Search Results (52)

The saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica), a keystone migratory species of the Central Asian steppes and deserts, is increasingly threatened by habitat fragmentation due to the rapidly expanding transport infrastructure in Kazakhstan, which hosts approximately 95% of the species’ global population. This study provides a spatial assessment of railway and road infrastructure across the contemporary ranges of the Betpaqdala, Ustyurt, and Ural saiga populations. Using the literature and our field data from the 1980s to the present day, combined with geographic information system (GIS)-based analysis of 80,427 km of roads and 4021 km of railways, we have quantified infrastructure densities and identified critical barriers to saiga migration using kernel density and minimum convex polygons (MCP) estimations. The results reveal a negative connection between infrastructure density and occurrences of saiga herds, particularly in the Ustyurt population, where a high railway density coincides with severely reduced migratory activity and a reduction in this population’s winter range by 79.84% since 2015. Major railways such as Sekseuildi–Zhezqazgan, Zhezqazgan–Zharyk, and Shalqar–Beineu intersect essential migratory pathways and have contributed to significant range contraction, subpopulation isolation, and northward shifts in seasonal habitats. In contrast, the Ural population (subject to minimal railway infrastructure interference) has shown robust demographic recovery. While roads are more widespread, their impact is less severe due to greater permeability. However, upcoming projects such as the China–Europe transit corridor and the “Center–West” regional development corridor could amplify future threats. We recommend immediately implementing wildlife-friendly infrastructure, including overpasses and ecological corridors, to preserve the connectivity of saiga ranges and support the long-term conservation of this ungulate species. Full article

Decreases in animal mortality due to wildlife–vehicle collisions have been consistently documented as an environmental effect of human mobility restrictions aimed at containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we investigate this phenomenon on the mid-sized Mediterranean island of Lesvos, considering a multi-species group of mammals over a five-year systematic recording of animal casualties. We developed a method to analyze the relationship between actual casualties and risk, drawing inspiration from Markowitz’s theory on multi-asset optimization in economics. Additionally, we treated this phenomenon as a Poisson probabilistic process. Our main finding indicates that the lockdown year diverged markedly in modeled return–risk space, exhibiting a displacement on the order of 10² compared to the multi-year baseline—an outcome that reflects structural changes in risk dynamics, not a literal 100-fold decrease in observed counts. This modeled shift is significantly larger compared to published evidence regarding individual species. The results concerning the vulnerability of specific mammals, analyzed as a Poisson process, underscore the importance of singular events that can overshadow the overall systemic nature of the issue. We conclude that a promising strategy for addressing this problem is for conservationists to integrate animal-friendly measures into general human road safety policies. Full article

Compared with traditional field techniques, automated and noninvasive bird monitoring techniques, such as passive acoustic monitoring, offer significant advantages. However, the extensive data collected through passive acoustic monitoring can be challenging to analyze and may require the use of machine learning algorithms for efficient processing. BirdNET is a user-friendly and ready-to-use machine learning tool that can recognize more than 6500 wildlife species, including several tropical species. However, the performance of BirdNET in tropical ecosystems has rarely been assessed. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of BirdNET for monitoring the vocal activity of three Neotropical wetland species from recordings collected over a year in the Brazilian Pantanal: Green Ibis (Mesembrinibis cayennensis), Limpkin (Aramus guarauna), and Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias). BirdNET was able to detect the presence of the three species in 82–92% of the recordings with known presence. Similarly, BirdNET’s ability to correctly identify vocalizations was consistently greater than 77% (range 77–98%), confirming its effectiveness for monitoring these three tropical bird species. The peak vocal activity for the three species occurred during crepuscular periods, at the end of the rainy season, and during the receding season, a period when the risk of nest damage from flood pulses is low and food availability is high owing to the large presence of small water bodies. The use of machine learning algorithms such as BirdNET may improve bird monitoring in tropical areas but also facilitate research that improves our knowledge of birds’ natural history, which remains unknown for many tropical species. Full article

