Conservation, Volume 5, Issue 2 (June 2025) – 10 articles

The bacterial community in water from the Houston-toad captive assurance colony held at the Houston Zoo, TX, was used for comparison to the native pond bacterial composition by Ilumina-based 16S rRNA V3 amplicon sequencing. We analyzed composite sediment–water samples from native breeding ponds before and after the release of eggstrands, focusing on opportunistic pathogens of the genus Mycobacterium within the phylum Actinobacteria. Proximal native breeding ponds without headstarting were analyzed for comparison. Tank-water samples from holding facilities (NACQ, Rm1, Rm3, Rm4) showed similar bacterial profiles, with sequences identifying Proteobacteria (57.8 ± 6.2% of all reads), Bacteriodetes (28.1 ± 8.9% of all reads), and Firmicutes (4.1 ± 2.0% of all reads) generally accounting for more than 90% of all reads. Actinobacteria were identified in low abundance, accounting for 1.4 ± 1.1% of all reads, with Nocardiaceae being the most prominent group (54 to 75% of reads), followed by Microbacteriaceae (6 to 12%) and Mycobacteriaceae (1 to 3%). In the pond samples, Proteobacteria remained the most prominent phylum, comprising about 30% of all reads, though other phyla such as Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteriodetes, Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia, and others were also well represented, ranging from 1% to 15%, with individual phyla peaking at specific sampling times. The prevalence of Actinobacteria sequences varied widely among ponds (<1 to 11% of all reads) and over time (10% and 1%). Most mycobacteria sequences retrieved from tank water were not detected in pond water. Thus, the potential introduction of opportunistic mycobacteria pathogens with tank water from holding facilities and eggstrands via headstarting does not seem to lead to the establishment of these bacteria in natal ponds. Full article

Fungi are of critical importance in supporting biodiversity and the world’s ecosystems, yet their conservation status has only been assessed relatively recently as part of the IUCN’s Red List of threatened species. While there are several challenges to evaluating fungi for conservation purposes, there is an urgent need to bring fungi more broadly into the conservation framework. Here, we present an automated bioinformatic pipeline for processing data from one of the largest fungal biodiversity datasets to assess species conservation status using a test case of conspicuous macrofungi from the state of Colorado. This pipeline can rapidly process existing data from both specimen- and observation-based records available through MyCoPortal for making conservation status assessments, and the approach presented employs ‘fuzzy matching’ techniques for correcting commonly encountered misspelled taxonomic names in the data. Such assessments are required for integrating fungi into the NatureServe conservation status framework. The pipeline can easily be scaled to produce robust assessments, even at the national level, which can be valuable in focusing field activity for verification purposes. Of the available 117,006 biodiversity data records from Colorado, our processing test case produced a final processed dataset of 36,637 macrofungal records from the state. From this, a focus list of 1613 rarely documented Colorado species was produced for consideration, with 30 of these also being found on the Red List. A more comprehensive conservation status assessment based on scoring in the NatureServe framework was then produced that provided status ranking for 2438 unique, valid, and current taxonomic names for Colorado macrofungi in the processed dataset. Full article

Globally, national governments have committed to restoring their native biodiversity, which can include the reintroduction of species. Amassing public support can prove difficult when the species is considered a contestable species, such as the Eurasian lynx, Lynx lynx, within the UK. Using an e-questionnaire widely distributed across social media platforms enabled the investigation of public perceptions regarding any proposed lynx reintroduction to England. The majority of the public generally supported the idea of a lynx reintroduction to England. Further investigation by societal groups allowed for greater and more detailed knowledge of perceptions, attitudes, and potential barriers to the potential reintroduction of this contestable species. There were varying opinions both negative and positive, between distinct societal groups, while respondent statements highlighted justifications for their positions. A closer investigation identified specific areas for educational efforts and engagement prior to any public consultation. Many negative opinions were based on either a lack of knowledge or misinformation, which highlighted where educational efforts should be targeted. Misinformation appeared rife within the farmer, vet, and wildlife photography groups. The study highlighted that applying both macro- and micro-scale analyses greatly benefits the identification, detail, and specific issues that need to be addressed, therefore enabling more efficient planning of relevant actions to address concerns before proceeding with such a proposal, especially at a time when funding is limited. Full article

