Justification for continued conservation efforts following the delisting of a threatened species: a case study of the woylie, Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi (Marsupialia:Potoroidae)

2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Groom
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Population Monitoring ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Bettongia Penicillata ◽  
Species Lists ◽  
Iucn Criteria

Context. There are few cases where a species has been removed from a list of threatened species as a result of conservation efforts. One such example is the woylie (also known as the brush-tailed bettong), Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi, which was removed from state (Western Australian), national (Australian) and international lists in 1996, following the successful implementation of the species’ recovery plan. Since downgrading of its conservation status, the woylie has been considered conservation dependent. Conservation efforts continued in the form of toxic baiting to control the species’ principal predator, monitoring to identify trends in distribution and abundance, and translocation to help restore ecosystem function and further secure the conservation status of the species. Recent observations of a decline in abundance of the species have prompted a review of its conservation status. Aims. To assess the conservation status of the woylie in 2006 against IUCN criteria and to investigate the value of continued conservation efforts following the delisting of the species. Methods. Monitoring data were collated and parameters required to assess the conservation status of the woylie against IUCN criteria were investigated. The various processes associated with conserving the species, such as translocation and monitoring, were also assessed. Key results. The species underwent a rapid decline between 2001 and 2006, reducing the population by ~75% to an estimated 10 000 individuals. The decline has not been consistent across occurrences and of particular concern are the declines observed at Perup/Lake Muir, Dryandra and Batalling, which were previously considered amongst the largest and most stable occurrences. In 2006, the species qualified for listing as Endangered using IUCN criteria. The resources allocated to translocation and monitoring the delisted woylie have ultimately resulted in managers being in a much better position to understand and act when an unforeseeable population decline occurred. Conclusion. Conservation efforts and population monitoring of delisted species must continue at a level where changes in distribution or abundance, which are significant enough to support relisting, can be detected. Implications. Threatened species lists should not be the primary consideration in allocation of resources to conservation efforts.

scholarly journals First record of Plantago commersoniana (Plantaginaceae), a rare and threatened species, in the Central-West region of Brazil

Check List ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Hassemer ◽  
Osmar Dos Santos Ribas ◽  
Nina Rønsted
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
New Record ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
First Record ◽  
Disjunct Distribution ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
West Region ◽  
Mato Grosso Do Sul ◽  
Iucn Criteria

Plantago commersoniana is a rare and threatened species, with a highly disjunct distribution, mainly in southern Brazil. This study expands its distribution to Mato Grosso do Sul state, in the Central-West region of Brazil, due to the discovery of a collection of this species from rocky grasslands in Ponta Porã. This new record is ca. 285 km distant from the nearest known population, in Yhú, Caaguazú department, eastern Paraguay. This is also the first record of a native Plantago species in Mato Grosso do Sul. Its conservation status according to the IUCN criteria is Endangered (EN).

Local and expert knowledge improve conservation assessment of rare and iconic Fijian tree species

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnar Keppel ◽  
Alifereti Naikatini ◽  
Isaac A. Rounds ◽  
Robert L. Pressey ◽  
Nunia T. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Conservation Assessment ◽  
Red Lists ◽  
Species Lists ◽  
Conservation Threats

In many developing countries, threatened species lists are unavailable and IUCN Red Lists are very incomplete. Because limited resources are available for conservation in developing countries, detailed field assessments and scientific study of threatened species are often not feasible. However, considerable knowledge about biodiversity exists among experts and local land users. We used questionnaires as part of field surveys to compile information about the abundance, conservation threats, distribution, and ecology of populations of four threatened and iconic target species in Fiji (Acmopyle sahniana, Dacrydium nausoriense, Podocarpus affinis [all Podocarpaceae], and Cynometra falcata [Leguminosae]). These questionnaires were completed in the field for all known populations by an assessor, compiling field observations and measurements with information from local land users and local and outside experts. For the four species in this study, the questionnaires improved estimates of population size, identified previously unknown populations, provided estimates of regeneration, and identified key conservation threats. Species of highly fragmented remnants in drier climates were less protected than those in more contiguous forests of moist climates. The methods employed provided rapid, cost-effective information that can be used to revise IUCN Red List and conservation status assessments and are applicable to other Pacific Island and developing countries.