Species richness is a crucial factor in maintaining ecological balance and promoting ecosystem services. However, simulating population dynamics is a complex task that requires a comprehensive understanding of ecological systems. The current tools for wildlife research face three major challenges: insufficient multi-view assessment, a high learning curve, and a lack of seamless secondary development with Python. To address these issues, we developed a novel software tool named WAPET (Wildlife Analysis and Population Ecology Tool) (Python 3.10.12). WAPET integrates Monte Carlo simulation with ecological models, including Logistic Growth, Random Walk, and Cellular Automata, to provide a multi-perspective assessment of ecological systems. Our tool employs a fully parameterized input paradigm, allowing users without coding to easily explore simulations. Additionally, WAPET’s development is entirely Python-based, utilizing PySide6 and Mesa libraries and enabling seamless development in Python environments. Our contributions include the following: (I) integrating multiple ecological models for a comprehensive understanding of ecological processes, (II) developing a no-code mode of human–computer interaction for biodiversity stakeholders and researchers, and (III) implementing a Python-based framework for easy extension and customization. WAPET bridges the gap between comprehensive modeling capabilities and user-friendly interfaces, positioning itself as a versatile tool for both experienced researchers and non-computational stakeholders in biodiversity decision-making processes. Full article

Agricultural landscapes significantly impact biodiversity, particularly within vineyard ecosystems where the configuration of native vegetation and vineyard edges plays a pivotal role. This study investigated the structure of bird communities across vineyards, their edges, and adjacent native vegetation, utilizing generalized linear mixed models to analyze the influence of surrounding land covers at varying scales of 100 m and 1000 m radii across these three landscape types on bird richness and abundance and functional groups. The results highlight that native vegetation is crucial for supporting endemic bird species, with 41% of all observed species found across all three habitat types and a significant 66.7% shared between native vegetation and edge habitats. In particular, insectivores and carnivores, key to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service provision, showed higher abundances in areas with extensive native vegetation, underscoring its vital role in maintaining ecological functions. Edges not only enhanced the general bird richness and abundance but also served as crucial habitats for granivores and omnivores, influencing ecosystem dynamics through changes in the trophic guild community structure. These findings underscore the importance of conserving native vegetation within vineyard landscapes to foster a diverse avian community that contributes to enhancing ecosystem services. These results provide an opportunity to intensify restoration initiatives on vineyard edges and enhance our understanding of how certain species adapt to agriculture. This can be considered a vital nature-based solution for sustainable agriculture, promoting biodiversity conservation alongside productive agroecological practices in vineyard ecosystems. Full article

Cats, including companion cats, inflict extensive harm on wildlife. Using a national survey of 2000 households in New Zealand, we investigated the influence of involvement (an indicator of motivation) on the willingness of cat owners to keep their cats indoors at night. We found that respondents’ intentions to protect wildlife, and the frequency with which respondents with cats kept them indoors at night, was influenced by their involvement with cat welfare and their involvement with protecting wildlife, in addition to their attitudes and subjective norms. We also found that keeping cats indoors at night could be characterised as involving approach-avoidance conflict. Our findings have implications for efforts to increase the adoption by cat owners of keeping cats inside at night regarding the attentiveness of cat owners to promotional activities. Our findings suggest that such activities will not be particularly effective in the absence of cat-friendly, inexpensive, practical, and easily maintained devices that enable cats to be kept inside. Importantly, when the adoption of keeping cats inside at night is appropriately characterised as approach-avoidance conflict, our results suggest that promotional activities seeking to persuade cat owners that pet cats cause much greater harm to wildlife than they might believe are most likely to have a limited and likely temporary effect and may even be counterproductive. Full article

