WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 27 November-3 December 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 5
Campagna, C. and D. Guevara (2023). Speaking of Forms of Life: The Language of Conservation. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34534-0
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 5
Kuempel, C. D., J. Thomas, A. Wenger, S. D. Jupiter et al. (In Press). "A spatial framework for improved sanitation to support coral reef conservation." Environmental Pollution, e123003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123003
Abstract: Coral reefs are one of the most valuable yet threatened ecosystems in the world. Improving human wastewater treatment could reduce land-based impacts on coral reefs. However, information on the quantity and spatial distribution of human wastewater pollution is lacking. Here, we develop a spatial model linking residential human wastewater pollution (nitrogen and phosphorus/year) and conservation sectors [coral reefs] to better understand the relative differences in the distribution and efficacy of different sanitation services and their potential implications for conservation monitoring and management. We apply our model to Fiji, where ongoing initiatives and investments in wastewater treatment for human health could be leveraged to cost-effectively improve coral reef condition. We estimate that wastewater treatment plants account for nearly 80% of nutrients released into surface waters. Nutrient pollution is widespread, affecting 95% of reefs, but is concentrated across a few watersheds. Our spatially explicit approach can be used to better understand potential benefits and trade-offs between sanitation service improvements and coral reef health, helping to bridge the sanitation and conservation sectors as well as inform and prioritize on the ground action.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 5
Pruvot, M., S. Chea, V. Hul, S. In, V. Buor, J.-L. Ramassamy, C. Fillieux, ..., S. Ros, S. Nuon, S. San, Y. Ty, M. Chao, S. Sours, S. Torng, U. Choeurn, U. Hun, S. Ton, S. Y, S. Phon, L. Kuy, A. Fine et al. (In Press). "Small mammals at the edge of deforestation in Cambodia: Transient community dynamics and potential pathways to pathogen emergence." One Earth. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.11.003
Abstract: Conversion of forest to agricultural land results in rapid and profound changes in ecosystems and biodiversity loss and increases the risk of pathogen emergence. However, insights into the underlying ecological processes linking deforestation and pathogen spillover are required to anticipate and mitigate new pathogen spillovers. Here, we studied small mammal communities and zoonotic pathogens in nine sites in Cambodia where the spatiotemporal deforestation edge was represented by three zones—forest, disturbed, and cleared—within each site. Complete turnover of the small mammal community and species overlap in disturbed forest may provide opportunities for spillover on the spatiotemporal front of forest disturbance. Concurrently, boom-and-bust dynamics of synanthropic species in agricultural landscapes may support the amplification of pathogens in proximity to human settlements. This combination of spillover and amplification may be a key mechanism involved in deforestation-induced pathogen spillovers, highlighting the global health threats of encroaching into natural areas.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 5
van Beuningen, D., R. H. Bennett and A. S. Abdulla (2023). "First record of the megamouth shark Megachasma pelagios (Lamniformes: Megachasmidae), from the United Republic of Tanzania." Zootaxa 5380(6), 595-598. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5380.6.7
Abstract: The megamouth shark Megachasma pelagios (Lamniformes: Megachasmidae) was described in 1976 from a specimen caught off Hawaii (Taylor et al. 1983) and is the only extant member of its family and genus (Diez et al. 2022). From 1976 to 2010 M. pelagios was considered rare, with only 50 individuals recorded globally during that time (Nakaya 2010). In recent years it is apparent that it is more common and widespread than previously thought, with 273 confirmed records to date across 16 countries in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans (Yu et al. 2021; Diez et al. 2022; Skelton et al. 2023). This species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, as it is globally distributed and does not appear to be heavily impacted by fisheries (Kyne et al. 2019).
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 5
Zandler, H., K. A. Vanselow, S. Poya Faryabi, A. M. Rajabi and S. Ostrowski (2023). "High-resolution assessment of the carrying capacity and utilization intensity in mountain rangelands with remote sensing and field data." Heliyon 9(11), e21583. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21583
Abstract: Dry rangelands provide resources for half of the world's livestock, but degradation due to overgrazing is a major threat to system sustainability. Existing carrying capacity assessments are limited by low spatiotemporal resolution and high generalization, which hampers applied ecological management decisions. This paper provides an example for deriving the carrying capacity and utilization levels for cold drylands at a new level of detail by including major parts of the transhumance system. We combined field data on vegetation biomass and communities, forage quality, productivity, livestock species and quantities, grazing areas and their spatiotemporal variations with Sentinel-2 and MODIS snow cover satellite imagery to develop maps of forage requirements and availability. These products were used to calculate carrying capacity and grazing potential in the Pamir-Hindukush Mountains. Results showed high spatial variability of utilization rates between 5% and 77%. About 30% of the area showed unsustainable grazing above the carrying capacity. Utilization rates displayed strong spatial differences with unsustainable grazing in winter pastures and at lower elevations, and low rates at higher altitudes. The forage requirements of wild herbivores (ungulates and marmots) were estimated to be negligible compared to livestock, with one tenth of the biomass consumption and no increase in unsustainably grazed pastures due to the wider distribution of animals. The assessment was sensitive to model parameterization of forage requirements and demand, whereby conservative scenarios, i.e. lower fodder availability or higher fodder requirements of livestock due to climate and altitude effects, increased the area with unsustainable grazing practices to 50%. The presented approach enables an in-depth evaluation of the carrying capacity and corresponding management actions. It includes new variables relevant for transhumance systems, such as the combination of forage quantity and quality or accessibility restrictions due to snow, and shows utilization patterns at high spatial resolutions. Regional maps allow the identification of unsustainable utilization areas, such as winter pastures in this study.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 20-26 November 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 3
Herrera-R, G. A., S. A. Heilpern, T. B. A. Couto, ..., S. López-Casas et al. (Early View). "A synthesis of the diversity of freshwater fish migrations in the Amazon basin." Fish and Fisheries. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12795
Abstract: In the Amazon, the world's largest river basin, migrations within freshwater habitats are one of the predominant life history strategies for fishes. The flood pulse and the extensive river network provide aquatic organisms with temporal and spatial accessibility to a mosaic of freshwater habitats. Although migratory fish species are central to freshwater ecosystems and fisheries, the knowledge of species and migratory patterns has traditionally relied on anecdotal and scattered information, lacking a unifying methodological and conceptual framework. We quantitatively synthesize the evidence about this biological phenomenom in the Amazon basin through a systematic literature review. We constructed a reference database of migratory events in the Amazon basin, including species, life stages, purposes, direction, habitats and subbasins. We found that 223 species were documented in 90 references as performing migrations distributed across eight orders and 31 families. Migration is a conserved trait in the evolutionary history of Amazonian fish fauna, suggesting that ~41% of migratory species are likely unreported. We noted a geographical bias in the report of migratory events towards 13 of the 27 major subbasins of the Amazon. We found a significant association between the hydrological timing at the beginning and end of migrations across species, including reproduction as the most commonly reported purpose. However, most species lack the application of robust methods (e.g. telemetry, otolith microchemistry) to classify them as migratory, relying upon secondary sources of information (i.e. reviews or species checklists). Further, we discuss future opportunities and challenges to continue the study of fish migrations in the Amazon basin.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 3
Pace, C. N., M. Haulena, H. E. Drumm et al. (2023). "Causes and trends of harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) mortality along the British Columbia Coast, Canada, 2012–2020." Journal of Wildlife Diseases 59(4), 629-639. https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-22-00172
Abstract: A retrospective study was conducted to categorize and describe the causes of mortality in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) along the British Columbia coast that presented to the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre (MMR) for rehabilitation from 2012 to 2020. Medical records for 1,279 predominantly perinatal live-stranded harbor seals recovered in this region were reviewed. Approximately 20.0% (256 individuals; 137 males, 118 females, 1 unknown) of these animals died while at MMR. Infectious disease was the most common cause of death, accounting for 60.5% of mortality across all age classes. This was followed by nonanthropogenic trauma (7.1%), metabolic illness (5.4%), nutritional deficiency (5.0%), parasitic illness (5.0%), congenital disorders (2.5%), and human-associated trauma (0.4%). Pups were the most common age class (87.4%) amongst mortalities and predominantly died of an infectious process (62.5%). Phocid herpesvirus-1 infection was identified in 18.9% of the mortalities, with the highest prevalence occurring in 2019 (30.8%). Fungal disease was detected in six seals: three cases of pulmonary mycosis due to Cryptococcus gattii and three cases consistent with mucormycosis. In six cases, mortality was attributed to congenital disorders. Two of these cases involved axial skeletal malformities that are not currently described in the literature. This is the first study to describe the causes of mortality in harbor seals undergoing rehabilitation in British Columbia.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 3
Sripho, S., T. Ngamprasertwong, A. Latinne et al. (In Press). "Tooth microwear pattern variation in karst and non-karst peninsular Southeast Asian murine rodents." Mammal Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-023-00723-0
Abstract: The dietary preferences of most rodents, especially in tropical countries, are poorly known. In the tropics, rodent diversity can be high and several species can coexist in the same habitats. In order to better document the dietary habits of Southeast Asian murid and diatomyid rodents, we examined microwear patterns in 21 species, with a particular focus on those living in karst habitats. Five variables of microwear scars (scratches and pits) were counted and measured on the dental facet of the first molar hypocone. We observed large variation and overlap in microwear patterns between and within genera, suggesting that feeding ecology is diverse (mostly generalist omnivorous species) within species and genus. For species living in agro-ecosystems, few differences were observed when we compared sympatric species within a genus, suggesting that niche partitioning is not achieved by feeding, neither in terms of diet composition nor in the way food is processed, or that food items are more homogeneous in terms of physical properties that affect microwear patterns. Differences between sympatric species were more pronounced in forest or karst contexts, suggesting that specialisation and niche differentiation have persisted in more preserved environments. Finally, differences were also observed in urban ecosystems suggesting that the communities of rodents evolved niche partitioning in these human-modified habitats. Our results also revealed differences in microwear patterns between karst and non-karst rodents, with all karst species showing a trend towards increasing numbers of small scratches and small pits. This suggested that the karst environment may influence the dietary habits of rodents, either in terms of the composition of the diet or by altering the general characteristics of the food.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 6-19 November 2023 [Two Weeks]
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 9
Cornelis, D., P. C. Renaud, M. Melletti, ..., P. Elkan et al. (2023). "Conservation status of the African buffalo: A continent-wide assessment." In A. Caron, D. Cornélis, H. H. T. Prins and P. Chardonnet, Eds., Ecology and Management of the African Buffalo, 66-128. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009006828.007
Abstract: This chapter presents the distribution, abundance patterns and trends of African buffalo in the 38 countries of its distribution area based on recent aerial and ground census data and feedback from field experts. For the period 2001–2021, we collected abundance data from 163 protected areas or complexes of protected areas and presence data from 711 localities. The savanna buffalo population is estimated in 2022 at over 564,000 individuals, after deduction of the 75,000 buffalo under intensive private management in South Africa. Its abundance is roughly equivalent to that estimated 25 years ago (625,000). The subspecies conservation status is highly unbalanced. The Cape buffalo is by far the most abundant, representing 90 per cent of the total estimated population (510,000 individuals). The West and Central subspecies respectively represent 4 and 6 per cent (>20,000 individuals and >34,000 individuals). The conservation status of the Central African savanna buffalo, whose abundance has been nearly halved over the last 25 years, is worrisome, with exception of the steadily increasing populations of Zakouma NP (Chad) and Garamba NP (DRC). Estimating the abundance of forest buffalo is challenging, as is establishing a trend. Our investigations showed that the forest buffalo is still well represented in Central Africa in areas with low human density. The forest buffalo’s most important stronghold in Central Africa is probably the Greater TRIDOM/TNS (Tri-National Dja-Odzala-Minkébé / Trinational Sangha), a vast contiguous block of mainly pristine moist forest covering 250,000 km2 and straddling Cameroon, Congo, Gabon and Central African Republic (11 per cent of the Central African forest block). In West Africa, we obtained very little information on the presence of the forest buffalo in the residual forest block, suggesting that the conservation status of the forest buffalo in this region is very worrisome.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 9
Fonvieille, N., C. Guinet, M. Saraceno, ..., C. Campagna et al. (2023). "Swimming in an ocean of curves: A functional approach to understanding elephant seal habitat use in the Argentine Basin." Progress in Oceanography 218, e103120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2023.103120
Abstract: In recent decades, southern elephant seals (SES) have become a species of particular importance in ocean data acquisition. The scientific community has taken advantage of technological advances coupled with suitable SES biological traits to record numerous variables in challenging environments and to study interactions between SES and oceanographic features. In the context of big dataset acquisition, there is a growing need for methodological tools to analyze and extract key data features while integrating their complexity. Although much attention has been paid to study elephant seal foraging strategies, the continuity of their surrounding three-dimensional environments is seldom integrated. Knowledge gaps persist in understanding habitat use by SES, while the representativeness of a predator-based approach to understanding ecosystem structuring is still questioned. In this study, we explore SES habitat use by using a functional data analysis approach (FDA) to describe the foraging environment of five female elephant seals feeding in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Functional principal component analysis followed by model-based clustering were applied to temperature and salinity (TS) profiles from Mercator model outputs to discriminate waters sharing similar thermohaline structures. Secondly, in situ TS profiles recorded by the SES were employed to determine the habitat visited within the range of potential environments identified from the model data. Four Functional Oceanographic Domains (FOD) were identified in the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence, all visited, in varying proportion, by four of the five females studied. We found that the females favored areas where all the FODs converge and mix, generating thermal fronts and eddies. Prey-capture attempts increased in such areas. Our results are in accordance with previous findings, suggesting that (sub-)mesoscale features act as biological hotspots. This study highlights the potential of coupling FDA with model-based clustering for describing complex environments with minimal loss of information. As well as contributing to better understanding of elephant seal habitat use and foraging strategies, this approach opens up a wide range of applications in oceanography and ecology.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 9
Fuentes-Montejo, C. E., W. Aguirre, D. J. Elías, C. Barrientos and C. D. McMahan (Early View). "Niche overlap between sympatric cichlid species of the genus Rocio (Cichliformes: Cichlidae) in Guatemala." Ecology of Freshwater Fish. https://doi.org/10.1111/eff.12759
Abstract: Rocio is a small genus of Neotropical freshwater fishes that is distributed in Atlantic drainages of northern Middle America. Two species of Rocio, R. spinosissima and R. octofasciata, exhibit sympatry in the Río Dulce basin in eastern Guatemala. Rocio spinosissima is endemic to the Río Dulce basin, while R. octofasciata has a larger geographic range that includes this area. Our goal was to explore the ecological and morphological variation shown by these two closely related species and determine their differences. A combination of field work, analysis of museum specimens, and ecological niche modelling helped to better understand the differences in habitat and environmental characteristics, along with the body shape variation. Local-scale environmental data suggest that both species inhabit lentic environments, with R. spinosissima using narrower and low canopy-covered habitats and R. octofasciata inhabiting areas with a larger range of environmental characteristics. Ecological Niche Models indicated that land cover, soil, precipitation, and temperature largely define the distribution of both species. Body shape differs between species, with R. spinosissima exhibiting a rounder and deeper body while R. octofasciata is more elongated. Specimens of R. octofasciata across its distribution also show variation in head shape, mouth position, fin, and caudal peduncle characteristics, possibly as a response to trophic strategies that reduce competition. Similarities in their environments and morphologies allow us to identify broadly overlapping niches in the two species of Rocio, while the fine scale differences documented between species will have conservation implications for the endemic R. spinosissima.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 9
Hayes, F. P. and J. Berger (2023). "Snow patch refugia benefits for species of periglacial zones—Evidence from a high-elevation obligate." PNAS Nexus 2(11), pgad339. https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad339
Abstract: Conserving Earth's most rapidly changing biomes necessitates understanding biological consequences of altered climes. Past species- and taxa-level responses to warming environs include numerous concentrated extirpations at the southern peripheries of distributions during the late Pleistocene. Less clear are localized capacities of cold-adapted species to mitigate thermal challenges against warming temperatures, especially through proximate behavioral and physiological adjustments. Whereas snow patches persist in periglacial zones and elsewhere, broad reductions in seasonal snow raise concerns about how and why species continue to use them. If snow patches play a functional role to combat increasing thermal demands, we predicted individuals would display an array of autonomic responses to increased temperatures modulated by wind, ambient temperature, and winter fur on and away from snow patches. We tested these predictions using a mammalian exemplar of high latitude and high elevation, mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus), using two sites in the northern Rocky Mountains, USA. Surprisingly, and contrary to expectations of reduced thermal stress, respiration rates were not decreased on snow patches but use of snow was strongly correlated with decreased metrics of insect harassment. As snow cover continues to decline in montane environs, the persistence of cold-adapted species depends on navigating concurrent changes in biotic communities and thermal environments and balancing competing pressures on behavioral and biological responses.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 9
Larson, C. L., S. E. Reed and K. R. Crooks (In Press). "Reptile responses to outdoor recreation in urban habitat fragments." Urban Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-023-01464-3
Abstract: The world is urbanizing rapidly, resulting in increasing rates of habitat loss and fragmentation. Protected areas are commonly established to restrict development and conserve native ecological communities. Yet urban protected areas often receive high levels of recreational activity, which can reduce their conservation effectiveness because of disturbance to animals. Recreation has negative consequences for many animal species, but its effects on reptiles are largely unknown. We evaluated the effects of non-consumptive recreation on reptiles within urban protected areas in a fragmented landscape in coastal southern California, USA. We surveyed lizards and snakes along a gradient of recreation intensity and modeled species richness, community composition, and occupancy in relation to human activity along with other variables known to affect reptile distributions. We observed a decline in lizard species richness in association with human activity. Richness of habitat specialists was not related to recreation, but smaller-bodied lizards and lizards with narrower active temperature ranges were less common at sites with high human activity. Human activity was associated with a decline in occupancy of the common side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana), no meaningful relationship with occupancy of the orange-throated whiptail (Aspidoscelis hyperythra) and a positive relationship with western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) occupancy and/or detection probability. Our study demonstrates that increasing rates of recreation activity can reduce the ability of urban protected areas to conserve diverse reptile assemblages.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 9
Nuruliawati, U. Mardhiah, A. I. Muktamarianti, E. Muttaqin, Sheherazade, S. Surya, ..., M. Leggett, S. Mardiah and D. Veríssimo (First View). "Using SMS surveys to understand songbird ownership and shark product consumption in Indonesia." Oryx. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605323000741
Abstract: The unsustainable use of wildlife increases the risk of species extinction. In biodiversity-rich Indonesia, information on the scale of wildlife use is limited and requires further study. To address this, we explored the potential of text messaging (short message service; SMS) surveys to investigate levels and spatial patterns of domestic wildlife use, using songbird keeping and shark consumption as case studies because of their widespread occurrence in all 34 Indonesian provinces. We sent 340,000 messages for each survey during October–November 2018 and incentivized responses with a mobile data package as reward. We obtained survey response rates of 1.4% (songbird ownership) and 1.5% (shark consumption). Our results revealed an estimated 175.7 million songbirds being kept by 35% (80.4–86.6 million) of the Indonesian population and 33.5 million people (14% of the Indonesian population) to have consumed shark products in their lifetime. We identified hotspots of songbird ownership in several provinces in Java, corroborating previous findings, and new ones in the North Sumatra province, for example. The provinces of Maluku, Aceh and East Nusa Tenggara had the highest numbers of reported shark consumers per 1,000 people. Responses indicated a wide variety of shark products being consumed, highlighting the need for in-depth research to understand the explanatory factors behind these practices. These findings demonstrate the potential of SMS surveys to be a cost-effective approach for conducting large-scale studies on wildlife consumption patterns over a short period of time.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 9
Platt, S. G., J. C. White, S. Boutxakittilath, D. Phasavath, O. Thongsavath, L. D. McCaskill, S. C. Leslie and T. R. Rainwater (2023). "Evaluating the use of a quadcopter drone to detect Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) Nests in Lao PDR, with incidental observations of female nest attendance." Reptiles & Amphibians 30, e19950. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v30i1.19950
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 9
Plumptre, A. J., S. H. M. Butchart, L. von Staden, R. J. Smith, H. Matimele, ..., H. Costa and E. Duarte (2023). "Key Biodiversity Areas are proving useful for spatial planning if the criteria are applied correctly." Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation 21(3), 263-264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2023.07.001
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 9 of 9
ter Steege, H., N. C. A. Pitman, I. L. do Amaral, ..., E. Vilanova Torre et al. (2023). "Mapping density, diversity and species-richness of the Amazon tree flora." Communications Biology 6(1), e1130. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05514-6
Abstract: Using 2.046 botanically-inventoried tree plots across the largest tropical forest on Earth, we mapped tree species-diversity and tree species-richness at 0.1-degree resolution, and investigated drivers for diversity and richness. Using only location, stratified by forest type, as predictor, our spatial model, to the best of our knowledge, provides the most accurate map of tree diversity in Amazonia to date, explaining approximately 70% of the tree diversity and species-richness. Large soil-forest combinations determine a significant percentage of the variation in tree species-richness and tree alpha-diversity in Amazonian forest-plots. We suggest that the size and fragmentation of these systems drive their large-scale diversity patterns and hence local diversity. A model not using location but cumulative water deficit, tree density, and temperature seasonality explains 47% of the tree species-richness in the terra-firme forest in Amazonia. Over large areas across Amazonia, residuals of this relationship are small and poorly spatially structured, suggesting that much of the residual variation may be local. The Guyana Shield area has consistently negative residuals, showing that this area has lower tree species-richness than expected by our models. We provide extensive plot meta-data, including tree density, tree alpha-diversity and tree species-richness results and gridded maps at 0.1-degree resolution.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 1
Antonacci, D., J. Ntshila, L. Kinzonzi, R. Mouanda, R.-P. Ekouasse, A. Mouabe, B. Ndzoko, J. Wright, B. Day, G. Mavah, C. Abid and L. Vanegas (2023). Conserving wildlife through sustainable consumption: The three social marketing case studies in the urbanised areas of Brazzaville, Ouesso and Pokola. World Social Marketing Conference. Cali, Colombia: International Social Marketing Association.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 30 October-5 November 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 9
Jędrzejewski, W., V. Boron, E. P. Garrido et al. (2023). "Jaguars (Panthera onca) in the llanos of Colombia and Venezuela: Estimating distribution and population size by combining different modeling approaches." In S. Mandujano, E. J. Naranjo and G. P. Andrade Ponce, Eds., Neotropical Mammals: Hierarchical Analysis of Occupancy and Abundance, 197-235. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39566-6_9
Abstract: The Llanos of Colombia and Venezuela are an ecoregion composed of savannas, forests, and wetlands, with a high biodiversity and once home to a high-density jaguar (Panthera onca) population. We used published and new jaguar presence–absence data from 2001 to 2020 and combined logistic regression with kriging interpolation to model jaguar occurrence and estimate its current range in the Llanos. Water abundance, forest cover, and primary productivity had positive effects, while road density had a negative effect in the model. The jaguar’s estimated current range covers 49% of the total area of the Llanos. This estimate is 45% and 16% lower than the 2000 and 2015 IUCN Red List assessments, respectively. We combined a previously published density model with our occurrence model to estimate the variation in jaguar population density and its population size. In most of the Llanos area, projected densities ranged from 1 to 3 jaguars per 100 km2, and we estimated the total population at 3413 jaguars (CRI: 2525–4272), two-thirds in Venezuela and one-third in Colombia. Human–jaguar conflict records, mostly jaguar attacks on livestock, were widespread on the Llanos but tend to occur at moderate cattle density and higher forest cover. In 49% of the conflict records, jaguars were killed in retaliation; however, 25% of the nonconflict records also reported killing jaguars during subsistence hunts. Protected areas and indigenous territories cover only 10% and 4% of jaguar’s estimated current range, respectively, indicating an urgent need to increase the number and extent of protected areas in the Llanos.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 9
Kaczensky, P., O. Ganbaatar, N. Dejid and B. Buuveibaatar (2023). "The Gobi khulan: A flagship species for mobility." Acta Mongolica 21(541), 147-163. https://doi.org/10.22353/am.v21i541.5896
Abstract: Khulan, the Asiatic wild ass, have been eradicated from most of their former range. The Mongolian Gobi currently holds more than 80% of the global population and constitutes more than 70% of the global breeding range and therefore is the most important stronghold of the species. In the Mongolian Gobi, individual khulan roam over thousands of square kilometers annually and their movements are among the largest reported for terrestrial mammals globally. The high mobility of khulan plays a critical role for the ecosystem functioning of the Mongolian Gobi, including large-scale seed dispersal and provision of water holes for other wildlife. Khulan also have non-consumptive aesthetic and naturalistic values for local residents and harbor the potential for wildlife tourism and subsistence hunting. The species is currently listed as Near Threatened in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, but remains under close scrutiny because multiple developments which negatively impact the size, quality and functional connectivity of the Gobi–Eastern Steppe ecosystem are happening simultaneously and at an unprecedented speed in an ecosystem which so far has remained at a near natural stage. These developments are the: 1) dramatic increase in livestock numbers and a change in the traditional herding practice, 2) rapid development of the resource extraction sector, and 3) expansion and upgrading of the transport infrastructure to meet the needs of the mining sector and allow Mongolia to connect to international markets. The paper explores how these threats may affect khulan in the future and why khulan are an ideal flagship species for mobility and landscape connectivity.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 9
L'Roe, J., G. Shanley Barr, D. Detoeuf, M. Wieland, B. Ikati, M. Enduyi Kimuha, F. Sandrin, D. Bilua, G. Bondeko, Y. Londza, P. Bakabana, G. Mavah, B. Evans and D. Wilkie (2023). "Comparing forest product harvest rates and livelihood activities among migrant and Indigenous households in the Congo Basin." Forest Policy and Economics 157, e103089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2023.103089
Abstract: Understanding uneven patterns of forest use and tracking changes in the composition of forest residents are both important for sensitive forest policy and management. With increases in migration streams in several tropical forest regions, we need corresponding information about how new immigrants are influencing human-environment relations in sites of ecological significance. We use data from over 6500 household surveys collected by the Wildlife Conservation Society in three sites in Central Africa: the forests surrounding Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park and Lac Télé Community Reserve in the Republic of Congo, and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We compare household characteristics, livelihoods, and forest use among recent migrants (arriving within the past decade), longer-established households, and households belonging to an Indigenous group. We find that recent migrants are less likely to engage in forest-harvest-based livelihoods and harvest several types of forest foods and fibers less frequently than other households. Recent migrants also tend to be wealthier, younger, and over-represented in salaried jobs. Meanwhile, Indigenous households are 3 to 16 times more likely to participate in a forest-based livelihood, depending on the site. Other consistent predictors of forest harvest include village, age of the household head, household size, whether a household is female-headed (−), and wealth (−). Many trends hold broadly across all three sites, but there are also site-specific patterns related to differences in remoteness and economic opportunities. We conclude with reflections about what the changing make-up of forest-proximate communities might mean for forest management and governance.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 9
Mahajan, S. L., S. Obiene, L. Ojwang, ..., E. Darling, ..., K. Fisher et al. (Accepted Article). "Introducing Elinor for monitoring the governance and management of area-based conservation." Conservation Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14213
Abstract: Monitoring the governance and management effectiveness of area-based conservation has long been recognized as an important foundation for achieving national and global biodiversity goals and enabling adaptive management. However, there are still many barriers that prevent conservation actors, including those impacted by governance and management systems and/or implementing conservation activities and programs, from gathering and using data on governance and management to inform decision-making across spatial scales and through time. Here, we explore current and past efforts for assessing governance and management effectiveness and the barriers that different actors have faced in using the resulting data and insights to inform conservation decision-making. To help overcome these barriers, we introduce Elinor, a free and open-source monitoring tool that builds upon the work of Nobel Prize winner Elinor Ostrom, to facilitate the gathering, storing, sharing, analyzing, and use of data on environmental governance and management across spatial scales and for areas under different governance and management types. We discuss the process of co-designing and piloting Elinor with conservation scientists and practitioners, and introduce the main components of the assessment and the online data system. We situate Elinor within the context of existing approaches for assessing governance and management, and demonstrate how Elinor complements existing approaches by (1) addressing both governance and management in a single assessment for different types of area-based conservation, (2) introducing flexible options for data collection, and (3) integrating a data system with an assessment which can support data use and sharing across different spatial scales. We conclude by recognizing the challenges conservationists will continue to face when using governance and management data to inform decision-making and offer tangible solutions that can help navigate these in support of more effective, inclusive, and durable area-based conservation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 9
McClanahan, T. R. and J. K. Kosgei (Early View). "Low optimal fisheries yield creates challenges for sustainability in a climate refugia." Conservation Science & Practice, e13043. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13043
Abstract: Reducing resource depletion and promoting ecosystem-based management are considered key climate change adaptation policies. Therefore, the resource status of an identified climate refugia in a semi-enclosed bay on the Kenya–Tanzania border was evaluated for sustainability. Both fisheries stock and catch assessment methods found low production and excess effort. Stock recovery in closures (up to 45 years) determined the best-fit r and K values, which established a maximum sustainable production (MSY) of 2.98 ± 0.45 (SEM) tons/km2/year. Stock estimates in the bays' fishing grounds indicated that biomass was below the MSY and predicted to produce 1.8 ± 1.0 (SEM) or 1.1 ton/km2/year below the optimal MSY. However, landed fish at five studied fishing villages varied greatly from 0.22 to 2.9 tons/km2/year. MSY in the refugia was therefore considerably lower than estimates in nearby ocean-exposed locations, which has been estimated at 5–7 tons/km2/year. Therefore, low to modest capture rates of fish will be required to allow the recovery needed to achieve sustainability and restore the refugia's ecology. The refugia's highest stocks and near-MSY yields were captured in the national reserve. Therefore, broader implementation of the reserve's gear-restriction policies should restore fisheries. High spatial variability in yield patterns indicate interactions between fisheries management, compliance, trade connections, and governance. In climate refugia, reducing cumulative impacts will require knowing and managing for lower fisheries production limits.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 9
Munsch, S. H., R. K. Walter, B. L. Sanderson, L. Reshitnyk, J. K. O'Leary et al. (In Press). "Decades of eelgrass meadow dynamics across the northeast Pacific support seascape-scale conservation." ICES Journal of Marine Science, fsad162. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsad162
Abstract: Eelgrass meadows provide vital nearshore habitats and ecosystem services, but they have declined from human stressors and conservation efforts are now widespread. Dynamic ecosystems like eelgrass meadows naturally rearrange as disturbance and recruitment unfold across seascapes. However, some decisions that protect eelgrass only consider extant meadows, thus ignoring the potential for change. Here, we report decades of eelgrass dynamics observed across the northeast Pacific. Our observations support conservation expanded to the seascape scale, which includes potentially inhabitable areas along with extant meadows. We found that total seascape meadow area changed over time, and changes within seascapes were often asynchronous. Some meadows rearranged across seascapes over multiple kilometres and decades. Also, some seascapes compartmentalized meadow collapse, which enabled later recovery, or supported local recruitment that substantially increased total meadow area. These observations were consistent with hierarchical patch dynamics, which promote ecosystem persistence over larger space and time scales. Thus, to enable the dynamics that underpin eelgrass persistence, it is necessary to keep many eelgrass habitat options open across seascapes, rather than protect only extant meadows. Given that dynamic, hierarchical ecosystems are common along marine shorelines, this approach may be effective for both nearshore ecosystems in general and for eelgrass in particular.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 9
Panebianco, A., N. M. Schroeder, M. Antún et al. (2023). "Modeling the abundance and spatial distribution of the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) in Patagonia: A review and future perspectives." In S. Mandujano, E. J. Naranjo and G. P. Andrade Ponce, Eds., Neotropical Mammals: Hierarchical Analysis of Occupancy and Abundance, 95-126. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39566-6_5
Abstract: Understanding the factors that influence the abundance and spatial distribution of wild species has been of primary interest to researchers worldwide. This information has been generally considered to assess the status of populations and their habitat requirements and to make management recommendations related to their conservation and use. In South America, a species of particular interest is the guanaco (Lama guanicoe), given its adaptations and flexibility to occupy a wide variety of environments, its ecological role in the ecosystem, and its economic value in some regions. The guanaco has suffered a severe decline in numbers and a reduction in its geographic range since the 1800s due to legal and illegal hunting and the introduction of livestock (especially sheep). Currently, it occupies around 26% of its original range, and 81–86% of its global population remains in Argentina, with abundant numbers in Austral Patagonia. In this chapter, we review the different modeling tools that have been used to assess the status of guanaco populations throughout Patagonia, highlighting their advances, advantages, and limitations. We use study cases in different environmental conditions (e.g., spatial and temporal scales) to evaluate how local and regional contexts have impacted the abundance and spatial distribution of guanaco populations and to identify possible threats throughout their distributional range. Finally, we present some advances in innovative technologies that will improve detection during population surveys, which, in turn, will allow modeling with more accurate estimations.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 9
Ray, J. C. (2023). "The imperative for transformative change to address biodiversity loss in Canada." In S. Mandujano, E. J. Naranjo and G. P. Andrade Ponce, Eds., Transformative Politics of Nature. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 9 of 9
Stephen, C. and C. Walzer (2023). "The continuum of care as a unifying framework for intergenerational and interspecies health equity." Frontiers in Public Health 11, e1236569. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1236569
Abstract: Introduction: Unlocking the full potential of different people and organizations to address existential health threats requires shared goals and frameworks that allow people to see themselves contributing to a common and shared continuum of care. A new narrative to help people implement collective action for collective problems is needed. Methods: This paper is draw from the co-authors experience working from the local to international level on planetary health problems. Results: The proposed conceptual framework expands the socioecological model of health to help formulate multilevel approaches that foster healthier circumstances for all by revealing the mutual benefits that emerge from pooling expertise, funding, and political will to solve multiple problems with coordinated investment of resources and effort. It is intended to support program planning and communication. This framework is a response to the absence of systematic attempts to concurrently counteract the social and environmental conditions leading to disease, dysfunction and deficits which is increasingly seen as being problematic, especially as the root causes of health problems and solutions converge across species, sectors, and generations. The framework is embedded in the idea of interspecies and intergenerational health equity. Discussion: Ensuring interspecies and intergenerational health equity requires each actor to fulfill their roles along the continuum while supporting the needs of others. A socio-ecological continuum of care provides bundled options that combine knowledge from different sectors, disciplines and perspectives to guide interventions over time across a comprehensive array of services and support spanning all levels of needs, species and generations.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 1
Wenger, A. S., E. A. Gómez Juárez, J. Thomas, ..., S. D. Jupiter et al. (2023). A Guide for Integrated Conservation and Sanitation Programs and Approaches. Bronx, NY: Wildlife Conservation Society. https://doi.org/10.19121/2023.Report.49832
Abstract: Human and ecosystem health are inextricably linked, yet strategies to improve both are addressed in siloed ways (Wakwella et al., 2023). For instance, the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector focuses on the provision of services for safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene to improve human health and wellbeing. However, although there is substantial evidence to show that unsafely managed sanitation degrades ecosystems and makes them more vulnerable to climate change (Wear et al., 2023), and that ecosystem loss and degradation negatively impacts human health (Herrera et al., 2017; Wakwella et al., 2023), the sanitation and conservation sectors rarely work in a coordinated and strategic way to achieve their interconnected goals. The Science for Nature and People Partnership (SNAPP) Improving Coastal Health working group formed in 2020 to develop resources to help marine conservation and sanitation practitioners work together on integrated conservation and sanitation programs. Informed by the outcomes of a needs assessment launched in 2021 to better understand the challenges and opportunities related to integrated programs, we created this document as a first step towards providing advice on implementing integrated conservation and sanitation programs. The purpose of this guide is: -Create awareness among stakeholders about the impacts of poor sanitation and wastewater pollution on ocean health and the importance of more integrated solutions. -Outline the benefits of an integrated approach for achieving human and ecosystem health goals and simultaneously improving climate resilience. -Provide guidance to the conservation and sanitation sectors on how to work in partnership. The information contained in this guide is primarily aimed at actors who could participate in the sanitation-conservation interface, including practitioners from both sectors, investors, governments, research scientists, and private businesses. We focus on domestic wastewater pollution impacts on tropical coastal marine ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrass, and coral reefs, although we reference other coastal systems when relevant. This resource is also flexible enough for the guidance to be adapted for other coastal and marine environments. Freshwater ecosystems are considered in this guide in their role as transportation of diffuse pollution, but the specific impacts of wastewater pollution on freshwater aquatic life are not included. Other land-based sources of pollution, including from agriculture and development (e.g., agrochemicals, chemical contaminants, sediments) are also outside the scope of this guide, as there are already several resources on addressing these sources of pollution. We hope this is the first of many resources to help guide collaboration and coordination across sectors to achieve human and ecosystem health goals.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 23-29 October 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 8
Balza, U., R. Baldi, L. Rodríguez-Planes, R. Ojeda and A. Schiavini (Early View). "Scientific evidence does not support the translocation of guanacos in Argentina." Conservation Science and Practice, e13031. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13031
Abstract: The Argentinian Ministry of Environment has approved the translocation of 45 guanacos from Southern Patagonia to the Pampas region, a distance of 1500 km, as the initial phase toward future translocations into a National Park located in the Chaco region, another 1600 km further North. This decision raises concerns about the technical and ethical aspects of the translocation. Firstly, there is a lack of proper evaluation and scientific evidence to support the need, opportunity, and feasibility of this translocation. The guanaco population is currently over one million and is increasing, and genetic differences exist among local populations. The translocation could produce anthropogenic-driven admixed populations, leading to genetic swamping and disrupting evolutionary processes. Second, there are ethical conflicts around managing wild species populations that prioritize private objectives and disregard local, publicly funded science. Rewilding projects require a deep understanding of interacting ecosystem processes, and of the socio-economic context. This management decision violates guiding principles for rewilding and should have followed proper scientific evaluation and transparent local consultation.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 8
Behangana, M., S. Ayebare, R. Magala et al. (2023). "Establishing baseline data for herpetofauna in western Uganda, an East African biodiversity hotspot." Herpetology Notes 16, 773-789. https://www.biotaxa.org/hn/article/view/76511
Abstract: We conducted surveys at 14 locations in western Uganda to generate baseline data on the diversity and community structure of herpetofauna before the area is significantly impacted by oil and gas extraction activities. Sampling involved visual encounter surveys and pitfall traps with drift fences covering a total of 118 survey days over three periods: September–December 2014, January–March 2015, and May–July 2015. Diversity indices, cluster analyses, and species composition metrics were used to compare the community composition among the surveyed sites. We detected 53 amphibian and 46 reptile species across all sites with the highest number recorded in Murchison Falls National Park (36 amphibian and 24 reptile species). The frog Ptychadena nilotica was recorded at all sites and the lizard Agama finchi was recorded at 10 localities. Our surveys revealed 16 species previously unknown to the area, which significantly bolsters biodiversity knowledge for the region and provides new insight into the community ecology of its herpetofauna. Our findings generated important baseline data needed to document the extent to which this biodiversity may be affected by impending oil and gas exploration activities in one of Africa’s richest hotspots.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 8
Crowe, O., A. E. Beresford, G. M. Buchanan, H. S. Grantham, A. T. Simkins, J. E. M. Watson and S. H. M. Butchart (2023). "A global assessment of forest integrity within Key Biodiversity Areas." Biological Conservation 286, e110293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110293
Abstract: Forest ecosystems cover one third of the terrestrial land surface, with those that are still functioning and largely intact being critically important for the conservation of threatened and endemic biodiversity. Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are sites contributing significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity; >16,000 KBAs have been identified to date, almost half of which are of importance to forest species, including one-fifth that are important for one or more globally threatened species. It is important to track changes in forest integrity within KBAs to determine which important areas are under the greatest threat (so as to identify the actions needed), and also to track the overall effectiveness of conservation interventions. We utilised the Forest Landscape Integrity Index (FLII), which has been mapped globally at a 300 m resolution, to measure trends in forest integrity across 6844 KBAs of importance for forest biodiversity. In total 54 % (3.9 million km2) of these KBAs was forested, of which 44 % (1.7 million km2) is considered still to be of high integrity. South America, Africa and Asia were regions with the largest areas of high integrity forest within KBAs, while Oceania and Australasia had proportionally the highest amount of high forest integrity within their KBAs. We found that forest integrity was proportionally higher in larger KBAs, KBAs with larger proportions of forest, KBAs located close to other forested KBAs, and in protected KBAs. Unprotected and partially protected high-integrity forested KBA areas (making up 26 % of the current forested KBA estate) are among the highest priorities for assessing required conservation actions, including restoration to increase connectivity and reduce fragmentation and edge effects, and/or efforts to expand protected areas or other effective area-based conservation measures' (OECMs).
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 8
Esparza-Rodríguez, Z., Colin A. Chapman, A. Reuter et al. (2023). "Estimating the impact of the illegal trade of primates in Mexico: A potential threat to wildlife." Folia Primatologica 94(4-6), 265-275. https://doi.org/10.1163/14219980-bja10017
Abstract: The primates of Mexico, Ateles geoffroyi, Alouatta palliata, and Alouatta pigra, are seriously threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, and illegal hunting and trade. Very little is known about the extent of illegal trade and its impacts on declining primate populations. Our study proposes a potential method based on estimating the number of individuals that die in the trade before being detected and those that probably cannot be detected. This facilitates estimating the number of animals extracted and allows an assessment of how trafficking impacts their populations. We derive estimates from seizure data of primates in Mexico between 2010 and 2019. To do this, we created wildlife detection rates and mortality rates from the existing literature (scientific articles, journalistic articles, and notes) to estimate the number of primates that die during capture, transport, and sale and the number of trafficked primates that were not detected by Mexican authorities. We estimate that 946 primates were removed from the wild for the pet trade each year (spider monkey Ateles geoffroyi = 854; black howler monkeys Alouatta pigra = 38, mantled howler monkey Alouatta palliata = 54). The annual reduction in population size caused by trafficking was greatest for Ateles geoffroyi (2.2%), followed by Alouatta pigra (1.3%), and Alouatta palliata (0.4%). Our estimates show the percentage of impacts that trafficking has on Mexican primate populations. Nevertheless, trade has the potential to impact declining populations and still must be addressed.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 8
Ghose, S. L., T. A. Yap, A. Q. Byrne, ..., D. McAloose et al. (2023). "Continent-wide recent emergence of a global pathogen in African amphibians." Frontiers in Conservation Science 4, e1069490. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2023.1069490
Abstract: Introduction: Emerging infectious diseases are increasingly recognized as a global threat to wildlife. Pandemics in amphibians, caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), have resulted in biodiversity loss at a global scale. Genomic data suggest a complex evolutionary history of Bd lineages that vary in pathogenicity. Africa harbors a significant proportion of global amphibian biodiversity, and multiple Bd lineages are known to occur there; yet, despite the decline of many host species, there are currently no described Bd-epizootics. Here, we describe the historical and recent biogeographical spread of Bd and assess its risk to amphibians across the continent of Africa. Methods: We provide a 165-year view of host-pathogen interactions by (i) employing a Bd assay to test 4,623 specimens (collected 1908–2013); (ii) compiling 12,297 published Bd records (collected 1852–2017); (iii) comparing the frequency of Bd-infected amphibians through time by both country and region; (iv) genotyping Bd lineages; (v) histologically identifying evidence of chytridiomycosis, and (vi) using a habitat suitability model to assess future Bd risk. Results: We found a pattern of Bd emergence beginning largely at the turn of the century. From 1852–1999, we found low Bd prevalence (3.2% overall) and limited geographic spread, but after 2000 we documented a sharp increase in prevalence (18.7% overall), wider geographic spread, and multiple Bd lineages that may be responsible for emergence in different regions. We found that Bd risk to amphibians was highest in much of eastern, central, and western Africa. Discussion: Our study documents a largely overlooked yet significant increase in a fungal pathogen that could pose a threat to amphibians across an entire continent. We emphasize the need to bridge historical and contemporary datasets to better describe and predict host-pathogen dynamics over larger temporal scales.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 8
Lehner, A. F., S. Rebolloso, P. P. Calle, K. Ingerman et al. (2024). "Dried blood spot analysis for elements of nutritional concern as demonstrated in studies of Galápagos land iguanas (Conolophus species)." Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology 81, e127322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2023.127322
Abstract: Background Dried blood spot (DBS) technology is valuable in providing simple means of storing blood samples from wildlife with small blood volumes. Methods designed for heavy metal analysis on DBS become more useful if extended to elements of nutritional significance. Purpose (1) Development of procedures for measuring Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se and Mo in DBS; (2) use the designed methods in health assessments of Galápagos land iguanas (Conolophus species). Procedures Elements were measured by inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) following acid digestion of whole blood or DBS from the same animal for direct comparison. Study animals comprised free-ranging iguanas from separate islands in the Galápagos archipelago. Main Findings DBS spikes (Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se and Mo) demonstrated accuracy to ∼100 ppb; reporting limits were set there except for Fe and Zn which were set at 1000 ppb. Plasma samples – generally preferable for nutritional element diagnostics – were submitted from Galápagos land iguanas along with DBS as part of a large-scale health assessment. In plasma versus DBS concentration comparisons, Fe, Cu, Se and Mn correlated well with R^2 values of 0.799, 0.818, 0.896 and 0.899, respectively, and slopes ranging 0.88 – 1.3. Co and Zn showed greater scatter. Mo had insufficient points above its reporting limit and offered advantages for toxicity assessments. Bland-Altman diagrams showed flat scatter between 2x standard deviation boundaries with no undue trends except for Mn which had few points above its reporting limit. Bias, defined as the average difference [DBS – plasma] divided by the average value, was relatively low throughout, with values of − 19.3 % (Fe), − 48.7 % (Co), − 19.6 % (Cu), − 6.9 % (Zn), − 21.4 % (Se) and + 40.7 % (Mn). Normal distribution assessment of iguana Cu, Zn, Se and Fe plasma values showed unanticipated divergences between two species. Conclusions The DBS approach for nutritional element analysis offers a suitable methodology for determining crucial elements Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, and Mo in veterinary samples. Analyses of samples from Conolophus species revealed interesting divergences particularly for Cu, Zn, Se and Fe, elements generally associated with defense against oxidative stress.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 8
Perkins, M., I. J. Stenhouse, R. B. Lanctot, ..., M. Robards et al. (In Press). "Factors influencing mercury exposure in Arctic-breeding shorebirds." Ecotoxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-023-02708-w [Prepublication: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3016159/v1]
Abstract: Mercury (Hg) pollution remains a concern to Arctic ecosystems, due to long-range transport from southern industrial regions and melting permafrost and glaciers. The objective of this study was to identify intrinsic, extrinsic, and temporal factors influencing Hg concentrations in Arctic-breeding shorebirds and highlight regions and species at greatest risk of Hg exposure. We analyzed 1094 blood and 1384 feather samples from 12 shorebird species breeding at nine sites across the North American Arctic during 2012 and 2013. Blood Hg concentrations, which reflect Hg exposure in the local area in individual shorebirds: 1) ranged from 0.01–3.52 μg/g ww, with an overall mean of 0.30 ± 0.27 μg/g ww; 2) were influenced by species and study site, but not sampling year, with birds sampled near Utqiaġvik, AK, having the highest concentrations; and 3) were influenced by foraging habitat at some sites. Feather Hg concentrations, which reflected Hg exposure from the wintering grounds: 1) ranged from 0.07–12.14 μg/g fw in individuals, with an overall mean of 1.14 ± 1.18 μg/g fw; and 2) were influenced by species and year. Most Arctic-breeding shorebirds had blood and feather Hg concentrations at levels where no adverse effects of exposure were predicted, though some individuals sampled near Utqiaġvik had Hg levels that would be considered of concern. Overall, these data increase our understanding of how Hg is distributed in the various shorebird breeding areas of the Arctic, what factors predispose Arctic-breeding shorebirds to Hg exposure, and lay the foundation for future monitoring efforts.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 8
Trezza, F. R., I. da Costa Nerantzoulis, S. Cianciullo et al. (2023). "Presence of the alien Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri (Psittacidae) in Mozambique." Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology 94(2), 129-134. https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2023.2251690
Abstract: The biology of the Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri has been widely studied in many of its naturalized habitats around the world. However, its potential status and impacts may have gone unnoticed in regions with limited monitoring. In this report, we bring attention to recent sightings of the species in Mozambique and the possibility of its establishment in stable populations, particularly in the capital city of Maputo. Detection is crucial in terms of potential consequences and preventive measures to mitigate the impact of an invasive species.
