Authors: Gordana Jeremić Selena Vitezović
The exploitation of animal raw materials (bone, antler, mollusc shells, teeth, ivory) was an important part of arts and crafts during the Roman period in Europe: they were used for making daily objects, such as tools (needles, spindles, awls…), parts of composite objects (hinges, handles…), as well as personal cosmetic, medicine and decorative items (spatulae, decorative pins, appliqués, etc.), and even very fine crafted objects, such as figurative scenes used for the decoration of boxes or other furniture pieces. Within large territories that were part of the Roman Empire, there were significant local differences in bone vs. antler ratios. In the Central Balkans (parts of the Late Roman provinces of Dacia Ripensis and Dacia Mediterranea), antlers were widely used, especially in Late Antiquity, suggesting planned, systematic exploitation of available wild resources. This may be related not only to the local environment, but also to the local traditions and cultural preferences. In addition, we noted the presence of deer in the visual arts, suggesting that certain symbolic values were assigned to them. In this paper, an overview of the usage of antlers as raw materials in arts and craft production will be provided, complemented by the presence of deer in artistic representations.
]]>Authors: Carlie Sommers Michael Hewson Rolf Schlagloth Sophie George Juku-Dai Nerark Morris
The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), an iconic Australian marsupial, is listed as endangered in Queensland due to habitat loss, climate change, disease, and other anthropogenic pressures. As a result, protecting populations and identifying new conservation opportunities are urgent priorities. Woppa, an island off the coast of Central Queensland, has been identified as a potential site for future koala conservation. This preliminary study assessed koala food-habitat presence on Woppa by ground-truthing Queensland Government habitat maps to determine the alignment of the habitat assessment while also gathering data on dominant tree compositions in each selected area. Transect surveys (10 m × 50 m) were used to compare mapped expected vegetation with actual tree species composition. Woppaburra Traditional Owner perspectives were incorporated through an analysis of an interview with Woppaburra Traditional Owner and authorised Woppaburra representative, Juku-Dai Nerark Morris. Vegetation alignment varied across land zones, with some high-ranked habitats recording <75% alignment, while others exceeded 90%. Preferred koala food trees occurred in both high- and low-ranked areas. The interviewed Woppaburra Traditional Owner described historical accounts of koalas on Woppa and expressed in-principle support for conservation translocation as part of Caring for Country. This research highlights both opportunities and challenges for koala conservation on Woppa, providing baseline data to inform First Nations-led management and future translocation feasibility.
]]>Authors: Krystal Nudalo Julie Otadoy Filip J. Wojciechowski
Wildlife tourism can harm both the species in question and the local communities if not properly implemented. Nevertheless, a comprehensive and effective approach to evaluate the potential of community-based ecotourism (CBET), especially wildlife ecotourism, is lacking. We aimed to assess the potential of utilizing the endemic Philippine colugo (Cynocephalus volans) as a focal species for CBET in Bilar and Anda, Bohol and Ormoc City, Leyte, by understanding the perspectives of tourists, residents, and the local government units (LGU). To gather their perspectives, we conducted mixed-method interviews and online surveys from January to May 2026. Despite low familiarity with the species, potential tourists showed high interest in seeing colugos in their natural habitats, with most of them confirming to participate in the CBET in the next five years. Residents showed high interest in the CBET for economic and conservation purposes, while LGUs varied in their views on the use of the species for tourism, assessment of local community capacity, and the support they can provide. Anda had the highest CBET potential based on local community capacity, LGU support, and tourist preference. We determined the CBET operational model, features of the offer, and optimal pricing points. The proposed CBET initiative has the potential to enhance public awareness, stimulate research efforts, and promote monitoring of the species, which may positively contribute to the conservation of the Philippine colugo.
]]>Authors: Nessie O’Neil Michelle Szydlowski Noel Anselmo Rivas-Camo
Animal material culture is most often discussed in relation to tool use and foraging, while non-foraging object use remains poorly documented in many taxa. This study reports opportunistic observations of a novel object-directed behavior in the critically endangered pygmy raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus), an island-endemic species restricted to Cozumel, Mexico. During fieldwork on tourism effects between January and February 2026, researchers used direct observation, site assessment, photography, videography, and interviews to document raccoon behavior at several sites. At one beach club, two juvenile female siblings were observed retrieving paper waste, dipping it in water, rolling and compacting it with sand, and using the resulting balls in play. One juvenile first performed the full sequence while the other observed and then attempted the behavior; the second juvenile later completed the sequence independently after her sister had been removed from the site. However, at a comparable tourism site with juvenile raccoons and access to paper and water, this behavior was not observed. These observations provide potential evidence of socially mediated material engagement in pygmy raccoons. The findings expand the known behavioral repertoire of the species and support continued field-based behavioral monitoring, especially where tourism, waste exposure, and juvenile development overlap.
]]>Authors: Andrea P. Meriño Maldonado Sandra Milena Estrada Castillo Liliana Ojeda-Manjarrés José David Barras Rodríguez María A. Negritto
The coastal dunes of the Colombian Caribbean show highly variable vegetation dynamics between 2015 and 2025. The study was conducted on five different beaches: Lipe, Salguero, Costa Verde, Gairaca, and Mendihuaca. Satellite images and SAVI estimates were used to evaluate changes in vegetation cover. The results show that Gairaca and Mendihuaca are ecosystems with the greatest ecological stability, due to their high vegetation values, lower mobile-sand presence, better moisture retention, and lower thermal stress. On the other hand, Lipe, Salguero, and Costa Verde show more fragmented cover, dominated by sparse vegetation and bare soils, which demonstrate greater geomorphological and ecological vulnerability. The period from 2015 to 2020 shows a general decrease in vegetation vigor, possibly related to water stress and adverse climatic conditions. After 2020, there were signs of recovery, although not with the same intensity at all sites. Salguero showed vegetation recolonization but still did not present structural consolidation. Lipe was the most unstable system, with greater degradation and low recovery capacity. This study confirms that vegetation cover is a key indicator of resilience, stability, and ecological succession in coastal dunes.
]]>Authors: Anjana Parandhaman Michael R. J. Forstner Shawn F. McCracken
The Texas tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri) has a small geographic range in the USA and faces threats from habitat loss and alteration. Despite being a Texas state threatened reptile, it is surprisingly understudied. We conducted extensive road cruising surveys focused on the eastern part of the Texas tortoise range, but only seven Texas tortoises were observed. Limitations to our study included inaccessible large private landholdings with potential tortoise habitat. Georeferenced tortoise locations, along with museum records, were compiled from online databases and used to model habitat suitability with Maxent. The model predicted relatively small patches of suitable habitat in the eastern region, while the largest extent of suitable habitat was detected in the western region and far south Texas, as well as some patches outside the historical range. This spatial analysis redirects conservation efforts toward highly suitable habitat patches at risk of fragmentation and alteration in Texas. Future monitoring will improve our understanding of ongoing and increasing disturbances in the region and aid in the protection of this imperiled species in the US.
]]>Authors: Sarah E. Dalrymple
Conservation translocations have become a mainstream tool for species recovery but their capacity for delivering enhanced ecological function has been broadly overlooked despite the potential for increasing functional diversity and consequent ecosystem resilience. I argue that concepts such as functional rarity and functional distinctiveness are valuable for prioritizing species for conservation translocation and present a case study that demonstrates the ecological value of two species of annual hemiparasite from the genus Melampyrum. The data consist of species presence across 17 sites combined with trait data for each of the 82 species identified. I apply various methods to calculate functional distinctiveness and identify which traits deliver significant ecological benefit to the surrounding communities. In doing so, I aim to show that obscure and overlooked species might be more substantive in their functional role than their biomass and appearance might otherwise imply. Finally, I acknowledge caveats in this approach and suggest a way forward that navigates any limitations to effectively use ecological role and functional distinctiveness to prioritize species for conservation translocation and incur benefits to species and ecosystems in need of restoration and rehabilitation.
]]>Authors: Jorge E. Ramírez-Albores Erika J. Cruz-Bazan Juan A. Encina-Domínguez Eber G. Chavez-Lugo Francisco Cruz-García
Detailed knowledge of biodiversity is fundamental to supporting conservation and management strategies in protected natural areas, especially in mountain systems located in biogeographic transition zones (Chihuahuan Desert and Sierra Madre Oriental regions). The Sierra de Zapalinamé State Natural Reserve is a priority system in northeastern Mexico; however, comprehensive long-term inventories of its terrestrial vertebrate fauna have been limited. The objective of this study was to comprehensively characterize the richness and composition of the terrestrial vertebrate fauna of the Sierra de Zapalinamé State Natural Reserve using a long-term, multi-source dataset integrating systematic field surveys, biological collections, and citizen science records, and to assess the extent to which the reserve represents the vertebrate diversity of northeastern Mexico. A total of 415 terrestrial vertebrate species were recorded, comprising 299 birds, 67 mammals, 42 reptiles, and 7 amphibians. Despite its proximity to urban areas and industrial activities, the reserve maintains high levels of biodiversity, harboring a substantial proportion of the terrestrial vertebrate fauna of northeastern Mexico. The results emphasize the importance of the Sierra de Zapalinamé State Natural Reserve as a regional biodiversity hotspot and support the strengthening of long-term monitoring and management strategies to improve wildlife conservation in underrepresented ecoregions facing increasing environmental pressures.
]]>Authors: Will Russell
The coast redwood forest, populated by the ancient relict species Sequoia sempervirens, provides unique and essential ecological services along the Pacific coast of California. It is a haven for endemism and ecological diversity, offers habitat for threatened species, and is an important global terrestrial carbon sink. However, a long history of resource extraction has significantly impacted this ecosystem. Complex old-growth forests have largely been replaced with managed timber stands, and biological diversity has been reduced through the loss of habitat and basic ecological functions. Under natural conditions, coast redwood is highly resilient to disturbance, due to its propensity for basal and epicormic sprouting. The primarily clonal reproductive strategy of S. sempervirens allows for natural thinning as a stand matures, generally leading to the development of late-seral characteristics without the need for active restoration. The increasingly pervasive use of active silvicultural tools for restoration, such as forest thinning and commercial timber harvest, can create a density-driven cycle that requires periodic re-application of the treatment and hinders natural successional processes. In order to restore forest health and resiliency, natural successional processes inherent to coast redwood can be supported as a restoration alternative.
]]>Authors: Daily Hernández-Pérez de Corcho Luís César Almendarez-Hernández Víctor Hernández-Trejo Ulianov Jakes-Cota Manuel J. Zetina-Rejón María Dinorah Herrero-Pérezrul
La Paz Bay is one of the most important destinations for recreational fishing events in Baja California Sur, Mexico, with significant tourist activity that supports ecosystem services and provides economic benefits to participants, benefits that have not yet been economically measured. The aim of this study was to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) of anglers who participated in sport-fishing events and to propose tourism promotion and recreational fisheries management strategies. Applying 184 face-to-face surveys at sport fishing events in LPB held in 2022 and 2023 to collect information regarding fishers’ and fishing trips characteristics, and using the individual travel cost method to estimate the individual WTP per angler, which ranges from USD 50.96 to 625.63, and the recreational economic value of fishing events in La Paz was estimated at USD 0.89 to 1.11 million. Strategies for conserving species reserved for sport fishing and promoting tourism are discussed, which could help improve tournament activity and promote the rational use of natural resources. This study represents the first effort aiming to value sport fishing events in Mexico. Also, demonstrates the economic relevance of sport fishing events for recreational fisheries management and tourism-promoting policies in LPB. It provides evidence that conserving sport-fishing species could enhance management strategies and sustainable tourism promotion policies for this recreational activity.
]]>Authors: Carlos Zuleta-Ramos Víctor Bravo-Naranjo Alejandro Valladares-Gómez
Eligmodontia dunaris is a small rodent endemic to the Atacama Desert, discovered in the Los Choros dunes (La Higuera, Coquimbo Region, Chile). This study documents new records of the distribution, as well as relevant data on the natural history of this species. Records of geographic distribution were obtained in the field and from published data. The standardized number of captures was calculated by the IDR index. The ability to concentrate urine was evaluated using the RMT renal index. Reproduction and development data were obtained from pregnant females in the field and from animals that mated in the laboratory. Fourteen new locations between the type locality “Los Choros” (Coquimbo Region) and “Diego de Almagro” (Atacama Region) were recorded. In all these localities, captures of E. dunaris were low, except during periods of the flowering desert. In the laboratory, this rodent had two to three consecutive litters in a single breeding season, producing three to five pups per litter. Renal indices measured in five adult specimens (RMT = 7.9 ± 0.8) indicated that E. dunaris can concentrate urine around 4059 ± 120 mOsm/kg. These results may suggest that this species has developed physiological and ecological strategies to colonize the extreme arid environments of northern Chile, allowing it to spread across 11,267 km2 in the Atacama Desert.
]]>Authors: Juan M. Uriostegui-Velarde Jesús Aparicio Pérez Luis Gerardo Ávila-Torresagatón Yeardley Martinez Karla Elisa Soto Miranda Jesús Eduardo Gutiérrez Dolores Jesús Roberto Vázquez Castrejón José Antonio Guerrero
Medium-sized felines play an essential role in ecosystems by contributing to the maintenance of ecological dynamics and the balance of biological communities. However, the available information regarding their biology and ecology is limited compared to that of larger felids. This study documents the presence of four medium-sized feline species in the state of Morelos, Mexico, and characterizes the spatial features associated with the distribution of these species. Between 2022 and 2025, camera traps were deployed in northern Morelos within three Protected Natural Areas. With a total sampling effort of 9641 days, we recorded 87 independent occurrences of medium-sized felines. Records of the bobcat were concentrated at higher altitudes, primarily in pine forests, whereas the number of margay records decreased with increasing altitude. The presence of these felines indicates that suitable habitats for this group persist in northern Morelos. Nonetheless, a significant proportion of these records were located near urban areas and roads, highlighting the necessity for monitoring to assess population status and implement appropriate conservation strategies.