Urban regions represent complex acoustic environments with few respites from noise other than small or remote patches of green infrastructure (GI). Recent noise action planning in the German Ruhr region indicates that urban expansion is fueling encroachment upon GI and subsequently the loss of quiet areas. A systematic exploration of this loss in Germany is needed. An explorative systematic review on Scopus with snowballing supports the synthesis of a conceptual framework linking acoustically relevant ecosystem services with GI. Our review identifies natural quietness, abatement, connection to nature, positive soundscape perception, fidelity, and bird sound presence as sound-related ecosystem functions or services. Empirical case studies justify the need to better understand the link between GI, ecosystem services, and the acoustic environment. Guidance for quiet area assessments in the EU to address this research gap in noise action planning is an emerging topic and needs further study. To address the knowledge gap and provide quiet area assessment guidance, we present a stratified habitat-based acoustic study design for a multi-community area in the middle of the German Ruhr region. A multi-tier sample of 120 locations across eleven habitat and land use strata in the Ruhr is presented, pointing out the scarcity of protected biotopes and large biotope complexes in the study area. This work is a contribution towards a conceptual and methodological basis for quiet area assessment, especially in German and EU noise action planning. Full article

Historically protected by cultural traditions, sacred forests are now increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures, particularly in West Africa, where natural areas and wildlife populations have dwindled as human populations have increased exponentially. Residents in the vicinity of sacred forests play critical roles in conservation success or failure, but few studies have investigated their views. We surveyed 281 residents representing ~100% of households surrounding the sacred forest of Nakpadjoak, a 50-hectare remnant of Sudan-Guinea woodland savanna in northern Togo that is now surrounded by human-dominated landscapes. The majority of residents believe that the sacred forest should be protected (92%) and that access to the forest should be prohibited (55%). Most residents own livestock (93%) and reported that the forest has become a pasture for domestic animals (70%) while wildlife populations have declined (79%). Two-thirds of residents (64%) reported that the forest has changed due to wood cutting, a practice that occurs despite being banned. Most (96%) residents use wood as their primary source of domestic energy, but 90% would switch to alternative fuels, such as natural gas, if available. Unfortunately, despite residents’ desire to protect the forest and external funding for its protection and restoration, Nakpadjoak forest has become increasingly degraded due to ongoing exploitation and conflicts of interest surrounding its use. We recommend bolstering local prohibitions on sacred forest exploitation as well as government interventions such as subsidizing natural gas as an alternative to wood fuel to support the conservation of this and other protected areas in the region, which may otherwise be destroyed. Full article

Agroforestry systems (ASs) are increasingly recognized as effective strategies for ecological restoration and sustainable land use in semi-arid regions. This study aimed to evaluate the implementation and early outcomes of an AS established in a degraded urban area in the Brazilian semi-arid region. Specifically, we analyzed the system’s establishment process, estimated its costs, assessed structural development over time, and compared species performance and carbon accumulation across different biodiversity arrangements. After three years, the system accumulated 17.69 Mg ha⁻¹ of carbon and demonstrated significant basal area growth, particularly among fast-growing species such as Ceiba glaziovii, Gliricidia sepium, and Moringa oleifera. These species enhanced overall system productivity and likely contributed to increases in soil organic matter, facilitating the establishment of more demanding, slow-growing species. Cost analysis indicated a total implementation and maintenance estimate of BRL 57,468.79 ha⁻¹ (USD 11,096.29) over three years, with irrigation and maintenance accounting for 44.39%, labor and site preparation 31.59%, and seedling production 24.02%. Although the system proved viable under institutional support, its replicability for smallholders remains dependent on reliable water access or implementation aligned with the rainy season. The use of nursery seedlings enhanced seedling survival and system feasibility. The broader adoption of agroforestry in semi-arid regions will require supportive public policies and technical assistance. Strengthening government programs such as PNAE and PRONAF is essential, as these initiatives can promote system adoption by facilitating access to credit while also reducing costs, particularly when short-cycle crops grown within the system are sold to local schools. It is important to note that agroforestry costs vary depending on the intended objectives, species diversity, and arrangement design. Therefore, technical assistance is critical to guiding smallholders in selecting and implementing context-appropriate systems. Our findings reinforce the potential of agroforestry systems to promote carbon sequestration, restore degraded lands, and support food security and sustainable development in climate-vulnerable regions. Full article

In 2011, the European Union Member States adopted a new system for updating the European Commission under Article 12 of the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC), and every six years, Member States will report on measures taken to conserve birds. The main assessment is carried out on the basis of species censuses and their temporal trends. Regrettably, however, the assessment only takes into account the species at the global level and not the recognized valid subspecies, which represent important tesserae of taxonomic diversity. This paper constructively discusses some of the results of the fourth assessment and proposes some modifications to future assessments to achieve more inclusive results of at-risk subspecies. Full article