Grey Literature and Prepublication Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 1
Griffioen, C., J. Miller, M. B. Rexach, ..., P. P. Calle, S. Sitha, S. G. Platt and P. Wagner (2023). Pilot augmentation of elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) in a protected area in Cambodia. 21st Annual Symposium on the Conservation & Biology of Tortoises & Freshwater Turtles, Charleston, SC, Turtle Survival Alliance.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 16-22 October 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 8
Barrionuevo, M., E. Frere, F. Quintana et al. (2023). "Within- and among-colony variation in non-breeding dispersion of Magellanic penguins breeding along the coast of Argentina." Marine Ecology Progress Series 721, 151-160. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14412
Abstract: Magellanic penguins Spheniscus magellanicus are upper trophic level predators and play a key role within their marine ecosystems. However, we lack detailed understanding of their non-breeding distribution where they might be impacted by human threats and climate change. Using geolocator tracking devices deployed in 2021, we analyzed individual non-breeding movements, and differences in the spatial, environmental, and trophic niches of Magellanic penguins breeding along the Atlantic coast of Argentina. The results show that movement characteristics, including trip lengths and dispersal distance, were similar among individuals and across colonies. However, the temporal pattern, including the timing of arrival to the breeding sites, differed between colonies. During the non-breeding season, distributions showed considerable overlap between colonies, notably between individuals from the central and the northernmost breeding sites. Individuals from the northern and central colonies faced similar oceanographic features (i.e. sea surface temperature, chlorophyll a, salinity, depth) and used similar foraging niches while within the anchovy geographic domain. In contrast, individuals breeding farther south were feeding within the geographically distinct sprat domain. Our results indicate that Magellanic penguins breeding along the latitudinal range of Argentina express a broad variation in habitat use during the non-breeding period, and make use of a large proportion of the Patagonian Shelf. The latitudinal location of the breeding colony seems to define the trophic niche and where individuals move during the non-breeding season.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 8
Chevallay, M., P. Goulet, P. T. Madsen, J. Campagna, C. Campagna et al. (2023). "Large sensory volumes enable Southern elephant seals to exploit sparse deep-sea prey." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 120(43), e2307129120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2307129120
Abstract: The ability of echolocating toothed whales to detect and classify prey at long ranges enables efficient searching and stalking of sparse prey in these time-limited dives. However, nonecholocating deep-diving seals such as elephant seals appear to have much less sensory advantage over their prey. Both elephant seals and their prey rely on visual and hydrodynamic cues that may be detectable only at short ranges in the deep ocean, leading us to hypothesize that elephant seals must adopt a less efficient reactive mode of hunting that requires high prey densities. To test that hypothesis, we deployed high-resolution sonar and movement tags on 25 females to record simultaneous predator and prey behavior during foraging interactions. We demonstrate that elephant seals have a sensory advantage over their prey that allows them to potentially detect prey 5 to 10 s before striking. The corresponding prey detection ranges of 7 to 17 m enable stealthy approaches and prey-specific capture tactics. In comparison, prey react at a median range of 0.7 m, close to the neck extension range of striking elephant seals. Estimated search swathes of 150 to 900 m2 explain how elephant seals can locate up to 2,000 prey while swimming more than 100 km per day. This efficient search capability allows elephant seals to subsist on prey densities that are consonant with the deep scattering layer resources estimated by hydroacoustic surveys but which are two orders of magnitude lower than the prey densities needed by a reactive hunter.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 8
Leguia, M., A. Garcia-Glaessner, B. Muñoz-Saavedra, ..., P. Colchao-Claux et al. (2023). "Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) in marine mammals and seabirds in Peru." Nature Communications 14(1), e5489. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41182-0
Abstract: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A/H5N1 viruses (lineage 2.3.4.4b) are rapidly invading the Americas, threatening wildlife, poultry, and potentially evolving into the next global pandemic. In November 2022 HPAI arrived in Peru, triggering massive pelican and sea lion die-offs. We report genomic characterization of HPAI/H5N1 in five species of marine mammals and seabirds (dolphins, sea lions, sanderlings, pelicans and cormorants). Peruvian viruses belong to lineage 2.3.4.4b, but they are 4:4 reassortants where 4 genomic segments (PA, HA, NA and MP) position within the Eurasian lineage that initially entered North America from Eurasia, while the other 4 genomic segments (PB2, PB1, NP and NS) position within the American lineage (clade C) that circulated in North America. These viruses are rapidly accruing mutations, including mutations of concern, that warrant further examination and highlight an urgent need for active local surveillance to manage outbreaks and limit spillover into other species, including humans.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 8
Luedtke, J. A., J. Chanson, K. Neam, ..., G. González-Durán et al. (2023). "Ongoing declines for the world’s amphibians in the face of emerging threats." Nature 622(7982), 308-314. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06578-4
Abstract: Systematic assessments of species extinction risk at regular intervals are necessary for informing conservation action. Ongoing developments in taxonomy, threatening processes and research further underscore the need for reassessment. Here we report the findings of the second Global Amphibian Assessment, evaluating 8,011 species for the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. We find that amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate class (40.7% of species are globally threatened). The updated Red List Index shows that the status of amphibians is deteriorating globally, particularly for salamanders and in the Neotropics. Disease and habitat loss drove 91% of status deteriorations between 1980 and 2004. Ongoing and projected climate change effects are now of increasing concern, driving 39% of status deteriorations since 2004, followed by habitat loss (37%). Although signs of species recoveries incentivize immediate conservation action, scaled-up investment is urgently needed to reverse the current trends.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 8
Maron, M., F. Quétier, M. Sarmiento, ... and A. von Hase (In Press). "‘Nature positive’ must incorporate, not undermine, the mitigation hierarchy." Nature Ecology & Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02199-2
Abstract: For the concept of nature positive to succeed as the lodestar for international action on biodiversity conservation, it must build upon lessons learned from the application of the mitigation hierarchy — or risk becoming mere greenwash.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 8
Proctor, M. F., C. T. Lamb, J. Boulanger, ..., C. L. Lausen et al. (2023). "Berries and bullets: Influence of food and mortality risk on grizzly bears in British Columbia." Wildlife Monographs 213(1), e1078. https://doi.org/10.1002/wmon.1078
Abstract: The influence of bottom-up food resources and top-down mortality risk underlies the demographic trajectory of wildlife populations. For species of conservation concern, understanding the factors driving population dynamics is crucial to effective management and, ultimately, conservation. In southeastern British Columbia, Canada, populations of the mostly omnivorous grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) are fragmented into a mosaic of small isolated or larger partially connected sub-populations. They obtain most of their energy from vegetative resources that are also influenced by human activities. Roads and associated motorized human access shape availability of food resources but also displace bears and facilitate human-caused mortality. Effective grizzly bear management requires an understanding of the relationship between habitat quality and mortality risk. We integrated analyses of bottom-up and top-down demographic parameters to understand and inform a comprehensive and efficient management paradigm across the region. Black huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum) is the key high-energy food for grizzly bears in much of southeastern British Columbia. Little is known about where and why huckleberries grow into patches that are useful for grizzly bears (i.e., densely clustered fruiting shrubs that provide efficient access to high energy food) and how forage supply and mortality risk influence population vital rates. By following 43 grizzly bears tracked with global positioning system (GPS) collars (57 bear years) in a 14,236-km2 focal area spanning the Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges, we developed a model to identify huckleberry patches from grizzly bear use data. Over 2 years we visited 512 sites used by bears, identifying more than 300 huckleberry patches. We used boosted regression tree modeling associating geophysical, ecological, soil, climate, and topographical variables with huckleberry patches. We integrated this modeled food layer depicting an important pre-hibernation resource, into broader bottom-up and top-down analyses. In addition to berries, we examined bottom-up variables indexing vegetative productivity that were previously found to be predictive of bear use (e.g., alpine, canopy cover, greenness, riparian). We also examined top-down variables including road presence, road density, distance-to-road, secure habitat (defined as 500 m away from a road open to vehicular access), highways, human development, and terrain ruggedness. We evaluated the relationship of these variables to female habitat selection, fitness, and population density, testing the predictability and interrelatedness of covariates relative to bottom-up and top-down influences. We estimated resource selection functions with 20,293 GPS telemetry locations collected over 10 years from 20 female grizzly bears. We modeled fitness using logistic regression of spatially explicit reproductive data derived from genetically identified family pedigrees consisting of a mother, father, and offspring. Data included 33 mothers and 72 offspring (1–8 offspring per female). We estimated density through spatial capture-recapture analysis of 126 grizzly bears detected with hair-sampled DNA 287 times between 1998 and 2005. In all 3 analyses (habitat selection, fitness, and density), huckleberry patches were the most influential bottom-up factor and secure habitat was the most consistent top-down variable (road density was similarly predictive). All of the best supported models contained bottom-up and top-down variables except the male density model, which only contained a top-down variable (secure habitat). These results suggest that both bottom-up and top-down forces drive several population processes of grizzly bears in the region, especially for females. We found that 38% of huckleberry patches (235 km2) predicted by the top model were in non-secure habitat and that these patches were associated with lower fitness and density relative to those in secure habitat. Grizzly bear density was 2.6 times higher in habitat with road densities <0.6 km/km2, supporting the use of this road density target for management. The models predict that applying motorized access controls to backcountry areas with huckleberry patches would increase grizzly bear abundance by 23% on average across the region and 125% in the lowest density portion of the study area (Yahk). Managing both bottom-up and top-down influences is necessary to best mitigate the expanding human footprint, which is affecting many carnivore species worldwide. We provide evidence that bottom-up forces were more influential for female habitat selection, fitness, and density than top-down effects. We also uncovered a critical pattern in the magnitude of top-down and bottom-up influences on behavioral (habitat selection) and demographic (population density and fitness) responses. We show that the relative influence of top-down influences on habitat selection and fitness are relatively weak compared to bottom-up influences, whereas top-down pressures exert much stronger limiting forces on population density. Forming conservation decisions around behavioral responses alone may misdirect actions and have limited benefits to populations. This insight can facilitate more effective decision-making for grizzly bear conservation. Our findings highlight the importance of considering both bottom-up and top-down influences, suggesting cautious interpretation of habitat selection models for any species. A comprehensive examination with population-level metrics such as density, vital rates, and fitness may be needed for effective management.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 8
Rhodes, K., A. Hughes and S. D. Jupiter (2023). "Identifying management options and effectiveness in Solomon Islands fisheries using traditional ecological knowledge." SPC Traditional Marine Resource Management and Knowledge Information Bulletin 41, 11-19. https://coastfish.spc.int/en/publications/bulletins/traditional-management
Abstract: While most fish spawning aggregations are targeted by fishers in Solomon Islands, very little is still known about spawning aggregation locations and the timing of aggregations for different species. We collected traditional ecological knowledge from 102 fishers residing around Munda, as well as the Roviana and Marovo Lagoons in Western Province to inform community-based management of fish spawning aggregations, and to provide recommendations for adapting current government regulations for the management of aggregating grouper species. Fishers identified 31 separate fishing locations and 26 possible aggregation areas, validating findings from earlier surveys while also highlighting new areas for verification and management. Collated traditional environmental knowledge, integrated with spawning information derived from past studies, pointed to regional variations in spawning times among individual species, specifically groupers, that lessens the effectiveness of the current nationwide seasonal ban and suggests that finer-scale management is warranted at the site level.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 8
Smith, B. D., E. F. Mansur, M. Shamsuddoha and G. M. M. Billah (Early View). "Is the demand for fish swim bladders driving the extinction of globally endangered marine wildlife?" Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.4025
Abstract: International trade in croaker swim bladders or maws and incidental catches in fisheries targeting croakers for their maws pose a global problem that needs addressing to protect target croakers and globally threatened small cetaceans, sharks, rays and marine turtles. The lesson of the likely imminent extinction of the vaquita porpoise (Phocoena sinus) in the Gulf of California, Mexico, owing to entanglement in gillnets targeting the totoaba croaker for its maw, is that the underlying threats to marine species must be addressed well before precipitous declines make their extinction inevitable. Opportunistic interviews with fishers and fish traders in Bangladesh indicate that the increasing demand for fish maws, selling for as much as 5,000 USD per kg, may be intensifying small-scale coastal fisheries and bycatches of globally threatened marine wildlife, especially due to the potential for a windfall profit. In 137 croaker catches made in gillnets, sharks were bycaught in 22%, marine turtles in 8% and rays in 3% of catches. Of particular concern were six bycatches of 125 Critically Endangered scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini), 11 bycatches of 20 Vulnerable (VU) olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) and two bycatches of 13 VU longtail butterfly rays (Gymnura poecilura). A recent IUCN Motion for ?Controlling and monitoring trade in croaker swim bladders to protect target croakers and reduce incidental catches of threatened marine megafauna? recommends conducting an analysis on the impacts of the demand for and trade in fish maws on croaker species and threatened marine megafauna, regulating trade in fish maws through national laws and developing a potential proposal to list croaker species in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). To prevent species extinctions, additional measures focusing on fishery management will be needed.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 9-15 October 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 7
Boron, V., N. J. Deere, M. Hyde, ... and E. Payán (2023). "Habitat modification destabilizes spatial associations and persistence of Neotropical carnivores." Current Biology 33(17), 3722-3731. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.07.064
Abstract: Spatial relationships between sympatric species underpin biotic interactions, structure ecological communities, and maintain ecosystem health. However, the resilience of interspecific spatial associations to human habitat modification remains largely unknown, particularly in tropical regions where anthropogenic impacts are often greatest. We applied multi-state multi-species occurrence models to camera trap data across nine tropical landscapes in Colombia to understand how prominent threats to forest ecosystems influence Neotropical carnivore occurrence and interspecific spatial associations, with implications for biotic interactions. We show that carnivore occurrence represents a delicate balance between local environmental conditions and interspecific interactions that can be compromised in areas of extensive habitat modification. The stability of carnivore spatial associations depends on forest cover to mediate antagonistic encounters with apex predators and structurally intact forests to facilitate coexistence between competing mesocarnivores. Notably, we demonstrate that jaguars play an irreplaceable role in spatially structuring mesocarnivore communities, providing novel evidence on their role as keystone species. With increasing global change, conserving both the extent and quality of tropical forests is imperative to support carnivores and preserve the spatial associations that underpin ecosystem stability and resilience.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 7
Doherty, P. D., G. De Bruyne, B. D. Moundzoho, E. Dilambaka, ..., R. J. Parnell, M. Cournarie, R. Malonga et al. (Early View). "Artisanal fisheries catch highlights hotspot for threatened sharks and rays in the Republic of the Congo." Conservation Science and Practice, e13017. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13017
Abstract: Global catch rates of sharks and rays from artisanal fisheries are underreported, leading to a lack of data on population status. This forms a major barrier to developing effective management plans, such is the case in Central and West Africa. Over 3 years, we undertook the first systematic quantitative assessment of sharks and rays landed by an artisanal fishery in the Republic of the Congo. During 507 sampling days (mean 14 surveys per month), we recorded 73,268 individuals. These comprised 42 species, of which 81% are considered at an elevated risk of extinction. Landings were dominated by immature individuals, especially for species of conservation concern. Presence of species thought to have largely disappeared from the region such as the African wedgefish (Rhynchobatus luebberti) and smoothback angelshark (Squatina oculata) suggest Congolese waters are a potential stronghold for these species?warranting increased protection. We identified seasonality of catch within years, but not across years. Both inter- and intra-annual trends varied by species, signifying annual fluctuations in catch of each species but consistent catch of all species year-on-year. Analysis showed increased catch between the short-wet and the long-wet, and the long-dry seasons (January?February and August?September). Lowest catch was shown to occur during the short-wet and the short-dry seasons (October?December), which may provide an opportunity for seasonal closures or gear restrictions.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 7
Katju, D., S. Marchini, V. Athreya and M. K. S. Pasha (2023). "Editorial: Predators in the city: Large carnivores in urban landscapes of the Anthropocene." Frontiers in Conservation Science 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2023.1293830
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 7
Kuhar, U., O. Tomášek, E. Sós, J. Mede, M. Kastelic, N. Jež, M. Petrikova, T. H. Jensen, C. E. Alex, U. Jamnikar-Ciglenecki and P. Kvapil (In Press). "Prevalence of red panda amdoparvovirus infection in European zoos." Frontiers in Veterinary Science 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1276248
Abstract: Red panda amdoparvovirus (RPAV) was first described in captive red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) at a zoo in the United States in 2018. Subsequently, the prevalence of infection in zoos in the United States was reported to be 50%; however, RPAV prevalence outside the United States remains unstudied. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of RPAV in 134 red pandas from zoos in Europe. Overall, RPAV was detected with PCR in 21 of 62 zoos (33.9%), and the virus prevalence among individuals was estimated to be 24.2% (95% confidence interval: 17.4%-32.0%). Remarkably, adult females tested positive for RPAV more frequently than adult males. Zoos where RPAV was detected reported a significantly higher occurrence of alopecia (and clinical signs in general), whereas other This is a provisional file, not the final typeset article commonly reported problems (fecal disorders and dental disease) showed no difference. A repeated pooled sampling of two positive individuals further showed that RPAV excretion in feces is intermittent, with the viral DNA being only detected on 8 out of 14 sampling days. The intermittent nature of excretion implies that RPAV prevalence may be higher than the estimated value.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 7
Murdoch, A. D., B. M. Connors, N. W. R. Lapointe, ... and C. Mantyka-Pringle (In Press). "Multiple environmental drivers across life-stages influence Yukon River Chinook salmon productivity." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2022-0254
Abstract: Recent declines of Yukon River Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) populations have severely impacted people residing in the Yukon and Alaska. Evidence-based conservation strategies focused on stock recovery and adaptation are urgently needed but are limited by our understanding of what is driving declines, particularly in Canadian portions of the Yukon River basin. We examined how multiple environmental drivers may be influencing Canadian-origin Yukon River Chinook salmon productivity for eight populations over a 28-year period. We found that productivity was related to various environmental and ecosystem processes acting cumulatively over multiple life stages and across broad geographic scales. Productivity decreased in association with warmer upriver migration temperatures, wetter freshwater juvenile rearing habitats, and increasing abundances of potential marine competitors. In contrast, productivity increased in years with warmer and snowier winters and earlier spring onset. We found that different populations had similar relationships with environmental drivers, with potentially negative implications for regional fisheries stability. Our findings provide insight into how Chinook salmon are responding to rapid environmental change and can help inform salmon conservation initiatives and sustainable harvest strategies.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 7
Parker, D. M., V. O. Nams, G. A. Balme, ..., L. T. B. Hunter et al. (In Press). "The implications of large home range size in a solitary felid, the Leopard (Panthera pardus)." Journal of Mammalogy, gyad074. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyad074
Abstract: The size of the home range of a mammal is affected by numerous factors. However, in the normally solitary, but polygynous, Leopard (Panthera pardus), home range size and maintenance is complicated by their transitory social grouping behavior, which is dependent on life history stage and/or reproductive status. In addition, the necessity to avoid competition with conspecifics and other large predators (including humans) also impacts upon home range size. We used movement data from 31 sites across Africa, comprising 147 individuals (67 males and 80 females) to estimate the home range sizes of leopards. We found that leopards with larger home ranges, and in areas with more vegetation, spent longer being active and generally traveled faster, and in straighter lines, than leopards with smaller home ranges. We suggest that a combination of bottom-up (i.e., preferred prey availability), top-down (i.e., competition with conspecifics), and reproductive (i.e., access to mates) factors likely drive the variability in Leopard home range sizes across Africa. However, the maintenance of a large home range is energetically expensive for leopards, likely resulting in a complex evolutionary trade-off between the satisfaction of basic requirements and preventing potentially dangerous encounters with conspecifics, other predators, and people.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 7
Senvanpan, N., V. Phimolsarnnousith, S. Rattanavong, ..., A. E. Fine, ..., M. Pruvot et al. (2023). "Longitudinal comparison of bacterial pathogen seropositivity among wet market vendors in the Lao People's Democratic Republic." One Health 17, e100618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100618
Abstract: Wild animal trade for human consumption is a global issue, involving complex interactions between economics, culture, food security and conservation. Whilst being a biodiversity issue, it is also a major public health concern, with recent epidemics and pandemics of zoonotic pathogens linked to interactions with wildlife. At three time points, between March 2017 and June 2018, a longitudinal sero-survey of 150 market vendors from three wet markets in Laos (selling vegetables, domestic animal meat and/or wildlife meat) was conducted to determine if vendors had been differentially exposed to three endemic bacterial pathogens – Orientia tsutsugamushi, Rickettsia typhi, and Leptospira spp. A total of 367 serum samples were tested by IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence assay (IFA, for scrub typhus group (STG) and typhus group (TG) only). Among vendors, 32.7% were IgG-positive for at least one pathogen, 13.3% sero-converted during the study. Multi-season occupancy modelling for STG indicated a significantly higher prevalence of STG IgG in vegetable vendors (27.3%) and wildlife vendors (28.4%) than in domestic animal meat vendors (6.9%, p = 0.05), and higher in Phonsavanh market (OR = 9.6, p = 0.03) compared to Lak Sao and Salavan markets. Estimated mean incidence was 57 cases per 10,000 per 7.5-month period. For TG, vendor age had a significant effect on prevalence (OR = 1.04, p = 0.006), estimated mean incidence was 64 cases per 10,000 per season (7.5-month period). Despite individuals selling domestic meat having a higher prevalence of Leptospira infections than those that did not (11.6% versus 4.5%), the difference was not significant. Whilst this study has a number of limitations, including vendors changing what food types they sold and no investigation of exposure outside of markets, the finding that the risk of exposure of vendors to zoonotic pathogens may be associated with types of food sold for human consumption warrants further investigation.
Prepublication Citations
Prepublication Citation 1 of 1
White, J. C., I. Khamphui, A. Rasphone and V. Nijman (Prepublication). “Opium cultivation imperilling endangered species in northern Laos.” Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3399857/v1
Abstract: Scant research has been conducted concerning the impacts of opium cultivation on endangered fauna in Southeast Asia. Remote sensing and ranger patrolling in Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has revealed an alarming growth of opium poppy cultivation inside the park. To avoid government eradication efforts, these fields are cleared in remote areas of the forest overlapping critical habitat for northern white-cheeked gibbon, Asiatic elephant, dhole and clouded leopard. We used satellite imagery, ranger patrol data and social media to (a) measure opium clearings in a section of the park’s totally protected zone and (b) assess its impact on these endangered species and others. We found, from 2018 to 2022, a > 2000% increase in protected forest annually cleared for the crop. Ranger patrol data revealed a ten-fold increase of encounters with cable snares in the same area over this time and videos online reveal cultivators hunting protected species near these fields. Our findings reveal that the displacement of illicit cultivation into protected areas is a side-effect of eradication efforts and has negative ecological impacts beyond deforestation alone. We also report on a strategy in 2022 by the park to reduce the use of these forests for opium cultivation through community outreach and police collaboration. We recommend continued coordination between the park, local communities, and law enforcement and suggest neglecting the eradication of opium poppy in designated agricultural areas before the successful eradication of all opium poppy inside protected areas can be achieved.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 2-8 October 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 5
Bartlett, S. L., K. N. Koeppel, A. C. Cushing, ... and P. P. Calle (2023). "Global retrospective review of severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS CoV-2 infections in nondomestic felids: March 2020–February 2021." Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 54(3), 607-616. https://doi.org/10.1638/2022-0141
Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in nondomestic felids have been documented in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Between March 2020 and February 2021, at nine institutions across three continents, infection was confirmed in 16 tigers (Panthera tigris), 14 lions (Panthera leo), three snow leopards (Panthera uncia), one cougar (Puma concolor), and one Amur leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) ranging from 2 to 21 yr old (average, 10 yr). Infection was suspected in an additional 12 tigers, 4 lions, and 9 cougars. Clinical signs (in order of most to least common) included coughing, ocular and/or nasal discharge, wheezing, sneezing, decreased appetite, lethargy, diarrhea, and vomiting. Most felids recovered uneventfully, but one geriatric tiger with comorbidities developed severe dyspnea and neurologic signs necessitating euthanasia. Clinical signs lasted 1–19 d (average, 8 d); one tiger was asymptomatic. Infection was confirmed by various methods, including antigen tests and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of nasal or oral swabs, tracheal wash, and feces, or virus isolation from feces or tracheal wash. Infection status and resolution were determined by testing nasal swabs from awake animals, fecal PCR, and observation of clinical signs. Shedding of fecal viral RNA was significantly longer than duration of clinical signs. Postinfection seropositivity was confirmed by four institutions including 11 felids (5 lions, 6 tigers). In most instances, asymptomatic or presymptomatic keepers were the presumed or confirmed source of infection, although in some instances the infection source remains uncertain. Almost all infections occurred despite using cloth facemasks and disposable gloves when in proximity to the felids and during food preparation. Although transmission may have occurred during momentary lapses in personal protective equipment compliance, it seems probable that cloth masks are insufficient at preventing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to nondomestic felids. Surgical or higher grade masks may be warranted when working with nondomestic felids.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 5
Buschke, F. T., C. Capitani, E. H. Sow, ... and A. von Hase (In Press). "Make global biodiversity information useful to national decision-makers." Nature Ecology & Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02226-2
Abstract: Participants in the Convention on Biological Diversity’s processes for implementing the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework need clarity on what makes biodiversity information useful to national decision-makers. Here we present seven preconditions of useful biodiversity information and describe how these can be supported through regional support centres and south–south cooperation.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 5
Chanpradub, K., A. Pattanawibool, A. Saisamorn, ..., C. Thongsong et al. (2023). "Abundance and habitat suitability of Siamese crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis, Schneider 1801) in Phetchaburi River, Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand." Biodiversitas: Journal of Biological Diversity 24(9), 4755-4765. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d240916
Abstract: The Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis, Schneider 1801) is one of the critically endangered species with a remnant population reported in Kaeng Krachan National Park. This study aimed to investigate Siamese crocodiles' abundance and habitats along the Phetchaburi River. Thirteen rafting trips from December 2021 to July 2023 were conducted at a total distance of 315 kilometers, recording 68 encounters with an encounter rate of 0.22 per kilometer. It was estimated that the population size of Siamese crocodiles was four individuals. Environmental factors that influenced crocodile distribution, with slope, elevation, forest types, cumulative flow rates upstream, and land use patterns, were identified. These findings underscore the significance of the Phetchaburi River area for freshwater crocodile conservation, as indicated by a highly reliable model with a reliable score of 0.99±0.02. Important recommendations include habitat protection, development of a crocodile threat surveillance system, ongoing population studies, and community involvement, which are essential for sustainable conservation practices, public awareness campaigns, captive breeding and reintroduction programs, and population restoration efforts. This research provides valuable insights into the habitats and environmental factors impacting Siamese crocodiles, highlighting the critical role of preserving Kaeng Krachan National Park as an important habitat for this species.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 5
Rakotoarison, A., M. D. Scherz, K. E. Mullin, ..., H. M. Rabe Maheritafika, J. M. Rafanoharana, H. Raherinjatovo et al. (2023). "Gray versus yellow ventral coloration: Identity, distribution, color polymorphism and molecular relationships of the microhylid frog Platypelis mavomavo Andreone, Fenolio & Walvoord, 2003." Zootaxa 5352(2). https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5352.2.4
Abstract: The Malagasy frog Platypelis mavomavo from Ambolokopatrika in the North East of Madagascar was originally diagnosed based on its bright yellow venter, but only limited information on this species has become available after its initial description in 2003. Several Platypelis specimens with yellow ventral color have been erroneously assigned to this species due to a lack of DNA sequences from the P. mavomavo type series. On the other hand, the candidate species Platypelis sp. Ca10 from Andranomapanga in the Northern Central East of Madagascar with gray ventral color has been defined based on its genetic differentiation from other nominal Platypelis species. Here we study the genetic variation of P. mavomavo and P. sp. Ca10 based on mitochondrial (16S rRNA) and nuclear-encoded (RAG-1) genes, including a newly determined sequence from the P. mavomavo holotype, which was studied using a museomics approach. We find only limited genetic variation among the samples studied, and this variation is unlinked to ventral coloration but instead reflects geographic distribution. We, therefore, conclude that P. sp. Ca10 is a gray-colored variant of P. mavomavo, and that P. mavomavo is rather widespread in the North East and Northern Central East of Madagascar, with populations in areas bordering the North West (Ambohitantely) and Sambirano (Ampotsidy) geographic regions, and the yellow-bellied morph restricted to the North East (Makira, Ambolokopatrika). Due to the range extension of P. mavomavo, the conservation status of the species requires re-assessment.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 5
Robinson, J. P. W., E. S. Darling, E. Maire, ..., S. D. Jupiter, M. Aaron MacNeil, S. Mangubhai, T. McClanahan, Y. Nand and N. A. J. Graham (2023). "Trophic distribution of nutrient production in coral reef fisheries." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 290(2008), e20231601. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.1601
Abstract: Coral reef fisheries supply nutritious catch to tropical coastal communities, where the quality of reef seafood is determined by both the rate of biomass production and nutritional value of reef fishes. Yet our understanding of reef fisheries typically uses targets of total reef fish biomass rather than individual growth (i.e. biomass production) and nutrient content (i.e. nutritional value of reef fish), limiting the ability of management to sustain the productivity of nutritious catches. Here, we use modelled growth coefficients and nutrient concentrations to develop a new metric of nutrient productivity of coral reef fishes. We then evaluate this metric with underwater visual surveys of reef fish assemblages from four tropical countries to examine nutrient productivity of reef fish food webs. Species' growth coefficients were associated with nutrients that vary with body size (calcium, iron, selenium and zinc), but not total nutrient density. When integrated with fish abundance data, we find that herbivorous species typically dominate standing biomass, biomass turnover and nutrient production on coral reefs. Such bottom-heavy trophic distributions of nutrients were consistent across gradients of fishing pressure and benthic composition. We conclude that management restrictions that promote sustainability of herbivores and other low trophic-level species can sustain biomass and nutrient production from reef fisheries that is critical to the food security of over 500 million people in the tropics.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 25 September-1 October 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 5
Barkhasbaatar, A., M. Gilbert, A. E. Fine, E. Shiilegdamba, ..., B. Buuveibaatar, ..., L. Jambal, ..., T. Sukhbaatar and S. H. Olson (Early View). "Ecological characterization of 175 low-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses isolated from wild birds in Mongolia, 2009–2013 and 2016–2018." Veterinary Medicine and Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.1281
Abstract: Background Since 2005, highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 viruses have spread from Asia worldwide, infecting poultry, humans and wild birds. Subsequently, global interest in avian influenza (AI) surveillance increased. Objectives Mongolia presents an opportunity to study viruses in wild birds because the country has very low densities of domestic poultry and supports large concentrations of migratory water birds. Methods We conducted AI surveillance in Mongolia over two time periods, 2009-2013 and 2016-2018, utilizing environmental fecal sampling. Fresh fecal samples were collected from water bird congregation sites. Hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) subtypes of positive samples were identified through viral isolation or molecular assays, with pathogenicity determined by HA subtype or sequencing the HA cleavage site. Results A total of 10,222 samples were collected. Of these, 7,025 fecal samples were collected from 2009 to 2013, and 3,197 fecal samples were collected from 2016 to 2018. Testing revealed 175 (1.7%) positive samples for low-pathogenicity influenza A, including 118 samples from 2009 to 2013 (1.7%) and 57 samples from 2016 to 2018 (1.8%). HA and NA subtyping of all positives identified 11 subtypes of HA and nine subtypes of NA in 29 different combinations. Within periods, viruses were detected more frequently during the fall season than in the early summer. Conclusion Mongolia's critical wild bird habitat is positioned as a crossroad of multiple migratory flyways. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of using an affordable environmental fecal sampling approach for AI surveillance and contributes to understanding the prevalence and ecology of low-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses in this important location, where birds from multiple flyways mix.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 5
Carroll, C., S. Hoban and J. C. Ray (Accepted Article). "Lessons from COP15 on effective scientific engagement in biodiversity policy processes." Conservation Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14192
Abstract: The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was recently adopted by parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The aftermath of these negotiations provides an opportunity to draw lessons as to how ecological and evolutionary science can more effectively inform policy. We examine key challenges that limit effective engagement by scientists in the biodiversity policy process, drawing parallels with analogous challenges within global climate negotiations. Biodiversity is multi-faceted, yet represents only one framing for nature's contributions to people, complicating the nexus between evidence and values in development of the framework's targets. Processes generating biodiversity and driving its loss are multi-scalar, challenging development of an evidence base for globally-standardized targets. We illustrate these challenges by contrasting development of two key elements of the framework. The genetic diversity element of the framework's Target 4 is directly related to topline goals, but its complexity required development of novel engagement skills. The target for protected areas was easily communicated but more indirectly related to biodiversity outcomes; evidence from ecological and social science was essential in communicating the context and limitations of this relationship. Scientists can strengthen the effectiveness of global agreements and address challenges arising from complexity, scaling, capacity limitations, and the interplay of science and values, if they can prioritize communications, consensus-building and networking skills and engage throughout the process from development of an evidence base to implementation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 5
Eurich, J. G., W. R. Friedman, K. M. Kleisner, ..., T. R. McClanahan et al. (Early View). "Diverse pathways for climate resilience in marine fishery systems." Fish and Fisheries. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12790
Abstract: Both the ecological and social dimensions of fisheries are being affected by climate change. As a result, policymakers, managers, scientists and fishing communities are seeking guidance on how to holistically build resilience to climate change. Numerous studies have highlighted key attributes of resilience in fisheries, yet concrete examples that explicitly link these attributes to social-ecological outcomes are lacking. To better understand climate resilience, we assembled 18 case studies spanning ecological, socio-economic, governance and geographic contexts. Using a novel framework for evaluating 38 resilience attributes, the case studies were systematically assessed to understand how attributes enable or inhibit resilience to a given climate stressor. We found population abundance, learning capacity, and responsive governance were the most important attributes for conferring resilience, with ecosystem connectivity, place attachment, and accountable governance scoring the strongest across the climate-resilient fisheries. We used these responses to develop an attribute typology that describes robust sources of resilience, actionable priority attributes and attributes that are case specific or require research. We identified five fishery archetypes to guide stakeholders as they set long-term goals and prioritize actions to improve resilience. Lastly, we found evidence for two pathways to resilience: (1) building ecological assets and strengthening communities, which we observed in rural and small-scale fisheries, and (2) building economic assets and improving effective governance, which was demonstrated in urban and wealthy fisheries. Our synthesis presents a novel framework that can be directly applied to identify approaches, pathways and actionable levers for improving climate resilience in fishery systems.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 5
Platt, S. G., S. H. Naing Aung, T. Lwin, K. Platt, H. Thu, S. H. Hsu Naing et al. (2023). "Morenia ocellata (Burmese eyed turtle). Morphometrics and sexual size dimorphism." Herpetological Review 54(2), 282-284.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 5
Thompson, C., N. Lwin, P. P. Aung, ..., N. M. L. Thant et al. (In Press). "The status of primates and primatology in Myanmar." Global Ecology and Conservation, e02662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02662
Abstract: Myanmar is one of the world’s most biologically rich countries and has among the largest contiguous intact forest landscapes in southeast Asia. Yet many of its ecosystems are highly threatened and there is an urgent need for greater wildlife conservation action, particularly for its 20 primate species, over half of which are either Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Of these 20 species, three survive in small, isolated populations, while for the remaining 17 there is insufficient population and distribution information to accurately target conservation management and monitoring. To begin to address this challenge, we conducted semi-structured interviews with senior academics and professionals working in primate conservation in Myanmar to assess current knowledge on the conservation status of each of the primate species found there, as well as conservation efforts underway. We also conducted a systematic literature review to generate data on publication metrics for Myanmar primatology. The principal finding is that the populations of nearly all of Myanmar’s 20 primate species are declining, and there are gaps in knowledge on species population dynamics which are hindering conservation action. We present an overview of primatology in Myanmar and address the challenges and recommendations for the future of primate conservation in Myanmar.
Grey Literature
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 1
Smallhorn-West, P., R. A. Abesamis, D. Boso, ..., S. D. Jupiter, ..., S. H. Peckham, ..., S. Raj, ..., J. Tullos et al. (2023). The Fisheries Co-Management Guidebook: Emerging Research for the Effective Management of Small-Scale Fisheries. Wildlife Conservation Society and WorldFish. https://doi.org/10.19121/2023.Report.49580
Abstract: Small-scale fisheries account for 40% of global fish catch and employ more than 90% of the world’s fishers. 492 million people depend at least partially on small-scale fisheries for their livelihoods and food and nutrition security, including Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, and religious and other minorities in coastal and riverine communities. As such, this sector defines the livelihoods, nutrition, and culture of a substantial and diverse segment of humankind, as well as being of global significance for ocean sustainability. In 2014, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations released the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries, the first internationally agreed instrument dedicated to the small-scale fisheries sector. Centered on a human rights-based approach, these guidelines were developed through a participatory and consultive process that aims to support the effective management of small-scale fisheries. Yet managing small-scale fisheries is inherently complex, and top-down approaches to small-scale fisheries management have faced many obstacles. In recent decades more local forms of marine management, including fisheries co-management, have captured global attention as the most appropriate mechanisms to manage small-scale fisheries. Fisheries co-management is a relationship between resource-users such as fishers or a fishing community and another organization or entity (often a government agency) for the purpose of managing a fishery. It is a collaborative arrangement where both groups have some responsibility and authority. This approach is now widely considered to be the most appropriate, fair, and effective form of governance for small-scale fisheries. It is envisioned as a process by which to reverse the interconnected crises of hunger, poverty, and biodiversity loss, transforming small-scale fisheries into engines of prosperity, inclusion, and sustainability. This guidebook aims to provide practitioners with the information required to drive positive impacts from fisheries co-management.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 18-24 September 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 8
Ban, N. C., E. S. Darling, G. G. Gurney, ..., S. D. Jupiter, W. P. Lestari, I. Yulianto, S. Pardede, S. A. R. Tarigan, ..., S. Mangubhai, W. Naisilisili, S. Dulunaqio, ..., R. Ranaivoson, ..., N. A. Muthiga and T. McClanahan (Early View). "Effects of management objectives and rules on marine conservation outcomes." Conservation Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14156
Abstract: Understanding the relative effectiveness and enabling conditions of different area-based management tools is essential for supporting efforts that achieve positive biodiversity outcomes as area-based conservation coverage increases to meet newly set international targets. We used data from a coastal social-ecological monitoring program in six Indo-Pacific countries to analyze whether social, ecological, and economic objectives and specific management rules (temporal closures, fishing gear-, species-specific restrictions) were associated with coral reef fish biomass above sustainable yield levels across different types of area-based management tools (i.e., comparing those designated as marine protected areas (MPAs) to other types of area-based management). We found that all categories of objectives, multiple combinations of rules, and all types of area-based management had some sites that were able to sustain high levels of reef fish biomass ? a key measure for coral reef health ? compared to reference sites with no area-based management. Yet the same management types also had sites with low biomass. As governments advance their commitments to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the target to conserve 30% of the planet's land and oceans by 2030, we show that while different types of management can be effective, most of the managed areas in our study regions did not meet IUCN criteria for effectiveness. These findings underscore the importance of strong management and governance of managed areas, and the need to measure the ecological impact of area-based management rather than counting areas because of their designation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 8
Enríquez-García, A. B., V. H. Cruz-Escalona, J. D. Carriquiry, N. R. Ehemann, P. A. Mejía-Falla et al. (2023). "Trophic assessment of three sympatric batoid species in the Southern Gulf of California." PeerJ 11, e16117. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16117
Abstract: The competitive exclusion principle establishes that the coexistence of closely related species requires a certain degree of resource partitioning. However, populations have individuals with different morphological or behavioral traits (e.g., maturity stages, sexes, temporal or spatial segregation). This interaction often results in a multi-level differentiation in food preferences and habits. We explored such resource partitioning between and within three batoid species: Hypanus dipterurus, Narcine entemedor, and Rhinoptera steindachneri in the southern Gulf of California, Mexico, using a combination of stomach content (excluding R. steindachneri) and stable isotope analyses. We found a clear differentiation between H. dipterurus and N. entemedor, where the latter exhibited more benthic habitats, supported by a greater association to infaunal prey and higher δ13C values. Though the degree and patterns of intra-specific segregation varied among species, there was a notable differentiation in both sex and stage of maturity, corresponding to changes in specialization (i.e., isotopic niche breadth) or trophic spectrum (varying prey importance and isotopic values per group). This work is a promising step towards understanding the dietary niche dynamics of these species in a potentially important feeding area within the southern Gulf of California, as well as the biological and ecological mechanisms that facilitate their coexistence.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 8
Galves, C. G., N. A. Gomez, J. Galves et al. (2023). "Increasing mortality of Endangered Antillean manatees Trichechus manatus manatus due to watercraft collisions in Belize." Endangered Species Research 51, 103-113. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01247
Abstract: Belize maintains the largest proportion of the Endangered Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus population in its range, but tourism and boat traffic have increased substantially over the past 3 decades. We utilized 25 yr of Belize Antillean manatee stranding data (1995-2019), 6 aerial surveys (1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2014), and 2 decades of boat registration data to examine: (1) spatial patterns in stranding incidence and risk of watercraft collision; (2) temporal patterns in strandings and registered watercraft; and (3) the relationship between manatee strandings attributed to watercraft collision and watercraft numbers. The number of watercraft collision strandings increased significantly over time, from 1-4 yr-1 in the late 1990s and early 2000s to 10-17 yr-1 in the late 2010s. The per manatee risk of watercraft collision stranding increased across space and time with the number of registered boats. Strandings were greater in areas of high boat traffic, high human population density, and mangrove habitats, particularly in Belize City and Placencia. These results highlight the need to reduce the threat of watercraft collisions to conserve this Endangered subspecies in Belize. Conservation efforts should focus on reducing the number of boats and their speed within zones of high manatee use to reduce mortality due to boat collisions, including establishing additional non-motorized vessel areas, restricted access, and reduced speed zones.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 8
Montes, M. M., S. Gómez, R. R. Castro, N. Bovcon, R. I. Vettorazzi, C. F. Serrano, G. Reig Cardarella, F., W. Ferrari, J. M. Cuevas and S. R. Martorelli (2023). "How many species of genus Lernaeopoda Blainville, 1822 (Siphonostomatoida: Lernaeopodidae) are there in the southwestern Atlantic?" Zootaxa 5346(4), 469-488. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5346.4.6
Abstract: The family Lernaeopodidae includes 14 genera parasitizing elasmobranchs. Fourteen species of this family have been cited from Argentina, four of which were found on chondrichthyans. Schroederichthys bivius Müller and Henle and Galeorhinus galeus (Linnaeus) from Argentina harbored parasitic copepods of the genus Lernaeopoda. The objective of this study was to identify the species using an integrative approach. The morphology was examined by Optical Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy and the molecular analysis was based on partial sequences of the COI mtDNA gene. Despite differences in the antenna, antennule, mandible, maxilliped and maxillae among the specimens, the morphological and molecular analyses revealed that they belonged to Lernaeopoda bivia Leigh-Sharpe, 1930. The species so far reported for Argentina are L. bivia and L. galei Krøyer, 1837, which are distinguished by the size (less and greater than 7 mm, respectively). Here, we report partial sequences of the COI mtDNA gene of L. bivia for the first time, obtained from eleven specimens attached to the mouth, fins, anal slit and claspers of the two shark hosts. The COI mtDNA gene tree shows that the Lernaeopoda group forms a sister clade with Pseudocharopinus bicaudatus (Krøyer, 1837), while the genus Pseudocharopinus does not appear to be a natural group. We propose that the material described from Argentinean waters as L. galei was misidentified and actually belongs to L. bivia. The wide variability within the specimens of L. bivia emphasizes the importance of using an integrative approach to revise the taxonomy of the Lernaeopoda species from all over the world.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 8
Nazareth, O., A. Srivathsa and V. Ramachandran (In Press). "Trunks and treetops: Integrating terrestrial and arboreal camera-trap surveys to document elusive mammal communities in India." Mammal Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-023-00714-1
Abstract: Tropical rainforest canopies harbor nearly half of the world’s biodiversity. Previous research on rainforest ecosystems has primarily focused on the terrestrial stratum, leading to a limited understanding of forest canopies. Camera traps have seen a wide application in the studies of terrestrial mammals, but their utility for documenting arboreal mammal communities has been far more limited. Financial resources, field training, and access to equipment and logistical constraints may have precluded researchers from undertaking systematic arboreal camera surveys, especially in the Global South countries. We deployed arboreal and terrestrial cameras to document the mammal assemblage in Kadumane estate, Western Ghats, India. During April–May 2022, we documented 3 exclusively arboreal, 11 semi-arboreal and 14 terrestrial species, using 16 cameras in the canopies and 13 cameras on the ground. Using rarefaction curves, we find that 648 trap-nights were sufficient to document all the arboreal species, while > 1350 trap-nights of additional effort would have been required to document all the terrestrial species in our study site. For each species, we generated an arboreality index (calculated from proportional capture rates) to gauge its propensity for arboreal habits. We also compared the efficacy of using different baits; species responses to shrimp–dry fish baits indicated a reduction in rodent captures when carnivore captures were higher. Our study deliberates on the resources, logistical considerations, and advantages of arboreal camera surveys to study mammal assemblages in forest canopies. Importantly, we highlight the utility of such surveys for understanding the ecology of rare, elusive, and hitherto under-studied species that may be threatened with extinction.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 8
Rank, S., N. L. Nageotte, N. Pletcher and M. Jackson (2023). "Educating the public about illegal wildlife trade: Commonalities in investigating messages for visitors." Journal of Museum Education 48(3), 315-328. https://doi.org/10.1080/10598650.2023.2166732
Abstract: The illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is a serious issue that threatens many species worldwide. Zoos and aquariums are in a prime position to educate visitors about this issue and work to reduce the impact of IWT. This article describes the work of four zoos across the United States that tested different ways to engage with visitors and broader communities regarding the topic of IWT. While each zoo used unique techniques to engage with the public, the authors identified common lessons learned that are relevant to all informal learning institutions interested in messaging complex topics to their audiences. The authors describe three commonalities that should be considered in the development of educational tools and messages: semantics and word choices, message framing, and the need for cultural sensitivity and respect when discussing challenging topics.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 8
Razaq, A., G. Forcina, U. Olsson, Q. Tang, R. Tizard, N. Lin et al. (2023). "Phylogeography and diversification of Oriental weaverbirds (Ploceus spp.): A gradual increase of eurytopy." Avian Research 14, e100120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avrs.2023.100120
Abstract: Weaverbirds are a speciose group of colorful passerines inhabiting the Old World Tropics. Nevertheless, the Oriental weaverbirds (Ploceus spp.), widespread across southern Asia, are much less diverse and restricted to a few ecological niches compared to their African counterpart. To investigate their phylogeography, we retrieved 101 samples of Baya Weaver (P. philippinus), Streaked Weaver (P. manyar), Black-Throated Weaver (P. benghalensis) and Asian Golden Weaver (P. hypoxanthus) along with GenBank sequences of Finn's Weaver (P. megarhynchus). We reconstructed the first molecular phylogeny based on a dataset consisting of both mitochondrial and nuclear genes, dating the most recent common ancestor of Oriental Ploceus to ∼11 mya. Subsequent speciation appears to have been a combination of divergence within the Indian subcontinent and dispersal across a barrier situated between the Indian subcontinent and the Indochinese region, which provided habitats with a varying degree of isolations and ultimately promoted divergences in allopatry. Two descendants of the earliest nodes, P. megarhynchus and P. hypoxanthus, are both rare and local, often found near large river systems, which perhaps reflects niche conservatism and a lack of adaptive potential. The three smaller species are all widespread, common and less habitat specific. The most recent divergence, between western and eastern P. philippinus populations, is supported by both phylogenetic and morphological evidence, pointing toward limited gene flow between them. However, a zone of intergradation may exist in Myanmar and Brahmaputra flood plains, thus preventing a recommendation for species level recognition without further study.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 8
Sengottuvel, R. R., A. Mendis, N. Sultan, S. Shukla, A. Chaudhuri and U. Mendiratta (In Press). "From pets to plates: Network analysis of trafficking in tortoises and freshwater turtles representing different types of demand." Oryx. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605323000376
Abstract: Despite being protected under the law, illegal trade in tortoises and freshwater turtles is common in India, with different species being trafficked for different markets. Indian species of tortoises and hard-shell turtles are predominantly trafficked for the pet trade and soft-shell turtles for the meat trade. Given their distinct markets, the operation of trade may vary between these different groups of tortoises and freshwater turtles, thereby necessitating different types of interventions. However, a systematic examination of illegal trade in tortoises and freshwater turtles that takes into account the differences between these markets is currently lacking. Here we compare the supply networks of tortoises/hard-shell turtles (in demand for pet trade) vs soft-shell turtles (meat trade), using information from 78 and 64 seizures, respectively, that were reported in the media during 2013–2019. We used social network analysis to compare the two networks and the role of individual nodes (defined as locations at the district or city scale) within these networks. We found that the tortoise/hard-shell turtle network had a larger geographical scale, with more international trafficking links, than the soft-shell turtle network. We recorded convoluted smuggling routes in tortoise/hard-shell turtle trafficking, whereas soft-shell turtle trafficking was uni-directional from source to destination. Within both networks, we found that a few nodes played disproportionately important roles as key exporting, importing or transit nodes. Our study provides insights into the similarities and differences in the illegal supply networks of different groups of tortoises and freshwater turtles, in demand for different markets. We highlight the need for intervention strategies tailored to address the illegal trade in each of these groups.
