bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Habitat Suitability Model for Capybara (Hydrochoerus Hydrochaeris) at Its Core Area in Argentina
Authors: Schivo Facundo , Kandus Patricia , Bolkovic María Luisa , Minotti Priscilla Gail , Trilla Gabriela González , Quintana Rubén Darío
Published: October 2016

Habitat loss is one of the main factors reducing wildlife diversity and restricting its conservation. Habitat suitability models are important tools for wildlife management and conservation in order to evaluate the impacts of human activities on wildlife habitats. The capybara ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is a semi-aquatic rodent that lives in South American wetlands that are subject to heavy human use. A spatially explicit model of capybara's Potential Habitat Suitability (PHS) was developed for the core area of its distribution in the humid subtropical region of Argentina. Predictive variables in this deductive model were related to capybara habitat requirements, and their values were obtained from existing published papers. The PHS model was performed using two data subsets that evaluated both ecological requirements and anthropogenic threats, resulting in two partial indices: Potential Ecological Suitability (PES), and Risk of Human Impact (RHI). The PES assesses vegetation cover and the presence of lentic and lotic freshwater bodies. The RHI estimates habitat fragmentation and accessibility of poachers. Variables for the habitat requirements were spatially expressed through Geographic Information Systems. The model accuracy assessment was performed through field work and achieved 72% of overall accuracy. Results indicate that 13% of the study area had the highest values of PHS index, characterized by the presence of vast wetlands, habitats with low fragmentation and low accessibility for poachers. These results are a useful tool to improve conservation and management programs for protection of capybara habitat.
Current Genetic Structure of Teak (Tectona Grandis) in Myanmar Based on Newly Developed Chloroplast Single Nucleotide Polymorphism and Nuclear Simple Sequence Repeat Markers
Authors: Thwe-Thwe-Win  , Hirao Tomonori , Watanabe Atsushi , Goto Susumu
Published: October 2016

Teak ( Tectona grandis), which is among the most valuable tropical timber species, is under pressure from rapid deforestation and habitat fragmentation. Limited genetic information is available for Myanmar teak, which comes from the largest natural teak-bearing forest area in the world. To determine the phylogeographic patterns of Myanmar teak, we evaluated three newly developed chloroplast single nucleotide polymorphism (cpSNP) and 10 nuclear simple sequence repeat (nrSSR) markers in 480 individuals representing 20 natural populations. The cpSNP markers detected four haplotypes, each differing by a single mutation. The GST value was lower than the NST value and did not reveal a phylogeographic structure of Myanmar teak. Nuclear microsatellite analysis revealed high genetic diversity with the mean expected heterozygosity (0.652). The same level of genetic differentiation (4%) was observed for both cpSNP and nrSSR markers in different groups. Conservation of the HMB, TDG, KTA, and POL populations should receive highest priority because these contribute most to the total genetic diversity. The genetic boundaries of teak observed from combining the results of cpSNP and nrSSR marker barriers suggested four potential zones in the teak seed transfer guidelines of Myanmar. In light of our findings, we discussed appropriate gene conservation strategies and proposed seed zones to safeguard the current genetic resources of Myanmar teak.
Driver Knowledge and Attitudes on Animal Vehicle Collisions in Northern Tanzania
Authors: Kioko John , Kiffner Christian , Phillips Payton , Patterson-Abrolat Claire , Collinson Wendy , Katers Samuel
Published: October 2016

Roads are a major cause of wildlife mortality by animal-vehicle-collisions (AVCs). We monitored the patterns and frequency of AVCs on two sections of a major highway in Northern Tanzania and compared these patterns to the knowledge and perceptions of drivers who frequently use the roads. While actual field survey showed that more birds were killed by AVCs, mammals were perceived by the drivers to be the most common AVC. Drivers were indifferent to whether AVCs were a major problem on the road, and 67% strongly felt that AVCs were mainly accidental, either due to high vehicle speed or poor visibility at night. There was a negative correlation between the likelihood of a species being hit by vehicles and its average body mass. Only 35% of drivers said they had attended an educational program related to the impact of roads on wildlife. This study highlights a need for collaborative efforts between the wildlife conservation and road departments to educate road users on the importance of driving responsibly and exercising due care for wildlife and human safety. This should be coupled with effective mitigation measures to reduce the extent of AVCs.
Achieving Sustainable Conservation in Madagascar: The Case of the Newly Established Ibity Mountain Protected Area
Authors: Alvarado Swanni T. , Buisson Elise , Carrière Stéphanie M. , Rabarison Harison , Rajeriarison Charlotte , Andrianjafy Mamisoa , Randriatsivery Fleuria M. , Rasoafaranaivo Margiane H. , Raharimampionona Jeannie , Lowry Porter P. , Birkinshaw Chris
Published: October 2016

