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Effects of management complexity on the composition, plant functional dominance relationships and physiognomy of high nature value grasslands Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-09 Róbert Kun, Dániel Babai, András István Csathó, Arnold Erdélyi, Judit Hartdégen, Attila Lengyel, Nikoletta Kálmán, András Mártonffy, Alida Anna Hábenczyus, Zsófia Szegleti, Ákos Vig, András Máté, Ákos Malatinszky, Tímea Tóth, Csaba Vadász
A significant proportion of Europe’s species-rich grasslands are semi-natural habitats. They have a long history of traditional management. Several studies have been carried out to conserve them, resulting in the establishment of subsidised conservation management schemes. On the other hand, many of these conservation management schemes have failed to provide locally adaptive solutions to maintain
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Lost in hostile lands: moths of conservation concern in cultivated and suburban areas of south Italy Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-21 Laura Bevacqua, Giada Zucco, Kevin Garofalo, Innocenzo Muzzalupo, Stefano Scalercio
Cultivated and suburban areas are usually considered unfavourable to the vulnerable components of biodiversity and regarded as not interesting from a conservation point of view. However, remnants of semi-natural vegetation can be embedded in such areas, becoming possible refuges for wild biodiversity despite the high anthropogenic pressures. With the present study, we raise awareness that, in some
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Vegetation changes along an urbanisation and atmospheric pollution gradient in Mexico Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-21 Edmar Meléndez-Jaramillo, Laura Sánchez-Castillo, Ma. Teresa de Jesús Segura Martínez, Uriel Jeshua Sánchez-Reyes
Green areas are important places for biodiversity conservation within cities, but their vegetation is affected by various anthropogenic factors. This study used an exploratory approach to examine the influence of urbanisation and air pollution-related factors on the indicators for the composition and structure of vegetation in an urban area in northeast Mexico. Based on the spatial analysis of the
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Does a flashing artificial light have more or conversely less impacts on animals than a continuous one? A systematic review Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-07 Alix Lafitte, Romain Sordello, Marc Legrand, Virginie Nicolas, Gaël Obein, Yorick Reyjol
Background: Light pollution has been increasingly recognised as a threat to biodiversity, especially with the current expansion of public lighting. Although the impacts of light intensity, spectral composition and temporality are more often studied, another component of light, its flicker frequency, has been largely overlooked. However, flashing light could also have impacts on biodiversity, and
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Exploring life-history traits of an endangered plant (Vicia biennis L.) to support the conservation of marginal populations Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-07 Anett Endrédi, Ármin Sőth, Dóra Ércz, Balázs Deák, Orsolya Valkó, János György Nagy
We aimed to investigate the reproduction-related traits of Vicia biennis L., an endangered and poorly known wetland species in its western marginal populations (in Hungary), and discuss the conservational and ecological implications. We measured the mass, viability, and physical dormancy of half-year-old seeds in five in-situ collected seed lots, while potential seed longevity (i.e., seed bank type)
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Spatial distribution of sand dunes along the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast: inventory, UAS mapping and new discoveries Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-05 Bogdan Prodanov, Lyubomir Dimitrov, Iliyan Kotsev, Radoslava Bekova, Todor Lambev
Coastal sand dunes are amongst the world’s most sensitive and dynamic landforms. Unfortunately, during the last thirty years, heavy anthropogenic alterations have been observed, encompassing the greater part of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast (BBSC), which has changed the land-sea interactions significantly. As a consequence, the depositional coast has shrunk to 131 km or 25% of the aggregate Bulgarian
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Effects of anthropogenic and environmental stressors on the current status of red mullet (Mullus barbatus L., 1758) populations inhabiting the Bulgarian Black Sea waters Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-05 Ivelina Zlateva, Violin Raykov, Albena Alexandrova, Petya Ivanova, Nesho Chipev, Kremena Stefanova, Nina Dzhembekova, Valentina Doncheva, Violeta Slabakova, Elitsa Stefanova, Svetlana Mihova, Nadezhda Valcheva, Ognyana Hristova, Boryana Dzhurova, Dimitar Dimitrov, Almira Georgieva, Elina Tsvetanova, Madlena Andreeva, Ivan Popov, Mariya Yankova, Yordan Raev, Konstantin Petrov
The red mullet (Mullus barbatus Linnaeus, 1758) is a keynote species for the Bulgarian Black Sea ecosystem and fisheries; nevertheless, existing knowledge on population status is very scarce. The present study was intended to assess the health status and adaptive potential of M. barbatus populations inhabiting the Bulgarian waters of the Black Sea. Our findings revealed that populations of M. barbatus