Preprint Citations
Preprint Citation 1 of 1
Barratt, C., P. Gratton, S. Marta, ..., A. Dunn, ..., I. Imong, ..., D. Kujiiakwinja, ..., P. Niyigaba et al. (Preprint). “Chimpanzee behavioural diversity is spatially structured and negatively associated with genetic variation.” Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3358458/v1
Abstract: The question of how behavioural diversity in humans and other animals is shaped by the combined influence of demography, genetics, culture, and the environment receives much research attention. We take a macro-ecological approach to evaluate how chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) behavioural diversity is spatially structured and associated with genetic diversity (i.e. heterozygosity as a proxy for effective population size) and contemporary and historic environmental context. We integrate the largest available chimpanzee behavioural and genomic datasets and apply spatially explicit Bayesian Generalised Linear Mixed Models to derive marginal effects for putative drivers and range wide spatial predictions of probability to observe behavioural traits. Contrary to expectations from neutral models of behavioural evolution, we observed a negative association of genetic diversity with behavioural diversity. This result suggests that behavioural traits may impact fitness. In contrast, we observed weaker associations of chimpanzee behavioural diversity with contemporary and historic environmental context. The very strong spatial structuring of behavioural traits is consistent with cultural transmission playing a major role in shaping chimpanzee behavioural diversity. Our analytical approach can be flexibly extended by additional candidate drivers of chimpanzee behavioural diversity, and offers a novel framework for testing competing ecological-evolutionary hypotheses across a wide variety of animal cultures.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 11-17 September 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 4
McClanahan, T. R. (Accepted Article). "Usage and coordination of governance principles to address proximate and distal drivers of conflicts in fisheries commons." Conservation Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14178
Abstract: Better understanding of marine resource conflicts and how they are resolved through governance and restrictions should help to restore underperforming fisheries. For example, how and where stakeholders access information about problems, status, and management, should influence their governance approaches and restriction choices. However, problems and solutions have the elements of both local proximate and larger scale distal processes. Solutions, therefore, require accessing, implementing, and coordinating information and actions at multiple scales. Perceptions of fisheries conflicts and their causes were identified by 179 households while 16 management committee key informants were asked about their means of mediation in six diverse Kenyan small-scale fisheries locations. These sites varied in human development and demographic contexts but had notable similarities that reflected respondent's focus on localized, direct, or proximate fishing conflicts. Top listed problems included limited space, disagreement about gears, poor resource condition, and local inadequate benefits. Top listed sources of information were local household and community sources with considerably less connection to distal problems and solutions. When key informants were presented with generic fisheries problems and choices of common's governance solutions, they selected a limited number of local community focused solutions. For example, informants chose to mediate conflicts between neighbors with community meetings rather than formal national institutions. Therefore, distal solutions were likely to be perceived as ineffectual, possibly due to difficulties with polycentric coordination. However, widespread overfishing arises from overarching distal processes not fully amenable to local solutions. Therefore, a focus on local action is expected to limit the ability to address distal problems. These include conflicting values, demographic changes, supportive governance frameworks, emerging technologies, resolving conflicting local rules, fair between-group enforcement, temporary shortages of fish, and inter-community border and rule disputes. We recommend improved coordination and integration of information and institutions to simultaneously address both proximate and distal common's problems.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 4
McClanahan, T. R. (Early View). "Local heterogeneity of coral reef diversity and environmental stress provides opportunities for small-scale conservation." Diversity and Distributions. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13770
Abstract: Aim: Strong social-ecological trade-offs between resource extraction and protection have created challenges for large, protected area management in natural resource-dependent countries. Therefore, local governments and community conservation activities are becoming common and information about low environmental exposure and high biodiversity can provide for planning localized conservation activities. Location: The western Indian Ocean. Methods: Coral reef sites were evaluated for local-scale environmental and species richness to elucidate local patterns in spatial heterogeneity. Local coral and fish taxonomic richness and coral community susceptibility to stress were normalized to partially account for common and heterogenous disturbances to coral cover and fish biomass. Residuals of these three response variables were evaluated for local geographic patterns and specific relationships with 21 environmental variables using machine learning methods. Results: Richness was highly variable at local geographies and had a double-peaked shape with latitudes. Thirteen of the 21 examined variables were selected and indicated complex, spatially heterogeneous and weak cumulative predictive relationships with specific environmental and human influences. For example, each selected variable contributed 7% to 25% of the variance but with different relationships for the three responses. Coral fish richness and coral community susceptibility correlations were positive but weak and therefore produced different local spatial patterns. Nevertheless, these spatial patterns exhibited some coarse-scale similarities indicating locations with shared positive community attributes and potential climate refugia. Shared richness variables included depth and wave energy, temperature variables of SST skewness, excess heat and rate of rise. Human influences of distance to shore, human populations and cities were also selected for richness and community susceptibility responses. Main Conclusions: Planning to include local stress and richness patterns variability could contribute to species persistence. From these specific data, sites in the Pemba Channel between the Tanzanian mainland and Pemba Island, and northern Mozambique and Madagascar fit refugia characteristics.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 4
Nicholson, S. K., A. Dickman, A. Hinks, ..., L. Hunter et al. (2023). "Author correction: Socio-political and ecological fragility of threatened, free-ranging African lion populations." Communications Earth & Environment 4(1), e320. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00986-0
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 4
Shanee, S., D. G. Tirira, R. Aquino, ..., R. B. Wallace et al. (2023). "Geographic distribution of owl monkeys". In E. Fernandez-Duque Ed., Owl Monkeys: Biology, Adaptive Radiation, and Behavioral Ecology of the Only Nocturnal Primate in the Americas, 25-62. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. 25-62. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13555-2_2
Abstract: The owl monkeys, genus Aotus, are among the most widely distributed of all platyrrhine genera. The 13 currently recognized taxa are found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. They range from lowland tropical moist and dry forests to over 3000 m.a.sl. in the cloud forests of the Andes. Owl monkeys appear to be sufficiently flexible to persist in anthropogenically altered habitats and fragmented forest patches. Here we gathered 1,703 owl monkey localities from a wide range of published and unpublished sources, making the most comprehensive database to date. These records were used to map the distributions of all owl monkey taxa based on our current understanding of the genus. Our knowledge is still limited in many areas where records are lacking, and we caution that all species IDs and maps be treated as tentative until the wide-ranging employment of genetic testing is available.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 3
Sandrin, F., P. Walter and D. Wilkie (2023). Mchezo Ya Kuku : Un Jeu de Cartes Multi-Joueurs Pour l'Apprentissage Social de la Production de Volailles. Bronx, NY: Wildlife Conservation Society. https://doi.org/10.19121/2023.Report.49751
Grey Literature Citation 2 of 3
Sandrin, F., P. Walter and D. Wilkie (2023). Mchezo Ya Kuku: A Multi-Player Poultry Production Card Game for Social Learning. Bronx, NY: Wildlife Conservation Society. https://doi.org/10.19121/2023.Report.49750
Grey Literature Citation 3 of 3
Sandrin, F. and D. Wilkie (2023). Kuwinda Nyama: A Multi-Player Hunting Game for Social Learning and Sustainable Use. Bronx, NY: Wildlife Conservation Society. https://doi.org/10.19121/2023.Report.49748
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 4-10 September 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 8
Alex, C. E., P. Kvapil, M. D. M. Busch, T. Jensen, K. Conley et al. (In Press). "Amdoparvovirus-associated disease in red pandas (Ailurus fulgens)." Veterinary Pathology, e03009858231196860. https://doi.org/10.1177/03009858231196860
Abstract: The roster of amdoparvoviruses (APVs) in small carnivores is growing rapidly, but in most cases, the consequences of infection are poorly understood. Red panda amdoparvovirus (RPAV) is highly prevalent in zoo-housed red pandas and has been detected in both healthy and sick animals. Clarifying the clinical impact of RPAV in this endangered species is critical, and zoological collections offer a unique opportunity to examine viral disease association in carefully managed populations. We evaluated the potential impact of RPAV in captive red pandas with a combination of prospective and retrospective analyses. First, we collected feces from 2 healthy animals from one collection over a 6-year period and detected virus in 72/75 total samples, suggesting that RPAV can be a long-term subclinical infection. We next investigated the infections using a retrospective study of infection status and tissue distribution in a cohort of necropsied animals. We performed polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization on 43 necropsy cases from 4 zoo collections (3 from the United States, 1 from Europe, 1997–2022). RPAV was present in these populations for at least 2 decades before its discovery and is detectable in common and significant lesions of zoo-housed red pandas, including myocarditis (3/3 cases), nephritis (9/10), and interstitial pneumonia (2/4). RPAV is also detectable in sporadic lesions, including multisystemic pyogranulomatous inflammation, oral/pharyngeal mucosal inflammation, and dermatitis. The colocalization of virus with lesions supports a role in causation, suggesting that despite the apparently persistent and subclinical carriage of most infections, RPAV may have a significant impact in zoo collections.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 8
Bennett, A. C., T. Rodrigues de Sousa, A. Monteagudo-Mendoza, ..., E. Vilanova Torre et al. (2023). "Sensitivity of South American tropical forests to an extreme climate anomaly." Nature Climate Change 13(9), 967-974. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01776-4
Abstract: The tropical forest carbon sink is known to be drought sensitive, but it is unclear which forests are the most vulnerable to extreme events. Forests with hotter and drier baseline conditions may be protected by prior adaptation, or more vulnerable because they operate closer to physiological limits. Here we report that forests in drier South American climates experienced the greatest impacts of the 2015–2016 El Niño, indicating greater vulnerability to extreme temperatures and drought. The long-term, ground-measured tree-by-tree responses of 123 forest plots across tropical South America show that the biomass carbon sink ceased during the event with carbon balance becoming indistinguishable from zero (−0.02 ± 0.37 Mg C ha−1 per year). However, intact tropical South American forests overall were no more sensitive to the extreme 2015–2016 El Niño than to previous less intense events, remaining a key defence against climate change as long as they are protected.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 8
Flores Turdera, C., R. Wallace, Á. Garitano-Zavala, C. Maldonado, C. Jurado, ..., G. Ayala, M. I. Gómez, M. Hayes, C. Molina, E. Salinas and O. Torrico (2023). "Reto Ciudad Naturaleza, La Paz: Una experiencia de observación y registro de la biodiversidad urbana / City Nature Challenge, La Paz: An example of observing and recording urban biodiversity / Reto Ciudad Naturaleza La Paz: Uma experiência de observação e registo da biodiversidade urbana." Revista Científica 48(3), 82-92. https://doi.org/10.14483/23448350.20998
Abstract: La ciencia ciudadana incentiva la participación de las personas en proyectos de investigación científica. Una de las iniciativas más conocidas es el concurso City Nature Challenge, dirigido a registrar la biodiversidad en las ciudades mediante la aplicación iNaturalist. La región metropolitana de La Paz, Bolivia, participó en este concurso en 2019 y 2022 bajo el nombre Reto Ciudad Naturaleza, gracias al impulso de Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Bolivia, la Carrera de Biología y el Instituto de Ecología de la Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA) y el Museo Nacional de Historia Natural (MNHN), los cuales conformaron un comité organizador. El objetivo fue fortalecer los vínculos de la población urbana con la naturaleza, en aras de generar datos sobre el conocimiento y la conservación de la biodiversidad. Las actividades consistieron en la promoción y difusión del concurso, eventos de capacitación en el manejo de iNaturalist, registros fotográficos, identificación taxonómica y entrega de certificados a los participantes. En 2019, La Paz compitió con 158 ciudades y consiguió el octavo lugar en número de especies (3005), el tercer lugar en número de participantes (1500) y el segundo en número de observaciones (46 931). En 2022 participaron 447 ciudades, y La Paz lideró en las tres categorías del concurso, con 137 345 observaciones, 5320 especies y 4296 participantes. Más allá de estos resultados, se destaca el compromiso de la ciudadanía paceña con su biodiversidad, lo que repercute en un vínculo cada vez más estrecho entre la población urbana y su entorno natural. / Citizen science encourages people to participate in scientific research projects. One of the best-known initiatives is the City Nature Challenge contest, aimed at recording biodiversity in cities through the iNaturalist app. The metropolitan region of La Paz, Bolivia, participated in this contest in 2019 and 2022 under the name Reto Ciudad Naturaleza, thanks to the promotion of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Bolivia, the Biology Department and the Ecology Institute of Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), and the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN), who formed an organizing committee. The objective was to strengthen the bond between the urban population and nature, with the aim to generate data on the knowledge and preservation of biodiversity. The activities consisted of the promotion and dissemination of the contest, training events regarding the use of iNaturalist, photographic records, taxonomic identification, and the delivery of certificates to participants. In 2019, La Paz competed with 158 cities and ranked eighth in number of species (3005), third in number of participants (1500), and second in number of observations (46 931). In 2022, 447 cities participated, and La Paz led in all three categories of the contest, with 137 345 observations, 5320 species, and 4296 participants. Beyond these results, the commitment of La Paz citizens to their biodiversity stands out, which results in an increasingly strong bond between the urban population and their natural environment. / A ciência cidadã encoraja às pessoas a participar em projetos de pesquisa científica. Uma das iniciativas mais conhecidas é o concurso City Nature Challenge, destinado a registrar a biodiversidade nas cidades através do aplicativo iNaturalist. A região metropolitana de La Paz, Bolívia, participou neste concurso em 2019 e 2022 sob o nome Reto Ciudad Naturaleza, sob o impulso da Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Bolívia, da Faculdade de Biologia, e do Instituto de Ecologia da Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), e do Museu Nacional de História Natural (MNHN), que formou uma Comissão Organizadora. O objectivo foi reforçar os laços entre a população urbana e a natureza, para que possam contribuir para o conhecimento e conservação da biodiversidade. As atividades basearam-se na promoção e divulgação do concurso, sessões de formação na utilização do iNaturalist, registro fotográfico, identificação taxonômica e na entrega de certificados aos participantes. Em 2019, La Paz concorreu com 158 cidades atingindo o oitavo lugar em número de espécies (3005), o terceiro lugar em número de participantes (1500) e o segundo lugar em número de observações (46 931). Em 2022, participaram 447 cidades. La Paz liderou nas três categorias do concurso com 137 345 observações, 5320 espécies e 4296 participantes. Para além destes resultados, destaca-se o compromisso dos cidadãos de La Paz com a sua biodiversidade, tendo como resultado uma ligação cada vez mais estreita entre a população urbana e o seu ambiente natural.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 8
Heilpern, S. A., G. A. Herrera-R, K. J. Fiorella, L. Moya et al. (Early View). "Species trait diversity sustains multiple dietary nutrients supplied by freshwater fisheries." Ecology Letters. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.14299
Abstract: Species, through their traits, influence how ecosystems simultaneously sustain multiple functions. However, it is unclear how trait diversity sustains the multiple contributions biodiversity makes to people. Freshwater fisheries nourish hundreds of millions of people globally, but overharvesting and river fragmentation are increasingly affecting catches. We analyse how loss of nutritional trait diversity in consumed fish portfolios affects the simultaneous provisioning of six essential dietary nutrients using household data from the Amazon and Tonlé Sap, two of Earth's most productive and diverse freshwater fisheries. We find that fish portfolios with high trait diversity meet higher thresholds of required daily intakes for a greater variety of nutrients with less fish biomass. This beneficial biodiversity effect is driven by low redundancy in species nutrient content profiles. Our findings imply that sustaining the dietary contributions fish make to people given declining biodiversity could require more biomass and ultimately exacerbate fishing pressure in already-stressed ecosystems.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 8
Morgan, D., S. Strindberg, P. McElmurray, A. Zambarda, I. Singono, ..., C. E. Ayina, ... and C. Sanz (In Press). "Extending the conservation impact of great ape research: Flagship species sites facilitate biodiversity assessments and land preservation." Primates. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-023-01080-x
Abstract: To inform regional conservation planning, we assessed mammalian and avian biodiversity in the Djéké Triangle, which is an intact forest with long-term research and tourism focused on western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). This critical region serves as a conservation conduit between the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) in the Republic of Congo and the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in Central African Republic. Wildlife inventories were conducted to determine if biodiversity in the Djéké Triangle (initially part of a logging concession) was equivalent to the NNNP. Camera traps (CTs) were deployed to estimate species richness, relative abundance, naïve occupancy, and activity patterns of medium-to-large species in mixed species and monodominant Gilbertiodendron forests that comprise the majority of regional terra firma. Species inventories were collected from CTs positioned on a grid and at termite nests throughout the Djéké Triangle and compared to CTs placed in the Goualougo Triangle located within the NNNP. From 10,534 camera days at 65 locations, we identified 34 mammal and 16 bird species. Allaying concerns of wildlife depletion, metrics of species richness in the Djéké Triangle surpassed those of the Goualougo Triangle. Many species were observed to occur across habitats, while others showed habitat specificity, with termite mounds indicated as an important microhabitat feature. Our comparisons of animal activity budgets in different habitat types provide important reference information for other populations and contexts. In conclusion, this study provided empirical evidence of the high conservation value of this region that contributed to increasing the protected status of the Djéké Triangle.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 8
Naing, H., T. K. Fuller, P. R. Sievert, T. O. Randhir, S. H. Tha Po, S. Htun and T. Myint (2023). "Dry-season habitat occupancy by ungulate tiger prey in the Hukaung Valley of northern Myanmar." Tropical Zoology 36(1-2), 21-35. https://doi.org/10.4081/tz.2023.124
Abstract: We assessed habitat occupancy and distribution of principal tiger (Panthera tigris) ungulate prey species to assess factors affecting their occurrence and their potential contribution to low tiger presence in the core part of the Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, in northern Myanmar. We surveyed for signs on 1,651 km of transects partitioned into 554 sampling units between November 2007 and May 2008. By incorporating seven environmental and four social covariates, we predicted habitat occupancy rates of 0.76 for gaur (Bos gaurus), 0.91 for sambar (Rusa unicolor), 0.57 for wild pigs (Sus scrofa), and 0.89 for northern red muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis). Overall, shorter Euclidean distances to ranger stations and trails, decreased stream density, and broadleaved evergreen/semi-deciduous forest and relatively rare rain-fed cropland habitat occurrence positively influenced prey habitat occupancy; conversely, shorter Euclidean distances to villages, roads, and streams, higher elevations, and occurrence of mixed broadleaved and needle-leaved forest habitat negatively influenced occupancy. In addition, Euclidean distance to ranger stations, trails, and roads positively affected species detections, whereas shorter Euclidean distance to villages and streams, high elevations, and high precipitation negatively affected detections. Results indicated that all four prey species were relatively well-distributed through the Sanctuary core area, but comparisons with indices of abundance elsewhere suggest that prey density was low and would not likely support many tigers.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 8
Ssali, F., B. Mugerwa, M. van Heist, D. Sheil, B. Kirunda et al. (In Press). "Plant diversity and composition vary with elevation on two equatorial high mountains in Uganda: baselines for assessing the influence of climate change." Alpine Botany. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00035-023-00301-9
Abstract: We describe the distribution and diversity of vascular plants at high elevations (3980–4570 m above sea level) in the Rwenzori Mountains and Mount Elgon National Parks in Uganda. These were the first target regions of the “Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments” (“GLORIA”) on the African continent. In each target region, four summits spanning elevations from the treeline ecotone up to the limits of vascular plant life were selected and assessed in July and August 2011 using the standardised GLORIA protocol. Few vascular plant species were present on high elevation summits, particularly in Rwenzori, where many sub-plots had little or no vascular plant cover. Observations from Rwenzori include 26 vascular plant species, and from Mount Elgon 47, of which 10 and 15 species, respectively, were endemic. In contrast, non-vascular plant cover greatly increased with elevation. The lowest sites showed considerable diversity and were floristically dissimilar to the highest summits. Subsequent resurveys, repeating the GLORIA protocol, will be critical in the assessment of ongoing dynamics and change.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 8
Vargas-Ramírez, M., G. Forero-Medina, C. Moreno Torres and S. A. Balaguera-Reina (2023). "Reintroduction of adult Orinoco crocodiles: A crucial step towards the species recovery." Oryx 57(5), 557-558. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605323000613
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 1
Bikova, J. and P. Inthavong (2023). Final Report of the Ecotourism Feasibility Study in the Xe Champhone Wetlands, Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR. Vientiane, Lao PDR: Wildlife Conservation Society, Lao PDR. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4980100000.aspx
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 28 August-3 September 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 9
Bateman, H. L., L. K. McCaw, J. L. Seguin, ... and M. A. Scrafford (In Press). "Assessing reproduction in Wolverines (Gulo gulo): Fecal progesterone levels in zoo and wild females." Theriogenology Wild, e100054. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.therwi.2023.100054
Abstract: Wolverines (Gulo gulo) populations are under threat by increased human activities. A better understanding of their reproductive physiology would benefit research and monitoring of this species. The use of enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to measure fecal progesterone metabolites (FPM) is a powerful tool to understand wildlife reproductive physiology, and a non-invasive method for use in both zoo and wild populations. The main objective of this study was to determine reproductive status in female wolverines using FPM levels, first by monitoring of longitudinal changes in FPM in zoo housed females in breeding situations and second to compare those values to FPM measured in feces obtained from wild females observed in the field during reproductively active periods (Dec-Apr). Female reproductive physiology was assessed by measuring FPM in three zoo housed wolverines to determine species-specific levels arising from ovulation encompassing embryonic diapause and ovarian reactivation (resumption of ovarian luteal activity after diapause) during pregnancy or pseudopregnancy, which in turn enabled verification of reproductive status in 15 wild wolverines, monitored over three years. In the zoo females, FPM levels were sustained at basal levels if ovulation and/or breeding did not occur. After ovulation, both pregnancy or pseudopregnancy exhibited a bi-phasic pattern of FPM increases, with a 4.9-fold increase above baseline during embryonic diapause and a further 4.4-fold increase after ovarian reactivation. FPM levels during pregnancy and pseudopregnancy were indistinguishable, thus increases in FPM levels are only a confirmation of ovulation, and not diagnostic for pregnancy. In wild females, assessment of FPM levels in samples collected from December to February was able to predict a potentially pregnant/reproductively active female with levels above 8200ng/g dried feces, or non-reproductive (nonovulatory) female during that period with levels below 1700 ng/g. Wild wolverine FPM levels indicative of pregnancy aligned with field observations of denning and/or lactation. FPM levels from samples collected from March and April were inconclusive as levels could be attributed to females being either postpartum or non-reproductive at that time. Timing of ovarian reactivation, and subsequent elevation of FPM, varied among individuals suggesting caution is warranted when assessing only one fecal sample per female. Understanding all factors that may impact reproductive success is essential for effective species conservation, particularly for species with low reproductive rates, like the wolverine. This study has demonstrated the potentially useful incorporation of non-invasive fecal hormone analysis for investigation of physiological parameters and reproductive status in wild wolverine females.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 9
Keith, D. A., S. M. M. Ghoraba, E. Kaly, K. R. Jones, ..., H. M. Costa, F. Daniels, E. Duarte, H. Grantham et al. (Accepted Article). "Contributions of Red Lists of Ecosystems to risk-based design and management of protected and conserved areas in Africa." Conservation Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14169
Abstract: Protected and Conserved Areas (PCAs) are key ecosystem management tools for conserving biodiversity and sustaining ecosystem services and social co-benefits. As countries adopt a 30% target for protection of land and sea under the Global Biodiversity Framework of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, a critical question emerging is, “which 30%?”. One approach to an answer is risk-based: we should protect the 30% that returns the greatest reductions in risks of species extinction and ecosystem collapse. IUCN Red List protocols provide practical methods for assessing these risks. All species, including humans, depend on the integrity of ecosystems for their well-being and survival. Africa is strategically important for ecosystem management due to convergence of high ecosystem diversity, intense pressures and high levels of human dependency on nature. We reviewed the outcomes of a symposium at the inaugural African Protected Areas Congress convened to discuss applications of the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems to the design and management of PCAs. We found significant recent progress in red listing, with 920 ecosystem types assessed across 21 countries. While these span a diversity of environments across the continent, the greatest thematic gaps are in freshwater, marine and subterranean realms and large geographic gaps exist in north Africa and parts of west and east Africa. The projects are implemented by a diverse community of government agencies, NGOs and researchers. Already, they are having impact on policy and management, informing extensions to, and management of formal Protected Area networks, supporting decision making for sustainable development and informing ecosystem conservation and threat abatement, both within boundaries of PCAs and in surrounding landscapes and seascapes. We recommend further integration of risk assessments into environmental policy and enhanced investment in ecosystem red listing to fill current gaps.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 9
Moheb, Z., K. Sahel, M. Fazli, M. Hakimi and S. Ismaily (2023). "Safeguarding snow leopards in Badakhshan, Afghanistan." Snow Leopard Reports 2. https://doi.org/10.56510/slr.v2.12799
Abstract: Snow leopard Panthera uncia predation on livestock is common across the species’ range, which poses potential threat to human livelihood and also risk the predator’s own survival. Here we report snow leopard intrusion into livestock corrals and making surplus killing of livestock in two districts of Badakhshan, one of which being the first documented record of the species in those areas. In all but one of the incidents, the predator had been trapped within the corral but due to the safeguarding of the new administration and with the support of WCS-Afghanistan the snow leopards were returned safely to the wild. Local communities have also had very supportive role in releasing the illusive mountain predator despite being responsible for the loss of over 40 livestock.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 9
Nicholson, S. K., A. Dickman, A. Hinks, ..., L. Hunter et al. (2023). "Socio-political and ecological fragility of threatened, free-ranging African lion populations." Communications Earth & Environment 4(1), e302. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00959-3
Abstract: Lions are one of the world’s most iconic species but are threatened with extinction. Developing effective range-wide conservation plans are crucial but hampered by the relative lack of knowledge on specific threats facing each population and the socio-political context for conservation. Here, we present a range-wide examination of the relative fragility of lion populations, examining socio-political factors alongside ecological ones. We found Ethiopia’s Maze National Park had the most ecologically fragile geographic population while Kavango-Zambezi was the least. At a country level, lion populations had highest ecological fragility in Cameroon and Malawi. When we examined socio-political fragility, Somalia was the most fragile lion range country, followed by South Sudan. When socio-political and ecological fragility were combined, lion populations in Maze National Park and Bush-Bush (Somalia) and more broadly, Somalian and Malawian lion populations were the most fragile. These insights should help inform more nuanced and appropriately targeted lion conservation plans.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 9
Olin, J. A., H. Urakawa, M. G. Frisk, A. L. Newton et al. (Accepted Article). "DNA metabarcoding of cloacal swabs provides insight into diets of highly migratory sharks in the Mid-Atlantic Bight." Journal of Fish Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15543
Abstract: The abundances of migratory sharks observed throughout the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) during productive summer months suggests that this region provides critical habitat and prey resources to this taxon. However, the principal prey assemblages sustaining migratory shark biomass in this region is poorly defined. We applied high-throughput DNA metabarcoding to shark feces derived from cloacal swabs across nine species of Carcharhinid and Lamnid sharks to (1) quantify the contribution of broad taxa (e.g., invertebrates, fishes) supporting shark biomass during seasonal residency in the MAB and (2) determine whether species displayed distinct dietary preference indicative of resource partitioning. DNA metabarcoding resulted in high taxonomic (species-level) resolution of shark diets with Actinopterygian and Elasmobranch fishes as the dominant prey categories across the species. DNA metabarcoding identified several key prey groups consistent across shark taxa that are likely integral for sustaining their biomass in this region, including Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and benthic elasmobranchs including skates. Our results are consistent with previously published stomach content data for the shark species of similar size range in the NW Atlantic Ocean, supporting the efficacy of cloacal swab DNA metabarcoding as a minimally-invasive diet reconstruction technique. The high reliance of several shark species on Atlantic menhaden could imply wasp-waist food-web conditions during the productive summer months, whereby high abundances of forage fishes sustain a diverse suite of migratory sharks within a complex, seasonal food web.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 9
Robira, B., S. Benhamou, E. Obeki Bayanga, T. Breuer and S. Masi (2023). "How do primates decide where to feed? Insights from wild western gorillas." Animal Behaviour 204, 25-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2023.07.012
Abstract: Animal foraging movements are shaped by sensory-motor abilities, availability and distribution of resources and cognitive skills (memory of where, and possibly what and when, food is available). Inferring a movement process (i.e. the decision rules controlling where to go at any time) from a given movement pattern (i.e. the distributions of some key variables such as the step length or the turning angle) is usually tricky because the same process can generate different patterns depending on the context while similar patterns can be generated by different processes. However, animal movement studies combining statistical (pattern-based) and mechanistic (process-based) approaches can provide valuable insights into the knowledge an animal has of its environment. This knowledge can range between the two extreme cases of a fully naïve animal finding food only by chance and an omniscient animal knowing where, when, what and how much food is available at any time. Based on 2 years of 20min scan sampling of ranging and feeding behaviour, we investigated the foraging movements of two habituated groups of wild western gorillas, Gorilla gorilla, a seasonally frugivorous primate species inhabiting Central African lowland forests. We showed that gorillas may choose the next feeding site by following a movement heuristic favouring the nearest-neighbour feeding site of the highest long-term interest (inferred a posteriori as the total time spent within it over a whole season) likely to yield food at this time. Thus, gorillas seemed to rely on an accurate spatial memory, enabling them to know where the places liable to yield food are located but have limited knowledge of how much food they can find at a given place at a given time. Our study shows how integrative statistical analysis and mechanistic modelling may help improve our understanding of movements and cognition in numerous species.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 9
Shipley, O. N., J. A. Olin, C. Scott, M. Camhi and M. G. Frisk (Accepted Article). "Emerging human-shark conflicts in the New York Bight: A call for expansive science and management." Journal of Fish Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15539
Abstract: Recent spikes in interactions between humans and sharks in the New York Bight have sparked widespread reporting of possible causalities, many of which lack empirical support. Here we comment on the current state of knowledge regarding shark biology and management in New York waters emphasizing that the possible drivers of increased human-shark interactions are confounded by a lack of historical monitoring data. We outline several key research avenues that should be considered to ensure the safe and sustainable co-existence of humans, sharks, and their prey, in an era of accelerated environmental change.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 9
Teberd, P., C. Sanz, A. Zambarda, I. Kienast, T. F. Ebombi, G. Abea, J. Kunz et al. (Early View). "Path to acceptance and refined practices for habituating western lowland gorillas." Primates. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-023-01086-5
Abstract: Although western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) are the most numerous and widespread gorilla subspecies, they have remained relatively unstudied. International tourism has been initiated at several sites in the Congo Basin, which necessitates habituation of gorillas to human presence. However, habituation has proven difficult due to several obstacles, including relatively low population densities, small group sizes, and thick understory vegetation. In this manuscript, we propose refinements to current approaches to habituating western lowland gorillas that maximize safety and emphasize adaptive responses based on empirical evidence. In addition to reviewing published reports, our approach is informed by the recent habituation of the Mététélé group in the Djéké Triangle, an area that was recently included in the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in Republic of Congo. We evaluate progress in habituation according to time spent in the presence of the gorillas and their reactions to humans. The Mététélé group is composed of 14 individuals and has a home range that overlaps with two habituated gorilla groups. Early in the habituation process, we discovered that three of Mététélé’s group members were individuals who had previously been habituated as members of other groups. The presence of these individuals expedited the habituation process. Familiarity with humans may have also reduced aggressive responses during the habituation process. The overall result is a refined step-by-step approach to habituation of western lowland gorillas that includes procedures and assessments to meet best-practice guidelines and ensure the wellbeing of both gorillas and humans.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 9 of 9
Wroblewski, E. E., L. A. Guethlein, A. G. Anderson, ..., C. M. Sanz et al. (2023). "Malaria-driven adaptation of MHC class I in wild bonobo populations." Nature Communications 14(1), e1033. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36623-9
Abstract: The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum causes substantial human mortality, primarily in equatorial Africa. Enriched in affected African populations, the B*53 variant of HLA-B, a cell surface protein that presents peptide antigens to cytotoxic lymphocytes, confers protection against severe malaria. Gorilla, chimpanzee, and bonobo are humans’ closest living relatives. These African apes have HLA-B orthologs and are infected by parasites in the same subgenus (Laverania) as P. falciparum, but the consequences of these infections are unclear. Laverania parasites infect bonobos (Pan paniscus) at only one (TL2) of many sites sampled across their range. TL2 spans the Lomami River and has genetically divergent subpopulations of bonobos on each side. Papa-B, the bonobo ortholog of HLA-B, includes variants having a B*53-like (B07) peptide-binding supertype profile. Here we show that B07 Papa-B occur at high frequency in TL2 bonobos and that malaria appears to have independently selected for different B07 alleles in the two subpopulations.
Grey Literature and Prepublication Citations
Grey Literature and Prepublication Citation 1 of 2
Chimeddorj, B., B. Buuveibaatar, N. Galsandorj, S. Dolgorjav, G. Bayandonoi and G. Sundev (Prepublication). “From isolation to integration: Assessing habitat connectivity of the endangered saiga antelope in Mongolia.” Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3257251/v1
Abstract: This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of habitat connectivity for the Mongolian saiga, a species endemic to the Western Mongolia. We utilized a resource selection function (RSF) to identify core habitats (CHs) throughout the saiga's entire range. Additionally, the Circuitscape approach was employed to map the least cost paths (LCPs) among these core habitats. The RSF models revealed a strong preference for high productivity areas, while avoiding disturbed regions. Through a spatially explicit model, 34 CHs covering an area of 12,480 km2 (30.7% of the saiga's range) were identified. The connectivity models identified 68 LCPs between various pairs of CHs, totaling 1,700 km in length across the entire saiga range. The core habitat in the center of the saiga range displayed the highest centrality scores, highlighting their critical importance in maintaining their habitat interconnectedness. Furthermore, the presence of pinch points was observed in several CH pairs within the northwest region, suggesting potential bottlenecks that may hinder movement between these habitats. It is imperative to implement measures aimed at addressing these pinch points and establishing secure corridors to facilitate the saiga movement between the CHs. To ensure the survival of the saiga, it is also crucial to mitigate the impact of existing and planned linear infrastructures, as well as other human disturbances that have the potential to fragment habitats and disrupt connectivity. These findings serve as valuable insights for targeted conservation efforts and the formulation of effective management strategies geared towards safeguarding this iconic species in Western Mongolia.
Grey Literature and Prepublication Citation 2 of 2
Travers, H. (2023). Social Impact Assessment for the Keo Seima REDD+ Project. Technical Report Prepared for Wildlife Conservation Society. Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Wildlife Conservation Society. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4973700000.aspx
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 21-27 August 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 7
Ayebare, S., J. W. Doser, A. J. Plumptre, I. Owiunji, H. Mugabe and E. F. Zipkin (2023). "An environmental habitat gradient and within-habitat segregation enable co-existence of ecologically similar bird species." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 290(2005), e20230467. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.0467
Abstract: Niche theory predicts that ecologically similar species can coexist through multidimensional niche partitioning. However, owing to the challenges of accounting for both abiotic and biotic processes in ecological niche modelling, the underlying mechanisms that facilitate coexistence of competing species are poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated potential mechanisms underlying the coexistence of ecologically similar bird species in a biodiversity-rich transboundary montane forest in east-central Africa by computing niche overlap indices along an environmental elevation gradient, diet, forest strata, activity patterns and within-habitat segregation across horizontal space. We found strong support for abiotic environmental habitat niche partitioning, with 55% of species pairs having separate elevation niches. For the remaining species pairs that exhibited similar elevation niches, we found that within-habitat segregation across horizontal space and to a lesser extent vertical forest strata provided the most likely mechanisms of species coexistence. Coexistence of ecologically similar species within a highly diverse montane forest was determined primarily by abiotic factors (e.g. environmental elevation gradient) that characterize the Grinnellian niche and secondarily by biotic factors (e.g. vertical and horizontal segregation within habitats) that describe the Eltonian niche. Thus, partitioning across multiple levels of spatial organization is a key mechanism of coexistence in diverse communities.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 7
Frixione, M. G., N. Lisnizer and P. Yorio (Early View). "White-faced and Black-faced ibises foraging on predictable anthropogenic food subsidies in Patagonia, Argentina." Austral Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13419
Abstract: Waste associated with human activities can benefit opportunistic species at the individual and population levels but could also expose them to pathogens or toxins. We provide information on unreported foraging habits of White-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) and Black-faced ibis (Theristicus melanopis) in the Chubut River Valley, an urban and agricultural landscape in eastern Patagonia, Argentina. Both species were recorded during monthly counts made between February and June 2021 at anthropogenic food sources along the lower river valley, although almost exclusively at those sites offering waste from livestock production. This is the first record of both species foraging at this type of food source of human origin. White-faced and Black-faced ibises were present in numbers that varied between 2 and 679 individuals and between 1 and 18 individuals, respectively, depending on the site and month. Both species were recorded walking over carcasses and viscera and probing into these remains or on the soft soil surrounding the ponds where liquids generated by rendering processes were disposed. Given the current growth in livestock production in the area, further monitoring and assessment at other months of the year are needed to adequately interpret the species trophic ecology and the potential conflicts with human populations.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 7
Gill, D. A., J. Blythe, N. Bennett, ..., E. Darling, ..., S. D. Jupiter, ..., P. Lestari, ... and N. A. Muthiga (2023). "Triple exposure: Reducing negative impacts of climate change, blue growth, and conservation on coastal communities." One Earth 6(2), 118-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.01.010
Abstract: Coastal communities are on the frontlines of three accelerating global change drivers, climate change, blue growth, and the expansion of area-based conservation, leading to a ?triple exposure? scenario. Despite efforts to maximize social benefits from climate, development, and conservation, externally driven processes can converge to amplify vulnerabilities and inequalities. Pre-existing social injustices increase the sensitivity of affected individuals to change and limit their capacity to adapt or benefit from the interacting impacts of triple exposure. We argue that external implementors cannot effectively and equitably achieve climate, economic, and conservation goals without prioritizing social justice and building general resilience. We therefore recommend that implementors: (1) address root causes of vulnerability, namely pre-existing social injustices; (2) use participatory systems approaches to improve understanding of local contexts and potential consequences of proposed initiatives; and (3) leverage inclusive partnerships to facilitate collaborative design and implementation. These strategies?applied together and adapted to local contexts?can support well-being, justice, and resilience within coastal communities experiencing rapid change.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 7
le Roex, N., A. Bartlet, L. T. B. Hunter and G. A. Balme (Early View). "Just a cat fight or something more sinister? Infanticide is rare among female leopards." Ecology, e4146. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4146
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 7
Miller Hesed, C. D., H. M. Yocum, M. Cross et al. (Early View). "Seventy questions of importance to the conservation of the North Central grasslands of the United States in a changing climate." Conservation Science & Practice, e12998. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12998
Abstract: Successful conservation of ecosystems in a changing climate requires actionable research that directly supports the rethinking and revising of management approaches to address changing risks and opportunities. As an important first step toward actionable research, we reviewed and synthesized grassland management-related documents to identify broadly shared questions that, if answered, would help to support collective conservation of the grasslands in the northern Great Plains of the United States in a changing climate. A Management Priorities Working Group reviewed 183 grassland-relevant management documents and identified 70 questions. Feedback was iteratively provided by a Climate and Ecology Working Group, an Advisory Committee, and representatives from grassland management agencies and organizations. The identified questions generally fall under 15 topics: land conversion; restoration; disturbance regimes; woody encroachment; herbaceous invasives; grazing; water quality, quantity, and availability; animal species; private land; public understanding; legal and policy changes; economic incentives; coordination across management entities; accessibility of science and tools; and novel ways of thinking. These questions can inform a research agenda for researchers looking to conduct actionable science in the Great Plains grassland ecosystems. Both the approach and the questions presented here can also be adapted and applied in other regions and ecosystems.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 7
Quintero, L. R., A. Pulido-Villamarín, Á. Parra-Romero, R. Castañeda-Salazar, J. Pérez-Torres and I. M. Vela-Vargas (2023). "Andean bear gastrointestinal parasites in Chingaza Massif, Colombia." Ursus 2023(34e4). https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D21-00020.1
Abstract: The Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is the only species of the Ursidae that inhabits the Andes in South America. The natural history of the species and health issues related to infectious diseases, particularly the presence of gastrointestinal parasites (GIP), is unknown. To determine the prevalence, infestation, and richness of GIP in fecal samples of wild Andean bears, 21 fecal samples were collected at different sites of the Chingaza National Park, Colombia, and its buffer area from February to April of 2019. Samples were analyzed by qualitative and quantitative coprological techniques. A minimum of one parasitic species was present in 100% (n = 21) of the samples and in 86% of them, co-infection was detected. In decreasing order, the observed parasite prevalence was as follows: 100% for Cryptosporidium spp.; 62% for Ascaris spp.; 38% for Baylisascaris spp.; 33% for Trichomonas spp.; 19% for Strongylus spp.; 14% for Microsporidia and Coccidian oocysts; followed by Trichostrongylus spp. and ciliated protozoans with 10%; and Ancylostoma spp., Blastocystis spp., and Fasciola spp. were present in 5% of the samples. The presence of Blastocystis spp., Baylisascaris spp., Ascaris spp., and Cryptosporidium spp. suggests a possible rotation of parasitic species between domestic and wild host species. This is the first report of GIP for Andean bears in the east range of Colombia, which could help to generate other studies in the country and South America.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 7
Sherman, C. S., C. A. Simpfendorfer, N. Pacoureau, ..., P. A. Mejía-Falla et al. (2023). "Half a century of rising extinction risk of coral reef sharks and rays." Nature Communications 14(1), e15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-35091-x
Abstract: Sharks and rays are key functional components of coral reef ecosystems, yet many populations of a few species exhibit signs of depletion and local extinctions. The question is whether these declines forewarn of a global extinction crisis. We use IUCN Red List to quantify the status, trajectory, and threats to all coral reef sharks and rays worldwide. Here, we show that nearly two-thirds (59%) of the 134 coral-reef associated shark and ray species are threatened with extinction. Alongside marine mammals, sharks and rays are among the most threatened groups found on coral reefs. Overfishing is the main cause of elevated extinction risk, compounded by climate change and habitat degradation. Risk is greatest for species that are larger-bodied (less resilient and higher trophic level), widely distributed across several national jurisdictions (subject to a patchwork of management), and in nations with greater fishing pressure and weaker governance. Population declines have occurred over more than half a century, with greatest declines prior to 2005. Immediate action through local protections, combined with broad-scale fisheries management and Marine Protected Areas, is required to avoid extinctions and the loss of critical ecosystem function condemning reefs to a loss of shark and ray biodiversity and ecosystem services, limiting livelihoods and food security.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 1
Martin, A., E. Isasi-Catalá, C. Walzer, ..., M. Montoya, S. Smith, C. Dougnac, K. Gaynor, R. Wallace, ... and P. Colchao (2023). White Paper: Adressing the Impacts of Sarcoptic Mange in Wild South American Camelids Across a Landscape of Myths and Legends. SNAPP Diseases in Wild South American Camelids Working Group, The Nature Conservancy, and Wildlife Conservation Society. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4977000000.aspx
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 14-20 August 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 7
Casale, P., G. Abitsi, P. D. Agamboue, ..., A. Bitsindou, T. Collins, ..., J. Nzegoue, C. K. Kouerey Oliwina, R. J. Parnell, ..., H. van Leeuwe, ... and A. Formia (Early View). "Conservation-relevant reproductive parameters from long-term tagging of two globally important sea turtle nesting aggregations in Central Africa." Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3995
Abstract: 1. Assessing abundance and monitoring ecology and population trends are of critical importance for animal species of conservation concern. For sea turtles, annual nest counts represent the most common method of estimating population size. However, to develop a better understanding of population trends, these data need to be complemented by other reproductive parameters, which are lacking for many nesting populations across central Africa. 2. To this end, an intensive capture–mark–recapture programme was conducted spanning 21 years (1997–2018) in the most important nesting sites on the Atlantic coast of central Africa (Gabon and Congo) for leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles. 3. A total of 18,105 encounters of 14,109 D. coriacea individuals and 2678 encounters of 2427 L. olivacea individuals were recorded. Biological and technical parameters such as clutch frequency, inter-nesting interval, remigration interval, annual survival rate, somatic growth, size trends, tag loss and number of annual nesting females were estimated through a variety of methods and models. 4. The study detected a decline in body size and low survival probability (not due to tag loss) in both species but no clear decline in estimated annual number of nesting females. High fidelity to nesting sites (<30 km for both species) implies that the current conservation strategy, protecting the main nesting areas, could be effective. 5. We recommend that local conservation managers promote: (i) continued monitoring of the nesting activity of the two species through capture–mark–recapture programmes; (ii) continued nest counts at long-term monitoring sites, which may also detect possible spatial shifts; and (iii) strengthening of cross-border cooperation between Gabon and Republic of the Congo given the observed connectivity between nesting sites of the two countries.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 7
Cook, S. E., B. D. Niño, L. Rivera, C. E. Alex et al. (In Press). "A practical approach to the sampling, fixation, softening, and sectioning of whole honey bees for histologic evaluation." Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, e10406387231191732. https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387231191732
Abstract: The Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is economically important as the primary managed pollinator of many agricultural crops and for the production of various hive-related commodities. Honey bees are not classically or thoroughly covered in veterinary pathology training programs. Given their unique anatomic and biological differences from the other species more traditionally evaluated by veterinary pathologists, establishing routine and consistent methods for processing samples for histology ensures accurate diagnostic and research conclusions. We developed and tested several field protocols for the sampling of honey bees. We compared the tissue-quality outcomes for worker bees fixed, collected, and/or softened under the following protocols: 1) routine formalin fixation; 2) softening chitin via exposure to Nair for 2 d or 3) 5 d; 4) shortened times between formalin submersion and trimming of body segments to enhance penetration of formalin into internal tissues; 5) ethanol submersion of specimen prior to formalin fixation; 6) indirect dry ice exposure; and 7) prolonged −80°C storage. Routine formalin fixation, exposure to Nair for 2 d, indirect dry ice exposure, and trimming body segments within 2 h of formalin submersion resulted in the highest quality histologic tissue sections. The poorest quality sections resulted from softening of chitin by exposure to Nair for 5 d, submersion in ethanol for 3 d before formalin fixation, and prolonged storage at −80°C. Our results indicate that routine formalin fixation is adequate, and that immobilizing bees with indirect dry ice exposure aids in sample collection without negatively impacting the quality of histologic sections.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 7
Dedieu, A., N. Scherzer, T. Paumann, ..., C. Walzer and D. Preininger (2023). "Camera traps provide first insights into the nesting behavior of the critically endangered northern river terrapin (Batagur baska)." Chelonian Conservation and Biology 22(1), 46-57. https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1543.1
Abstract: Camera traps are very useful tools in determining the presence/absence of rare and cryptic species while shedding light on behavioral traits. Passive infrared triggered cameras are routinely used in homeothermic animals, but in ectothermic reptiles, this surveillance method has proven highly unreliable. As part of the conservation goal to provide better understanding and protection for the critically endangered freshwater turtle Batagur baska, we investigated their largely unknown nesting behavior and tested video-based motion detection by comparing 2 different camera-trapping systems and their settings under controlled conditions at the Vienna Zoo. A pixel-based video surveillance camera was superior to a camera trap with motion sensor. The surveillance camera allowed reliable motion detection at sensitive settings, and video capture precision could be enhanced by marking the terrapin with reflective tape. This video surveillance camera was then deployed over 2 breeding seasons (2019 and 2020) in the conservation breeding project of the northern river terrapin (B. baska, Gray 1830) in Bhawal National Park in Bangladesh. Analysis of video recording demonstrated for the first time that female northern river terrapins nested on average for a period of 1.5 hrs and produced a single clutch per year. Results indicate that females inspect sandbanks and visit suitable nesting sites several times before egg deposition, suggesting that nest-site selection is not random in B. baska. In addition, water temperature measurements of the breeding ponds in 2 captive breeding sites of the B. baska project showed an annual average temperature decrease to 168C–188C during the mating season and an average increase to 288C–318C before the nesting season. Temperatures on nesting nights vary between the 2 breeding sites and differ between nesting events within each site, suggesting that overall seasonal temperature shifts initiate the nesting periods, while other physiological and environmental factors might trigger the actual nesting event. With the help of consistent motion-triggered video recording, our study provides a first underpinning of the nesting ecology of B. baska.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 7
Lubis, M. I., J. S. Lee, U. M. Rahmat, T. Tarmizi, E. Ramadiyanta, D. Melvern, S. Suryometaram, ..., W. Marthy, K. R. Jones, N. Andayani and M. Linkie (In Press). "Planning for megafauna recovery in the tropical rainforests of Sumatra " Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1174708
Abstract: Human-induced deforestation has had devastating impacts on biodiversity. Mammal populations in the tropics have been hit particularly hard by the resulting habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, as well as by overhunting which often goes hand-in-hand. While declines in these populations are generally well documented, few studies offer a pathway for their recovery. Here, we test the association between changes in forest habitat and occupancy trends of Sumatran megafauna (elephant and tiger) and key tiger prey species (wild boar and sambar) in the Leuser Ecosystem: a large forest landscape on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. For elephant and tiger, we develop additional occupancy models to predict their respective spatial distribution under different scenarios of forest loss and gain (through restoration and increased connectivity) to provide a blueprint for avoiding future species loss and assisting with their population recovery. From 2000 to 2019, 254,722 ha (6.7%) of natural forest was converted, primarily to plantations and shrubs. The species-specific responses over the study period revealed that the occurrence of elephant declined along the west, with a range shift to the northeast of Leuser, whereas wild boar underwent a dramatic widespread decline and although sambar experienced losses around the forest edge, it remained widespread in the interior forest, while tiger occupancy remained stable. Modelling habitat loss and fragmentation led to an unsurprising demise of Sumatran megafauna, whereas strategic investments that reconnected several forest patches provided disproportionately large benefits for their recovery through the recolonization of former parts of their range. Indonesia has achieved six consecutive years of declining deforestation rates, and our study’s findings can build off this conservation success by supporting improved provincial spatial planning and field-based restoration efforts that avoid declines of threatened megafauna species and act as a catalyst for rewilding a landscape of global importance.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 7
Sanderson, E. W., D. Miquelle, K. Fisher, A. Harihar, C. Clark, ..., L. Royte, ..., L. T. B. Hunter, M. Linkie, W. Marthy, A. Rasphone, S. Roy, D. Sittibal, T. Tempa, M. Umponjan and K. Wood (In Press). "Range-wide trends in tiger conservation landscapes, 2001 -2020." Frontiers in Conservation Science 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2023.1191280
Abstract: Of all the ways human beings have modified the planet over the last 10,000 years, habitat loss is the most important for other species. To address this most critical threat to biodiversity, governments, non-governmental actors, and the public need to know, in near real-time, where and when habitat loss is occurring. Here we present an integrated habitat modelling system at the range-wide scale for the tiger (Panthera tigris) to measure and monitor changes in tiger habitat at range-wide, national, biome, and landscape scales, as often as the underlying inputs change. We find that after nearly 150 years of decline, effective potential habitat for the tiger seems to have stabilized at around 16% of its indigenous extent (1.817 million km2). As of the 1st of January 2020, there were 63 Tiger Conservation Landscapes in the world, covering 911,920 km2 shared across ten of the 30 modern countries which once harbored tiger populations. Over the last 20 years, the total area of Tiger Conservation Landscapes (TCLs) declined from 1.025 million km2 in 2001 to 911,901 km2 in 2020, a range-wide loss of 11%, with the greatest losses in Southeast Asia and southern China. Meanwhile, we documented expansions of modelled TCL area in India, Nepal, Bhutan, northern China, and southeastern Russia. We find significant potential for restoring tigers to existing habitats, identified here in 226 Restoration Landscapes. If these habitats had sufficient prey and were tigers able to find them, the occupied land base for tigers might increase by 50%. Our analytical system, incorporating Earth observations, in situ biological data, and a conservation-oriented modelling framework, provides the information the countries need to protect tigers and enhance habitat, including dynamic, spatially explicit maps and results, updated as often as the underlying data change. Our work builds on nearly 30 years of tiger conservation research and provides an accessible way for countries to measure progress and report outcomes. This work serves as a model for objective, range-wide, habitat monitoring as countries work to achieve the goals laid out in the Sustainable Development Goal agenda and Global Biodiversity Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 7
Sremba, A. L., A. R. Martin, P. Wilson, ..., H. Rosenbaum et al. (In Press). "Diversity of mitochondrial DNA in three species of great whales before and after modern whaling." Journal of Heredity, esad048. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esad048
Abstract: The 20th century commercial whaling industry severely reduced populations of great whales throughout the Southern Hemisphere. The effect of this exploitation on genetic diversity and population structure remains largely undescribed. Here, we compare pre- and post-whaling diversity of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences for three great whales in the South Atlantic, the blue, humpback and fin whale. Pre-whaling diversity is described from mtDNA extracted from bones collected near abandoned whaling stations, primarily from the South Atlantic island of South Georgia. These bones are known to represent the first stage of 20th century whaling and thus pre-whaling diversity of these populations. Post-whaling diversity is described from previously published studies reporting large-scale sampling of living whales in the Southern Hemisphere. Despite relatively high levels of surviving genetic diversity in the post-whaling populations, we found evidence of a probable loss of mtDNA lineages in all three species. This is evidenced by the detection of a large number of haplotypes found in the pre-whaling samples that are not present in the post-whaling samples. A rarefaction analysis further supports a loss of haplotypes in the South Atlantic humpback and Antarctic blue whale populations. The bones from former whaling stations in the South Atlantic represent a remarkable molecular archive for further investigation of the decline and ongoing recovery in the great whales of the Southern Hemisphere.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 7
Woods, M. B., W. D. Halliday, S. Balshine and F. Juanes (2023). "Impact of motorboat noise on vocalizations of nesting plainfin midshipman fish". In A. N. Popper, J. Sisneros, A. D. Hawkins and F. Thomsen, The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life: Principles and Practical Considerations. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10417-6_185-1
Abstract: As noise pollution in coastal environments continues to grow, it is imperative to understand how it may be negatively impacting marine life. The study in this chapter tested whether noise from a real motorboat would alter the vocalizations of nesting plainfin midshipman fish (Porichthys notatus), a soniferous toadfish that breeds in the intertidal zone and uses its vocalizations for courtship and defense. The results show evidence that wild plainfin midshipman guarder males may decrease their agonistic vocalizations in periods where they are exposed to large amounts of boat noise. There was an overall decrease in agonistic vocalizations on the nights when boat noise trials were run compared to control nights. While there was not a statistical difference in the number of agonistic vocalizations exhibited in sequential 10-minute periods with and without boat noise in the same night, there was a trend of fewer vocalizations during boat noise periods. This study helps elucidate how boat noise affects midshipman vocalizations in their natural habitat at the level of the individual, which has never been tested in plainfin midshipman fish and has scarcely been studied in other species.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 3
Sharma, G. and U. Mendiratta (2023). Tackling Illegal Wildlife Hunting and Trade in India: Problem-Oriented Wildlife Protection Case Studies. Karnataka, India: Wildlife Conservation Society, India. https://doi.org/10.19121/2023.Report.49729
Grey Literature Citation 2 of 3
Wildlife Conservation Society (2023). High Ambition Fund Annex 6: Environmental and Social Management Framework. Bronx, NY: Wildlife Conservation Society. https://doi.org/10.19121/2023.Report.49237
Grey Literature Citation 3 of 3
Wildlife Conservation Society (2023). High Ambition Fund Annex 8: Gender Assessment and Action Plan. Bronx, NY: Wildlife Conservation Society. https://doi.org/10.19121/2023.Report.49242
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 7-13 August 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 8
Burian, A., K. Bruce, E. Tovela, ..., R. Bennett, S. Chordekar, H. M. Costa, ..., N. Sidat et al. (Early View). "Merging two eDNA metabarcoding approaches and citizen-science-based sampling to facilitate fish community monitoring along vast Sub-Saharan coastlines." Molecular Ecology Resources. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13839
Abstract: The coastline of Sub-Saharan Africa hosts highly diverse fish communities of great conservation value, which are also key resources for local livelihoods. However, many costal ecosystems are threatened by overexploitation and their conservation state is frequently unknown due to their vast spatial extent and limited monitoring budgets. Here, we evaluated the potential of citizen science-based eDNA surveys to alleviate such chronic data deficiencies and assessed fish communities in Mozambique using two 12S metabarcoding primer sets. Samples were either collected by scientific personnel or trained community members and results from the two metabarcoding primers were combined using a new data merging approach. Irrespective of the background of sampling personnel, a high average fish species richness was recorded (38 ± 20 OTUs per sample). Individual sections of the coastline largely differed in the occurrence of threatened and commercially important species, highlighting the need for regionally differentiated management strategies. A detailed comparison of the two applied primer sets revealed an important trade-off in primer choice with MiFish primers amplifying a higher number of species but Riaz primers performing better in the detection of threatened fish species. This trade-off could be partly resolved by applying our new data-merging approach, which was especially designed to increase the robustness of multiprimer assessments in regions with poor reference libraries. Overall, our study provides encouraging results but also highlights that eDNA-based monitoring will require further improvements of, for example, reference databases and local analytical infrastructure to facilitate routine applications in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 8
Gola, C., P. Kvapil, U. Kuhar, J. Diaz-Delgado, C. E. Alex et al. (2023). "Fatal cerebrovascular accident in a captive red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) with concurrent amdoparvovirus infection." Journal of Comparative Pathology 205, 11-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpa.2023.06.006
Abstract: We report the pathological and molecular findings in an adult male Himalayan red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) whose death was attributed to parenchymal brain haemorrhage (PBH) of the thalamus. Post-mortem examination revealed severe, acute PBH and intraventricular haemorrhage with major involvement of the thalamus, as well as scattered chronic microinfarctions. Vascular disease in the brain and other organs was suggestive of systemic hypertension. Histological lesions included arteriolar hyalinosis and varying degrees of arteriosclerosis, arterial tunica media hypertrophy and hyperplasia and infiltration of arterial walls by lipid-laden macrophages. Other relevant findings included marked myocardial fibrosis, lymphoplasmacytic tubulointerstitial nephritis, lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalitis and chronic mitral valve degeneration. The changes in the cerebral vasculature were consistent with hypertensive encephalopathy and a cerebrovascular accident, specifically PBH, which has not been previously reported in this species. Additionally, polymerase chain reaction analysis for red panda amdoparvovirus (RPAV) was positive in the brain and kidneys. Preceded by hypertensive vascular changes and brain microinfarctions, sudden death in this animal likely resulted from fatal PBH with intraventricular haemorrhage. The clinicopathological role of RPAV infection is unknown in this case, although its contribution to the chronic renal disease is considered possible in the context of our current understanding of RPAV-associated pathology.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 8
Harris, L. I., D. Olefeldt, N. Pelletier et al. (Early View). "Permafrost thaw causes large carbon loss in boreal peatlands while changes to peat quality are limited." Global Change Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16894