Globally, the number of protected areas (PAs) has increased exponentially during the last 25 years, particularly in biodiversity-rich developing countries. Many recent initiatives have integrated local-scale socio-economic development into both design and management. Because the rates of deforestation and species extinction are increasing in most parts of the world, substantial efforts have been made to build and strengthen local environmental organizations, to establish new protected areas (NPAs), and to improve natural resource management. An NPA was recently established at Ibity Massif in central Madagascar, where a community-based conservation project is being coordinated by the Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG). In December 2008, a temporary protection order was issued, and definitive establishment of the NPA, which falls under Category V of the IUCN PA system, is expected before the end of 2015. This initiative has involved significant outreach and community education programs to raise awareness of Ibity's conservation and economic importance and the threats to its biodiversity, along with ongoing efforts to reduce fire frequency and implement ecological restoration projects with significant local community participation. In order to ensure the sustainability of this NPA, a co-management plan has been implemented involving MBG, local authorities, and the local population. This study describes the diagnostic process undertaken at Ibity in order to: 1) disseminate the data gathered to inform establishment of the NPA; and 2) summarize the initial state of the environment on the massif prior to the implementation of a management plan, as a baseline for assessing the NPA's effectiveness.
Red-Listed Tree Species Abundance in Montane Forest Areas with Differing Levels of Statutory Protection in North-Western Vietnam
Authors: Hoa Hong Dao Thi , Hölscher Dirk
Published: October 2016

Statutes, regulations, and forest restoration represent measures aimed at promoting the conservation of threatened species. We analyzed the abundance of red-listed tree species within three conservation zones with differing levels of protection in the Ta Xua Nature Reserve in north-western Vietnam, a rarely studied region within a biodiversity hotspot. The study area included: (1) the undisturbed core zone; (2) the low intensity traditional forest use buffer zone; and (3) the forest restoration zone. Red-listed tree species richness (IUCN and Vietnamese Red Lists combined) amounted to 16 in the core zone, 10 in the buffer zone, and five in the restoration zone; a similar declining trend was found for all tree species at 193, 173 and 135 for each respective zone. Differences between zones were even more pronounced when species richness was predicted using the Chao2 estimator. Most red-listed species, such as Fujian Cypress ( Fokienia hodginsii), reached their highest densities in the core zone, but one species ( Quercus platycalyx) was quite abundant in the restoration zone. For some red-listed tree species, canonical correspondence analysis suggested relationships among the presence of footpaths, canopy closure and basal area, suggesting reduced abundance caused by human activities. Our data indicate that conservation effectiveness is related to the level of statutory protection afforded to a particular area, with full protection ensuring more robust conservation outcomes.
Large-Scale Extinction of Large Carnivores (Lion Panthera Leo, Cheetah Acinonyx Jubatus and Wild Dog Lycaon Pictus) in Protected Areas of West and Central Africa
Authors: Brugière David , Chardonnet Bertrand , Scholte Paul
Published: October 2016

A number of recent studies have suggested that large carnivores are rapidly disappearing in West Africa, including in protected areas (PAs). The extent of this extinction process, however, is poorly known. Here, we quantify the extinction of three large carnivore species ( Panthera leo (lion), Acinonyx jubatus (cheetah) and Lycaon pictus (wild dog)) in 41 West and Central African PAs by comparing historical and current data of occurrence. We found that lions have gone (near-) extinct in 23 out of the 38 PAs (63%) where they historically occurred and that extinction is significantly more pronounced in West (15 extinctions out of 18 historical occurrence, 64%) than in Central Africa (8/20, 40%). Cheetahs have disappeared from 11 out of 15 PAs (73% of site extinction). Wild dogs persist in only one PA in West Africa and two in Central Africa out of a total of 31 historical occurrences (90% of site extinction). For all three species combined, the number of extinctions in PAs in West Africa (33 out of 39 historical occurrences, i.e. 85% of site extinction) is significantly higher than in Central African PAs (29/45, i.e. 64%). Carnivore populations persist outside PAs in that latter region. Our study shows that PAs with remaining lion populations are significantly larger than those with extinct populations. However, we found that the human population density around PAs is not a good predictor of lion extinction. We suggest that the presence of mobile pastoralists may better explain the extinction pattern of large predators, and we recommend developing indicators of the pastoralism pressure to test that hypothesis.
Vegetation, Floristic Composition and Species Diversity in a Tropical Mountain Nature Reserve in Southern Yunnan, SW China, with Implications for Conservation
Authors: Zhu Hua , Yong Chai , Zhou Shisun , Wang Hong , Yan Lichun
Published: October 2016