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A baseline assessment of anthropogenic macrolitter on dunes along the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast using visual census and Unmanned Aerial Systems Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-05 Bogdan Prodanov, Radoslava Bekova
Beach-dune systems are among the most dynamic and sensitive elements of coastal ecosystems in the world. They represent an intersection between human activities, flora, fauna and economic interests in tourism. The Bulgarian Black Sea shoreline spans 518.7 km and comprises 131 km (25%) of the depositional coast, including beaches and 46 dune systems. Over the past three decades, heavy anthropogenic
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Morphological and genetic characteristics of garfish Belone belone (L., 1760) (Belonidae, Teleostei) population from the southern Bulgarian Black Sea coast Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-05 Maria Yankova, Violin Raykov, Petya Ivanova, Nina Dzhembekova, Cemal Turan, Yordan Raev
This study was conducted to investigate genetic and some morphometric and meristic characteristics of garfish Belone belone from Nesebar in the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Twelve morphometric characters were measured, and six meristic characters were counted for each individual. Based on both sexes’ morphological and meristic analyses, no statistically significant sexual differences were observed
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Small reserve but high diversity: butterfly community across an altitudinal gradient in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-11-29 Andrêsa G. Andrade, Cássio Cardoso Pereira, Vinícius F. Sperandei, Tatiana Cornelissen
The present study aimed to describe the composition of the butterfly community in relation to the altitudinal gradient in the Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural (RPPN) Alto-Montana, Serra da Mantiqueira, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and to provide a list of species for the area. We collected samples in the RPPN Alto-Montana along an altitudinal gradient from 1400 to 2100 m, between the dry and rainy
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Distribution, conservation assessment and management perspectives of Chilean micro-snails of the family Charopidae Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-10-25 Gonzalo A. Collado, Nataly Flores, Marcela A. Vidal, Cristian Torres-Díaz, Moisés A. Valladares
The biodiversity of molluscs is highly threatened in marine, terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems worldwide. This research aimed at studying the distribution and conservation status of eight poorly-known micro-snails of the genera Stephacharopa and Stephadiscus in Chile. We performed a comprehensive review of literature and databases to determine the occurrences of the species, which were mapped
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Analysis of the effects of habitat characteristics, human disturbance and prey on felids presence using long-term community monitoring information Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-10-17 J. Roberto Sosa-López, Nydia Nicté Díaz Bernal, Eugenio Padilla, Miguel Briones-Salas
Predator species are essential for ecosystems as they maintain the ecological integrity of the habitat. Particularly, felids populations have declined globally due to their sensitivity to habitat disturbances. Nevertheless, in Mexico, there are areas protected by indigenous communities to preserve a portion of their territory, benefiting multiple species, including felids. Although the National Commission
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Hydrological regime and forest development have indirect effects on soil fauna feeding activity in Central European hardwood floodplain forests Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-09-29 Nicole Scheunemann, David J. Russell
Soil fauna act as regulators of decomposition processes via their feeding activity, thereby playing an important role in regulating carbon cycling and sequestration. Hardwood floodplain forests are critically endangered habitats, but strongly contribute to carbon sequestration in Central Europe. In the present study, within a floodplain forest-development programme, we investigated the feeding activity
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An analysis of the inter-state similarity of the herpetofaunas of Mexican states Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-09-25 Julio A. Lemos-Espinal, Geoffrey R. Smith
Mexico is a megadiverse country with high amphibian and reptile richness. Understanding how Mexico’s herpetofauna is shared among Mexican states can contribute to developing conservation plans by figuring out which states may need to coordinate conservation actions. We generated species lists for the herpetofauna for all Mexican states, and used hierarchical clustering analyses to identify clusters
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Assessment of the threat status of reptile species from Vietnam - Implementation of the One Plan Approach to Conservation Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-09-05 Lilli Stenger, Anke Große Hovest, Truong Quang Nguyen, Cuong The Pham, Anna Rauhaus, Minh Duc Le, Dennis Rödder, Thomas Ziegler