Abstract: Rapid, ongoing permafrost thaw of peatlands in the discontinuous permafrost zone is exposing a globally significant store of soil carbon (C) to microbial processes. Mineralization and release of this peat C to the atmosphere as greenhouse gases is a potentially important feedback to climate change. Here we investigated the effects of permafrost thaw on peat C at a peatland complex in western Canada. We collected 15 complete peat cores (between 2.7 and 4.5 m deep) along four chronosequences, from elevated permafrost peat plateaus to saturated thermokarst bogs that thawed up to 600 years ago. The peat cores were analysed for peat C storage and peat quality, as indicated by decomposition proxies (FTIR and C/N ratios) and potential decomposability using a 200-day aerobic laboratory incubation. Our results suggest net C loss following thaw, with average total peat C stocks decreasing by ~19.3 ± 7.2 kg C m−2 over <600 years (~13% loss). Average post-thaw accumulation of new peat at the surface over the same period was ~13.1 ± 2.5 kg C m−2. We estimate ~19% (±5.8%) of deep peat (>40 cm below surface) C is lost following thaw (average 26 ± 7.9 kg C m−2 over <600 years). Our FTIR analysis shows peat below the thaw transition in thermokarst bogs is slightly more decomposed than peat of a similar type and age in permafrost plateaus, but we found no significant changes to the quality or lability of deeper peat across the chronosequences. Our incubation results also showed no increase in C mineralization of deep peat across the chronosequences. While these limited changes in peat quality in deeper peat following permafrost thaw highlight uncertainty in the exact mechanisms and processes for C loss, our analysis of peat C stocks shows large C losses following permafrost thaw in peatlands in western Canada.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 8
Jenkins, A. P., A. M. S. N. Lancaster, A. Capon, ... and S. D. Jupiter (2023). "Human health depends on thriving oceans." The Lancet 402(10395), 9-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01162-5
Abstract: Healthy oceans, from coastal waters to remote high seas and deep seabed areas, are integral to human health, wellbeing, and survival. Covering over 71% of the Earth's surface, the oceans serve as an essential carbon sink. Oceans also regulate climate-associated human health risks between land and sea, ranging from direct injuries and deaths associated with extreme weather events, to negative effects on food and nutrition security, and even chronic diseases (eg, cancer) from ocean pollution. Furthermore, oceans are a source of joy, recreation, spiritual and mental wellbeing, healing, and entertainment, enriching human lives beyond their basic needs. Although more is known about areas that are near the coast, it is clear that the deep sea (ie, the seabed beyond national jurisdiction) and the high seas (ie, the parts of oceans beyond national jurisdiction), comprising 64% of the surface of the ocean and nearly 95% of its volume, are equally important for human health and are increasingly affected by global environmental changes.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 8
Johnson, C. K., J. Freeman, T. Smiley Evans, D. Montecino-Latorre and M. M. Uhart (2023). "Emerging coronaviruses: A one health harbinger." In D. A. Jessup and R. W. Radcliffe Eds. Wildlife Disease and Health in Conservation, 429-444. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. https://doi.org/10.56021/9781421446745
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 8
Lyet, A., S. Waller, T. Chambert, ..., T. O'Brien et al. (Early View). "Estimating animal density using the Space-to-Event model and bootstrap resampling with motion-triggered camera-trap data." Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.361
Abstract: Over the past few decades, the use of camera-traps has revolutionized our ability to monitor populations of wild terrestrial mammals. While methods to estimate abundance from individually-identifiable animals are well-established, they are mostly restricted to species with clear natural markings or else necessitate invasive and often costly animal tagging campaigns. Estimating abundance or density from unmarked animals remains challenging. Several models recently developed to deal with this issue are promising, but are not widely used by field ecologists. Here, we developed a framework for applying the Space-To-Event (STE) model—originally designed to be used with time-lapse images—on motion-triggered camera-trap data. Our approach involves performing bootstrap resampling on the photographic dataset to generate multiple datasets that are then used as input to the STE model. We tested our approach on 29 datasets, including 17 ungulate species from eight sites, in six different countries and various ecosystems. Then, we conducted a regression analysis to evaluate how variations in ecological and sampling conditions across studies affected the bias and precision of our STE density estimates. Our study shows that with a bootstrap resampling approach and information on animal activity and effective detection distances to animals, the STE model can be used to analyze motion-trigger datasets and provide population density estimates that are similar to those from other methods. We found that measuring the camera viewshed was critical to prevent major negative biases in density estimates. Moreover, using a 1-s sampling window was important to avoid the positive bias that results from violating the instantaneous-sampling assumption. We found that precision increased with greater sampling effort and higher density populations. Based on these results, we highlight several issues from past studies that have applied the original timelapse-based STE to motion-trigger datasets, issues that our bootstrap resampling approach addresses. We caution that the STE model, whether applied to timelapse or motion-triggered datasets, relies on strict assumptions. Any violations of these assumptions, such as non-instantaneous sampling or the application of angle and distance of detection provided by the camera manufacturer, can cause biases in multiple directions that may be difficult to differentiate.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 8
Rayden, T., K. R. Jones, K. Austin and J. Radachowsky (2023). "Improving climate and biodiversity outcomes through restoration of forest integrity." Conservation Biology, e14163. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14163
Abstract: Targeting degraded areas in forested landscapes for restoration could deliver rapid climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation, improve resilience of forested lands to future climate change, and potentially reduce the trade-offs between nature recovery and agriculture. Although the importance of forest restoration for climate mitigation is acknowledged, current estimates of its climate mitigation potential may be underestimated because they focus predominantly on reforesting cleared areas. We built on recent analyses of forest integrity and unrealized forest biomass potential to examine the potential for restoring the integrity of degraded forests. There are over 1.5 billion ha of forests worldwide that retain 50–80% of their potential biomass. Prioritizing restoration in these areas could deliver rapid biodiversity and climate mitigation benefits, relative to restoring forest on cleared land. We applied a spatial planning approach to demonstrate how restoration interventions can be targeted to support the conservation of high-integrity forest, a potential pathway to the delivery of the 30×30 goal of the Convention on Biodiversity's Global Biodiversity Framework.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 8
Stotrabhashyam, S., N. Sharma, A. Kumar and A. Sinha (2023). "Winter foraging ecology of stump-tailed macaques Macaca arctoides in the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, Assam, India." Journal of Biosciences 48(3), e30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-023-00356-0
Abstract: Frugivorous primates in temperate and subtropical regions often experience a shortage or complete absence of fruits for several months of the year. We studied the foraging ecology of a group of stump-tailed macaques Macaca arctoides in a subtropical forest during winter, when fruit abundance was low. We conducted this study in the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, Assam, India, from December 2015 to April 2016. We estimated the time–activity budgets, diet, and habitat use of the study troop and also conducted vegetation sampling and phenological monitoring of the study area. The stump-tailed macaque troop spent about 73.2% of its time foraging and feeding, with seasonal differences in food species intake and in habitat use. Open degraded forests were primarily used in December, January, and February, when the macaques largely fed on shoots of the bamboo Schizostachyum polymorphum and roots of the herb Forrestia (= Amischotolype) mollissima, while they mostly utilised F. mollissima in canopy-covered, degraded forests in March and April. There was a major shift from a primary diet of fruits in the wet season, reported from earlier studies, to possibly relatively poor-quality, but abundant, shoots and roots in winter. This suggests that the consumption of these poor-quality fallback food species is a key dietary adaptation of the macaques to periods of fruit scarcity. Although our preliminary study suggests that the feeding behaviour of the stump-tailed macaque in its subtropical semi-evergreen forest habitat appears to be similar to that of its congeneric species in temperate forests, further investigations are needed to firmly establish the observed foraging patterns of this vulnerable cercopithecine species in its last lowland rainforest refuge in northeastern India.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 31 July-6 August 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 6
Careaga, M., G. Miranda and F. M. Carvajal-Vallejos (2023). "Description of two new species of Bujurquina (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from the Bolivian Amazon." Neotropical Ichthyology 21(2), e220093. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-2022-0093
Abstract: Two new species of Bujurquina are described from the Bolivian Amazon basin. The first new species inhabits the Beni River drainage and is distinguished from its congeners in the combination of the following characters: longer snout, deeper head, body and caudal peduncle, shorter pectoral fin, more scales in the E1 series, discontinuous longitudinal band, bars 5 and 6 not fused, preopercular spot and coloration pattern on flank scales absent. The second new species inhabits the Mamoré and Iténez river drainages, and differs from its congeners in the combination of the following characteristics: longer and deeper head, longer snout and pectoral fin, deeper caudal peduncle, fewer scales in the E1 series and lower lateral line, preopercular spot absent, bars 6 and 7 separated from longitudinal band and discontinuous longitudinal band. An identification key for species reported from Bolivia and complementary morphological data for B. oenolaemus and B. vittata are presented. / Se describen dos especies nuevas de Bujurquina para la cuenca Amazónica de Bolivia. La primera nueva especie habita la cuenca del Río Beni y se distingue de sus congéneres en la combinación de los siguientes caracteres: hocico más largo, cabeza, cuerpo y pedúnculo caudal más bajos, aleta pectoral más corta, mayor número de escamas en la serie E1, banda longitudinal discontinua, barras 5 y 6 no fusionadas, mancha preopercular y patrón de coloración en las escamas de los flancos ausentes. La segunda nueva especie habita las cuencas de los ríos Mamoré e Iténez, y se diferencia de sus congéneres en la combinación de las siguientes características: cabeza más larga y alta, hocico y aleta pectoral más largos, pedúnculo caudal más alto, menor número de escamas de la serie E1 y de la línea lateral inferior, ausencia de la mancha preopercular, barras 6 y 7 separadas de la banda longitudinal y banda longitudinal discontinua. Se presenta una clave de identificación de las especies de Bolivia y datos morfológicos complementarios de B. oenolaemus y B. vittata.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 6
Das, A., J. Ratnam and D. Jathanna (In Press). "Patterns and consequences of invasion of tropical montane forests by Cestrum aurantiacum Lindl. in the Western Ghats " Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 11, e1198085. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1198085
Abstract: In the montane forest-grassland mosaics of the Western Ghats, land cover conversion to silviculture and agriculture over the last five decades has resulted in both loss of natural habitats and widespread invasion of remnant habitat patches. While invasion of the grassland habitats of the mosaic has been relatively well studied, there have been few attempts to understand the extent to which forest habitats (locally known as sholas) have been affected by the spread of exotic species. Here we examine the patterns and impacts of invasion of shola forest understoreys by Cestrum aurantiacum Lindl., an exotic shrub species. At the landscape scale, we demonstrate that the presence and abundance of this invasive in shola understories is negatively related to distance from tea plantations. Further, the intensity of invasion is higher in areas with greater seasonality of temperature and lower mean annual precipitation. At the patch scale, invasion is greatest at shola edges and away from stream courses. We find that C. aurantiacum abundance has negatively affected the regeneration of native shola tree species as well as the abundance of native shola understorey shrubs. Our findings have important implications for the management and conservation of these mosaics.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 6
Duncanson, L., M. Liang, V. Leitold, ..., M. Gonzalez-Roglich et al. (2023). "The effectiveness of global protected areas for climate change mitigation." Nature Communications 14(1), e2908. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38073-9
Abstract: Forests play a critical role in stabilizing Earth’s climate. Establishing protected areas (PAs) represents one approach to forest conservation, but PAs were rarely created to mitigate climate change. The global impact of PAs on the carbon cycle has not previously been quantified due to a lack of accurate global-scale carbon stock maps. Here we used ~412 million lidar samples from NASA’s GEDI mission to estimate a total PA aboveground carbon (C) stock of 61.43 Gt (+/− 0.31), 26% of all mapped terrestrial woody C. Of this total, 9.65 + /− 0.88 Gt of additional carbon was attributed to PA status. These higher C stocks are primarily from avoided emissions from deforestation and degradation in PAs compared to unprotected forests. This total is roughly equivalent to one year of annual global fossil fuel emissions. These results underscore the importance of conservation of high biomass forests for avoiding carbon emissions and preserving future sequestration.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 6
Enrici, A., R. L. Gruby, M. M. Betsill, E. Le Cornu, J. E. Blackwatters, X. Basurto, H. Govan, T. Holm, S. D. Jupiter and S. Mangubhai (2023). "Who’s setting the agenda? Philanthropic donor influence in marine conservation." Ecology & Society 28(3), e2. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-14091-280302
Abstract: We are in a period of unprecedented growth in conservation philanthropy. How will this influx of private funding affect conservation agendas? Inspired by a collaborative research co-design process, this paper addresses questions about how foundations influence conservation agendas in the places they work. We draw from a case study of the world’s largest philanthropic funder of marine conservation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and their 20 years of investment in marine conservation in Palau and Fiji. Conservation practitioners in both countries universally agreed that the Packard Foundation had a significant and positive influence on the agenda, which they attribute to both how the foundation worked and what they chose to fund. Specifically, our study reveals how the Packard Foundation shaped conservation agendas in Palau and Fiji in partnership with its grantees through a grant-making process characterized by relationship building, collaborative decision making, convening and promoting of collective action, flexibility, and long-term funding. Packard’s approach was often identified as unique, and contrasted with numerous other donors, including foundations and other types of donors, who use a more top-down approach. By describing a relative success story in how philanthropic foundations can work with conservation practitioners to co-design a shared conservation agenda, our work provides timely guidance for donors and practitioners.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 6
Plön, S., S. Norman, P.-A. Adam, ..., T. Collins et al. (2023). "Spatio-temporal trends in cetacean strandings and response in the south-western Indian Ocean: 2000-2020." Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 24(1), 95-119. https://doi.org/10.47536/jcrm.v24i1.396
Abstract: The south-western Indian Ocean (SWIO) is a region of global importance for marine mammal biodiversity, but our understanding of most of the species and populations found there is still rudimentary. The Indian Ocean Network for Cetacean Research (IndoCet) was formed in 2014 and is dedicated to the research of all cetacean species across the SWIO. Since 2019, there have been efforts to create a regional network for coordinated response to stranding events as well as training and capacity building in the SWIO region. The present analysis represents a first investigation of stranding data collected by various members and collaborators within the IndoCet network, covering over 14,800km of coastline belonging to nine countries/territories. Between 2000-2020, there were 397 stranding events, representing 1,232 individual animals, 17 genera and 27 species, belonging to six families: four balaenopterids, one balaenid, one physeterid, two kogiids, six ziphiids and 14 delphinids. Seven mass strandings were recorded: two were composed of three to 20 individuals and five composed of >20 individuals. Spatial analysis of stranding events indicated that local spatio-temporal clusters (excessive number of events in time and geographic space) were present in all countries/territories, except for the Comoros. The only significant cluster was detected on the southwest coast of Mauritius, just west of the village of Souillac. The SWIO region predominantly comprises relatively poor countries/territories, but imminent Blue/Ocean economy developments are prevalent throughout the region. This study highlights the importance of establishing baselines upon which any future potential impact from anthropogenic developments in the region can be measured.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 6
Taherkhani, M., S. Vitousek, R. K. Walter, J. O'Leary and A. P. Khodadoust (2023). "Flushing time variability in a short, low-inflow estuary." Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 284, e108277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2023.108277
Abstract: Flushing time, the time scale for exchange and mixing between embayed and oceanic waters in an estuary, plays an integral role in determining water quality and aquatic ecosystem health. Here, we investigated the spatiotemporal variability of flushing times throughout Morro Bay, a short, low-inflow estuary (LIE) on the California coast, using a calibrated and validated hydrodynamic model (Delft3D). Morro Bay has historically supported an extensive eelgrass (Zostera marina) habitat, which declined substantially from 139 to 5.4 ha during 2007–2017. Eelgrass decline motivated the current research into the role of changing bed roughness and oceanic drivers (i.e., tide and sea-level rise) on estuarine hydrodynamics and flushing times. We found that tidal variability exerts the strongest control on flushing times compared to other effects, i.e., bed roughness or sea-level rise. Additionally, we found that increasing sea level and decreasing bed roughness (associated with declining seagrass coverage) yielded higher rates of mixing (lower flushing times). We detected a strong correspondence between areas having shorter flushing times (e.g., near the estuary mouth) and areas occupied by resilient eelgrass populations in Morro Bay. Our findings further indicated that flushing times in short LIEs are particularly sensitive to several factors (e.g., bed roughness, sea level) that are susceptible to anthropogenic disturbance and future climate change.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 24-30 July 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 4
Cornhill, K. L., G. A. Balme, L. T. B. Hunter and G. I. H. Kerley (In Press). "Cheetah spatiotemporal overlap with other large carnivores and prey at camera-trap sites: Do they fit the niche-complementarity hypothesis?" Mammalian Biology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-023-00368-1
Abstract: In guilds, such as the large predators, species compete over multiple resources that are both consumable and non-consumable. The niche complementary hypothesis states that competitors can overlap in resource use if there is low overlap for at least one shared resource. In Africa, cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, compete with other large carnivores across space, time and prey and are known to be subordinate; however, rarely has the entire guild been considered when assessing resource partitioning by cheetah. Using camera-trap data from four areas sampled over 4 years, we compared spatial and temporal overlap between cheetah and other large carnivores. Moreover, we estimated short-term avoidance of sites by cheetah after another large carnivore had visited. We show that cheetah align with the niche complementary hypothesis to avoid other large carnivores. Cheetah experienced high overlap with African wild dog, Lycaon pictus, activity patterns but avoided sites that were used frequently by them. The inverse was observed for lion, Panthera leo, and spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta, with cheetah avoiding them across time but not space. Cheetah experienced moderate overlap with leopard, Panthera pardus, across both space and time, with only possible short-term avoidance occurring. Finally, cheetah exhibited high levels of spatial and temporal overlap with preferred prey species, suggesting a novel demonstration of the trade-off between resource acquisition and predator avoidance. Our results showcase the importance of taking multiple scales and resource axes into consideration when determining species abilities to co-exist and provides tools for managers working in highly managed systems.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 4
Esmail, N., J. M. McPherson, L. Abulu, ..., S. Jupiter, ..., M. Rao et al. (2023). "What's on the horizon for community-based conservation? Emerging threats and opportunities." Trends in Ecology & Evolution 38(7), 666-680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2023.02.008
Abstract: The intertwined, global issues of climate change, rapid biodiversity loss, and failure to eradicate poverty present a wicked problem; they need to be addressed jointly, because each has implications for communities on the ground, and one can fuel another.For decades, community-based conservation has tried to tackle these inter-related challenges with mixed success and, at times, counter-productive results, but has arisen as a promising and popular approach on global agendas.We undertook a horizon scan on community-based conservation and identified 15 topics that offer opportunities to yield positive change for people and the planet. The analysis also provides insights into pitfalls to avoid in achieving 2030 global policy targets.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 4
Miller, B. W., C. P. Ó Fearghail, F. Kay and J. Ochoa G. (In Press). "In Memoriam: Michael John O’Farrell (1944–2022)." Journal of Mammalogy. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyad062
Abstract: Mike O’Farrell (Fig. 1) passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, while doing what he had done nearly every day since 1968. Without consideration for the weather and regardless of how many other things he might have planned for the day—he was exercising like someone half his age.Mike was born in Los Angeles, CA, but he spent his formative years in the much smaller desert community of Mojave, CA, and later Las Vegas, NV. It was in Las Vegas while attending Nevada Southern University, soon to be renamed University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) where Mike developed his passion for biology. It is also where, in 1964, he met and courted Theda, whom he married in 1965. Mike and Theda primarily resided in Las Vegas, NV, while raising their three children, Shannon, Caoimhín, and Erin. After completing his undergraduate studies at UNLV, the family moved to Las Vegas, NM, where Mike completed a Master’s degree at New Mexico Highlands University. Working with Eugene Studier his focus was on prenatal and postnatal growth and development of two species of Myotis, M. thysanodes and M. lucifugus occultus (Vespertilionidae). It was at Highlands that he developed a latent fondness for the natural environment and culture of northern New Mexico. Completion of his Master’s was followed by a move back to Nevada, where he completed his Ph.D. at the University of Nevada, Reno, followed by a post-doctoral research fellowship at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory in South Carolina.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 4
Srivathsa, A., V. Ramachandran, P. Saravanan et al. (Early View). "Topcats and underdogs: Intraguild interactions among three apex carnivores across Asia's forestscapes." Biological Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12998
Abstract: Intraguild interactions among carnivores have long held the fascination of ecologists. Ranging from competition to facilitation and coexistence, these interactions and their complex interplay influence everything from species persistence to ecosystem functioning. Yet, the patterns and pathways of such interactions are far from understood in tropical forest systems, particularly across countries in the Global South. Here, we examined the determinants and consequences of competitive interactions between dholes Cuon alpinus and the two large felids (leopards Panthera pardus and tigers Panthera tigris) with which they most commonly co-occur across Asia. Using a combination of traditional and novel data sources (N = 118), we integrate information from spatial, temporal, and dietary niche dimensions. These three species have faced catastrophic declines in their extent of co-occurrence over the past century; most of their source populations are now confined to Protected Areas. Analysis of dyadic interactions between species pairs showed a clear social hierarchy. Tigers were dominant over dholes, although pack strength in dholes helped ameliorate some of these effects; leopards were subordinate to dholes. Population-level spatio-temporal interactions assessed at 25 locations across Asia did not show a clear pattern of overlap or avoidance between species pairs. Diet-profile assessments indicated that wild ungulate biomass consumption by tigers was highest, while leopards consumed more primate and livestock prey as compared to their co-predators. In terms of prey offtake (ratio of wild prey biomass consumed to biomass available), the three species together harvested 0.4–30.2% of available prey, with the highest offtake recorded from the location where the carnivores reach very high densities. When re-examined in the context of prey availability and offtake, locations with low wild prey availability showed spatial avoidance and temporal overlap among the carnivore pairs, and locations with high wild prey availability showed spatial overlap and temporal segregation. Based on these observations, we make predictions for 40 Protected Areas in India where temporally synchronous estimates of predator and prey densities are available. We expect that low prey availability will lead to higher competition, and in extreme cases, to the complete exclusion of one or more species. In Protected Areas with high prey availability, we expect intraguild coexistence and conspecific competition among carnivores, with spill-over to forest-edge habitats and subsequent prey-switching to livestock. We stress that dhole–leopard–tiger co-occurrence across their range is facilitated through an intricate yet fragile balance between prey availability, and intraguild and conspecific competition. Data gaps and limitations notwithstanding, our study shows how insights from fundamental ecology can be of immense utility for applied aspects like large predator conservation and management of human–carnivore interactions. Our findings also highlight potential avenues for future research on tropical carnivores that can broaden current understanding of intraguild competition in forest systems of Asia and beyond.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 3
Martin, B. and A. Palama (2023). Human Rights Training Manual for Rangers: For Ranger Trainers and Supervisors in Central Africa. Libreville, Gabon: Wildlife Conservation Society, Amani Protection LAB and Dr Alphonse Mackanga Missandzou Educational Complex. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4970600000.aspx
Grey Literature Citation 2 of 3
Martin, B. and A. Palama (2023). Manuel de Formation des Écogardes aux Droits Humains: À l’Intention des Formateurs et du Personnel d’Encadrement des Écogardes d’Afrique Centrale. Libreville, Gabon: Wildlife Conservation Society, Amani Protection LAB and Dr Alphonse Mackanga Missandzou Educational Complex. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4970700000.aspx
Grey Literature Citation 3 of 3
Wildlife Conservation Society, EU, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, The Nature Conservancy Europe and Belgian Biodiversity Platform (2023). Implementing the New Global Biodiversity Framework: Making Target 3 Work for People and Nature Technical Workshop. Brussels, Belgium: Wildlife Conservation Society, EU. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4961400000.aspx
Abstract: In December 2022, governments adopted a new, ambitious Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) at the fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15) under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This historic GBF has led the way to a new era of global cooperation on biodiversity conservation.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 10-23 July 2023 [2 weeks]
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 9
Bohnett, E., J. Holmberg, S. P. Faryabi, ... and S. Ostrowski (2023). "Comparison of two individual identification algorithms for snow leopards (Panthera uncia) after automated detection." Ecological Informatics 77, e102214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2023.102214
Abstract: Photo-identification of individual snow leopards (Panthera uncia) is the primary data source for density estimation via capture-recapture statistical methods. To identify individual snow leopards in camera trap imagery, it is necessary to match individuals from a large number of images from multiple cameras and historical catalogues, which is both time-consuming and costly. The camouflaged snow leopards also make it difficult for machine learning to classify photos, as they blend in so well with the surrounding mountain environment, rendering applicable software solutions unavailable for the species. To potentially make snow leopard individual identification available via an artificial intelligence (AI) software interface, we first trained and evaluated image classification techniques for a convolutional neural network, pose invariant embeddings (PIE) (a triplet loss network), and compared the accuracy of PIE to that of the HotSpotter algorithm (a SIFT-based algorithm). Data were acquired from a curated library of free-ranging snow leopards taken in Afghanistan between 2012 and 2019 and from captive animals in zoos in Finland, Sweden, Germany, and the United States. We discovered several flaws in the initial PIE model, such as a small amount of background matching, that was addressed, albeit likely not fixed, using background subtraction (BGS) and left-right mirroring (LR) techniques which demonstrated reasonable accuracy (Rank 1: 74% Rank-5: 92%) comparable to the Hotspotter results (Rank 1: 74% Rank 2: 84%)The PIE BGS LR model, in conjunction with Hotspotter, yielded the following results: Rank-1: 85%, Rank-5: 95%, Rank-20: 99%. In general, our findings indicate that PIE BGS LR, in conjunction with HotSpotter, can classify snow leopards more accurately than using either algorithm alone.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 9
Fraley, K. M., C. R. Hamman, T. M. Sutton, M. D. Robards et al. (Accepted Article). "Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and mercury in Arctic Alaska coastal fishes of subsistence importance." Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5717
Abstract: Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and mercury (Hg) are harmful compounds that are widely present in the environment, partly due to spills and atmospheric pollution. The presence of PFAS and Hg in the tissues of animals that are harvested by rural and Indigenous Alaskans is of great concern, yet fishes in Arctic Alaska have not previously been assessed for concentrations of PFAS. Fish species of subsistence and recreational importance were collected from nearshore Beaufort and Chukchi Sea, Alaska habitats and assessed for PFAS and total mercury concentrations [THg]. We found multiple PFAS compounds present at low levels (< 3 μg/kg) in the muscle tissue of inconnu, broad whitefish, Dolly Varden char, Arctic flounder, saffron cod, humpback whitefish, and least cisco. Additionally, [THg] in these fishes were well below levels triggering local fish consumption guidelines (< 170 μg/kg). These initial results indicate no evidence of the Alaska Arctic nearshore fish species examined as an avenue of PFAS or Hg exposure to people who harvest them. However, sources and trends of these contaminants in the Arctic require further investigation.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 9
Goetsch, C., J. Gulka, K. D. Friedland, ..., M. L. Rekdahl, H. C. Rosenbaum and E. M. Adams (2023). "Surface and subsurface oceanographic features drive forage fish distributions and aggregations: Implications for prey availability to top predators in the US Northeast Shelf ecosystem." Ecology and Evolution 13(7). https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10226
Abstract: Forage fishes are a critical food web link in marine ecosystems, aggregating in a hierarchical patch structure over multiple spatial and temporal scales. Surface-level forage fish aggregations (FFAs) represent a concentrated source of prey available to surface- and shallow-foraging marine predators. Existing survey and analysis methods are often imperfect for studying forage fishes at scales appropriate to foraging predators, making it difficult to quantify predator–prey interactions. In many cases, general distributions of forage fish species are known; however, these may not represent surface-level prey availability to predators. Likewise, we lack an understanding of the oceanographic drivers of spatial patterns of prey aggregation and availability or forage fish community patterns. Specifically, we applied Bayesian joint species distribution models to bottom trawl survey data to assess species- and community-level forage fish distribution patterns across the US Northeast Continental Shelf (NES) ecosystem. Aerial digital surveys gathered data on surface FFAs at two project sites within the NES, which we used in a spatially explicit hierarchical Bayesian model to estimate the abundance and size of surface FFAs. We used these models to examine the oceanographic drivers of forage fish distributions and aggregations. Our results suggest that, in the NES, regions of high community species richness are spatially consistent with regions of high surface FFA abundance. Bathymetric depth drove both patterns, while subsurface features, such as mixed layer depth, primarily influenced aggregation behavior and surface features, such as sea surface temperature, sub-mesoscale eddies, and fronts influenced forage fish diversity. In combination, these models help quantify the availability of forage fishes to marine predators and represent a novel application of spatial models to aerial digital survey data.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 9
He, X., X. Jiang, D. V. Spracklen, ..., P. R. Elsen and Z. Zeng (Early View). "Global distribution and climatic controls of natural mountain treelines." Global Change Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16885
Abstract: Mountain treelines are thought to be sensitive to climate change. However, how climate impacts mountain treelines is not yet fully understood as treelines may also be affected by other human activities. Here, we focus on “closed-loop” mountain treelines (CLMT) that completely encircle a mountain and are less likely to have been influenced by human land-use change. We detect a total length of ~916,425 km of CLMT across 243 mountain ranges globally and reveal a bimodal latitudinal distribution of treeline elevations with higher treeline elevations occurring at greater distances from the coast. Spatially, we find that temperature is the main climatic driver of treeline elevation in boreal and tropical regions, whereas precipitation drives CLMT position in temperate zones. Temporally, we show that 70% of CLMT have moved upward, with a mean shift rate of 1.2 m/year over the first decade of the 21st century. CLMT are shifting fastest in the tropics (mean of 3.1 m/year), but with greater variability. Our work provides a new mountain treeline database that isolates climate impacts from other anthropogenic pressures, and has important implications for biodiversity, natural resources, and ecosystem adaptation in a changing climate.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 9
Kendall, C. J., C. Bracebridge, E. Lynch, M. Mgumba, A. Monadjem, A. Nicholas and A. Kane (Accepted Article). "Value of transects and telemetry to determine short-term population trends in a globally threatened species." Conservation Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14146
Abstract: In order to evaluate conservation interventions, it is necessary to obtain reliable population trends for short (<10 years) time scales. Telemetry can be used to estimate survival rates, and has become a common tool for assessing population trends, but can be limited by high costs, weight and technology constraints that limit duration of function and number of fixes, and can be biased to specific behavioral traits of tagged individuals. Encounter rates calculated from transects can be useful for assessing changes across multiple species, but can have large confidence intervals and can be affected by variation in survey conditions. Declines of African vultures, largely due to poisoning, have been well-documented over the last several decades, but our understanding of more recent trends is lacking. We used two methods to assess population trends in three protected areas in southern Tanzania over 6–8 years: telemetry data primarily from White-backed vultures to estimate survival rates, with corresponding estimated population trajectories based on population models, and transect counts for six scavenging raptors. Both methods suggest significant declines for White-backed vultures in Ruaha and Nyerere National Parks, while only telemetry estimates suggested significant declines in Katavi National Park. Encounter rates calculated from transects also showed declines in Nyerere National Park for Lappet-faced vultures and Bateleurs and in Ruaha National Park for White-headed vultures. Mortalities recorded and inferred from telemetry suggest that poisoning is prevalent while highlighting the challenges of determining cause of death when working across large landscapes. Despite these declines, southern Tanzania remains an important stronghold for African vultures with higher current encounter rates than elsewhere in East Africa. However, preventing further declines will heavily depend on the ability to mitigate the threat of poisoning. This study demonstrates the value of using multiple techniques when attempting to understand population trends over short time periods.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 9
Ochoa-Hueso, R., M. Delgado-Baquerizo, A. C. Risch, ..., L. I. Harris et al. (2023). "Bioavailability of macro and micronutrients across global topsoils: Main drivers and global change impacts." Global Biogeochemical Cycles 37(6), e2022GB007680. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GB007680
Abstract: Understanding the chemical composition of our planet's crust was one of the biggest questions of the 20th century. More than 100 years later, we are still far from understanding the global patterns in the bioavailability and spatial coupling of elements in topsoils worldwide, despite their importance for the productivity and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we measured the bioavailability and coupling of thirteen macro- and micronutrients and phytotoxic elements in topsoils (3–8 cm) from a range of terrestrial ecosystems across all continents (∼10,000 observations) and in response to global change manipulations (∼5,000 observations). For this, we incubated between 1 and 4 pairs of anionic and cationic exchange membranes per site for a mean period of 53 days. The most bioavailable elements (Ca, Mg, and K) were also amongst the most abundant in the crust. Patterns of bioavailability were biome-dependent and controlled by soil properties such as pH, organic matter content and texture, plant cover, and climate. However, global change simulations resulted in important alterations in the bioavailability of elements. Elements were highly coupled, and coupling was predictable by the atomic properties of elements, particularly mass, mass to charge ratio, and second ionization energy. Deviations from the predictable coupling-atomic mass relationship were attributed to global change and agriculture. Our work illustrates the tight links between the bioavailability and coupling of topsoil elements and environmental context, human activities, and atomic properties of elements, thus deeply enhancing our integrated understanding of the biogeochemical connections that underlie the productivity and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems in a changing world.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 9
Pinheiro, H. T., C. MacDonald, R. G. Santos, ..., P. Musembi et al. (2023). "Plastic pollution on the world’s coral reefs." Nature 619(7969), 311-316. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06113-5
Abstract: Coral reefs are losing the capacity to sustain their biological functions. In addition to other well-known stressors, such as climatic change and overfishing, plastic pollution is an emerging threat to coral reefs, spreading throughout reef food webs, and increasing disease transmission and structural damage to reef organisms. Although recognized as a global concern, the distribution and quantity of plastics trapped in the world’s coral reefs remains uncertain. Here we survey 84 shallow and deep coral ecosystems at 25 locations across the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian ocean basins for anthropogenic macrodebris (pollution by human-generated objects larger than 5 centimetres, including plastics), performing 1,231 transects. Our results show anthropogenic debris in 77 out of the 84 reefs surveyed, including in some of Earth’s most remote and near-pristine reefs, such as in uninhabited central Pacific atolls. Macroplastics represent 88% of the anthropogenic debris, and, like other debris types, peak in deeper reefs (mesophotic zones at 30–150 metres depth), with fishing activities as the main source of plastics in most areas. These findings contrast with the global pattern observed in other nearshore marine ecosystems, where macroplastic densities decrease with depth and are dominated by consumer items. As the world moves towards a global treaty to tackle plastic pollution6, understanding its distribution and drivers provides key information to help to design the strategies needed to address this ubiquitous threat.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 9
Prasetyo, A. P., M. Cusa, J. M. Murray, F. Agung, E. Muttaqin et al. (2023). "Universal closed-tube barcoding for monitoring the shark and ray trade in megadiverse conservation hotspots." iScience 26(7), e107065. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.107065
Abstract: Trade restrictions for endangered elasmobranch species exist to disincentivise their exploitation and curb their declines. However, trade monitoring is challenging due to product variety and the complexity of import/export routes. We investigate the use of a portable, universal, DNA-based tool which would greatly facilitate in-situ monitoring. We collected shark and ray samples across the Island of Java, Indonesia, and selected 28 commonly encountered species (including 22 CITES-listed species) to test a recently developed real-time PCR single-assay originally developed for screening bony fish. In the absence of a bespoke elasmobranch identification online platform in the original FASTFISH-ID model, we employed a deep learning algorithm to recognize species based on DNA melt-curve signatures. By combining visual and machine-learning assignment methods, we distinguished 25/28 species, 20 of which were CITES-listed. With further refinement, this method can improve monitoring of the elasmobranch trade worldwide, without a lab or species-specific assays.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 9 of 9
Vora, N. M., L. Hannah, C. Walzer, M. M. Vale, S. Lieberman, A. Emerson, J. Jennings, R. Alders, M. H. Bonds, J. Evans, B. Chilukuri, S. Cook, N. C. Sizer and J. H. Epstein (2023). "Interventions to reduce risk for pathogen spillover and early disease spread to prevent outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics." Emerging Infectious Diseases 29(3), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2903.221079
Abstract: The pathogens that cause most emerging infectious diseases in humans originate in animals, particularly wildlife, and then spill over into humans. The accelerating frequency with which humans and domestic animals encounter wildlife because of activities such as land-use change, animal husbandry, and markets and trade in live wildlife has created growing opportunities for pathogen spillover. The risk of pathogen spillover and early disease spread among domestic animals and humans, however, can be reduced by stopping the clearing and degradation of tropical and subtropical forests, improving health and economic security of communities living in emerging infectious disease hotspots, enhancing biosecurity in animal husbandry, shutting down or strictly regulating wildlife markets and trade, and expanding pathogen surveillance. We summarize expert opinions on how to implement these goals to prevent outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 3
Mohan, N. V., S. Shukla, A. Mendis, N. Kulkarni and U. Mendiratta (2023). Illegal Trade of Red Sand Boa in India: 2016-2021. Karnataka, India: Wildlife Conservation Society, India. https://doi.org/10.19121/2020.Report.43708
Abstract: This brief summarizes an assessment of the illegal trade in sand boa species in India, with a focus on the red sand boa, Eryx johnii. Informed by an analysis of open-source, online, media articles, the brief aims to fill a knowledge gap regarding the growing illegal trade of and demand for sand boas in India. Time-bound recommendations are provided to address the online trade of sand boas and other reptiles.
Grey Literature Citation 2 of 3
Moya, L. and G. Baluarte (2023). Cazando de Manera Responsable en el Área de Conservación Regional Comunal Tamshiyacu Tahuayo: Cartilla para Cazadores de Fauna Silvestre de las Comunidades de Diamante 7 de Julio, San Pedro, El Chino Y Jerusalén. Lima, Peru: Wildlife Conservation Society, Peru. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4959400000.aspx
Grey Literature Citation 3 of 3
Torres, S., Y. Ávila, W. Bravo and T. Menjura (2023). Las Aves y la Restauración Ecológica en las Cuencas de los Ríos Dagua y Cali. Cali, Colombia: Wildlife Conservation Society, Colombia and Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4958600000.aspx
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 26 June-9 July 2023 [2 weeks]
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 9
Braulik, G. T., B. L. Taylor, G. Minton, G. Notarbartolo di Sciara, T. Collins et al. (Early View). "Red-list status and extinction risk of the world's whales, dolphins, and porpoises." Conservation Biology, e14090. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14090
Abstract: To understand the scope and scale of the loss of biodiversity, tools are required that can be applied in a standardized manner to all species globally, spanning realms from land to the open ocean. We used data from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List to provide a synthesis of the conservation status and extinction risk of cetaceans. One in 4 cetacean species (26% of 92 species) was threatened with extinction (i.e., critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable) and 11% were near threatened. Ten percent of cetacean species were data deficient, and we predicted that 2–3 of these species may also be threatened. The proportion of threatened cetaceans has increased: 15% in 1991, 19% in 2008, and 26% in 2021. The assessed conservation status of 20% of species has worsened from 2008 to 2021, and only 3 moved into categories of lesser threat. Cetacean species with small geographic ranges were more likely to be listed as threatened than those with large ranges, and those that occur in freshwater (100% of species) and coastal (60% of species) habitats were under the greatest threat. Analysis of odontocete species distributions revealed a global hotspot of threatened small cetaceans in Southeast Asia, in an area encompassing the Coral Triangle and extending through nearshore waters of the Bay of Bengal, northern Australia, and Papua New Guinea and into the coastal waters of China. Improved management of fisheries to limit overfishing and reduce bycatch is urgently needed to avoid extinctions or further declines, especially in coastal areas of Asia, Africa, and South America.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 9
Calle, P. P., C. McClave, K. Ingerman, B. R. Nightingale, J. Jamieson, T. A. Seimon and L. Harding (2023). "Helicobacter screening of grand cayman blue iguana (Cyclura lewisi) and North Antillean slider (Trachemys decussata angusta) on Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands." Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 54(2), 332-335. https://doi.org/10.1638/2022-0122
Abstract: The endemic Grand Cayman or blue iguana (Cyclura lewisi) is endangered. Beginning in 2015 significant morbidity and mortality occurred in captive and wild blue iguanas within Grand Cayman's Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park (QEIIBP). Investigation identified a novel Helicobacter sp., provisionally named Helicobacter sp. Grand Cayman Blue Iguana 1 (GCBI1), as the cause. Invasive green iguanas (Iguana iguana) are believed to play a role in GCBI1 transmission to the blue iguana; however, the origin and transmission pathways have not been determined. To assess the likelihood of blue iguanas asymptomatically harboring GCBI1, in May 2022 population-level screening of captive blue iguanas at QEIIBP was conducted on half (n = 102) of the captive blue iguana population (n = 201) including half of each age class. Helicobacter sp. GCBI1 is closely related to a chelonian Helicobacter sp. and 10 sympatric wild north Antillean sliders (Trachemys decussata angusta) were sampled in October 2019. Combined choana/cloacal swabs were screened by a GCBI1-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. All samples were negative, suggesting that GCBI1 is not present asymptomatically in the captive blue iguana population or in north Antillean sliders. These results provide support for the hypothesis that GCBI1 is periodically introduced to captive and wild blue iguanas from another species or source.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 9
Figueroa, R., R. D. Oliveira and J. M. Sykes (2023). "A 40-year (1980–2019) retrospective review of morbidity and mortality of fennec foxes (Vulpes zerda) at the Bronx and Prospect Park Zoos." Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 54(2), 252-261. https://doi.org/10.1638/2022-0167
Abstract: The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has housed fennec foxes (Vulpes zerda) at its facilities since the early 1900s and currently has one of the largest populations managed by the fennec fox Species Survival Plan. Of the 83 foxes held by WCS institutions between 1980 and 2019, 52 medical records and 48 postmortem reports were available for review. Common causes of morbidity included trauma and dermatologic disease, especially atopic dermatitis. Average age at death for animals surviving past 10 wk was 9.76 yr. Common causes of death or euthanasia were neoplasia (15/48, 31%) and infectious disease (14/48, 29%), with neoplastic processes incidentally identified in an additional seven animals. Significant antemortem cardiac changes were identified in 22 animals. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was diagnosed in nine animals, consistent with previous documentation of HCC as one of the most common neoplasms in this species. Four animals were suspected to have succumbed to vaccine-induced canine distemper virus after receiving a modified live vaccine. No canine distemper infections have been documented after 1981 in this population and since the use of a canarypox-vectored recombinant vaccine. Recommendations for management of this species include routine screening for hepatic neoplasia in adult animals, regular cardiac evaluations including electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and dermatologic examination as described by the current consensus statement on canine atopic dermatitis. This descriptive morbidity and mortality report is the first for the fennec fox.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 9
Hordijk, I., D. S. Maynard, S. P. Hart, ..., B. Swanepoel et al. (2023). "Evenness mediates the global relationship between forest productivity and richness." 111(6), 1308-1326. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.14098
Abstract: 1. Biodiversity is an important component of natural ecosystems, with higher species richness often correlating with an increase in ecosystem productivity. Yet, this relationship varies substantially across environments, typically becoming less pronounced at high levels of species richness. However, species richness alone cannot reflect all important properties of a community, including community evenness, which may mediate the relationship between biodiversity and productivity. If the evenness of a community correlates negatively with richness across forests globally, then a greater number of species may not always increase overall diversity and productivity of the system. Theoretical work and local empirical studies have shown that the effect of evenness on ecosystem functioning may be especially strong at high richness levels, yet the consistency of this remains untested at a global scale. 2. Here, we used a dataset of forests from across the globe, which includes composition, biomass accumulation and net primary productivity, to explore whether productivity correlates with community evenness and richness in a way that evenness appears to buffer the effect of richness. Specifically, we evaluated whether low levels of evenness in speciose communities correlate with the attenuation of the richness–productivity relationship. 3. We found that tree species richness and evenness are negatively correlated across forests globally, with highly speciose forests typically comprising a few dominant and many rare species. Furthermore, we found that the correlation between diversity and productivity changes with evenness: at low richness, uneven communities are more productive, while at high richness, even communities are more productive. 4. Synthesis. Collectively, these results demonstrate that evenness is an integral component of the relationship between biodiversity and productivity, and that the attenuating effect of richness on forest productivity might be partly explained by low evenness in speciose communities. Productivity generally increases with species richness, until reduced evenness limits the overall increases in community diversity. Our research suggests that evenness is a fundamental component of biodiversity–ecosystem function relationships, and is of critical importance for guiding conservation and sustainable ecosystem management decisions.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 9
Hyde, M., E. Payán, J. Barragan et al. (2023). "Tourism-supported working lands sustain a growing jaguar population in the Colombian Llanos." Scientific Reports 13(1), e1048. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-36935-2
Abstract: Understanding large carnivore demography on human-dominated lands is a priority to inform conservation strategies, yet few studies examine long-term trends. Jaguars (Panthera onca) are one such species whose population trends and survival rates remain unknown across working lands. We integrated nine years of camera trap data and tourist photos to estimate jaguar density, survival, abundance, and probability of tourist sightings on a working ranch and tourism destination in Colombia. We found that abundance increased from five individuals in 2014 to 28 in 2022, and density increased from 1.88 ± 0.87 per 100 km2 in 2014 to 3.80 ± 1.08 jaguars per 100 km2 in 2022. The probability of a tourist viewing a jaguar increased from 0% in 2014 to 40% in 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic. Our results are the first robust estimates of jaguar survival and abundance on working lands. Our findings highlight the importance of productive lands for jaguar conservation and suggest that a tourism destination and working ranch can host an abundant population of jaguars when accompanied by conservation agreements and conflict interventions. Our analytical model that combines conventional data collection with tourist sightings can be applied to other species that are observed during tourism activities.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 9
McCarter, J., G. Cullman, E. Betley, ..., S. D. Jupiter et al. (In Press). "Exploring changes in foodscapes in Western Province, Solomon Islands." Human Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-023-00419-8
Abstract: Food connects people and place, and weaves together issues of resource use, culture, and sovereignty. In the Pacific, a ‘nutrition transition’ towards store-bought and processed food is implicated in poor health outcomes and lowered resilience. We use a mixed methods approach to explore changes in the ‘foodscape’ – the interconnections between people and food in a place – at four rural sites in Solomon Islands. Our results indicate low dietary diversity driven by a range of environmental and social factors including commercial logging. Art-based methods show that a range of components of the foodscape, including Indigenous knowledge and practice and access to land, have supported resilience to external shocks. We argue that efforts to improve nutrition outcomes should build on place-based strengths and be designed to enhance local understandings of food sovereignty.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 9
Murray, T. S., C. Elston, R. H. Bennett et al. (In Press). "Movement patterns and underestimation of the maximum age of a Vulnerable endemic guitarfish species inferred from mark-recapture studies." African Journal of Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2023.2224829
Abstract: Data collected from mark-recapture programmes have proven invaluable in assessing the movements and growth of numerous fishery species along the South African coastline. This short note reports on tag and recapture information on the Vulnerable endemic lesser guitarfish Acroteriobatus annulatus. This species appears to exhibit site-affinity behaviour, with an observed mean distance moved of 38.5 km (SD 121.4, range 0?726 km). The recapture of two individuals (tagged as adults; ?100 cm total length) 6 and 12 years after tagging suggests that the maximum age for this species is likely more than double the current maximum recorded age of 7 years (estimated from vertebral ring counts). This has major implications for the management of this bycatch species (with a declining population trend), and for other guitarfish species occurring in South Africa for which the maximum age is currently unknown.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 9
Porco, A., S. Chea, S. Sours, ..., C. Agger, ..., S. Ken, S. H. Olson and A. E. Fine (In Press). "Case Report: Lumpy skin disease in an endangered wild banteng (Bos javanicus) and initiation of a vaccination campaign in domestic livestock in Cambodia." Frontiers in Veterinary Science 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1228505
Abstract: We describe a case of lumpy skin disease in an endangered banteng in Cambodia and the subsequent initiation of a vaccination campaign in domestic cattle to protect wild bovids from disease transmission at the wildlife-livestock interface. Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) was first detected in domestic cattle in Cambodia in June of 2021 and rapidly spread throughout the country. In September 2021, a banteng was seen in Phnom Tnout Phnom Pok wildlife sanctuary with signs of lumpy skin disease. Scab samples were collected and tested positive for LSDV.Monitoring using line transect surveys and camera traps in protected areas with critical banteng and gaur populations was initiated from December 2021-October 2022. A collaborative multisector vaccination campaign to vaccinate domestic livestock in and around priority protected areas with banteng and gaur was launched July 2022 and a total of 20,089 domestic cattle and water buffalo were vaccinated with Lumpyvax TM . No signs of LSDV in banteng or gaur in Cambodia have been observed since this initial case. This report documents the first case of lumpy skin disease in wildlife in Cambodia and proposes a potential intervention to mitigate the challenge of pathogen transmission at the domestic-wildlife interface. While vaccination can support local livestock-based economies and promote biodiversity conservation, it is only a component of an integrated solution and One Health approach to protect endangered species from threats at the wildlife-livestock interface.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 9 of 9
Stinchcomb, T. R., Z. Ma and C. C. Sponarski (In Press). "Quantifying the influence of emotions on management acceptability for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)." Society & Natural Resources. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2023.2228251
Abstract: Emotions pervade human-wildlife relationships across social identities and cultures. Yet research on how emotions influence the cognitive processing of wildlife encounters remains sparse. In this study, we quantify the role of anticipated emotions in processing hypothetical encounters with white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). In 2021, we surveyed Indiana residents about deer and deer management (n = 1.806). Under four hypothetical deer encounters, we estimated the structural relationships among respondents’ general attitudes toward deer, mutualism wildlife beliefs, scenario-specific emotions, and scenario-specific lethal control acceptability. Emotions mediated 14% of the effect of general attitudes on lethal control acceptability when encountering a fawn and completely mediated this effect when encountering a diseased deer. Our findings suggest that emotions work together with cognitions to process stimuli in a human-wildlife encounter and make a normative decision. Accounting for emotions in decision-making will help practitioners develop more effective and socially accepted approaches to wildlife conservation and management.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 1
Diepart, J.-C. and O. II (2023). Communities at the Core of Protected Area Management: Learning from Customary Tenure Documentation Experiences in Cambodia. MRLG Case Study Series #8. Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Mekong Region Land Governance, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Highlanders Association. https://www.mrlg.org/publications/customary-tenure-documentation-cambodia/
Abstract: The case study presents the lessons from three experiences of customary tenure documentation in protected areas in the Cambodian provinces of Preah Vihear, Mondul Kiri, and Ratanak Kiri. It is based on the work of the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Highlanders Association. The study examines how effective the documentation can be as a tool to improve tenure and natural resource rights, protected area management and conservation practices in protected areas. In particular, it can help to ensure adherence to inclusivity, and the principles of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). It provides key insights into the importance of recognising the practices and tenure rights of forest dependent communities inside protected areas for both community well-being and conservation efforts. The lessons from the three initiatives lead to several recommendations relevant to the legal and policy framework or to protected area management practices. These recommendations aim to contribute to debates taking place in Cambodia to enhance nature conservation efforts.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 19-25 June 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 6
Dodino, S., L. Riccialdelli, M. J. Polito, K. Pütz and A. R. Rey (2023). "Variation in the trophic niche and food provisioning between the early and late chick-rearing stages in Magellanic penguins Spheniscus magellanicus at Martillo Island, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina." Marine Biology 170(8), e96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-023-04242-z
Abstract: Variation in the foraging niche and parental provisioning behaviors of breeding seabirds have the potential to affect population dynamics (e.g. foraging success, breeding productivity, and ultimately population size). We sampled blood plasma of family’ groups (females, males, and chicks) of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) from Martillo Island, Argentina. We used stable isotope analyses on plasma samples to examine food provisioning, isotopic niche, trophic position, and diet composition of penguins between the early and late chick-rearing periods. We found clear differences in the isotopic niches of penguins between the two stages of the chick-rearing period related to shifts in foraging habitat and/or diet composition between stages. We found no evidence of individual consistency in isotopic niches or sex-specific selective provisioning by adults. In addition, we found high variability within family groups (accounting for 90% of the total isotopic variability). This study improves our understanding of the age, sex, individual, and breeding stage-specific trophic niches of Magellanic penguins, which may be helpful in projecting how they may respond to future environmental change (e.g., changes that affect prey availability).
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 6
Rawal, P., D. Chatrath and G. Shahabuddin (2023). "Micro-scale patterns and drivers of bird visitation on street fig trees in Delhi, India." Acta Oecologica 118, e103875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2022.103875
Abstract: Street trees have been used as a means of mitigating the negative effects of urbanization on biodiversity, particularly bird fauna. Despite their widely acknowledged benefits for birds, studies so far have been largely limited to relatively coarse scales, with an understanding of the role of local environments and individual tree characters lacking. We studied the patterns of bird visitation at individual street Ficus (fig) trees, providers of keystone resources in tropical landscapes, in Delhi, India, and their drivers at different scales (tree characteristics, local and landscape variables). Three common fig species were surveyed for bird visitors across 3 sites with varying urban patterns. Fig trees were found to be a relatively common street tree choice, and the 106 trees surveyed were visited by 29 bird species, including 7 obligate frugivores. We found that reducing green cover in surrounding landscape and increasing noise did not deter birds from visiting these trees. Instead, variables at finer scales like tree canopy diameter, tree species and local resource density had sizable and significant effects on both species richness and abundance of bird visitors. Our results highlight how bird assemblages, guilds and individual species respond differently to a range of ecological variables, and an understanding of these responses at different scales is useful for maximising the value of street trees for urban birds. Thus, coarse-scale studies can provide insights into bird diversity of city landscapes, but micro-scale studies are important in helping make fine scale management decisions, like selection of street trees.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 6
Rekdahl, M. L., S. G. Trabue, C. King, S. Strindberg and H. Rosenbaum (In Press). "Hardly seen, often heard: Acoustic presence of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in one of the most urbanized estuaries in the world " Frontiers in Marine Science 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1167945
Abstract: The New York-New Jersey (NY-NJ) Harbour Estuary and surrounding waters support the largest port along the U.S. East Coast, commercial and recreational fishing, and a burgeoning offshore wind energy industry. Despite the high level of anthropogenic use, cetacean sightings have increased in recent years. Here, we investigated the spatiotemporal distribution of harbour porpoise in the NY-NJ Harbour Estuary from 2018–2020 using six archival acoustic recorders. Generalized additive mixed models were used to explore the relationship between weekly harbour porpoise presence and environmental variables. Harbour porpoises were detected at low levels year-round, with seasonal peaks in presence in winter to spring (February to June). Sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a concentration were significant predictors of harbour porpoise presence, although the relationship warrants further investigation. Our results provide valuable insight into harbour porpoise distribution in the NY-NJ Harbour Estuary, which is likely related to oceanographic processes affecting prey availability. This information is timely for informing mitigation and management actions for forthcoming offshore wind energy development. Harbour porpoises are vulnerable to a range of anthropogenic impacts that have led to population declines in other regions, and therefore further research efforts are recommended for the NY-NJ Harbour Estuary and greater New York Bight.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 6
Robbins, M. M., M. Akantorana, J. Arinaitwe, T. Breuer, M. Manguette, ..., R. Parnell, J. L. Richardson, C. Stephan, E. J. Stokes et al. (Early View). "Comparative life history patterns of female gorillas." American Journal of Biological Anthropology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24792
Abstract: Objectives: Several theories have been proposed to explain the impact of ecological conditions on differences in life history variables within and between species. Here we compare female life history parameters of one western lowland gorilla population (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and two mountain gorilla populations (Gorilla beringei beringei). Materials and Methods: We compared the age of natal dispersal, age of first birth, interbirth interval, and birth rates using long-term demographic datasets from Mbeli Bai (western gorillas), Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Virunga Massif (mountain gorillas). Results: The Mbeli western gorillas had the latest age at first birth, longest interbirth interval, and slowest surviving birth rate compared to the Virunga mountain gorillas. Bwindi mountain gorillas were intermediate in their life history patterns. Discussion: These patterns are consistent with differences in feeding ecology across sites. However, it is not possible to determine the evolutionary mechanisms responsible for these differences, whether a consequence of genetic adaptation to fluctuating food supplies (“ecological risk aversion hypothesis”) or phenotypic plasticity in response to the abundance of food (“energy balance hypothesis”). Our results do not seem consistent with the extrinsic mortality risks at each site, but current conditions for mountain gorillas are unlikely to match their evolutionary history. Not all traits fell along the expected fast-slow continuum, which illustrates that they can vary independently from each other (“modularity model”). Thus, the life history traits of each gorilla population may reflect a complex interplay of multiple ecological influences that are operating through both genetic adaptations and phenotypic plasticity.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 6
Wagner, E. L., E. Frere and P. D. Boersma (2023). "Changing course: Relocating commercial tanker lanes significantly reduces threat of chronic oiling for a top marine predator." Marine Pollution Bulletin 193, e115195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115195
Abstract: A goal for conservation biologists is to show that policies enacted on behalf of an imperiled species results in direct benefits for it. In Argentina, tens of thousands of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) were estimated to have died from chronic oil pollution each year through the early 1980s. From 1982 to 1990, surveys at sites along approximately 900 km of Chubut Province coastline found that >60 % of penguin carcasses had evidence of oiling in some years. In response to these findings, as well as pressure from non-governmental organizations and the public, provincial and federal authorities in Chubut moved the commercial tanker lanes 20 nautical miles farther offshore in 1997 and required oil tankers to have double hulls. During a second round of surveys in 2001, using most of the same sites as the first survey period, the number of dead and oiled penguins dropped effectively to zero. A policy change not only led to fewer oiled penguins, but also likely increased the survival of adult Magellanic penguins near some of their most significant breeding colonies in Argentina.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 6
Nneji, L. M., J. A. R. Azevedo, O. O. Oyebanji, , L. Ma, P. R. Elsen, et al. (Early View). Patterns of species richness and turnover in endemic amphibians of the Guineo-Congolian rain forest. Diversity and Distributions. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13717
Main Conclusions: Our results indicate that geographic distance between grid cells is the primary determinant of turnover in GC endemic amphibians, with secondary but significant effects of rainfall- and temperature-related variables. Our study identifies key areas of endemic amphibian richness that could be prioritized for conservation actions.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 12-18 June 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 6
Elsen, P. R., L. E. Oakes, M. S. Cross, A. DeGemmis, J. E. M. Watson, H. A. Cooke, E. S. Darling, K. R. Jones, H. E. Kretser, M. Mendez, G. Surya, E. Tully and H. S. Grantham (2023). "Priorities for embedding ecological integrity in climate adaptation policy and practice." One Earth 6(6), 632-644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.05.014
Abstract: Humanity must adapt rapidly to climate change as the impacts accelerate. Growing scientific evidence underscores the role of ecological integrity in improving adaptation outcomes for nature and people by providing climate refugia for biodiversity, buffering natural hazards, protecting freshwater resources, and benefiting human health. However, climate adaptation initiatives have largely neglected to prioritize ecological integrity, even though it is critical for effective adaptation and achieving global conservation goals. Here, we highlight how climate and biodiversity policy and practice can help manage ecosystems for ecological integrity and ecological and social adaptation outcomes. We discuss challenges associated with operationalizing ecological integrity in adaptation policy and practice and describe seven priorities for scientists, policymakers, and practitioners to improve adaptation outcomes through supporting the retention of high-integrity ecosystems and the restoration of low-integrity ecosystems. Finally, we show how linking these priorities to UN frameworks on climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development would help attain the best outcomes for people and nature in a changing climate.