Complete floristic and vegetation surveys were done in a newly established nature reserve on a tropical mountain in southern Yunnan. Three vegetation types in three altitudinal zones were recognized: a tropical seasonal rain forest below 1,100 m; a lower montane evergreen broad-leaved forest at 1,100-1,600 m; and a montane rain forest above 1,600 m. A total of 1,657 species of seed plants in 758 genera and 146 families were recorded from the nature reserve. Tropical families (61%) and genera (81%) comprise the majority of the flora, and tropical Asian genera make up the highest percentage, showing the close affinity of the flora with the tropical Asian (Indo-Malaysia) flora, despite the high latitude (22°N). Floristic changes with altitude are conspicuous. The transition from lowland tropical seasonal rain forest dominated by mixed tropical families to lower montane forest dominated by Fagaceae and Lauraceae occurs at 1,100-1,150 m. Although the middle montane forests above 1,600 m have ‘oak-laurel’ assemblage characteristics, the temperate families Magnoliaceae and Cornaceae become dominant. Both the tree species diversities and the numbers of genera and families are higher in the lowlands and middle montane zones than in the lower montane. The lower diversity in the lower montane zone could reflect less precipitation and frequent fires in the historical past. The species compositions of samples within each altitudinal zone show greater horizontal turnover (β diversity) in the lowlands. Conservation efforts should focus on the species-rich lowland and middle montane forests.
Classification of Vegetation Types in the Habitat of White-Tailed Deer in a Location of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
Authors: Barrera-Salazar Ariana , Mandujano Salvador , Villarreal Espino-Barros Oscar A. , Jiménez-García Daniel
Published: October 2016

This paper classifies the vegetation types that comprise the habitat of the white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus at a location within the Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Biosphere Reserve (TCBR) in Mexico. The vegetation was sampled, identified, and mapped at 308 points distributed along 28 transects (each of 500 m in length). To determine the effect of the classified and mapped vegetation types on the white-tailed deer, we estimated population density using the PELLET procedure based on the pellet-group count method. The principal vegetation types at the study site are tropical dry forest (TDF, 63% of the area) dominated by tetecho ( Neobuxbaumia tetezo), uña de gato ( Mimosa spp.) and mulato ( Bursera spp.), and crassicaule scrub dominated by mantecoso ( Parkinsonia praecox). The TDF can be sub-classified into four spatially different clusters (vegetation types) depending on the dominance of these species. The white-tailed deer population density varied significantly depending on vegetation type. Our results contribute to the ecological knowledge of the white-tailed deer in tropical habitats and are of value for the implementation of effective conservation and management.
Community Perceptions of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism: A Case Study of Communities Adjacent to Four Protected Areas in Zimbabwe
Authors: Ngonidzashe Mutanga Chiedza , Vengesayi Sebastian , Gandiwa Edson , Muboko Never
Published: October 2016

The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine community perceptions of wildlife conservation and tourism, and (2) to establish socio-demographic factors that influence community perceptions of wildlife conservation and tourism. Using closed-ended questionnaires, we collected data from July 2013 to February 2014 in four protected areas (PAs) and adjacent communities in Zimbabwe, i.e., Umfurudzi Park, Gonarezhou National Park, Matusadona National Park and Cawston Ranch. A total of 938 responded to the survey. The community in Gonarezhou had neutral perceptions of wildlife conservation, while those in Umfurudzi, Matusadona, and Cawston Ranch had positive perceptions of wildlife conservation. All four communities had negative perceptions of tourism. There were variable correlations between socio-demographic factors and community perceptions of wildlife conserve ation and tourism among the different study communities. We concluded that the PAs in question have not fully involved the communities in PA management and that benefits from natural resources are not fairly shared among stakeholders, as explained by the different perceptions communities had on wildlife conservation and tourism. We recommend that conservation agencies should: (i) nurture positive perceptions and address the possible determinants of negative perceptions by the communities, (ii) enhance community involvement and benefits from tourism, and (iii) consider community heterogeneity in conservation planning.
A Comparative Analysis of the Effectiveness of Four Supply Chain Initiatives to Reduce Deforestation
Authors: Meijer Karen S.
Published: October 2016

Deforestation and forest degradation account for around 12–15% of global greenhouse gas emissions and are largely driven by agricultural expansion. In the absence of formal regulation, voluntary initiatives have been established to meet demands from consumers and environmental NGOs. This paper examines what explains the effectiveness of supply chain initiatives to reduce deforestation, comparing four supply chain initiatives in two countries: the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil in Indonesia and the Roundtable on Responsible Soy, the Soy Moratorium and the Cattle Agreement in Brazil. The first two are certification schemes, incentivizing more sustainable production, while the latter two are moratoria under which certain actors no longer purchased from companies that engaged in deforestation after a certain date. The moratoria benefitted from a concentration of power among actors risking loss of customers and able to demand changes in behavior from their suppliers. Certification schemes of multi-stakeholder initiatives are based on consensus and have lower requirements for reducing deforestation. For all initiatives a risk of leakage – deforestation by others, for other purposes, or elsewhere – remains. Little seems to be known regarding the possibilities farmers have to alter production practices, potentially hampering the development of public policies to complement the private initiatives.
The Positive Interaction Between Two Nonindigenous Species, Casuarina (Casuarina Equisetifolia) and Acacia (Acacia Mangium), in the Tropical Coastal Zone of South China: Stand Dynamics and Soil Nutrients
Authors: Liu Xianzhao , Lu Yuanchang , Xie Yangsheng , Xue Yang
Published: October 2016