Since the world is currently in the midst of a major biodiversity crisis, scientists have assigned high conservation priority to 36 biodiversity hotspots around the world. As part of one of the leading hotspots in terms of species richness and local endemism, Vietnam is considered a country with high conservation priority. The reptile fauna of Vietnam is known for its high level of diversity and
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Conserving the threatened woody vegetation on dune slopes: Monitoring the decline and designing adaptive strategies for restoration Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-09-05 Amin U. Khan, Asad Abbas, Faiza Sharif, Asma Mansoor, Zafar Siddiq
The southern tip of the Thal desert in Pakistan harbors the remnants of the original tropical thorn forest, amounting to two percent, which covered the province of Punjab a hundred years ago. In the past three decades, there has been a progressive decline in woody species cover on dunes, which is directly related to the increase in population in the surrounding area. Stabilized and destabilized dunes
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Has climate change hijacked the environmental agenda? Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-09-05 Cássio Cardoso Pereira, Daniel Negreiros, Milton Barbosa, Fernando Figueiredo Goulart, Rodrigo de Loyola Dias, Maria Clara Melillo, Flávio Camarota, Mariana Antunes Pimenta, Marina Cruz, Geraldo Wilson Fernandes
Since the establishment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), decision-makers have realised that periodic assessments were needed to closely monitor climate change. Studies on it became widespread and include the science of greenhouse gas emissions, the composition of these gases and the extent to which humans have been responsible for climate change. In this sense, the United
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Dynamic change of habitat quality and its key driving factors in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-08-16 Ding Wang, Haiguang Hao, Hao Liu, Lihui Sun, Yuyang Li
Habitat quality reflects the level of biodiversity, and habitat maintenance functions are related to human well-being and ecosystem stability. Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is a typical ecologically fragile region in Western China with complex human-nature relationships. Maintaining good habitat is not only a fundamental requirement for biodiversity conservation but also a necessary path for sustainable
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Performance of SNP markers for parentage analysis in the Italian Alpine brown bear using non-invasive samples Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-08-10 Patrizia Giangregorio, Nadia Mucci, Anita J. Norman, Luca Pedrotti, Stefano Filacorda, Paolo Molinari, Göran Spong, Francesca Davoli
Determination of parentage provides valuable information for the conservation of wild populations, for instance, by allowing the monitoring of breeding success and inbreeding. Between 1999 and 2002, nine brown bears (Ursus arctos) were translocated to augment the remnant population of a few surviving individuals in the Italian Alps, but only part of them reproduced, with a higher inbreeding risk
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Hope is the last thing lost: Colombian captive-bred population of the critically endangered Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) is a genetic reservoir that could help to save the species from extinction Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-07-24 Ana M. Saldarriaga-Gómez, María Cristina Ardila-Robayo, Federico Medem, Mario Vargas-Ramírez
A purpose of ex-situ populations is the preservation of genetic variation, but this is a challenging task since genetic diversity is commonly lost through each generation, and so the establishment of management guidelines should be a high priority. Fifty years ago, the National University of Colombia began a breeding program in the Roberto Franco Tropical Station (in Villavicencio, Meta) to conserve
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Coastal beaver, Chinook, coho, chum salmon and trout response to nearshore changes resulting from diking and large-scale dam removals: synergistic ecosystem engineering and restoration in the coastal zone Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-07-18 J. Anne Shaffer, Dave Parks, Katrina Campbell, Anna Moragne, Bligh Hueske, Pamela Adams, Jenise M. Bauman
In this paper we assess long-term trends and habitat changes to understand the relationships between coastal beaver (Castor canadensis), salmon, shoreline alterations, large-scale dam removals and nearshore ecological restoration. From this work we conclude that the removal of two large scale dams in the Elwha River has benefited beaver use of the coastal zone through water quality changes that allow
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First exhaustive distribution and habitat modelling of Morimus asper (Sulzer, 1776) sensu lato (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) in Bulgaria Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-07-07 Rumyana Kostova, Rostislav Bekchiev, Georgi Popgeorgiev, Yurii V. Kornilev
Although Morimus asper, in particular the ssp. funereus, is considered as widespread throughout Bulgaria, a current national mapping of the species is missing. Thus, here we present the first exhaustive study on the distribution of M. asper in Bulgaria. Our research combined 967 georeferenced presence records from scientific publications, from the museum collection of the National Museum of Natural