Peer Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 6
Garzon, F., C. Barrientos, R. Esono Anvene, ..., C. Martinez Prieto, J. Mba Ayetebe, ..., E. R. Salazar et al. (2023). "Spatial ecology and conservation of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) nesting in Bioko, Equatorial Guinea." PLoS ONE 18(6), e0286545. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286545
Abstract: Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea) hosts important nesting habitat for leatherback sea turtles, with the main nesting beaches found on the island’s southern end. Nest monitoring and protection have been ongoing for more than two decades, although distribution and habitat range at sea remains to be determined. This study uses satellite telemetry to describe the movements of female leatherback turtles (n = 10) during and following the breeding season, tracking them to presumed offshore foraging habitats in the south Atlantic Ocean. Leatherback turtles spent 100% of their time during the breeding period within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Equatorial Guinea, with a core distribution focused on the south of Bioko Island extending up to 10 km from the coast. During this period, turtles spent less than 10% of time within the existing protected area. Extending the border of this area by 3 km offshore would lead to a greater than threefold increase in coverage of turtle distribution (29.8 ± 19.0% of time), while an expansion to 15 km offshore would provide spatial coverage for more than 50% of tracking time. Post-nesting movements traversed the territorial waters of Sao Tome and Principe (6.4%of tracking time), Brazil (0.85%), Ascension (1.8%), and Saint Helena (0.75%). The majority (70%) of tracking time was spent in areas beyond national jurisdiction (i.e. the High Seas). This study reveals that conservation benefits could be achieved by expanding existing protected areas stretching from the Bioko coastal zone, and suggests shared migratory routes and foraging space between the Bioko population and other leatherback turtle rookeries in this region.
Peer Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 6
Henger, C. S., D. J. Straughan, C. C. Y. Xu, B. R. Nightingale, H. E. Kretser, M. K. Burnham-Curtis, D. McAloose and T. A. Seimon (2023). "A new multiplex qPCR assay to detect and differentiate big cat species in the illegal wildlife trade." Scientific Reports 13(1), e9796. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-36776-z
Abstract: All species of big cats, including tigers, cheetahs, leopards, lions, snow leopards, and jaguars, are protected under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This is due in large part to population declines resulting from anthropogenic factors, especially poaching and the unregulated and illegal trade in pelts, bones, teeth and other products that are derived from these iconic species. To enhance and scale up monitoring for big cat products in this trade, we created a rapid multiplex qPCR test that can identify and differentiate DNA from tiger (Panthera tigris), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), leopard (Panthera pardus), lion (Panthera leo), snow leopard (Panthera uncia), and jaguar (Panthera onca) in wildlife products using melt curve analysis to identify each species by its unique melt peak temperature. Our results showed high PCR efficiency (> 90%), sensitivity (detection limit of 5 copies of DNA per PCR reaction) and specificity (no cross amplification between each of the 6 big cat species). When paired with a rapid (< 1 h) DNA extraction protocol that amplifies DNA from bone, teeth, and preserved skin, total test time is less than three hours. This test can be used as a screening method to improve our understanding of the scale and scope of the illegal trade in big cats and aid in the enforcement of international regulations that govern the trade in wildlife and wildlife products, both ultimately benefiting the conservation of these species worldwide.
Peer Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 6
Morais, R. A., P. Smallhorn-West, S. R. Connolly et al. (In Press). "Sustained productivity and the persistence of coral reef fisheries." Nature Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-023-01137-1
Abstract: Fishing-induced biomass depletion is common on coral reefs. Yet, fisheries persist, maintaining the livelihoods of millions of fishers. Understanding this persistence is key to sustained reef fisheries in a time of global changes. Here we combine snapshot fish surveys and individual models of growth and mortality in a novel framework to evaluate potential reef fisheries productivity across a whole Pacific country (Tonga) spanning a major fishing pressure gradient. We provide empirical evidence of compensatory ecological responses triggered by fishing on coral reefs. High fishing exploitation drove biomass declines, yet, for a given exploitation level, productivity was consistently larger than expected from the remaining biomass. This buffering response provided, on average, an extra ~20% or 0.24 kg ha−1 d−1 of target fish production—a sizeable proportion of reported coral reef fisheries yields. Such ‘buffering productivity’ was strongest in wave-exposed, shallower, benthic-diverse and structurally complex areas. Consequently, a reef’s capacity to deliver these responses is conditional on where it is located (that is, some habitats have higher propensity to support strong responses) and on its disturbance history (for example, episodic coral mortality that reduces structural complexity and benthic diversity). Thus, while compensatory buffering production may help explain persistent yields in biomass-depleted coral reef fisheries, the sustainability of these yields may be jeopardized by the impacts of climate change.
Peer Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 6
Simpfendorfer, C. A., M. R. Heithaus, M. R. Heupel, ..., S. D. Jupiter et al. (2023). "Widespread diversity deficits of coral reef sharks and rays." Science 380(6650), 1155-1160. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ade4884
Abstract: A global survey of coral reefs reveals that overfishing is driving resident shark species toward extinction, causing diversity deficits in reef elasmobranch (shark and ray) assemblages. Our species-level analysis revealed global declines of 60 to 73% for five common resident reef shark species and that individual shark species were not detected at 34 to 47% of surveyed reefs. As reefs become more shark-depleted, rays begin to dominate assemblages. Shark-dominated assemblages persist in wealthy nations with strong governance and in highly protected areas, whereas poverty, weak governance, and a lack of shark management are associated with depauperate assemblages mainly composed of rays. Without action to address these diversity deficits, loss of ecological function and ecosystem services will increasingly affect human communities. In recent years, much attention has been given to catastrophic declines in sharks. Most of this attention has focused on large pelagic species that are highly threatened by direct and indirect harvest. Simpfendorfer et al. looked globally at the smaller, coral reef?associated species of sharks and rays and found steep declines in shark species (see the Perspective by Shiffman). Five of the most common reef shark species have experienced a decline of up to 73%. As shark species decline on coral reefs, ray species increase, indicating a community-wide shift. Species are best protected when active protections are in place, suggesting routes for better conservation. ?Sacha Vignieri Overfishing is driving common coral reef sharks toward global extinction and shifting reefs to ray-dominated assemblages.
Peer Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 6
Tsetagho, G., T. Bradfer-Lawrence, A. Taku II, ..., R. Fotso, ..., F. Maisels et al. (2023). "Modeling the potential distribution of the threatened Grey-necked Picathartes Picathartes oreas across its entire range." Bird Conservation International 33, e65. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959270923000175
Abstract: Understanding the distribution and extent of suitable habitats is critical for the conservation of endangered and endemic taxa. Such knowledge is limited for many Central African species, including the rare and globally threatened Grey-necked Picathartes Picathartes oreas, one of only two species in the family Picathartidae endemic to the forests of Central Africa. Despite growing concerns about land-use change resulting in fragmentation and loss of forest cover in the region, neither the extent of suitable habitat nor the potential species’ distribution is well known. We combine 339 (new and historical) occurrence records of Grey-necked Picathartes with environmental variables to model the potential global distribution. We used a Maximum Entropy modelling approach that accounted for sampling bias. Our model suggests that Grey-necked Picathartes distribution is strongly associated with steeper slopes and high levels of forest cover, while bioclimatic, vegetation health, and habitat condition variables were all excluded from the final model. We predicted 17,327 km2 of suitable habitat for the species, of which only 2,490 km2 (14.4%) are within protected areas where conservation designations are strictly enforced. These findings show a smaller global distribution of predicted suitable habitat forthe Grey-necked Picathartes than previously thought. This work provides evidence to inform a revision of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status, and may warrant upgrading the status of the species from “Near Threatened” to “Vulnerable”.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 1
O'Meara, L., P. J. Cohen, R. I'ilu Kafa, ..., S. Mangubhai et al. (2023). Pacific Food Systems: The Role of Fish and Other Aquatic Foods for Nutrition and Health. Apia, Samoa: FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc5796en
Abstract: From expert consultation, literature review, and the Pacific Food System regional dialogues (2021), this report distills seven recommendations, and their rationale, for realizing and maintaining the full nutritional and health benefits of fish and other aquatic foods in the Pacific Island region. The majority of Pacific Islanders live close to the coast, where harvesting, exchanging and eating fish and other aquatic foods are a part of daily life. Fish and other aquatic foods provide a rich source of micronutrients, omega-3 fatty acids and lean protein, and as such, provide a necessary complement to the carbohydrate-rich diets among Pacific Islanders. Because of shifts in broader dietary patterns, Pacific Islanders are struggling with the triple burden of malnutrition: undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and overnutrition. The diagnosis and recommendations provided in this report consider nutrition improvements that fisheries and coastal resource management can contribute to, but also brings to the fore the complementary intersectoral actions, that address both upstream and downstream determinants of malnutrition, needed to improve nutrition and health among Pacific Islanders. The seven recommendations to realize the full nutritional and health benefits of fish and other aquatic food are; (1) Safeguard fish and other aquatic foods for sustainable healthy diets: (2) Invest in multisectoral collaborations for nutrition: (3) Protect aquatic ecosystems to ensure a continuous supply of biodiverse fish and other aquatic foods for diets: (4) Raise awareness of the nutritional and health benefits of eating fish and other aquatic foods: (5) Design nutrition-sensitive strategies that serve women and also children during the first 1000 days of life (6) Develop and deliver food preservation techniques appropriate for fish and other aquatic foods to fill shortfalls (7) Strengthen trade and supply chains toward nutrition outcomes.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 5-11 June 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 8
Ardiantiono, S. M. Henkanaththegedara, B. Sideleau, Sheherazade, Y. Anwar et al. (2023). "Integrating social and ecological information to identify high-risk areas of human-crocodile conflict in the Indonesian Archipelago." Biological Conservation 280, e109965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2023.109965
Abstract: Crocodile attacks on humans and subsequent retaliations are a pressing issue for saltwater crocodile conservation. As human-crocodile conflict is complex, integrating social and ecological information better explains the drivers and patterns of these interactions. Our study aims to incorporate ecological factors associated with the intensity of crocodile attacks together with social factors of mass media reports to identify high-risk areas of human-crocodile conflict in Indonesia. We compiled reports of crocodile attacks in the 2010–2019 period from media reports, field surveys, and local informants. The presence of attack was estimated by evaluating the influence of habitat, climate, human, and reporting effort. As tone of media coverage can reflect and shape reader's tolerance about a certain issue, we assessed the headline's tone from each media article that reported crocodile attacks from 2017 to 2019. A total of 665 crocodile attacks were recorded and mainly distributed in western and central Indonesia. The estimated number of crocodile attacks was higher in areas with lower forest biomass and human density, and wider cellular network coverage. Negative media coverages were frequently reported in western Indonesia. By combining social information of negative media reporting and the ecological information of crocodile attacks hotspots, we identified 170,500 km2 priority risk areas in the western part of Indonesia, a notable 65.8 % reduction in area size compared to the attack hotspots. We highlight the application of socio-ecological information in risk prioritization to address the rising trends of negative human-wildlife interactions.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 8
Domingues, G. F., F. M. Hughes, A. G. dos Santos, A. F. Carvalho et al. (2023). "Designing an optimized landscape restoration with spatially interdependent non-linear models." Science of the Total Environment 873, e162299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162299
Abstract: Brazilian Atlantic Forest is a biodiversity hotspot drastically fragmented due to different land use practices. Our understanding on the impacts of fragmentation and restoration practices on ecosystem functionality significantly increased during the last decades. However, it is unknown to our knowledge how a precision restoration approach, integrated with landscape metrics, will affect the decision-making process of forest restoration. Here, we applied Landscape Shape Index and Contagion metrics in a genetic algorithm for planning forest restoration in watersheds at the pixel level. We evaluated how such integration may configure the precision of restoration with scenarios related to landscape ecology metrics. The genetic algorithm worked toward optimizing the site, shape, and size of forest patches across the landscape according to the results obtained in applying the metrics. Our results, obtained by simulations of scenarios, support aggregation of forest restoration zones as expected, with priority restoration areas indicated where most of the aggregation of forest patches occurs. Our optimized solutions for the study area (Santa Maria do Rio Doce Watershed) predicted an important improvement of landscape metrics (LSI = 44 %; Contagion/LSI = 73 %). Largest shifts are suggested based on LSI (i.e., three larger fragments) and Contagion/LSI (i.e., only one well-connected fragment) optimizations. Our findings indicate that restoration in an extremely fragmented landscape will promote a shift toward more connected patches and with reduction of the surface:volume ratio. Our work explores the use of genetic algorithms to propose forest restoration based on landscape ecology metrics in a spatially explicit innovative approach. Our results indicate that LSI and Contagion:LSI ratio may affect the choice concerning precise location of restoration sites based on forest fragments scattered in the landscape and reinforce the usefulness of genetic algorithms to yield an optimized-driven solution for restoration initiatives.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 8
Emogor, C. A., A. Zabala, P. O. Adaje, D. Clark, K. S. Nielsen and R. Carmenta (2023). "Stakeholder preferences for pangolin conservation interventions in south-east Nigeria." People and Nature 5(3), 1010-1026. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10477
Abstract: 1. The overexploitation of biological resources severely threatens many species, requiring urgent and effective conservation interventions. Such interventions sometimes require governance structures that incorporate pluralist perspectives and collaborative decision-making, especially in complex, multi-faceted and multi-scale issues like the illegal trade in pangolins. 2. We used Q-methodology to provide evidence to inform interventions for pangolin conservation in south-east Nigeria. We sampled stakeholder groups associated with pangolin use and protection, including hunters, wild meat traders and Nigeria Customs Service employees, to elicit their opinion and knowledge on the use and perceptions of pangolins and their preferences for interventions to reduce pangolin decline. 3. We found that the local consumption of pangolin meat as food is the primary driver of poaching in the region. This contradicts popular opinions that pangolins are specifically targeted for international trade, revealing an opportunity for site-level behaviour change interventions. The different stakeholder groups identified awareness-raising campaigns, law enforcement, community stewardship programs and ecotourism as preferred interventions, whose effectiveness we attempted to assess using reported case studies. 4. We observed different perspectives between people associated with pangolin poaching and use (predominantly those living around pangolin habitats, including hunters and wild meat traders) and those working to protect them (such as conservation organisations and Nigeria Customs Service employees). For example, the first group supported community stewardship programs, while the latter preferred awareness-raising and law enforcement efforts. This divergence in perspectives underpins the need for a combination of targeted interventions at the site level to engage different stakeholders while highlighting the potential challenges to collaborative decision-making for species threatened by illegal wildlife trade. 5. Policy implications. Our results stress the importance of targeted and context-specific conservation interventions.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 8
Flores, C., G. Lichtenstein and A. Schiavini (FirstView). "Human–wildlife conflicts in Patagonia: Ranchers’ perceptions of guanaco Lama guanicoe abundance." Oryx. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605322001508
Abstract: Conflicts between people and wildlife have become widespread as people move to areas previously home to wildlife and as wild populations recover. In Patagonia, one of the main threats to guanaco Lama guanicoe conservation is the animosity of sheep ranchers towards the species. As key stakeholders in guanaco conservation we assessed ranchers’ perceptions regarding guanaco abundance in Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. We contrasted these perceptions with estimated guanaco abundance and explored the socio-ecological factors influencing perceptions and how perceptions of overabundance are rooted in contextual factors rather than actual abundance. We performed semi-structured interviews with ranchers from Isla Grande and estimated guanaco abundance independently using density surface modelling. Ranchers were divided into three categories depending on their perception of guanaco abundance: ‘too many’, ‘many’ and ‘normal’. Those in the ‘many’ and ‘normal’ categories perceived guanaco abundance as being similar to actual abundance, whereas those in the category ‘too many' overestimated guanaco abundance. The perceived issues affecting livestock production varied between categories, although feral dogs emerged as the main problem. Negative perceptions of the guanaco stemmed from ranchers' beliefs that the species reduces forage availability for livestock, and from their disappointment about the government's handling of concerns regarding livestock production. Greater understanding and integration of the human dimension in conservation are needed to design more inclusive and resilient management plans.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 8
Glass, T. W., L. Bishop and K. M. Fraley (Early View). "Oasis or trap? Mass mortality of overwintering fishes at an Arctic perennial spring and subsequent scavenging activity." Ecology, e4097. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4097
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 8
Sankararaman, V. and D. A. W. Miller (Early View). "Life-history traits govern the habitat use of diverse amphibian assemblages in an agroforest landscape matrix." Animal Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12882
Abstract: Agroforests are increasingly seen as ancillary conservation landscapes that effectively integrate production needs while sustaining biodiversity goals. The conservation potential of these land uses can be significantly improved by using evidence-based management practices. In this study, we examine the community assembly of anuran amphibians and identify vulnerable species based on their life-history traits across tea and coffee agroforests and non-agricultural forest fragments in the Anamalai Hills of India. We conducted visual and auditory encounter surveys for amphibians along streams and terrestrial habitats. A modified joint species distribution model was used to examine the drivers of species richness, community composition and species co-occurrence patterns. At the community level, mean species richness was greatest in forest fragments followed by coffee and least in tea agroforests. Community composition was associated with both land use (tea/coffee/forest) and habitat (stream/terrestrial), with the greatest composition difference between coffee and forest. Life-history traits were significant drivers of species occupancies, particularly in forests. Fast-flowing water breeding amphibians and smaller body sizes were positively associated with forest streams over coffee and tea streams. Elevation was a strong predictor of amphibian occupancy with nine species showing negative association and 14 species showing positive association. Twelve species also showed a significant positive association with the wetter year, seven of which belonged to direct-developing frogs. This suggests that even single-year declines in rainfall could have detrimental effects on populations and make these species vulnerable to climate change. The results of the study have important conservation consequences for agroforests in the Western Ghats. Stream restoration efforts across elevation gradients could significantly improve habitats for different amphibian assemblages in agroforests.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 8
Torres, R., T. Kuemmerle, M. Baumann, ..., R. B. Wallace and A. Yanosky (Early View). "Partitioning the effects of habitat loss, hunting and climate change on the endangered Chacoan peccary." Diversity and Distributions. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13701
Abstract: Aim: Land-use change and overexploitation are major threats to biodiversity, and climate change will exert additional pressure in the 21st century. Although there are strong interactions between these threats, our understanding of the synergistic and compensatory effects on threatened species' range geography remains limited. Our aim was to disentangle the impact of habitat loss, hunting and climate change on species, using the example of the endangered Chacoan peccary (Catagonus wagneri). Location: Gran Chaco ecoregion in South America. Methods: Using a large occurrence database, we integrated a time-calibrated species distribution model with a hunting pressure model to reconstruct changes in the distribution of suitable peccary habitat between 1985 and 2015. We then used partitioning analysis to attribute the relative contribution of habitat change to land-use conversion, climate change and varying hunting pressure. Results: Our results reveal widespread habitat deterioration, with only 11% of the habitat found in 2015 considered suitable and safe. Hunting pressure was the strongest single threat, yet most habitat deterioration (58%) was due to the combined, rather than individual, effects of the three drivers we assessed. Climate change would have led to a compensatory effect, increasing suitable habitat area, yet this effect was negated by the strongly negative and interacting threats of land-use change and hunting. Main Conclusions: Our study reveals the central role of overexploitation, which is often neglected in biogeographic assessments, and suggests that addressing overexploitation has huge potential for increasing species' adaptive capacity in the face of climate and land-use change. More generally, we highlight the importance of jointly assessing extinction drivers to understand how species might fare in the 21st century. Here, we provide a simple and transferable framework to determine the separate and joint effects of three main drivers of biodiversity loss.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 8
Tucker, M. A., A. M. Schipper, T. S. F. Adams, ..., B. Buuveibaatar, ..., K. A. Olson et al. (2023). "Behavioral responses of terrestrial mammals to COVID-19 lockdowns." Science 380(6649), 1059-1064. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abo6499
Abstract: COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020 reduced human mobility, providing an opportunity to disentangle its effects on animals from those of landscape modifications. Using GPS data, we compared movements and road avoidance of 2300 terrestrial mammals (43 species) during the lockdowns to the same period in 2019. Individual responses were variable with no change in average movements or road avoidance behavior, likely due to variable lockdown conditions. However, under strict lockdowns 10-day 95th percentile displacements increased by 73%, suggesting increased landscape permeability. Animals? 1-hour 95th percentile displacements declined by 12% and animals were 36% closer to roads in areas of high human footprint, indicating reduced avoidance during lockdowns. Overall, lockdowns rapidly altered some spatial behaviors, highlighting variable but substantial impacts of human mobility on wildlife worldwide. Policies to reduce human movement during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic produced a kind of natural experiment to observe how human activities affect animal behavior. Using GPS tracking data from 2300 individual mammals of 43 species, Tucker et al. documented changes in mammal movement patterns during the spring of 2020 compared with the previous year (see the Perspective by St. Clair and Raymond). In locations with strict lockdown policies, animals traveled longer distances during the lockdown period. In highly populated areas, mammals moved less frequently and were closer to roads than they were before the pandemic. These results demonstrate how human activities constrain animal movement and what happens when those activities cease. ?Bianca Lopez GPS tracking of mammals over five continents shows how animal movements changed during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 1
Wildlife Conservation Society, Chile (2023). Sabor a Mar Austral: Platos e Historias de la Pesca Artesanal. Providencia, Chile: Wildlife Conservation Society, Chile. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4935000000.aspx
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 23 May-5 June 2023 [2 weeks]
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 9
Blejwas, K., L. Beard, J. Buchanan, C. L. Lausen et al. (In Press). "Could white-nose syndrome manifest differently in Myotis lucifugus in western versus eastern regions of North America? A review of factors." Journal of Wildlife Diseases 59(3). https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-22-00050
Abstract: White-nose syndrome (WNS) has notably affected the abundance of Myotis lucifugus (little brown myotis) in North America. Thus far, substantial mortality has been restricted to the eastern part of the continent where the cause of WNS, the invasive fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, has infected bats since 2006. To date, the state of Washington is the only area in the Western US (the Rocky Mountains and further west in North America) with confirmed cases of WNS in bats, and there the disease has spread more slowly than it did in the Eastern US. Here, we review differences between M. lucifugus in western and eastern parts of the continent that may affect transmission, spread, and severity of WNS in the West and highlight important gaps in knowledge. We explore the hypothesis that western M. lucifugus may respond differently to WNS on the basis of different hibernation strategies, habitat use, and greater genetic structure. To document the effect of WNS on M. lucifugus in the West most effectively, we recommend focusing on maternity roosts for strategic disease surveillance and monitoring abundance. We further recommend continuing the challenging work of identifying hibernation and swarming sites to better understand the microclimates, microbial communities, and role in disease transmission of these sites, as well as the ecology and hibernation physiology of bats in noncavernous hibernacula.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 9
Lewińska, K. E., A. R. Ives, C. J. Morrow, ..., P. R. Elsen et al. (Early View). "Beyond “greening” and “browning”: Trends in grassland ground cover fractions across Eurasia that account for spatial and temporal autocorrelation." Global Change Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16800
Abstract: Grassland ecosystems cover up to 40% of the global land area and provide many ecosystem services directly supporting the livelihoods of over 1 billion people. Monitoring long-term changes in grasslands is crucial for food security, biodiversity conservation, achieving Land Degradation Neutrality goals, and modeling the global carbon budget. Although long-term grassland monitoring using remote sensing is extensive, it is typically based on a single vegetation index and does not account for temporal and spatial autocorrelation, which means that some trends are falsely identified while others are missed. Our goal was to analyze trends in grasslands in Eurasia, the largest continuous grassland ecosystems on Earth. To do so, we calculated Cumulative Endmember Fractions (annual sums of monthly ground cover fractions) derived from MODIS 2002–2020 time series, and applied a new statistical approach PARTS that explicitly accounts for temporal and spatial autocorrelation in trends. We examined trends in green vegetation, non-photosynthetic vegetation, and soil ground cover fractions considering their independent change trajectories and relations among fractions over time. We derived temporally uncorrelated pixel-based trend maps and statistically tested whether observed trends could be explained by elevation, land cover, SPEI3, climate, country, and their combinations, all while accounting for spatial autocorrelation. We found no statistical evidence for a decrease in vegetation cover in grasslands in Eurasia. Instead, there was a significant map-level increase in non-photosynthetic vegetation across the region and local increases in green vegetation with a concomitant decrease in soil fraction. Independent environmental variables affected trends significantly, but effects varied by region. Overall, our analyses show in a statistically robust manner that Eurasian grasslands have changed considerably over the past two decades. Our approach enhances remote sensing-based monitoring of trends in grasslands so that underlying processes can be discerned.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 9
Ling, P.-Y., N. Aguilar-Amuchastegui, W. Baldwin-Cantello, T. Rayden, ..., A. L. Bagwill and P. Pacheco (2023). "Mapping global forest regeneration–An untapped potential to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss." Environmental Research Letters 18(5), e054025. https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/accfaf
Abstract: Forest regeneration can be a low-cost solution to mitigate climate change, and mapping its extent can support global goals such as the Bonn Challenge, which set a goal to put 350 million hectares of degraded forests and landscapes into restoration by 2030. Our study combined multiple remote sensing datasets and expert surveys, identifying million hectares of likely regenerated forests between 2000 and 2015 across areas that were not forested before 2000 and have remained forested from 2015 to 2018. The identified forest regeneration could potentially represent 22–25 billion young trees and a total biomass of about 3.2 billion tonnes. Forest regeneration took place in sites with less opportunity cost for agriculture for every country, but in more developed regions, forest regeneration took place in sites with higher suitability for cultivation. Expert feedback associated agricultural land use transitions and the establishment of protected areas, coupled with effective management and local support, as the key factors leading to successful forest regeneration. The results, publicly available, can facilitate discussions and help identify strategic locations to foster forest regeneration to achieve the global goals of mitigating climate change and restoring biodiversity.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 9
Mack, Z. E., L. C. Caserta, R. W. Renshaw et al. (In Press). "Histopathologic and molecular characterization of Erethizon dorsatum papillomavirus 1 and Erethizon dorsatum papillomavirus 2 infection in North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum)." Veterinary Pathology, e03009858231176564. https://doi.org/10.1177/03009858231176564
Abstract: Erethizon dorsatum papillomavirus 1 (EdPV1) and Erethizon dorsatum papillomavirus 2 (EdPV2) are associated with cutaneous papillomas in North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum). This study defined gross, histopathologic, and molecular characteristics of viral papillomas in 10 North American porcupines submitted to the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center. Investigation for the presence of EdPV1 and EdPV2 DNA via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed in 9 of the 10 (90.0%) porcupines, and all porcupines were investigated for the detection and localization of EdPV1 and EdPV2 E6 and E7 nucleic acid via chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed in 2 porcupines. Papillomas were diagnosed on the muzzle (n = 4), caudal dorsum (n = 1), upper lip (n = 1), chin (n = 1), gingiva (n = 2), and nasal planum (n = 1). Histologically, the lesions consisted of hyperplastic epidermis or epithelium with orthokeratotic keratin, prominent keratohyalin granules, and intranuclear inclusion bodies. PCR identified EdPV1 in 6 of 9 samples and EdPV2 in the remaining 3 samples. NGS resulted in 100% genome coverage of EdPV1 and 76.20% genome coverage of EdPV2 compared with GenBank reference sequences, with 99.8% sequence identity to the complete EdPV2 L1 gene of a novel subtype recently identified in France. Hybridization patterns in 9 of the 10 (90.0%) porcupines were characterized by strong nuclear signals in the superficial epidermis, with strong nuclear and punctate cytoplasmic signals in the stratum spinosum and basale. In one animal, CISH suggested dual EdPV1 and EdPV2 infection.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 9
Nasim, N., S. Anthony, T. Daurewa, ..., S. D. Jupiter, ..., S. Mangubhai, ..., S. Naucunivanua, J. Negin, M. Ravoka, A. Tukana et al. (In Press). "Understanding on-site sanitation in rural Fiji: Where definitions of sanitation back-ends differ." Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/D2EW00685E
Abstract: Rural communities in Fiji, like many countries in the Pacific region, use on-site sanitation systems which have been linked to faecal-oral diseases like typhoid fever. This study aimed to explore the safety of existing sanitation infrastructure and to estimate the proportion of safely managed systems (SDG 6.2 targets). This study was conducted in 29 rural communities along five catchments across three islands of Fiji. Two data collection events occurred: household level survey and observations from 311 households (including soil sampling from a subset of 99 latrine back-ends) and community-wide sanitation safety planning (SSP) covering 1502 households. Self-reported back-end category results from the sanitation surveys were found to be very different from the technical back-end observation findings. Specifically, there was high self-reporting of septic systems back-ends by the households in the survey (240/311, 77%), however the observations revealed only 42/311 (14%) of households had access to a septic system (category 1). It was identified that the most common type of sanitation back-end was either category 2 tank type (19/311, 6%) or category 3 not visible tanks (161/311, 52%). Overall, 51–64% of the surveyed households over-reported septic systems and had a misconception that any tank type back-end (category 2 or 3) was a septic system. There was evidence of active faecal sludge leaching in the back-end surface leach zone soil, where Escherichia coli concentrations were 6.5 times higher compared to unimpacted soil (p = 0.003). Safely managed sanitation was calculated for the first time and showed only 11% to 21% of surveyed households had access to a safe system. This study highlights the human health and environmental risks from unsafe sanitation and has implications for Fijian reporting against SDG 6.2 targets.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 9
Osofsky, S. A., S. Lieberman, C. Walzer et al. (2023). "An immediate way to lower pandemic risk: (not) seizing the low-hanging fruit (bat)." The Lancet Planetary Health 7(6), e518-e526. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00077-3
Abstract: What is the least that humanity can do to mitigate the risks of future pandemics, to prevent worldwide surges in human deaths, illness, and suffering—and more waves of multitrillion US dollar impacts on the global economy? The issues around our consumption and trading of wildlife are diverse and complex, with many rural communities being dependent on wild meat for their nutritional needs. But bats might be one taxonomic group that can be successfully eliminated from the human diet and other uses, with minimal costs or inconvenience to the vast majority of the 8 billion people on Earth. The order Chiroptera merits genuine respect given all that these species contribute to human food supplies through pollination services provided by the frugivores and to disease risk mitigation delivered by insectivorous species. The global community missed its chance to stop SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 from emerging—how many more times will humanity allow this cycle to repeat? How long will governments ignore the science that is in front of them? It's past time for humans to do the least that can be done. A global taboo is needed whereby humanity agrees to leave bats alone, not fear them or try to chase them away or cull them, but to let them have the habitats they need and live undisturbed by humans.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 9
Rao, M., S. Woodley and N. Dudley (In Press). "Kathy MacKinnon (1948–2023)." Nature Ecology & Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02092-y
Abstract: Determined and generous champion of protected-areas science and policy
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 9
Sanders, J. G., D. D. Sprockett, Y. Li, ..., C. M. Sanz et al. (2023). "Widespread extinctions of co-diversified primate gut bacterial symbionts from humans." Nature Microbiology 8(6), 1039-1050. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-023-01388-w
Abstract: Humans and other primates harbour complex gut bacterial communities that influence health and disease, but the evolutionary histories of these symbioses remain unclear. This is partly due to limited information about the microbiota of ancestral primates. Here, using phylogenetic analyses of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), we show that hundreds of gut bacterial clades diversified in parallel (that is, co-diversified) with primate species over millions of years, but that humans have experienced widespread losses of these ancestral symbionts. Analyses of 9,460 human and non-human primate MAGs, including newly generated MAGs from chimpanzees and bonobos, revealed significant co-diversification within ten gut bacterial phyla, including Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota and Bacteroidota. Strikingly, ~44% of the co-diversifying clades detected in African apes were absent from available metagenomic data from humans and ~54% were absent from industrialized human populations. In contrast, only ~3% of non-co-diversifying clades detected in African apes were absent from humans. Co-diversifying clades present in both humans and chimpanzees displayed consistent genomic signatures of natural selection between the two host species but differed in functional content from co-diversifying clades lost from humans, consistent with selection against certain functions. This study discovers host-species-specific bacterial symbionts that predate hominid diversification, many of which have undergone accelerated extinctions from human populations.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 9 of 9
Tallam, K., N. Nguyen, J. Ventura, ..., J. K. O’Leary et al. (2023). "Application of deep learning for classification of intertidal eelgrass from drone-acquired imagery." Remote Sensing 15(9), e2321. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15092321
Abstract: Shallow estuarine habitats are globally undergoing rapid changes due to climate change and anthropogenic influences, resulting in spatiotemporal shifts in distribution and habitat extent. Yet, scientists and managers do not always have rapidly available data to track habitat changes in real-time. In this study, we apply a novel and a state-of-the-art image segmentation machine learning technique (DeepLab) to two years of high-resolution drone-based imagery of a marine flowering plant species (eelgrass, a temperate seagrass). We apply the model to eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows in the Morro Bay estuary, California, an estuary that has undergone large eelgrass declines and the subsequent recovery of seagrass meadows in the last decade. The model accurately classified eelgrass across a range of conditions and sizes from meadow-scale to small-scale patches that are less than a meter in size. The model recall, precision, and F1 scores were 0.954, 0.723, and 0.809, respectively, when using human-annotated training data and random assessment points. All our accuracy values were comparable to or demonstrated greater accuracy than other models for similar seagrass systems. This study demonstrates the potential for advanced image segmentation machine learning methods to accurately support the active monitoring and analysis of seagrass dynamics from drone-based images, a framework likely applicable to similar marine ecosystems globally, and one that can provide quantitative and accurate data for long-term management strategies that seek to protect these vital ecosystems.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 3
Kapiriri Namumbya, M. (2023). Gender Dynamics in Wildlife Law Enforcement. Kampala, Uganda: Wildlife Conservation Society, Uganda. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4930700000.aspx
Grey Literature Citation 2 of 3
Kapiriri Namumbya, M. (2023). Gender Dynamics in Wildlife Law Enforcement: Summary Report. Kampala, Uganda: U. Wildlife Conservation Society. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4930800000.aspx
Abstract: This summary report presents the finding from a short and quick study on gender dynamics in wildlife law enforcement, commissioned by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) under the USAID/Uganda Combating Wildlife Crime (CWC) Activity. The study clarifies the value of gender considerations and integration for more effectiveness in combating wildlife crime by revealing challenges encountered by people on the frontline based on their sex, age, rank, tribe, and marital status.
Grey Literature Citation 3 of 3
Platt, S. G., P. M. Valeetyiayee, A. Thoyar, J. C. White and L. D. McCaskill (2023). An Interview-Based Survey to Investigate the Occurrence of Swinhoe's Giant Softshell Turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) in Huaphanh Province of Northern Lao PDR. Vientiane, Lao PDR: Wildlife Conservation Society, Lao PDR. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4934500000.aspx
Abstract: Swinhoe’s Giant Softshell Turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) is considered the most critically endangered chelonian in the world. A combination of chronic over-harvesting, wetland destruction, construction of hydropower dams, widespread water pollution, and the development, sedimentation, and flooding of riverside sandbanks (critical nesting habitat) has pushed R. swinhoei to the brink of extinction. The current global population, including captive individuals and unconfirmed reports of wild turtles, is thought to consist of 10-20 adults, although this figure is could be significantly inflated as most reports of Rafetus swinhoei remain unconfirmed. With Rafetus swinhoei now tottering at the edge of the extinction abyss, finding new individuals in the wild is critical for the survival of this species. To this end, we conducted an interview-based survey in villages along the Xam, Et, and Ma rivers in Huaphanh Province of northern Lao PDR during March-April 2023. We interviewed 251 people in 49 towns and villages along the Et, Ma and Xam rivers during our survey. Our interview data indicates that a species of large softshell turtle – most likely Rafetus swinhoei – formerly occurred in the Xam and Ma Rivers. The most recent credible reports date to the 1990s and early 2000s (last reported in 2007), although the majority of encounters occurred prior to 1990. Without additional corroborating evidence, more recent literature reports from Laos cannot be accepted as credible. Given the lack of recent credible reports, coupled with widespread and intense harvesting pressure, we consider it near-certain that R. swinhoei has been extirpated in the Xam and Ma rivers within Laos. We attribute the extirpation of R. swinhoei in Laos to chronic over-harvesting (both targeted and opportunistic) of turtles. Although we cannot rule out the possibility that one or two R. swinhoei survive in the Xam or Ma Rivers, the ability of a large softshell turtle to remain undetected in a landscape of high human occupancy is doubtful. Our survey also documented the occurrence of Palea steindachneri (Critically Endangered) in the region, complementing a single earlier record from Huaphanh Province. Local ecological knowledge obtained during our interviews adds significantly to our understanding of the reproductive biology of P. steindachneri. Our survey also confirmed that softshell turtles are subject to ongoing, intense harvesting pressure, largely as a result of opportunistic capture incidental to fishing. Without exception, those persons we interviewed stated that softshell turtles were significantly more abundant in the past, suggesting widespread population declines have occurred. Population declines of softshell turtles (and other wildlife) are probably being driven by unchecked, transboundary wildlife trafficking in which wildlife harvested in Laos is illegally smuggled into Vietnam. We conclude by recommending continued survey effort on rivers and reservoirs of the Red River Drainage in northern Laos in hopes of locating surviving R. swinhoei.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 8-22 May 2023 [2 weeks]
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 8
Balza, U., N. A. Lois, G. Pizzarello, ... and A. Raya-Rey (Early View). "Variation in nest site occupancy and breeding outcome in a threatened Subantarctic raptor." Ibis. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13234
Abstract: Breeding outcome in birds can be influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and these may contribute differentially to each stage of the breeding cycle. Island raptors are relatively threatened species that rely on simplified food webs and usually co-occur with invasive species. Here, we studied a population of Striated Caracara (Phalcoboenus australis) in Isla de los Estados (Argentina) to understand the relative contribution of food availability, topographic features and territoriality to breeding parameters. Caracaras in the area depend on the short seasonal (i.e., pulsed) availability of seabirds for feeding their chicks. On the other hand, the recent introduction of non-native ungulates may have led to a suboptimal breeding environment by reducing caracara nest site availability within the seabird colonies via disturbance of the grassland. Using data from seven breeding seasons we analyse the abundance, the proportion of breeding individuals, the spatial structure of breeding events and the population-level breeding performance, including chick sex-ratio, to study whether the breeding ecology of this species is still shaped by marine food web pulses or if it could be associated with invasive herbivore disturbance. The breeding adults in the population represented only 6-15% of the population. The spatial pattern of nest sites did not differ from random arrangement after considering the heterogeneous distribution of food availability. Territory identity accounted for most of the variation in clutch size and productivity, while penguin availability explained part of the variability in territory occupancy and hatching rate. The chick sex ratio was biased towards females and varied according to brood size, with the more productive territories producing 91% of males. The breeding cycle of this population is still mainly dependent upon the Rockhopper Penguin food pulse and presents mixed evidence of being disrupted by invasive herbivores. The studied factors contributed differentially to the output of each reproductive stage, with territory identity accounting for most of the variation. Our results suggest that individual-level, long term data could be relevant to understanding the dynamics of this species in the Fuegian archipelago, and thus a broad-scale research program is warranted to assess the conservation status and propose future management scenarios for this species.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 8
Bartoloni, S. E., R. K. Walter, S. N. Wewerka, J. Higgins, J. K. O'Leary and E. E. Bockmon (2023). "Spatial distribution of seawater carbonate chemistry and hydrodynamic controls in a low-inflow estuary." Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 281, e108195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2022.108195
Abstract: Coastal and estuarine systems play an important role in the global carbon cycle and often have complex carbonate chemistry dynamics due to a multitude of biogeochemical and physical drivers. Compared to classic estuaries, mechanisms driving the distribution of carbonate parameters in low-inflow estuaries are understudied. The spatial distribution of carbonate chemistry and hydrodynamic parameters were characterized in Morro Bay, a short and seasonally hypersaline estuary on the Central California Coast, during the dry, low-inflow season to better understand in situ modifications. Sampling transects were completed in the main channel in June, August, and September of 2018, bracketing both a high and low tide on each date. Temperature, salinity, total alkalinity, and dissolved inorganic carbon all increased from the mouth to the back of the estuary, with larger values observed during the low tide. pH values decreased towards the back of the bay, and had little variation between high and low tide for June and August transects. Flushing times (estimated using a salt-budget model approach) also increased toward the back of the bay which led to hypersaline conditions. Salinity alone only explained 20–33% of observed changes in total alkalinity and 13–22% of observed changes in dissolved inorganic carbon throughout the bay. The remaining changes in total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon were likely driven by biogeochemical modifications enhanced by extended flushing times, particularly in the back bay. Prior to this project, Morro Bay experienced a recent, rapid collapse of eelgrass, the major biogenic habitat. In the last four years eelgrass in Morro Bay appears to be on a recovery trajectory; therefore, this study provides a baseline whereby future studies can evaluate carbonate chemistry changes associated with potential eelgrass recovery and expansion. This study highlights the unique hydrodynamic exchange in seasonally low-inflow estuaries and its potentially large role in influencing local carbonate chemistry and ocean acidification.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 8
de Lange, E., J. S. Sze, J. Allan et al. (In Press). "A global conservation basic income to safeguard biodiversity." Nature Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-023-01115-7
Abstract: Biodiversity conservation supporting a global sustainability transformation must be inclusive, equitable, just and embrace plural values. The conservation basic income (CBI), a proposed unconditional cash transfer to individuals residing in important conservation areas, is a potentially powerful mechanism for facilitating this radical shift in conservation. This analysis provides comprehensive projections for potential gross costs of global CBI using spatial analyses of three plausible future conservation scenarios. Gross costs vary widely, depending on the areas and populations included, from US$351 billion to US$6.73 trillion annually. A US$5.50 per day CBI in existing protected areas in low- and middle-income countries would cost US$478 billion annually. These costs are large compared with current government conservation spending (~US$133 billion in 2020) but represent a potentially sensible investment in safeguarding incalculable social and natural values and the estimated US$44 trillion in global economic production dependent on nature.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 8
Francomano, D., A. N. Raya Rey, B. L. Gottesman and B. C. Pijanowski (Early View). "Acoustic recording complements camera traps for monitoring sensitive penguin populations." Ibis. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13235
Abstract: Enhanced understanding of species’ behaviours, life histories, and populations is especially critical for taxa like seabirds that live in remote habitats where monitoring is logistically challenging, and technology-based approaches could lead to major advances. Considering conservation threats and breeding behaviours, penguins represent a promising taxon for further exploration of monitoring methods. Only five of 18 penguin species are currently considered species of ‘least concern’ by the IUCN, and the sensitivity of penguins to ecological disturbances makes them important indicators of ecosystem dynamics. Penguins regularly congregate in dense breeding colonies and are visually and aurally conspicuous animals, making them relatively easy to monitor. In situ observations and visual remote sensing monitoring methods (i.e. camera traps, uncrewed aerial vehicles, and satellite imagery) currently provide highly valuable information on penguin behaviour and population dynamics, but these methods have a number of shortcomings. Several rely on human presence in remote areas, some require clean lines of sight with no visual obstructions, and some offer limited spatial and temporal resolution. In this study we explore the use of passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) as a complementary remote sensing method to monitor penguin behaviour and populations at high spatial and temporal resolution without visual constraints or the need for human presence. We conducted observations of vocalization rates and placed automated acoustic recorders in colonies of Magellanic Penguins Spheniscus magellanicus and Southern Rockhopper Penguins Eudyptes chrysocome in conjunction with camera traps. We found positive relationships between acoustic activity and counts of Magellanic Penguins in camera trap photos. We also identified clear diel patterns of acoustic activity that differed between breeding stages, and we found positive correlations between acoustic activity and estimates of colony density for various times of day and areas around recorders. While much work remains to improve this method and refine interpretation, PAM holds great promise as a complementary tool for monitoring the relative abundance and behavioural dynamics of penguins and other colonial animals, particularly those that burrow or nest in dense vegetation that impairs visual monitoring techniques.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 8
Kluke, C., G. L. Lescord, T. A. Johnston et al. (2023). "Correction: Spatial patterns and environmental factors related to arsenic bioaccumulation in boreal freshwater fish." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 80(5), 892. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2023-0062
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 8
L'Roe, J., D. Detoeuf, M. Wieland, B. Ikati, M. Enduyi Kimuha, F. Sandrin, O. Angauko Sukari, J. Nzale Nkumu, H. E. Kretser and D. Wilkie (2023). "Large-scale monitoring in the DRC’s Ituri forest with a locally informed multidimensional well-being index." World Development 169, e106284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2023.106284
Abstract: To monitor quality of life in changing landscapes and assess impacts of interventions, development scholars and practitioners continue to seek sensitive, flexible, practical means of measuring well-being. An approach that has received relatively little attention from development scholars but that is gaining traction among NGOs is the use of a well-being index derived from a list of locally defined and democratically weighted basic necessities. The Wildlife Conservation Society has been piloting a tool called the Basic Necessities Survey (BNS) in and around protected areas in Central Africa and beyond for over a decade. Adapted from consensual relative poverty metrics developed in the UK and Sweden, BNS data can be used to calculate a Well-being Index (WBI) that is locally relevant and comparable. To demonstrate its applicability in a lower-income context, we present findings from the Ituri Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where over 2,000 households were surveyed using the BNS tool in 2015, 2017, and 2019. WBI scores were lower among traditionally vulnerable and marginalized groups: Indigenous and female-headed households, those with young or elderly heads, and households that were smaller or had high ratios of dependents. WBI varied with livelihood and geography and was sensitive enough to detect group-specific changes over a short time; namely an economic shock concentrated in villages along the main local highway in 2017 when the DRC experienced a major currency devaluation. Scores can be calculated to either incorporate or isolate variability in subjective expectations about what constitutes well-being; we show that expectations differed for Indigenous households and expectations rose faster than assets in this period. Findings build confidence in the utility of this type of locally informed multidimensional well-being metric in low-income regions. Those seeking practical instruments to produce flexible and regionally comparable well-being measures may wish to consider this approach.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 8
O’Garra, T., S. Mangubhai, A. Jagadish et al. (In Press). "National-level evaluation of a community-based marine management initiative." Nature Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-023-01123-7
Abstract: Community-based approaches to conservation and natural resource management are considered essential to meeting global conservation targets. Despite widespread adoption, there is little understanding about successful and unsuccessful community-based practices because of the challenges of designing robust evaluations to estimate impacts and analyse the underlying mechanisms to impact. Here we present findings from a national scale evaluation of the ‘locally managed marine areas’ network in Fiji, a marine community-based management initiative. Using data from 146 villages selected using matching methods, we show that engagement in the Fijian locally managed marine areas network leads to improvements in all mechanisms hypothesized to generate conservation outcomes (participation, knowledge, management and financial support). Yet these mechanisms translate to few social outcomes and have no effect on the perceived ecological health of a village’s fishing grounds. Our findings show that practitioners may need to carefully evaluate and adapt the mechanisms that they expect will generate impact from community-based projects to improve outcomes for people and the rest of nature.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 8
Sanchez, D. E., F. M. Walker, C. J. Sobek, C. L. Lausen and C. L. Chambers (2023). "Once upon a time in Mexico: Holocene biogeography of the spotted bat (Euderma maculatum)." PLoS ONE 18(5), e0274342. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274342
Abstract: Holocene-era range expansions are relevant to understanding how a species might respond to the warming and drying climates of today. The harsh conditions of North American deserts have phylogenetically structured desert bat communities but differences in flight capabilities are expected to affect their ability to compete, locate, and use habitat in the face of modern climate change. A highly vagile but data-deficient bat species, the spotted bat (Euderma maculatum), is thought to have expanded its range from central Mexico to western Canada during the Holocene. With specimens spanning this latitudinal extent, we examined historical demography, and used ecological niche modeling (ENM) and phylogeography (mitochondrial DNA), to investigate historic biogeography from the rear to leading edges of the species’ range. The ENM supported the notion that Mexico was largely the Pleistocene-era range, whereas haplotype pattern and Skyline plots indicated that populations expanded from the southwestern US throughout the Holocene. This era provided substantial gains in suitable climate space and likely facilitated access to roosting habitat throughout the US Intermountain West. Incongruent phylogenies among different methods prevented a precise understanding of colonization history. However, isolation at the southern-most margin of the range suggests a population was left behind in Mexico as climate space contracted and are currently of unknown status. The species appears historically suited to follow shifts in climate space but differences in flight behaviors between leading edge and core-range haplogroups suggest range expansions could be influenced by differences in habitat quality or climate (e.g., drought). Although its vagility could facilitate response to environmental change and thereby avoid extinction, anthropogenic pressures at the core range could still threaten the ability for beneficial alleles to expand into the leading edge.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 3
Chiaramonte, G., D. Colautti, J. M. Cuevas, ..., P. Filippo, ..., A. Michelson, J. M. Molina, M. C. Palacio and P. Solimano (2023). Estado Actual del Conocimiento Sobre Condrictios en la Reserva Natural de Usos Múltiples Bahía San Blas, Provincia de Buenos Aires. Amenabar, Argentina: Wildlife Conservation Society, Argentina. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4928800000.aspx
Abstract: Con el propósito de facilitar una protección efectiva de estas especies, se trabajó con especialistas en la materia para sistematizar información acerca del estado del conocimiento sobre los condrictios en la Reserva Natural de Uso Múltiple Bahía San Blas (Reserva Bahía San Blas). Mediante este esfuerzo colaborativo se pretende sentar bases y poner en agenda la necesidad de impulsar la preservación y recuperación de estas especies, en línea con los objetivos de conservación del área protegida, los planes y programas nacionales de protección de condrictios y otras metas nacionales e internacionales relacionadas. De esta forma, este documento tiene el objetivo de convertirse en un aporte a la planificación de la gestión, la conservación y los usos en el área protegida y a la promoción de acciones complementarias que propicien la protección efectiva de las especies de condrictios que habitan la Reserva Bahía San Blas.