]]>Authors: Peter Quinby Ania Marcus
All eastern hemlock-dominated forests in Ontario could be gone by 2075 given current trends, which demands rapid assessment to locate these endangered ecosystems. To date, however, neither the Canadian or Ontario governments have developed field assessment protocols or minimum standards for identifying old-growth forests that provide density and biomass estimates for the primary features of these forests. This study focused on the Catchacoma Forest, Canada’s largest eastern hemlock forest, and represents a first step towards establishing minimum standards for old-growth eastern hemlock forests in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest region. Rectangular plots were systematically placed along evenly spaced east–west transects at a 2% sampling intensity for the 181 ha study area and assessed for mother trees (MTs) and cut stumps. By a factor of 15X, the method developed was more efficient for covering larger areas compared to randomly placed and intensively sampled plots typically used for long-term ecological studies. Mean integrity (stumps/ha) was 0.006/ha and mean MT density was 149/ha with a range of 0–533/ha. Four MT forest types were identified including: eastern hemlock-dominant (47%; 194 MT/ha), white pine-dominant (26%; 123 MT/ha), other MT species-dominant (9%; 169 MT/ha), and eastern hemlock–white pine co-dominant (8%; 133/ha). MTs were absent from roughly 10% of the study area.
]]>Authors: Suriya Senthilkumar Divya Balakrishnan N. S. Tomar S. K. Nair C. Gireesh S. V. Sai Prasad R. M. Sundaram
Enormous genetic diversity exists in rice germplasm, including wild and weedy relatives, though they remain unexplored within in situ or ex situ collections. Characterisation and utilisation of the available biodiversity in plant breeding is essential for the detection of novel traits or genes for climate resilience. In this study, 97 rice genotypes, including 90 rice accessions belonging to various Oryza species and 7 check cultivars with an O. sativa background, were characterised for quantitative morphological characters following the guidelines based on distinctiveness, uniformity and stability (DUS) test by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA), India. Characterisation of the genotypes based on 39 important DUS morphological descriptors revealed polymorphism in 35 traits, confirming high morphological diversity among wild rice accessions and distinguishing and unique traits from other wild accessions for the utilisation in pre-breeding programmes. Genotypes such as WD5_6, WD10_4, and WD3_3 consistently expressed a favourable combination of broad and long leaves, extended panicle length, and well-branched panicles with higher panicle number. In addition, these genotypes showed purple pigmentation across multiple vegetative and reproductive organs, indicating stable and enhanced anthocyanin accumulation. Accessions WD10_4 and WD3_3 also represent valuable donors for panicle architecture and yield component enhancement, while genotypes such as WD17_15 and WD12_8 may serve as specific donors for panicle length and branching traits. Characterisation studies and detection of unique traits provide the empirical foundation for conservation decisions, taxonomic clarity, and pre-breeding applications. Interspecific crosses in the genetic background of elite cultivars with donor species viz., O. barthii, O. glaberrima and O. rufipogon were developed as pre-breeding materials for further crop improvement as well as for the identification of novel genes of agronomic importance.
]]>Authors: Liz Cameron Ceane Towers
Land and place are often framed within Western ecological traditions as “wild”, meaning pristine, uninhabited, and separate from human life, yet from a First Nations perspective no place exists without relationship, story, or responsibility. This study investigates how environmental understanding emerges when land is approached as a living, relational system rather than an object of detached observation. Guided by a sensory–phenomenological framework, the research brings together phenomenological attention to lived experience with First Nations sensory practices and arts-based methods. Fieldwork was undertaken on Dharug Country with First Nations women artists and cultural practitioners and involved walking on Country, deep listening, stillness, sensory mapping, visual making, and group yarning as interconnected ways of generating knowledge. The findings show that environmental awareness developed through attention to sound, rhythm, vibration, seasonal change, and affect, revealing Country as an active participant in knowledge formation rather than a passive setting. The study concludes that what is commonly described as “the wild” is not unknown or untouched but deeply known through sustained sensory, relational, and creative engagement, demonstrating that ecological reconnection arises through ethical, culturally grounded relationships with living systems and offering implications for more respectful, place-responsive approaches to environmental research and care.
]]>Authors: Anita Studer Leïla Perroulaz Armand Dumps Begoña Barcena-Goyena Marcelo Cardoso de Sousa
The Seven-coloured Tanager Tangara fastuosa is a threatened species, with little data available on its reproduction. Between 1987 and 2025, 29 nests were found around the Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve in Quebrangulo, Alagoas, north-eastern Brazil. Nests were cup-shaped, with average external dimensions of 11.0 × 7.3 cm and average internal dimensions of 6.2 × 3.7 cm. They were built at an average height of 5.4 m above ground. Mean clutch size was 2.7 eggs, which measured 20.9 × 15.6 mm, and weighed 2.6 g. Eggs were beige in colour with greenish undertones and were heavily spotted with purple or rusty brown. Average incubation period was 13.8 days, and average nestling period was 15.4 days. Apparent nest success was 51.7%, with predation being the main cause of nest failure. Parents, sometimes assisted by helpers, fed the nestlings with small fruits, fruit pulp, seeds, and various arthropods. Our records provide new information on the reproduction of this species in interior and edge forests. However, forest destruction and capture for the illegal wildlife trade pose a threat to the survival of its populations, both remaining an issue in the study area.
]]>Authors: Andrea Gallizia Caludio Capasso Andrea Brusaferro Adriana Vallesi Francesca Trenta Matteo Ferretti Adriano De Ascentiis Giampaolo Pennacchioni
The activity of an Apennine wolf (Canis lupus italicus) family inhabiting the natural reserve Calanchi di Atri in central Italy was monitored during the post-reproductive period (May–October) of two consecutive years (2023–2024), using ten camera trap sites. Detections were classified into adults and pups. Although records cover a limited period and focus on a single pack, they allowed the detection of variations in the spatiotemporal activity of the wolf family. In the first year, wolf activity peaked in summer, with adults frequently supervising pups at rendezvous sites. In the second year, activity by both adults and pups declined significantly and was accompanied by an evident shift in territory use. In addition to potential intrinsic factors, such as individual variability and litter dynamics, these variations may also reflect increased environmental stressors and anthropogenic disturbance. These findings provide insights into how wolves adapt their behavior in human-modified landscapes and highlight the importance of integrating human–wildlife dynamics into conservation and management strategies.
]]>Authors: Lalita Gomez Boyd T. C. Leupen Biofagri Rachmayuningtyas Dwi Ratna Sari Chris R. Shepherd
Indonesia’s bird trade research has largely focused on songbirds, leaving other exploited taxa, such as hornbills, understudied. We address this gap by analyzing hornbill seizures in Indonesia (January 2015–December 2024) and online hornbill advertisements (January 2015–February 2025). We recorded 126 seizures and 231 advertisements revealing widespread illegal exploitation of all thirteen native Indonesian hornbill species, and endemic species from the Philippines and Africa. Trade involved live hornbills and hornbill beaks and casques. The prevalence of live trade suggests targeted poaching for the pet market is more extensive than previously documented, underscoring the need for further research and heightened enforcement. At least four endemic Philippines hornbill species were found in trade. The absence of CITES import records for these species indicates illegal international trafficking. At least two African endemic species were also observed for sale online in Indonesia underscoring the need for international monitoring and regulatory oversight to prevent over-exploitation. East Java and Jakarta emerged as principal trade hubs and Riau as a key transit point for hornbill parts entering international trafficking routes. Hornbills are particularly vulnerable to over exploitation because of their slow maturation, low re-productive rates, and complex ecological requirements. As such, Indonesia’s illegal hornbill trade demands targeted actions, including legal reform, strengthened enforcement capacity, and enhanced accountability of online platforms to curb these pressures and protect remaining populations.
]]>Authors: Ainy Latif Sharat Kumar Palita
Human–elephant conflict (HEC) has emerged as a major conservation and socio-economic challenge across Asia, largely driven by habitat degradation and increasing human pressure within elephant ranges. In India, expanding agriculture, mining activities, and infrastructure development have progressively altered forest landscapes, restricting elephant movement and intensifying interactions with human settlements. This study examines the relationship between landscape dynamics and HEC in the West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand, India. A three-year field investigation (2018–2020) across four forest divisions—Porahat, Chaibasa, Kolhan, and Saranda—was integrated with multi-temporal land-use and land-cover (LULC) analysis from 2000 to 2020 to evaluate habitat changes and their influence on conflict patterns. During the study period, 157 human casualties and extensive crop and property losses were recorded, indicating the severity of the conflict in the region. Landscape analysis revealed a substantial decline in dense forest cover and a reduction of large core forest areas (>500 acres), accompanied by increasing agricultural expansion and forest perforation. NDVI trends further indicated widespread deterioration in vegetation condition, reflecting declining habitat quality. These structural landscape changes have fragmented elephant habitats and displaced movement routes toward human-dominated landscapes and are thus associated with a spatial clustering of conflict events, particularly in the Chaibasa Forest Division. In contrast, the Saranda Forest Division retains relatively intact forest cores and supports more stable elephant habitat conditions. The findings demonstrate that HEC in the region is strongly linked to habitat fragmentation and declining vegetation quality rather than random elephant behaviour. Maintaining large contiguous forest blocks, restoring landscape connectivity, and implementing targeted mitigation strategies are therefore essential for sustaining elephant populations while reducing conflict with local communities.
]]>Authors: Gloria Malanda Ngawo Namukonde Darius Phiri Donald Zulu Vincent Raphael Nyirenda
Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is cardinal to natural resource management, and its resilience in protected areas (PAs) depends on its continued practice. The changing socio-ecological landscape has given rise to new PAs that emphasise community participation, like Simalaha Community Conservancy (SCC), versus state-owned, like Liuwa Plain National Park (LPNP). Resilience was assessed by comparing TEK awareness, utilisation, and perceived effectiveness between LPNP and SCC. Three categories of TEK (rules and regulations; myths and taboos; and customs and rituals) were analysed using a blended analytical framework drawing on the knowledge–practice–belief complex and a social–ecological systems perspective. A structured questionnaire was administered to 427 respondents, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. TEK awareness was high, but significantly higher in LPNP than in SCC. Age and length of residence were strongly associated with knowledge, confirming older and long-term residents as key knowledge-holders. Rules and regulations were widely recognised and utilised, while customs and rituals, and myths and taboos, were variable. LPNP showed higher utilisation and perceived effectiveness of TEK, particularly among younger cohorts. These findings highlight the influence of conservation governance and intergenerational knowledge transmission on TEK resilience, underscoring the need to strengthen its integration in emerging PAs.
]]>Authors: Phionah Orishaba Wanyoike Wamiti Fiona Mutekanga Damian Kajunguri Magaya John Paul Gilbert Tayebwa
This study examined the distribution and feeding ecology of Grey Crowned Cranes (GCCs) (Balearica regulorum gibbericeps) in the Rushebeya–Kanyabaha wetland watershed in southwestern Uganda, focusing on changes in land use and land cover (LULC) between 1986 and 2022. We documented crane distribution and foraging behaviors through field surveys and analyzed Landsat data of 1986, 1998, 2010, and 2022 using supervised classification. The findings revealed significant changes in LULC, with an increase in built-up areas and subsistence farms, while grassland, bushland, and wetland coverage steadily declined. As the human population increased, leading to a demand for food, subsistence farming emerged as the predominant land use starting in 1998. Data on crane distribution indicates that wetlands are a vital habitat for roosting and breeding; nests are typically located within 140 m of water, along the edges of wetlands, and in vegetation that averages 2.6 m in height. Subsistence farmland, primarily growing beans, potatoes, and sorghum, serves as a key food source for the cranes. The study highlights that while agricultural landscapes provide important foraging sites, crane populations are at risk due to ongoing habitat degradation and disturbances. To effectively conserve these populations, strategies that integrate sustainable land use planning within the catchment area and wetland protection will be essential.
]]>Authors: Jonathan Pérez-Flores David González-Solís Sophie Calmé
Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) plays an important ecological role in Mesoamerican forests as a browser and seed disperser, earning it the nickname of “gardener of the forest”. However, knowledge of its diet composition remains scattered. We reviewed and analysed the available literature on the composition of Baird’s tapir diet throughout its geographic distribution, compiling data from 27 studies. Baird’s tapir was found to consume 515 plant taxa belonging to 410 genera and 123 families. Five types of dietary components have been identified: fibre (stems), leaves, fruit, bark, and flowers. The influence of seasonality on the tapir diet is unclear due to the underestimation of some components, notably fruits. We identified limitations in the techniques used to determine diet components and study designs. Future research should focus on developing techniques to improve the quantification of dietary components. Additionally, the direct and indirect effects of the Baird’s tapir’s diet and plant consumption on ecosystem dynamics should be investigated to clearly understand the functional role of this species.
]]>Authors: Savannah J. Ryburn Eldridge Wisely Jeffrey D. Plumlee Creed C. Branham F. Joel Fodrie John F. Bruno
The Atlantic sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae), blacknose (Carcharhinus acronotus), blacktip (Carcharhinus limbatus), and bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo) sharks are commonly encountered large mobile consumers found in the estuaries along the western North Atlantic coast. The bulk of the dietary data for these species has been coarsely recorded at a broad taxonomic level (e.g., “teleost fish”). Here, we used DNA metabarcoding of fecal DNA collected using non-lethal cloacal swabs to identify the species of prey contributing to the diets of these shark species and measure the degree of trophic overlap. Samples were collected from 24 Atlantic sharpnose, 33 blacknose, six blacktip, and 17 bonnethead sharks in the summer of 2020. Based on previous dietary research on these shark species, we targeted teleost fishes and crustaceans using two previously published primer sets. From the 80 sharks sampled off the coast of North Carolina, we identified 38 prey taxa, with 82% classified to the species level and all assigned to at least the genus and family levels. The most common prey taxa found in the diet of the bonnethead was Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus; 44.75%, based on percent of occurrence) followed by penaeid shrimp (Penaeus spp.; 24.41%), mantis shrimp (Squilla empusa; 20.34%), and spot (Leiostomus xanthurus; 4.75%). Atlantic sharpnose and blacknose sharks had the largest Levin’s niche overlap, with both species relying on the same two most frequently consumed prey taxa: penaeid shrimp (Atlantic sharpnose: 33.33%, percent of occurrence, and blacknose: 34.78%) and spot (Atlantic sharpnose: 32.70% and blacknose: 22.32%). Bonnetheads and blacktips had the least amount of overlap between all shark species, where blacktips primarily consumed menhaden (Brevoortia spp.; 58.62%) and penaeid shrimp (26.44%). Our findings highlight the value of DNA metabarcoding in refining our understanding of predator diets, moving beyond broad taxonomic classifications to identify species-level prey associations and trophic interactions. As coastal habitats undergo increasing alteration due to anthropogenic impacts, such information is crucial for fisheries management, helping to identify key prey dependencies and anticipate potential ecosystem shifts.
