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Fencing to contain livestock movement, demarcate properties, and protect economic assets has been one of the main factors restricting wildlife movement. However, research assessing the impact of fences on large mammals in southern South America is scarce. We modified livestock fences by clipping the bottom wire to enable endangered huemul deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus) to cross in and out of forest plantations. Huemul showed a preference for crossing through areas where bottom wire strands had been removed. There was also a greater crossing frequency for fences located at lower elevation. Implementation of this simple management technique increased the availability of crossing areas, thereby facilitating huemul movement. Further fence modifications must seek to improve conditions of intervening habitat where huemul live and move, and thus prevent further population decline of this threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-wildlife coexistence in rural coastal areas of southern Chile is analyzed, emphasizing the variable nature of interactions and the negative impacts of human-wildlife conflict on both human well-being and wildlife populations. The objectives of the study include exploring local perceptions of carnivores, investigating the social factors that influence these perceptions, and collecting data through structured surveys to obtain information for specific conservation interventions. To investigate the conflict between humans and carnivores in rural areas of southern Chile, structured surveys were carried out using questionnaires. The questionnaire addressed various topics, including demographic and socioeconomic information, management techniques used, predation history, and perceptions of carnivores in the area. A total of forty-three surveys were collected, revealing the deep vulnerability of rural dwellers to conflict and the high impact of livestock losses on their livelihoods. The most valued and commonly used handling techniques turned out to be confinement and the use of guard dogs. Respondents reported attacks by both native species (mainly pumas and foxes) and exotic species (dogs and introduced American minks) in roughly equal measures. The losses suffered by these ranchers were quantified as substantial, especially considering their reliance on subsistence economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal parasitosis in wild mammals is one of the main complications due to the exogenous conditions of captivity. They predispose the animal to physiological complications or secondary infections that prevent its rehabilitation and reintroduction. The objective is to determine the presence of gastrointestinal parasites in wild mammals from the Wildlife Care and Valuation Center of the San Emigdio Environmental Education Center, San Emigdio, Palmira (Colombia). Fecal samples were taken from 25 captive animals in Care and Valuation Center being analyzed using two techniques: a) assembly with 0.85% saline solution and 1% lugol solution and b) saturated solution flotation technique (Sheather) with a density of 1.28g/ml, with a 36% of positivity. Enterobius vermicularis, Fasciola sp., Entamoeba sp. and Ancylostoma sp. were found. The group of non-human primates had higher parasitic intensity compared to felines, canines and other mammals in the study. The identified microorganisms are recognized as parasites causing complications in captive animals and in free life; likewise, they are classified as possible zoonotic risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, bats are being pointed as responsible for its origin, even without solid scientific evidence. In this opinion piece, we discuss the most updated information on bats and COVID-19 and argue that bats should not be blamed for a disease they are not responsible for. Bats should be seen not as dangerous animals but, instead, as sources of several scientific insights useful for human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spillover effects are an expansion of conservation benefits beyond protected areas through dispersal of species that reside within. They have been well documented in marine but not terrestrial systems. To understand the effects on wildlife created by conservation fences, we explored the internal and external gradients of activity in mammal, reptile, and bird species at a conservation reserve in arid Australia that is fenced to exclude invasive rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), cats (Felis catus), and foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Two methods were used: counts of animal tracks along transects on sand dunes and captures at pitfall‐trapping sites. In both cases, sites were spaced at different distances from the reserve fenceline inside and outside the reserve. We recorded a range of spillover, source‐sink, step, and barrier effects that combined to create a zone within and around the reserve with fence‐induced species‐specific wildlife gradients. Two endemic rodents but none of the 4 mammal species reintroduced to the reserve showed positive spillover