Grey Literature Citation 2 of 3
Falabella, V., M. Acha, O. Iribarne, S. Fermepin and C. Campagna (2023). Biorregiones Marinas de la Argentina. Reporte Final. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Foro para la Conservación del Mar Patagónico y Áreas de Influencia. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4926600000.aspx
Abstract: Entre los años 2019 y 2022 se llevó a cabo un proceso científico-técnico con el objetivo de definir el Mapa de las Biorregiones Marinas de la Argentina. Más de 30 expertos y representantes del sector académico, el gobierno y las organizaciones de la sociedad civil de la Argentina participaron en tres talleres de trabajo y colaboraron en el proceso de pensamiento y en la elaboración de este documento. El desafío fue lograr una síntesis de todos los antecedentes existentes para el país, más de 25 modelos diferentes que describen la heterogeneidad de nuestro mar desde la perspectiva de las masas de aguas, el zooplancton, los crustáceos, los peces óseos y cartilaginosos (condrictios), entre otros. Siguiendo un procedimiento metodológico basado en análisis de similitud espacial pero principalmente en el conocimiento experto, se definió un mapa de 11 biorregiones, grandes áreas relativamente homogéneas y con estructura física, biológica y ecológica diferentes a las de sus áreas vecinas. Los antecedentes que constituyen los datos de entrada para la integración y síntesis realizada no permitieron identificar la dinámica estacional, por lo que el mapa es una representación general y no permite visualizar las variaciones estacionales de las biorregiones marinas. Se espera que la síntesis desarrollada contemple la generalidad de un modelo tridimensional, aunque no hay precisión científica al respecto. El límite exterior del modelo de síntesis, más allá del talud profundo, está condicionado por la disponibilidad de la información existente y no necesariamente es un límite biorregional real. Aceptando las limitaciones descriptas para este modelo, el mapa desarrollado, además de ser de interés científico, constituye un insumo necesario para el manejo y la protección del Mar Argentino. Es clave para guiar el crecimiento representativo y conectado del Sistema Nacional de AMP, y en general de la red de áreas costeras y marinas de la Argentina, especialmente en el contexto de los compromisos internacionales, como el Plan Estratégico para la Biodiversidad (2010-2020) y el actual Marco Global para la Biodiversidad (metas al 2030). Este reporte describe el proceso científico–técnico llevado a cabo entre estos años, presenta el mapa consensuado de Biorregiones Marinas de la Argentina y describe las principales características y diferencias que destacan a estas grandes biorregiones
Grey Literature Citation 3 of 3
Wildlife Conservation Society, Viet Nam (2023). Money Laundering Associated with Illegal Wildlife Trade / Báo cáo khảo sát nhận thức và năng lực của đơn vị tình báo tài chính và các nhà cung cấp dịch vụ tài chính về phòng, chống rủi ro rửa tiền liên quan đến buôn bán trái pháp luật động vật hoang dã tại Việt Nam. Ha Noi, Viet Nam: Wildlife Conservation Society, Viet Nam. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4928100000.aspx
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 1-7 May 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 10
Cooper, N. W., B. C. Dossman, L. E. Berrigan, J. M. Brown et al. (2023). "Atmospheric pressure predicts probability of departure for migratory songbirds." Movement Ecology 11(1), e23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00356-z
Abstract: Weather can have both delayed and immediate impacts on animal populations, and species have evolved behavioral adaptions to respond to weather conditions. Weather has long been hypothesized to affect the timing and intensity of avian migration, and radar studies have demonstrated strong correlations between weather and broad-scale migration patterns. How weather affects individual decisions about the initiation of migratory flights, particularly at the beginning of migration, remains uncertain.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 10
Diogou, N., W. D. Halliday, S. Dosso, X. Mouy, A. Niemi and S. Insley (2023). "I know what you did last winter: Bowhead whale anomalous winter acoustic occurrence patterns in the Beaufort Sea, 2018–2020." The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 153(3 Supplement), A26. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0018030
Abstract: Global warming is affecting the Arctic at a faster pace than the rest of the world, causing an urgent need to monitor ecosystems to detect possible climate-related changes. To this end, five passive acoustic datasets were recorded in the southern Amundsen Gulf (eastern Beaufort Sea) from September 2018 to September 2020 and analyzed for Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort (BCB) bowhead whale calls using a combination of automated and manual detections. Results indicate a large variation in bowhead occurrence patterns between the two years. For 2018–2019, we obtained the first evidence of bowheads overwintering in what is typically their summer foraging ground. Examination of the following year’s recordings sheds light on whether this interruption in bowhead annual migration was an anomaly or part of an ongoing phenological shift due to climate change. Time series of remotely sensed sea ice concentration at the study area were considered over the last seven years in interpreting differences in migratory behavior of the whales. Statistical quantification of seasonal patterns and habitat preferences of bowheads, based on the 2018–2019 acoustic data, are presented to provide context to BCB bowhead ecology. Passive acoustic monitoring is an indispensable tool in discerning whale responses to a changing ocean in the Arctic.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 10
Leggio, C. M., S. G. Platt, N. A. Haislip and T. R. Rainwater (2023). "Scincella lateralis (little brown skink). Predation." Herpetological Review 54(1), 130-131.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 10
McClanahan, T. R., E. S. Darling, M. Beger, H. E. Fox, H. S. Grantham, S. D. Jupiter, ..., R. M. Oddenyo, G. S. Surya, A. S. Wenger et al. (Accepted Article). "Diversification of refugia types needed to secure the future of coral reefs subject to climate change." Conservation Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14108
Abstract: Identifying locations of refugia to the thermal stresses of climate change for coral reefs and better managing them is one of the key recommendations for climate change adaptation. Here, we summarize 30 years of applied research and conservation and conclude that currently proposed refugia are highly reliant on excess heat avoidance metrics. A more diverse set of environmental, ecological, and life history variables can identify other types of refugia and lead to the desired diversified portfolio for coral reef conservation. To improve prioritization and site selection decisions, there is a need to: evaluate and validate the predictions of this approach with long-term field data on coral abundance, diversity, and functioning; and identify and safeguard locations displaying resistance to climate exposure or the ability to recover quickly after thermal exposure. We recommend building a portfolio that includes more local ecological and evolutionary context information to identify and conserve a more equal proportion of the three major types of refugia (avoidance, resistance, and recovery); thereby shifting past efforts focused on avoidance towards a diversified risk-spreading portfolio that better manages biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 10
Platt, S. G., S. Boutxakittilath, O. Thongsavath, S. Ounboundisane and T. R. Rainwater (2023). "Crocodylus siamensis (Siamese crocodile). Pufferfish consumption and mortality." Herpetological Review 54(1), 64-65.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 10
Platt, S. G., L. W. Fontenot, N. A. Haislip et al. (2023). "Terrapene carolina (eastern box turtle). Reproduction." Herpetological Review 54(1), 119-121.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 10
Platt, S. G., T. R. Rainwater and J. B. Iverson (2023). "Kinosternon hirtipes (rough-footed mud turtle) and Kinosternon flavescens (yellow mud turtle). Microsympatry." Herpetological Review 54(1), 117-118.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 10
Rainwater, T. R., S. G. Platt and R. M. Elsey (2023). "Alligator mississippiensis (American alligator). Diet." Herpetological Review 54(1), 122-123.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 9 of 10
Stratmann, T. S. M., M. Forrest, W. Traylor, N. Dejid, K. A. Olson et al. (Accepted Article). "Movement drives population dynamics of one of the most mobile ungulates on Earth: Insights from a mechanistic model." Ecology, e4071. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4071
Abstract: Long-distance movements are hypothesized to positively influence population size and stability of mobile species. We tested this hypothesis with a novel modelling approach in which moving herbivores interact with the environment created by a dynamic global vegetation model, using highly mobile Mongolian gazelles in the eastern Mongolian grasslands as a case study. Gazelle population dynamics were modelled from 1901 to 2018 under two scenarios: one allowing free movement and one restricting movement. Gazelles were 2.2 times more abundant when they could move freely and were extirpated in 71% of the study area when mobility was restricted. Mobility resulted in greater population increases during times of abundant forage and smaller population decreases during drought. Reduced thermoregulatory costs associated with climate change, combined with an increase in vegetation biomass increased gazelle abundance. Since high abundances often resulted in over-grazing and thus extirpation when movement was restricted, mobility had an important role in maintaining higher densities. The novel modelling approach shows how accounting for not just herbivore, but also plant ecophysiology, can improve our understanding of the population dynamics of highly-mobile herbivores, in particular when examining effects of habitat and climate change. Since the model simulates herbivores based on general physiological mechanisms that apply across large herbivores and the vegetation model can be applied globally, it is possible to adapt the model to other large herbivore systems.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 10 of 10
Wakwella, A., A. Wenger, A. Jenkins, ... and S. D. Jupiter (In Press). "Integrated watershed management solutions for healthy coastal ecosystems and people." Cambridge Prisms: Coastal Futures. https://doi.org/10.1017/cft.2023.15
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 24-30 April 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 7
Bergseth, B. J., A. Arias, M. L. Barnes, ..., P. Smallhorn-West et al. (Early View). "Closing the compliance gap in marine protected areas with human behavioural sciences." Fish and Fisheries. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12749
Abstract: Advocates, practitioners and policy-makers continue to use and advocate for marine protected areas (MPAs) to meet global ocean protection targets. Yet many of the worlds MPAs, and especially no-take MPAs, are plagued by poaching and ineffective governance. Using a global dataset on coral reefs as an example, we quantify the potential ecological gains of governing MPAs to increase compliance, which we call the ‘compliance gap’. Using ecological simulations based on model posteriors of joint Bayesian hierarchical models, we demonstrate how increased compliance in no-take MPAs could nearly double target fish biomass (91% increases in median fish biomass), and result in a 292% higher likelihood of encountering top predators. Achieving these gains and closing the compliance gap necessitates a substantial shift in approach and practice to go beyond optimizing enforcement, and towards governing for compliance. This will require engaging and integrating a broad suite of actors, principles, and practices across three key domains: (i)) harnessing social influence, (ii) integrating equity principles, and (iii) aligning incentives through market-based instruments. Empowering and shaping communication between actor groups (e.g., between fishers, practitioners, and policy-makers) using theoretically underpinned approaches from the behavioural sciences is one of the most essential, but often underserved aspects of governing MPAs. We therefore close by highlighting how this cross-cutting tool could be further integrated in governance to bolster high levels of compliance in MPAs.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 7
Blake, S. and F. Maisels (2023). "Forest elephant movements in central Africa: Megafauna need megaspaces." In R. Reyna-Hurtado, C. A. Chapman and M. Melletti Eds., Movement Ecology of Afrotropical Forest Mammals, 27-58. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-27030-7_3
Abstract: To survive, all organisms must maximize energy input and reproductive output and minimize risk. This applies to how they travel through their environment. Due to numerous mechanical and physical laws that scale allometrically, forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis), as the largest vertebrate inhabitants of Africa’s dense tropical forests, solve this optimization in rather different ways than the smallest, for example, shrews. In this chapter, we discuss how body size influences animal ranging and why elephants ought to have very large ranges. We then use GPS telemetry data we collected ourselves and additional data from published studies to characterize home range size and other movement metrics of forest elephants in Central Africa. We demonstrate how the availability of water, food, nutrients, social organization, sex, and personality combines to drive the movements of forest elephants. We conclude that these factors are largely trumped by a human-induced landscape of fear throughout the range of forest elephants. We explain how the combination of large body size and the extent of forest elephant movements lead to their profound ecosystem engineering impacts, which help maintain forest biodiversity and increase carbon sequestration. We then show how human activities, primarily poaching and infrastructure development, restrict elephant movements, with negative consequences for forest function that have globally relevant ramifications. We finally argue that if forest elephant movements in their present form are to be maintained, the planet’s rich nations must match and surpass the impressive legislation for protected areas made by forest elephant range states in their commitment to demand and create the economic conditions needed for the sustainable management of tropical forest resources, including elephants.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 7
Cannon, S. E., S. D. Donner, A. Liu, ..., T. R. McClanahan et al. (Early View). "Macroalgae exhibit diverse responses to human disturbances on coral reefs." Global Change Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16694
Abstract: Scientists and managers rely on indicator taxa such as coral and macroalgal cover to evaluate the effects of human disturbance on coral reefs, often assuming a universally positive relationship between local human disturbance and macroalgae. Despite evidence that macroalgae respond to local stressors in diverse ways, there have been few efforts to evaluate relationships between specific macroalgae taxa and local human-driven disturbance. Using genus-level monitoring data from 1205 sites in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, we assess whether macroalgae percent cover correlates with local human disturbance while accounting for factors that could obscure or confound relationships. Assessing macroalgae at genus level revealed that no genera were positively correlated with all human disturbance metrics. Instead, we found relationships between the division or genera of algae and specific human disturbances that were not detectable when pooling taxa into a single functional category, which is common to many analyses. The convention to use percent cover of macroalgae as an indication of local human disturbance therefore likely obscures signatures of local anthropogenic threats to reefs. Our limited understanding of relationships between human disturbance, macroalgae taxa, and their responses to human disturbances impedes the ability to diagnose and respond appropriately to these threats.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 7
Diogou, N., W. D. Halliday, S. E. Dosso, ... and S. J. Insley (2023). "Bowhead whale year-round acoustic presence and habitat associations in the Amundsen Gulf, Western Canadian Arctic, 2018–2019." Progress in Oceanography 213, e103004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2023.103004
Abstract: Understanding the temporal and spatial distribution of bowhead whales is ecologically and culturally important in the context of a rapidly changing climate. Long-term monitoring can reveal alterations in the bowhead whale distribution range, spatiotemporal patterns, and migration phenology that can be responses to global change. However, Arctic ecosystems are challenging to monitor. Here, we deployed passive acoustic recorders at three locations in the southern Amundsen Gulf (western Canadian Arctic) between September 2018 and September 2019 to detect bowhead whale presence, quantify their seasonal occurrence, and examine the oceanographic conditions that correlate with bowhead occurrence. Results show clear seasonal patterns in the occurrence of bowheads with increased acoustic presence in spring/summer at all sites. In contrast to their typical migratory behavior, bowhead sounds were detected throughout the year at all sites, providing evidence of a number of overwintering animals in what is normally their summer feeding ground. The continuous occupancy of bowheads from May to August at all sites emphasizes the importance of this area as a core foraging ground for this population. Our results indicate a clear selection for the shallowest habitat over an annual cycle. Statistical habitat modeling indicated associations between bowhead occurrence and decreasing sea-ice coverage, wind speed, temperature, and salinity. Positive relationships between bowhead detections and zooplankton density suggest a predator-prey dynamic. These results are the first that cover an entire annual cycle of bowhead presence in the southern Amundsen Gulf, providing new knowledge and current status of bowhead habitat use to support effective management under ongoing Arctic change.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 7
Feddern, M. L., E. R. Schoen, R. Shaftel, ..., A. D. Murdoch et al. (Early View). "Kings of the north: Bridging disciplines to understand the effects of changing climate on Chinook salmon in the Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim region." Fisheries Magazine. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsh.10923
Abstract: Understanding how species are responding to environmental change is a central challenge for stewards and managers of fish and wildlife who seek to maintain harvest opportunities for communities and Indigenous peoples. This is a particularly daunting but increasingly important task in remote, high-latitude regions where environmental conditions are changing rapidly and data collection is logistically difficult. The Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim (AYK) region encompasses the northern extent of the Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha range where populations are experiencing rapid rates of environmental change across both freshwater and marine habitats due to global climate change. Climate–salmon interactions in the AYK region are a particularly pressing issue as many local communities have a deep reliance on a subsistence way of life. Here, we synthesize perspectives shared at a recent workshop on Chinook Salmon declines in the AYK region. The objectives were to discuss current understandings of climate-Chinook Salmon interactions, develop a set of outstanding questions, review available data and its limitations in addressing these questions, and describe the perspectives expressed by participants in this workshop from diverse backgrounds. We conclude by suggesting pathways forward to integrate different types of information and build relationships among communities, academic partners, and fishery management agencies.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 7
Grobler, D. L., J. D. Klein, J. M. Quattro, N. Bolaño-Martínez, R. H. Bennett and A. E. Bester-van der Merwe (2023). "Phylogenetic placement and molecular dating of hammerhead sharks (Sphyrnidae) based on whole mitogenomes." Marine Biology Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/17451000.2023.2194060
Abstract: Due to continued overexploitation and anthropogenic change, hammerhead sharks (Carcharhiniformes: Sphyrnidae) have experienced drastic declines over most of their geographic range. Owing to the K-selected life histories of these sharks, their population resilience and persistence, remain severely strained, further compromising ecosystem stability. Moreover, some species are largely understudied e.g. the cryptic congener, the Carolina hammerhead shark (Sphyrna gilberti), whilst specific regions, such as the South-West Indian Ocean (SWIO), remain relatively devoid of data, risking the eventual extirpation of unique hammerhead shark lineages. The aim of the present study was to verify the phylogenetic placement of the cryptic S. gilberti within the family Sphyrnidae through the inclusion of underrepresented species sequences in order to provide a more comprehensive phylogenetic perspective for understanding historical drivers of Sphyrnidae biodiversity. The present study describes the first complete mitochondrial genome of the cryptic S. gilberti originating from the US Atlantic, as well as the mitogenomes of smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena) and scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) samples originating from the data deficient South-West Indian Ocean (SWIO). Furthermore, we estimate the phylogenetic interrelationships of the Sphyrnidae family using mitochondrial protein-coding (PCG) and rRNA genes, reaffirming the placement of S. gilberti as a sister lineage to S. lewini. The resulting phylogenetic estimate is further used to evaluate the most likely age of the first occurrence of S. gilberti, corresponding to the Late Miocene to Early Pleiocene Epoch (3.8–10.8 million years ago). Comparative analysis of these Sphyrnids between ocean basins, as well as preliminary divergence estimates for S. lewini and S. gilberti has contributed towards resolving the global hammerhead phylogeny. This has provided unique insights into the evolution of the genus, thereby aiding future efforts directed towards effective conservation and management of hammerhead populations over a larger spatial scale.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 7
Winton, R. S., S. Lopez-Casas, D. Valencia-Rodriguez et al. (2023). "Patterns and drivers of water quality changes associated with dams in the Tropical Andes." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 27(7), 1493-1505. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1493-2023
Abstract: The Tropical Andes is a biodiversity hotspot facing pressure from planned and ongoing hydropower development. However, the effects of dams on the region’s river ecosystems, as mediated by physicochemical changes in the water quality, are poorly known. Colombia is unique among its peers in South America with respect to managing central public environmental databases, including surface water quality data sets associated with the environmental monitoring of dams. To assess the relationship between hydropower and Colombian river conditions, we analyze monitoring data associated with 15 dams, focusing on oxygen availability, thermal regimes and sediment losses because these properties are influenced directly by river damming and impose fundamental constraints on the structure of downstream aquatic ecosystems. We find that most Colombian dams (7 of 10) seasonally reduce concentrations of total suspended solids by large percentages (50 %–99 %) through sediment trapping. Most dams (8 of 15) also, via the discharge of warm reservoir surface waters, seasonally increase river temperatures by 2 to 4 ◦C with respect to upstream conditions. A subset of four dams generate downstream hypoxia (< 4 mg L−1) and water that is 2 to 5 ◦C colder than inflows, with both processes driven by the turbination and discharge of cold and anoxic hypolimnetic waters during periods of reservoir stratification. Reliance on monitoring data likely leads us to under-detect impacts: many rivers are only sampled once or twice per year, which cannot capture temporal shifts across seasons and days (i.e., in response to hydropeaking). Despite these blind spots, the monitoring data point to some opportunities for planners and hydropower companies to mitigate downstream ecological impacts. These findings highlight the importance of implementing environmental monitoring schemes associated with hydrologic infrastructure in developing countries.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 1
Wildlife Conservation Society (2023). Conservation and Human Rights: Building a Common Vision to Address the Climate, Biodiversity, and Public Health Crises. Bronx, NY: Wildlife Conservation Society. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4924900000.aspx
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 18-24 April 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 2
Batsi, G., D. J. Sonwa, L. Mangaza, J. Ebuy, J.-P. Kibambe et al. (2023). "Trajectories of cocoa production in Tshopo Province: Potential for climate-change mitigation." ASC-TUFS Working Papers 3, 93-105. https://doi.org/10.51062/ascwp.3.0_93
Abstract: The global demand for cocoa has increased. As a result, the area used for cocoa production rapidly increased. Africa alone produces over 70% of the cocoa in the world, with Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire being the main producers. Although listed as a crop that drives deforestation and forest degradation, cocoa farming has the potential to actively contribute to forest restoration. If practised in agroforestry and fallow or degraded areas, it can considerably contribute to biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, poverty mitigation, and other services. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which features a large forest in the Congo Basin (60%), has become a new hotspot for this cash crop. As one of the areas suitable for the development of this crop, which has been grown since colonial times, Tshopo province, DRC, is experiencing rapid increases in its cocoa-growing area. As such, our objective in this study was to track the trajectories of cocoa farming in Tshopo and determine their contributions to climate change mitigation through the restoration of degraded ecosystems. We described all cocoa development initiatives in the Tshopo province, along with their potential responses to climate change.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 2
McGuire, R. L., M. Robards and J. R. Liebezeit (Early View). "Patterns in avian reproduction in the Prudhoe Bay Oilfield, Alaska, 2003–2019." Journal of Avian Biology, e03075. https://doi.org/10.1111/jav.03075
Abstract: The Arctic Coastal Plain is one of the most important avian breeding grounds in the world; however, many species are in decline. Arctic-breeding birds contend with short breeding seasons, harsh climatic conditions, and now, rapidly changing, variable, and unpredictable environmental conditions caused by climate change. Additionally, those breeding in industrial areas may be impacted by human activities. It is difficult to separate the impacts of industrial development and climate change; however, long-term datasets can help show patterns over time. We evaluated factors influencing reproductive parameters of breeding birds at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, 2003–2019, by monitoring 1265 shorebird nests, 378 passerine nests, and 231 waterfowl nests. We found that nest survival decreased significantly nearer high-use infrastructure for all guilds. Temporally, passerine nest survival declined across the 17 years of the study, while there was no significant evidence of change in their nest density. Shorebird nest survival did not vary significantly across years, nor did nest density. Waterfowl nest density increased over the course of the study, but we could not estimate nest survival in all years. Egg predator populations varied across time; numbers of gulls and ravens increased in the oilfields 2003–2019, while Arctic fox decreased, and jaeger numbers did not vary significantly. Long-term datasets are rare in the Arctic, but they are crucial for understanding impacts to breeding birds from both climate change and increasing anthropogenic activities. We show that nest survival was lower for birds nesting closer to high-use infrastructure in Arctic Alaska, which was not detected in earlier, shorter-term studies. Additionally, we show that Lapland longspur nest survival decreased across time, in concert with continent-wide declines in many passerine species. The urgency to understand these relationships cannot be expressed strongly enough, given change is continuing to happen and the potential impacts are large.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 11-17 April 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 8
Carvajal-Cogollo, J. E., K. A. Quiroga-Huertas, J. A. Munoz-Castro, P. Hernández-Avendano, G. A. González-Durán and F. L. Meza-Joya (2023). "Rediscovery and phylogenetic position of the glassfrog “Centrolene”acanthidiocephalum (Ruiz-Carranza and Lynch, 1989) (Anura: Centrolenidae)with the description of its advertisement call and comments on clutches and tadpoles." Zootaxa 5264(3), 341-354. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5264.3.3
Abstract: The lack of basic natural history and distributional data represents a challenge for the conservation of rare and endemic amphibian species. This is the case of “Centrolene” acanthidiocephalum, a poorly known glassfrog endemic to the Cordillera Oriental of the Colombian Andes. This species was formally described in the late 1980s and no records have been reported over the last quarter century. Therefore, little is known about its distributional boundaries, morphological variation, natural history, and evolutionary relationships. Here we report the finding of a population of “Centrolene” acanthidiocephalum from a locality around its historical range and provide additional information on its geographic distribution, clutch size, and adult morphology. We also present for the first time data on tadpole morphology, as well as a description of its advertisement call and a phylogenetic tree based on mitochondrial genetic data corroborating its generic position within Centrolene.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 8
Castrillón-Hoyos, L., L. Rincón, J. Carlos Troncoso-Saavedra, ..., I. Goldstein and R. Márquez (In Press). "Occupancy and habitat use by the Andean bear are negatively affected by human presence and forest loss." Journal for Nature Conservation, e126409.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2023.126409
Abstract: Protected areas require methodologies to monitor the status and effectiveness of species management strategies. In this work, single-species, single-season occupancy models were employed to estimate the occupancy and habitat use of the Andean bear in the Tatamá National Natural Park through a nested design of 1 km2 cells inserted in 16 km2 cells. The occupancy at 16 km2 was ψ16 = 0.89 (E.E. = 0.06), with a detectability p = 0.405 (E.E. = 0.039). When examining the factors influencing the habitat use of the Andean bear at the 1 km2 scale, the four most suitable models for calculating use indicated a most negative relationship between use and the percentage of human activities in the cell (βHA = -1.46 [E.E. 0.61]). Additionally, bear use was found to have the most positive relationship with the forest proportion in the cell (βF = 16.59 [E.E. 13.55]) and Euclidean distance to population centers (βDPC = 1.05 [E.E. 0.82]). These findings allowed for adjusting the Prevention, Surveillance, Control, and Monitoring programs and identifying areas requiring forest cover restoration. The sampling design and effort implemented is able to detect a 25% reduction in occupancy with a statistical significance of α = 0.2 and a statistical power of 1-β = 0.8.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 8
Díaz, E. A., C. Sáenz, Y. Vega, ... and G. Zapata-Ríos (2023). "Dog and cat-related attacks on wildlife in the Metropolitan District of Quito, Ecuador: An integrative approach to reduce the impact." Ecosystems and People 19(1), e2191735. https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2023.2191735
Abstract: Surveillance and control of dogs and cats (D&C) have become increasingly important for the conservation of biodiversity in protected areas. However, despite the increase in densities of free-roaming D&C in urban areas, especially in developing countries, the impact on wildlife is poorly documented. The Metropolitan District of Quito (MDQ) in Ecuador, contains a high biodiversity of native fauna, but free-roaming dog populations have tripled in recent years, with no published information about possible consequences on wildlife. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients admitted to a Veterinary Hospital in Quito between July 2017 and June 2022 to determine the incidence of D&C attacks on wildlife from the MDQ. A total of 429 wild specimens (79.5% birds, 17.2% mammals and 3.3% reptiles), including 59 species (4 vulnerable, 1 endangered and 1 critically endangered), were treated for injuries inflicted by D&C. Attacks increased every year on record, and 79% of specimens did not survive. Given that current governmental regulations for the control of domestic animals have not been effective, we propose to address the global issue from a multidisciplinary perspective, considering predation by D&C, biodiversity conservation, animal welfare, human health, and public policies as intertwined phenomena. The goal of this approach is to achieve greater awareness and increase the effectiveness of management programs, while improving the health of animals, humans, and the environment in which they live. Additionally, we recommend government support to replicate this research in other wildlife rehabilitation and rescue centers to understand the scope of the issue nationally.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 8
González-Barrio, D., M. Pruvot, R. A. Kock and X. Fernández Aguilar (2023). "Editorial: Anthropogenic wildlife movements and infectious diseases: Health and conservation perspectives." Frontiers in Veterinary Science 10, e1132176. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1132176
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 8
Koda, S. A., K. Subramaniam, J. M. Groff, ..., M. W. Hyatt et al. (Early View). "Genetic characterization of infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus in Banggai cardinalfish Pterapogon kauderni identified from eight separate cases between 2000 and 2017." Journal of Fish Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfd.13788
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 8
Rakotonirina, A., P.-O. Maquart, C. Flamand, C. Sokha and S. Boyer (2023). "Mosquito diversity (Diptera: Culicidae) and medical importance in four Cambodian forests." Parasites & Vectors 16(1), e110. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05729-w
Abstract: A total of 290 mosquito species are recorded in Cambodia among which 43 are known vectors of pathogens. As Cambodia is heavily affected by deforestation, a potential change in the dynamic of vector-borne diseases (VDBs) could occur through alteration of the diversity and density of sylvatic vector mosquitoes and induce an increase in their interactions with humans. Understanding mosquito diversity is therefore critical, providing valuable data for risk assessments concerning the (re)emergence of local VBDs. Consequently, this study mainly aimed to understand the spatial and temporal distribution of sylvatic mosquito populations of Cambodia by determining which factors impact on their relative abundance and presence.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 8
Sandbrook, C., S. Albury-Smith, J. R. Allan, ..., M. Rao et al. (In Press). "Social considerations are crucial to success in implementing the 30×30 global conservation target." Nature Ecology & Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02048-2
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 8
Wharton, D. (Early View). "Backcrossing as a species restoration technique." Zoo Biology. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21765
Abstract: An investigation was conducted on the phenotypic results of mouse hybridization and seven generations of backcrossing, observing reciprocal F1 hybrids and backcrosses of Mus spretus and a laboratory strain of Mus domesticus C57BL/6J. F1 hybrids, backcrosses, and pure control specimens were measured for 6 body characteristics, 4 pelage coloration characteristics, 14 behaviors, and reproduction as reflected in litter size. Backcrossing was pursued for seven generations to FBC7 (i.e., “Backcross 7” or seven generations from commencement of backcrossing from an F1 hybrid female) where species restoration is mathematically calculated to be at 99.7%. Except for a minority of FBC7 M. spretus specimens failing to conform completely to one pelage characteristic, FBC7 specimens were indistinguishable from controls both subjectively and in all areas of measurement. The M. spretus backcross line was followed generation by generation and was largely conforming to controls by FBC4 at latest. The same effect was observed in the reciprocal M. domesticus backcross line. Fertility was negatively affected in F1 hybrids but restored or improved in backcross generations. Discussion is offered on hybridization and backcrossing as it occurs in nature and how it has been used or could be used as an additional ex situ tool in wildlife conservation efforts. It is concluded that conservation-oriented backcrossing is a practical species/subspecies restoration technique and has the potential to make genetic rescue feasible with minimal gene flow at the binomial level. Backcrossing is most applicable in closely monitored ex situ settings (1) where only one sex remains of a given taxon; and (2) where inbreeding depression seriously threatens a remnant taxon's ability to recover, and the only gene flow option is from another distinct species.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 4-10 April 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 2
Kurniawan, N., L. Septiadi, A. M. Kadafi et al. (2023). "A new species of Theloderma Tschudi, 1838 (Amphibia: Rhacoporidae) from Central Java Allied to T. horridum (Boulenger, 1903)." Asian Herpetological Research 14(1), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.220033
Abstract: Species diversity of the genus Theloderma has been extensively studied in recent decades, with the majority of newly described species hailing from the Indochina region. We describe a new species of medium-sized Theloderma based on molecular and morphological evidence from lowland forest in the southern part of Central Java Province, Indonesia, that is highly similar to and considered cryptic within the T. horridum group. A phylogenetic approach shows that this population is a distinct genetic lineage and can be distinguished from its congeners by the absence of vomerine teeth, moderate irregular blunt warts and studded with calcified asperities on the dorsal skin, a distinct color pattern, and a distinct denticle formula in the tadpole. Although the range of the new species is known only from Central Java, it cannot be ruled out that it may extends into adjacent areas, such as other parts of Java
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 2
McClanahan, T. R., S. D’Agata, N. A. J. Graham, M. A. Kodia and J. M. Maina (2023). "Multivariate environment-fish biomass model informs sustainability and lost income in Indian Ocean coral reefs." Marine Policy 152, e105590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105590
Abstract: Many tropical reef fisheries are underperforming relative to maximum sustained yields despite their importance for the economies and food security of natural resource dependent people. Assessments of fisheries in tropical reefs have been hampered by the logistic difficulty and costs of making empirical estimates of sustainable yields in multi-species fisheries. To overcome this limitation, we used empirical fish biomass recovery data in high-compliance closures to create a production curve estimate that established biomass and yields at maximum sustained yield (Bmsy). A multivariate machine learning model using environmental and human influence proxies made biomass and yield estimates in 10,815 ∼6.25 km2 Indian Ocean cells. Subsequent analyses determined the national over- and under-fishing status. Identified proxies of travel time from markets, depth, and fisheries management were the main drivers of biomass and subsequent status. The East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique had 18,500 km2 of reef and the lowest regional estimated biomass - losing 17,600 tons of commercial target fish per year. Therefore, the estimated loss is between US$ 50–150 million per year depending on the worth in the fisheries trade’s value chain The more populated islands of Reunion, Mauritius, Mayotte, and Comoros have smaller areas (5000 km2) and losing 3000 tons/year, and >US$ 9 million per year. Madagascar has many reefs (13,700 km2) and larger variation in yields with an estimated loss of ∼6000 tons/y. Increased restrictions could greatly increase the value of Indian Ocean fisheries by promoting the recovery of target biomass and recovering lost income.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 1
National Environment Management Authority (2023). F. Onyai, G. Eilu, F. Ogwal, …, and B. Kyasiimire [eds.] Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Framework for the NBSAPII of Uganda. Kampala, Uganda: National Environment Management Authority. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4920300000.aspx
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 28 March-3 April 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 7
Chiaverini, L., D. W. Macdonald, A. J. Hearn, ..., P. P. Kyaw, J. H. Moore, A. Rasphone et al. (2023). "Not seeing the forest for the trees: Generalised linear model out-performs random forest in species distribution modelling for Southeast Asian felids." Ecological Informatics 75, e102026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2023.102026
Abstract: Species Distribution Models (SDMs) are a powerful tool to derive habitat suitability predictions relating species occurrence data with habitat features. Two of the most frequently applied algorithms to model species-habitat relationships are Generalised Linear Models (GLM) and Random Forest (RF). The former is a parametric regression model providing functional models with direct interpretability. The latter is a machine learning non-parametric algorithm, more tolerant than other approaches in its assumptions, which has often been shown to outperform parametric algorithms. Other approaches have been developed to produce robust SDMs, like training data bootstrapping and spatial scale optimisation. Using felid presence-absence data from three study regions in Southeast Asia (mainland, Borneo and Sumatra), we tested the performances of SDMs by implementing four modelling frameworks: GLM and RF with bootstrapped and non-bootstrapped training data. With Mantel and ANOVA tests we explored how the four combinations of algorithms and bootstrapping influenced SDMs and their predictive performances. Additionally, we tested how scale-optimisation responded to species' size, taxonomic associations (species and genus), study area and algorithm. We found that choice of algorithm had strong effect in determining the differences between SDMs' spatial predictions, while bootstrapping had no effect. Additionally, algorithm followed by study area and species, were the main factors driving differences in the spatial scales identified. SDMs trained with GLM showed higher predictive performance, however, ANOVA tests revealed that algorithm had significant effect only in explaining the variance observed in sensitivity and specificity and, when interacting with bootstrapping, in Percent Correctly Classified (PCC). Bootstrapping significantly explained the variance in specificity, PCC and True Skills Statistics (TSS). Our results suggest that there are systematic differences in the scales identified and in the predictions produced by GLM vs. RF, but that neither approach was consistently better than the other. The divergent predictions and inconsistent predictive abilities suggest that analysts should not assume machine learning is inherently superior and should test multiple methods. Our results have strong implications for SDM development, revealing the inconsistencies introduced by the choice of algorithm on scale optimisation, with GLM selecting broader scales than RF.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 7
Dellabianca, N. A., M. A. Torres, C. Ordoñez, N. Fioramonti and A. Raya Rey (Early View). "Marine protected areas in the southern south-west Atlantic: Insights from marine top predator communities." Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3935
Abstract: 1. The marine ecosystem provides numerous goods and services, dampens the impacts of floods and storms, and provides climate control, through the regulation of carbon fluxes, nutrient cycling, and the bioremediation of human waste and tourism. However, the ocean is vulnerable to anthropogenic threats and has been severely altered by humans. 2. Seabirds and marine mammals are long lived, highly mobile, easily identifiable, and occupy the upper levels of trophic webs. These ecological features make them suitable as sentinels of the marine ecosystem. 3. Sighting data collected during eight oceanographic surveys were analysed to describe and compare the biodiversity of the communities of top predators within the marine protected areas (MPAs) of Namuncurá/Burdwood Bank I and II and the surrounding areas in two contrasting seasons (summer and winter). Data were grouped into six zones based on depth and geographic position. 4. Twenty-five species of seabirds and 13 species of marine mammals were recorded in 113 days of surveys between 2014 and 2018. Top predator community composition varied seasonally in the different zones. 5. A suite of indicator species was identified according to their specificity and fidelity to a particular zone. Most of the species identified as potentially useful indicators differed between summer and winter, highlighting the importance of conducting systematic surveys in both periods. 6. The MPAs Namuncurá/Burdwood Bank I and II are key areas for top predator communities in the region, mainly in summer when the number and abundance of species increase. However, the waters around Isla de los Estados and the channel between Isla de los Estados and Burdwood Bank were also identified as a relevant habitat for many species. This knowledge should be included to create a regional network of areas under special management considerations that connect the established MPAs with other key pelagic and coastal areas (as found in this study) for the conservation of subantarctic marine megafauna.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 7
Gallo-Cajiao, E., S. Lieberman, N. Dolšak, …, C. Franklin et al. (2023). "Global governance for pandemic prevention and the wildlife trade." The Lancet Planetary Health 7(4), e336-e345. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00029-3
Abstract: Although ideas about preventive actions for pandemics have been advanced during the COVID-19 crisis, there has been little consideration for how they can be operationalised through governance structures within the context of the wildlife trade for human consumption. To date, pandemic governance has mostly focused on outbreak surveillance, containment, and response rather than on avoiding zoonotic spillovers in the first place. However, given the acceleration of globalisation, a paradigm shift towards prevention of zoonotic spillovers is warranted as containment of outbreaks becomes unfeasible. Here, we consider the current institutional landscape for pandemic prevention in light of ongoing negotiations of a so-called pandemic treaty and how prevention of zoonotic spillovers from the wildlife trade for human consumption could be incorporated. We argue that such an institutional arrangement should be explicit about zoonotic spillover prevention and focus on improving coordination across four policy domains, namely public health, biodiversity conservation, food security, and trade. We posit that this pandemic treaty should include four interacting goals in relation to prevention of zoonotic spillovers from the wildlife trade for human consumption: risk understanding, risk assessment, risk reduction, and enabling funding. Despite the need to keep political attention on addressing the current pandemic, society cannot afford to miss the opportunity of the current crisis to encourage institution building for preventing future pandemics.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 7
Hanifa, B. F., O. Trávníček, J. Šupljika, Mahfud and L. Septiadi (2023). "Observations on an enigmatic dwarf monitor lizard (Varanus cf. timorensis) from Savu Island, Indonesia." Herpetology Notes 16, 225-227. https://www.biotaxa.org/hn/article/view/80416
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 7
Martin, M. J., W. D. Halliday, J. J. Citta, ... and S. J. Insley (In Press). "Exposure and behavioural responses of tagged bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) to vessels in the Pacific Arctic." Arctic Science. https://doi.org/10.1139/AS-2022-0052
Abstract: Arctic marine mammals face many challenges linked to climate change, including increasing anthropogenic noise from vessel traffic. The bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), an Arctic endemic cetacean, relies on acoustic communication, with documented overlapping frequencies between communication and vessel noise. Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort (BCB) bowhead whales migrate through areas with the highest levels of vessel traffic in the Pacific Arctic. Here, we document the spatial and temporal overlap between 25 satellite-tagged BCB bowhead whales and vessels during July to December, 2012−2018. We report 1,332 occasions when a vessel was within 125 km of a tagged whale, and where possible, quantified changes in swim speed to investigate individual behavioural responses to vessel approaches within a 50 km radius (n = 18 encounters). In the quantitative analysis, bowhead whales were not observed to alter swim speed within 8–50 km of vessels (we could not assess distances <8 km). Our results suggest bowhead whales did not exhibit detectable long-range (i.e., up to 50 km) behavioural responses to vessels, consistent with observations of closely related North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), for which vessel strikes are a leading cause of mortality. More work is required to assess how bowhead whales react to vessels at closer distances.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 7
Rensel, L. J., K. E. Hodges and C. L. Lausen (In Press). "Myotis roost use is influenced by seasonal thermal needs." Journal of Mammalogy, gyad031. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyad031
Abstract: Reproductive bats switch frequently among roosts to select the most advantageous microclimates and avoid predation or parasitism. Many bats use human-made structures, such as bat boxes and buildings, in areas where natural structures are less abundant. Artificial structures, which may be warmer and larger than natural structures, may affect bat behavior and roost use. We studied Yuma Myotis (Myotis yumanensis) and Little Brown Myotis (M. lucifugus) in artificial structures at two sites to understand how roost conditions and reproductive pressures influenced roost switching in maternity colonies in the lower mainland of British Columbia, Canada. During summer 2019, we used Passive Integrated Technology (PIT tags and scanners) to track daily roosting locations of individuals. Yuma myotis and little brown myotis used at least five roosts at each site and switched almost daily among roosts. Bats were less likely to switch from roosts that were 25–42°C and switch roosts during lactation, particularly when the young were nonvolant. Our findings suggest that reproductive female myotis that use artificial roosts seek out warm roosts to limit energy expenditure and speed up offspring development. We also found that bats boxes were not thermally stable environments and the behavior of bats reflected temperature variability. Land managers should ensure that multiple nearby roosts are available to maternity colonies, as reproductive bats require a range of temperatures and roost types during summer.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 7
Smallhorn-West, P., E. Allison, G. Gurney, D. Karnad, H. Kretser, A. S. Lobo, S. Mangubhai, H. Newing, K. Pennell, S. Raj, A. Tilley, H. Williams and S. H. Peckham (2023). "Why human rights matter for marine conservation." Frontiers in Marine Science 10, e1089154. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1089154
Abstract: Human rights matter for marine conservation because people and nature are inextricably linked. A thriving planet cannot be one that contains widespread human suffering or stifles human potential; and a thriving humanity cannot exist on a dying planet. While the field of marine conservation is increasingly considering human well-being, it retains a legacy in some places of protectionism, colonialism, and fortress conservation. Here, we i) provide an overview of human rights principles and how they relate to marine conservation, ii) document cases where tensions have occurred between marine conservation goals and human rights, iii) review the legal and ethical obligations, and practical benefits, for marine conservation to support human rights, and iv) provide practical guidance on integrating human rights principles into marine conservation. We argue that adopting a human rights-based approach to marine conservation, that is integrating equity as a rights-based condition rather than a charitable principle, will not only help meet legal and ethical obligations to respect, protect, and fulfil human rights, but will also result in greater and more enduring conservation impact.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 21-27 March 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 2
Crooks, G. C., P. P. Calle, R. P. Moore, C. McClave, P. Toledo, N. Auil Gomez, V. B. Perez, A. Tewfik et al. (2023). "Hematologic and biochemical values of free-ranging hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Glover's Reef, Belize." Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 54(1), 49-55. https://doi.org/10.1638/2021-0086
Abstract: Blood samples were obtained from the dorsal cervical sinus of free-ranging hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) collected at Glover's Reef Marine Reserve, 42 km east of the coast of Belize, for hematology and plasma biochemistry analysis. Unknown sex, subadult turtles (N = 32) were sampled in 2013 (n = 22) and 2017 (n = 10). To provide a more robust data set, parameters that did not have statistically significant differences were pooled and treated as a single population. Eleven hematologic parameters were evaluated; of these, five were pooled. Twenty-three plasma biochemical parameters were evaluated; of these, 15 were pooled. The PCV observed in this study (mean 33.44%) was double that observed in two studies of juvenile hawksbills in Dubai (means 17% and 16%), whereas the total WBC count was half that observed in immature and adult hawksbills sampled in the Galápagos (mean 2.91 × 103 versus 5.3 × 103/µl). Total protein and albumin were lower than regionally similar, adult female hawksbills in Brazil (means 3.36 versus 5.45 g/dl and 0.93 versus 2.11 g/dl, respectively). Globulins were higher (mean 2.43 versus 1.06 and 0.5 g/dl), driving the albumin:globulin ratio lower than that observed in two studies of juvenile hawksbills in Dubai (0.4:1 versus 1.1:1 and 1:1, respectively). These findings represent a geographically distinct population from previous reports, highlight the variability in blood parameters from disparate populations, and reaffirm the vital importance of considering a multitude of variables when interpreting reptilian blood values. The similarities in the majority of values observed in 2013 and 2017 provide confidence in the stability of these parameters in this population.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 2
Munsch, S. H., F. L. Beaty, K. M. Beheshti, …, J. K. O'Leary et al. (2023). "Northeast Pacific eelgrass dynamics: Interannual expansion distances and meadow area variation over time." Marine Ecology Progress Series 705, 61-75. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14248
Abstract: Ecosystems constantly change, yet managers often lack information to move beyond static habitat assumptions. As human impacts and geographic information systems advance, it is important and feasible to quantify past habitat boundary shifts to inform management decisions (e.g. protective perimeters) robust to near-term habitat changes. This is the case in eelgrass (Zostera spp.), an ecosystem engineer that forms dynamic, often protected meadows. Practitioners protect areas to avoid human stress to eelgrass, but they can lack quantitative descriptions of the near-term potential for eelgrass meadows to shift into unprotected areas. Here, we quantified interannual eelgrass meadow boundary shifts within 23 sites spanning 9 decades and 19° latitude. Eelgrass meadow boundaries typically shifted into areas tens of meters away from previous meadow edges, but sometimes much farther. Also, eelgrass meadows often vacated and later recolonized the same areas. By implication, eelgrass protection efforts may be enhanced by considering that presently vacant areas may be inhabited in the future, especially near currently existing meadows. Additionally, eelgrass meadows changed less over time at sites less modified by people within temperate landscapes compared to sites located within human-dominated, warmer, and drought-prone landscapes with limited water turnover. We thus hypothesize that eelgrass meadows change more over time within landscapes exposed to greater stressor regimes because they more frequently or intensely cycle through disturbance and recovery phases. These results inform tactical decisions seeking to mitigate impacts of human activities to eelgrass and underscore the potential synergy of monitoring, research, and adaptive management approaches to protect dynamic habitats.