The role of mixed forests in tropical coastal South China is unclear due to a long history of afforestation with a Casuarina (C asuarina equisetifolia) monoculture. In this study, we determined how the stand dynamics and soil nutrients in monoculture stands of C asuarina equisetifolia were influenced by Acacia ( Acacia mangium), a fast-growing pioneer species, when the two tree species were combined in two initial proportions. We also compared the canopy conditions of mixed and monoculture stands of C. equisetifolia at the young stage. Over a period of ten years, the density of stems was relatively low in C. equisetifolia × Acacia mangium mixed stands compared to C. equisetifolia monoculture stands. By contrast, the aboveground biomass, understory diversity and soil nutrients were relatively high in C. equisetifolia × A. mangium mixed stands, particularly when the initial mixing proportion of A. mangium was greater. Moreover, C. equisetifolia can protect A. mangium in the windy coastal environment by ensuring evenly distributed crown growth, intact canopy conditions, and high leaf area index (LAI) during the young stage. In conclusion, the two species had a positive interaction in the mixed forests, which suggests that coastal conservation managers need to shift from their traditional focus on C. equisetifolia single-species afforestation to multi-tree species mixed afforestation.
Limited Seed Dispersal May Explain Differences in Forest Colonization by the Japanese Raisin Tree (Hovenia Dulcis Thunb.), an Invasive Alien Tree in Southern Brazil
Authors: de Sá Dechoum Michele , Rejmánek Marcel , Castellani Tânia Tarabini , Zalba Sergio Martin.
Published: October 2016

In South American forests, the Japanese raisin tree ( Hovenia dulcis Thunb.) is an invasive tree that produces capsuled fruits attached to peduncles that grow thick and fleshy when ripe. Several frugivorous birds are reported to be dispersal agents of H. dulcis. The spread of H. dulcis propagules to non-invaded sites was evaluated at a local spatial scale in deciduous forests in Southern Brazil, in order to propose management strategies to prevent the arrival of propagules of such species in non-invaded sites. Seed arrival via birds was assessed by five 0.6 × 0.6 m seed traps in each of the 10 × 10 m plots in non-invaded sites at different distances from invaded sites. Seed arrival was also compared between control plots and plots where all H. dulcis trees were felled within a 30m radius from the center of plots. A limitation in short distance seed dispersal by birds was observed in the study area. There was a negative exponential relationship between number of seeds and distance from H. dulcis trees to non-invaded sites, and a positive exponential dependence of the number of seeds found in seed traps on the basal area of H. dulcis. Felling H. dulcis trees was effective in reducing the arrival of seeds in non-invaded sites, resulting in significantly fewer seeds in managed plots than in control plots.
An Analysis of Ecosystem Vulnerability and Management Interventions in the Morogoro Region Landscapes, Tanzania
Authors: Ojoyi M.M. , Antwi-Agyei P. , Mutanga O. , Odindi J. , Abdel-Rahman E.M.
Published: October 2016

Ecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa are highly vulnerable to external perturbations. An in-depth understanding of the socio-ecological mechanisms is important for the effective management of vulnerable ecosystems. Using remotely sensed satellite imagery and social data from 335 households, the study examines how different ecological and socio-economic factors influence ecosystem vulnerability in Morogoro region, Tanzania. Remotely sensed data indicated negative patterns of change in ecosystem health both at the spatial and temporal scales. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed habitat fragmentation and forest burning as key threats (p=0.02). From a social point of view, low income level (54.6%) and limited knowledge of environmental conservation (18.5%) were considered major catalysts of ecosystem vulnerability. Statistical results showed livelihood diversification (45.1%), effective institutional frameworks (30.7%), and afforestation programmes (24.2%) to be key intervention measures. The methodology and policy implications of the study have a wider applicability in the long-term management of vulnerable landscapes.
Potential Stressors Leading to Seedling Mortality in the Endemic Håyun Lågu Tree (Serianthes Nelsonii Merr.) in the Island of Guam
Authors: Marler Thomas , Musser Cameron
Published: October 2016

Potential agents of seedling mortality for Guam's only known Serianthes nelsonii (Håyun lågu) tree were determined from the in situ crop of emerging seedlings. We used insecticides to mitigate exotic arthropod pressure, fertilizer to mitigate nutrient deficiency, fungicide to mitigate root pathogen pressure, and supplemental lighting to mitigate low light stress. The fungicide treatment was the only treatment that elicited a substantial increase in seedling longevity. Past reports based on general observations point to insect and ungulate herbivory as likely agents of seedling mortality. Our results identify root pathogens as an additional cause of mortality at the study site. Results may be useful for designing more complex experiments to improve species recovery efforts.
Non-Invasive Genotyping of Sumatran Elephants: Implications for Conservation
Authors: Moßbrucker Alexander Markus , Apriyana Isabella , Fickel Jörns , Imron Muhammad Ali , Pudyatmoko Satyawan , Sumardi  , Suryadi Helena
Published: October 2016