In areas of high human-elephant conflict, cultivating crops that are less attractive to elephants can be a viable strategy for coexistence. Farmers in these regions often grow crops like pineapple, which are palatable to elephants and attract them into human-dominated landscapes. This study, conducted in Ruam Thai Village, adjacent to Kuiburi National Park in Thailand, evaluated the socio-economic factors affecting farmers’ interest in alternative crop cultivation and assessed the impact of elephants and environmental threats on plots containing pineapple and alternative crops. Our findings revealed that 70% of households (N = 239) rely on pineapple cultivation as their primary source of income. However, 49% of interviewed pineapple farmers reported that their cultivation was not profitable, largely owing to the high costs of agro-chemical inputs. The majority (91%) of farmers experienced negative consequences from living near wild elephants, and 50% expressed interest in cultivating alternative crops. Farmers who frequently experienced elephant visits, felt they could coexist with elephants, and perceived both positive and negative consequences from them were more likely to be interested in alternative crop cultivation. Elephants eliminated over 80% of the pineapple but less than 6% of any alternative crop species across all test plots. Using a crop scoring system based on ecological, economic, and social factors, we identified lemongrass and citronella as the most suitable alternative crop species for the study site. This multidisciplinary study highlights interventions needed to reduce barriers and increase motivators for local farmers to adopt elephant-friendly agriculture as a sustainable human–elephant coexistence strategy. Full article

The economic significance of the shrimp industry relies heavily on the comprehensive utilization of all of the shrimp’s parts. However, this importance is often threatened by common challenges such as disease and pollution, caused by prominent contaminants that are capable of exerting adverse effects either directly as physical pollutants or indirectly through the incorporation of additives or adsorbed chemicals. Among these substances are endocrine disruptors, which pose risks to both wildlife and human populations. In this study, 11 endocrine-disrupting compounds were determined (3 bisphenols, 3 phthalates, 3 pesticides, and 2 nonylphenols) through the development of a cost-effective, greener and cost-friendly method based on solid-phase matrix dispersion (MSPD) with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Determinations were performed on different parts of the shrimp: the cephalothorax, abdomen, intestine and shell. Several variables were optimized in the extraction, separation and detection phases, resulting in average recoveries of about 90%. The limit of detection (LOD) varies depending on the analyte and matrix. At concentrations of 1 mg/kg in the cephalothorax+shells and 1.25 mg/kg in the abdomen+intestine, all compounds were detected, except for nonylphenols. The developed method has allowed the simultaneous determination of 11 endocrine disruptors in different parts of the shrimp samples. Furthermore, the MSPD has been demonstrated to be an efficacious, selective, and streamlined sample extraction method, eliminating the necessity for pretreatment steps such as centrifugation and filtration, as well as the use of large volumes of solvents. Full article

Steroid hormones may pose potential risks to both human health and wildlife, primarily through the consumption of medication or polluted food and water; efforts are being made to monitor their levels in the human body and regulate and minimize their releases to the environment. In this study, a simple and environmentally friendly sample preparation method was developed to simultaneously determine three steroid hormones in urine and water samples. A monoterpene (menthol) and a fatty acid (lauric acid) were combined in various ratios to form a hydrophobic deep eutectic (HDE) solvent as an extraction solvent in solvent bar microextraction (SBME). Using a univariate strategy, a menthol-to-lauric acid HDE ratio of 4:1 and a pH 7 of the sample solution resulted in the highest extraction efficiency (EE%) of the selected steroids. The computational methods have been employed to predict a 4:1 HDE interaction with chosen steroids. Additionally, chemometric approaches suggested that the optimal extraction conditions involved HDEs as extract solvent confined within three SBME devices directly immersed into a 20 mL sample solution with a 30 min extraction time, followed by ultrasonication within 200 μL of elution solvent for a 5 min elution time. Under optimized conditions, the method calibration graph for the spiked selected steroids in the water and urine samples showed good linearity with R² ≥ 0.994 with limits of detection/quantification lower than 0.40/1.35 μg L⁻¹ and repeatability/reproducibility (RSD%, n = 5) lower than 5.09/7.11. The developed method allows a safe, rapid, and reliable analysis of three steroid hormones in human urine and water samples without using toxic volatile organic solvents. Full article