]]>Authors: Brandon Franta Komlan M. Afiademanyo Kossi Adjonou Lin-Ernni Mikégraba Kaboumba Yendoubouam Kourdjouak Nico Arcilla
Protected area management plays a crucial role in conserving biodiversity, especially in areas where increasing demand for natural resources is associated with fast-growing human populations, such as West Africa. Investigating the perceptions of people with first-hand knowledge of protected area management provides important insights about biodiversity conservation, wildlife law enforcement, and human activities to inform adaptive management. Using 442 semi-structured interviews, we assessed the perceptions of park rangers and local residents in and around Fazao-Malfakassa National Park in Togo, West Africa, which was managed by the non-profit Franz Weber Foundation from 1990 to 2015, and since 2015 has been managed by the government of Togo. Both rangers and residents reported significant economic concerns following the park’s transfer from private to state management, with salary declines negatively affecting rangers and declines in community development projects and income-generating activities negatively affecting residents. Law enforcement capacity and resources also declined under state management, severely undermining the ability of rangers to curb illegal activities in the park, especially poaching and the destruction of trees to harvest wild honey and produce commercial charcoal. All rangers and most residents who had experience with both private and state park management preferred private management. There is an urgent need to increase surveillance and law enforcement capacity in the park to combat poaching and other illegal activities, and to engage local communities in the park’s long-term protection. To this end, rangers and residents are calling for change, and specifically recommend returning the park to competent private management to safeguard Togo’s last large refuge for nature and wildlife.
]]>Authors: Ana Raquel de Sales Kate Elizabeth Evans Mário J. Pereira
The world is experiencing incredible biodiversity loss, including the decline of iconic species, such as elephants. The species faces an uncertain future due to habitat loss, human-elephant conflict, poaching and climate change, reminding us of the urgency of acting on a local and global scale. Art has historically been a powerful medium for expressing ideas and emotions, fostering deep connections for people. Therefore, this paper explores the impact of the sharing of scientific content through dance on conservation values in young people. Understanding conservation needs and analyzing what drives people to gain an emotional affinity towards the environment has shown the potential to support and innovate traditional education. The work presented here uses a dance piece, performed through a choreographic process with dance students, to educate an audience about the importance and behavior of the African savannah elephant and the threats to its survival. Our findings indicated differences between the level of knowledge and opinion of the audience throughout the different phases of the methodology explored here, revealing that dance (and artistic) education can provide knowledge and stimulate more empathy for species conservation.
]]>Authors: Vernon C. Bleich Stephen A. Holl
There is little question that the distribution and numbers of large mammals have been altered by human activities. In North America, native ungulates have declined substantially since the mid-1800s. There is no baseline, however, against which to measure the magnitude of changes aside from anecdotal accounts or published information derived from a single location at a single point in time and extrapolated to derive a continent-wide population estimate. One example is bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), which were estimated to number from 1.5 to 2.0 million individuals in 1850. The literature is replete with references to those numbers, yet the derivation of that ‘estimate’ has not been formally questioned; bighorn sheep, which are endemic to North America, currently number approximately 85,000 individuals. We combined basic math and logic to develop a simple model of population density at differing scales and examined results reductio ad absurdum to question the estimate of 1.5 million bighorn sheep and the magnitude of the hypothesized decline that followed. We evaluated the plausibility of bighorn sheep population densities that must have existed at four spatial scales if there were ≥1.5 million individuals and argue that such numbers likely never existed. Continued use of 1.5 million bighorn sheep as a baseline against which to assess the magnitude of anthropogenic impacts is unwise, inappropriate, and apt to become problematic in the context of the conservation of habitat, populations, or restoration to historical ranges. Credibility matters in science, management, and conservation.
]]>Authors: Francisco de Assis Alves Simone Rodrigues de Freitas Artur Lupinetti-Cunha Milton Cezar Ribeiro
Roads impact medium- and large-sized mammal populations through both collisions and barrier effects. This study examined how landscape characteristics influence roadkill occurrences along the Dom Pedro I highway (SP-065), located in the Cantareira-Mantiqueira Corridor, São Paulo State, Brazil. The SP-065 crosses important remnants of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, a global hotspot for biodiversity. Roadkill records were obtained from the Environmental Company of the State, and land use data were extracted from the MapBiomas platform. We analyzed seven landscape variables (in percentage): native forest, pasture, agriculture, forestry, urban areas, mosaic of uses, and water bodies, considering multiple spatial scales. Mammal species were grouped functionally by home range size and tolerance to anthropogenic environments. In total, 1418 roadkills of 24 species were recorded, including eight threatened species. Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) were the most frequently killed species. Generalized linear models showed that, for Group G1 (small home range, common in human-modified areas), roadkills were positively associated with native forest and pasture, and negatively with mosaic landscapes. For Group G3 (large home range, tolerant to anthropogenic areas), agriculture had a positive effect, especially within a 3000 m radius. For Group G5 (capybara), roadkills increased with pasture and agriculture, while mosaic uses had a negative effect. Since pasture and agriculture were frequently linked to higher roadkill rates, environmental impact assessments should consider these land-use types when planning mitigation actions. Ultimately, responsibility for roadkill extends beyond highway managers to rural landowners and local governments, as land-use patterns around roads strongly influence mammal movement and mortality.
]]>Authors: Aitana Lizana-Jenk Claudia Ballester Paloma Cuesta María Cruz Arnal Ricardo García-González Juan Herrero
The feral goat, Capra hircus, is an important example of the feralisation of a domesticated species. The intentional abandonment of herds, escapes, rural depopulation and abandonment of livestock and traditional agriculture have led original domestic goats to freely occupy different habitats. The aim of this study was to review the current global knowledge of the feral goat, identify its gaps and provide insights into possible future research. The majority of publications focus on islands in the Mediterranean Basin and Oceania. The information is particularly encompassed in terms of population distribution, habitat use, monitoring methods, potential environmental impacts and management strategies. The feral goat is considered one of the 100 worst invasive species, especially on islands; thus, there are abundant studies supporting their eradication fundamentally due to their negative impact on vegetation. However, their role as a food supply for endangered fauna taxa is not sufficiently understood. Oceania is the main advocate for feral goat eradication, along with meat production exploitation. The most widespread management approach is eradication, notably favoured in insular ecosystems. There is still a lack of updated numerical data available on the efficacy of eradication interventions. The insights obtained from deeper research could benefit management and conservation decision-making.
]]>Authors: Eduardo José Rodríguez-Rodríguez Wouter De Vries Adolfo Marco
The Mediterranean pond turtle (Mauremys leprosa) is a native semi-aquatic species of the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, and North Africa, widely distributed across Mediterranean aquatic systems. Within these environments, M. leprosa inhabits a mosaic of lotic (flowing) and lentic (still) habitats, whose structure and connectivity may influence its spatial use, behavior, and ontogenetic development. How morphometry and age-class distribution differ between these habitat types, however, remains unclear. This study analyzed morphometric differences among individuals from both habitat types to explore potential ontogenic habitat preferences. Lotic habitats were primarily used for dispersal and breeding by adults, while lentic habitats served as foraging and residency areas for juveniles. Morphometric differences between habitat types support this functional differentiation. These findings highlight the ecological importance of habitat heterogeneity and underscore the need to preserve both habitat types to support the full life cycle of M. leprosa in Mediterranean ecosystems and suggest potential evolutionary and ecological consequences of habitat-related morphometric and demographic variation.
]]>Authors: Alberto Caccin Alice Stocco
We present WM-Classroom v1.0, a pedagogical multi-species agent-based model (ABM) designed for educational purposes in predator–prey–harvest systems. The model embeds a predator, two prey breeds, and human harvesters on a homogeneous 50 × 50 grid with weekly time steps, implementing random movement, abstract energetics, prey consumption, reproduction, legal harvest with species-specific cut-offs and seasons, optional predator control, and a poaching switch. After basic technical checks (energetic calibration, prey composition, herbivore viability), we explore the consistency of the model under illustrative scenarios including no hunting, single-prey harvest, hunter-density and season-length gradients, predator removal, and poaching. In the no-hunting baseline (n = 100), mean end-of-run abundances were 22 deer, 159 boar, and 45 wolves, with limited extinction events. Deer-only harvest often drove deer to very low end-of-run counts (mean 1–16) with extinctions in 2–7/10 replicates across cut-offs, whereas boar-only harvest showed higher persistence (mean 11–74) and boar extinctions occurred only at the lowest cut-off (3/10). Increasing hunter numbers or season length depressed prey and could indirectly reduce wolves via prey depletion. Legal predator control reduced predators as designed, while poaching had little effect under the implemented rules. Because interaction and prey-choice rules are simplified for transparency, outcomes should be interpreted as conditional on model assumptions. WM-Classroom v1.0 provides a didactic sandbox for courses, professional training, and outreach, with extensions (habitat heterogeneity, age/sex structure, probabilistic diet/kill success, and calibration/validation) outlined for future versions.
]]>Authors: Murray Gray
Rewilding and ecosystem restoration approaches have focused strongly on the restoration of wildlife/biodiversity. However, the Convention on Biological Diversity defines an ecosystem as “a dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit”. It follows, therefore, that ecosystem restoration must involve the restoration of both the living and the non-living components of the environment, including their dynamic interactions. This paper defines other aspects of the environment, including nature and natural capital. These involve both biotic and abiotic components, so “nature” should not be used as a synonym for wildlife/biodiversity. After describing how geodiversity is important in ecosystem functioning, several examples are presented of how geomorphology is a crucial aspect of rewilding or landscape/ecosystem restoration. By pursuing this integrated approach to biotic and abiotic restoration, stronger, more-resilient ecosystems can be achieved.
]]>Authors: Jóse M. Chopin-Rodríguez Víctor H. Montalvo Kevin J. Lloyd Carolina Sáenz-Bolaños Brayan Morera Juan C. Cruz-Díaz Eduardo Carrillo Todd K. Fuller
Predation of sea turtles by jaguars (Panthera onca) in the Santa Rosa National Park (SRNP) has been well documented over the past decade. However, the factors that influence jaguar feeding behavior, including environmental factors or characteristics of the beaches and the adjacent forest, are poorly known. This study aimed to identify the relationship between vegetation density and human activity on the distribution of feeding sites of jaguar on sea turtles at nesting beaches in Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica. We sampled three beaches (Naranjo, Nancite, and Colorada), where we identified and registered sea turtle carcasses preyed on by jaguars between June and November 2019. Through systematic searches of the forest adjacent to the beach, we documented the species, geographic coordinates, carcass length and width, vegetation cover at the carcass site, and the average vegetation coverage corresponding to the date and beach of each sea turtle carcass. In total, we recorded 338 sea turtle carcasses preyed on by jaguars, 156 at Naranjo beach, 103 at Nancite beach, and 89 at Colorada beach. The beach with the highest average density of carcasses was Colorada (8.7 (SD = 5.42)/ha), followed by Nancite (6.06 (SD = 5.58)/ha) and Naranjo (2.64 (SD = 1.79)/ha). The dragging distance from the beach line to sea turtle carcasses was best explained by the interaction of nesting beach and canopy cover at the carcass. Our canopy cover results may reflect that jaguars select sites that better hide their prey, in the same way that green turtles (Chelonia mydas) usually prefer areas with good coverage to nest in, contrasting to the nesting behavior of olive ridleys (Lepidochelys olivacea). On beaches, higher concentrations were observed where there was less human presence and this may reflect both turtle nesting and jaguar predation activity.
]]>Authors: Luan de Jesus Matos de Brito
Understanding the spatial structure of large mammals is critical for conservation planning, especially under increasing habitat fragmentation. This study applies an integrated spatial analysis combining the DBSCAN density-based clustering algorithm and the α-hull method to delineate non-convex geographic ranges of the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) across South America. Using 454 occurrence records filtered for ecological reliability, we identified 11 geographically isolated α-populations distributed across five countries and multiple biomes, including the Cerrado, Chaco, and Atlantic Forest. The sensitivity analysis of the α parameter demonstrated that values below 2 failed to generate viable polygons, while α = 2 provided the best balance between geometric detail and ecological plausibility. Our results reveal a highly fragmented distribution, with α-populations varying in area from 43,077 km2 to 566,154.7 km2 and separated by distances up to 994.755 km. Smaller and peripheral α-populations are likely more vulnerable to stochastic processes, genetic drift, and inbreeding, while larger clusters remain functionally isolated due to anthropogenic barriers. We propose the concept of ‘α-population’ as an operational unit to describe geographically and functionally isolated groups identified through combined spatial clustering and non-convex hull analysis. This approach offers a reproducible and biologically meaningful framework for refining range estimates, identifying conservation units, and guiding targeted management actions. Overall, integrating α-hulls with density-based clustering improves our understanding of the species’ fragmented spatial structure and supports evidence-based conservation strategies aimed at maintaining habitat connectivity and long-term viability of C. brachyurus populations.
]]>Authors: John F. Aristizabal Nadiel Y. Almanza-Ortiz Cuauhcihuatl Vital-García Nicoletta Righini Martha P. Olivas-Sánchez
Ruminant herbivores interact dynamically with their food resources, especially in deserts, where plant availability fluctuates sharply across seasons. We evaluated how seasonal food availability and the nutritional traits of preferred plants shape the diet and macronutrient niche of a desert mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) population in the buffer zone of the Médanos de Samalayuca protected area, northern Mexico. From 2021 to 2022 we quantified seasonal food plant availability and characterized mule deer diet using microhistological fecal analysis and the nutrient content by right-angled mixture triangles. Mule deer diets were consistently low in diversity and dominated by grass, but preferred species shifted seasonally among shrubs, succulents, and grasses. Deer strongly selected some plant species that were scarce in the landscape, particularly during the cold-dry season. Preferred plants generally had high carbohydrate and variable protein contents, with the highest protein proportions in the temperate-dry season. Mixture triangles showed a narrow, carbohydrate-biased macronutrient niche, with the broadest range of nutrient mixtures in the temperate-dry season. Overall, our results support an opportunistic foraging strategy in which mule deer consume what is seasonally available while selectively using key plant species to maintain a relatively constant nutritional balance under limited and variable food resources.