Reliable baseline information necessary for the monitoring and conservation of Sumatran elephants is scarce. We here combine non-invasive molecular genetics methods and capture-recapture modeling to estimate elephant population size, distribution, sex ratio, and age structure for the Bukit Tigapuluh landscape in Sumatra, Indonesia. Two separate subpopulations were found, for which we estimated a population size of 99 (95% CI = [86,125], PCCL = 38.59%) and 44 elephants (95% CI = [ 37 , 56 ], PCCL = 43.18%), respectively. Low elephant densities are likely the result of patchy habitat usage and anthropogenically increased mortality, the latter assumption being supported by strong skews in both sex ratio and age structure as well as direct evidence of elephant killing. Still, the Bukit Tigapuluh landscape currently holds the largest known population of elephants in central Sumatra, representing one of the most important areas for their conservation in Indonesia. Conservation of both the elephant population and their habitat in this region should thus be of high priority. We identified several threats to the population, including (i) the risk of inbreeding and subsequent loss of genetic diversity, (ii) illegal elephant killing, and (iii) the lack of protected habitat. In order to overcome these challenges we suggest: (i) the implementation of a meta-population management program, (ii) monitoring and safeguarding elephants and improving law enforcement, and (iii) providing sufficient safe habitat to mitigate human-elephant-conflict (HEC) and ensure elephant survival.
Genetic Diversity of Boeseman's Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia Boesemani) Reared in Indonesian Farms Compared to Endangered Natural Populations
Authors: Nugraha Media Fitri Isma , Pouyaud Laurent , Carman Odang , Widyastuti Utut , Junior Muhammad Zairin , Kadarusman  , Avarre Jean-Christophe
Published: October 2016

Endemic to two lakes (Ayamaru and Uter) of West Papua (Indonesia), the Boeseman's Rainbowfish Melanotaenia boesemani Allen & Cross, 1980 is a very popular ornamental freshwater fish. As a result, this rainbowfish species faces great threats and is on the red list of endangered species. Therefore, rearing of this species in aquaculture systems appears to be a promising solution to limit capture of wild specimens and prevent its extinction. Although its reproduction cycle has been controlled for more than 30 years, very few farms still raise M. boesmani, probably due to the problems reported by the farmers, such as decline of production, higher proportion of females per spawning, loss of coloration, lower growth rate and fecundity. Using 12 microsatellites previously developed for this species, comparison of genotypes within six farms around Jakarta indicated that all reared strains originated from Ayamaru Lake. No deficit in heterozygotes was evidenced, suggesting that there was no major inbreeding in these reared populations. Genotype analysis also suggested that M. boesemani species is a metapopulation composed of genetically differentiated populations. Altogether, these results indicate that the problems experienced by the farmers are due not to inbreeding depression but to other factors such as inadequate management and/or poor water quality. Yet, increasing aquaculture production is probably the most effective way to alleviate the pressure that M. boesemani faces in its natural environment.
Native Seed Dispersers May Promote the Spread of the Invasive Japanese Raisin Tree (Hovenia Dulcis Thunb.) in Seasonal Deciduous Forest in Southern Brazil
Authors: Elise Müller de Lima Raquel , de Sá Dechoum Michele , Castellani Tânia Tarabini
Published: October 2016

Hovenia dulcis (the Japanese raisin tree) is an invasive tree in seasonal deciduous forest in Southern Brazil. The species has an uncommon infructescence morphology, with dry fruits attached to fleshy peduncles that attract animals. This study assesses the interaction between the raisin tree and frugivore animals in seasonal deciduous forest and identifies potential dispersal relationships. Local fauna consumers and dispersers of the raisin tree were recorded by camera traps and by focal observation. Fruit removal was assessed by experiments that excluded certain animal groups while allowing access by others. We assessed seed dispersal by endozoochory by collecting the feces of birds and mammals found in the study area. The seeds found in the animal feces were then subjected to germination tests. A sampling effort of 2,305 traps/day was taken during the fructification period of the raisin tree. As a result, 28 species (16 birds and 12 mammals) were recorded from pictures taken by camera traps, and two more bird species were recorded via focal observation, for a total of 30 recorded species. Intact seeds of the raisin tree were found in the feces of Cerdocyon thous (crab-eating fox). No difference was found in seed germination between seeds obtained from fecal samples and the control. Ants can also be secondary dispersers of the raisin tree based on two observations made during the research field trips. The results obtained from this study suggest the raisin tree has different dispersal mechanisms with which different native dispersal agents are associated. Mid-size mammals, such as the crab-eating fox, are secondary dispersers by endozoochory, while birds are primary dispersers by sinzoochory.
Knowledge, Uses and Practices of the Licuri Palm (Syagrus Coronata (Mart.) Becc.) around Protected Areas in Northeastern Brazil Holding the Endangered Species Lear's Macaw (Anodorhynchus Leari)
Authors: Andrade Martins de Wbaneide , Ramos Marcelo Alves , Souto Wedson Medeiros Silva , Bento-Silva José Severino , Albuquerque Paulino de Ulysses , Araújo de Lima Elcida
Published: October 2016