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Promoting private forests for biodiversity conservation and ecosystems restoration in the Sahel region Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-06-16 Karafa Bognini, Loyapin Bondé, Sié Sylvestre Da, Abisha Mapendembe, Roch Yao Gnabeli
Private forests have the potential to mitigate biodiversity loss and improve community livelihoods. However, information on the socio-ecological factors that drive their establishment and long-term management are limited. This study aimed to narrow this gap by assessing the potential of privately-owned forests in conserving biodiversity and supporting the livelihoods of communities in northern Burkina
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Effect of ecological restoration on topsoil phosphorus following afforestation on abandoned ponds in northern Chaohu Lake, China Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-06-16 Gang Li, Shengming Dong, Hao Wang, Yanmei Guan, Patrick Tyler Deja, Wei Nie
Afforestation is an approach for ecological restoration. Soil total phosphorus is one of the important ecological and evolutionary elements for carbon cycles and plant growth following afforestation. However, studies on soil total phosphorus of afforestation on abandoned ponds with different slopes are still lacking. Soil total phosphorus and other soil properties from afforestation sites with different
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The scale of the problem: understanding the demand for medicinal pangolin products in China Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-04-03 Yifu Wang, Samuel T. Turvey, Nigel Leader-Williams
Wildlife conservationists are increasingly concerned about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) due to the demands it places on many threatened species. In particular, pangolin populations in both Asia and Africa have experienced drastic declines driven by illegal trade. However, few studies have attempted to determine the level of this demand for traded species. In this study, we use social science
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Vegetation changes at oligotrophic grasslands managed for a declining butterfly Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-03-23 Přemysl Tájek, Aleš Tenčík, Martin Konvička, Václav John
A selection of sites occupied by the EU-protected marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) in western Czech Republic were subjected to a vegetation survey 15 years ago and again recently. In the 66 time-replicated 25 m2 plots from 12 sites, representing the diversity of E. aurinia-occupied oligotrophic grasslands in the Slavkovský les Protected Landscape Area (and covering a fifth of the currently-occupied
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Evaluating resampled and fused Sentinel-2 data and machine-learning algorithms for mangrove mapping in the northern coast of Qeshm island, Iran Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-03-20 Ali Reza Soffianian, Neda Bihamta Toosi, Ali Asgarian, Hervé Regnauld, Sima Fakheran, Lars T. Waser
Mangrove forests, as an essential component of the coastal zones in tropical and subtropical areas, provide a wide range of goods and ecosystem services that play a vital role in ecology. Mangroves are globally threatened, disappearing, and degraded. Consequently, knowledge on mangroves distribution and change is important for effective conservation and making protection policies. Developing remote
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Local perception of the current state and threat factors of a critically endangered species, Celtis toka (Forssk.) Hepper & J.R.I. Wood, in Burkina Faso: implications for species conservation Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-03-15 Zaïnabou Dabré, Issouf Zerbo, Blandine Marie Ivette Nacoulma, Dodiomon Soro, Adjima Thiombiano
Celtis toka, the only species of the genus Celtis (family Cannabaceae) encountered in the flora of Burkina Faso, is critically endangered in the country. To engage the public for the future conservation and domestication of the species, knowledge of the factors threatening Celtis toka survival is necessary. Thus, the study objective was to identify the perceptions of local people concerning the current
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Changes in suitable habitat for the critically endangered Northern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys) in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam: Implication for conservation Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-02-21 Khoa Van Phung, Dung Van Tran, Hai Thanh Dong, Vinh Quang Luu, Van Bac Bui, Thinh Tien Vu
Several recent studies have highlighted that change in land use and land cover (LULC) is the main threat causing the decline and extinction of certain species. Gibbons (Hylobatidae) could be excellent examples, on account of their potential for extinction in the near future under the effects of LULC changes due to their particular ecological traits. This study aims to model the current suitable habitat
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Using drone imagery to obtain population data of colony-nesting seabirds to support Canada’s transition to the global Key Biodiversity Areas program Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-02-15 Lindsay A. R. Lalach, David W. Bradley, Douglas F. Bertram, Louise K. Blight