scholarly journals Trends and biases in the listing and recovery planning for threatened species: an Australian case study

Oryx ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica C. Walsh ◽  
James E. M. Watson ◽  
Madeleine C. Bottrill ◽  
Liana N. Joseph ◽  
Hugh P. Possingham
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Biological Conservation ◽  
Recovery Planning ◽  
Threat Status ◽  
Species Lists ◽  
Planning Processes ◽  
Australian Case ◽  
Taxonomic Groups

AbstractMany countries rely on formal legislation to protect and plan for the recovery of threatened species. Even though the listing procedures in threatened species legislation are designed to be consistent for all species there is usually a bias in implementing the laws towards charismatic fauna and flora, which leads to uneven allocation of conservation efforts. However, the extent of bias in national threatened species lists is often unknown. Australia is a good example: the list of threatened species under the Environmental Protection and Biological Conservation Act has not been reviewed since 2000, when it was first introduced. We assessed how well this Act represents threatened species across taxonomic groups and threat status, and whether biases exist in the types of species with recovery plans. We found that birds, amphibians and mammals have high levels of threatened species (12–24%) but < 6% of all reptiles and plants and < 0.01% of invertebrates and fish are considered threatened. Similar taxonomic biases are present in the types of species with recovery plans. Although there have been recent improvements in the representation of threatened species with recovery plans across taxonomic groups, there are still major gaps between the predicted and listed numbers of threatened species. Because of biases in the listing and recovery planning processes many threatened species may receive little attention regardless of their potential for recovery: a lost opportunity to achieve the greatest conservation impact possible. The Environmental Protection and Biological Conservation Act in Australia needs reform to rectify these biases.

scholarly journals A National assessment of aichi biodiversity target 12 – an international conservation initiative

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirandeep K Dhami
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
National Assessment ◽  
The Status ◽  
Aichi Biodiversity Targets ◽  
Conservation Plans ◽  
Taking Action

The Aichi Biodiversity targets are a set of twenty targets for the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) that were developed with the intention to help each participating country to measure the progress made in preventing the loss of biological diversity. These targets provide a 10-year period for taking action by the countries. These targets setup in 2010 are expected to be achieved within 2020 by all the 193 countries signatory to CBD. Aichi Biodiversity Target 12 is considered to be one of the most important targets, which is directly or indirectly linked to all of the other 19 CBD Targets. Aichi-12 sets up the goal for each country to prevent the extinction of known threatened species and improve the conservation status of those species that are on decline. This target calls for establishment of conservation plans for species that face a high risk to extinction. Hence, it is of urgent need to understand the extinction risk posed to each of the threatened species in the country and the factors that are responsible for the population decline in species. Therefore, it is important for taking initiatives to remove/reduce those factors posing risk to the survival of species. This study presents a brief overview of the status and progress made by India towards achievement of Aichi-12.

scholarly journals Fisheries, life-history and conservation status of the catfish pirá Conorhynchos conirostris (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes) in Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Lima Godinho ◽  
Hugo Pereira Godinho
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Minas Gerais ◽  
The State ◽  
Fishery Resource ◽  
Red Lists ◽  
Iucn Criteria

ABSTRACT Pirá, Conorhynchos conirostris (Valenciennes, 1840), a large migratory catfish endemic to the São Francisco River (SFR), is listed as threatened in the red lists of both Brazil and the state of Minas Gerais. Although fishing for pirá has been prohibited, it is still an important fishery resource, particularly in the middle SFR. We used historical and current occurrence and abundance data regarding pirá to determine if it meets the IUCN criteria of a threatened species. Pirá occurs in the main course of the SFR as well as in its major tributaries. Unlike the most well-known migratory fishes of the SFR, pirá does not use floodplain lakes as nurseries. In the first half of the 20th century, pirá occurred from the upper to the lower SFR. Currently, it is most abundant in the middle SFR, and is rare in the upper SFR and even rarer in the sub-middle SFR. Pirá has not been captured in the lower SFR since around the mid-1980’s. Despite the reduction in its geographic distribution, we did not find evidence to justify considering pirá as threatened. Thus, we recommend that it be removed from the red lists of Brazil and the state of Minas Gerais.