effects. Barrier effects, where activity was highest close to the fence, were recorded for the feral cat and native bettong (Bettongia lesueur), species that could not breach the fence. In comparison, some reptiles and native mammal species that could permeate the fence displayed source‐sink effects; that is, their activity levels were reduced close to the fence likely due to constant emigration to the side with lower density. Activity of some reptiles was lowest at sites inside the reserve and gradually increased at outside sites with distance from the fence, a gradient likely related to trophic cascades triggered by predator exclusion. Our result shows that fenced reserves can create overlapping layers of species‐specific gradients related to each species' ability to permeate the fence and its varying susceptibility to threats. Managers should be aware that these gradients may extend for several kilometers either side of the fence and that not all contained species will increase in abundance. Creating wider conservation benefits may require increased fence permeability and threat reduction outside the fence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some researches in wild mammals require methods that enable to handle the animals living in wild conditions, without affecting negatively the animals, or the researchers. These methods include the chemical immobilization, which has not been enough documented when handling wild rodents of the Sigmodontinae subfamily (Cricetidae). Therefore, this research evaluated the use of diethyl ether when handling Sigmodontinae rodents out in the countryside. It compared the induction time to the anesthesia recovery time between species, genders, and type of environments. A total of 289 animals were caught and anesthetized from six species in the Chingaza National Natural Park. The anesthesia induction times were different between Microryzomys minutus, Neomicroxus bogotensis, Thomasomys laniger y Thomasomys niveipes (F3; 552 = 9.36; p < 0.05). Likewise, the anesthesia recovery times were different between the same species (H = 9.59; p = 0.022). No difference was found in the induction times and the anesthesia recovery times between genders, neither for the types of environment. Total mortality was 4.5%. None mucosal secretions, vomit, or cardiac/respiratory complications were observed in the anesthetized animals. These subjects were caught again and they did not show any alterations in their behavior or physical aspect indicating affection derived either from the anesthesia or the previous handling under captivation. Anesthesia with diethyl ether can be a quick and safe choice when it comes to immobilize and handle Sigmodontinae rodents during short procedures out in the countryside, when carrying out population studies or wildlife monitoring programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can humans and wild life co-exist? Drawing from ethnographic fieldwork conducted in and nearby Waterton Lakes National Park and Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada, we present two etho-ethnographic fables that show how a positive coexistence of humans and wild life may be sought after and achieved. The two stories–narrated by animals' voices–prompt us to rethink the very meanings of wild life and humanity and challenge us to envision and appreciate a new kind of affective relationship between people and non-human animals. By attending to the mutual trust and care inherent in respect-based multi-species entanglements, in this article we attune ourselves to the importance of the relational autonomy of wild animals and generate ideas on what wild life could be when understood from the perspective of relational and Indigenous ontologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antecedentes: Didelphis spp. es un género de marsupiales americanos didelfimorfos descritos como especies sinantrópicas y posibles candidatos a la clasificación de especies sombrilla‚ por su importante rol en el ambiente rural y urbano‚ cumpliendo funciones de control poblacional y dispersores de semillas‚ aunque son considerados focos zoonóticos y por error‚ una plaga‚ al compartir ambientes con el humano. A pesar de ello‚ Colombia no cuenta con grandes datos sobre las enfermedades más prevalentes en ellos. Objetivo: describir macroscópicamente hallazgos de necropsia en varios individuos y en diferentes sistemas orgánicos de Didelphis spp. Métodos: 14 zarigüeyas de diferentes sexos‚ grupos etarios y etapas biológicas fueron entregadas por la autoridad ambiental Corpocaldas al Laboratorio de Patología Veterinaria de la Universidad de Caldas para necropsia. Resultados: 8 de 14 (57‚1 %) animales‚ presentaron lesiones en el sistema cardiovascular (congestión‚ hemorragia tipo hepatización‚ hemopericardio‚ hipertrofia cardiaca izquierda‚ entre otros); 7 de 14 (50 %)‚ lesiones en la piel (laceraciones‚ ulceras‚ heridas abiertas‚ nódulos‚ alopecia‚ entre otras); 6 de 14 (42‚9 %) en el aparato digestivo (gastritis‚ úlceras‚ parásitos‚ linfadenopatías‚ entre otras); 4 de 14 (28‚6 %) tenían lesiones en el aparato reproductor y endocrino (piómetra‚ quistes ováricos y hasta un