Identifying of global or national biodiversity ‘hotspots’ has proven important for focusing and prioritizing conservation efforts worldwide. Canada has nearly 600 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) identified by quantitative criteria to help guide avian conservation and management. Marine IBAs capture critical waterbird habitats such as nesting colonies, foraging sites, and staging areas
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The trail less traveled: Envisioning a new approach to identifying key food resources for threatened Hawaiian arboreal snails Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-02-10 Wallace M. Meyer III, Kenneth A. Hayes, Norine W. Yeung, Edward J. Crane III, Alexandra Turvey, Claire LeBlanc, Andre R. O. Cavalcanti
Our understanding of Hawaiian arboreal snails’ diets remains rudimentary, hindering the development of effective conservation strategies. To identify important food resources, we tested the hypothesis that epiphytic microbial assemblages differ on plant species preferred and avoided by snails at Mt. Kaala Natural Area Reserve, where snail plant preferences are known from previous studies. Comparing
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Numerous uncertainties in the multifaceted global trade in frogs’ legs with the EU as the major consumer Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-02-08 Mark Auliya, Sandra Altherr, Charlotte Nithart, Alice Hughes, David Bickford
The commercial trade in frogs and their body parts is global, dynamic and occurs in extremely large volumes (in the thousands of tonnes/yr or billions of frogs/yr). The European Union (EU) remains the single largest importer of frogs’ legs, with most frogs still caught from the wild. Amongst the many drivers of species extinction or population decline (e.g. due to habitat loss, climate change, disease
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Important plant areas (IPAs) in the Fergana Valley (Central Asia): The Bozbu-Too-Ungortepa massif Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-01-30 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev, Farkhod I. Karimov, Hushbaht R. Hoshimov, Rustam Gulomov, Georgy A. Lazkov, Chang-Gee Jang, Hee-Young Gil, Ju-Eun Jang, Avazbek R. Batoshov, Abdulla Iskandarov, Hyeok Jae Choi
This paper discusses identifying Important Plant Areas (IPAs) in one of the most densely populated regions of Central Asia—the Fergana valley. The recognition of IPA sites is an attempt to introduce new ways of conserving local plant diversity with a high concentration of endemic species in Central Asia, where conservation methods of the former Soviet Union still prevail. The research revealed the
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Reencounter with the past: occurrence of sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) in an old hunting area in the south-eastern Pacific Ocean Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-01-26 Andrea Cisterna-Concha, Camila Calderón-Quirgas, Fernanda Silva-Andrades, Richard Muñoz, Heraldo V. Norambuena
The sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) was intensively exploited throughout its range, with about 110.000 individuals hunted by pelagic fleets in Antarctic waters between 1960 and 1970. In addition, basic information on its distribution, migratory routes, and feeding grounds in the southeastern Pacific, has been poorly documented. In the case of Chile, recent information consists mainly of accidental
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First insight into freshwater fish assemblages in the western part of the Endau-Rompin landscape, Malaysia Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-12-16 Munian Kaviarasu, Farah Farhana Ramli, Lokman Mohd Ilham Norhakim, Nursyuhada Othman, Nur Aina Amira Mahyuddin, Hidayah Haris, Nur Hartini Sariyati, Mohd Faudzir Najmuddin, Salim Aman, Salman Faris Zaharin, Muhammad Abu Bakar Abdul-Latiff
In Malaysia, our knowledge of freshwater ecosystem and its aquatic inhabitants, particularly freshwater fish, remains inadequate, even in protected regions. It is essential to understand the composition of freshwater fish, their distribution along river gradients, and their interactions between environmental variables to develop and strategize effective conservation and management plans. Consequently
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The unregulated nature of the commercial captive predator industry in South Africa: Insights gained using the PAIA process Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-12-05 Louise de Waal, Catherine Jakins, Stephanie E. Klarmann, Jennah Green, Neil D’Cruze
South Africa has allowed the commercial captive breeding and trade of African lions (Panthera leo) and other large felids since the 1990s. However, publicly available information to quantify the extent and nature of this industry, as well as insight into the diversity of relevant provincial nature conservation statutes, are lacking. Our study reviewed the provincial regulations that govern the captive
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The extent and nature of the commercial captive lion industry in the Free State province, South Africa Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-11-22 Sarah Heinrich, Lalita Gomez, Jennah Green, Louise de Waal, Catherine Jakins, Neil D'Cruze