]]>Authors: Dakpo T. D. Ayegnon Georges Nobimè Fortuné Azihou Marcel Houinato Chabi A. M. S. Djagoun
Understanding seasonal patterns in mammals’ diversity and spatial distribution is vital for effective biodiversity conservation. This study examines seasonal variations in mammal diversity and distribution in the Pénéssoulou Classified Forest (northwest Benin). We hypothesized that (i) species richness and abundance are highest during the rainy season due to greater water and food availability; and (ii) small mammals exhibit spatial clustering, whereas large mammals are more spatially dispersed. We carried out negative binomial regression to analyze the effects of season, vegetation type, and proximity to waterholes on species richness. Spatial patterns were analyzed using Moran’s I index across size categories. We found lower species richness in the dry season (β = −0.812 ± 0.375, p = 0.030), which supports our hypothesis and is likely driven by increased resource availability. Contrary to our expectation, small mammals tended to be more dispersed during the rainy season, while larger mammals showed greater dispersion in the dry season. Significantly lower species richness was observed in gallery forests (β = −2.794 ± 1.144, p = 0.015), probably due to seasonal flooding, which limits access to resources. Our findings underscore the importance of incorporating seasonal and habitat-specific variables into wildlife monitoring and management.
]]>Authors: Hamisi Tsama Mkuzi Maarifa Ali Mwakumanya Tobias Bendzko Norbert Boros Nelly Kichamu
Understanding how land tenure and socio-economic pressures shape landscape transformation is critical for sustainable management in biodiversity-rich regions. This study examines three decades (1987–2017) of land use and land cover (LU&LC) change in the Ngerenyi area of the Taita Hills, Kenya, by integrating multispectral Landsat analysis with household survey data. Harmonized pre-processing and supervised classification of four LU&LC classes, agriculture, built-up areas, high-canopy vegetation, and low-canopy vegetation, achieved overall accuracies above 80% and Kappa values exceeding 0.75. Transition modeling using the Minimum Information Loss Transition Estimation (MILTE) approach, combined with net-versus-swap metrics, revealed persistent decline and fragmentation of high-canopy vegetation, cyclical transitions between agriculture and low-canopy vegetation, and the near-irreversible expansion of built-up areas. Low-canopy vegetation exhibited the highest dynamism, reflecting both degradation from canopy loss and natural regeneration from fallowed cropland. Household surveys (n = 141) identified agricultural expansion, charcoal production, fuelwood extraction, and population growth as the dominant perceived drivers, with significant variation across tenure categories. The population in Taita Taveta County increased from 205,334 in 2009 to 340,671 in 2019, reinforcing documented pressures on land resources and woody biomass. As part of the Eastern Arc biodiversity hotspot, the landscape’s diminishing high-canopy patches underscore the importance of conserving undisturbed vegetation remnants as ecological baselines and biodiversity refuges. The findings highlight the need for tenure-sensitive, landscape-scale planning that integrates private landowners, regulates subdivision, promotes agroforestry and alternative energy options, and safeguards remaining high-canopy vegetation to enhance ecological resilience while supporting local livelihoods.
]]>Authors: Bernabé Vidal Lorenzo Verger Gustavo J. Nagy
The Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) is a widespread meso-predator in Southern South America, present in grasslands, agroecosystems, and human-modified landscapes. Although numerous studies have examined its diet, parasites, distribution, and behaviour, knowledge remains fragmented without an integrative synthesis. This review compiles over 150 documents from Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia to unify dispersed information. Key findings highlight unresolved taxonomy, population structure, and biogeography (based on genetic, morphological, and phylogeographic data), the species’ ecological roles as a meso-predator, seed disperser, and scavenger, and major threats (including road mortality, hunting, persecution, and interactions with domestic dogs). The Pampas fox also harbours pathogens—including zoonotic agents and those threatening livestock and pets—and is frequently stigmatised as a pest, persecuted without substantiated evidence. By integrating ecological, health, and conflict perspectives, this review provides a regional baseline, reframing its importance and guiding more effective management.
]]>Authors: Caroline Silva Vieira Letícia Zoccolaro Oliveira Paula Fernanda de Souza Braga Janaina Torres Carreira
Reproductive seasonality in birds represents a key ecological adaptation that ensures synchronization between breeding activity and optimal environmental conditions for offspring survival and development. Photoperiod is the primary cue regulating the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis, through brain photoreceptors and pineal melatonin secretion. Increasing day length induces thyroid hormone activation by hypothalamic type 2 deiodinase (DIO2), stimulates gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion, and promotes gonadal growth, whereas prolonged exposure to long days triggers photorefractoriness, which has been linked to increased hypothalamic type 3 deiodinase (DIO3) expression in several studies, although the causal role of this enzyme remains under investigation. Secondary environmental modulators, such as temperature, food supply, precipitation, and social interactions, also play crucial roles in fine-tuning reproductive timing. Moreover, anthropogenic factors like artificial light at night can disrupt circadian and seasonal regulation, causing mismatches between breeding and food availability. Evidence from diverse species, including passerines, galliforms, waterfowl, and raptors, demonstrates both conserved mechanisms and ecological plasticity, with tropical and urban species showing more opportunistic breeding strategies. These findings highlight the multifactorial and flexible nature of avian reproductive cycles, underlining their vulnerability to climate change and habitat anthropization. Considering this, this review aimed to understand the neuroendocrine and environmental control of seasonality and to offer an integrative perspective on how light, hormones, and environmental factors interact to shape seasonal reproduction in wild birds.
]]>Authors: Satomi Kohyama
Human–wildlife conflicts can be broadly categorized from the perspective of human activities into conflicts (a) caused by the expansion of human activities into wildlife habitats, and (b) resulting from the re-expansion of wildlife habitats due to the decline of human activities. The first type of conflict has been managed through the systematic training of wildlife managers, field specialists, and well-organized institutional frameworks. In Japan, Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) and brown bears (Ursus arctos) have increasingly come into human contact because of habitat re-expansion. Short-term measures to protect human life and property include the implementation of the 2024 and 2025 revisions of the Wildlife Protection and Hunting Management Act, which designated bears as “managed wildlife” and “dangerous wildlife” and permitted emergency culling in residential areas. However, Japan’s approach remains limited in scope and depth, relies on ad hoc responses by local hunters, and lacks adequate public education and effective long-term sustainability planning. This study highlights the necessity of a multi-layered policy framework that integrates human–wildlife conflict management, particularly human–bear conflict, by comparing U.S. laws and policies and incorporating them into medium- and long-term strategies for community resilience and national land conservation. This approach may serve as a model for countries and regions facing similar demographic and ecological challenges.
]]>Authors: Jesús Duarte Diego Rodríguez Miguel Ángel Farfán
As human activities such as urbanization encroach on natural areas, some wildlife species adapt to these changes and learn ways to utilize newly available resources. We monitored the use patterns of the Eurasian otter in three urban ponds in southern Spain (Málaga province). We compared weekly otter visits and relative spraint abundance between the urban ponds and two control ponds located in natural areas, testing for differences in use patterns between them using Generalized Linear Mixed Models and the Wald–Wolfowitz run test. We also estimated prey survival rates through Kaplan–Meier estimator curves. We also assessed problems of coexistence with human interests. Relative spraint abundance was not affected by pond type (urban or natural). However, the number of otter visits was lower for urban ponds, and the pattern was not random but concentrated over a short time until prey depletion, suggesting consistent use of the urban feeding patches. Available food resources in urban settings can become a viable option for otters, which appear to explore urban habitats when it suits them. However, in the monitored urban ponds, otters competed with human interests and generated a conservation problem that almost led to lethal measures.
]]>Authors: Francesca Gaydou Francesca Marucco Chiara Bianchi Luca Rossi Achille Schiavone Joana Nery
Assessing body condition in mammals is essential to understanding their nutritional status and health. Traditionally, fat content in femur bone marrow has been used as an indicator, but this study aims to improve assessment by expanding analysis to multiple long bones of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in the Alps. Marrow samples were collected from 14 animals, with 25 femur samples analyzed for dry matter (DM), ether extract (EE), and color, the latter measured objectively using RGB values. The main innovation is the use of objective color quantification of marrow as a non-destructive proxy for fat content, showing strong correlations with DM and EE. Results reveal significant correlations between femur EE and tibia DM, as well as between femur and humerus DM, indicating consistent fat distribution across the analyzed bones. Metacarpus and metatarsus bones showed weaker correlations. This method represents a preliminary validation, especially for wildlife studies where full carcasses are often unavailable. The approach based on objective marrow color analysis improves reproducibility and standardization in body condition assessment, enhancing comparability across ecological and zoological studies worldwide.
]]>Authors: P. Aruni Sewwandi Seenuga Kugaseelan M. P. Theja Virajini Kalpa W. Samarakoon Prasad T. Jayasooriya Anchala I. Kuruppu
Careya arborea, commonly known as wild guava, is a deciduous tree native to Asia, including Sri Lanka. Traditionally used to treat various ailments such as skin diseases, tumors, gastrointestinal disorders, and inflammation, it is valued for its notable astringent properties. Rich in phytochemicals, including phenolics, terpenes, sterols, tannins, and saponins, Careya arborea exhibits potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Its anticancer effects are primarily attributed to the induction of apoptosis and the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, with several extracts such as chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol demonstrating selective cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines. The high phenolic content of Careya arborea underpins its antioxidant potential, which plays a crucial role in mitigating oxidative stress and associated inflammatory conditions. Despite its medicinal potential, Careya arborea remains an underutilized plant in Sri Lanka. Greater attention should be given to promoting its use in both traditional and modern healthcare systems to harness its therapeutic benefits. Given its therapeutic potential, sustainable harvesting and conservation efforts are essential to protect this plant from overexploitation and habitat loss. Taking all these factors into account, this review emphasizes Careya arborea’s potential as a source of natural therapeutic agent, highlighting the importance of further research and conservation to unlock its full medicinal value for clinical applications.
]]>Authors: Justin H. White Collin S. Philipps Zachary E. Ormsby Peter H. Bloom Josh Snook Sierra Dinndorf
Despite many raptors establishing urban populations globally, Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) tend to avoid urban areas, including while in flight. The contiguous cities of Reno and Sparks, NV, USA, host a dense guild of breeding raptors (>10 species) but Golden Eagles only nest in trees and cliffs in the wildlands immediately adjacent urban development. We affixed GPS transmitters to nine non-breeding Golden Eagles to monitor their local-scale movements from 2015 to 2017, and investigated whether they use the airspace associated with the urbanized landscape. We found that they moved throughout the wildlands adjacent to, but rarely entered (0.17% of point locations), the urban area. Given that the wildlands around the urban area contain montane forest, sagebrush, and grassland habitats, which support some of the prey that Golden Eagles consume the most (Lepus, Sylvilagus, Otospermophilus, and Marmota spp.), it is likely that they use the wildlands for dietary and nesting resources but avoid the urban habitat itself. Our study provides a snapshot of a single geographic area but parallels existing research elsewhere.
]]>Authors: Rolf Schlagloth Flavia Santamaria Tim Cadman Alexandra McEwan Michael Danaher Gabrielle McGinnis Ian D. Clark Fred Cahir Sean Cadman Matt Dell
There is a widespread belief that koala conservation measures should be focused on ending forestry operations in native forests and that plantations should be the alternative source for timber. While advocates for conservation continue to promote this strategic approach, they overlook the fact that hardwood plantations also provide important habitats. Ongoing operations in both natural and planted forests continue to threaten the viability of the koala species, and populations in one of the koala’s core habitats in northern New South Wales (NSW) continue to decline. To improve conservation outcomes for this species in the wild, the Great Koala National Park (GKNP) has been proposed. While the process of establishing this park continues, ongoing forestry operations exert continuous pressure on koalas and their habitat within the proposed area of the park. This paper investigates how community stakeholders are collaborating with scientists to identify areas of high koala habitat value within the hardwood eucalypt plantations inside the proposed GKNP that are currently excluded from conservation and will be subject to ongoing timber extraction. Investigations of Tuckers Nob State Forest, which is inside the proposal area, confirmed the presence of both koalas and original forest inside the plantations which were excluded from conservation by the state government. Original trees and remnants were identified using historical aerial photography, which were orthorectified and matched against current NSW government imagery (SIX Maps); composite mosaics of photographic sheets and closeups (Quantum GIS) were imported into Google Earth Pro. Koala drone surveys, habitat ground-truthing, and on-ground scat and koala surveys of 120 ha involving various community stakeholders were conducted in December 2024 and revealed 25 koalas records, necessitating the reclassification of this area from plantation to prime koala habitat. Here, as in many other plantations in NSW, the findings of this study indicate significant numbers of original trees that are part of highly diverse nutrient-rich sites attractive to koalas. This leads to the conclusion that the exclusion of specific areas of the proposed park from conservation to allow for ongoing logging is inconsistent with recognized koala protection strategies. Hence, koala protection strategies need to consider the integrity of the reserve system in its entirety, and the whole area of the GKNP should be accorded the requisite status of a World Heritage Site.