scholarly journals Assessing population size of the Chestnut-Capped Foliage-Gleaner

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (24) ◽  
pp. 281-290
Author(s):  
Luciene Faria ◽  
Lucas A. Carrara ◽  
Frederico I. Garcia ◽  
Marcos Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Population Fluctuations ◽  
Total Population Size ◽  
Iucn Criteria

Chestnut-Capped Foliage-Gleaner (Hylocryptus rectirostris) is a Neotropical ovenbird species (Furnariidae) endemic to gallery forests of the Cerrado region of central Brazil. While it is not considered globally threatened, the degree of habitat loss occurring throughout much of its known distribution may warrant its inclusion on red lists beyond just the state of Sao Paulo. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the conservation status of Chestnut-Capped Foliage-Gleaner according to those criteria adopted by the IUCN. Results of censuses conducted in the Serra do Cipó National Park were used to estimate the entire population size of the Chestnut-Capped Foliage-Gleaner and refine our understanding of its actual geographic distribution. Census results indicate that the species has a population density of 3.8 pairs/100 ha and occupies only a quarter of its preferred habitat in the study area, which is well below the carrying capacity. The total population size estimate, accounting for its entire extent of known occurrence, is just over 54,000 pairs. The geographic distribution and total population size estimated in this study do not indicate that the Chestnut-Capped Foliage-Gleaner should be considered a threatened species according to IUCN criteria. However, it was not possible to evaluate this species’ conservation status based on information concerning population fluctuations over time, another of the IUCN criteria. Nonetheless, the rate of habitat destruction in the Cerrado during the last century has certainly resulted in a population decline of greater than 10%, a factor sufficient enough to warrant its inclusion in the IUCN category of vulnerable.

Capturing expert knowledge for threatened species assessments: a case study using NatureServe conservation status ranks

2004 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracey J. Regan ◽  
Lawrence L. Master ◽  
Geoffrey A. Hammerson
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Conservation Status

scholarly journals Plant diversity assessment of karst limestone, a case study of Malaysia’s Batu Caves

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 21-49
Author(s):  
Ruth Kiew ◽  
Rafidah Abdul Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Peninsular Malaysia ◽  
Importance Score ◽  
Diversity Assessment

Batu Caves hill is typical of karst hills in Peninsular Malaysia due to its small size and high biodiversity. It harbours 366 vascular plant species that represent about 25% of the Peninsula’s limestone flora. Five species are endemic to Batu Caves and 23 are threatened species. This high biodiversity is the result of many microhabitats, each with their own assemblages of species. Threats are especially severe as the area of Batu Caves is surrounded by urbanisation that encroaches to the foot of cliffs, is vulnerable to fire, habitat disturbance and, formerly, by quarrying. Assigning a Conservation Importance Score (CIS) to all species is quantitative and accurate, can be implemented rapidly and produces reproducible results. Species with highest CIS are native species of primary vegetation, restricted to limestone substrates, endangered conservation status and, in this case, endemic to Batu Caves. It allows not only species, but microhabitats, sites within a hill and different hills to be compared. By identifying and surveying all microhabitats and focusing on locating endemic and threatened species, maximum biodiversity can be captured. Of the 16 microhabitats identified, the most threatened were the buffer zone, lower levels of steep earth-covered slopes and cave entrances. Application of this method provides a scientific basis for balancing the need to protect microhabitats and sites with the highest CIS, with their multiple uses by various stakeholders, which, at Batu Caves, include the activities of cave temples and eco-recreation. It also provides a scientific quantitative method to compare hills to ensure that those hills with highest CIS are not released for mining.

scholarly journals The Demographic History of Micro-endemics: Have Rare Species Always Been Rare?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Helmstetter ◽  
Stuart Cable ◽  
Franck Rakotonasolo ◽  
Romer Rabarijaona ◽  
Mijoro Rakotoarinivo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Rare Species ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Demographic History ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Conservation Assessment ◽  
History Of ◽  
Narrow Endemics ◽  
Data Deficient