posible caso de intersexo); 2 de 14 (14‚3 %) animales lesiones en aparato locomotor (fracturas por trauma o atropellamiento) y 1 animal (7‚1 %) tenía lesiones en riñones que mostraron hemorragias y disminución proporcional de corteza y médula. El sistema nervioso solo se revisó en tres animales sin encontrar lesiones aparentes. En general en líquidos corporales se observó alto contenido bacteriano y gran cantidad de procesos inflamatorios con alta respuesta inmunológica. Conclusiones: se espera con los resultados finales aportar información médico-científica relevante‚ novedosa y concluyente sobre la salud de las zarigüeyas a nivel regional y nacional para ampliar el conocimiento sobre estas especies‚ aportando a futuros estudios epidemiológicos‚ biológicos y medico veterinarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Risks in human-animal interactions in Colombian tourism" analyzes the risks associated with interactions between humans and animals in tourism in Colombia. Although animals play an important role in national tourism, there are few scientific studies that consider their well-being and active participation in these activities. Risks were identified, such as the mistreatment of domestic animals used as transportation and the abandonment of animals in tourist areas. Risks related to habitat alteration and the transmission of zoonotic diseases in wild animals were also found. It is concluded that both domestic and wild fauna are undervalued and unprotected in Colombian tourism, highlighting the need to address these problems from a scientific "One Health" approach. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents an interinstitutional surveillance pilot of viral pathogens in wildlife, with the aim of strengthening environmental and public health decision-making. Tissues from specimens of different orders were collected in five departments of Colombia and processed using rRT-PCR for the rabies virus. Two individuals were found to be positive for Lyssavirus, which had already been reported as carriers of the rabies virus in Valle del Cauca. This pilot provides scientific evidence for decision-making in public and environmental health regarding bats and the rabies virus, under a One Health approach. [Extracted from the article]

Introducción. Las evaluaciones de bienestar animal (BA) se presentan como una opción interdisciplinaria para establecer el grado de vulnerabilidad de poblaciones de elasmobranquios en ambientes silvestres o de cautiverio. Justificación. Las interacciones humano-animal entre tiburones y rayas vienen en crecimiento bien sea por su alto interés ornamental o las actividades de turismo silvestre, sin embargo, existen grandes retos para establecer el grado de bienestar en este tipo de escenarios y entender el efecto de las mismas sobre la calidad de vida de estos animales. Objetivo. Incorporar el abordaje del BA para la evaluación de poblaciones de manejo especial (cautiverio y ecoturismo). En cautiverio, la investigación en Potamotrygon magdalenae se ha enfocado en entender la influencia de este ambiente sobre su bienestar, a través de la identificación de variables y métodos para su evaluación. En vida silvestre, se ha buscado explorar metodologías de evaluación de BA en una población de Hipanus americanus usada con fines de ecoturismo. Metodología. Evaluaciones en cautiverio del aspecto físico (condición corporal), fisiológico (caracterización hematológica y de bioquímica sanguínea) y de comportamiento (etograma y test de preferencias). En vida silvestre, se ha buscado evaluar los mismos aspectos a través de análisis biométricos (relación talla-peso), caracterización hematológica y de comportamiento (uso de hábitat). Resultados. Caracterización exitosa en cautiverio de la condición corporal de P. magdalenae y comparación con vida silvestre, mostrando mejor condición corporal en el primero. Resultados consistentes en hematología y bioquímica sanguínea en comparación otros potamotrygonidos estudiados e identificación de metodología para evaluaciones de estado de salud. Descripción exitosa del etograma de P. magdalenae en cautiverio e identificación de factores de enriquecimiento ambiental (sustrato, resguardo, alimento) para mejorar calidad de vida. En vida silvestre, se han realizado con éxito estudios preliminares de caracterización hematológica de H. americanus, estimación poblacional y uso de hábitat de rayas asociadas a ecoturismo y evaluaciones biométricas. Conclusión. El abordaje del BA para la evaluación del estado de poblaciones de manejo especial presenta un futuro promisorio, sin embargo, se requiere identificar y estandarizar los criterios e indicadores de evaluación para cada escenario con miras a realizar evaluaciones de bienestar global. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While roads are indispensable for modern civilization and beneficial for many wildlife species, they have been causing mortality from collisions since high speed chariots were invented 4 000 years ago. Most scientific work about road kill has been done in temperate ecosystems, but some authors have suspected that they have different characteristics in tropical ecosystems. In this review, I summarize publications that focus on road kills in tropical countries from Africa, America, Asia and Oceania. I found 73 studies that focus on tropical road kills. Output increased after 2011 and the most productive countries, in articles per capita, are Costa Rica, Colombia and Brazil. Most studies report that mammals are the main victims, but bird deaths are severely underestimated and amphibians suffer mass mortality in reproductive concentrations. Every road victim is itself a small ecosystem that contains thousands of microscopic species, but "Road Kill Microbiology" is yet to be developed as a new branch of research. No generalization can be made about the role of season or habitat in road kills because pooled data hide individual trends: researchers should keep separate records by age, sex, species, time of day, season and place; otherwise important patterns will be missed. There is not a single study, tropical or temperate, that can completely answer how many animals are killed, where, or when, because many victims are removed by scavengers, end outside the road or are too small to be noticed. Significant contributions from the tropics include emphasis on the ethical use of road kill for research, inclusion of species other than wild vertebrates, study of often overlooked phenomena like hour of day and failed versus successful crossing attempts, and the value of speed control in mitigation. The so-called "citizen science" can identify the most affected species but produces data that are very different from those generated by professional scientists in terms of the proportion of affected groups. Real speed limitation is the simplest effective mitigation measure. Tropical scientists should concentrate on monitoring and experimental studies to fully understand the ecology of road kills and to make a contribution that matches what rich countries do. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: South American birds are known to play a significant role in life cycles of various hard ticks, particularly within Amblyomma genus. However, the tick fauna from the Amazon region has been poorly studied, being limited to very few studies. Objective: To report tick infestations on wild birds captured in a region of the Amazon forest, Acre state, Brazil, and to evaluate rickettsial infection in these ticks. Methods: Wild birds were captured by mist-nets and examined for the presence of ticks, which were all collected and identified to species level by taxonomic keys and/or molecular methods. In addition, part of these ticks was individually tested by PCR targeting portions of three rickettsial genes (gltA, ompA, ompB). Results: Among 1,322 captured birds, 79 individuals (6.0%) were infested by one of the following ticks species: Amblyomma nodosum Neumann, 1899 (72 nymphs), Amblyomma longirostre (Koch, 1844; seven larvae, 13 nymphs), Amblyomma humerale Koch 1844 (four nymphs), Amblyomma geayi Neumann, 1899 (two larvae, two nymphs), and 421 larvae of Amblyomma spp Rickettsia sp strain NOD was detected in 3/26 A. nodosum, and Rickettsia amblyommatis in 5/8 A. longirostre and 1/2 A. geayi ticks tested. Conclusion: This is the first study about ticks parasitizing wild birds in Acre state, adding new host-parasite relationships, new tick species records (A. humerale and A. nodosum) and two rickettsial agents (R amblyommatis and Rickettsia sp strain NOD) for the first time in Acre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vibrant debate about the future direction of biodiversity conservation centers on the merits of the so-called new conservation. Proponents of the new conservation advocate a series of positions on key conservation ideas, such as the importance of human-dominated landscapes and conservation's engagement with capitalism. These have been fiercely contested in a debate dominated by a few high-profile individuals, and so far there has been no empirical exploration of existing perspectives on these issues among a wider community of conservationists. We used Q methodology to examine empirically perspectives on the new conservation held by attendees at the 2015 International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB). Although we identified a consensus on several key issues, 3 distinct positions emerged: in favor of conservation to benefit people but opposed to links with capitalism and corporations, in favor of biocentric approaches but with less emphasis on wilderness protection than prominent opponents of new conservation, and in favor of the published new conservation perspective but with less emphasis on increasing human well-being as a goal of conservation. Our results revealed differences between the debate on the new conservation in the literature and views held within a wider, but still limited, conservation community and demonstrated the existence of at least one viewpoint (in favor of conservation to benefit people but opposed to links with capitalism and corporations) that is almost absent from the published debate. We hope the fuller understanding we present of the variety of views that exist but have not yet been heard, will improve the quality