-Haim, Ed Hackett, Lauren M. Hallett, Tamara K. Harms, Danielle E. Haulsee, Kyle J. Haynes, Elliott L. Hazen, Rebecca M. Jarvis, Kristal Jones, Gaurav S. Kandlikar, Dustin W. Kincaid, Matthew L. Knope, Anil Koirala, Jurek Kolasa, John S. Kominoski, Julia Koricheva, Lesley T. Lancaster, Jake A. Lawlor, Heili E. Lowman, Frank E. Muller-Karger, Kari E. A. Norman, Nan Nourn, Casey C. O'Hara, Suzanne X. Ou, Jacqueline L. Padilla-Gamino, Paula Pappalardo, Ryan A. Peek, Dominique Pelletier, Stephen Plont, Lauren C. Ponisio, Cristina Portales-Reyes, Diogo B. Provete, Eric J. Raes, Carlos Ramirez-Reyes, Irene Ramos, Sydne Record, Anthony J. Richardson, Roberto Salguero-Gomez, Erin Satterthwaite, Chloe Schmidt, Aaron J. Schwartz, Craig R. See, Brendan D. Shea, Rachel S. Smith, Eric R. Sokol, Christopher T. Solomon, Trisha Spanbauer, Paris Stefanoudis, Beckett W. Sterner, Vitor Sudbrack, Jonathan D. Tonkin, Ashley R. Townes, Mireia Valle, Jonathan A. Walter, Kathryn Wheeler, William R. Wieder, David R. Williams, Marten Winter, Barbora Winterova, Lucy C. Woodall, Adam S. Wymore, Casey Youngflesh
Summary: Synthesis research in ecology and environmental science is important for improving understanding, advancing theory, identifying research priorities, and supporting management strategies. A virtual workshop with participants from different countries and disciplines was held to discuss how synthesis can address key questions and themes in the field in the next decade. Seven priority research topics and two issues regarding synthesis practices were identified, providing a strategic vision for future synthesis in ecology and environmental science.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Robyn James, Jonathan R. B. Fisher, Chelsea Carlos-Grotjahn, Marissa S. Boylan, Baigalmaa Dembereldash, Meaza Z. Demissie, Crystal Diaz De Villegas, Bridget Gibbs, Ruth Konia, Kristen Lyons, Hugh Possingham, Cathy J. Robinson, Tiantian Tang, Nathalie Butt
Summary: Globally, women are underrepresented in addressing the climate and biodiversity loss crises. A survey among conservation and science staff at The Nature Conservancy revealed that men have more influence in conservation and science decision making, women face gender bias and multiple barriers in their conservation careers, and experience harassment and discrimination. Men perceive the sector as more equitable for women than women themselves. Gender equality does not eliminate systemic inequity, which can be exacerbated by intersectional issues. Recommendations include workplace and cultural change, recruitment improvements, pay transparency, and career development policies.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hubert Cheung, Yutong Phoenix Feng, Amy Hinsley, Tien Ming Lee, Hugh P. Possingham, Stephen N. Smith, Laura Thomas-Walters, Yifu Wang, Duan Biggs
Summary: Political will is crucial for the success of environmental policies, and aligning environmental solutions with the core interests of policymakers makes them more politically feasible. Understanding decision-makers' political agendas helps identify areas where political will already exists, enabling environmental objectives to be achieved.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Natalya M. Maitz, Martin F. J. Taylor, Michelle S. Ward, Hugh P. Possingham
Summary: Australia's national environmental legislation, the EPBC Act, is criticized for its failure to mitigate the national extinction crisis, as it does not adequately protect threatened species and habitats.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Robyn James, Javkhlan Ariunbaatar, Meaghan Bresnahan, Chelsea Carlos-Grotjahn, Jonathan R. B. Fisher, Bridget Gibbs, Justine E. Hausheer, Cynthia Nakozoete, Sarah-Kate Nomura, Hugh Possingham, Kristen Lyons
Summary: This study examines the publication patterns of women in the field of conservation science, using the Nature Conservancy as a case study. The findings show that women are underrepresented in authorship, particularly those from the Global South. Although there has been an increase in the number of women publishing, the gender parity has not been achieved. These results highlight the need for addressing this significant issue in publishing within the global conservation science community.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2022)