We examined the known and practiced uses of licuri palm ( Syagrus coronata) leaves by artisans and the dynamics of leaf collecting in the communities surrounding protected areas in northeastern Brazil. Through interviews, workshops, and guided tours, we assessed person-resource relationships and the varied influences on licuri uses in order to suggest measures for the sustainability of harvest practices. In total, 537 citations referring to the uses of the licuri palm were recorded, which resulted in 31 types divided into four categories: food, handicrafts, construction, and agriculture, with a correlation between the known and practiced uses. The relationship between people and the use of licuri is complex, but the multiple linear regression model showed that the known and practiced uses reflect mainly the influence of income (at least 32%), followed by age (at least 19%). Age, as a variable, can overcome the influence of the variable income to explain the practiced uses. Artisans obey the ordinance restricting leaf collecting to the annual removal of only 3 leaves per plant, but preparing the fiber involves other native forest species. This study indicates that people's responses to the imposed restriction can increase local conservation problems and that scientific studies are needed in order to adjust the guidelines and/or governmental policies for conservation of licuri palm. Such policies cannot be generalized throughout the region.
Early Bird Assemblages under Different Subtropical Forest Restoration Strategies in Brazil: Passive, Nucleation and High Diversity Plantation
Authors: Vogel Huilquer Francisco , Campos João Batista , Bechara Fernando Campanhã
Published: October 2016

Ecological restoration encourages management for the complexity and heterogeneity of habitats, which are crucial for avian fauna structure. Two-year-old bird assemblages were evaluated based on diversity parameters of three different ecological restoration technologies applied in southern Brazil: passive restoration (PR), nucleation (NC) and high diversity plantation (HD). Richness, abundance and diversity were compared using ANOVA factorial design (three treatments × four seasons, with six samplings per season). The highest richness was observed for NC (49 ± 2.45 SD species) and the lowest richness occurred in the HD treatment (37 ± 3.14 SD species), with a similar statistical pattern for abundance and diversity (NC>PR>HD). NC responded favorably to the hypotheses of dynamic equilibrium, heterogeneity and habitat complexity, which are the probable mechanisms that influence primarily assemblage richness. Due to the presence of exclusive species for each treatment, we recommend the application of a mix of the different techniques tested to maximize the number of habitats and their interactions with birdlife.
Investigating Constraints on the Survival of Orangutans Across Borneo and Sumatra
Authors: Carne Charlotte , Semple Stuart , Lehmann Julia
Published: October 2016

Orangutans are highly endangered. In order to implement effective conservation strategies for these species, it is crucial to understand fully what constrains their distribution. Here, we use a previously developed time budget model to investigate the factors constraining the orangutans' ability to inhabit different areas of Borneo and Sumatra, as well as the social group size they are potentially able to adopt in their habitats. This model uses data from 13 field sites, together with climate and environmental data, to predict the amount of time individuals would need to spend in each of four main activities – feeding, moving, resting, and socializing. We found that resting time, which was linked to both dietary constraints and forest cover, was a key behavioral limitation on orangutan distribution. The maximum possible group size predicted for orangutans was low over the entire range, indicating that ecological constraints limit orangutan sociality, and that even small changes to habitat quality may further reduce the maximum possible group size. The fact that the values are already approaching one in many locations and are low throughout both Borneo and Sumatra, suggests that orangutans are vulnerable to extinction over their entire current distribution.
Decentralized Environmental Governance: A Reflection on its Role in Shaping Wildlife Management Areas in Tanzania
Authors: Kiwango Wilhelm A. , Komakech Hans C. , Tarimo Thadeo M. C. , Martz Lawrence
Published: October 2016

Decentralised environmental governance has become a catchy solution to environmental problems caused by the failure of traditional centralised environmental governance. It promises to transfer power and authority, improve efficiency, equity, accountability, and inclusion of local people who were previously excluded by the command and control model. This paper examines the efficacy of decentralised environmental governance as an alternative approach to wildlife conservation in Tanzania. We analyse the policy and legal framework for Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in Tanzania over the past two decades as a case study on current practice and its implications. We find that despite the rhetoric of community-based conservation (CBC), the wildlife industry remains heavily under state control, while the promises of CBC remain elusive. Questioning the effectiveness of decentralised environmental governance through CBC, we recommend that actors return to the drawing board and re-negotiate their positions, interests, power and authority if meaningfully decentralised environmental governance is to be achieved.
Can Community-Protected Areas Conserve Biodiversity in Human-Modified Tropical Landscapes? The Case of Terrestrial Mammals in Southern Mexico
Authors: Muench Carlos , Martínez-Ramos Miguel
Published: October 2016