Anthropogenic light impacts both wildlife and human well-being, and national parks are some of the only remaining large swaths of land where natural dark skies remain. Over the past two decades, a significant amount of science has contributed both to our understanding of these impacts and to engineering advances to reduce negative lighting effects. This has resulted in changes to lighting infrastructure in some national parks, and growth in Dark Sky Certification for many protected areas globally. To date, changing infrastructure, such as street and parking lot lighting, to less intrusive hues and intensities or removing lights altogether have been some of the sustainable changes made in these areas. This study advances our understanding of lighting issues by examining national park visitors’ perceptions of personal lighting use (e.g., headlamps). Specifically, this study explores camper and mountaineer perceptions of personal lighting devices and their impact on social and ecological systems in Grand Teton National Park, USA. During peak visitation in the summer of 2023, 17 mountaineer interviews and 16 general camper interviews took place in the park at night. Results indicate that campers and mountaineers are largely unaware of anthropogenic light impacts on wildlife and humans. However, once informed, they are willing to change their behaviors and reduce the use of personal lighting devices and use more wildlife-friendly lighting with amber or red settings (which, to date, are just emerging and available for general consumers by several companies). These results provide insights for developing educational strategies and personal lighting engineering designs that will ultimately lead to more sustainable normative shifts capable of reducing anthropogenic lighting impacts in parks and beyond. Full article

Due to the massive increase of the urban population, a global target is to achieve sustainable cities that are sensitive to nature and environmentally just for urban dwellers. To accomplish this, it is important to understand the responses of native and nonnative birds, identify the environmental variables that promote native species and limit nonnative species, and understand how they vary among socioeconomic groups. Although many cities in the Global South exhibit strong social and environmental segregation, few studies have investigated the relationship between socioeconomics and biodiversity. Therefore, to help promote ecological justice and biodiversity conservation in the developing world, we investigated the influence of socioeconomic level and woody cover on bird species richness and abundance in the city of Santiago de Chile. We also investigated whether bird response changes with species provenance—it is important to understand the response of native birds separately from nonnative birds because they imply opposite management strategies (e.g., conservation vs. species control/eradication). Thus, we surveyed 120 sites located in residential areas of high, medium, and low socioeconomic levels across the city and fit generalized linear (mixed) models that described bird species richness and abundance for total, native, and nonnative birds according to socioeconomic level and woody vegetation cover. We found that both socioeconomic level and woody vegetation cover influenced the bird community, but their effects changed with bird species origin, having opposite effects on native and nonnative birds. Residential areas where wealthier people live supported greater species richness and abundance of native birds than residential areas where people of lower socioeconomic status live. In contrast, residential areas where vulnerable people live had greater bird abundance that was mainly composed of nonnative birds. Therefore, affluent neighborhoods provide more opportunities to encounter native birds and experience nature close to home than poorer neighborhoods. Due to woody cover having positive effects on native birds and a negative influence on nonnative birds, increasing tree and shrub cover will contribute to supporting more native birds in residential areas deprived of woody vegetation, which are commonly low socioeconomic areas. Additional variables that can explain bird response among residential areas of different socioeconomic levels need to be investigated to better understand the factors influencing the distribution of birds in cities and promote a more biodiverse and environmentally just city. Full article

In the United States, imported fire ants are commonly referred to as red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta Buren), black imported fire ants (S. richteri Forel), and hybrid imported fire ants (S. invicta × S. richteri). They are significant pests, and their control heavily relies on synthetic insecticides. The extensive use of insecticides has led to public concern about their potential negative effects on human health and the well-being of wildlife and the environment. As an alternative, plant-derived natural compounds, particularly essential oils (EOs) and their main constituents, show promise as safe and environmentally friendly products for controlling fire ants. Repellants are useful in managing fire ants, and plant-derived natural repellants may serve as a safer and more environmentally friendly option. This study investigates the repellency of EO-derived compounds carvacrol, thymol, and their acetates against imported fire ant workers. The results revealed that carvacrol, a GRAS compound (Generally Recognized As Safe), was the most potent repellent against S. invicta, S. richteri, and their hybrid, with minimum repellent effective doses (MREDs) of 0.98 µg/g, 7.80 µg/g, and 0.98 µg/g, respectively. Thymol also exhibited strong repellency, with MREDs of 31.25 µg/g, 31.25 µg/g, and 7.8 µg/g, respectively. Furthermore, thyme-red essential oil, characterized by a thymol chemotype containing 48.8% thymol and 5.1% carvacrol, was found to effectively repel the hybrid ants with an MRED of 15.6 µg/g. In contrast, thyme essential oil, characterized by a linalool chemotype lacking thymol and carvacrol, did not exhibit any repellent effect, even at the highest tested dose of 125 µg/g. This study provides the first evidence of the potent repellency of carvacrol and thymol against imported fire ant workers, indicating their potential as promising repellents for fire ant control. Full article