Grey Literature
Grey Literature Citations 1 of 4
Wilkie, D. and H. E. Kretser (2023). Jeda dan Refleksi Alat Sederhana untuk Tim Belajar dan Menyetujui Cara Melakukan Sesuatu dengan Lebih Baik. Bronx, NY: Wildlife Conservation Society. https://doi.org/10.19121/2023.Report.45376
Grey Literature Citations 2 of 4
Wilkie, D. and H. E. Kretser (2023). Pausa e Reflexo Uma ferramenta simples para as equipas aprenderem e Concordar Como Fazer Melhor as Coisas. Bronx, NY: Wildlife Conservation Society. https://doi.org/10.19121/2023.Report.45379
Grey Literature Citations 3 of 4
Wilkie, D. and H. E. Kretser (2023). Pausa y Reflexión una Herramienta sencilla para que los equipos aprendan y acordar cómo hacer mejor las cosas. Bronx, NY: Wildlife Conservation Society. https://doi.org/10.19121/2023.Report.45370
Grey Literature Citations 4 of 4
Wilkie, D. and H. E. Kretser (2023). Pause Et Réflexion un Outil Simple Pour Permettre aux Équipes d'Apprendre et se Mettre d'Accord sur la Manière de Mieux Faire les Choses. Bronx, NY: Wildlife Conservation Society. https://doi.org/10.19121/2023.Report.45373
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 7-20 March 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 9
Alston, J. M., D. A. Keinath, C. K. R. Willis, C. L. Lausen et al. (Early View). "Environmental drivers of body size in North American bats." Functional Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14287
Abstract: 1. Bergmann's rule—which posits that larger animals live in colder areas—is thought to influence variation in body size within species across space and time, but evidence for this claim is mixed. 2. We used Bayesian hierarchical models to test four competing hypotheses for spatiotemporal variation in body size within 20 bat species across North America: (1) the heat conservation hypothesis, which posits that increased body size facilitates body heat conservation (and which is the traditional explanation for the mechanism underlying Bergmann's rule); (2) the heat mortality hypothesis, which posits that increased body size increases susceptibility to acute heat stress; (3) the resource availability hypothesis, which posits that increased body size is enabled in areas with more abundant food; and (4) the starvation resistance hypothesis, which posits that increased body size reduces susceptibility to starvation during acute food shortages. 3. Spatial variation in body mass was most consistently (and negatively) correlated with mean annual temperature, supporting the heat conservation hypothesis. Across time, variation in body mass was most consistently (and positively) correlated with net primary productivity, supporting the resource availability hypothesis. 4. Climate change could influence body size in animals through both changes in mean annual temperature and resource availability. Rapid reductions in body size associated with increasing temperatures have occurred in short-lived, fecund species, but such reductions will be obscured by changes in resource availability in longer-lived, less fecund species.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 9
Farhadinia, M. S., P. J. Johnson, V. Kamath, ..., Z. Alom, ..., B. Buuveibaatar, ..., A. Lynam, ..., A. Rasphone et al. (Early View). "Economics of conservation law enforcement by rangers across Asia." Conservation Letters, e12943. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12943
Abstract: Biodiversity targets, under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, prioritize both conservation area and their effectiveness. The effective management of protected areas (PAs) depends greatly on law enforcement resources, which is often tasked to rangers. We addressed economic aspects of law enforcement by rangers working in terrestrial landscapes across Asia. Accordingly, we used ranger numbers and payment rates to derive continental-scale estimates. Ranger density has decreased by 2.4-fold since the 1990s, increasing the median from 10.9 to 26.4 km2 of PAs per ranger. Rangers were generally paid more than the minimum wage (median ratio = 1.9) and the typical salaries in agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector (median ratio = 1.2). Annual spending on ranger salaries varied widely among countries, with a median of annual US71 km−2 of PA. Nearly 208,000 rangers patrolling Asian PAs provide an invaluable opportunity to develop ranger-based monitoring plans for evaluating the conservation performance. As decision-makers frequently seek an optimum number of law enforcement staff, our study provides a continental baseline median of 46.3 km2 PA per ranger. Our findings also provide a baseline for countries to improve their ranger-based law enforcement which is critical for their Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 9
Groeneveld, M. J., J. D. Klein, R. H. Bennett and A. E. Bester-van der Merwe (2023). "Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genomes of two Critically Endangered wedgefishes: Rhynchobatus djiddensis and Rhynchobatus australiae." Mitochondrial DNA Part B: Resources 8(3), 352-358. https://doi.org/10.1080/23802359.2023.2167479
Abstract: We present the complete mitochondrial genomes of the Critically Endangered whitespotted wedgefish, Rhynchobatus djiddensis (Forsskål, 1775), and bottlenose wedgefish, Rhynchobatus australiae (Whitley, 1939), with the R. djiddensis mitogenome documented for the first time. The genomes for R. djiddensis and R. australiae are 16,799 and 16,805?bp in length, respectively. Both comprise 13 protein-coding regions, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and a non-coding control region. All protein-coding regions consistently start with the ATG start codon; however, the alternative start codon GTG is observed at the start of the COX1 gene. NADH2, COX2, and NADH4 have incomplete stop codons: T or TA, and tRNALeu and tRNASer, have atypical codons: UAA, UGA, GCU, and UAG. The phylogenetic analysis places R. djiddensis and R. australiae within the Rhynchobatus genus, separate from other families in the order Rhinopristiformes. We also highlight the most variable gene regions to expedite future primer design, of which NADH2 was the most variable (4.5%) when taking gene length into account. These molecular resources could promote the taxonomic resolution of the whitespotted wedgefish species complex and aid in the genetic characterization of populations of these and related species.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 9
He, X., A. D. Ziegler, P. R. Elsen et al. (2023). "Accelerating global mountain forest loss threatens biodiversity hotspots." One Earth 6(3), 303-315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.02.005
Abstract: The frontier of forest loss has encroached into mountains in some regions. However, the global distribution of forest loss in mountain areas, which are home to >85% of the world’s birds, mammals, and amphibians, is uncertain. Here we combine multiple datasets, including global forest change and selected species distributions, to examine spatiotemporal patterns, drivers, and impacts of mountain forest loss. We find 78 Mha of montane forest was lost during 2001–2018 and annual loss accelerated significantly, with recent losses being 2.7-fold greater than those at the beginning of the century. Key drivers of mountain forest loss include commercial forestry, agriculture, and wildfire. Areas with the greatest forest loss overlap with important tropical biodiversity hotspots. Our results indicate protected areas within mountain biodiversity hotspots experienced lower loss rates than their surroundings. Increasing the area of protection in mountains should be central to preserving montane forests and biodiversity in the future.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 9
Latinne, A., N. T. Nga, N. V. Long, P. T. Ngoc, H. B. Thuy, P. Consortium, ..., C. Walzer, S. H. Olson and A. E. Fine (2023). "One health surveillance highlights circulation of viruses with zoonotic potential in bats, pigs, and humans in Viet Nam." Viruses 15(3), e790. https://doi.org/10.3390/v15030790
Abstract: A One Health cross-sectoral surveillance approach was implemented to screen biological samples from bats, pigs, and humans at high-risk interfaces for zoonotic viral spillover for five viral families with zoonotic potential in Viet Nam. Over 1600 animal and human samples from bat guano harvesting sites, natural bat roosts, and pig farming operations were tested for coronaviruses (CoVs), paramyxoviruses, influenza viruses, filoviruses and flaviviruses using consensus PCR assays. Human samples were also tested using immunoassays to detect antibodies against eight virus groups. Significant viral diversity, including CoVs closely related to ancestors of pig pathogens, was detected in bats roosting at the human–animal interfaces, illustrating the high risk for CoV spillover from bats to pigs in Viet Nam, where pig density is very high. Season and reproductive period were significantly associated with the detection of bat CoVs, with site-specific effects. Phylogeographic analysis indicated localized viral transmission among pig farms. Our limited human sampling did not detect any known zoonotic bat viruses in human communities living close to the bat cave and harvesting bat guano, but our serological assays showed possible previous exposure to Marburg virus-like (Filoviridae), Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus-like (Bunyaviridae) viruses and flaviviruses. Targeted and coordinated One Health surveillance helped uncover this viral pathogen emergence hotspot.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 9
Leupold, M., M. Pfeiffer, T. K. Watanabe, ..., T. McClanahan et al. (2023). "Mid-Holocene expansion of the Indian Ocean warm pool documented in coral Sr/Ca records from Kenya." Scientific Reports 13(1), e777. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28017-0
Abstract: Proxy reconstructions suggest that mid-Holocene East African temperatures were warmer than today between 8 and 5 ka BP, but climate models cannot replicate this warming. Precessional forcing caused a shift of maximum insolation from boreal spring to fall in the mid-Holocene, which may have favored intense warming at the start of the warm season. Here, we use three Porites corals from Kenya that represent time windows from 6.55 to 5.87 ka BP to reconstruct past sea surface temperature (SST) seasonality from coral Sr/Ca ratios in the western Indian Ocean during the mid-Holocene. Although the Indian monsoon was reportedly stronger in the mid-Holocene, which should have amplified the seasonal cycle of SST in the western Indian Ocean, the corals suggest reduced seasonality (mean 3.2 °C) compared to the modern record (mean 4.3 °C). Warming in austral spring is followed by a prolonged period of warm SSTs, suggesting that an upper limit of tropical SSTs under mid-Holocene conditions was reached at the start of the warm season, and SSTs then remained stable. Similar changes are seen at the Seychelles. Bootstrap estimates suggest a reduction in SST seasonality of 1.3 ± 0.22 °C at Kenya and 1.7 ± 0.32 °C at the Seychelles. SST seasonality at Kenya corresponds to present-day SST seasonality at 55° E–60° E, while SST seasonality at the Seychelles corresponds to present day SST seasonality at ~ 65° E. This implies a significant westward expansion of the Indian Ocean warm pool. Furthermore, the coral data suggests that SST seasonality deviates from seasonal changes in orbital insolation due to ocean–atmosphere interactions.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 9
Melanidis, M. S., S. Hagerman, G. P. St-Laurent, L. E. Oakes and M. S. Cross (Accepted Article). "Exploring the emergence of a tipping point for conservation with increased recognition of social considerations." Conservation Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14086
Abstract: Despite a common understanding of the harmful impacts of Western conservation models that separate people from nature, widespread progress towards incorporating socio-economic, political, cultural, and/or spiritual considerations in conservation practice continues to lag behind. For some, the concept of “nature-based solutions” (NbS) is seen as an interdisciplinary and holistic pathway to better integrate human wellbeing in conservation. Using the Wildlife Conservation Society's Climate Adaptation Fund as a case study, we examine how conservation practitioners within the United States view NbS and how social considerations are (or are not) incorporated into conservation adaptation projects. Based on data from 28 semi-structured interviews with individuals representing 15 different projects, our findings reveal that many practitioners see this moment as a tipping point for the field—one in which the perceived value of social considerations is increasing in practice, and social justice concerns and the need to overcome the racist and colonial roots of Western conservation have risen to the forefront. However, despite individual intention and awareness, structural barriers including limited funding and inflexible grant structures continue to constrain systemic change. Practitioners tentatively agree that NbS in conservation could support social and ecological outcomes for conservation, but this is far from guaranteed. Ultimately, systemic changes that address power and justice in policy and practice are required to leverage this moment to more fully address social considerations in conservation.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 9
Rao, C., C. Pusapati, M. M, N. Kale et al. (Early View). "Distribution patterns of nearshore aggregations of olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) in Rushikulya, Odisha, India: Implications for spatial management measures." Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3927
Abstract: 1. Sea turtles are known to migrate large distances between their foraging and breeding grounds. Olive ridley turtles migrate annually in November to the east coast of India from their foraging grounds in the Bay of Bengal and form large aggregations at Gahirmatha and Rushikulya, two globally significant mass nesting rookeries in Odisha. However, little is known about the spatial and temporal variation in their nearshore distribution prior to the mass nesting events, which typically occur between February and April. 2. Inter- and intra-annual variations in the density and distribution of olive ridley turtles were examined in the nearshore waters of Rushikulya from 2012 to 2022. The densities of turtles were estimated for each field season and aggregations were spatially delineated using minimum convex polygons. 3. There was considerable interannual variation in turtle abundance, which typically increased from December to February in Rushikulya. Turtle densities in nearshore waters did not correspond to the presence or absence of mass nesting, thus suggesting that management decisions cannot be based only on nesting beach estimates. 4. Turtle aggregations in Rushikulya were spatially and temporally dynamic and were typically concentrated around the nesting beach. However, they occupied only a small fraction of the area designated as a no-fishing zone, which suggests that these regulations need to be reassessed. As the no-fishing zones impose high costs on fishers, it is critical to look at alternative protection measures, such as dynamic spatial closures, developed in consultation with local fishers.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 9 of 9
Slough, B. G., D. G. Reid, D. S. Schultz and M. C. Y. Leung (2023). "Little brown bat activity patterns and conservation implications in agricultural landscapes in boreal Yukon, Canada." Ecosphere 14(3), e4446. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4446
Abstract: Agriculture can threaten the persistence of bat populations by removing forests and wetlands and by intensifying production. Both processes are underway in expanding agricultural landscapes of boreal North America. To inform land planning and agricultural practices aimed at maintaining a viable population of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), we assessed the use by bats of human-modified (open fields, forest-field edges, and cleared edges of ponds) and unmodified (forest ponds and forest interior) habitat features in agricultural landscapes in southern Yukon, Canada (60° N–61° N), using acoustic recordings. We summarized bat activity (number of 3-s acoustic files with ≥1 pass/night) and bat feeding (files with >1 feeding buzz/night) at grouped sets of habitat features (sites) and used generalized linear mixed models to test predictions about relative use of habitats. The active season for bats was late April to early October. Little brown bat feeding was strongly correlated with general activity, but feeding comprised a significantly higher proportion of all activity at forest ponds and forest interiors compared to field edges, open fields, and ponds in fields. Total bat activity was highest at forest ponds, followed by field edges, and substantially less in forest interiors and open fields. Forest ponds were used more than the edges of nearby ponds with some riparian clearing for fields. Bats increased use of forest interiors and decreased use of fields as duration of darkness decreased close to summer solstice. We recommend exclusion of ponds, lakes, and other wetlands from future agricultural land disposition, and retention of a riparian forested buffer of ≥40 m around current water bodies on farms. We also recommend retention of strips or patches of forest bordering fields and connected to riparian areas and to more extensive forests on public lands. A relatively young agricultural landscape can avoid some of the risks of intensive agriculture with proactive planning and stewardship.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 3
Agger, C. (2023). The Status of Key Species in Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary 2022. Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Wildlife Conservation Society, Cambodia. https://doi.org/10.19121/2023.Report.45443
Grey Literature Citation 2 of 3
Harper, S., D. Kleiber, S. Appiah, ..., S. Mangubhai et al. (2023). “Towards gender inclusivity and equality in small-scale fisheries.” In Illuminating Hidden Harvests: The Contributions of Small-Scale Fisheries to Sustainable Development, 127-144. Rome, Italy, Durham, NC, USA, Penang, Malaysia: FAO, Duke University, and WorldFish. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc4576en
Abstract: An estimated 44.7 million women worldwide participate in small-scale fisheries value chains or engage in subsistence activities, which translates into 39.6 percent of the total people active in the subsector. Women represent 15.4 percent of total employment in the pre-harvest segment of the small-scale fisheries value chain (e.g. gear fabrication and repair, bait and ice provisioning, boat-building), 18.7 percent in the harvesting segment (including vessel-based and non-vessel-based activities), 49.8 percent in the post-harvest segment (e.g. processing, transporting, trading, selling) and 45.2 percent of the total actors engaged in small-scale fisheries subsistence activities. Women participate in small-scale fisheries most commonly through informal and unpaid activities, limiting their social protections and security. While this participation can be partially highlighted through estimates of engagement in subsistence activities, much of it continues to be systematically excluded from official fisheries data collection and analysis, and thus women’s contributions are insufficiently considered in fisheries decision-making. Women are over-represented in intertidal, low-gear, invertebrate fisheries due to limitations in access to gear and fishing habitats. These fisheries are less likely to be defined as fishing, and thus may not be monitored, resulting in underestimations of catch, social importance and environmental impact. Women in many contexts have less access to small-scale fisheries, but also stand to significantly benefit from that access, with broad societal implications for food security and nutrition and poverty alleviation. Women continue to be under-represented in small-scale fisheries governance systems, and those who do participate are typically only able to engage in limited ways. Barriers include gender-blind small-scale fisheries policy, and lack of capacity to implement existing policy. The Illuminating Hidden Harvests (IHH) study illustrates that gender-disaggregated fisheries data are still rare, especially in official national-level fisheries statistics. Gender disaggregation should be the minimum requirement for all monitoring and research that informs fisheries policies and programmes. Gender-blind data or biased data collection methodologies overlook women in fisheries, obscuring the full contributions of small- scale fisheries towards the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and towards achieving gender-inclusive fisheries policies and practices, as called for by the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines).
Grey Literature Citation 3 of 3
Vitkalova, A. V., Y. A. Darman, T. V. Marchenkova, ... and D. Miquelle (2023). Camera Trap Monitoring of the Far Eastern Leopard in Southwest Primorsky Province, Russia (2014-2020). Vladivostok, Russia: Land of the Leopard, ANO Far Eastern Leopards, WWF, and Wildlife Conservation Society, Russia.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 28 February-6 March 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 7
Barrile, G. M., D. J. Augustine, L. M. Porensky, ..., C. R. Hartway et al. (Early View). "A big data–model integration approach for predicting epizootics and population recovery in a keystone species." Ecological Applications, e2827. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2827
Abstract: Infectious diseases pose a significant threat to global health and biodiversity. Yet, predicting the spatiotemporal dynamics of wildlife epizootics remains challenging. Disease outbreaks result from complex non-linear interactions among a large collection of variables that rarely adhere to the assumptions of parametric regression modeling. We adopted a non-parametric machine learning approach to model wildlife epizootics and population recovery, using the disease system of colonial black-tailed prairie dogs (BTPD, Cynomys ludovicianus) and sylvatic plague as an example. We synthesized colony data between 2001–2020 from eight USDA Forest Service National Grasslands across the range of BTPD in central North America. We then modeled extinctions due to plague and colony recovery of BTPD in relation to complex interactions among climate, topoedaphic variables, colony characteristics, and disease history. Extinctions due to plague occurred more frequently when BTPD colonies were spatially clustered, in closer proximity to colonies decimated by plague during the previous year, following cooler than average temperatures the previous summer, and when wetter winter/springs were preceded by drier summer/falls. Rigorous cross-validations and spatial predictions indicated that our final models predicted plague outbreaks and colony recovery in BTPD with high accuracy (e.g., AUC generally > 0.80). Thus, these spatially-explicit models can reliably predict the spatial and temporal dynamics of wildlife epizootics and subsequent population recovery in a highly complex host-pathogen system. Our models can be used to support strategic management planning (e.g., plague mitigation) to optimize benefits of this keystone species to associated wildlife communities and ecosystem functioning. This optimization can reduce conflicts among different landowners and resource managers, as well as economic losses to the ranching industry. More broadly, our big data–model integration approach provides a general framework for spatially-explicit forecasting of disease-induced population fluctuations, for use in natural resource management decision-making.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 7
Eppley, T. M., C. Borgerson, E. R. Patel, ..., A. Bóveda, ..., F. Ratelolahy, J. Razafindramanana, C. Spira et al. (Early View). "A habitat stronghold on the precipice: A call-to-action for supporting lemur conservation in northeast Madagascar." American Journal of Primatology, e23483. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.23483
Abstract: The northeast of Madagascar is as diverse as it is threatened. The area bordering the Analanjirofo and SAVA regions contains six protected areas and at least 22 lemur species. Many applied research and conservation programs have been established in the region with the aim of ensuring both wildlife and people thrive in the long term. While most of the remaining humid evergreen forest of northeast Madagascar is formally protected, the local human population depends heavily on the land, and unsustainable natural resource use threatens this biodiversity hotspot. Drawing from our collective experiences managing conservation activities and research programs in northeast Madagascar, we discuss the major threats to the region and advocate for eight conservation activities that help reduce threats and protect the environment, providing specific examples from our own programs. These include (1) empowering local conservation actors, (2) ensuring effectively protected habitat, (3) expanding reforestation, (4) establishing and continuing long-term research and monitoring, (5) reducing food insecurity, (6) supporting environmental education, (7) promoting sustainable livelihoods, and (8) expanding community health initiatives. Lastly, we provide a list of actions that individuals can take to join us in supporting and promoting lemur conservation.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 7
Frixione, M. G., N. Lisnizer and P. Yorio (In Press). "Year-round use of anthropogenic food sources in human modified landscapes by adult and young Kelp Gulls." Food Webs, e00274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fooweb.2023.e00274
Abstract: Predictable anthropogenic food subsidies attract species with generalist and opportunistic feeding habits, often resulting in conflicts with human populations. We assessed the spatio-temporal distribution and abundance of Kelp Gulls (Larus dominicanus) during the annual cycle at anthropogenic food sources located along 70 km of urban and agricultural-livestock landscapes in the lower Chubut River valley, Argentina. We quantified the seasonal abundance of adult and young Kelp Gulls through monthly counts from July 2021 to June 2022 at six identified anthropogenic food sources, complemented with strip transect sampling along cultivated land and cattle grazing areas. In addition, we analysed the differential use of waste types by adult and young Kelp Gulls at a mixed livestock waste dump where different food remains (cattle remains, poultry remains and urban waste) are disposed in independent pits. The total number of Kelp Gulls counted each month along the river valley was variable, with a mean number of 2585 ± 822.7 individuals (range = 276 in December and 8958 in June). The highest gull abundance was recorded at a pig farm (mean = 1784.5 ± 640.1 individuals). The transect survey showed a relatively low use by gulls of the cultivated land and cattle grazing areas, with a mean of 29.7 ± 11.2 individuals recorded per survey (range = 0–96). Kelp Gull abundance patterns recorded in the river valley throughout the annual cycle evidenced a contrasting seasonal use of anthropogenic food sources between the breeding and non-breeding seasons, being clearly less abundant during the former, when gulls move to their main breeding grounds and adjacent marine habitats in coastal Chubut. At the mixed livestock waste dump, Kelp Gull numbers varied among the three waste patches, with higher numbers and a significantly higher proportion of adults at the cattle remains pit. This study shows the high trophic plasticity of Kelp Gulls and their use of alternative foraging habitats. Further monitoring and evaluations of the use by Kelp Gulls of predictable anthropogenic food sources along the Chubut River valley, particularly those related to the growing livestock production, are needed to support management decisions.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 7
Meißner, R., S. Winter, U. Westerhüs, ..., L. T. B. Hunter et al. (2023). "The potential and shortcomings of mitochondrial DNA analysis for cheetah conservation management." Conservation Genetics 24(1), 125-136. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-022-01483-1
Abstract: There are only about 7,100 adolescent and adult cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) remaining in the wild. With the majority occurring outside protected areas, their numbers are rapidly declining. Evidence-based conservation measures are essential for the survival of this species. Genetic data is routinely used to inform conservation strategies, e.g., by establishing conservation units (CU). A commonly used marker in conservation genetics is mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Here, we investigated the cheetah’s phylogeography using a large-scale mtDNA data set to refine subspecies distributions and better assign individuals to CUs. Our dataset mostly consisted of historic samples to cover the cheetah’s whole range as the species has been extinct in most of its former distribution. While our genetic data largely agree with geography-based subspecies assignments, several geographic regions show conflicting mtDNA signals. Our analyses support previous findings that evolutionary forces such as incomplete lineage sorting or mitochondrial capture likely confound the mitochondrial phylogeography of this species, especially in East and, to some extent, in Northeast Africa. We caution that subspecies assignments solely based on mtDNA should be treated carefully and argue for an additional standardized nuclear single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker set for subspecies identification and monitoring. However, the detection of the A. j. soemmeringii specific haplogroup by a newly designed Amplification-Refractory Mutation System (ARMS) can already provide support for conservation measures.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 7
Moeller, A. K., S. J. Waller, N. J. DeCesare et al. (2023). "Best practices to account for capture probability and viewable area in camera-based abundance estimation." Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation 9(1), 152-164. https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.300
Abstract: A suite of recently developed statistical methods to estimate the abundance and density of unmarked animals from camera traps require accurate estimates of the area sampled by each camera. Although viewshed area is fundamental to achieving accurate abundance estimates, there are no established guidelines for collecting this information in the field. Furthermore, while the complexities of the detection process from motion sensor photography are generally acknowledged, viewable area (the common factor between motion sensor and time lapse photography) on its own has been underemphasized. We establish a common set of terminology to identify the component parts of viewshed area, contrast the photographic capture process and area measurements for time lapse and motion sensor photography, and review methods for estimating viewable area in the field. We use a case study to demonstrate the importance of accurate estimates of viewable area on abundance estimates. Time lapse photography combined with accurate measurements of viewable area allow researchers to assume that capture probability equals 1. Motion sensor photography requires measuring distances to each animal and fitting a distance sampling curve to account for capture probability of <1.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 7
Moheb, Z., M. F. Nelson, S. Ostrowski et al. (In Press). "Factors influencing the diurnal spring distribution of sympatric urial and Siberian ibex in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Wakhan National Park, Afghanistan." Global Ecology and Conservation, e02423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02423
Abstract: Patterns of habitat selection for sympatric urial Ovis vignei and Siberian ibex Capra sibirica are poorly known, in part because there are few places where such overlap exists. Using envelope modeling methodology, we analyzed location data of these species in the Hindu Kush range along the Wakhan Valley of the Wakhan National Park (10,950km2) in northeastern Afghanistan, recorded during field surveys in April-May of 2011, 2015, and 2018. Distribution models showed significant ecological niche differences (P<0.05) between urial (a true sheep species) and ibex (a true goat species) for most variables. Urial stayed at lower elevations compared to ibex, both species tended to avoid flat areas, but urial avoided slopes above 60%. Urial used southeast-facing slopes more, and west-facing slopes less, than available, whereas ibex had a slightly more than expected use of southwest-facing slopes. Urial preferred terrains with ruggedness index (~20-40) of the values available (15-60), whereas ibex were more generalist in terrain preference. Urial utilized habitats closer to human activity areas compared to ibex. Both species utilized the higher quality vegetation areas (NDVI > 0) and showed the same avoidance of lower quality areas. Understanding selection criteria of habitat use by urial and ibex in Wakhan Valley, inhabited by over 14,000 people and their livestock (ca. 78,000), will enable adjustments to the protection schemes regarding the requirements of two key mountain ungulate species critical to the sustainability and conservation of this unique ecosystem. This type of information is very scarce in the literature for the sympatric mountain ungulates in Asia.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 7
Nuttall, M., E. Olsson, H. Washington, ..., O. Griffin, K. Hobson, A. Diment and R. G. Kroner (Early View). "Protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement in Cambodia: Enabling conditions and opportunities for intervention." Conservation Science & Practice, e12912. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12912
Abstract: Protected area (PA) sustainability is challenged worldwide by legal downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD). National and local case studies of ecologically destructive PADDD events provide useful insights that may help respond to or prevent future events. Using information from legal documents and expert input, we identified 37 PADDD events that affected two adjacent PAs in northeastern Cambodia differently despite similar economic, environmental, and social conditions. Important differences in local context led to the eventual degazettement (100% loss) of one PA and downsizing (10.49% loss) of the other, the rest of which remains protected. This case study confirms the contribution of secure Indigenous land tenure to durable conservation governance and demonstrates the importance of investing in site-level capacity to ensure that social and ecological conditions are monitored and proposed PADDD events can be successfully challenged.
Prepublication Citations
Prepublication Citation 1 of 1
Leguia, M., A. Garcia-Glaessner, B. Muñoz-Saavedra, ..., P. Colchao-Claux et al. (Prepublication). “Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) in marine mammals and seabirds in Peru.” bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.03.03.531008
Abstract: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A/H5N1 viruses (lineage 2.3.4.4b) are rapidly invading the Americas, threatening wildlife, poultry, and potentially evolving into the next global pandemic. In November 2022, HPAI arrived in Peru, where massive pelican and sea lion die-offs are still underway. We report complete genomic characterization of HPAI/H5N1 viruses in five species of marine mammals and seabirds (dolphins, sea lions, sanderlings, pelicans and cormorants) sampled since November 2022. All Peruvian viruses belong to the HPAI A/H5N1 lineage 2.3.4.4b, but they are 4:4 reassortants where 4 genomic segments (PA, HA, NA and MP) position within the Eurasian lineage that initially entered North America from Eurasia, while the other 4 genomic segments (PB2, PB1, NP and NS) position within the American lineage (clade C) that was already circulating in North America. These viruses are rapidly accruing mutations as they spread south. Peruvian viruses do not contain PB2 E627K or D701N mutations linked to mammalian host adaptation and enhanced transmission, but at least 8 novel polymorphic sites warrant further examination. This is the first report of HPAI A/H5N1 in marine birds and mammals from South America, highlighting an urgent need for active local surveillance to manage outbreaks and limit spillover into humans.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 14-27 February 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 12
Burgos-Vázquez, M. I., V. H. Cruz-Escalona, C. J. Hernández-Camacho, R. Peña, B. P. Ceballos-Vázquez and P. A. Mejía-Falla (2023). "Contrasting the reproductive potential of Narcine entemedor and Rhinoptera steindachneri: 2 viviparous batoid species with different reproductive strategies." Ciencias Marinas 49, e3303. https://doi.org/10.7773/cm.y2023.3303
Abstract: Narcine entemedor and Rhinoptera steindachneri are 2 viviparous batoid species of commercial importance on the Pacific coast of Mexico. However, no adequate management plan has been set forth for either of them to ensure sustainable use. The aims of this study were to assess the reproductive potential and the potential rate of population increase (rʹ) of both species, as well contrasting their reproductive strategies, to infer how susceptible they are to fishing exploitation. Comparatively, among batoids, N. entemedor females have an early age at maturity, relatively high fecundity, and an intermediate lifespan, while R. steindachneri females have an early age at maturity, low fecundity, and a relatively short lifespan. According to our estimates, however, both species have relatively high reproductive potential, which N. entemedor exhibits by investing energy in maximizing fecundity and R. steindachneri by increasing the embryo’s body mass. Therefore, N. entemedor has better capacity to recover from relatively high overfishing (rʹ = 0.48) in comparison with R. steindachneri (rʹ = –0.18). The methodology used in this study proved to be a good option to assess the risk of overfishing in species for which there is limited data.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 12
Canti, S., P. González, N. Suárez, P. Yorio and C. Marinao (2023). "Interactions between breeding gulls and monofilament lines at one of the main recreational fishing sites in Argentina." Marine Pollution Bulletin 188, e114720. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114720
Abstract: Monofilament fishing lines lost or discarded during recreational fishing activities often result in negative impacts on marine organisms. We assessed the interactions between Kelp and Olrog's gulls (Larus dominicanus and L. atlanticus, respectively) and recreational fishing at Bahía San Blas, Argentina. Monofilament lines constituted 61 and 29 % of total debris items recorded along beaches in the low and high fishing seasons, respectively. A total of 61 balls of tangled lines were also found within Kelp and Olrog's gull colonies. No Olrog's Gulls but nine Kelp Gulls were found tangled with monofilament lines within colony boundaries, seven of which were caught in vegetation. No Kelp or Olrog's gulls foraging in recreational fishing areas were observed tangled with lines. Monofilament lines did not negatively affect gull populations during the study period, but actions are needed to correctly manage their disposal given the relevance of Bahía San Blas as a recreational fishing area in the region.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 12
Cholima, R., A. Echeverria, D. Lizarro, ..., J. Molina-Rodriguez, F. Moreno-Aulo and G. Miranda-Chumacero (2022). "Ictiofauna del río Iruyañez, cuenca del río Mamore, Amazonía Boliviana / Ichthyofauna of the Iruyañez River (Mamoré River basin, Bolivian Amazon)." Neotropical Hydrobiology and Aquatic Conservation 3(2), 37-52. https://doi.org/10.55565/nhac.yibr9149
Abstract: Se presenta el primer inventario de la Ictiofauna para el río Iruyañez (Llanos de Moxos, cuenca del río Mamoré). Se realizaron colectas en tres puntos utilizando distintos métodos de pesca. Se colectaron un total de 1 953 ejemplares, pertenecientes a 108 especies de peces distribuidas en seis órdenes, 23 familias y 79 géneros. Se reportan tres nuevas especies para Bolivia, además de la ampliación de la distribución de la especie invasora Semaprochilodus insignis en la cuenca del río Mamoré. / We present the first check-list of fish species in the Iruyañez river (Llanos de Moxos, Mamoré River Basin). Fish sampling was done in three localities. Overall, 1 953 specimens were collected, corresponding to 108 species, 6 orders, 23 families and 79 genera. We report three new records for Bolivia, as well as a new site record for the invasive species Semaprochilodus insignis in the Mamoré River Basin.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 12
Dragone, N. B., L. B. Perry, A. J. Solon, A. Seimon, T. A. Seimon and S. K. Schmidt (2023). "Genetic analysis of the frozen microbiome at 7900 m a.s.l., on the South Col of Sagarmatha (Mount Everest)." Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 55(1), e2164999. https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2023.2164999
Abstract: Microbial communities in alpine environments >7,500 m.a.s.l. have not been well studied using modern cultivation-independent sequencing approaches due to the challenges and danger associated with reaching such high elevations. For this reason, we know little about the microorganisms found in sediments on Earth's tallest mountains, how they reach these surfaces, and how they survive and remain active at such extreme elevations. Here, we explore the microbial diversity recovered from three sediment samples collected from the South Col (~7,900 m.a.s.l.) of Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) using both culturing and next generation sequencing approaches (16S rRNA gene, internal transcribed spacer [ITS] region, and 18S rRNA gene sequencing). Both approaches detected very low diversity of bacteria, protists, and fungi that included a combination of cosmopolitan taxa and specialized microorganisms often found at high elevations like those of the genera Modestobacter and Naganishia. Though we managed to grow viable cultures of many of these taxa, it remains likely that few, if any, can be active in situ at the South Col. Instead, these high-elevation surfaces may act as deep-freeze collection zones of organisms deposited from the atmosphere or left by climbers scaling the Earth?s highest mountain.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 12
Geary, M., M. Hartley, Z. Ball, S. Wikles, M. Khean et al. (2023). "Camera traps and genetic identification of faecal samples for detection and monitoring of an endangered ungulate." Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 71, 120-127. https://doi.org/10.26107/RBZ-2023-0011
Abstract: Almost all Indochinese ungulates are classified as globally threatened but efforts to assess and monitor population status have been hampered by their rarity, cryptic nature, and uncertainty in accurate identification from sightings. An improved approach is urgently needed to gather information about threatened ungulate species in order to effectively conserve them as a lack of reliable monitoring methods means that basic information such as population sizes, distribution and habitat associations is currently unknown. Here, we used a combination of camera trapping and genetic detection of the endangered Eld’s deer, Rucervus eldii, to investigate the utility of these methods to infer intensity of site use within a protected Cambodian dry forest. We asked: 1) Are Eld’s deer present in our study area?; 2) How is site use influenced by local habitat?; and 3) Do camera traps or genetic detection perform better in terms of detection and monitoring? Camera traps were deployed and faecal samples collected from Chhaeb Wildlife Sanctuary in northern Cambodia during the 2017 dry season. Faecal samples were identified as Eld’s deer using newly developed species-specific mitochondrial DNA primers. Camera traps recorded 20 Eld’s deer observations across 3,905 trap-nights and 44 out of 71 collected faecal samples, identified by fieldworkers as likely to belong to Eld’s deer, were positively identified to be so. Camera trap surveys and genetic detection demonstrated that Eld’s deer were present in Chhaeb Wildlife Sanctuary, although the number of detections relative to sampling effort was low in both methods (detected at 29% and 1% of sample sites, respectively). Occupancy models showed that water level and tree diameter both had positive relationships, whilst human and domestic or feral pig activity had a negative relationship, with the relative intensity of Eld’s deer site use. Overall, our data suggest that both of our methods can prove effective for monitoring Eld’s deer but that repeated sampling is necessary to account for their low detectability in this area. We suggest that faecal samples are collected during future camera trap monitoring visits to maximise efficiency, increase detectability, and provide the most information to support conservation.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 12
Kluke, C., G. L. Lescord, T. A. Johnston et al. (In Press). "Spatial patterns and environmental factors related to arsenic bioaccumulation in boreal freshwater fish." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2022-0106
Abstract: To better understand the spatial patterns in arsenic (As) bioaccumulation in freshwater systems, we investigated ecological, physical, and chemical factors associated with total arsenic concentrations ([As]) in lacustrine and riverine fish across Ontario, Canada, using a dataset of 3200 fish across 152 waterbodies. Assembled data of water chemistry, landscape characteristics, and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in muscle tissue were then used to assess factors related to As bioaccumulation. Results show that [As] were generally low across most species and waterbodies (i.e., <1 µg·g?1 wet in many inland fish). However, fish from northern coastal rivers had up to 23-fold higher [As] when compared with fish from landlocked sites. As concentrations increased slightly with the proportion of pelagic carbon in a fish's diet, although relationships varied among species and sites. Furthermore, principal component scores, representing landscape and water chemistry variables, were related to [As] in fish, but these relationships varied among species. These results will help improve the efficacy of fish contaminant monitoring by further identifying key physical and ecological variables related to higher [As] in fish.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 12
Oke, T. A., D. Stralberg, D. G. Reid, ..., H. A. Cooke and C. S. Mantyka-Pringle (Early View). "Warming drives poleward range contractions of Beringian endemic plant species at high latitudes." Diversity and Distributions. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13674
Abstract: Aim: Species are expected to disperse poleward in response to climate change. For species that are endemic to the high latitudes, this implies that many in the future would face a “no-where-to-go” situation as they are currently occupying the northernmost portion of the continent. Further, because endemism may arise from a combination of physical barriers, climate and geological history, the persistence of many species may require spatial matching of multiple environmental factors within a limited dispersal space. Thus, it is not clear how endemic species might spatially adjust their distributions in response to climate change and whether there are future climate change refugia for these species. Location: Northwest North America. Taxa: Plants. Time Period: Current and the future (2040). Methods: We used ensemble bioclimatic models to evaluate drivers and directional patterns of future change in the distributions of 66 North American Beringian and amphi-Beringian species currently occurring in Alaska and the Yukon. We explored the spatial pattern of species richness, losses and climate change refugia across the region. Results: More than 80% of the species showed northward shifts in their latitudinal centroids under intermediate warming and are expected to shift their range northward by more than 140 km on average by 2040. Additionally, more than 60% were projected to experience range contractions and up to 20% of the species would have the potential to expand their ranges by more than 100%. Main Conclusions: Suitable habitat for endemic species in northwest North America is expected to decline significantly, especially for species occupying the Arctic tundra. Although the models identified several potential refugia from future climate change, especially at high latitude and elevation, whether the species would be able to colonize new habitats on their own and/or capitalize sufficiently on in situ refugia remains a pertinent conservation question.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 12
Platt, S. G., S. Boutxakittilah, O. Thongsavath, S. C. Leslie and L. McCaskill (2022). "Restoring the critically endangered Siamese crocodile to the Xe Champhone Wetlands in Lao PDR (2019-2022)." Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter 41, 6-13. http://www.iucncsg.org/365_docs/attachments/protarea/ca679101c96af80e88a0cc893b808fbb.pdf
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 9 of 12
Puri, M., A. Srivathsa, K. K. Karanth et al. (In Press). "Safe space in the woods: Mechanistic spatial models for predicting risks of human–bear conflicts in India." Biotropica. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.13204
Abstract: Human–wildlife interactions can have negative consequences when they involve large carnivores. Spatial risk modelling could serve as a useful management approach for predicting and pre-emptively mitigating negative interactions. We present a mechanistic modelling framework and examine interactions between humans and sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) in a multi-use forest landscape of central India. We first assessed patterns and determinants of bear distribution across the landscape using indirect sign surveys. At the same spatial scale, we then estimated spatial probabilities of bear attacks on people using information from 675 interviews with local residents, incorporating estimates of distribution probabilities from the previous step. We found the average occupancy probability across 128 grid-cells to be 0.77 (SE = 0.03). Bear occupancy was influenced by terrain ruggedness, forest composition and configuration, vegetation productivity and size of human settlements. The average probability of a bear attack in any given grid-cell was 0.61 (SE = 0.03), mostly determined by bear occurrence patterns, forest cover, terrain ruggedness, and size of human settlements. Using spatial information on people's dependence on forest resources, we identified locations with the highest risk of bear attacks. Our study demonstrates that human attacks by bears—generally believed to be random or incidental—in fact showed deterministic patterns. Our framework can be applied to other scenarios involving human–wildlife conflicts. Based on our findings, we propose that a proactive co-management approach which involves collaboration between wildlife managers and local residents could help better manage human–bear conflicts in central India and elsewhere across the species' range.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 10 of 12
Saranholi, B. H., A. Sanches, J. F. Moreira-Ramírez et al. (2022). "Long-term persistence of the large mammal lowland tapir is at risk in the largest Atlantic forest corridor." Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation 20(3), 263-271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2022.02.002
Abstract: Forest corridor has been considered the main strategy for maintaining gene flow between isolated populations, yet their effectivity is poorly tested. Assessing signatures of genetic variation loss, gene flow reduction and inbreeding may be helpful for conservation of the biodiversity that needs large continuous areas. Here we evaluated the genetic structure and diversity of the largest neotropical mammal, the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris), living in the largest Atlantic forest corridor in Brazil. We used fecal-derived DNA, genotyped nine polymorphic microsatellite loci of 75 tapirs, and quantified genetic differentiation, genetic diversity, and landscape resistance to gene flow. We found genetic differentiation between the inland and coastal populations, which may be explained by elevation. Expected heterozygosity ranged between 0.64 (inland population) and 0.78 (coastal population), and a small Ne was observed in both populations. We demonstrated that even large continuous rainforests are not totally permeable to the gene flow of large organisms. Our study also changes our perception about the pristine of continuous corridors and their role for long-term survival of large mammals, suggesting that tapir conservation efforts should be taken even for populations in the large protected areas.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 11 of 12
Surve, N. S., S. Sathyakumar, K. Sankar, D. Jathanna, V. Gupta and V. Athreya (2022). "Leopards in the city: The tale of Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, two protected areas in and adjacent to Mumbai, India." Frontiers in Conservation Science 3, e787031. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2022.787031
Abstract: Recent studies in the last decade have recorded obligate carnivores adapting to human dominated landscapes. Leopards, amongst other large carnivores, are highly adaptable and survive in a range of environments from the arid regions of Africa and the Middle East to the cold regions of the Russian Far East. They are also highly adaptable in their diet and consequently are present close to and even within high-density human landscapes. These also include the edges of urban areas such as Nairobi and Mumbai. Our study, to better understand the coexistence of leopards and humans, was conducted in 104 km2 of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), which is surrounded on three sides by the urban landscape of Mumbai and Thane cities. The study area also included 85 km2 of an adjoining protected area, Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary (TWLS), which is surrounded by a combination of forests, rural areas and agricultural lands. Based on spatial capture—recapture framework we observed that leopard densities in SGNP (26.34 ± 4.96 leopards/100 km2) and TWLS (5.40 ± 2.99 leopards/100 km2) were vastly different. We found that density estimates of wild prey and domestic dogs were higher in SGNP in comparison to TWLS. In both the protected areas (PAs), domestic dogs formed a major proportion of leopard diet and were the single highest species contributors. Our study shows that despite extremely high human density around SGNP (~20,000 people/km2), leopard density is also much higher than the adjoining TWLS which has a comparatively lower surrounding density of people (~1,700 people/km2). Leopard density reported from SGNP is amongst the highest ever reported. This interesting result is probably due to much higher biomass of potential food resources in and around SGNP. Studying this relationship between leopards and their prey (both wild and domestic) in a human dominated landscape will give us valuable insights on human—leopard interactions. The two adjacent and connected PAs are similar ecologically, but differ widely in almost all other aspects, including human densities along the periphery, leopard densities, prey densities as well as management regimes.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 12 of 12
Treglia, M. L., T. McPhearson, E. W. Sanderson et al. (2022). "Examining the distribution of green roofs in New York City through a lens of social, ecological, and technological filters." Ecology & Society 27(3), e20. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-13303-270320
Abstract: Green roofs provide multiple benefits including reducing the urban heat island effect, absorbing stormwater and air pollution, and serving as habitat for wildlife. However, many cities have not taken advantage of green roofs as a nature-based solution. In New York City (NYC), approximately 20% of the landscape is covered by buildings, thus rooftops present a substantial opportunity for expanding green infrastructure. Spatial data on green roofs are critical for understanding their abundance and distribution, what filters may drive spatial patterns, and who benefits from them. We describe the development of a green roof dataset for NYC based on publicly available data and classification of aerial imagery from 2016. Of the over one million buildings in NYC, we found only 736 with green roofs (<0.1%), although there may have been others we did not detect. These green roofs are not evenly distributed in NYC - they are most common in midtown and downtown Manhattan, while most other areas have few to none. Green roofs tend to be more prevalent in parts of NYC with combined sewer systems, but some such areas, and those with the most heat-vulnerable communities, have few if any despite their potential to help ameliorate stormwater and urban heat challenges. Though green roofs are providing some benefits within NYC, we anticipate they are filtered based on dynamics of infrastructure, institutions, and perceptions, rather than targeted to address climate and weather-related challenges. There is substantial opportunity in NYC to increase green roofs, and equity of them. The dataset we developed is publicly available and can serve as a baseline for tracking these assets through time, while supporting further research, conversations, and policies related to the benefits and distribution of green roofs. The underlying methods can also be applied to help fill similar data gaps in other cities.
Grey Literature and Prepublication Citations
Grey Literature and Prepublication Citation 1 of 2
Agger, C. (2022). The Status of Key Species in Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary 2022. Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Wildlife Conservation Society, Cambodia. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4544300000.aspx
Grey Literature and Prepublication Citation 2 of 2
Prasetyo, A. P., M. Cusa, J. M. Murray, F. Agung, E. Muttaqin, S. Mariani and A. D. McDevitt (Prepublication). “Universal closed-tube barcoding for monitoring the shark and ray trade in megadiverse conservation hotspots.” bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.11.30.518468
Abstract: Trade restrictions for many endangered elasmobranch species exist to disincentivise their exploitation and curb their declines. However, the variety of products and the complexity of import/export routes make trade monitoring challenging. We investigate the use of a portable, universal, DNA-based tool which would greatly facilitate in-situ monitoring. We collected shark and ray samples across the Island of Java, Indonesia, and selected 28 species (including 22 CITES-listed species) commonly encountered in landing sites and export hubs to test a recently developed real-time PCR single-assay originally developed for screening bony fish. We employed a deep learning algorithm to recognize species based on DNA melt-curve signatures. By combining visual and machine learning assignment methods, we distinguished 25 out of 28 species, 20 of which were CITES-listed. With further refinement, this method can provide a practical tool for monitoring elasmobranch trade worldwide, without the need for a lab or the bespoke design of species-specific assays.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 7-13 February 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 4
Akhilesh, K. V., S. J. Kizhakudan, M. Muktha, ..., V. Patankar, ..., Z. Tyabji et al. (2023). "Elasmobranch conservation, challenges and management strategy in India: Recommendations from a national consultative meeting." Current Science 124(3), 292-303. https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v124/i3/292-303
Abstract: Historically, India has been projected as one of the major elasmobranch fishing nations in the world. However, management and conservation efforts are not commensurate with this trend. Along with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, several generic conservation measures are in place at the regional/local level. But India is still a long way from meeting global conservation commitments. We present here the status of elasmobranch management and conservation in India, with the specific objective of identifying the gaps in the existing set-up. We also present recommendations based on a national consultative workshop held at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, in February 2020. We recommend the implementation of a National Plan of Action (NPOA-Sharks) and more inclusive governance and policymaking for elasmobranch conservation in India.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 4
Jardine, A. M., J. F. Provencher, S. J. Insley, L. Tauzer, W. D. Halliday et al. (2023). "No accumulation of microplastics detected in western Canadian ringed seals (Pusa hispida)." Marine Pollution Bulletin 188, e114692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114692
Abstract: Ringed seals (Pusa hispida) play a crucial role in Arctic food webs as important pelagic predators and represent an essential component of Inuvialuit culture and food security. Plastic pollution is recognized as a global threat of concern, and Arctic regions may act as sinks for anthropogenic debris. To date, mixed evidence exists concerning the propensity for Canadian Arctic marine mammals to ingest and retain plastic. Our study builds on existing literature by offering the first assessment of plastic ingestion in ringed seals harvested in the western Canadian Arctic. We detected no evidence of microplastic (particles ≥80 μm) retention in the stomachs of ten ringed seals from the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) in the Northwest Territories, Canada. These results are consistent with previous studies that have found that some marine mammals do not accumulate microplastics in evaluated regions.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 4
Priyono, D. S., F. Sofyantoro, W. A. Putri et al. (2023). "A bibliometric analysis of Indonesia biodiversity identification through DNA barcoding research from 2004-2021." Natural and Life Sciences Communications 22(1), e20230006. https://doi.org/10.12982/NLSC.2023.006
Abstract: Indonesia is well-known for having a vast and rich endowment of unique and genetically diverse biodiversity resources. Currently, initiatives are taking place around the world to generate DNA barcode libraries to make these data available to better understand biodiversity. The objectives of this study are to document DNA barcode research trends and detect the extent to which its application has evolved in Indonesia. The analysis was investigated using a compilation of 446 published papers, obtained from Harzing's Publish or Perish 8. The number of DNA barcode publication records has increased by a geometric average of 15.4/year. The number of studies involving molecular identification (30.1%), species and genetic diversity (10%), and evolutionary or phylogenetic studies (10%) appears to have driven much of the publication activity. The top three taxa studied include fishes (32.7%), plants (24.8%), and invertebrates (12.5%; except insects). We discovered that using a single molecular marker is still dominant (62.8%). We conclude that the practices of DNA barcoding data are likely to become a valuable resource in many sectors and focuses. However, the number of Indonesian DNA barcode records in public databases is relatively lower than in other mega biodiversity countries. The establishment of DNA barcoding initiatives and a national DNA barcode reference library in Indonesia would promote DNA barcoding applications to help conserve Indonesia biodiversity.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 4
Srivathsa, A., D. Vasudev, T. Nair et al. (In Press). "Prioritizing India’s landscapes for biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being." Nature Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-023-01063-2
Abstract: Biodiversity conservation and human well-being are tightly interlinked. Yet, mismatches in the scale at which these two priority issues are planned and implemented have exacerbated biodiversity loss, erosion of ecosystem services and declining human quality of life. India houses the second largest human population on the planet, while < 5% of the country’s land area is effectively protected for conservation. This warrants landscape-level conservation planning through a judicious mix of land-sharing and land-sparing approaches combined with the co-production of ecosystem services. Through a multifaceted assessment, we prioritize spatial extents of land parcels that, in the face of anthropogenic threats, can safeguard conservation landscapes across India’s biogeographic zones. We found that only a fraction (~15%) of the priority areas identified here are encompassed under India’s extant Protected Area network, and furthermore, that several landscapes of high importance were omitted from all previous global-scale assessments. We then examined the spatial congruence of priority areas with administrative units earmarked for economic development by the Indian government and propose management zoning through state-driven and participatory approaches. Our spatially explicit insights can help meet the twin goals of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in India and other countries across the Global South.
Prepublication Citations
Prepublication Citation 1 of 2
Flores Turdera, C., R. Wallace, Á. G. Zavala, C. Maldonado, C. Jurado, ..., G. Ayala, I. Gómez, M. Hayes, C. Molina, E. Salinas and O. Torrico (Prepublication). “Reto Ciudad Naturaleza La Paz: Una experiencia de observación y registro de la biodiversidad urbana / Reto Ciudad Naturaleza La Paz: An example of observingand registering urban biodiversity / Reto Ciudad Naturaleza La Paz: Uma experiência de observação e registo da biodiversidad eurbana.” SciELO Preprints. https://doi.org/10.1590/SciELOPreprints.5449
Abstract: La ciencia ciudadana incentiva la participación de las personas en proyectos de investigación científica. Una de las iniciativas más conocidas es el concurso City Nature Challenge, dirigidaa registrar la biodiversidad en las ciudades mediante la aplicación iNaturalist. La región metropolitana de La Paz, Bolivia,participó de este concurso en 2019 y 2022 con el nombre de Reto Ciudad Naturaleza, gracias al impulso de Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Bolivia,la Carrera de Biología y el Instituto de Ecología de la Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), y el Museo Nacional de Historia Natural (MNHN), que conformaron un Comité Organizador. El objetivo fue fortalecer los vínculos de la población urbana con la naturaleza para generar datos sobre el conocimiento y conservación de la biodiversidad. Las actividades se basaron en la promoción y difusión del concurso, eventos de capacitación en el manejo deaplicacióniNaturalist, registro fotográfico, identificación taxonómica y entrega de certificados a los participantes. En 2019, La Paz compitió con 158 ciudades y consiguió el octavo lugar en número de especies (3.005), el tercer lugar en número de participantes (1.500) y el segundo en número de observaciones (46.931). En 2022, participaron 447 ciudades. La Paz lideró en las tres categorías del concurso, con 137.345 observaciones, 5.320 especies y 4.296 participantes. Más allá de estos resultados, destaca el compromiso de la ciudadanía paceña con su biodiversidad, lo que repercute en un vínculo cada vez más estrecho entre la población urbana y su entorno natural. / Citizen science encourages people to participate in scientific research projects. One of the best-known initiatives is the City Nature Challenge contest, aimed at recording biodiversity in cities through the iNaturalist application. The metropolitan region of La Paz, Bolivia, participated in this contest in 2019 and 2022 under the name Reto Ciudad Naturaleza, promoted by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Bolivia, the Biology Department and the Ecology Institute of the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), and the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN), who together formed an Organizing Committee. The objective was to strengthen the links between the urban population and nature so that they can contribute in improving knowledge about biodiversity and help to conserve Nature. The activities were based on the promotion and dissemination of the contest, training events in the use of iNaturalist, photographic registration, taxonomic identification events, and delivery of certificates to participants. In 2019, La Paz competed with 158 cities and achieved eighth place in number of species (3,005), third place in number of participants (1,500) and second place in number of observations (46,931). In 2022, 447 cities participated. La Paz led in all three categories of the contest, with 137,345 observations, 5,320 species and 4,296 participants. Beyond these results, the outstanding commitment of La Paz citizens to their biodiversity is resulting in an increasingly close link between the urban population and their natural environment.