and tone of debates on the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation planning and biodiversity assessments need quantitative targets to optimize planning options and assess the adequacy of current species protection. However, targets aiming at persistence require population-specific data, which limit their use in favor of fixed and nonspecific targets, likely leading to unequal distribution of conservation efforts among species. We devised a method to derive equitable population targets; that is, quantitative targets of population size that ensure equal probabilities of persistence across a set of species and that can be easily inferred from species-specific traits. In our method, we used models of population dynamics across a range of life-history traits related to species' body mass to estimate minimum viable population targets. We applied our method to a range of body masses of mammals, from 2 g to 3825 kg. The minimum viable population targets decreased asymptotically with increasing body mass and were on the same order of magnitude as minimum viable population estimates from species- and context-specific studies. Our approach provides a compromise between pragmatic, nonspecific population targets and detailed context-specific estimates of population viability for which only limited data are available. It enables a first estimation of species-specific population targets based on a readily available trait and thus allows setting equitable targets for population persistence in large-scale and multispecies conservation assessments and planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free-ranging domestic cats ( Felis catus) incur and impose risks on ecosystems and represent a complex issue of critical importance to biodiversity conservation and cat and human health globally. Prior social science research on this topic is limited and has emphasized feral cats even though owned cats often comprise a large proportion of the outdoor cat population, particularly in urban areas. To address this gap, we examined public risk perceptions and attitudes toward outdoor pet cats across varying levels of urbanization, including along the wildland-urban interface, in Colorado (U.S.A.), through a mail survey of 1397 residents. Residents did not view all types of risks uniformly. They viewed risks of cat predation on wildlife and carnivore predation on cats as more likely than disease-related risks. Additionally, risk perceptions were related to attitudes, prior experiences with cats and cat-wildlife interactions, and cat-owner behavior. Our findings suggest that changes in risk perceptions may result in behavior change. Therefore, knowledge of cat-related risk perceptions and attitudes could be used to develop communication programs aimed at promoting risk-aversive behaviors among cat owners and cat-management strategies that are acceptable to the public and that directly advance the conservation of native species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The failure of fisheries management among multispecies coral reef fisheries is well documented and has dire implications for the 100 million people engaged in these small-scale operations. Weak or missing management institutions, a lack of research capacity, and the complex nature of these ecosystems have heralded a call for ecosystem-based management approaches. However, ecosystem-based management of coral reef fisheries has proved challenging due to the multispecies nature of catches and the diversity of fish functional roles. We used data on fish communities collected from 233 individual sites in 9 western Indian Ocean countries to evaluate changes in the site's functional composition and associated life-history characteristics along a large range of fish biomass. As biomass increased along this range, fish were larger and grew and matured more slowly while the abundance of scraping and predatory species increased. The greatest changes in functional composition occurred below relatively low standing stock biomass (<600 kg/ha); abundances of piscivores, apex predators, and scraping herbivores were low at very light levels of fishing. This suggests potential trade-offs in ecosystem function and estimated yields for different management systems. Current fishing gear and area restrictions are not achieving conservation targets (proposed here as standing stock biomass of 1150 kg/ha) and result in losses of life history and ecological functions. Fish in reefs where destructive gears were restricted typically had very similar biomass and functions to young and low compliance closures. This indicates the potentially important role of fisheries restrictions in providing some gains in biomass and associated ecological functions when fully protected area enforcement potential is limited and likely to fail. Our results indicate that biomass alone can provide broad ecosystem-based fisheries management targets that can be easily applied even where research capacity and information is limited. Of particular value, is our finding that current management tools may be used to reach key ecosystem-based management targets, enabling ecosystem-based management