Global warming has led to irregular precipitation patterns and various abiotic and biotic stresses, resulting in unforeseen consequences for wildlife. Plant species are particularly vulnerable to these global climate changes, struggling to adapt to the increasing stressors. Urban environments exacerbate these challenges, further hindering plant survival and growth. The declining number of climate- and urban-tolerant plant species is a direct consequence of escalating stresses. However, resistance breeding approaches coupled with environmentally friendly technologies like biostimulants offer hope by expanding the pool of adaptable species. Urban vegetation plays a vital role in mitigating the urban heat island effect, supporting mental well-being among residents, and preserving biodiversity. In this study, we comprehensively review recent research findings on these topics with a focus on publications from the past 5 years. Emphasizing stress-tolerant ornamental urban plants including trees and herbaceous species becomes crucial for establishing sustainable living practices. By incorporating resilient plant varieties into urban landscapes, we can enhance ecological balance while improving the overall quality of urban environments for both human inhabitants and wildlife populations. Full article

The development of railways stands as a pivotal milestone in the history of transportation, transforming the world and revolutionising the movement of people and goods. From their humble beginnings as rudimentary track systems to the sophisticated and interconnected networks we witness today, railways have played a crucial role in fostering economic growth, promoting globalisation, and shaping modern societies. Moreover, as the world grapples with the urgent need to mitigate climate change and transition to sustainable modes of transportation, the role of railways has gained significant attention. Railways have long been recognised as one of the most environmentally friendly means of mass transit, offering lower carbon emissions, energy efficiency, and reduced congestion compared to other transportation modes. However, there are still many challenges to overcome to provide continuous sustainability in the context of environmental impacts, especially related to wildlife and habitat protection. This scientific paper aims to explore the concept of sustainability in the context of railways, providing a comprehensive analysis of their environmental influences. As a result, the authors present a complex analysis of the topic, combining different perspectives—ecological, engineering, and legislative. They present methods of reducing noise pollution—constructional and legal ways; emission pollution reduction associated with combustion engines; and innovative analysis of limiting the impact of transportation on natural habitats and forest animal populations, which is not yet sufficiently elaborated scientifically in the literature. By examining key strategies, technologies, and policy frameworks, this research sheds light on the challenges and opportunities related to sustainability within the railway industry around the world. Full article

The main objective of environmental education is to promote pro-environmental behaviors; increasing knowledge and understanding are the first steps. Active learning plays a crucial role in increasing engagement levels and achieving positive behavioral development. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a wildlife-friendly farming curriculum, including active learning, presented to 223 students aged 13–15 years from ten middle schools in Garut Regency, Indonesia, from June to September 2019. Using pre- and post-questionnaires, we found that knowledge retention and understanding increased if students completed an exercise that involved an active discussion with parents and if the class was engaged (monitored via WhatsApp groups) in an active learning experiment. Key concepts regarding wildlife-friendly farming, such as mutual benefits for wildlife and humans, the provision of ecosystem services by animals, and the use of organic farming, were more frequent if students discussed the program with parents or if they were engaged during the experiment. We found evidence that student engagement via active learning increased knowledge retention and understanding of wildlife-friendly farming. Similar approaches should be used to promote wildlife-friendly farming approaches from even younger ages and should be tested with other projects aimed at producing pro-environmental behaviors. Full article