]]>Authors: Abdullah Abdullah Shujaul Mulk Khan Rabia Afza Amos Kipkoech Shakil Ahmad Zeb Zahoorul Haq Fazal Manan Zeeshan Ahmad Muhammad Shakeel Khan Jawad Hussain Henrik Balslev
Nannorrhops ritchieana (Mazri) forests are found in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Oman. These forests are ecologically and economically important to local communities and exhibit complex spatial distributions. This research examines the distribution of Mazri forests and their responses to varying phosphorus levels across different climatic zones. We collected data from 508 plots in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan, gathering 500 g of soil from each plot for phosphorus analysis, along with measurements of abundance and various traits. A distribution map was constructed to assess the impact of phosphorus levels on Mazri forest distribution and traits across climatic zones. Using a PCA biplot, we visualized the abundance and density and studied the effects of different climatic and environmental factors. Our findings suggest that phosphorus levels do not significantly influence the distribution of Mazri forests, which vary across different climatic regions. Forests are stable in the eastern wet mountain zone (EWMZ) and northern dry mountain zone (NDMZ), although without a significant pattern. A weak positive correlation was observed in the western dry mountain zone (WDMZ). In contrast, the Sulaiman piedmont zone (SPMZ) presented minor variations in abundance, indicating that phosphorus, in conjunction with other edaphic and climatic factors, affects Mazri forest distribution and abundance. Further research is needed to investigate the combined effects of various soil nutrients and climatic factors on the distribution, abundance, and functional traits of Mazri forests across different regions.
]]>Authors: Redwan Mohammed Redae T. Tesfai Patricia D. Moehlman Fanuel Kebede Afework Bekele Nicholas E. Young Paul H. Evangelista
The critically endangered African wild ass is found in low population densities and there may be as few as 600 individuals in the Danakil Desert of Ethiopia and Eritrea. An understanding of suitable habitats is important for prioritizing the conservation and management of the African wild ass. In this study, we recorded presence locations of the African wild ass and independently prepared environmental covariates to identify suitable habitats using the maximum entropy (Maxent) model. Model performances were high, with the area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.927 and 0.950 for wet and dry seasons, respectively. The predicted moderately suitable habitat area extent was greater during the wet season (15,223 km2) than during the dry season (6052 km2). Precipitation, temperature, and distance from water sources were vital variables for the wet season, while distance from water sources and distance from the settlements were important determinant covariates for the dry season. This information prioritizes where protected areas should be established for African wild ass conservation and also indicates potential new undocumented locations to guide surveys in the Danakil Desert of the Afar Region, Ethiopia.
]]>Authors: John Gould Alex Callen Chad Beranek
The Earth is facing an extinction crisis caused by anthropogenic activities, with a primary goal of today’s conservation management being the protection of species from being lost to the Anthropocene. What is missing from the debate surrounding extinction, and how humanity grapples with this issue, is an acknowledgement that it is a natural phenomenon that has always accompanied biological life, including prior to human evolution. Despite the importance of continued efforts to save species from extinctions, there is a need to differentiate extinctions caused by humans (anthropogenic extinctions) from extinctions that would have occurred in our absence (natural extinctions). We propose that there is a dilemma in halting extinctions altogether and in perpetuity if this also prevents non-anthropogenic extinctions that are a key component of life on Earth, particularly when considering much longer timescales than the current extinction crisis necessitates. From this perspective, we argue that non-anthropogenic extinctions should be allowed if they can be distinguished from anthropogenic extinctions. This perspective is intended for managers to consider the ways in which they actively manipulate ecosystems moving forward in the pursuit of conservation and how extinction needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis to fulfil this process of management.
]]>Authors: Natalia Mesa-Sierra Patricia Moreno-Casasola Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer
In the original publication [...]
]]>Authors: Shakil Ahmad Zeb Shujaul Mulk Khan Abdullah Abdullah Zeeshan Ahmad Tufail Ahmad Zeb
Physiographic, geographic, and environmental gradients influence the development of plant communities. This study assessed how environmental gradients affect riparian vegetation along the River Panjkora, aiming to find relationships between vegetation and abiotic factors through indicator species analysis. Vegetation was sampled using the quadrat method (1 × 1 m2 for herbs, 5 × 5 m2 for shrubs, 10 × 10 m2 for trees), and soil samples were analyzed for edaphic variables. Indicator species and ordination analyses were performed using PCORD (version 5) and CANOCO (version 4.5) software to understand species diversity. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) identified species patterns and their links to environmental factors. A total of 216 plant species were recorded across seven stations, grouped into five communities. Community 01, Melia azedarach, Punica granatum, and Asparagus racemosus, are affected by Cr, p ≤ 0.03; Fe, p ≤ 0.01; Zn, p ≤ 0.04; and Mg, p = 0.03. On the other hand, Community 02, Populus alba, Debregeasia saeneb, and Youngia japonica, are controlled by Co, p = 0.01; pH, p = 0.03; Cd, p = 0.04; EC, p = 0.03; and TDSs, p = 0.03. The third community, with indicator species Pinus roxburghii, Rydingia limbata, and Cheilanthes pteridioides, is strongly influenced by Cr, p ≤ 0.05; Cu, p ≤ 0.03; TDSs, p = 0.02; and Zn, p = 0.03. Community 04, consisting of Ficus carica, Polygonum plebeium, and Avena sativa, is shaped by Na, p = 0.01; K, p ≤ 0.05; and Fe, p = 0.04. The fifth community, represented by Ficus palmata, Rosa multiflora, and Heliotropium europaeum, is influenced by pH, p ≤ 0.04 and Mn, p = 0.03. DCA displayed maximum gradient lengths of 6.443 (eigenvalue 0.742) on axis 1, 5.222 (0.662) on axis 2, 4.053 (0.600) on axis 3, and 4.791 (0.464) on axis 4. Soil pH, heavy metals (Cr, Fe, Zn, Mg, Co, Cd, Cu, Na, K, and Mn), EC, and TDSs were the main factors shaping community structure. The indicator species analysis is recommended to identify and conserve the rare species and native flora of a particular region.
]]>Authors: María Eugenia Salgado Salomón María Florencia Urretavizcaya Sabrina S. Talarico Andrés De Errasti Stefano Gianolini Carolina Barroetaveña
Background: Wildfires represent a recurrent disturbance in the Patagonia Andean region, with increasing frequency in recent decades. Austrocedrus chilensis is an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) endemic conifer that is particularly vulnerable to fire, a situation that will worsen with climate change. In February 2015, a wildfire affected 5700 ha of Austrocedrus chilensis forests with varying severities (WFSs). The aim of this study was to determine and compare the density of AM spores (AMSs) in soil affected by different WFS and non-affected sites, considering site features. Methods: Ninety soil samples were collected from three sites 10 months and 5 years after the fire. The AMSs density was determined, a bioassay was set, and soil physicochemical features were evaluated. Results: After the wildfires, spores were significantly more abundant in sites affected by moderate severity fires. After 5 years, burned sites showed no differences between severities, but the driest sites showed no changes since the wildfires occurred. Seedlings from the bioassay showed less than 25% mycorrhizal colonization growing in soil from burned sites, regardless of fire severity, compared with unburned soils. Conclusions: For restoration strategies, it must be considered that wildfires reduce mycorrhizal spores and mycelium and alter soil properties, indicating that both WFSs require active restoration; under drier conditions, the spore banks do not change after a 5-year period.
]]>Authors: Patrick S. Sebastian Paula J. Vaschalde María C. Pelosi Fernando S. Flores Julio Yedro Evelina L. Tarragona
In November 2022, a male specimen of Subulo gouazoubira was found with signs of obnubilation and recumbency without the ability to maintain sternal or ambulatory posture. Based on the symptoms, serological, biochemical and molecular analyses were performed. The results of the biochemical blood analysis and the clinical signs were compatible with theileriosis. DNA of Theileria were detected in the blood sample by PCR analysis. The phylogenetic analysis of the obtained partial sequences of the 18S rDNA gen resulted in the identification of the detected strain as a Theileria genospecies closely related to Theileria spp. detected in other deer species. Further, a genospecies of Anaplasma was detected in the blood sample. This genospecies is located phylogenetically near to Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The results of this study demonstrate co-infection with two novel genospecies of Anaplasma and Theileria in a clinical case of a free-living S. gouazoubira for the first time in Argentina. However, the pathogenicity of these strains and specific role of S. gouazoubira in their enzootic transmission cycles remains unclear. To improve epidemiological understanding, assess risks and develop targeted control strategies, future studies should prioritize the isolation, characterization and cultivation of these genospecies and the assessment of vector competence.
]]>Authors: Debbie Jewitt
Achaea lienardi is a polyphagous moth occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a fruit-sucking moth, causing secondary damage to fruit such as citrus and peaches, while the larval stage can cause significant tree defoliation, including in several indigenous trees, wattle, Eucalyptus, and castor oil plants, amongst others. In February and March of 2025, a massive outbreak of the caterpillars was observed in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in South Africa, feeding primarily on Tamboti trees (Spirostachys africana). Satellite imagery from the previous five years was examined, but no similar large defoliation events were observed during this period. Climate data for the last five years (September 2019–March 2025) were collated and examined to determine the conditions supporting the outbreak. Above average winter rainfall, early spring rains, sustained rains, and high humidity in January and February, with warm nighttime temperatures, likely acted in concert to create favourable conditions for the caterpillar outbreak. This outbreak coincided with historic outbreaks of the African armyworm (Spodoptera exempta) in the summer rainfall areas of South Africa where precipitation, temperature, solar radiation, and humidity were found to be critical factors affecting armyworm outbreaks. Further research is required to determine specific criteria to enable predictions of future outbreaks.
]]>Authors: Florencia R. Turco Ana G. Chaves Francisco J. de Blas Lorena E. Torres
Hedeoma multiflora Benth. is an endangered aromatic and medicinal wild species native to Argentina, widely used in traditional medicine, whose cultivation represents a small and untapped sector within the agricultural industry. Current market supply relies on wild harvesting practices by rural communities, leading to population decline and genetic diversity loss through inappropriate extraction methods, including uprooting during suboptimal phenological stages. This study evaluated phenotypic and phytochemical variability in four populations of H. multiflora in the province of Córdoba to develop conservation strategies and cultivation protocols. Forty individuals were sampled from each population to analyze morphological, chemical, phenological, edaphological, and climatic variables. Significant differences were observed between populations: Tulumba had the tallest plants and largest leaves, while Bialet Massé had the highest number of internodes. Essential oil yield ranged from 1.01% to 2.10%, with Ongamira having the highest content. Phytochemical analysis revealed two chemotypes: pulegone-dominant (Bialet Massé and Río Cuarto) and menthone-dominant (Ongamira and Tulumba). Phenological patterns differed significantly, with Ongamira showing the greatest reproductive synchronization. Soil organic matter content significantly influenced morphological and chemical traits. The high variability among populations underscores the importance of preserving genetic diversity for domestication and conservation strategies.
]]>Authors: Hiroto Taguchi Uuganbayar Ganbold Mai Ikeda Kurt Ackermann Buho Hoshino
Burrowing mammals function as ecosystem engineers by creating spatial heterogeneity in the soil structure and vegetation composition, thereby providing microhabitats for a wide range of organisms. These keystone species play a crucial role in maintaining local ecosystem functions and delivering ecosystem services. However, in Mongolia, where overgrazing has accelerated due to the expansion of a market-based economy, scientific knowledge remains limited regarding the impacts of human activities on such species. In this study, we focused on the Siberian marmot (Marmota sibirica), an ecosystem engineer inhabiting typical Mongolian steppe ecosystems. We assessed the relationship between the spatial distribution of marmot burrows and vegetation conditions both inside and outside Hustai National Park. Burrow locations were recorded in the field, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was calculated, using Planet Lab, Dove-2 satellite imagery (3 m spatial resolution). Through a combination of remote sensing analyses and vegetation surveys, we examined how the presence or absence of anthropogenic disturbance (i.e., livestock grazing) affects the ecological functions of marmots. Our results showed that the distance between active burrows was significantly shorter inside the park (t = −2.68, p = 0.0087), indicating a higher population density. Furthermore, a statistical approach, using beta regression, revealed a significant interaction between the burrow type (active, non-active, off-colony area) and region (inside vs. outside the park) on the NDVI (e.g., outside × non-active: z = −5.229, p < 0.001). Notably, in areas with high grazing pressure outside the park, the variance in the NDVI varied significantly as a function of burrow presence or absence (e.g., July 2023, active vs. off-colony area: F = 133.46, p < 0.001). Combined with vegetation structure data from field surveys, our findings suggest that marmot burrowing activity may contribute to the enhancement of vegetation quality and spatial heterogeneity. These results indicate that the Siberian marmot remains an important component in supporting the diversity and stability of steppe ecosystems, even under intensive grazing pressure. The conservation of this species may thus provide a promising strategy for utilizing native ecosystem engineers in sustainable land-use management.
]]>Authors: Yulei Guo David Fennell
Pet ownership and wildlife tourism are two prominent ways people interact with non-human animals in contemporary contexts. Despite this, there is a need for further exploration of the interconnections between pets, wildlife, and visitors. Utilizing an ecological-phenomenological framework, this study examines how these multispecies interactions contribute to experiences that extend beyond the human domain. This research is based on a quantitative survey of 1422 participants at the Panda Center that were analyzed using inferential statistical methods to assess differences in visitor experiences. The statistical results reveal that pet ownership and wildlife encounters mediate the environmental affordances and constraints encountered by visitors, creating a dynamic and intricate nexus among pets, wildlife, and tourists. Specifically, pet ownership is shown to enhance both the richness and frequency of wildlife encounters. Nonetheless, the study highlights that human dominance over non-human animals remains a central environmental constraint in multispecies interactions despite the adoption of a more humane approach to animal management through tourism activities.
]]>Authors: Elisa Palomino
This paper investigates the cultural, spiritual, and ecological use and value of fish by-products in the material practices of Alaska Native (Indigenous Peoples are the descendants of the populations who inhabited a geographical region at the time of colonisation and who retain some or all of their own social, economic, cultural, and political institutions. In this paper, I use the terms “Indigenous” and “Native” interchangeably. In some countries, one of these terms may be favoured over the other.) and Greenlandic Inuit women. It aims to uncover how fish remnants—skins, bones, bladders, vertebrae, and otoliths—were transformed through tanning, dyeing, and sewing into garments, containers, tools, oils, glues, and adornments, reflecting sustainable systems of knowledge production rooted in Arctic Indigenous lifeways. Drawing on interdisciplinary methods combining Indigenist research, ethnographic records, and sustainability studies, the research contextualises these practices within broader environmental, spiritual, and social frameworks. The findings demonstrate that fish-based technologies were not merely utilitarian but also carried symbolic meanings, linking wearers to ancestral spirits, animal kin, and the marine environment. These traditions persisted even after European contact and the introduction of glass trade beads, reflecting continuity and cultural adaptability. The paper contributes to academic discourse on Indigenous innovation and environmental humanities by offering a culturally grounded model of zero-waste practice and reciprocal ecology. It argues that such ancestral technologies are directly relevant to contemporary sustainability debates in fashion and material design. By documenting these underexamined histories, the study provides valuable insight into Indigenous resilience and offers a critical framework for integrating Indigenous knowledge systems into current sustainability practices.