Prepublication Citation 2 of 2
Mendgen, P., N. Dejid, K. Olson, B. Buuveibaatar et al. (Prepublication). “Nomadic ungulate movements under threat: Declining mobility of Mongolian gazelles in the Eastern Steppe.” bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.02.05.526430
Abstract: Increasing habitat fragmentation and disturbance threaten long distance movements of ungulates. While the effects of impermeable barriers on ungulate migrations have been well researched, quantitative evidence for gradual and long-term changes of mobility in response to anthropogenic disturbance remains relatively rare. We investigated changes in movement behavior of Mongolian gazelle Procapra gutturosa, a nomadic ungulate species native to the Mongolian steppe. Using GPS tracking data collected from 62 gazelle individuals between 2007 and 2021, we quantified 16-day displacement distances for each individual as a metric for long-distance movements. We used generalized linear mixed models, generalized additive models and additive quantile mixed models to assess how anthropogenic and environmental factors affected gazelle movement behavior. Long distance 16-day movements decreased significantly by up to 36 %, from 142 km in 2007 to 92 km in 2021. Changes in gazelle mobility were affected by the increasing number of vehicles in Mongolia, but could not be explained by concurrent changes in other environmental factors like temperature, precipitation or vegetation greenness that often drive ungulate migration behavior. Moreover, we found that gazelle movement decreased close to roads, and that gazelles stayed further away from roads during the snow-free season, when vehicular traffic likely is most intense. Conserving landscape permeability is essential for maintaining populations of highly mobile species. Our study provides evidence for a gradual decline in gazelle mobility over fifteen years as a response to increasing anthropogenic impact. To date, the transportation infrastructure permeating the Eastern Steppe does not pose physical barriers, yet our findings suggest that increasing traffic volume may create semipermeable barriers to gazelle movement. As human activity is increasing throughout the Eastern Steppe, interactions between ungulates and vehicle traffic need to be closely monitored in order to identify, localize, and mitigate semipermeable barrier effects before landscape permeability is severely altered.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 31 January-6 February 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 8
Arona, E. and A. Schiavini (In Press). "Free-roaming dogs in Ushuaia City, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. How many and why?" Urban Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-022-01320-w
Abstract: Free-roaming dogs (FRD) in cities represent an increasing problem. Authorities need numbers of FRD to evaluate policies implemented and to monitor the dog population. We estimated the number of FRD in Ushuaia city, Argentina, using a photographic capture-recapture methodology. We estimated an abundance index, the power to detect changes in the index, and modeled factors that may explain the spatial distribution of FRD and their welfare status. We also infer whether if they are represented by partially supervised or unsupervised dogs, using a health and welfare index based on body fat coverage and skin condition, as well as on the presence of collars or accessories as a proxy of evidence for tenure. During three surveys, covering 72 transects along streets (9.9% of the street layout of Ushuaia), we recorded 539 different FRD. A model with individual heterogeneity in capture-recapture probability gave 12,797 FRD (95% CI 10,979—15,323), reflecting a dog:human relation of 1:6, higher than the relation recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The abundance index was similar between surveys (8.13 ± 1.36, 8.38 ± 1.46 and 9.55 ± 1.28 dogs/km). The difference needed to detect changes in the index is about twice the standard error of estimates. The best model explaining dogs’ abundance included only geographical location, although two neighbourhoods with 9 transects stand out with 181 different FRD identified. Together with the good overall dogs’ welfare status, modeling suggests that the behavior of owners is the main driver for the presence of FRD. We recommend the use of photographic capture-recapture methodologies instead of simple index estimation, due to the small additional effort required and the improved accuracy and precision obtained. We also recommend a permanent systematic design for future surveys, increase the number of survey occasions, and improve the survey process.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 8
Kraus, D., A. Enns, A. Hebb, S. Murphy, D. A. R. Drake and B. Bennett (2023). "Prioritizing nationally endemic species for conservation." Conservation Science & Practice 5(1), e12845. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12845
Abstract: Over 90% of recent human-caused extinctions are wild species known from only one nation. These nationally endemic species represent one of the greatest global conservation responsibilities for any country. To meet this responsibility, we must first identify nationally endemic species. We developed the first comprehensive inventory of the 308 plant, animal, and fungi species and infraspecies only found in Canada, of which approximately 90% are of global conservation concern. Our analysis also identified 27 spatial concentrations of endemic species, many of which are associated with glacial refugia, islands, coasts, and unique habitats. Nationally endemic species have not been the primary focus of endangered species conservation in Canada and other countries. Our analysis provides a case study on how national inventories of endemic species can be developed and applied to support species assessments and place-based conservation. Prioritizing endemic species for conservation can build on sentiments of sense of place and national responsibility to foster public interest. We propose a species conservation framework that highlights the critical role of national endemism in preventing global extinctions. Greater conservation focus on endemic species will support national and international biodiversity conservation targets, including the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 8
Ladino Archila, F., D. Cardeñosa, S. Bessudo, A. Cuellar, F. Muriel, J. Carvajal, D. Amariles and A. Duarte (2023). "Monitoreo de fauna pelágica de los Montes submarinos del Pacífico colombiano usando BRUVS / Monitoring of pelagic fauna of the seamounts of the Colombian Pacific using BRUVS." Biota Colombiana 24(1), e1103. https://doi.org/10.21068/2539200X.1103
Abstract: En diciembre de 2021 se desarrolló la primera expedición a los montes submarinos de las dorsales de Malpelo y de Yuruparí. En total se exploraron ocho montes submarinos por medio de BRUVS (Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems). Se desplegaron 48 BRUVS, registrando cinco especies pelágicas (Sphyrna lewini, Mobula birostris, Pteroplatytrygon violácea, Kajikia audax y Istiophorus platypterus), donde Pteroplatytrygon violácea constituyó un nuevo registro para la región. En todas las zonas se registraron especies pelágicas, aunque los tiburones se asociaron exclusivamente a los montes al oeste de las dorsales, en especial al monte conocido como Bajo Navegador, el más somero de la región. Este trabajo es un primer paso para orientar las siguientes exploraciones de estos ecosistemas. / In December 2021, we conducted the first expedition to the seamounts of the Malpelo and Yuruparí ridges. Eight seamounts were explored using Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVS). A total of 48 BRUVS were deployed, registering five pelagic species (Sphyrna lewini, Mobula birostris, Pteroplatytrygon violacea, Kajikia audax and Istiophorus platypterus) where Pteroplatytrygon violacea constituted a new record for the region. Pelagic species were recorded in all seamounts, although sharks were exclusively associated with the seamounts to the west of the ridges, especially in the area known as Bajo Navegador, the shallowest seamount in the region. This work is a first step to guide the following explorations of these
ecosystems.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 8
Rajabi, A. M. and S. Ostrowski (2022). "First confirmed record of red-headed falcon Falco chicquera from Afghanistan." Sandgrouse 44(2), 438-439.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 8
Valencia, I. F., G. H. Kattan, L. Valenzuela, L. Caro, F. Arbelaez and G. Forero-Medina (FirstView). "Evaluation of alternative conservation strategies for the blue-billed curassow Crax alberti in the Middle Magdalena Valley, Colombia." Oryx. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605322000060
Abstract: The blue-billed curassow Crax alberti is an endemic Colombian species categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List because of the effects of hunting and habitat loss. Conservation and management actions are required to ensure its persistence in the forest remnants across its range. We conducted a population viability analysis for a population in the municipality of Yondó, Antioquia, based on data collected in the field and available information on the reproductive ecology of the species. We evaluate seven realistic conservation scenarios by comparing the effects that changes in mortality from hunting, carrying capacity and initial population size have on the survival probability of the population. Our results indicate that: (1) the studied population is not viable over a 100-year period under current conditions; (2) mortality as a result of hunting and the size of the initial population have the greatest impacts on the mean time to extinction; (3) a strategy based on eliminating hunting in the two sites with the largest forest remnants in the landscape could ensure the viability of the population over a 100-year period; and (4) other strategies (i.e. population supplementation with captive-bred individuals, reduction of deforestation in the landscape) do not guarantee the viability of the population if mortality from hunting remains constant, even at low levels. These results confirm the susceptibility of the blue-billed curassow to the threats it faces in this landscape, particularly hunting, and provide information on the conservation actions that could allow this remaining population to prevail in the long term.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 8
Villalba, L., L. Maffei and M. Belén Ortiz (2022). "Linear camera trapping design for jaguar population surveys in the largest forest remnant of the Paraguayan Chaco / Diseño lineal para estudios poblacionales del jaguar." Mastozoología Neotropical 29(2), e0681. https://doi.org/10.31687/saremMN.22.29.2.04.e0742
Abstract: The jaguar (Panthera onca) is of great concern throughout its entire range due to the decline of its populations and the loss of its natural habitats, which is why protected areas, like the Defensores del Chaco National Park in Paraguay, play such an important role in the conservation of this feline. However, the dense vegetation of the Chacoan dry forest can make it difficult to conduct studies beyond existing road networks to learn about wild populations. In this study, we propose a method for calculating jaguar density estimations based on a linear distribution of camera trap stations, considering the limitations of this approach given the standard assumptions of capture-recapture models. We obtained an initial density estimate of 1.14 (0.35-3.8) jaguars/100 km², in addition to recording 14 potential jaguar prey species; of which, Dolichotis salinicola, Sylvilagus brasiliensis, and Mazama gouazoubira were the most abundant. / El jaguar o yaguareté (Panthera onca) es motivo de preocupación en su área de distribución debido a la disminución de sus poblaciones y a la pérdida de sus hábitats naturales; por ello, las áreas protegidas, como el Parque Nacional Defensores del Chaco en Paraguay, cumplen un papel preponderante en la conservación de estos felinos. Sin embargo, la poca accesibilidad al bosque seco chaqueño dificulta los estudios fuera de los caminos ya establecidos para conocer las poblaciones silvestres. En este estudio proponemos una metodología para la estimación de la densidad de los jaguares basada en una distribución lineal de las estaciones de trampas cámara, siendo conscientes de las limitaciones que tiene este tipo de distribución y considerando los supuestos de los modelos de captura y recaptura. Obtuvimos una densidad inicial estimada de 1.14 (0.35-3.8) individuos/100 km², además de registrar 14 especies presa potenciales del jaguar, entre las cuales Dolichotis salinicola, Sylvilagus brasiliensis y Mazama gouazoubira son las más abundantes.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 8
Voiklis, J., K. Flinner, S. Field, ..., S. Rank and K. Nock (In Press). "Seeing the forest, not the trees – Crowdsourced data collection methods for sector-wide research." Visitor Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/10645578.2023.2167404
Abstract: Research that involves a large and broad sample of museums can produce a representative picture of the entire museum sector and lead to global insights that may not be attainable through a more local lens. However, many museum research projects use a small sample of museums, meant to represent the entire field. We propose a research method that distributes data collection across a broad swath of museums to provide local detail that can be used to assemble a collective picture on a topic of interest to the field. This method, called crowdsourced data collection, was used in a yearlong study of zoos and aquariums in North America, in which 95 institutions were asked to collect data for one to two survey modules per month. We hoped this approach would produce data comparable to data gathered with conventional methods and reduce burden on participating institutions. We found the method replicated nationally representative studies with two validated scales. While only one third of the institutions completed all modules, institutions typically did 8-9 modules, with only slight decreases in the probability of completing the study over time. These results suggest researchers can use crowdsourced data collection to reliably study the museum sector. We also discuss the challenges of this method for researchers and institutions participating as data collection sites.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 8
Williams, B. A., J. E. M. Watson, H. L. Beyer, H. S. Grantham, J. S. Simmonds, S. J. Alvarez et al. (2022). "Global drivers of change across tropical savannah ecosystems and insights into their management and conservation." Biological Conservation 276, e109786. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109786
Abstract: All tropical savannahs are experiencing extensive transformation and degradation, yet conservation strategies do not adequately address threats to savannahs. Here, using a recently published ecosystem intactness metric, we assess the current condition of tropical savannahs across Earth, finding that <3 % remain highly intact. Moreover, their overall levels of protection are low, and of the protected savannahs, just 4 % can be considered highly intact while the majority (>60 %) are in poor condition. In order to address the clear mismatch between the decline in tropical savannah ecosystems’ condition and the response to manage and conserve them, we reviewed the current drivers that lead to tropical savannah degradation and identified conservation approaches being used to address them. Many successful conservation approaches address multiple drivers of change but are applied across small areas. We argue these approaches have the potential to be up-scaled through integrated land-use planning.
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 24-30 January 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 6
DeGroot, T. L., J. D. Wolfe, L. L. Powell, ..., C. Barrientos et al. (Early View). "Human impacts on mammal communities in Rio Campo Nature Reserve, Equatorial Guinea." African Journal of Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13108
Abstract: Equatorial Guinea in central Africa hosts rich biodiversity and a network of protected areas (PAs). However, infrastructure development has facilitated access to previously remote forests. This has likely increased poaching in PAs, thereby complicating efforts of agencies tasked with protecting threatened mammals. Reserva Natural de Río Campo (RNRC) in Equatorial Guinea was previously identified as a priority area for large mammals due to the presence of elephants and great apes and includes habitat for a diverse mammal community of commonly hunted species. To assess mammalian diversity in RNRC, we conducted a camera trap survey in 2017 and 2019. We used a two-step modelling approach to quantify environmental and anthropogenic factors influencing mammal groups. We detected 32 terrestrial mammal species, including endangered forest elephant, western gorilla, chimpanzee, giant pangolin and white-bellied pangolin. We found bushbuck and sitatunga closer to human-dominated areas, while other common species were, in general, further from development. Monkey and pangolin abundance increased inward from the RNRC boundary. Endangered species appear restricted to northeast RNRC which connects to Campo Ma'an National Park in Cameroon. We recommend using our inventory and distributions of threatened mammals as starting points to determine effectiveness of future anti-poaching and management strategies on mammal populations.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 6
Kearney, S. G., J. E. M. Watson, A. E. Reside et al. (2023). "Threat-abatement framework confirms habitat retention and invasive species management are critical to conserve Australia's threatened species." Biological Conservation 277, e109833. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109833
Abstract: Earth's extinction crisis is escalating, and threat classification schemes are increasingly important for assessing the prominent drivers and threats causing species declines. However, a complementary framework for assessing the conservation responses needed to abate these threatening processes is lacking. Here we draw on expert knowledge and published literature to develop a threat-abatement framework which groups threats based on the shared conservation goal of the actions needed to abate their impact and apply it to 1532 threatened species across the Australian continent. Our analysis shows that the most important conservation actions across Australia are to retain and restore habitat, due to the threats posed by habitat destruction and degradation (via logging, mining, urbanisation, roads, and agriculture) to 86 % of Australia's threatened species. Most species also require the effective control of invasive species and diseases (82 %) and improved fire management (66 %). Countering individual threats will not be enough to support species survival or recovery, because almost all species (89 %) require multiple, integrated management responses to redress their threats. Our threat abatement framework enables rapid identification of broad conservation responses to aid recovery of threatened species and can be applied in other regions, scales and contexts.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 6
Maslovsky, K. S., P. N. Maleko, V. V. Pronkevich, J. C. Slaght and A. N. Powell (2023). "First nests of Endangered Nordmann’s Greenshank Tringa guttifer found in over 40 years indicate nesting plasticity." Bird Conservation International 33, e43. https://doi.org/10.1017/S095927092200051X
Abstract: Knowledge of the breeding ecology of Endangered Nordmann’s Greenshank Tringa guttifer is necessary to develop a comprehensive species-specific conservation plan. We found nine greenshank nests in Schaste Bay, Russian Far East during the summers of 2019–2021. These are the first nests found in over 40 years and the only discovered to date on mainland Russia. In contrast to previous nest descriptions, we found greenshanks do not exclusively nest in trees, but also place nests on the ground at the base of mature or sapling larches. Our results indicate greenshanks may be larch obligates during the breeding season, and protecting coastal larch forest ecosystems near bogs, meadows, and mudflats throughout the Russian Far East may be critical to the species’ conservation.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 6
Peters, N. M., C. J. Kendall, J. G. Davies, C. Bracebridge, A. Nicholas, M. P. Mgumba and C. M. Beale (2023). "Identifying priority locations to protect a wide-ranging endangered species." Biological Conservation 277, e109828. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109828
Abstract: 1. Medium and large scavengers often move long distances to locate sufficient foraging areas, often including buffer zones of protected areas, putting them at considerable risk from geographically dispersed threats. 2. Vultures are declining worldwide with poisoning being the greatest threat in Africa. Using a novel capture-recapture model applied to carcasses found by 51 GPS tracked vultures, we estimated the exposure, threat, and risk of poisoning to vultures in southern Tanzania. Exposure to poisoning was defined as the areas that vultures use and where carcasses are likely to be found by a given individual. We used a human footprint map as a proxy for threat, identifying locations where poisoning was possible. Risk of poisoning was determined as areas with an overlap of exposure and threat. 3. We found that locations with the greatest risk of poisoning were within 20 km of protected areas. Although most high-risk areas we identified fell within this buffer, our risk assessment method identified additional hot-spots including some high-risk areas that fell outside nearby buffers. 4. We found that our risk assessment allowed us to identify more localised, high-risk areas that cover a much smaller total area. This gives more precise insight into where conservation management should be prioritised and limited resources should be focused.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 6
Polisar, J., C. Davies, T. Morcatty, M. Da Silva, S. Zhang, K. Duchez, J. Madrid, A. E. Lambert, A. Gallegos, M. Delgado, H. Nguyen, R. Wallace, ..., J. Ramnarace, R. Pennell, Y. Novelo, ..., Y. Murillo, M. Nuñez Salas, H. E. Kretser and A. Reuter (2023). "Multi-lingual multi-platform investigations of online trade in jaguar parts." PLoS ONE 18(1), e0280039. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280039
Abstract: We conducted research to understand online trade in jaguar parts and develop tools of utility for jaguars and other species. Our research took place to identify potential trade across 31 online platforms in Spanish, Portuguese, English, Dutch, French, Chinese, and Vietnamese. We identified 230 posts from between 2009 and 2019. We screened the images of animal parts shown in search results to verify if from jaguar; 71 posts on 12 different platforms in four languages were accompanied by images identified as definitely jaguar, including a total of 125 jaguar parts (50.7% posts in Spanish, 25.4% Portuguese, 22.5% Chinese and 1.4% French). Search effort varied among languages due to staff availability. Standardizing for effort across languages by dividing number of posts advertising jaguars by search time and number of individual searches completed via term/platform combinations changed the proportions the rankings of posts adjusted for effort were led by Portuguese, Chinese, and Spanish. Teeth were the most common part; 156 posts offered at least 367 teeth and from these, 95 were assessed as definitely jaguar; 71 of which could be linked to a location, with the majority offered for sale from Mexico, China, Bolivia, and Brazil (26.8, 25.4, 16.9, and 12.7% respectively). The second most traded item, skins and derivative items were only identified from Latin America: Brazil (7), followed by Peru (6), Bolivia (3), Mexico (2 and 1 skin piece), and Nicaragua and Venezuela (1 each). Whether by number of posts or pieces, the most commonly parts were: teeth, skins/pieces of skins, heads, and bodies. Our research took place within a longer-term project to assist law enforcement in host countries to better identify potential illegal trade and presents a snapshot of online jaguar trade and methods that also may have utility for many species traded online.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 6
Seimon, T. A., M. Lim, B. Nightingale, ... and A. Seimon (2022). "First report of Pallas's cat in Sagarmatha National Park - Mount Everest Region, Nepal." CATnews 76, 41-42.
Abstract: We present the first report of Pallas’s cat Otocolobus manul in eastern Nepal, within Sagarmatha National Park, Mount Everest Region, based on genetic evidence from scat samples. We collected the samples from two locations 6 km apart at 5,110 and 5,190 m elevation. DNA metabarcoding analysis identified two individuals from the collected samples. Prey species identified in the scat samples consisted of pika Ochotona roylei (in all samples) and mountain weasel Mustela altaica (in one sample). Red fox Vulpes vulpes scat was identified from the same location as the Pallas’s cat, indicating an overlap in predator territory. These findings extend the range of Pallas’s cat into eastern Nepal and add a new species to the list of known mammals in Sagarmatha National Park.
Grey Literature and Preprint Citations
Grey Literature and Preprint Citation 1 of 8
Agger, K. (2022). Images and Key Messages for Human Rights and Social Safeguards Training for Rangers Across Africa. Wildlife Conservation Society. https://doi.org/10.19121/2022.Report.45325
Grey Literature and Preprint Citation 2 of 8
Anderson, E. P., S. B. Correa, T. B. A. Couto and M. Goulding (2022). Conservando los Ecosistemas Acuáticos de la Amazonía. Lima, Peru: Wildlife Conservation Society. https://doi.org/10.19121/2022.Report.45335
Grey Literature and Preprint Citation 3 of 8
Anderson, E. P., S. B. Correa, M. Goulding and T. B. A. Couto (2022). Conservando os Ecossistemas Aquáticos na Amazônia. Lima, Peru: Wildlife Conservation Society. https://doi.org/10.19121/2022.Report.45347
Grey Literature and Preprint Citation 4 of 8
Anderson, E. P., S. B. Correa, M. Goulding and T. B. A. Couto (2022). Conserving Aquatic Ecosystems in the Amazon. Lima, Peru: Wildlife Conservation Society. https://doi.org/10.19121/2022.Report.45346
Grey Literature and Preprint Citation 5 of 8
Antelo, R., M. Vargas-Ramírez, G. Preciado, C. A. Saavedra Rodríguez and G. Forero-Medina (2022). Inter-Institutional Action Plan for the Conservation of the Llanero Caiman (Crocodylus intermedius) in Colombia / Plan de Acción Interinstitucional para la Conservación del Caimán Llanero (Crocodylus intermedius) en Colombia. Cali, Colombia: Wildlife Conservation Society, Colombia, Estación de Biología Tropical Roberto Franco, Gobernación de Casanare, and Universidad Nacional. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4532200000.aspx
Abstract: The Action Plan aims to "Establish three wild populations in protected areas within the historical distribution of the species, with at least 5 reproductive females in a period of 15 years." In order to propose the strategies that allow this objective to be met, the most outstanding current threats that prevent its recovery were identified: extinct populations, small populations (vortex of extinction), loss of unrecognized in situ populations, hunting due to conflict, looting of nests, inbreeding. and bycatch in fishing nets. To face these threats, six conservation strategies are proposed: evaluation of wild populations, captive breeding, newborn rescue, reintroduction, genetic management and environmental education; which in turn are subdivided into 16 activities that are recommended to be carried out in an articulated manner between public and private actors, including: Corporinoquia, Cormacarena, Parques Nacionales Natulares de Colombia, Estación de Biologia Tropical Roberto Franco (EBTRF), Fundación Palmarito Casanare, Gobernación de Casanare and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS-Colombia). / El caimán llanero (Crocodylus intermedius) constituye un auténtico cocodrilo de agua dulce que se distribuye las tierras bajas de la Orinoquia, compartida por Colombia y Venezuela. Durante el primer tercio del siglo pasado (1929-década de los 60) la especie estuvo sometida a una fuerte presión por cacería comercial que la llevó al borde la extinción. A pesar de que la caza cesó hace más de 40 años y de que el Programa Nacional para su conservación está vigente desde 1998, el caimán continúa en Peligro Crítico en toda su área de distribución. Este Plan de Acción tiene como objetivo “Establecer tres poblaciones silvestres en áreas protegidas dentro de la distribución histórica de la especie, que cuenten con al menos 5 hembras reproductivas en un lapso de 15 años”. Para proponer las estrategias que permitan cumplir este objetivo se identificaron las amenazas actuales más destacadas que impiden su recuperación: poblaciones extintas, poblaciones pequeñas (vórtice de la extinción), pérdida de poblaciones in situ no reconocidas, cacería por conflicto, saqueo de nidos, endogamia y captura incidental en redes de pesca. Para enfrentar estas amenazas se plantean seis estrategias de conservación: evaluación de las poblaciones silvestres, cría en cautiverio, rescate de neonatos, reintroducción, manejo genético y educación ambiental; que a su vez se subdividen en 16 actividades que se recomienda realizar de manera articulada entre actores públicos y privados, incluyendo: Corporinoquia, Cormacarena, Parques Nacionales Natura- les de Colombia, Estación de Biología Tropical Roberto Franco (EBTRF), Fundación Palmarito Casanare, Gobernación de Casanare y Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS-Colombia).
Grey Literature and Preprint Citation 6 of 8
Dudley, N., M. Kettunen, J. Gorricho, ..., J. Robinson and N. Sekhran (Preprint). "Area-based conservation and the Sustainable Development Goals: a review." Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7577494
Abstract: Area-based conservation is more than just a contribution to protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services. Establishment and effective management of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation mechanisms (OECMs) could accelerate progress for a number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for which progress is currently too slow to meet targets by the 2030 deadline. We report the first global analysis of the wider role of protected areas and OECMs in SDG implementation. Our analysis focusses on 11 of the 17 SDGs, assessed in three main groups: (i) cornerstones of conservation, underpinning all prosperity (SDGs 14 and 15); (ii) fundamentals for well-being (SDGs 2, 6 and 13); and (iii) sustainable, healthy and peaceful societies (SDGs 1, 3, 5, 10, 11 and 16). Better representation of area-based conservation in the SDGs will require us to take four steps: (i) recognition of wider SDG targets addressed by protected and conserved areas; (ii) integration of ecosystem services into site-level policies and national SDG strategies; (iii) enhancement of the relevant values through management approaches; and (iv) consistent reporting of these as a contribution to the SDGs.
Grey Literature and Preprint Citation 7 of 8
Kretser, H. E., S. E. Reed, A. J. K. Calhoun et al. (2023). Conservation Design and Stewardship Guidelines for Local Land-Use Regulations. Bronx, NY and Fort Collins, CO: Wildlife Conservation Society and Conservation Development Working Group at Colorado State University. https://doi.org/10.19121/2023.Report.45180
Abstract: Our goal is to support and encourage land-use planners, decision makers and conservation scientists and practitioners to participate in local land-use policy by providing them with guidelines that translate their scientific knowledge into a planning and development decision-making context.
Grey Literature and Preprint Citation 8 of 8
Rae, J., C. Lausen and B. Paterson (2022). North American Bat Monitoring Program in British Columbia: 2021 Data Summary and Activity Trend Analyses (2016 – 2021). Toronto, Canada: Wildlife Conservation Society, Canada and North American Bat Monitoring Program. https://doi.org/10.19121/2022.Report.45336
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 17-23 January 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 4
Cooksey, K. E., C. Sanz, J. M. Massamba, T. F. Ebombi, P. Teberd, G. Abea, G. Mbebouti, I. Kienast, S. Brogan et al. (In Press). "Predictors of respiratory illness in western lowland gorillas." Primates. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-022-01045-6
Abstract: Infectious disease is hypothesized to be one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in wild great apes. Specific socioecological factors have been shown to influence incidences of respiratory illness and disease prevalence in some primate populations. In this study, we evaluated potential predictors (including age, sex, group size, fruit availability, and rainfall) of respiratory illness across three western lowland gorilla groups in the Republic of Congo. A total of 19,319 observational health assessments were conducted during daily follows of habituated gorillas in the Goualougo and Djéké Triangles over a 4-year study period. We detected 1146 incidences of clinical respiratory signs, which indicated the timing of probable disease outbreaks within and between groups. Overall, we found that males were more likely to exhibit signs than females, and increasing age resulted in a higher likelihood of respiratory signs. Silverback males showed the highest average monthly prevalence of coughs and sneezes (Goualougo: silverback Loya, 9.35 signs/month; Djéké: silverback Buka, 2.65 signs/month; silverback Kingo,1.88 signs/month) in each of their groups. Periods of low fruit availability were associated with an increased likelihood of respiratory signs. The global pandemic has increased awareness about the importance of continuous monitoring and preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks, which are also known to threaten wild ape populations. In addition to the strict implementation of disease prevention protocols at field sites focused on great apes, there is a need for heightened vigilance and systematic monitoring across sites to protect both wildlife and human populations.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 4
Riley Koenig, C. M., B. L. Koenig and C. M. Sanz (2023). "Portrayals of wild primates in documentary films: Reason for concern?" Primates 64(1), 177-189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-022-01021-0
Abstract: Documentaries are the primary means by which many people observe the behavior of wild primates. By influencing layperson perceptions of wild primates, documentaries could impact viewer conservation-related beliefs and behaviors and, therefore, the well-being of wild primates. To investigate such portrayals, we examined documentaries depicting the four species that were most represented in documentaries: rhesus macaque, chimpanzee, ring-tailed lemur, and mountain gorilla. For each documentary, we continuously coded behavior, conducted scan samples of age-sex classes at 3-min intervals, and made ad libitum observations of inaccuracies and misleading content. We expected that representation of age-sex classes and activity budgets in documentaries would differ from those reported in the primary literature for the same species in the wild. In addition, we expected inaccurate depictions for every species. For ring-tailed lemurs, adult males were underrepresented in documentaries. For macaques, chimpanzees, and gorillas, representation of age-sex classes did not differ significantly from observations in the wild. Documentary depictions of activity budgets differed from researcher accounts of wild primate behavior for rhesus macaques, chimpanzees, and mountain gorillas, but not for ring-tailed lemurs. In general, documentaries overrepresented traveling and social behaviors such as play and grooming. Documentaries, especially docudramas, may have emphasized traveling because such footage allows storyline narration, whereas the emphasis on social behavior was likely due to the appeal of such footage to audiences. Inaccuracies were documented for all four species, with rhesus macaques having the most inaccuracies. We propose that primatologists have an ethical imperative to enhance the accuracy of primate portrayals to audiences.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 4
Sultaire, S. M., Y. Kawai-Harada, A. Kimmel, ..., J. P. Beckmann et al. (Early View). "Black bear density and habitat use variation at the Sierra Nevada-Great Basin Desert transition." The Journal of Wildlife Management, e22358. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22358
Abstract: In the first 2 decades of the twenty-first century, American black bear (Ursus americanus) populations rebounded with range expansions into areas where the species was previously extirpated. While there are a number of factors that limit range expansion, habitat quality and availability are among the most important. Such factors may be particularly important in western Nevada, USA, at the transition zone of the Sierra Nevada and the Great Basin Desert. We deployed a multi-faceted data collection system including motion-sensitive cameras, noninvasive hair sampling and genotyping, and global positioning system (GPS) tracking. We analyzed data using spatial capture-recapture to estimate population density and dynamic occupancy models to estimate habitat use. Black bear habitat use and density were substantially higher in the Sierra Nevada than the Great Basin Desert and had strong positive relationships with the presence of conifer land cover in the transition zone. The average black bear density was >4 times higher in the mixed-conifer forests of the Sierra Nevada (12.4 bears/100 km2) than in desert mountain ranges with piñon (Pinus monophylla)-juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodland (2.7 bears/100 km2). The low-elevation shrub and grassland portions of the study area had even lower estimated black bear density (0.6 bears/100 km2) and probability of use (0.03, 95% CI = 0.00–0.09). Across these spatially variable configurations in black bear density, we estimated the population size to be 418 individuals (95% CI = 239–740). Declining density towards the range edge, coupled with a relatively stable range of black bears in Nevada observed since 2000, suggests that further species range expansion into the western Great Basin may be limited by habitat quality and availability.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 4
Voiklis, J., R. Gupta, S. J. Rank et al. (2023). "Believing zoos and aquariums as conservation informants.” In J. Fraser, J. E. Heimlich and K. Riedinger [eds.], Zoos and Aquariums in the Public Mind, 113-127. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84942-9_8
Abstract: Zoos and aquariums play a pivotal role in conservation, including educating the public about a range of conservation topics, such as endangered species, wildlife conservation, animal well-being, environmental issues, and relevant science. Based on a half-century of research on communication and persuasion, the credibility people ascribe to these conservation messages depends on the authority people ascribe to the messengers—zoos and aquariums—as sources of knowledge. That epistemic authority combines people’s judgments about the trustworthiness of zoos and aquariums (are they competent, reliable, sincere, etc.?) and their feelings of favorability (do I like them?) and affinity (is it my kind of place?) toward these conservation institutions. In this chapter, we report on how we modeled these dependencies between message credibility and epistemic authority. Using data from two national representative surveys, we show that each aspect of epistemic authority contributes substantially to the credibility of conservation messages. We then describe the implications of our findings for zoo and aquarium leadership and provide some practical recommendations. Specifically, for conservation messages to be seen as credible, zoos and aquariums need to pay attention to all three aspects: trustworthiness, favorability, and/or affinity.
Grey Literature and Preprint Citations
Grey Literature and Preprint Citation 1 of 2
Cameron, K. N., J.-V. Mombouli, F. R. Niama, B. Hayes, S. H. Olson, ..., D. O. Joly et al. (Preprint). “Orbivirus RNA in a banana serotine (Afronycteris nanus) Bat in the Republic of the Congo.” Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7549529
Abstract: Orbiviruses are arthropod borne viruses of vertebrates, with some of them being important pathogens of veterinary, conservation and economic importance, while others are occasionally associated with human disease. Some apparently bat specific orbiviruses have been detected, but little is known about their distribution and diversity. We thus sampled and screened 52 bats living in the Congo Basin, and detected RNA indicative of a novel orbivirus in a single banana serotine (Afronycteris nanus) by PCR. The detected RNA clusters with epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus, bluetongue virus, and others. The findings highlight the need for more studies into arbovirus presence and diversity in bat species.
Grey Literature and Preprint Citation 2 of 2
Wildlife Conservation Society, Peru (2022). Ciencia Ciudadana para Fortalecer la Ciudadanía Ambiental en la Provincia de Sandia 2020-2022. Lima, Peru: Wildlife Conservation Society, Peru. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4530900000.aspx
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 10-16 January 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 7
Caldas, B., M. L. Thieme, N. Shahbol, ..., C. K. Fagundes, ..., M. Montoya et al. (2023). "Identifying the current and future status of freshwater connectivity corridors in the Amazon Basin." Conservation Science and Practice 5(1), e12853. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12853
Abstract: The Amazon Basin features a vast network of healthy, free-flowing rivers, which provides habitat for the most biodiverse freshwater fauna of any basin globally. However, existing and future infrastructure developments, including dams, threaten its integrity by diminishing river connectivity, altering flows, or changing sediment regimes, which can impact freshwater species. In this study, we assess critical rivers that need to be maintained as freshwater connectivity corridors (FCCs) for selective freshwater species—long-distance migratory fishes and turtles (both with migrations >500 km) and river dolphins. We define FCCs as river stretches of uninterrupted river connectivity that provide important riverine and floodplain habitat for long-distance migratory and other species and that maintain associated ecosystem functions. We assessed more than 340,000 km of river, beginning with an assessment of the connectivity status of all rivers and then combining river status with models of occurrence of key species to map where FCCs occur and how they could be affected under a scenario of proposed dams. We identified that in 2019, 16 of 26 very long (>1000 km) rivers are free-flowing but only 9 would remain free-flowing if all proposed dams are built. Among long and very long rivers (>500 km), 93 are considered FCCs. Under the future scenario, one-fifth (18) of these long and very long FCCs—those that are of critical importance for long-distance migrants and dolphins—would lose their FCC status, including the Amazon, the Negro, Marañón, Napo, Ucayali, Preto do Igapó Açu, Beni, and Uraricoera rivers. To avoid impacts of poorly sited infrastructure, we advocate for energy and water resources planning at the basin scale that evaluates alternative development options and limits development that will impact on FCCs. The results also highlight where corridors could be designated as protected from future fragmentation.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 7
Cameron, K. N., J.-V. Mombouli, F. R. Niama, B. Hayes, S. H. Olson, ..., D. O. Joly et al. (In Press). "Orbivirus RNA in a banana serotine (Afronycteris nanus) Bat in the Republic of the Congo." EcoHealth. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-022-01619-2
Abstract: Orbiviruses are arthropod borne viruses of vertebrates, with some of them being important pathogens of veterinary, conservation and economic importance, while others are occasionally associated with human disease. Some apparently bat specific orbiviruses have been detected, but little is known about their distribution and diversity. We thus sampled and screened 52 bats living in the Congo Basin, and detected RNA indicative of a novel orbivirus in a single banana serotine (Afronycteris nanus) by PCR. The detected RNA clusters with epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus, bluetongue virus, and others. The findings highlight the need for more studies into arbovirus presence and diversity in bat species.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 7
Dudley, N., M. Kettunen, J. Gorricho, L. Krueger, K. MacKinnon, J. Oglethorpe, M. Paxton, J. Robinson and N. Sekhran (In Press). "Area-based conservation and the Sustainable Development Goals: A review." Biodiversity. https://doi.org/10.1080/14888386.2022.2150313
Abstract: Area-based conservation is more than just a contribution to protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services. Establishment and effective management of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation mechanisms (OECMs) could accelerate progress for a number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for which progress is currently too slow to meet targets by the 2030 deadline. We report the first global analysis of the wider role of protected areas and OECMs in SDG implementation. Our analysis focusses on 11 of the 17 SDGs, assessed in three main groups: (i) cornerstones of conservation, underpinning all prosperity (SDGs 14 and 15); (ii) fundamentals for well-being (SDGs 2, 6 and 13); and (iii) sustainable, healthy and peaceful societies (SDGs 1, 3, 5, 10, 11 and 16). Better representation of area-based conservation in the SDGs will require us to take four steps: (i) recognition of wider SDG targets addressed by protected and conserved areas; (ii) integration of ecosystem services into site-level policies and national SDG strategies; (iii) enhancement of the relevant values through management approaches; and (iv) consistent reporting of these as a contribution to the SDGs.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 7
Liang, M., M. González-Roglich, P. Roehrdanz et al. (2023). "Assessing protected area’s carbon stocks and ecological structure at regional-scale using GEDI lidar." Global Environmental Change 78, e102621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2022.102621
Abstract: Protected areas (PAs) serve as a critical strategy for protecting natural resources, conserving biodiversity, and mitigating climate change. While there is a critical need to guide area-based conservation efforts, a systematic assessment of PA effectiveness for storing carbon stocks has not been possible due to the lack of globally consistent forest biomass data. In this study, we present a new methodology utilizing forest structural information and aboveground biomass density (AGBD) obtained from the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission. We compare PAs with similar, unprotected forests obtained through statistical matching to assess differences in carbon storage and forest structure. We also assess matching outcomes for a robust and minimally biased way to quantify PA efficacy. We find that all analyzed PAs in Tanzania possess higher biomass densities than their unprotected counterfactuals (24.4% higher on average). This is also true for other forest structure metrics, including tree height, canopy cover, and plant area index (PAI). We also find that community-governed PAs are the most effective category of PAs at preserving forest structure and AGBD – often outperforming those managed by international or national entities. In addition, PAs designated under more than one entity perform better than the PAs with a single designation, especially those with multiple international designations. Finally, our findings suggest that smaller PAs may be more effective for conservation, depending on levels of connectivity. Taken together, these findings support the designation of PAs as an effective means for forest management with considerable potential to protect forest ecosystems and achieve long-term climate goals.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 7
Naing, T. Z., N. Lin, P. P. Aung, H. L. Kyaw, N. Lin, L. Win and T. Htut (2022). "Nest surveys and conservation of the Sarus Crane Antigone antigone sharpii in the Ayeyarwady Delta, Myanmar." Journal of Asian Ornithology 38, 93-99.
Abstract: Until recently, the status and breeding biology of the Sarus Crane Antigone antigone sharpii in Myanmar was poorly known. The objective of our survey was to determine the current breeding status of Sarus Cranes in the Ayeyarwady Delta to inform conservation management action. We found a total of 356 nests during the three-year study (33 in 2016, 138 in 2017 and 185 in 2018). Most nests were in rice-paddies (79.5%) and grassland (20.5%), and had a clutch size of two eggs. The incubation period was 29–32 days. Hatching success was generally high. The key threats to the survival of the Sarus Crane in our study area are habitat loss and degradation due to conversion of land for aquaculture. In our surveyed area, we conducted conservation awareness activities between 2017 and 2020, and we advised and encouraged the establishment of a civil society organisation to strengthen the conservation of the cranes in 2016. Our results demonstrate that the Ayeyarwady Delta is of high national and global significance for the conservation of the Sarus Crane.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 7
Pandit, P. S., S. J. Anthony, T. Goldstein, ..., A. Latinne, ..., S. Olson, L. Keatts, A. P. Mendoza, A. Perez, C. Dejuste de Paula, ..., E. Shiilegdamba, ..., E. A. Robles, ..., N. T. T. Nga, P. L. Hitchens, D. O. Joly, K. Saylors, A. Fine et al. (2023). "Author correction: Predicting the potential for zoonotic transmission and host associations for novel viruses." Communications Biology 6(1), e25. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-04364-y
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 7
Wainger, L. A., E. O. Murray, C. H. Theiling, A. M. McMurray, J. A. Cushing, S. B. Komlos and A. F. Cofrancesco (In Press). "Broadening benefits and anticipating tradeoffs with a proposed ecosystem service analysis framework for the US Army Corps of Engineers." Environmental Management. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-022-01777-7
Abstract: Would-be adopters of ecosystem service analysis frameworks might ask, ‘Do such frameworks improve ecosystem service provision or social benefits sufficiently to compensate for any extra effort?’ Here we explore that question by retrospectively applying an ecosystem goods and services (EGS) analysis framework to a large river restoration case study conducted by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and comparing potential time costs and outcomes of traditional versus EGS-informed planning. USACE analytic methods can have a large influence on which river and wetland restoration projects are implemented in the United States because they affect which projects or project elements are eligible for federal cost-share funding. A new framework is designed for the USACE and is primarily distinguished from current procedures by adding explicit steps to document and compare tradeoffs and complementarity among all affected EGS, rather than the subset that falls within project purposes. Further, it applies economic concepts to transform ecological performance indicators into social benefit indicators, even if changes cannot be valued. We conclude that, for large multi-partner restoration projects like our case study, using the framework provides novel information on social outcomes that could be used to enhance project design, without substantially increasing scoping costs. The primary benefits of using the framework in the case study appeared to stem from early comprehensive identification of stakeholder interests that might have prevented project delays late in the process, and improving the communication of social benefits and how tradeoffs among EGS benefits were weighed during planning.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature Citation 1 of 2
Gobiernos Autónomos Municipales de Trinidad y Loreto (2022). Plan Estratégico de Turismo para las Áreas Protegidas Municipales Ibare-Mamoré y Gran Mojos 2022-2031. Trinidad, Bolivia: Grupo de Trabajo para los Llanos de Moxos and Wildlife Conservation Society, Bolivia. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4528800000.aspx
Grey Literature Citation 2 of 2
Wallace, R., C. Maldonado, C. Flores-Turdera, M. Hayes, C. Jurado, ..., E. Salinas and O. Torrico (2022). Reto Ciudad Naturaleza La Paz: Informe de Resultados 2022. La Paz, Bolivia: Wildlife Conservation Society, Bolivia, Instituto de Ecología at UMSA, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, and Carrera de Biología at UMSA. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4528200000.aspx
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WCS-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS, 1-9 January 2023
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citations
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 1 of 9
Adhiasto, D. N., I. Exploitasia, I. Giyanto, P. Fahlapie, P. Johnsen, M. I. Andriansyah, N. Hafizoh, Y. D. Setyorini, S. Mardiah, U. Mardhiah and M. Linkie (Accepted Article). "A criminal justice response to address the illegal trade of wildlife in Indonesia." Conservation Letters, e12937. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12937
Abstract: The global illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is a multi-billion dollar annual trade that threatens numerous species. Understanding ways to improve the law enforcement response is an essential component in addressing this trade. Yet, quantifying the impacts of such conservation measures is often hindered by a lack of long-term and reliable datasets. Here, we evaluate a 15-year multi-stakeholder collaboration that aimed to detect, report and robustly respond to IWT across the vast Indonesian archipelago. Our results demonstrate the performance of site-based monitoring networks in reliably reporting a widespread IWT of hundreds of nationally protected species. It revealed highly responsive government law enforcement agencies, high prosecution and conviction rates and increasing penal sanctions over time, which significantly differed by province, year of arrest, and the number of unique protected species seized in a case. From these results, we formulate management recommendations for key agencies working in the criminal justice system.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 2 of 9
Devlin, A. L., J. L. Frair, P. G. Crawshaw Jr, L. T. B. Hunter et al. (2023). "Drivers of large carnivore density in non-hunted, multi-use landscapes." Conservation Science and Practice 5(1), e12745. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12745
Abstract: Protected areas serve as population strongholds for many large carnivores, with multi-use landscapes along their borders forming the front-lines of wildlife conservation. Understanding large carnivore population dynamics within working landscapes is difficult where anthropogenic mortality is high and unregulated. This study focused on working ranches, where killing jaguars (Panthera onca) and their prey was prohibited, to gain insight into jaguar population potential across multi-use landscapes. Faced with forest fragmentation, presence of domestic livestock, and dynamic land-use practices, we expected jaguar populations in working landscapes to be predominantly male and transient, with low cub production, and inflated population densities in remnant forest patches, versus protected areas where we expected native forest habitat and stable jaguar territories. Using camera traps and spatial-capture recapture analyses, we observed that male jaguars demonstrated larger-scale movements and were more detectable than females (0.07 ± 0.01 SE vs. 0.02 ± 0.01 SE) in both working and protected landscapes. Female jaguars in ranches traveled farther than females in parks. Carnivore density increased with forest cover and wild prey activity, decreased with domestic prey activity, and was marginally higher in ranches (4.08 individuals/100 km2 ± 0.73 SE) than in parks (3.59 individuals/100 km2 ± 0.64 SE). Females outnumbered males in both landscapes (2.20–2.60 females/100 km2 vs. ~1.60 males/100 km2), although local male density reached up to 11.00 males/100 km2 in ranches (vs. 3.50 males/100 km2 in parks). While overall jaguar density was patchier in protected areas (̿ = 0.69 parks, 0.54 ranches), inter-annual patchiness was higher within ranches (Moran's I = 0.49–0.60 ranches, 0.69–0.70 parks), reflecting changes in cattle management. Despite major habitat alterations, working landscapes can support carnivore densities equivalent to (or exceeding that of) unmodified forest habitat, provided that wildlife-tolerant ranching practices are maintained.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 3 of 9
Eppley, T. M., S. Hoeks, C. A. Chapman, ..., J. Martínez, ..., R. B. Wallace et al. (2022). "Factors influencing terrestriality in primates of the Americas and Madagascar." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 119(42), e2121105119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2121105119
Abstract: Among mammals, the order Primates is exceptional in having a high taxonomic richness in which the taxa are arboreal, semiterrestrial, or terrestrial. Although habitual terrestriality is pervasive among the apes and African and Asian monkeys (catarrhines), it is largely absent among monkeys of the Americas (platyrrhines), as well as galagos, lemurs, and lorises (strepsirrhines), which are mostly arboreal. Numerous ecological drivers and species-specific factors are suggested to set the conditions for an evolutionary shift from arboreality to terrestriality, and current environmental conditions may provide analogous scenarios to those transitional periods. Therefore, we investigated predominantly arboreal, diurnal primate genera from the Americas and Madagascar that lack fully terrestrial taxa, to determine whether ecological drivers (habitat canopy cover, predation risk, maximum temperature, precipitation, primate species richness, human population density, and distance to roads) or species-specific traits (body mass, group size, and degree of frugivory) associate with increased terrestriality. We collated 150,961 observation hours across 2,227 months from 47 species at 20 sites in Madagascar and 48 sites in the Americas. Multiple factors were associated with ground use in these otherwise arboreal species, including increased temperature, a decrease in canopy cover, a dietary shift away from frugivory, and larger group size. These factors mostly explain intraspecific differences in terrestriality. As humanity modifies habitats and causes climate change, our results suggest that species already inhabiting hot, sparsely canopied sites, and exhibiting more generalized diets, are more likely to shift toward greater ground use.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 4 of 9
Halliday, W. D., N. Le Baron, J. J. Citta, ... and S. J. Insley (2022). "Overlap between bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) and vessel traffic in the North American Arctic and implications for conservation and management." Biological Conservation 276, e109820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109820
Abstract: Collisions between vehicles and wildlife is a global conservation concern, and vessel strikes are a leading cause of serious injury and mortality for baleen whales. Yet vessel strikes have rarely been studied in the Arctic. Vessel traffic is increasing throughout the Arctic as sea ice is declining, leading to increased overlap between vessels and whales. We examined hypothetical vessel strike risk for the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort (BCB) and Eastern Canada-West Greenland (ECWG) populations of bowhead whales during the open-water shipping season. We used satellite telemetry and aerial survey data to calculate monthly relative density of both populations, and satellite vessel tracking data to calculate monthly vessel density and speed. We estimated vessel strike risk by multiplying whale density by vessel density corrected by vessel speed. For the BCB population, the highest relative risk was near Utqiaġvik and Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, USA, and near Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada. For the ECWG population, the highest risk was in the Gulf of Boothia, Cumberland Sound, and near Isabella Bay, Nunavut, Canada. Strike risk was highest in August and September, corresponding with monthly trends in vessel traffic. This study provides important information for focussed monitoring and to minimize/mitigate the threat of vessel strikes to bowhead whales. Although vessel strike risk is presently lower for these populations than for other temperate large cetacean populations, bowhead whale behaviour and projected increases in traffic elevates their risk in the Arctic. Measures to mitigate vessel strike risk to bowhead whales will likely benefit other Arctic marine mammals like beluga and narwhal.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 5 of 9
Harris, S., K. Pütz, T. Mattern, G. Scioscia and A. Raya Rey (2023). "The role of conspecifics during pelagic foraging of Magellanic and benthic foraging of Gentoo penguins in the Beagle Channel, Argentina." Marine Biology 170(2), e17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-022-04163-3
Abstract: Seabirds coexist within colonies yet the role of conspecifics, whilst foraging is still poorly understood. In the 2019/20 and 2020/21 breeding seasons Magellanic penguins Spheniscus magellanicus and Gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua were equipped with video loggers and GPS devices (n = 3 and n = 2, respectively) or only GPS devices (n = 11 and n = 2) at Martillo Island (54°54′ S, 67°23′ W), Argentina and compared with GPS tracks from previous seasons (2014, 2015 and 2017). Magellanic penguins transited in groups with conspecifics to the feeding grounds (up to 13 individuals were recorded simultaneously) in search of pelagic Fuegian sprat Sprattus fuegensis, but then were not filmed in close company of conspecifics during prey capture. Gentoo penguins generally fed on Nototheniid sp. at the seafloor. Contrary to predictions, Gentoo penguins foraged with conspecifics in small groups of 2–4 individuals, they coordinated to dive down, search and ambush prey. Gentoo penguins were also recorded foraging pelagically on Fuegian sprat. Conspecifics play an important role either during the initial search for prey patches, particularly when searching for elusive pelagic prey or during the small-scale search and hunt for benthic prey hidden in the seafloor substrate. The presence of conspecifics seems to be important during foraging for Magellanic and Gentoo penguins and this may be reflecting a positive aspect of coloniality.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 6 of 9
Lausen, C. L., P. Lentini, S. Dulc et al. (2022). "Bat boxes as roosting habitat in urban centres: ‘Thinking outside the box’". In L. Moretto, J. L. Coleman, C. M. Davy et al. [Eds.], Urban Bats: Biology, Ecology, and Human Dimensions, 75-93. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13173-8_6
Abstract: Bats in urban environments depend on human-made structures or remnant natural habitats for roosting. Bat boxes are commonly used artificial structures that aim to replace lost tree or building roosts, but they are not a universal solution, or panacea, as few species use them, and other options exist that more closely mimic natural tree cavities. As long-lived mammals, bats may be lured into human-built structures with unstable conditions. These structures could act as ‘ecological traps’ if they suddenly become inaccessible with few other roost options available. Problems arising from the use of bat boxes, such as mortality events resulting from overheating, may reflect limited roost availability rather than inherent flaws in bat box designs. Mimicking a natural roosting area requires accommodating requisite roost switching. This can be accomplished in urban centres by manipulating existing trees or erecting multiple, varied bat boxes in close proximity, which could require purposeful urban planning. Engaging the public in community-driven bat conservation initiatives may hold the key to ensuring bats thrive in human-dominated landscapes. Here, we discuss problems associated with bat boxes and propose solutions, using case studies from Canada and Australia.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 7 of 9
Meißner, R., S. Winter, U. Westerhüs, ..., L. T. B. Hunter et al. (In Press). "The potential and shortcomings of mitochondrial DNA analysis for cheetah conservation management." Conservation Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-022-01483-1
Abstract: There are only about 7,100 adolescent and adult cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) remaining in the wild. With the majority occurring outside protected areas, their numbers are rapidly declining. Evidence-based conservation measures are essential for the survival of this species. Genetic data is routinely used to inform conservation strategies, e.g., by establishing conservation units (CU). A commonly used marker in conservation genetics is mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Here, we investigated the cheetah’s phylogeography using a large-scale mtDNA data set to refine subspecies distributions and better assign individuals to CUs. Our dataset mostly consisted of historic samples to cover the cheetah’s whole range as the species has been extinct in most of its former distribution. While our genetic data largely agree with geography-based subspecies assignments, several geographic regions show conflicting mtDNA signals. Our analyses support previous findings that evolutionary forces such as incomplete lineage sorting or mitochondrial capture likely confound the mitochondrial phylogeography of this species, especially in East and, to some extent, in Northeast Africa. We caution that subspecies assignments solely based on mtDNA should be treated carefully and argue for an additional standardized nuclear single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker set for subspecies identification and monitoring. However, the detection of the A. j. soemmeringii specific haplogroup by a newly designed Amplification-Refractory Mutation System (ARMS) can already provide support for conservation measures.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 8 of 9
Pande, A., A. Anand, S. Saini and and K. Sivakumar (2023). "Geospatial tools for monitoring vertebrate populations in Antarctica with a note on the ecological component of the Indian Antarctic Program." In M. Pandey, P. C. Pandey, Y. Ray, et al. [Eds.], Advances in Remote Sensing Technology and the Three Poles, 144-154. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119787754.ch9
Abstract: The Antarctic marine ecosystem serves as home to innumerable life forms including marine mammals, seabirds, fish, and a diverse invertebrate community. Several of these animal populations are monitored as indicators of ecosystem health. In the past, multiple methods have been utilized for surveying and monitoring the wildlife populations in Antarctica, which includes traditional ground surveys and aircraft or vessel-based surveys. With a steep improvement in availability of cutting-edge tools in Antarctic research, the monitoring methods are changing with an increased use of drones and remote-sensed imagery. This chapter details, with examples, the utility of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and satellite imagery for wildlife monitoring in Antarctica. Also briefly discussed is the seabird monitoring being conducted under the Indian Antarctic Program and recommendations are given for upscaling the techniques being currently used.
Peer-Reviewed Literature Citation 9 of 9
Sutcliffe, S., J. D. Lau, M. L. Barnes, ..., I. Mulwodo Muly, S. Wanyonyi, N. A. Muthiga et al. (2023). "COVID-19 impacts on food systems in fisheries-dependent island communities." Ecology & Society 28(1), e1. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-13769-280101
Abstract: Policies designed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted food systems worldwide. How impacts played out in local food systems, and how these affected the lived experiences of different people is only just coming to light. We conducted a structured analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 containment policies on the food systems of small-scale fishing communities in Kenya, Papua New Guinea, and Saint Lucia, based on interviews with men and women fishers, fish traders, and community leaders. Participants reported that containment policies lead indirectly to reduced volumes of food, lower dietary diversity, increased consumption of traditional foods, and reduced access to fish for food and income. Although the initiating policy and food and nutrition security outcomes often appeared similar, we found that the underlying pathways and feedbacks causing these impacts were different based on local context. Incorporating knowledge of how context-specific factors shape food system outcomes may be key to tailoring strategies to mitigate the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and designing timely, strategic interventions for future systemic shocks.
Grey Literature Citations
Grey Literature 1 of 1
Loreto Gobierno Regional, Gerencia Regional del Ambiente, Área de Conservación Regional Comunal Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo, and Wildlife Conservation Society, Peru (2022). Plan Maestro del Área de Conservación Regional Comunal Tamshiyacu Tahuayo y su Zona de Influencia 2022 - 2027. Lima, Peru: Wildlife Conservation Society, Peru. https://library.wcs.org/en-us/Scientific-Research/Research-Publications/Publications-Library/ctl/view/mid/40093/pubid/DMX4523400000.aspx
Abstract: El Área de Conservación Regional “Comunal Tamshiyacu Tahuayo” (ACR CTT) está ubicada en los distritos de Fernando Lores, en la provincia de Maynas; Yavarí, en la provincia Mariscal Ramón Castilla; así como Saquena y Yaquerana, en la provincia de Requena, en el departamento de Loreto. Tiene una extensión de 420 080.25 ha, fue establecida en mayo del 2009 mediante Decreto Supremo N.º 010-2009-MINAM y tiene como particularidad una alta diversidad de primates neotropicales. En el establecimiento del ACR se priorizaron como objetos de conservación el Cacajao calvus ucayalii “huapo rojo”, Trichechus inunguis “vaca marina”, tres especies de “guacamayos” (Ara macao, A. ararauna, A. chloroptera), poblaciones de mamíferos mayores (como Tayassu pecari “huangana” y Pecari tajacu “sajino”), comunidades de Lepidocaryum tenue “irapayales”, palmerales de Mauritia flexuosa “aguajales”, cochas y tahuampas (planicies de inundación), así como los bosques de colinas bajas. Este Plan Maestro recoge los acuerdos tomados para la cogestión del ACR CTT y su zona de influencia, incluye los compromisos de aliados estratégicos y es el resultado de un esfuerzo conjunto entre las comunidades organizadas y la jefatura del área. Constituye el instrumento de planificación que orientará las acciones conjuntas a implementarse en el periodo 2022-2027. Es producto de un proceso participativo liderado por la Gerencia Regional del Ambiente (GRAM), a través de la Subgerencia Regional de Conservación y Diversidad Biológica (SGRCDB). La cogestión del ACR CTT está orientada a las acciones que se desarrollan para conservar y manejar sosteniblemente los ecosistemas y las distintas especies de flora y fauna que brindan el sustento diario y contribuyen a mejorar la calidad de vida de la población. El ACR CTT tuvo dos Planes Maestros previos, el último de los cuales estuvo vigente en el periodo 2017-2021 y fue aprobado mediante Resolución Gerencial Regional N.º 004-2017-GRL-GGR-ARA LORETO. En este proceso de actualización se recogieron las lecciones aprendidas de la implementación del segundo Plan, lo que permitió establecer metas que no se habían percibido en los años anteriores y que ahora se manifiestan como necesidades de implementación. Asimismo, cuenta con los compromisos por parte de los distintos aliados estratégicos, como las comunidades, los grupos de gobernanza, las empresas, el municipio distrital y ONG.