in many socioeconomic contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim is to describe the non-farm income diversification in the Preservation Zone of Mexico City and particularly, to show the impacts of sustainable activities in the social, natural and economic resources in San Nicolas Totolapan, pointing out the role of the Management Unit for Wildlife Conservation (UMA). Interviews were carried out to members of the park and government stakeholders. Results show that the UMA has positive effects in the conservation of the managed species, except in the habitat which depends on the communitarian reserve. The economic impact is positive but no sufficient. The social impact is positive because the organization of the community has been improved, and there is increased participation of other members. Sustainable productive diversification in the rural zone of the Preservation Zone of Mexico City has a positive impact that has contributed to retain the urbanization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article compiles the previous reviews and research carried out by the Veterinary Science research group (CIENVET) and international scientific publications. The objective of the research was to describe epidemiologic characteristics of leptospirosis emergence in wildlife and to elucidate their role in disease transmission. An analysis of available information in: Science Direct, SciELO, ProQuest, and PubMed databases, selecting the most relevant articles on leptospirosis according to their relevance and timeliness, to strengthen the critical review disease in wild animals was carried out. Wild animals in the wild or in captivity are crucial components in the epidemiologic cycle of zoonotic diseases, including leptospirosis,acting as reservoirs, maintenance hosts, carriers or accidental hosts, according to factors related to the agent, taxonomic species and the environment, thus participating in the transmission of different serotypes. Since emerging infectious diseases pose a serious threat to wild species, investigations of these diseases in such populations can benefit conservation efforts and provide a connection between serological studies and the well-recognized detection, timely identification and surveillance needs of these diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

North American state wildlife agencies are increasingly faced with the challenge of effectively representing a diverse public. With increasing social conflict over wildlife issues, the future of wildlife conservation hinges on preparedness of the profession to respond to this challenge. In the interest of finding ways to improve response, 19 agencies in the western U.S. joined forces to initiate an investigation that would provide a better understanding of the diversity of wildlife-related interests in the region. Specific objectives, accomplished through use of a mail survey administered in 2004, were to categorize people on the basis of their value orientations toward wildlife and explore how different groups were distributed across states and to examine differences on sociodemographic characteristics and attitudes toward wildlife-related topics among groups. The focus was on two orientations: domination (view of wildlife that prioritizes human well-being over wildlife and treats wildlife in utilitarian terms); and mutualism (view of wildlife as capable of relationships of trust with humans and defined by a desire for companionship with wildlife). Four types of people were identified on the basis of these orientations. Types differed in their geographic distribution and wildlife-related attitudes and behaviors, revealing how value orientations can form the foundation for conflict on wildlife issues. Our characterizations of stakeholder groups offer a framework that can be applied over time and across geographic scales to improve conservation planning efforts and inform broader thinking about the social aspects of wildlife conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unsustainable hunting of wildlife for food empties tropical forests of many species critical to forest maintenance and livelihoods of forest people. Extractive industries, including logging, can accelerate exploitation of wildlife by opening forests to hunters and creating markets for bushmeat. We monitored human demographics, bushmeat supply in markets, and household bushmeat consumption in five logging towns in the northern Republic of Congo. Over 6 years we recorded 29,570 animals in town markets and collected 48,920 household meal records. Development of industrial logging operations led to a 69% increase in the population of logging towns and a 64% increase in bushmeat supply. The immigration of workers, jobseekers, and their families altered hunting patterns and was associated with increased use of wire snares and increased diversity in the species hunted and consumed. Immigrants hunted 72% of all bushmeat, which suggests the short-term benefits of hunting accrue disproportionately to “outsiders” to the detriment of indigenous peoples who have prior, legitimate claims to wildlife resources. Our results suggest that the