]]>Authors: Dan Parsons Steven Leib Wayne L. Martin
Wildlife strikes in aviation are among the most reported safety incidents. As such, strikes have become the fundamental unit of understanding of the risk posed by wildlife. However, the management of wildlife risks to aviation has shifted to a hazard management philosophy. This literature review examines the argument that current wildlife strike reporting requirements are inadequate for modern wildlife hazard management techniques. This review utilised bibliometric analysis software to identify relevant academic research sourced from the Web of Science, as well as industry materials, to compile a final catalogue (n = 542). Further filtering revealed a limited set of relevant papers (n = 42) and even fewer papers that addressed the above question. Analysis of these papers and the wider catalogue noted limitations in current reporting requirements as they relate to hazard and risk management concepts. This analysis was supplemented with a review of international standards and relevant national requirements, concluding that while academics and industry have adopted systematic safety and hazard management techniques, and international guidance material has kept pace, international standards, the foundation for many national reporting systems, remain decades behind. This paper proposes the use of robust consensus-building methodologies, such as the Delphi technique, in the industry as a means of streamlining and supporting international standards development.
]]>Authors: Erin A. Manzitto-Tripp Jacob L. Watts
Ochrolechia is a diverse and charismatic lineage of both sexually and asexually reproducing lichens, with centers of species richness in northern temperate areas of the world, including North America. As part of recent work to comprehensively inventory the lichens of the Indian Peaks Wilderness (Arapaho–Roosevelt National Forest, Front Range Mountains, Colorado), we discovered material of a sorediate member of the genus to which no existing names could be applied. This material was collected in very remote, extremely difficult-to-access mid-montane forests of the west slope of the Indian Peaks Wilderness, in a steep and jagged off-trail drainage (Hell Canyon). Subsequent study of this material along with review of pre-existing collections at the COLO Herbarium revealed it to represent a new scientific species. We here formally describe Ochrolechia raynori, in honor of Seth Raynor who led the Indian Peaks Wilderness lichen inventory. We additionally document the occurrence of Dactylospora parasitica on this new lichen species. Ochrolechia raynori is distinctive for its continuous, smooth, shiny thallus that bears discrete soralia and coarse soredia, its occurrence on mosses and other lichens that overgrow rocks, and its chemistry. We generated a molecular phylogeny of this and other members of Ochrolechia using the nrITS locus and show O. raynori to be sister to the widespread, sexually reproducing species O. upsaliensis. This occurrence of an asexual species that is sister to a sexual species is consistent with the “species pair” hypothesis in lichenology, which suggests an intimate role of reproductive mode divergence in the process of speciation. Examination of the phylogeny yielded evidence of four additional pairs in Ochrolechia, for a total of five species pairs, which indicates that this phenomenon may be a common occurrence in this lineage. IUCN Conservation Assessment of Ochrolechia raynori revealed the species to be best considered as Critically Endangered. However, we expect that continued efforts to inventory the lichens of the southern Rocky Mountains, especially in some of its wildest, most remote regions in similar habitats, will likely result in the discovery of additional populations of this remarkable new species.
]]>Authors: Arlex Rodríguez-Durán Diana Peña-Navarro Vinícius Andrade-Silva Luís Fernando Parizi Itabajara da Silva Vaz Junior Jesús Alfredo Cortés-Vecino
Ticks are arthropods responsible for transmitting microorganisms important to wild, domestic, and human animals. In ecosystems where they are distributed, interactions between hosts are a constant risk. This study analyzed voluntary case reports of tick infestations in humans and tick collections from wild and domestic animals in six different locations in the flooded savanna region of the Colombian Orinoquia. Classical and molecular taxonomy were used to identify tick species. Individuals infested with ticks were monitored for clinical manifestations related to tick bites. A total of 22 ticks were found infesting five men and one woman, aged between 9 and 60 years. Both classical and molecular taxonomy confirmed that 100% of the ticks infesting humans and animals were Amblyomma mixtum. Two of the six individuals reported primary and secondary skin reactions during and after the tick bite, including mild-to-severe inflammatory reactions, pruritus, and erythematous papules that persisted up to 72 h. This study provides, for the first time, compiled information on clinical skin manifestations caused by A. mixtum in humans in the flooded savanna region and in Colombia as a whole. These findings serve as a theoretical basis for developing surveillance programs targeting infestations caused by this arthropod.
]]>Authors: Foyez Ahmed Prodhan Muhammad Ziaul Hoque K. M. Nafee Md Shakib Al Fahad Md Nasifur Rahman Sakib
Coastal forests in Bangladesh provide various essential ecosystem services. However, these face severe threats from deforestation, land-use changes, and climate change. Understanding community perceptions of these services and their willingness to support restoration is crucial for effective conservation strategies. To analyze these, this study employs machine learning on survey data collected from Chakaria and Moheshkhali Upazilas of Cox’s Bazar District. Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM) model was used to identify key predictors of restoration willingness and compared with Random Forest (RF) and Generalized Linear Model (GLM). Proximity to forests shapes community priorities with stronger support for restoration among those living near the forest. Higher perception levels were linked to various ecosystem services provided by the forest, while forest dependence, age, and education also influenced perception with education and age showing strong negative correlations. The GBM model outperformed RF and the GLM in predicting restoration willingness due to its ability to capture complex relationships. The perceived importance of provisioning and supporting services and restoration awareness influenced willingness, accounting for 55.56% of the variation. Willingness was also shaped by income, forest dependency and awareness. Overall, this study leverages machine learning to align conservation efforts with socio-economic priorities, ensuring the resilience of Bangladesh’s coastal ecosystems.
]]>Authors: Alexandra Carleton
Ecological ethics is gaining traction. Can this new attitude towards our ecosystems help to motivate a change in our relationship with land and nature? Can we move towards a legal system that supports the legal personality of land, devoid of human ownership? There are substantial amounts of international environmental laws that have been hovering on the fringes of defining and then redefining our relationship with land, with more emphasis on respecting the land as itself rather than as a vehicle with which humanity can gain wealth. This article briefly explores the conjunction of international environmental law history and ecological ethics in the hope that it will encourage a segue in our approach to conservation, ecology, and being.
]]>Authors: Diana L. Buitrago-Torres Gilberto Pozo-Montuy Brandon Brand Buitrago-Marulanda José Roberto Frías-Aguilar Mauricio Antonio Mayo Merodio
Wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) threaten biodiversity, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico, where road expansion increases habitat fragmentation. This research analyzes WVC patterns in southeastern Mexico, estimating collision rates across road types and assessing environmental factors influencing roadkill frequency. Field monitoring in 2016 and 2023 recorded vertebrate roadkills along roads in Campeche, Chiapas, and Tabasco. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Generalized Additive Models (GAM) evaluated landscape influences on WVC occurrences. A total of 354 roadkill incidents involving 73 species of vertebrates were recorded, with mammals accounting for the highest mortality rate. Hotspots were identified along Federal Highway 259 and State Highways Balancán, Frontera-Jonuta, and Salto de Agua. Road type showed no significant effect. Land cover influenced WVCs, with cultivated forests, grasslands, and savannas showing the highest incidences. PCA identified temperature and elevation as key environmental drivers, while GAM suggested elevation had a weak but notable effect. These findings highlight the risks of road expansion in biodiversity-rich areas, where habitat fragmentation and increasing traffic intensify WVCs. Without targeted mitigation strategies, such as wildlife corridors, underpasses, and road signs, expanding infrastructure could further threaten wildlife populations by increasing roadkill rates and fragmenting habitats, particularly in ecologically sensitive landscapes like wetlands, forests, and coastal areas.
]]>Authors: Madlen Fellmeth Denise Babitsch Anne Madel Marie-Luise Schrödl Marie-Christin Uhde Angela Schießl Bruno Streit Markus Weinhardt Bernd Hermann
(1) Background: We combined physiological and morphological data of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) to provide insights into the question of how urbanization affects the health of urban wildlife populations. (2) Methods: We dissected 39 urban and 34 rural wild rabbits in order to compare organ weights, as well as stomach contents. Furthermore, we collected blood and fecal samples. (3) Results: Rural rabbits had a significantly longer body and a higher body weight as well as more fat tissue around their kidneys compared to urban rabbits. In contrast, the stomach, the intestines, the liver, the lung, and the brain of urban rabbits were significantly heavier. The amount of hematocrit, hemoglobin, and the mean corpuscular volume was significantly higher in urban rabbits. The caloric energy content of the stomach was comparable between rural and urban rabbits and was merely influenced by the season being higher in autumn. Rural rabbits had an overall higher mean parasite index compared to urban rabbits. (4) Conclusions: The results of our study allow for a deeper understanding of how density-dependent (e.g., transmission of diseases) and density-independent factors (e.g., food quality) influence the health status and life history traits of urban wildlife populations compared to their rural counterparts.
]]>Authors: Pablo Espinoza-Carbullanca Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
Irrigation canals are essential for agriculture in semi-arid regions like northern Chile, yet their ecological impacts on wildlife remain underexplored. Here, we assessed the effects of a 900 m transect of a dry, polyethylene-covered irrigation canal in the Coquimbo region on local terrestrial fauna. A total of 121 reptiles, marsupials, and rodents were found in the canal, with 82.64% mortality. Our evidence suggests that the animals drowned when the water flux stopped or perished because of the extreme heat irradiated by the polyethylene geomembrane once the canal became empty. We highlight that these canals act as lethal pitfall traps for terrestrial vertebrates, as seen in other countries. Given the ecological impact that these waterways impose on local fauna, the implementation of mitigation strategies such as physical barriers, escape aids, and connectivity structures to reduce mortality is urgent in the region.
]]>Authors: Mohamed Khalfan Mohamed
Mangrove ecosystems are vital for coastal protection, fisheries, biodiversity, and local livelihoods, yet they are increasingly threatened by land-use changes, climate impacts, and limited conservation funding. This study investigates how much local communities are willing to pay (WTP) to conserve the Chwaka Bay mangrove forest in Zanzibar. Using the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) with a payment card approach, we conducted a structured household survey to assess both monetary contributions and the psychological and socioeconomic factors influencing them. This study is guided by Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), incorporating attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and mangrove knowledge. The results show that 68.2% of respondents are willing to pay for mangrove conservation, while 24.2% are not—mainly due to financial constraints or skepticism about fund use. Key drivers of WTP include perceived ecological and livelihood benefits, environmental awareness, and prior conservation involvement. Statistical validation using the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) test and Bartlett’s test of sphericity confirmed the reliability of the model. The findings demonstrate the value of combining behavioral theory with economic valuation to better understand and support community-based conservation strategies. This approach can inform policymakers in designing targeted, transparent, and inclusive mangrove protection programs.
]]>Authors: Ivy Alana Rieger
This article presents a tentative proposal for biodiversity and endemic agave species conservation from a cultural anthropology perspective based on qualitative ethnographic research with a mezcal-producing community in Oaxaca, Mexico, and a comparative analysis of broader scientific research regarding agaves and mezcal production throughout Mexico. I argue that there is an urgent necessity for the implementation of processes of what I call “rewilding” in the mezcal market. Rewilding entails the development and application of locally based strategies that focus on feasible practices of environmental sustainability that can ensure the future of mezcal and the socioeconomic security of those who produce it while protecting biodiversity as follows: reducing the overall rate of mezcal production, establishing practical collaborative networks, implementing feasible reforestation programs, the replanting of endemic agave species, and water-recycling strategies, avoiding the piracy and illegal sale of wild and endangered agave species as well as massive monoculture agave planting projects, and by promoting a return to more “homemade” mezcal production techniques.
]]>Authors: Hillary L. Thompson Andrew J. Caven Nicole M. Gordon
Laying additional clutches of eggs, or renesting, can provide birds with more opportunities to breed each season, ultimately increasing reproductive potential. This is important for long-lived species like cranes, that produce relatively few offspring annually. The reintroduced Eastern Migratory Population (EMP) of endangered Whooping Cranes relies on releases of captive-reared juveniles for population growth. Using long-term nest monitoring data, we assessed the renesting propensity of 105 unique pairs of Whooping Cranes during 2005–2024 (n = 359). We used a two-tiered analysis of binomial generalized linear mixed-effects models to evaluate the effects of 15 individual covariates, related to parental age or experience, nest management geography, or chronology. Overall, 37.3% of pairs renested following failed first nesting attempts. We documented higher renesting rates from breeding females that were older or had more years of nesting experience (37.1% increase for each unit increase in female age), pairs outside of the regions in which captive-reared cranes were released (264.0% increase in “other” region compared to Necedah), or that had nests fail earlier in the season (10.1% decline for each day later in the season a first nest failed). Additionally, when eggs were collected from first nests as a part of nest management, pairs were more likely to renest (69.4% renested) than if their nest failed naturally (27.3% renested). Low rates of natural reproduction limit growth rates in the EMP, so understanding effects of management actions and limitations on breeding are important conservation tools which can be applied to other endangered species.
