scholarly journals Iran’s roads: mitigating the most serious threat to the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah Acinonyx jubatus venaticus

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamshid Parchizadeh ◽  
Maria Gatta ◽  
Roberta Bencini ◽  
Ali Turk Qashqaei ◽  
Mohammad Ali Adibi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Road Network ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Acinonyx Jubatus ◽  
Vehicle Collisions ◽  
Crossing Structures ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Wildlife Populations ◽  
High Level

AbstractWildlife-vehicle collisions are an important cause of mortality for many species, and the number of collisions is expected to grow rapidly as the global road network quickly expands over the next few decades. Wildlife-vehicle collisions also have the potential to be extremely detrimental to small wildlife populations, such as the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus), with only 43 individuals remaining in the wild. We assessed the spatial distribution of road mortalities between 2004 and 2016 to identify roadkill hotspots involving Asiatic cheetahs in Iran using network kernel density estimation. A total of sixteen cheetah fatalities due to wildlife-vehicle collisions were recorded, and we identified six road fragments as roadkill hotspots. Efforts to reduce wildlife-cheetah collisions should be targeted in the densest hotspots. We review the options available to achieve this, and we recommend a strategic shift away from the ineffective warning signage currently used, and instead suggest adopting an evidence-based approach focusing on installing wildlife crossing structures in conjunction with fencing in roadkill hotspots. These measures will help to enhance the conservation status of the Asiatic cheetah, as the current high level of mortality of Asiatic cheetahs on Iran’s roads could have potentially dramatic impacts on this critically endangered subspecies.

scholarly journals Conservation Genomic Analyses of African and Asiatic Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) Across Their Current and Historical Species Range

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Prost ◽  
Ana Paula Machado ◽  
Julia Zumbroich ◽  
Lisa Preier ◽  
Sarita Mahtani-Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mhc Class Ii ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Nuclear Data ◽  
East African ◽  
Acinonyx Jubatus ◽  
Original Distribution ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Genome Wide Data ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Uncertain Future

SummaryCheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) are majestic carnivores and the fastest land animals; yet, they are quickly heading towards an uncertain future. Threatened by habitat loss, human-interactions and illegal trafficking, there are only approximately 7,100 individuals remaining in the wild. Cheetahs used to roam large parts of Africa, and Western and Southern Asia. Today they are confined to about 9% of their original distribution. To investigate their genetic diversity and conservation status, we generated genome-wide data from historical and modern samples of all four currently recognized subspecies, along with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and major histo-compatibility complex (MHC) data. We found clear genetic differentiation between the sub-species, thus refuting earlier assumptions that cheetahs show only little population differentiation. Our genome-wide nuclear data indicate that cheetahs from East Africa may be more closely related to A. j. soemmeringii than they are to A. j. jubatus. This supports the need for further research on the classification of cheetah subspecies, as East African cheetahs are currently included in the Southern Africa subspecies, A. j. jubatus. We detected stronger inbreeding in individuals of the Critically Endangered A. j. venaticus (Iran) and A. j. hecki (Northwest Africa), and show that overall genome-wide heterozygosity in cheetah is lower than that reported for other threatened and endangered felids, such as tigers and lions. Furthermore, we show that MHC class II diversity in cheetahs is generally higher than previously reported, but still lower than in other felids. Our results provide new and important information for efficient genetic monitoring, subspecies assignments and evidence-based conservation policy decisions.

scholarly journals Using road patrol data to identify factors associated with carnivore roadkill counts

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samual T Williams ◽  
Wendy Collinson ◽  
Claire Patterson-Abrolat ◽  
David G Marneweck ◽  
Lourens H Swanepoel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Road Network ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Model Species ◽  
Vehicle Collisions ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Wildlife Populations ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
The Relationship

As the global road network expands, roads pose an emerging threat to wildlife populations. One way in which roads can affect wildlife is wildlife-vehicle collisions, which can be a significant cause of mortality through roadkill. In order to successfully mitigate these problems, it is vital to understand the factors that can explain the distribution of roadkill. Collecting the data required to enable this can be expensive and time consuming, but there is significant potential in partnering with organisations that conduct existing road patrols to obtain the necessary data. We assessed the feasibility of using roadkill data collected daily between 2014 and 2017 by road patrol staff from a private road agency on a 410 km length of the N3 road in South Africa. We modelled the relationship between a set of environmental and anthropogenic variables on the number of roadkill carcasses, using serval (Leptailurus serval) as a model species. We recorded 5.24 serval roadkill carcasses/100 km/year. The number of carcasses was related to season, the amount of wetland, and the number of owls killed on the roads, but was not related to any of the anthropogenic variables we included. This suggests that roadkill patterns may differ greatly depending on the ecology of species of interest, but targeting mitigation measures where roads pass through wetlands may help to reduce serval roadkill. Partnering with road agencies for data collection offers powerful opportunities to identify factors related to roadkill distribution and reduce the threats posed by roads to wildlife.

