scholarly journals Coupling GIS spatial analysis and Ensemble Niche Modelling to investigate climate change-related threats to the Sicilian pond turtle Emys trinacris, an endangered species from the Mediterranean

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattia Iannella ◽  
Francesco Cerasoli ◽  
Paola D’Alessandro ◽  
Giulia Console ◽  
Maurizio Biondi
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Potential Distribution ◽  
Gap Analysis ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines ◽  
Boosted Regression Trees ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Niche Modelling ◽  
Pond Turtle ◽  
Emys Trinacris

The pond turtle Emys trinacris is an endangered endemic species of Sicily showing a fragmented distribution throughout the main island. In this study, we applied “Ensemble Niche Modelling”, combining more classical statistical techniques as Generalized Linear Models and Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines with machine-learning approaches as Boosted Regression Trees and Maxent, to model the potential distribution of the species under current and future climatic conditions. Moreover, a “gap analysis” performed on both the species’ presence sites and the predictions from the Ensemble Models is proposed to integrate outputs from these models, in order to assess the conservation status of this threatened species in the context of biodiversity management. For this aim, four “Representative Concentration Pathways”, corresponding to different greenhouse gases emissions trajectories were considered to project the obtained models to both 2050 and 2070. Areas lost, gained or remaining stable for the target species in the projected models were calculated. E. trinacris’ potential distribution resulted to be significantly dependent upon precipitation-linked variables, mainly precipitation of wettest and coldest quarter. Future negative effects for the conservation of this species, because of more unstable precipitation patterns and extreme meteorological events, emerged from our analyses. Further, the sites currently inhabited by E. trinacris are, for more than a half, out of the Protected Areas network, highlighting an inadequate management of the species by the authorities responsible for its protection. Our results, therefore, suggest that in the next future the Sicilian pond turtle will need the utmost attention by the scientific community to avoid the imminent risk of extinction. Finally, the gap analysis performed in GIS environment resulted to be a very informative post-modeling technique, potentially applicable to the management of species at risk and to Protected Areas’ planning in many contexts.

scholarly journals Estimating the global conservation status of more than 15,000 Amazonian tree species

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (10) ◽  
pp. e1500936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans ter Steege ◽  
Nigel C. A. Pitman ◽  
Timothy J. Killeen ◽  
William F. Laurance ◽  
Carlos A. Peres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Gap Analysis ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Threatened Plant Species ◽  
The Tropics

Estimates of extinction risk for Amazonian plant and animal species are rare and not often incorporated into land-use policy and conservation planning. We overlay spatial distribution models with historical and projected deforestation to show that at least 36% and up to 57% of all Amazonian tree species are likely to qualify as globally threatened under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria. If confirmed, these results would increase the number of threatened plant species on Earth by 22%. We show that the trends observed in Amazonia apply to trees throughout the tropics, and we predict that most of the world’s >40,000 tropical tree species now qualify as globally threatened. A gap analysis suggests that existing Amazonian protected areas and indigenous territories will protect viable populations of most threatened species if these areas suffer no further degradation, highlighting the key roles that protected areas, indigenous peoples, and improved governance can play in preventing large-scale extinctions in the tropics in this century.

Towards a conservation strategy for Aegilops species

2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (02) ◽  
pp. 126-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Maxted ◽  
K. White ◽  
J. Valkoun ◽  
J. Konopka ◽  
S. Hargreaves
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Gap Analysis ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Aegilops Speltoides ◽  
Current Conservation ◽  
North West ◽  
Specific Distribution ◽  
Passport Data

Aegilopsspecies provide an invaluable source of genes for the improvement of cultivated wheats. This paper illustrates how the existing geo-referenced passport data associated withAegilopsspecies can be used to identify gaps in current conservation and also to develop a more systematic conservation strategy for the genus. Taxonomic, ecological, geographic and conservation information for the 22Aegilopsspecies were collated from ICARDA, EURISCO, GRIN and SINGER datasets, synthesized and analysed. The combined database contained 9866 unique geo-referenced observations collected between 1932 and 2004. Patterns of specific distribution based on the germplasm accession data and the predicted distribution using climatic models were compared in conservation gap analysis using GIS tools. Theex situconservation status of each taxon was assessed and used to provide a priority ranking. Futureex situcollection is recommended in Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Iran, Israel, Libya, Spain, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The species identified with the highestex situconservation priority are as follows:Aegilops bicornis,Aegilops comosa,Aegilops juvenalis,Aegilops kotschyi,Aegilops peregrina,Aegilops sharonensis,Aegilops speltoides,Aegilops uniaristataandAegilops vavilovii. Patterns of species richness based on the germplasm accession passport data are presented and five complementary regions ofAegilopsdiversity were identified in west Syria and north Lebanon, central Israel, north-west Turkey, Turkmenistan and south France. Within these areas, 16 IUCN-recognized protected areas are found and these are identified as potential sites to establish genetic reserves. However, the premierAegilopshotspots on the Syrian/Lebanese border are not coincident with any existing internationally recognized protected areas, and here there is a need to establish a novel protected area.