Scientists debate two alternative paradigms for tropical biodiversity conservation in human-modified landscapes (HML). Strict government-managed reserves (GMR) have many limitations, including little social support as they transfer conservation costs to local communities. Community-protected areas (CPA) retain control and benefits of biodiversity for local residents, but evidence of their ability to conserve biodiversity is scarce. To test the hypothesis that CPAs are effective in conserving biodiversity, we used camera-trap data to assess differences in abundance, taxonomic and functional (body size and trophic guild) diversity and composition of terrestrial mammal assemblages among CPAs, GMR, and open-access forests (OAF). CPA and OAF sites were located in a HML adjacent to Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, which is representative of GMR. CPAs and OAFs did not differ in landscape context (forest cover, distance to towns and roads, patch size). Our results show that the HML retains all of the species in the regional pool. We found no difference in species diversity among protection conditions, but species composition was different among them. Abundance of medium-sized generalist species was higher in the HML than in GMR, while large species and small herbivores were scarcer. Abundance of omnivorous and insectivorous generalists was highest in OAF, where large predators were not detected. OAFs exhibited fewer functional groups. No evidence was found that landscape context affected these results. We conclude that CPAs can play an important role in biodiversity conservation. Spatial integration of conservation initiatives and training communities in wildlife management would increase the effectiveness of CPAs.
Global Climate Change Impacts on Pacific Islands Terrestrial Biodiversity: A Review
Authors: Taylor S. , Kumar L.
Published: October 2016

The islands of the Pacific region hold three of the 35 global biodiversity hotspots with large numbers of endemic species. Global climate change will exacerbate the challenges faced by the biodiversity of this region. In this review, we identify trends in characteristics for 305 terrestrial species threatened by climate change and severe weather according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). We then review the literature on observed and potential impacts of climate change on terrestrial biodiversity, focusing on the species' characteristics that were identified. High-elevation ecosystems such as cloud montane forests are projected to disappear entirely by the year 2100, with corresponding global losses of their endemic biodiversity. Sea level rise threatens restricted range species on small low-lying atolls. Shifts in distribution may be possible for generalist species, but range shifts will be difficult for species with small distributions, specialized habitat requirements, slow dispersal rates, and species at high elevations. Accurate assessments of climate change impacts on biodiversity of the region are difficult because of confusion about nomenclature, the many species unknown to science, the lack of baseline data on species' ecology and distributions, and lack of fine resolution elevation data for very small islands. Furthermore, synergistic interactions of climate change with other threats like habitat loss and invasive species have not been comprehensively assessed. Addressing these knowledge gaps will be difficult for Pacific island nations due to limited financial resources and expertise.
How Much Potential Biodiversity and Conservation Value Can a Regenerating Rainforest Provide? A ‘Best-Case Scenario’ Approach from the Peruvian Amazon
Authors: Whitworth Andrew , Downie Roger , von May Rudolf , Villacampa Jaime , MacLeod Ross
Published: October 2016

The structure and underlying functions of the majority of the world's tropical forests have been disrupted by human impacts, but the potential biodiversity and conservation value of regenerating forests is still debated. One review suggests that on average, regenerating tropical forests hold 57% (±2.6%) of primary forest species richness, raising doubt about a viable second chance to conserve biodiversity through rainforest regeneration. Average values, however, likely underestimate the potential benefit to biodiversity and conservation because they are drawn from many studies of short-term regeneration and studies confounded by ongoing human disturbance. We suggest that the true potential biodiversity and conservation value of regenerating rainforest could be better assessed in the absence of such factors and present a multi-taxa case study of faunal biodiversity in regenerating tropical forest in lowland Amazonia. We found that biodiversity of this regenerating site was higher than might have been expected, reaching 87% (±3.5%) of primary forest alpha diversity and an average of 83% (±6.7) of species estimated to have occurred in the region before disturbance. Further, the regenerating forest held 37 species of special conservation concern, representing 88% of species of highest conservation importance predicted to exist in primary forest from the region. We conclude that this specific regenerating rainforest has high biodiversity and conservation value, and that whilst preserving primary forest is essential, our results suggest that under a best-case scenario of effective conservation management, high levels of biodiversity can return to heavily disturbed tropical forest ecosystems.
Edge Effects on the Phenology of the Guamirim, Myrcia Guianensis (Myrtaceae), a Cerrado Tree, Brazil
Authors: Vogado Nara Oliveira , de Camargo Maria Gabriela Gutierrez , Locosselli Giuliano Maselli , Morellato Leonor Patrícia Cerdeira
Published: October 2016

The Brazilian cerrado, a hotspot of biodiversity, has suffered intense fragmentation in the last decades with an associated increase in areas subjected to edge effects. Plant phenology may be influenced by abiotic changes induced by edge effects, such as increases in temperature and light. We studied the phenology of the guamirim ( Myrcia guianensis, Myrtaceae) and its relation to local abiotic factors in a Brazilian cerrado area between 2005 and 2011, aiming to answer: (i) whether M. guianensis phenology differs between the edge and the interior and/or between cardinal orientations at the study site, given that environments facing east are lighter and warmer than environments facing south; and (ii) how microenvironmental factors influence the observed phenological patterns. We sampled 92 individuals in 36 transects (25m × 2m), distributed along the edge and in the interior (100m from the edge) of the east and south faces. Myrcia guianensis presented seasonal patterns of leafing and reproduction, but only reproduction was influenced by microenvironmental conditions. Individuals on the east edge — the warmest and driest environment with the most light — presented with the highest synchrony and intensity of reproductive phenophases, followed by the east interior, south interior and south edge. Flowering and fruiting onset and peak dates occurred around 20 days earlier on the east edge than the south face. Edge conditions, primarily cardinal orientation, and associated higher temperatures and light incidence influenced the reproductive phenology of M. guianensis and the onset of flowering and fruiting. We suggest that edges could be used to evaluate plant responses to the temperature increases predicted for future climate change scenarios.
A Report of a Malayan Krait Snake Bungarus Candidus Mortality as By-Catch in a Local Fish Trap from Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Authors: Crane Matt , Oliver Katie , Silva Inês , Aksornneam Akrachai , Artchawakom Taksin , Strine Colin T.
Published: October 2016