greatest threat of logging to biodiversity may be the permanent urbanization of frontier forests. Although enforcement of hunting laws and promotion of alternative sources of protein may help curb the pressure on wildlife, the best strategy for biodiversity conservation may be to keep saw mills and the towns that develop around them out of forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific literature contains numerous descriptions of observed and potential effects of global climate change on species and ecosystems. In response to anticipated effects of climate change, conservation organizations and government agencies are developing “adaptation strategies” to facilitate the adjustment of human society and ecological systems to altered climate regimes. We reviewed the literature and climate-change adaptation plans that have been developed in United States, Canada, England, México, and South Africa and found 16 general adaptation strategies that relate directly to the conservation of biological diversity. These strategies can be grouped into four broad categories: land and water protection and management; direct species management; monitoring and planning; and law and policy. Tools for implementing these strategies are similar or identical to those already in use by conservationists worldwide (land and water conservation, ecological restoration, agrienvironment schemes, species translocation, captive propagation, monitoring, natural resource planning, and legislation/regulation). Although our review indicates natural resource managers already have many tools that can be used to address climate-change effects, managers will likely need to apply these tools in novel and innovative ways to meet the unprecedented challenges posed by climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation corridors are perhaps the most visible expression of the new landscape conservation boom. Seen as the essential connecting structure across increasingly fragmented landscapes, corridors offer a structural solution to the complex problem of maintaining functional ecological connectivity. Yet the ability of corridors to connect landscapes and wildlife populations functionally remains unknown. Why then are corridors so popular in academic, practitioner, and policy circles? To explore this question I utilize two concepts—boundary objects and standardized packages—from science and technology studies to show how corridors are being constructed both as naturally occurring entities and as the best possible conservation solution, in some cases foreclosing other possibilities. The flexibility of the term (as a boundary object) combined with a standard set of tools, methods, and theories to support it, makes corridors an accessible concept across social worlds. A case study of the Tarangire Manyara Ecosystem of northern Tanzania, however, suggests that the very flexibility of corridors can backfire, once enmeshed in the local politics of wildlife conservation. When the voices of the concerned community members are heard, political and ecological challenges to corridors emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burgeoning and largely unregulated trade in shark fins represents one of the most serious threats to shark populations worldwide. In Hong Kong, the world's largest shark fin market, fins are classified by traders into Chinese-name categories on the basis of market value, but the relationship between market category and shark species is unclear, preventing identification of species that are the most heavily traded. To delineate these relationships, we designed a sampling strategy for collecting statistically sufficient numbers of fins from traders and categories under conditions of limited market access because of heightened trader sensitivities. Based on information from traders and morphological inspection, we hypothesized matches between market names and shark taxa for fins within 11 common trade categories. These hypotheses were tested using DNA-based species identification techniques to determine the concordance between market category and species. Only 14 species made up approximately 40% of the auctioned fin weight. The proportion of samples confirming the hypothesized match, or concordance, varied from 0.64 to 1 across the market categories. We incorporated the concordance information and available market auction records for these categories into stochastic models to estimate the contribution of each taxon by weight to the fin trade. Auctioned fin weight was dominated by the blue shark (Prionace glauca ), which was 17% of the overall market. Other taxa, including the shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus ), silky (Carcharhinus falciformis ), sandbar (C. obscurus ), bull (C. leucas ), hammerhead (Sphyrna spp.), and thresher (Alopias spp.), were at least 2–6% of the trade. Our approach to marketplace monitoring of wildlife products is particularly applicable to situations in which quantitative data at the source of resource extraction are sparse and large-scale genetic testing is limited by budgetary or other market access constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]