The captive breeding of wildlife for commercial purposes is a controversial issue. In South Africa, the farming of African lions (Panthera leo) for commercial trade emerged in the early 1990s, partly as a conservation measure to reduce the decline in wild lion numbers while meeting increasing wildlife trade demands. In May 2021, the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment
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The direct and indirect effects of damming on the Hippopotamus amphibius population abundance and distribution at Bui National Park, Ghana Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-11-15 Godfred Bempah, Martin Kobby Grant, Changhu Lu, Amaël Borzée
Landscape changes resulting from human activities have resulted in range restrictions and substantial reductions in population sizes of most animals. The construction of hydroelectric dams has the same effect on species, but the study of their impact on semi-aquatic megafauna species is limited. We examined the response of a Hippopotamus amphibius population to the inundation of their habitat after
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A literature-based database of the natural heritage, the ecological status and tourism-related impacts in show caves worldwide Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-11-10 Elena Piano, Giuseppe Nicolosi, Stefano Mammola, Valentina Balestra, Benedetta Baroni, Rossana Bellopede, Elena Cumino, Nicola Muzzulini, Anna Piquet, Marco Isaia
The touristic use of caves causes multiple environmental alterations to the subterranean ecosystem, having potential effects on all components, from the atmosphere to lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Setting a baseline on the current knowledge of the ecological status of world show caves is pivotal to implement monitoring and management programs aiming at their conservation. However, information
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Potential climatic and elevational range shifts in the Italian narrow endemic Bellevalia webbiana (Asparagaceae) under climate change scenarios Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-11-08 Lorenzo Peruzzi, David Dolci, Alessandro Chiarucci
The Webb’s hyacinth (Bellevalia webbiana Parl., Asparagaceae) is an Italian narrow endemic species, listed as Endangered (EN A2c) in the IUCN Global Red List of Threatened Species. The range of this bulbous perennial herb is restricted to two disjunct areas of Central Italy, separated by the mountain ridge of Northern Apennine. To evaluate the impact of climate change on this species, we used Ecological
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Dogs, not wolves, most likely to have caused the death of a British tourist in northern Greece Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-10-20 Yorgos Iliopoulos, Christos Astaras, Eirini Chatzimichail
Wolf (Canis lupus) populations have recovered and expanded across many parts of the world thanks to conservation efforts, including improved legal status and restoration of their prey. Concurrently, public concerns regarding the risk of wolf attacks on humans and livestock are increasing as wolves occupy human-dominated landscapes. We examined a unique case in Europe allegedly involving wolves in
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Seeking serpents: Ball python trade in Benin, West Africa Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-10-14 Christian Toudonou, Angie Elwin, Johannes Penner, Emma Coulthard, John Norrey, David Megson, Mark-Oliver Rödel, Brice Sinsin, Lauren A. Harrington, Mark Auliya, Neil D’Cruze
Ball pythons are traded as bushmeat, leather and belief-based medicine in West Africa, and specimens are exported in large numbers for the exotic pet trade. Here, we focused on understanding the purpose and socio-economic context of this trade in Benin through interviews with 44 actors involved in the trade of this species. We provided a snapshot of trade dynamics during a period when hunters are
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The drums of war are beating louder: Media coverage of brown bears in Romania Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-10-11 Andra Claudia Neagu, Steluta Manolache, Laurentiu Rozylowicz
The increasing demand for resources to meet the needs of our society has transformed the environment and increased the likelihood of human-wildlife interactions. Romania has the highest density of brown bears in Europe, with more than 7000 individuals populating the Carpathian Mountains and neighboring areas. The large brown bear population in Romania inhabits ever-increasing human-dominated landscapes
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Plant species diversity and composition in limestone forests of the Vietnamese Cat Ba National Park Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-09-12 Van Vien Pham, Christian Ammer, Peter Annighöfer, Steffi Heinrichs
Plant species diversity and composition play crucial roles in many ecosystem services and are largely influenced by environmental conditions, as well as natural and/or anthropogenic disturbances. However, our knowledge of the drivers of plant species diversity and composition in the limestone forests of Vietnam, a hotspot of biodiversity, is limited. To fill this knowledge gap, we surveyed plant
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Distribution and conservation status of threatened endemic amphibians within the Aspromonte mountain region, a hotspot of Mediterranean biodiversity Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-09-12 Giuseppe Martino, Andrea Chiocchio, Antonino Siclari, Daniele Canestrelli