Thailand is a world biodiversity hotspot with 176 known snake species. However, anthropogenic influences on snakes associated with growing human populations are poorly understood. Aquatic funnel traps (AFTs) are in widespread use in agricultural areas throughout Thailand, and they have the ability to collect large quantities of by-catch, including snakes. During an on-going study on the human-snake conflict we found, using radio-telemetry, one of our radio-tracked Bungarus candidus (Malayan Krait) individuals dead on 13 October 2015. We had tracked the individual for only 14 days before finding it decapitated 10 m from a villager's house. Upon interviewing the owner, we discovered that the snake had been found dead in a fishing trap, in a man-made irrigation canal located 65 m southeast from his house. Our observation is the first documented case of incidental mortality among upland-dwelling snakes as a result of aquatic trapping in Thailand, and may have implications throughout Southeast Asia. This report suggests fishing traps may be another source of mortality for snakes in human-dominated landscapes, and that further studies may reveal significant rates of terrestrial by-catch in agricultural canals.
Serenading for Ten Thousand Years: The Mating Call of Insular Populations of the Green Treefrog Aplastodiscus Eugenioi (Anura: Hylidae)
Authors: de Miranda Rogério Benevides , Abrunhosa Patrícia Alves , da Silva Hélio Ricardo
Published: October 2016

Islands are natural laboratories for evolutionary studies due to their small areas, structural complexity (compared to continents), and their different degrees of isolation. The present study involved four distinct areas, one continental and three insular, on the southern coast of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These islands were formed by coastal flooding at the end of the last glacial maximum, approximately 10 thousand years ago. We investigated acoustic parameters in the advertisement call of the green tree frog, Aplastodiscus eugenioi (Hylidae), looking for variations that could be associated with geographic isolation in the insular populations. We measured six acoustic parameters of the advertisement calls of 59 males, 15 specimens from the continent and 44 from the islands. We found significant variation in acoustic parameters within the population from ***Ilha de Itacuruçá, suggesting that isolation, despite the relatively short period, favored differentiation of acoustical parameters. In fact, call evolution may involve a series of changes in both females and males in a synchronous way, so that the signal producer and receiver can behave accordingly for successful reproduction.
Wild Vertebrates Kept as Pets in the Semiarid Region of Brazil
Authors: Alves Mauricélia Macário , de Faria Lopes Sérgio , Alves Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega
Published: October 2016

The keeping and commercialization of the native wild fauna of Brazil as pets threatens many animal species. These practices are traditional and common, and have persisted until the present day in the semiarid region of Brazil in spite of their illegality. We used an ethnozoological approach to investigate keeping native vertebrates as pets in a city of the semiarid region of Brazil, as well as the conservationist implications of this practice. We found that most of the interviewees raised pets, predominately domesticated animals (cats and dogs). Keeping wild animals as pets, however, persists in the region, and 31 wild native species were identified, including 28 bird species. Other groups included mammals (n= 2 species) and reptiles (n=1). Among the wild birds, the families with the most species were Thraupidae (39%), Columbidae (19%), and Icteridae (10%). Keeping wild animals as pets is a clandestine practice that involves people from all socioeconomic levels – indicating its strong cultural character and the inefficiency of environmental enforcement actions. Future strategies for the conservation of native wild animals must include educational activities in the schools, the substitution of these wild species for domestic cats and dogs, and/or stimulating legal breeding programs for wild animals. Additionally, steps must be taken to strengthen enforcement of laws against illegal trafficking of wild animals.
Avian Distribution and Life-History Strategies in Amazonian Terra-Firme and Floodplain Forests
Authors: van Lieshout Sil Henricus Johannes , Kirkby Christopher Alexander , Siepel Henk
Published: October 2016

The diversity of avian populations in the Madre de Dios region of Peru is currently threatened by deforestation and other anthropogenic factors. In this study we assessed differences in bird species composition in two major types of tropical forests: floodplain and terra-firme forest. Abundance of groups of behaviourally similar species showed a higher presence of certain feeding guilds in either floodplain forests or terra-firme forest, whereas no difference in species richness was found. Analysis of the relative reproductive investment (RRI) of these tropical birds showed significant differences between habitats and among families and feeding guilds. Comparison of these families and feeding guilds to their relatives in temperate regions showed that neotropical birds have a smaller RRI, due to both smaller clutch sizes and lower egg mass, even when there are more broods per season. Quantification of RRI as used in this study can be useful to indicate bird species' susceptibility to anthropogenic factors in various habitats.