scholarly journals Using road patrol data to identify factors associated with carnivore roadkill counts

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samual T Williams ◽  
Wendy Collinson ◽  
Claire Patterson-Abrolat ◽  
David G Marneweck ◽  
Lourens H Swanepoel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Road Network ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Model Species ◽  
Vehicle Collisions ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Wildlife Populations ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
The Relationship

As the global road network expands, roads pose an emerging threat to wildlife populations. One way in which roads can affect wildlife is wildlife-vehicle collisions, which can be a significant cause of mortality through roadkill. In order to successfully mitigate these problems, it is vital to understand the factors that can explain the distribution of roadkill. Collecting the data required to enable this can be expensive and time consuming, but there is significant potential in partnering with organisations that conduct existing road patrols to obtain the necessary data. We assessed the feasibility of using roadkill data collected daily between 2014 and 2017 by road patrol staff from a private road agency on a 410 km length of the N3 road in South Africa. We modelled the relationship between a set of environmental and anthropogenic variables on the number of roadkill carcasses, using serval (Leptailurus serval) as a model species. We recorded 5.24 serval roadkill carcasses/100 km/year. The number of carcasses was related to season, the amount of wetland, and the number of owls killed on the roads, but was not related to any of the anthropogenic variables we included. This suggests that roadkill patterns may differ greatly depending on the ecology of species of interest, but targeting mitigation measures where roads pass through wetlands may help to reduce serval roadkill. Partnering with road agencies for data collection offers powerful opportunities to identify factors related to roadkill distribution and reduce the threats posed by roads to wildlife.

scholarly journals Distribution, status, and conservation of Camellia changii Ye (Theaceae), a Critically Endangered plant endemic to southern China

Oryx ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 358-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai Ren ◽  
Shuguang Jian ◽  
Yongju Chen ◽  
Hong Liu ◽  
Qianmei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Flowering Rate ◽  
In The Wild

AbstractThe distribution of the endemic threatened plant Camellia changii Ye (Family Theaceae) is restricted to a small area in southern China, and little else is known about its status in the wild. To provide information for the conservation of C. changii we investigated its distribution, population size and structure, and habitat, and assessed its conservation status. Surveys confirmed that the species grows in a narrow band along both sides of a 4 km long segment of a stream in Ehuangzhang Nature Reserve, under the discontinuous canopy of a secondary evergreen broadleaved forest on well-drained, acidic sandy loam soil. We found a total of 1,039 individuals of C. changii. The population has a high flowering rate but a low seed-setting rate. The population appears to be in decline because no seedlings and few young plants were evident. Our findings indicate that C. changii should be categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. We have recommended an integrated species-conservation plan for the species that includes patrolling the Ehuangzhang Nature Reserve to prevent plant removal, establishing an ex situ living collection that contains the entire wild genetic diversity (accomplished by grafting of short cuttings from all wild individuals), facilitating propagation for commercial use, and implementing reintroduction to augment the wild population.

scholarly journals Distribution, ecology and conservation status of Dionysia involucrata Zaprjag., an endangered endemic of Hissar Mts (Tajikistan, Middle Asia)

2014 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arkadiusz S. Nowak ◽  
Marcin Nobis ◽  
Sylwia Nowak ◽  
Agnieszka Nobis
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Extent Of Occurrence ◽  
Area Of Occupancy ◽  
Middle Asia ◽  
High Level ◽  
Granite Rocks

<em>Dionysia involucrata</em> Zaprjag. (Primulaceae) is known as critically endangered endemic species of Hissar Mountains in Tajikistan. It is reported from few localities mainly in Varzob River valley and its tributaries. The species inhabits steep or overhanging faces of granite rocks in narrow river gorges. During the research all known populations of <em>D. involucrata</em> were examined in respect of the habitat conditions and species composition of vegetation plots. We analyzed the population extent of the species in its range in Tajikistan and the main threats in order to assess its conservation status. The detrended correspondence analysis was performed on a matrix of 65 relevés and 49 species (vascular plants and mosses), to classify the phytocoenosis with domination of <em>D. involucrata</em> according to their floristic composition in relation to other petrophytic vegetation units. Using our field data regarding present extent of occurrence and area of occupancy we conclude that the threat category of <em>D. involucrata</em> should be reassessed from critically endangered to endangered. The species shows decline tendency in extent of occurrence, area of occupancy as well as in number of locations. The vegetation plots with domination of <em>D. involucrata</em> have relatively high level of separateness due to different species composition. We define the new association – <em>Dionysietum involucratae</em> – representing chasmophytic vegetation of submontane and montane zone in Middle Asia (ca. 1000–1600 m a.s.l.). The plots of <em>Dionysietum involucratae</em> were found mainly on granite rocks, on very steep or overhanging faces, on southwestern or southern exposition. The association is rather poor in species with inconsiderable contribution of mosses. Despite the diagnostic species, <em>Campanula incanescens</em>, <em>Carex koshewnikowii</em> and <em>Scutellaria hissarica</em> were the most abundant and frequent taxa within the researched patches of vegetation.