AbstractExtinction has increased as human activities impact ecosystems. Conservation assessments for the IUCN red list are a fundamental tool in aiding the prevention of further extinction, yet, relatively few species have been thoroughly assessed. To increase the efficiency of assessments, novel approaches are needed to highlight threatened species that are currently data deficient. Many Madagascan plant species currently have extremely narrow ranges, but this may not have always been the case. To assess this, we used high-throughput DNA sequencing for 2-5 individuals of each species - reflecting the paucity of samples available for rare species. We estimated effective population size (Ne) for each species and compared this to census population (Nc) sizes when known. In each case, Ne was an order of magnitude larger than Nc – a signature of rapid, recent population decline. We then estimated the demographic history of each species, tracking changes in Ne over time. Five out of ten species displayed significant population declines towards the present (68–90% decreases). Our results for palm trees indicate that it is possible to predict extinction risk, particularly in the most threatened species. We performed simulations to show that our approach has the power to detect population decline during the Anthropocene, but performs less well when less data is used. Similar declines to those in palms were observed in data deficient species or those assessed as of least concern. These analyses reveal that Madagascar’s narrow endemics were not always rare, having experienced rapid decline in their recent history. Our approach offers the opportunity to target species in need of conservation assessment with little prior information, particularly in regions where human modification of the environment has been rapid.SummaryCurrent IUCN conservation assessment methods are reliant on observed declines in species population and range sizes over the last one hundred years, but for the majority of species this information is not available. We used a population genetic approach to reveal historical demographic decline in the rare endemic flora of Madagascar. These results show that it is possible to predict extinction risk from demographic patterns inferred from genetic data and that destructive human influence is likely to have resulted in the very high frequency of narrow endemics present on the island. Our approach will act as an important tool for rapidly assessing the threatened status of poorly known species in need of further study and conservation, particularly for tropical flora and fauna.

Population size and trends of Ludwig’s Bustard Neotis ludwigii and other large terrestrial birds in the Karoo, South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
JESSICA M. SHAW ◽  
ANDREW R. JENKINS ◽  
DAVID G. ALLAN ◽  
PETER G. RYAN
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Population Monitoring ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Seasonal Effect ◽  
Succulent Karoo ◽  
Trend Data ◽  
Similar Density ◽  
The Impact

SummaryLudwig’s Bustard Neotis ludwigii is globally ‘Endangered’ because of a projected population decline resulting from high collision mortality on power lines throughout its southern African range. Population monitoring is key to the effective conservation of threatened species, but there are no population trend data to confirm the impact of this mortality. We repeated extensive road and aerial census counts of Ludwig’s Bustards and other large terrestrial birds, previously conducted in the late 1980s, across the Karoo, South Africa. An aerial survey gave similar density patterns to a concurrent road count, suggesting that road counts are an adequate method for censusing Ludwig’s Bustards. In common with the 1980s surveys, there was a strong seasonal effect in the Succulent Karoo, with Ludwig’s Bustards abundant in winter and rare in summer. There was no evidence of a corresponding decline in the Nama Karoo in winter, but this probably relates to reduced detectability in the Nama Karoo in summer as there is evidence for large proportions of the population migrating between biomes. No relationship was found between the numbers of Ludwig’s Bustards and rainfall, perhaps because of larger scale rainfall patterns in the Karoo and/or because the species is not strictly nomadic. Compared with the 1980s, Ludwig’s Bustards were more strongly associated with transformed lands, which have increased marginally on road count transects. Using Distance, the current South African population is estimated at 114,000 (95% CI 87,000-148,000) birds, with no evidence for a population decline over the past two decades. Numbers of Blue Cranes Anthropoides paradiseus increased since the 1980s, corresponding with other data supporting this trend, but numbers of Karoo Korhaan Eupodotis vigorsii, Southern Black Korhaan Afrotis afra and Blue Korhaan E. caerulescens all decreased, raising concerns about the conservation status of these resident bustard species.

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