Amphibian biodiversity loss in recent years has exceeded that of all other groups of vertebrates. In this context, biodiversity hotspots represent priority targets for conservation in amphibian populations. However, little information is available on the distribution and conservation status of amphibian species within most biodiversity hotspots. Here, we characterized the distribution and conservation
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An overview of reviews of conservation flagships: evaluating fundraising ability and surrogate power Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-08-01 Piia Lundberg, Anni Arponen
The main role of flagship species in biodiversity conservation is to raise awareness and funds for conservation. Because of their marketing role, flagship species are often selected based on other than biodiversity related criteria, such as species charisma or aesthetic appeal. Nonetheless, funds raised through flagship species are often used to protect the species itself, making it important to
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Biogeographic assessment of Gorgonian-associated bacteria with antipathogenic Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Karimunjawa Marine National Park, Java Sea, Indonesia Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-07-29 Agus Sabdono, Endang Sri Lestari, Mada Triandala Sibero
Gorgonian corals of Karimunjawa are impacted by anthropogenic activities, such as increasingly high mariculture intensity with consequent eutrophication, overfishing, tourism, sewage, and other pollutant discharges, which result in changes in the microbial community structure. In this study, bacterial communities associated with six species of Gorgonian, Viminella sp., Ellisella sp., Antipathes sp
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Maps of area of habitat for Italian amphibians and reptiles Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-07-15 Dario Nania, Maria Lumbierres, Gentile Francesco Ficetola, Mattia Falaschi, Michela Pacifici, Carlo Rondinini
Planning conservation actions requires detailed information on species’ geographic distribution. Species distribution data are most needed in areas hosting unique or endangered biodiversity. Italy is one of the European countries with the highest levels of herpetological diversity and endemism and is home to several threatened species of amphibians and reptiles. Information on the distribution of
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Assessment of the threat status of the amphibians in Vietnam - Implementation of the One Plan Approach Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-07-04 Marie Krzikowski, Truong Q. Nguyen, Cuong T. Pham, Dennis Rödder, Anna Rauhaus, Minh D. Le, Thomas Ziegler
The current decline in global biodiversity is most evident in amphibians with 41% percent of all species worldwide classified as threatened with extinction. Hence, a major challenge in amphibian conservation is the high number of threatened species, leading to a common approach of identifying priority species and regions for conservation efforts. As a part of one of 36 globally designated biodiversity
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Identifying key risks to the achievement of protected area system objectives Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-06-30 Reece Alberts, Francois Retief, Claudine Roos, Dirk Cilliers, Willem Lubbe
Protected area systems are designed in law and policy towards achieving certain policy objectives. These systems rely on legal frameworks that determine how countries designate, declare and manage their protected areas. To date, little research has been conducted on the risks faced by protected area systems. To this end, this paper aims to identify the key risks for protected area systems achieving
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Transdisciplinary deficit in large carnivore conservation funding in Europe Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-06-30 Cristian-Remus Papp, Ben C. Scheele, László Rákosy, Tibor Hartel
Achieving coexistence between humans and large carnivores in human-shaped landscapes is a complex challenge. Addressing this challenge requires the revaluation of the approaches academia uses to foster carnivore conservation and human-large carnivore coexistence. In this forum paper, we provide a brief overview of the three archetypical approaches of knowledge generation for large carnivore conservation
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Important plant areas (IPAs) in the Fergana Valley (Central Asia): The badlands of the northern foothills Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-06-24 Komiljon Sh. Tojibaev, Farkhod I. Karimov, Hushbaht R. Hoshimov, Chang-Gee Jang, Nu-Ree Na, Min-Su Park, Kae-Sun Chang, Hee-Young Gil, Shukherdorj Baasanmunkh, Hyeok Jae Choi
Here, we aimed to identify important plant areas (IPAs) in the Fergana Valley, one of the most densely human-populated regions in Central Asia with a diverse array of endemic and endangered species. The IPA programme in FV aims to identify and protect a global network of plant conservation sites. We conducted a field survey from 2018 to 2021 to re-identify specimens collected from Fergana Valley
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Spatial and temporal dynamics of habitat quality in response to socioeconomic and landscape patterns in the context of urbanization: A case in Zhengzhou City, China Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-06-23 Mengqi Zhao, Yuan Tian, Nalin Dong, Yongge Hu, Guohang Tian, Yakai Lei