scholarly journals Using road patrol data to identify factors associated with carnivore roadkill counts

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samual T. Williams ◽  
Wendy Collinson ◽  
Claire Patterson-Abrolat ◽  
David G. Marneweck ◽  
Lourens H. Swanepoel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Road Network ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Model Species ◽  
Vehicle Collisions ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Wildlife Populations ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
The Relationship

As the global road network expands, roads pose an emerging threat to wildlife populations. One way in which roads can affect wildlife is wildlife-vehicle collisions, which can be a significant cause of mortality through roadkill. In order to successfully mitigate these problems, it is vital to understand the factors that can explain the distribution of roadkill. Collecting the data required to enable this can be expensive and time consuming, but there is significant potential in partnering with organisations that conduct existing road patrols to obtain the necessary data. We assessed the feasibility of using roadkill data collected daily between 2014 and 2017 by road patrol staff from a private road agency on a 410 km length of the N3 road in South Africa. We modelled the relationship between a set of environmental and anthropogenic variables on the number of roadkill carcasses, using serval (Leptailurus serval) as a model species. We recorded 5.24 serval roadkill carcasses/100 km/year. The number of carcasses was related to season, the amount of wetland, and NDVI, but was not related to any of the anthropogenic variables we included. This suggests that roadkill patterns may differ greatly depending on the ecology of species of interest, but targeting mitigation measures where roads pass through wetlands may help to reduce serval roadkill. Partnering with road agencies for data collection offers powerful opportunities to identify factors related to roadkill distribution and reduce the threats posed by roads to wildlife.

scholarly journals Distribution and current conservation status of the Mexican Goodeidae (Actinopterygii, Cyprinodontiformes)

ZooKeys ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 885 ◽  
pp. 115-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Lyons ◽  
Kyle R. Piller ◽  
Juan Miguel Artigas-Azas ◽  
Omar Dominguez-Dominguez ◽  
Pablo Gesundheit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Captive Population ◽  
Current Conservation ◽  
Captive Populations ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
The Many

The current distribution and abundance of the 40 species of Goodeidae fishes known from Mexico are described, and a total of 84 Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) is designated within these species. Two species and four ESUs are likely extinct with no captive populations, and three species and eight ESUs are probably extinct in the wild but have at least one captive population in Mexico, the United States, or Europe. Of the 35 extant species, the analyses indicate that nine should be considered as critically endangered, 14 as endangered, nine as vulnerable, and only three as least concern. Twenty-seven of these species have experienced substantial declines in distribution or abundance or both since 2000, and only eight appear to have remained relatively stable. Of the 72 extant ESUs, our analyses indicate that 29 should be considered as critically endangered, 21 as endangered, 18 as vulnerable, and only four as least concern. Brief summaries of the historic and current distributions and abundance of each species are provided, as well as ESU. Three strategies are recommended to conserve Mexican goodeids: protect the best-quality remaining habitats where goodeids still persist, restore degraded habitat and re-introduce species or ESUs where practical, and establish captive populations to ensure continued survival of the many species and ESUs that will almost inevitably go extinct in the coming years. Limited resources require cooperation and collaboration between scientists, conservationists, and aquarium hobbyists for successful captive maintenance.

scholarly journals The critically endangered Asiatic cheetah Acinonyx jubatus venaticus in Iran: a review of recent distribution, and conservation status

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1027-1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad S. Farhadinia ◽  
Luke T. B. Hunter ◽  
Alireza Jourabchian ◽  
Fatemeh Hosseini-Zavarei ◽  
Hasan Akbari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Status ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Acinonyx Jubatus

Silene lulakabadensis (Caryophyllaceae), a New Species from Iran

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-28
Author(s):  
Mahnaz Heidari Rikan ◽  
Farrokh Ghahremaninejad ◽  
Mostafa Assadi
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Green Plant ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Rare Plant ◽  
Soil Slopes ◽  
Dark Green ◽  
A New Species

Silene lulakabadensis Heidari, F. Ghahrem. & Assadi is described as a new species from Zanjan Province, Iran. The new species is a dark green plant, perennial and woody at the base, that was collected on marl soil slopes at 2100 m. It is believed to be closely related to S. eriocalycina Boiss. from section Auriculatae (Boiss.) Schischk. but is a smaller plant, with much shorter internodes, and pinkish-white retuse to emarginate petals with very small or no scales. It is a very rare plant and its conservation status is assessed as Critically Endangered.

Detection of critically endangered marine species with dwindling populations in the wild using eDNA gives hope for sawfishes

2021 ◽  
Vol 168 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramón Bonfil ◽  
Paola Palacios-Barreto ◽  
Oscar Uriel Mendoza Vargas ◽  
Melina Ricaño-Soriano ◽  
Píndaro Díaz-Jaimes
Keyword(s):  
Marine Species ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
In The Wild
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