Carabus hungaricus Fabricius, 1792, is a protected Natura 2000 species included in Berne Convention and CORINE. In Bulgaria, it is listed in the Biological Diversity Act and Bulgarian Red Data Book. It is included in the standard form of only one protected area (BG0000322 “Dragoman”) with an ‘unfavourable’ status. This study shows a part of the results from the development of an Action Plan for the protection of Carabus hungaricus in Bulgaria. Data were obtained between 24 May 2021 and 10 December 2023 with the help of 252 pitfall traps from 42 plots. Carabus hungaricus was established in only seven of the sampling sites, with a total of 198 specimens. In those sites, we found 56 other carabid species belonging to 18 zoogeographical categories. The European–Asiatic steppe complex prevailed (30%). The European–Neareastern (17.5%), Palaearctic and European–Central Asian (10.5% each) zoogeographical elements were the most represented. The known range of the species in Bulgaria is limited to the karst steppes of the small mountains around the Sofia Basin. We add four new localities to the distributional map of C. hungaricus and update its altitudinal limit, elevating it to 1200 m. The species is highly vulnerable, strongly attached to the steppe biome and is stenotopic in relation to environmental conditions, thus requiring full conservation of its habitats. Full article

Community-based citizen science plays a vital role in biodiversity conservation by engaging the public in scientific research while fostering environmental awareness. This study evaluates a citizen science project conducted in the Taoyuan Algal Reef (TAR) region of Taiwan, focusing on participants’ motivations, learning outcomes, and their relationship with behavioral intentions toward biodiversity conservation. Despite a small sample size, our findings provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of such initiatives. Learning and self-achievement emerged as the primary motivators for participation, with social interaction playing a secondary role. Using the structural equation model (SEM), we confirmed that attitude serves as a critical mediator between knowledge, sense of place, and behavioral intention. This supports the Knowledge-Attitude-Behavior (KAB) model, emphasizing that knowledge acquisition fosters attitudinal shifts that ultimately drive conservation behavior. Moreover, place-based learning was identified as a key component in strengthening participants’ sense of place and ecological awareness. Our findings suggest that aligning citizen science initiatives with participants’ motivations enhances engagement and long-term conservation efforts. Additionally, ongoing community monitoring not only contributes to scientific data collection but also empowers local communities in environmental decision-making. This study highlights the broader educational, social, and ecological benefits of community-based citizen science and underscores the need for systematic evaluations to optimize its impact. Full article

Introduced species may pose one of the biggest threats to biodiversity conservation. Today, monitoring their status, distribution and abundance constitutes an important part of ecological and conservation studies throughout the world. In the Afrotropical Region (sub-Saharan Africa), avian introductions have attracted the attention of many researchers, but there is a lack of a comprehensive review of this subject on a continental scale. The presented paper constitutes an attempt to overview the status, distribution, threats and control measures of birds introduced to sub-Saharan Africa in the last 200 years. This review lists 146 bird species introduced to sub-Saharan Africa. Only 49 (33.6%) of them have developed viable populations and only 7 (4.8%) became invasive species, namely Passer domesticus, Sturnus vulgaris, Acridotheres tristis, Corvus splendens, Columba livia var. domestica, Psittacula krameri and Pycnonotus jocosus. Data on distribution of most introduced species are provided, together with information on the place and year of their first introductions. For Passer domesticus and Columba livia var. domestica, data on population densities are also provided from several southern African towns. The most speciose groups of introduced species were parrots (Psittaciformes), comprising 33.6% (including Psittacidae: 13.7%; and Psittaculidae: 15.1%); Anatidae: 12.3%; Phasianidae: 11.0%; and Passeriformes: 30.1%. Most avian introductions in sub-Saharan Africa took place in Southern Africa (mainly the Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg areas) and in Madagascar and the surrounding islands (mostly Mauritius, Reunion and Seychelles). Most introduced species which have developed viable populations originate from the Afrotropical, Oriental and Palearctic regions (altogether 78%), with only 2% from the New World. The proportions among the introduced species which have not established viable populations are quite different: 29% from the New World and only 60% from the Afrotropical, Oriental and Palearctic regions. The main factors affecting successful avian introductions and introduction pathways have been identified. A review of the control measures undertaken in sub-Saharan Africa (mainly in small oceanic islands) is outlined for the following species: Passer domesticus, Acridotheres tristis, Corvus splendens, Pycnonotus jocosus, Foudia madagascariensis, Psittacula krameri and Agapornis roseicollis. Full article