With the rapid development of urbanization, the habitat quality (HQ) in urban areas has been eroded. This phenomenon is destroying the balance of ecosystems, triggering the reduction of biodiversity and the decay of ecosystem service functions. The study of the relationship between urbanization and HQ in Zhengzhou City is beneficial for the reference of sustainable urban ecological planning and management
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Natura 2000-sites: Legal requirements for agricultural and forestry land-use Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-06-09 Stefan Möckel
The agricultural and forestry use of land does not only mark large parts of the European Union, but also a significant share of land within the European ecological network Natura 2000. Member States, therefore, try to exempt as far as possible these land uses from the protection regime of Natura 2000-sites. However, at the same time, Member States latest reports on habitats and wild species of Community
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What shapes the mammal species poaching in protected areas: biophysical or anthropogenic factors? A case study in Pendjari Biosphere Reserve Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-05-25 Finagnon Galvius Degbelo, Chabi Adéyèmi Marc Sylvestre Djagoun, Sêwanoudé Scholastique Mireille Toyi, Elie A. Padonou, Méryas Kouton, Nathan Gichohi, Philip Muruthi, Brice Sinsin
Understanding what shapes the mammal species poaching in protected areas is critical to developing targeted management strategies for reducing poaching. We collected the data for poaching incidents on the GPS coordinates from 2011 to 2017 to map poaching incidents in the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve. Poaching incidents were then related to environmental and anthropogenic variables using regression
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Potential for informal guardianship in community-based wildlife crime prevention: Insights from Vietnam Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-05-19 Julie Viollaz, Jessica Bell Rizzolo, Barney Long, Cao Tien Trung, Josh Kempinski, Benjamin M. Rawson, Danielle Reynald, Hoang Xuan Quang, Nguyen Ngoc Hien, Cao Tien Dung, Hoang Thuong Huyen, Nguyen Thi Thuy Dung, Meredith L. Gore
The notion that indigenous people and local communities can effectively prevent conservation crime rests upon the assumption that they are informal guardians of natural resources. Although informal guardianship is a concept typically applied to “traditional” crimes, urban contexts, and the global North, it has great potential to be combined with formal guardianship (such as ranger patrols) to better
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Harvest quotas, free markets and the sustainable trade in pythons Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-05-11 Vincent Nijman
Assessing the sustainability of the harvest of animals can be done by obtaining data from processing facilities and establishing that vital attributes of the harvested animals (e.g., size, age structure, sex ratio) do not change over time. This model works if the traders operate in a free market without any regulations on what can be harvested, processed or exported, and when harvest methods and
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Strict laws fail to deter illegal trade of China’s largest and most endangered freshwater turtle Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-04-21 Shijia Hu, Tien Ming Lee, Hai-Tao Shi
In May 2021, a number of people were arrested for the illegal poaching and trade of one of the most endangered freshwater turtle species in China. The large female Pelochelys cantorii individual was poached from a strict protected area, sold, and was publicly advertised on social media despite being a Class I protected species (no trade allowed) for over 30 years and in a country with one of the strictest
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A rare shrub species as flagship for conserving desert steppe in arid Inner Mongolia Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-04-20 Hongxiao Yang, Changhui Xu, Jianmin Chu, Jiawei Chen, Honghao Gan, Zhenfeng Zhou
The rare species Amygdalus pedunculata Pall. (Rosaceae) in arid northern China is endangered to the point of extinction. Determined to save it, the local government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region encouraged the herdsmen to limit grazing activities. Here, we are testing if this species could be considered as a conspicuous flagship for restoring and conserving wind-sensitive arid lands as desert
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Not only range, but quality: human influence and protected areas within the distribution of mammal species subject to use in the Department of Cundinamarca, Colombia Nat. Conserv. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-04-07 Lizeth Aguirre Sierra, Diego A. Zárrate-Charry, Leonardo Lemus-Mejía, Jessica Morales-Perdomo, José F. González-Maya
Mammal conservation in transformed landscapes depends heavily on the role of protected areas, especially for species used by local communities both within and around these areas. We evaluated the level of representation and the magnitude of the influence of humans, via human footprint, across the range of mammals used by local communities in the Department of Cundinamarca, Colombia. We emphasised