]]>Authors: Lynn Lewis-Bevan Philippa Hammond Susana Carvalho Dora Biro
The ability to navigate through both familiar and unfamiliar environments is of critical importance for foraging efficiency, safety, and energy budgeting in wild animals. For animals that remain in the same home range annually, such as grey-footed chacma baboons (Papio ursinus griseipes), movement efficiency is expected to reflect familiarity with the home range as well as the nature of the resources within it. For example, resources that are patchy, transient, or seasonal present a greater spatial cognitive challenge, and travel between them may be less efficient than for more widespread or permanent resources. Here, we analyse daily route efficiency in adult female grey-footed chacma baboons at Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. We use GPS data taken at 15 min intervals from collars deployed on two baboons in each of two study troops (four total) to identify areas of interest used during daily ranging periods (sleep site to sleep site). We then compare the length of the route taken between a given day’s patches to routes calculated by two alternate optimisation heuristics as follows: the nearest neighbour method, in which the subject repeatedly travels to the next most proximate patch and does not necessarily return to the same place, and the Concorde algorithm, which calculates the shortest possible route connecting the day’s patches. We show that baboons travel more efficient routes than those yielded by the nearest-neighbour heuristic but less efficient routes than the Concorde method, implying some degree of route planning. We discuss our novel method of area of interest identification using only remote GPS data, as well as the implications of our findings for primate movement and cognition.
]]>Authors: Christopher B. Freelance
All animals require the ability to use visual, auditory, tactile, and olfactory information to survive through activities including locating and identifying conspecifics including potential mates, locating food or shelter, or noticing an approaching predator. Detecting such information invariably requires sensory organs. The morphology of sensory organs evolves under natural selection to optimise the ability to detect salient cues and signals against the background noise in the natural environment. The rapidly proliferating anthropogenic impacts on almost all natural environments include light, noise, and chemical pollution, which can interfere with an animal’s ability to detect visual, acoustic or seismic, and olfactory information, respectively. Many studies examine the resulting changes in the characteristics of signals or the behavioural responses to them in affected natural populations, but very few examine the resulting changes in the sensory organs required to detect the signals; those that do all find evidence of morphological changes. Here, I review the current knowledge on the impact of anthropogenic pollution on sensory organ morphology in wild and captive populations, highlighting knowledge gaps and future directions for addressing them. This is especially important in the context of the growing recognition of the cruciality of sensory ecology in the design of effective threatened species conservation programs and invasive species management strategies.
]]>Authors: Ziying Liang Amanda Whitfort
The Guangdong Province is rich in waterways, including those of the Pearl River. The entire watershed of the Pearl River system spans the territory of six provinces. Considering the overarching objective of building a ‘beautiful Bay Area’ under the guidance of Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as well as the ecological problems that span over river basins and regions in Guandong Province, public interest litigation is a useful tool in protecting the environment. Analyzing 95 first-instance (trial) judgements handed down in Guangdong Province between 2018 and 2021, we sought to evaluate public interest litigation as a means of safeguarding aquatic ecology in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), China. Cases were categorized for: firstly, their approach to determining the extent of ecological damage; secondly, the procedure used for receiving and auditing restorative compensation; thirdly, the collaboration between the court and government departments in the management and use of restorative compensation; and fourthly, the collaborative ‘public–private’ supervision utilized to monitor the implementation of restorative compensation and actual restoration. Our insights are intended to provide guidance for cooperative opportunities in the large transregional water systems and offshore areas of mainland China.
]]>Authors: Maya Beukes Travis Perry Daniel M. Parker Nokubonga Mgqatsa
Conserving biodiversity in mixed-land-use areas is essential, as nearly 80% of South Africa’s wild species exist outside protected areas. This study investigated mammalian diversity within the Baviaanskloof catchment, a mixed-use landscape in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It also evaluated how camera setup parameters impact species detectability. Using 131 camera traps over four survey sessions from January 2020 to April 2022, 34 mammalian species were recorded over 21,020 trap days. Biodiversity indices revealed high species diversity with substantial variability across camera locations. Species discovery reached an asymptote at approximately 153 sampling days, though extended monitoring detected rarer species. Cameras positioned at heights of 40–70 cm improved detection rates, while heights above 100 cm reduced captures. However, elevation effects varied across species, highlighting the need for species-specific optimization. Optimal detection angles ranged from 50 to 90°, with extreme angles decreasing capture frequency. North- and south-facing cameras yielded better detection rates, while west-facing orientations introduced glare and reduced visibility. These findings underscore the biodiversity significance of the Baviaanskloof and emphasize the need to optimize camera configurations to enhance wildlife monitoring and conservation strategies in complex, mixed-use landscapes.
]]>Authors: Manuel Pérez Maldonado Constanza Urzúa-Encina Naomi Ariyama Patricio Retamal
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global challenge that affects environmental, animal, and human health, with reports of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes becoming increasingly common across these domains. This study aimed to systematically review and compare the occurrence of AMR in bacterial isolates from wild animals in South America, focusing on environments with varying levels of anthropogenic impact. Half of the countries in South America documented AMR in wild animals at least once. Most studies focused on specific animal classes, particularly Aves and Mammalia, with a notable emphasis on the orders Chiroptera and Rodentia, as well as the bacterial species Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica. Subgroup meta-analyses revealed that, for most antimicrobials, the proportion of AMR was significantly higher in environments with a high anthropogenic impact compared to those with a low anthropogenic impact. However, there were no significant differences between the two types of environments for some antimicrobials. Interestingly, certain beta-lactams showed a higher proportion of AMR in environments with low anthropogenic impact. These findings raise important questions regarding the origins and spread of AMR in wild animals, underscoring the necessity for further research to understand the dynamics of AMR in areas with varying levels of human intervention.
]]>Authors: Joydeb Garai
Global environmental and climatic changes have become an ever-increasing trepidation worldwide due to the unprecedented changes in temperatures, precipitation, weather, and ecosystems at the international, regional, and local levels. This study attempts to find out the impacts and vulnerabilities of climate-induced hazards and environmental degradation on the lives of Indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), along with finding out the factors of environmental degradation in Indigenous communities. This study also explores the adaptation strategies of Indigenous people in adverse situations in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. For conducting this study, a critical ethnographic approach is adopted, together with participant observation, in-depth interviews (N = 55), and focus group discussions (FGDs) (N = 5, 48 participants), following purposive sampling over one year (October 2019 to October 2020). The findings of this study indicate that climate-induced hazards and environmental crisis brings unprecedented suffering to the lives and livelihoods of Indigenous people. Climate change and variability together with human causes contribute to creating an environmental crisis that threatens food security, creates water scarcity, and disrupts agricultural activities and household properties in Indigenous communities. The findings also indicate that Indigenous people are bound to change their traditional jhum cultivation and adjust their traditional housing structure apart from searching for alternative livelihoods due to climatic events and environmental crises. However, Indigenous people try to adapt to this adverse situation following their life-long experiences and local knowledge. This study helps policymakers as well as governments to understand the major drivers of environmental crisis and climatic events in Indigenous communities, together with finding out the solutions and recuperating the living conditions of the marginalized groups in Bangladesh and beyond.
]]>Authors: Matéa Rossi Morjane Safi Benjamin de Montgolfier
Sea turtles use specific nesting strategies to maximize the survival of their offspring. Few studies have investigated the nesting behavior of leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles. The aim of this study was to characterize the nesting behavior of these two species, taking into account anthropogenic and natural impacts, and to compare behavior between species. Nocturnal monitoring was conducted from 2020 to 2024 on three beaches in Martinique: Madiana, Diamant, and Salines. The average duration of the nesting sequence for leatherback turtles was 101.50 min, with camouflage being the dominant behavior for 27.06% of the total time. For hawksbill turtles, nesting duration was 109.49 min, with digging as the predominant activity (31.68% of total time). No effect of anthropogenic disturbances and obstacles on the behavior of leatherback turtles was observed, while that of hawksbill turtles was significantly influenced by light and the presence of roots. The results revealed behavioral differences between these two species, as well as between two other species: loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtles. These differences could be explained by morphological differences, nesting habitat peculiarities, beach characteristics, and different evolutionary strategies. Further research is needed to better understand these behaviors and improve conservation efforts.
]]>Authors: John J. Ely
A vital component of small population management in captivity is forecasting future population trends. Until recently, little was known about the demographic structure of the recently retired captive former biomedical research chimpanzee population (Pan troglodytes). We used age- and sex-specific survivorship probabilities from current life tables to model the likely population extinction date and estimate total lifetime maintenance costs until extinction. Leslie matrix projections indicated that population extinction will occur in 2062 or 38 years from now. That date was 26 years longer than a recent government study of 2036, 8 years longer than the original research chimpanzee projection of 2054, and 5 years longer than our pilot projection of 2057. Median, lower, and upper quartiles of colony per diems plus median biomedical inflation were used to estimate lifetime maintenance costs. Without inflation, median lifetime expenses were USD 148.0 M, with a lower bound of USD 72.7 M and an upper bound of USD 209.9 M. With inflation, median lifetime expenses were USD 229.3 M (lower bound USD 112.7 M, upper bound USD 326.1 M). Extinction projections and associated cost estimates are essential components of any science-based small captive population management plan. These projections can be used for the long-term planning and rational management of the now-retired captive former research chimpanzee population.
]]>Authors: Vhuawelo Simba Vanessa Couldridge Natasha P. Mothapo Tlou S. Masehela
Honeybees provide a variety of services and products that are beneficial to humans, including pollination, honey, propolis, and other harvested products. In South Africa, it is believed that honey harvesting from wild (unmanaged) honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies is widely practiced. However, there is limited knowledge regarding this practice. Using structured questionnaire surveys and site visits for validation, we aimed to (1) confirm the practice of honey harvesting and ascertain the extent to which it is practiced; and (2) quantify the economic benefits of this practice to communities’ livelihoods. We found that honey and other products (i.e., brood and pollen) harvesting from wild honeybee colonies is still a common practice among the rural communities of selected areas within the Vhembe District, which was confirmed by 44% of the respondents. These products are either consumed by the harvesters or sold, helping to generate total household incomes ranging from R500.00 ($26USD) to R2000.00 ($112USD) South African Rands (ZAR), which contribute towards offsetting various household costs. Although the overall population and health status of the wild honeybees in the area is unknown, the survey respondents (29%) indicated that they are generally healthy. From these findings, we were able to establish a good level of dependence on wild honeybee colonies by rural communities for income generation, albeit at a small scale. Given the wide array of pressures on insect pollinators, particularly honeybees, from factors such as habitat loss, climate change, pests, pathogens, and pesticides, our findings serve as a strong basis for considering protection and preservation mechanisms for these populations. These could be accommodated under various local and provincial conservation efforts, especially those preventing habitat loss.
]]>Authors: Dianna Gielstra Jacquelyn Kelly Anyll Markevich David R. Butler Ann Hunkins Ella Gielstra Niccole V. Cerveny Johan Gielstra Heather L. Moll Tomáš J. Oberding Karen Guerrero
Virtual field trips in zoogeomorphology can allow students to explore the dynamic influence of beaver activity within the landscape. Education theory-informed virtual learning experiences (VLEs) of zoogeomorphologic topics, such as ecosystem engineers, are still underdeveloped for natural science learning communities. Through dam-building activities, beavers significantly alter stream hydrology, sediment transport, and vegetation organization and structure, promoting landscape heterogeneity. To effectively communicate this complexity of landscape modification, we developed an immersive virtual reality (VR) environment using historical photographs and detailed field notes to visualize the temporal and spatial transformations caused by beaver activity. A design and development process (TECCUPD), a philosophical framework for physical geography (TREE-PG), and a planning tool (VRUI conceptual model) are used to guide VLE architecture. Collectively, this information serves as a virtual proxy of an abandoned beaver pond field site to support student evaluation of the influence of sediment trapping and flooding on vegetation patterns on the landscape. This virtual place-based, experiential narrative environment is a proxy to capture the complexity of beaver-modified landscapes through ecological and geomorphological interactions. The integration of immersive VR technologies and generative artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education with learning theories that guide VR application design and development is applied in virtual field trips to support pedagogical goals and improve learning outcomes. Finally, we use an evaluation scale (TIPS) to assess the fidelity of learning theory implementation in a virtual field trip. Virtual field experiences in zoogeomorphology, informed by theory and utilizing immersive landscapes and scientific educational tools, can help students discern the effects of beavers on stream hydrology and geomorphic processes, as well as their potential role in mitigating water insecurity in climate adaptation efforts.
]]>Authors: Abd. Rahman As-syakur Martiwi Diah Setiawati I Gede Agus Novanda Herlambang Aulia Rachman I Kade Alfian Kusuma Wirayuda Putu Echa Priyaning Aryunisha Moh. Saifulloh Rinaldy Terra Pratama
(1) Background: Mangroves are critical ecosystems that provide essential services, including coastal protection, biodiversity support, and carbon storage. However, urbanization and infrastructure development increasingly threaten their sustainability. This study investigates the spatio-temporal trends of mangrove canopy cover in Benoa Bay, Bali, Indonesia, which is an urban area and a center of tourism activities with various supporting facilities. The analysis was conducted from 2013 to 2023, using Landsat 8 satellite imagery and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) analysis. In addition, the analysis was also linked to mangrove area management policies. (2) Methods: The annual NDVI time series based on Landsat 8 imagery, obtained through the Google Earth Engine (GEE), was used to characterize the vegetation canopy cover in the study area. Statistical analysis of the annual linear trend of the NDVI was conducted to examine the spatio-temporal variation in canopy cover. Additionally, policies related to regional spatial planning and area protection were analyzed to assess their role in preserving mangrove forests in urban areas. (3) Results: There was a net decrease in mangrove area in Benoa Bay of 3.97 hectares, mainly due to infrastructure development and tourism facilities. The NDVI trend shows an overall increase in canopy cover due to reforestation and natural regeneration efforts, although there was a local decrease in some areas. Conservation policies, such as the establishment of the Ngurah Rai Forest Park, have supported mangrove protection. (4) Conclusions: The analysis demonstrated that mangroves surrounded by urban areas and tourism activity centers can still be maintained quite well with the right policies.
]]>Authors: Abdullah Al Saim Mohamed H. Aly
Multi-source remote sensing fusion and machine learning are effective tools for forest monitoring. This study aimed to analyze various fusion techniques, their application with machine learning algorithms, and their assessment in estimating forest type and aboveground biomass (AGB). A keyword search across Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar yielded 920 articles. After rigorous screening, 72 relevant articles were analyzed. Results showed a growing trend in optical and radar fusion, with notable use of hyperspectral images, LiDAR, and field measurements in fusion-based forest monitoring. Machine learning algorithms, particularly Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), leverage features from fused sources, with proper variable selection enhancing accuracy. Standard evaluation metrics include Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Overall Accuracy (OA), User’s Accuracy (UA), Producer’s Accuracy (PA), confusion matrix, and Kappa coefficient. This review provides a comprehensive overview of prevalent techniques, data sources, and evaluation metrics by synthesizing current research and highlighting data fusion’s potential to improve forest monitoring accuracy. The study underscores the importance of spectral, topographic, textural, and environmental variables, sensor frequency, and key research gaps for standardized evaluation protocols and exploration of multi-temporal fusion for dynamic forest change monitoring.