scholarly journals Protected area networks are insufficient for the conservation of threatened farmland species: A case study on corncrake (Crex crex) and lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor) in Serbia

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-121
Author(s):  
Dimitrije Radisic ◽  
Milica Miskovic ◽  
Sandra Jovanovic ◽  
Tijana Nikolic ◽  
Goran Sekulic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Gap Analysis ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Farmland Birds ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Lesser Grey Shrike ◽  
Suitable Habitats ◽  
Grey Shrike

To conserve threatened farmland species requires an estimate of the representation of their habitats within protected areas, especially in countries with inadequate mechanisms for protecting and managing habitats outside of protected areas. We conducted a gap analysis to evaluate the conservation status of suitable habitats for two threatened farmland bird species - corncrake (Crex crex) and lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor) - within the networks of national protected areas (NPAs) and important bird areas (IBAs) in Serbia. We determined the distribution of suitable habitats using MaxEnt based on climate, topography and land-cover variables. We found that the proportion of suitable habitats within the NPAs is very low (12.31% and 2.04% for the corncrake and lesser grey shrike, respectively), although it is significantly higher for both species within IBAs (25.86% and 9.91%, respectively). Upland farmland habitats (preferred by corncrake) are better represented within both networks (especially IBAs) than lowland habitats (preferred by lesser grey shrike). Our spatially explicit distribution models identify suitable habitats within and beyond the NPAs and IBAs that require monitoring and appropriate conservation measures. The low representation of suitable habitats within these networks is an obstacle to the conservation of both species and other farmland birds in Serbia.

scholarly journals Conservation of endemic species in the national system of protected areas from Nicaragua

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-278
Author(s):  
Mijail Pérez ◽  
A. Meyrat ◽  
J. Zolotoff ◽  
O. Saldaña ◽  
A. Medina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Gap Analysis ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Inland Water ◽  
National System ◽  
Water Ecosystems ◽  
Representative System

Nicaragua, in the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), agreed to establish a “Representative system of protected areas that adequately conserve biodiversity and terrestrial, marine and inland water ecosystems”. Pursuant to the above, we conducted a Gap Analysis of Biodiversity Conservation for the National System of Protected Areas (SINAP) of Nicaragua, focused on terrestrial and inland water ecosystems as well as on terrestrial species. This paper presents the results of the analysis of the conservation status of the endemic species in the national system of protected areas of Nicaragua. The groups considered for analysis were plants, mollusks, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Data presented came from reviewing books, scientific papers, management plans of protected areas and unpublished reports by the authors, and nearly 140 websites. Of the 75 plant species and 31 animal species considered in the analysis, 25 species have some distribution points within the SINAP (ten of them have only one point). There are 80 species apparently absent from the SINAP. Nicaraguan endemic species are severely unprotected.KEY WORDSEndemism, conservation, protected areas, Nicaragua, mollusks, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, plants

Ecological niche modelling

2019 ◽  
pp. 60-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damaris Zurell ◽  
Jan O. Engler
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Potential Distribution ◽  
Species Distributions ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Niche Modelling ◽  
Environmental Predictor ◽  
Change Context ◽  
Niche Models

Impact assessments increasingly rely on models to project the potential impacts of climate change on species distributions. Ecological niche models have become established as an efficient and widely used method for interpolating (and sometimes extrapolating) species’ distributions. They use statistical and machine-learning approaches to relate species’ observations to environmental predictor variables and identify the main environmental determinants of species’ ranges. Based on this estimated species–environment relationship, the species’ potential distribution can be mapped in space (and time). In this chapter, we explain the concept and underlying assumptions of ecological niche models, describe the basic modelling steps using the silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) as a simple real-world example, identify potential sources of uncertainty in underlying data and in the model, and discuss potential limitations as well as latest developments and future perspectives of ecological niche models in a global change context.

scholarly journals Historical data for conservation: reconstructing range changes of Chinese pangolin ( Manis pentadactyla ) in eastern China (1970–2016)

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1885) ◽  
pp. 20181084 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Yang ◽  
Minhao Chen ◽  
Daniel W. S. Challender ◽  
Carly Waterman ◽  
Chao Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Potential Distribution ◽  
Conservation Management ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Nature Reserves ◽  
Niche Modelling ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Manis Pentadactyla

The Chinese pangolin ( Manis pentadactyla ) has long suffered from intense exploitation driven by consumer demand for medicinal use and food. Effective conservation management is hampered by insufficient data on pangolin status and distribution. We integrated ecological niche modelling with long-term ecological records at the local scale (e.g. from local historical documents, grey and published literature and interviews) to estimate the magnitude of potential distribution change of the Chinese pangolin in eastern China (Fujian, Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces) over time. Our results suggest that the range of the species decreased by 52.20% between the 1970s and early 2000s and that the population is now mainly confined to the Wuyi Mountains. This reduction in potential distribution range is attributable to anthropogenic pressures. According to our conservation prioritization analysis, the priority conservation area for the Chinese pangolin in eastern China is 51 268.4 km 2 , 5.62% of which is covered by nature reserves. There are 18 nature reserves and 46 prefectures which are priority areas for conservation in China. The priority-level nature reserves and prefectures in eastern China are mainly located in the centre of the Wuyi Mountains, and areas declared important tend to be around the Wuyi Mountains. We propose several actions to improve the conservation status of this species: establish or enlarge nature reserves, ensure local governments at the prefecture level prioritize conservation management and encourage local communities to participate in pangolin conservation.

