Advances in Wildlife Conservation and Habitat Management in the Anthropocene

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 1200

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Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81132 Mytilene, Greece
Interests: forest ecology; urban forestry; agro-ecosystem conservation; wildlife conservation; conservation physiology; behavioral ecology; non-invasive methods
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Anthropocene, characterized by significant human impacts on Earth's ecosystems, has introduced a complex array of environmental stressors that significantly challenge traditional approaches to wildlife conservation and habitat management in terrestrial environments. This multifaceted interplay encompasses anthropogenic stressors, such as habitat loss and fragmentation driven by deforestation, urbanization, and infrastructure development. These activities disrupt ecological connectivity and degrade critical habitats, leading to declines in species and their populations and causing significant disruptions in ecosystem functions, affecting ecological processes across multiple scales, from individual species to entire landscapes. Alongside these anthropogenic influences, biotic stressors, including competition for resources (both intraspecific and interspecific) and disease outbreaks, further complicate conservation efforts. Alterations in habitats and shifts in climate patterns can intensify these biotic pressures, facilitating the spread of invasive species and diseases that undermine ecosystem stability, threaten native species, and disrupt community dynamics. Beyond the direct consequences of human activities, terrestrial ecosystems face a complex web of abiotic stressors encompassing large-scale, climate-driven phenomena like wildfires, floods, and droughts, alongside more subtle variations in environmental gradients, such as temperature, water availability, salinity, light, and nutrient availability, all of which can disrupt ecological processes and push species beyond their physiological tolerances, presenting a significant challenge in conservation efforts.

In light of these challenges, advances in ecological monitoring, modeling, and management strategies in wildlife conservation and habitat management are essential in developing effective and adaptive strategies to mitigate the impacts of these complex and interacting stressors and to guide conservation planning in the Anthropocene.

In this Special Issue, we aim to explore and highlight innovative approaches and cutting-edge advancements in wildlife conservation and habitat management in the Anthropocene. We invite submissions from researchers, practitioners, and policymakers encompassing all aspects of this critical field, including theoretical frameworks, experimental studies, and practical applications. Contributions can include original research articles, reviews, short communications, and case studies. We particularly encourage submissions that explore the individual and combined effects of anthropogenic, biotic, and abiotic stressors on wildlife and habitats. By bringing together pioneering research and practical insights, this Special Issue seeks to equip conservation practitioners and policymakers with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate the complex interplay between anthropogenic, biotic, and abiotic stressors in the context of wildlife conservation and habitat management in terrestrial ecosystems. The featured works will report and advance conservation practices, aligning with the broader scope of the journal, which is to disseminate knowledge and promote sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation.

This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts directly addressing challenges including, but not limited to, the following themes:

  • Innovative Conservation Methods and Technologies: Papers that showcase new tools, technologies, and methodologies for monitoring, managing, and mitigating the impacts of environmental stressors on wildlife and habitats.
  • Habitat Suitability Modeling under Climate Change: Research employing advanced modeling techniques to evaluate how climate change and other stressors impact habitat suitability. This includes developing and refining models to predict shifts in habitat conditions, species distributions, and ecological interactions and using these insights to inform adaptive conservation and management strategies.
  • Anthropogenic Stressors and their Impact: Investigations into how human activities such as habitat deterioration, urbanization, and infrastructure development are affecting terrestrial wild species and their habitats.
  • Biotic and Abiotic Stressors: Comprehensive analyses of how environmental stressors, such as climate change and disease outbreaks, in combination with human-induced changes, influence ecosystem dynamics and inform conservation strategies.
  • Protected Areas and Habitat Management: Examination of the role and effectiveness of management strategies for protected areas in conserving biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem resilience amid various stressors.
  • Conservation of Keystone and Threatened Species: Studies focused on conservation strategies for keystone species and those listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, addressing specific threats and management approaches.
  • Long-Term Monitoring and Evaluation: Papers focusing on the importance of long-term ecological monitoring and evaluation in understanding trends, assessing conservation outcomes, and adapting management strategies.

We look forward to receiving your research articles and reviews.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Land.

Dr. Yiannis G. Zevgolis
Prof. Dr. Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • innovative technologies
  • advanced monitoring techniques
  • habitat suitability modeling
  • species distribution modeling
  • climate change scenarios
  • anthropogenic, biotic, and abiotic stressors
  • environmental impact assessments
  • invasive species management
  • disease outbreak impacts
  • long-term ecological monitoring
  • protected area effectiveness
  • keystone species conservation
  • threatened species
  • adaptive conservation strategies
  • conservation planning
  • wildlife conservation
  • habitat management

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

12 pages, 1023 KiB  
Article
Insights into Population Status and Habitat Patches of Conservation Concern for the Endangered Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in Nowshera District, Northwestern Pakistan
by Romaan Hayat Khattak, Shakeel Ahmad, Tahir Mehmood, Hongliang Dou, Haiyang Gao, Song Sun and Yan Hua
Biology 2024, 13(9), 727; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13090727 - 16 Sep 2024
Abstract
The Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) stands out among the four surviving species of Asian pangolins, being the sole species present in Pakistan and listed as endangered owing to trafficking and illicit commerce. In the present study, we explored the population status [...] Read more.
The Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) stands out among the four surviving species of Asian pangolins, being the sole species present in Pakistan and listed as endangered owing to trafficking and illicit commerce. In the present study, we explored the population status of the Indian pangolin and the existing suitable habitats in Nowshera district, Pakistan. We employed the line transect method to confirm the species presence and subsequent population estimation. In a survey effort of 156 km2, a total of 56 signs of Indian pangolin were recorded within the research area. Amongst the 56 signs, 46 were burrows (living burrows (53.57%) and feeding burrows (28.57%)). Digging was observed nine (16.07%) times, along with one direct sighting (1.7%). Our results revealed a population estimate of only 29 pangolins in the Nowshera district, with a population density of 0.013 individuals/km2. Later, MaxEnt was applied to the species’ presence points, along with climatic and topographical variables. The MaxEnt model accuracy was good (AUC = 0.811). Of the total area studied, 210 km2 (12.01%) were highly suitable and 238 km2 (13.61%) were moderately suitable habitat for the Indian pangolin. To safeguard the fragile population and habitat of the Indian pangolin, we highly suggest strengthening watch and ward and law enforcement in the study area. By adopting a comprehensive approach that addresses both the direct threats to Indian pangolins and the underlying factors driving their decline, we can effectively protect this endangered species and ensure the preservation of its essential habitats for robust conservation. Full article
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