]]>Authors: Mercy Chepkemoi Chepkwony Gasto Jerome Lyakurwa Edwin Sabuhoro
In sub-Saharan Africa, protected areas are located in close proximity to communities, leading to frequent negative encounters between humans and wildlife. This is coupled with increased pressure from communities seeking park resources to support their livelihoods. To address this, land use plans have been designed around protected areas. For example, in Kenya, wildlife conservancies have been created out of private and community lands. The aim of these conservancies is to contribute to improved livelihoods, reduce human–wildlife conflicts, and increase support for conservation. However, limited research exists on how the conservancies have achieved their aims among local communities. This study focuses on the Maasai Mara region in Kenya and examines how livelihoods and human–wildlife conflicts influence support for conservation among conservancy members. Data were gathered from 411 households adjacent to the reserve through a survey conducted in June and July 2024. The findings indicate a high incidence of human–wildlife conflict and improved security in health and education only. Despite this, there is high satisfaction with the conservancy model and strong support for conservation. Although these findings highlight the significance of conservancies in mitigating human–wildlife conflict, enhancing livelihoods, and garnering conservation support, more attention is needed for food and financial security.
]]>Authors: Ingrid Witte David B. Croft
This study examined the grazing pressure and interactions between four species of wild kangaroos (Red Kangaroo Osphranter rufus, Common Wallaroo O. robustus, Eastern Grey Kangaroo Macropus giganteus, Western Grey Kangaroo M. fuliginosus), free-ranging feral goats (Capra hircus) and European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), and stocked Merino sheep (Ovis aries). The study site comprised two contiguous pairs of stocked and unstocked paddocks, one a sloping run-off zone, the other a flat run-on zone, covering a total area of 2158 ha. These paddocks on Fowlers Gap Station in far north-western New South Wales, Australia, are representative of the arid chenopod (Family: Chenopodiaceae) shrublands stocked with sheep. Sheep and red kangaroos dominate the mammalian herbivores by biomass. The study examined the relative grazing pressure exerted by the seven species of mammalian herbivores in stocked and unstocked conditions, where only sheep were confined, across a three-year period that included rain-deficient (drought) months. The effects of climate (especially rainfall and temperature) and herbivore density on the standing biomass of pasture were teased out at a macro-scale. Herbivory at a micro-scale was examined using open and exclosed plots with detection of herbivore species by fecal deposition and time-lapse videography. Sheep exerted the highest grazing pressure and there was no compensatory increase in grazing pressure by other herbivores in unstocked paddocks. Rainfall was a key driver of pasture biomass and condition and loss by senescence typically outweighed grazing pressure. Grazing effects at a micro-scale were plot-specific and complex. The results are discussed in relation to the sustainable management of rangelands for production and wildlife.
]]>Authors: Janel L. Ortiz April A. T. Conkey Maia L. Lipschutz Leonard A. Brennan David B. Wester Tyler A. Campbell Humberto L. Perotto-Baldivieso
The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is a measurement of landscape “greenness” and is used as a proxy for productivity to assess species distributions and habitats. Seasonal levels of productivity have been strongly related to avian population dynamics, suggesting dependence upon biomass production for completing annual life cycle events. The breeding season is a critical component of the avian life cycle that involves higher nutritional requirements to feed young, avoiding predators, and attracting mates. Our objective was to determine how the NDVI affects avian abundance and richness across breeding seasons with varied rainfall in South Texas, USA. Breeding bird point-count surveys were conducted, and MODIS Terra NDVI data were collected. We observed both positive and negative effects between May and June avian abundance, richness, and the NDVI depending upon the year (i.e., wet or average rainfall) and NDVI values in the months prior to (i.e., April) and during the peak of breeding season (May), with no significant effect of the NDVI in June, suggesting the months prior to peak breeding season may be most influential. This information can aid land management recommendations and better predict how environmental changes like rainfall may affect avian dynamics on a landscape for both wildlife and domestic animals.
]]>Authors: Héctor M. J. López-Castilla Fernando M. Contreras-Moreno Daniel Jesús-Espinosa José M. Méndez-Tun Khiavett Sánchez-Pinzón Pedro Bautista-Ramírez Lizardo Cruz-Romo Sandra Petrone
The Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (CBR) is in the south of the Yucatán Peninsula and is known for its great biological diversity. However, despite the great diversity of species, they are under intense pressure from hunting activities, especially the larger ones that can be used for human food. Therefore, the objective of this study was to obtain knowledge about the hunting importance of populations of three species of birds (Crax rubra, Meleagris ocellata, and Penelope purpurascens) in the southern zone of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Campeche. Sampling was conducted with transects where a total of 46 camera traps were installed from November 2021 to November 2022, distributed in two types of vegetation. Likewise, data on species presence were collected and analyzed with Principal Component Analysis and ANOSIM (ANOSIM; R = 0.10, p = 0.22) to relate abundances with vegetation types and seasons of the year. No significant differences were found between the two vegetation types. This study provides relevant information on the populations of game birds in the southern region of Calakmul, which is currently little explored, and constant monitoring of these species throughout the CBR is necessary.
]]>Authors: Guillermo Ospina
Colonization of the “remnants of the natural world” or “last wild spaces” is a process that continues at the present time. This colonization is mainly happening in unprotected spaces outside the global protected area network but is sometimes also attracted by natural resources near or within these “Anthropocene refugia”. Critical perspectives consider that protection measures keeping people far away do not guarantee the saving of wild nature but are another way to colonize it under the neoliberal imperative. This article essays an image composition based on available explicit spatial data from public sources as a representation of human settlement distribution within and around (buffer zone) the Wild Protected Areas System in Southern Chile. From an interpretative perspective beyond the dichotomic framework of pristine wilderness versus anthropogenic pressures, this article explores patterns configurating complex assemblages with diffuse limits which challenge the mainstream conservation model adopted by the State, in which people remain invisible, to think about human activity within protected areas and the unprotected space around them in a different way. In conclusion, the current system of protected areas, by itself, is not sufficient to maintain diversity, while the change processes driven by neoliberal exploitation remain within a framework dominated by political economy. New directions in interdisciplinary research and policy interactions must be explored to develop innovative measures, such as the idea of refugia against the demands of the Anthropocene.
]]>Authors: Heloise Muzi Adriana Vallesi Giampaolo Pennacchioni Francesca Trenta Matteo Ferretti Adriano De Ascentiis Andrea Gallizia
In line with the Italian “Farmers-Nature Project” aimed at reducing conflicts between wild predators and livestock farmers, the spatiotemporal activity of the red fox was monitored in a protected area of central Italy over a one-year period. In parallel, farmers living in the study area were asked to participate in an interview about their perception of the red fox and its predatory activity towards livestock. Analysis of data obtained by camera trapping revealed that a higher number of red fox sightings was recorded in February and March in relation to the search for food, while a lower number was recorded in July when food is more abundant. Red fox primarily moves at night, with a peak of activity between 9 and 10 p.m., staying around an area close to the den. Interviews with farmers revealed a generally positive view of the red fox, as its predation on livestock was rare, suggesting that the fox can find sufficient food resources in the environment.
]]>Authors: Ruan W. Higgs Francois Deacon
In the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, an investigation was launched into the impact of large-scale open-pit mining on wildlife ecology and populations, more specifically on the animal species richness and detection rates across different vegetation types. Using camera traps, we monitored a 43,000-hectare area, which included active mining areas and adjacent lands, over a period of five years (2020–2024). Data on 44 animal species ranging from small mammals to large megaherbivores were collected, with a large variation in species richness across the study site being observed. The detection of species that are of conservation concern, such as the vulnerable Temminck’s ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) and endangered mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula), highlighted additional potential risks that mining activities pose to biodiversity in the area, emphasizing the importance of monitoring biodiversity in areas that are impacted by large-scale anthropogenic and mining activities. Furthermore, the results suggest that some areas may require a more targeted approach to conservation in order to mitigate the disruptive effect of mining. Benchmarking the species present and proving the presence of endangered and vulnerable species prove the successful first steps into understanding habitat disruption caused by mining activities and will guide future conservation and management efforts.
]]>Authors: Ezra Houston Eric P. Burkhart Cassie Stark Xin Chen Sarah E. Nilson
Ramps or wild leeks (Allium tricoccum) are a popular foraged non-timber forest product in North America consumed for their edible bulbs and leaves. The agroforestry practice of forest farming is a possible solution to conservation challenges surrounding the wild exploitation of this species, but it requires proper site selection to be successful. In this study, maximum entropy (Maxent) modeling using 163 occurrence points and field data collected at 30 wild populations were combined to determine the characteristics of the ramp habitat in Pennsylvania. Both Maxent modeling and field measurements highlighted moist, lower slope positions with base-rich bedrock types as suitable for ramps. Sites shared 50% of their floristic associates on average, with 252 species documented in total. Forest communities associated with ramps included many species indicative of base-rich mesic soil conditions, but the relative abundance of some indicator species differed by region. The confirmation of model variables by field measurements and forest community types points to the usefulness of these characteristics in identifying suitable forest farming sites. When used in tandem, these results can help to guide site selection for forest farming and other conservation strategies.
]]>Authors: Hiromitsu Tanaka Hiroshi Sato Masashi Fukasawa Yasuchika Yamaguchi Keisuke Kakazu Toshiaki Seto Yuki Tanaka Yuichiro Matsumoto
(1) Background: The numbers of wild animals in Japan are increasing due to changes in the industrial structure and a decline in the population. Various extermination approaches have been used against animals that are classified as harmful, such as boars. Making effective use of exterminated wild animals will revitalize extermination activities by developing markets as the number of hunters declines. We measured serum testosterone levels to examine the potential value of male wild boars as a meat source and compared them with the testosterone levels in domestic male pigs. Testosterone has an analeptic effect even in small amounts. (2) Methods: Blood testosterone levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence in wild boars and domestic pigs, collected using box traps in Sasebo City. (3) Results: Almost no testosterone was detected in the sera of castrated domestic male pigs, and more testosterone was detected in wild male boars than in pigs. (4) Conclusions: The analysis demonstrated that male wild boars have unique nutritional value compared with domestic pigs.
]]>Authors: Jeferson de Menezes Souza Josué Luiz da Silva Alves Ana Carolina Matos Rodrigues Ernani M. F. Lins-neto Felipe Silva Ferreira
Background: The relationship between human populations and wild animals dates back across centuries of interactions, enabling the construction of belief systems in communities. The socioecological perspective allows us to understand the interactions between the social and ecological dimensions of a population and nature. Methods: In this context, 133 residents of a rural community were interviewed to assess their knowledge and use of animals. We sought to evaluate the following: (i) animal species used by community residents, (ii) types of use and (iii) the effects of socioeconomic variables on different uses of vertebrate animal taxa. Results: The fauna cited were represented by 82 ethnospecies distributed in 48 families; it was not possible to identify nine ethnospecies and two were identified only at the genus level (Columbina sp. and Turdus sp.). Among the identified species, birds presented the greatest taxonomic richness (n = 34/41.0%), followed by mammals (n = 22/27.0%) and reptiles (n = 15/18.0%). Through generalized linear models, we identified which socioeconomic variables influenced the knowledge and use of wildlife resources. Furthermore, the influence of socioeconomic variables varied between taxa and use categories. Conclusions: The influence of socioeconomic variables may vary according to the taxonomic group, as well as the type of cultural domain, favoring the increase or decrease in the use of a resource.
]]>Authors: Kevin Cianfaglione
Why have we established this journal, and how does it differ from other journals concerning the environment, land management, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity and ecological philosophy [...]
]]>Authors: Thiago da Cruz Alves Valdely Ferreira Kinupp Bruno Araujo Furtado de Mendonça Tiago Böer Breier
We conducted a floristic survey of Non-Conventional Food Plants (Plantas Alimentícias Não Convencionais (PANC)) on the trail of Travessia Petrópolis–Teresópolis in Serra dos Órgãos National Park, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Wild food plants with food potential were collected along a sinuous transect of 27 km in length and 3 m in width. The collected material was identified in virtual herbariums by specialists, and later, a literature review on the food use of the identified plants was carried out. Thus, 90 food and potential food species were identified, belonging to 54 genera and distributed in 34 families present along the trail, including the Asteraceae (10), Begoniaceae (9), Passifloraceae (8), Piperaceae (7), and Cactaceae (6) families, which showed the greatest species richness. We conclude that the diversity of the PANC found in a protected area demonstrates enormous potential for future domestication to produce food from the native flora of Brazil. Another potential use is in educational activities and pedagogical tourism, highlighting the gastronomic dimension of plant diversity present in protected areas.
]]>Authors: Natalia Mesa-Sierra Patricia Moreno-Casasola Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer
The tropical dry regions in the Neotropics are under intense anthropogenic pressures, resulting in changes for local communities related with their life patterns, wellbeing, and their relationship with ecosystems. The region has a history of human occupation that has shaped the traditional use of resources. We evaluated the richness, redundancy, and divergence of traditional uses of tree species present in vegetation patches of the tropical dry region of the Gulf of Mexico using functional diversity indices. The most used species are Acacia cochliacantha, Cedrela odorata, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Gliricidia sepium, and Guazuma ulmifolia, and the uses with the broadest distributions across the region are firewood and pasture management, while reforestation is the least common use. While distance to the nearest patch of the closest human settlement is the most predictive variable associated with inhabitants’ different uses or recognitions of the value of different plant species, the most recognized and valued species are widely distributed in Mexico. Even when the forest cover is greatly reduced, the inhabitants recognize numerous uses that can be obtained from the vegetation patches. The approach used in this work provides important baseline information, as well as a methodology that facilitates the identification of priority areas for conservation.
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