Chasing the phantom: biogeography and conservation of Vipera latastei-monticola in the Maghreb (North Africa)

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inês Freitas ◽  
Soumia Fahd ◽  
Guillermo Velo-Antón ◽  
Fernando Martínez-Freiría
Keyword(s):  
North Africa ◽  
Habitat Degradation ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Niche Modelling ◽  
Habitat Transformation ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Suitable Space ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The Maghreb region (North Africa) constitutes a major component of the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot. During the last centuries, a consistent human population growth has led to an unprecedented rate of habitat transformation and loss in the region and thus, threatening its biodiversity. The Western Mediterranean viper Vipera latastei-monticola inhabits humid and subhumid areas in the main mountain ranges of the Maghreb, facing such threatening factors; however, its elusive character and rarity hindered data collection for distinct biological purposes. Here, we study the biogeographical patterns and conservation status of the Maghrebian V. latastei-monticola resulting from recent sampling campaigns in Morocco and Tunisia. We update species distribution, and integrate phylogeographic and ecological niche modelling analyses at both species and lineage level to identify suitable areas, and to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic transformation and level of protection of their suitable space. We identified four highly divergent mitochondrial lineages, including a new lineage endemic to the Western High Atlas, with allopatric distributions and restricted to mountain ranges, supporting the role of mountains as past climatic refugia. Despite the remoteness of suitable areas, we report widespread habitat degradation and identify the low effectiveness of the current protected areas system in preserving the species and lineages range. Our study shows the urgent need to apply management actions for the long-term conservation of this vulnerable species and suggests a revaluation of the specific status of V. monticola, as these populations likely represent an ecotype of V. latastei.

scholarly journals Stand out from the Crowd: Small-Scale Genetic Structuring in the Endemic Sicilian Pond Turtle

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 343
Author(s):  
Luca Vecchioni ◽  
Federico Marrone ◽  
Marco Arculeo ◽  
Uwe Fritz ◽  
Melita Vamberger
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Microsatellite Loci ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Moderate Degree ◽  
Geographical Pattern ◽  
Genetic Structuring ◽  
Pond Turtle ◽  
Emys Trinacris ◽  
Polymorphic Microsatellite ◽  
Entire Distribution

The geographical pattern of genetic diversity was investigated in the endemic Sicilian pond turtle Emys trinacris across its entire distribution range, using 16 microsatellite loci. Overall, 245 specimens of E. trinacris were studied, showing high polymorphic microsatellite loci, with allele numbers ranging from 7 to 30. STRUCTURE and GENELAND analyses showed a noteworthy, geographically based structuring of the studied populations in five well-characterized clusters, supported by a moderate degree of genetic diversity (FST values between 0.075 and 0.160). Possible explanations for the genetic fragmentation observed are provided, where both natural and human-mediated habitat fragmentation of the Sicilian wetlands played a major role in this process. Finally, some conservation and management suggestions aimed at preventing the loss of genetic variability of the species are briefly reported, stressing the importance of considering the five detected clusters as independent Management Units.

scholarly journals Description of two new species of Avicularia Lamarck 1818 and redescription of Avicularia diversipes (C. L. Koch 1842) (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Aviculariinae)—three possibly threatened Brazilian species

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2223 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROGÉRIO BERTANI ◽  
CAROLINE SAYURI FUKUSHIMA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Color Pattern ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Southern State ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Specimen Identification ◽  
Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest

Avicularia diversipes (C. L. Koch 1842) known previously only from its original description is redescribed along with Avicularia sooretama sp. nov. and Avicularia gamba sp. nov. The three species are endemic to Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. With other Avicularia species, they share a procurved anterior eye row, slender embolus and medially folded spermathecae, whereas they have unusual characters, such as a very long and spiraled embolus (A. diversipes) and spermathecae with multilobular apex (A. sooretama sp. nov.). Furthermore, the three species lack a tibial apophysis in males and share a distinctive color pattern ontogeny that is not known in any other Avicularia species. The conservation status of the three species is discussed, especially with respect to endemism, illegal trafficking and habitat destruction. The creation of protected areas in southern State of Bahia, Brazil, is recommended, as well as the inclusion of these species in IUCN and CITES lists. Appendices with figures and species information are presented to facilitate correct specimen identification by custom officers, in order to limit illegal traffic.

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