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Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As the primary secondary tree species in Northeast China, Quercus mongolica possesses significant ecological and economic value. This study employed the Biomod2 platform in conjunction with ArcGIS spatial analysis to assess the potential suitable habitat distribution area of Q. mongolica under current climatic conditions. Furthermore, it forecasted the distribution range and niche changes of potentially suitable habitats for Q. mongolica from 2022 to 2090 and pinpointed the key environmental factors influencing its distribution. The findings reveal that the total potential suitable area for Q. mongolica covers 74,994.792 km2, predominantly spread across Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and other regions. The primary determinants of suitable area distribution were peak temperature of hottest month, lowest temperature of coldest month, and altitude. Under future climate scenarios, the potentially suitable habitats of Q. mongolica are anticipated to diminish to varying extents, with the distribution center exhibiting a tendency towards northward migration. Concurrently, the overlap among different climate scenarios is predicted to expand over time. This investigation facilitates a comprehensive understanding of Q. mongolica's adaptation to climate change, enabling informed adjustments and serving as a valuable reference for the preservation and sustainable management of Q. mongolica populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the vulnerability of Madagascar's protected areas (PAs) to climate change, focusing on climate change velocity, and its impact on biodiversity. We analyzed current and near future climate data using principal component analysis (PCA) and climate change velocity metrics to predict shifts in climatic conditions from the present to the near future, while under the mild and extreme emission scenarios (SSP 126, SSP 585). Forward velocities, which are characterized by the minimum distances that must be overcome by species to keep in track with their appropriate comparative climate, are most pronounced in western and southern Madagascar. In contrast, the backward velocity, which uses future climatic conditions in grid cells in comparison to current conditions, is more common in the eastern regions of the island, and hints at the minimum distance that organisms would have to overcome in colonizing a new habitat. Even though the correlations between PA size and climate change velocity are weak, there is a tendency for larger PAs to exhibit more stable climatic conditions. Conservation strategies must prioritize enhancing the resilience of PAs through adaptive management to mitigate climate impacts. Our findings provide crucial insights for policymakers and conservation planners to develop climate-smart strategies that ensure the long-term efficacy of Madagascar's PA network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Habitat degradation caused by roads and wildlife–vehicle collisions are two of the main drivers of terrestrial vertebrate mortality. Spatial collision patterns are influenced by habitat and road characteristics and the species' ecology and biology, including its life history. Costa Rica has a network of 10,000 km of paved roads; however, there is a knowledge gap on road ecology and its impact to wildlife. Understanding the interconnectedness of roadkill with spatial and temporal patterns is crucial to mitigate this threat in the country. Aims: Here, we describe spatial and temporal patterns in bird and mammal–vehicle collisions on a 45 km section of the Interamerican Highway and identify the critical zones that require attention. Methods: Surveys were conducted by car between Río Macho Forest Reserve and Los Santos Forest Reserve for a period of 8 months. We recorded bird and mammal individuals and road and landscape features in 100 m sections to identify collision hotspots. We used the road and landscape information to try to explain the hotspot segments using generalized linear models. Key results: We found 148 carcasses that belonged to 16 species of bird and five species of mammal. There was no temporal pattern in frequency of collisions for both birds and mammals. We identified 34 collision hotspots, five for birds and 29 for mammals, and seven hotspots for both groups combined. Bird collision frequency was explained by the 150 m scale forest area, distance to rivers, and road sinuosity. Mammal collisions were not explained by the evaluated variables. Conclusions: Roadkill of birds and mammals was influenced by biological traits and environmental factors. The identification of specific environmental factors and collision hotspots are an initial step on collision monitoring in the Talamanca mountain range in Costa Rica. Implications: This research has increased our knowledge on some of the factors that influence roadkill frequencies and vulnerability of species. Our results identified segments on the Interamerican Highway where roadkill mitigation measures should be implemented. Our findings can also serve as a reference point to analyze other segments of the highway or other roads with similar features in the country. Roadkill is a major threat for terrestrial vertebrates worldwide. This study aimed to identify wildlife–vehicle collision hotspots for birds and mammals along a section of the Interamerican Highway, one of the most transited roads in Costa Rica, to identify temporal patterns in roadkill, and to describe the relationship between wildlife–vehicle collisions and landscape characteristics. We identified 34 roadkill hotspots where forest area, distance to rivers, and road sinuosity were the most influencing factors. We make recommendations on the next steps to reduce bird and mammal roadkills. Photograph by José F. González Maya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the world's mega-biodiverse regions, the Indian subcontinent harbors exceptional biological riches spanning diverse taxa and ecosystems. However, rapid economic growth and associated anthropogenic pressures pose ever-increasing threats to native biota through habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, climate change, and pollution. This paper analyzes India's changing biodiversity landscape, evaluates the efficacy of conservation policies, and charts strategic priorities for the future. Spatiotemporal trends for 3563 species across terrestrial, fresh water and marine realms were assessed using IUCN Red List data. We find that birds and mammals show modest improvements recently owing to legal protections and habitat recovery initiatives. However, other less-charismatic taxa exhibit alarming population declines nationwide. Our policy analysis highlights critical gaps in implementation frameworks involving multi-sector coordination, capacity building, benefit sharing, and participatory decision-making. To arrest biodiversity erosion and achieve stated policy targets by 2030, we propose an integrated, evidence-driven strategy prioritizing invasives control, agro-ecological transitions, pollution abatement, ecological connectivity via green-gray infrastructure, and community-based adaptation. Mindful of inherent socio-ecological complexities, our recommendations provide a framework for targeted conservation investments attuned to India's development aspirations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing threats to global biodiversity notably impact cycads, one of the most endangered organisms. Despite the importance of nature reserves, they only sometimes provide sufficient protection from habitat destruction and illegal harvesting. Identifying and prioritizing suitable Mexican tepezmaite (Ceratozamia) habitats is imperative for restoration and protection. This study uses distribution models to map habitats for C. brevifrons, C. delucana, C. morettii, and C. tenuis to highlight optimal conservation zones. The study area lies in the Sierra de Chiconquiaco, Veracruz, Mexico. All species occurrences were collected, and four sets of environmental predictors were selected as input variables for the model. An ensemble species distribution model was constructed for each species. When contrasting the habitat areas within established nature reserves, gaps in conservation coverage were discerned. We assessed its conservation status following the IUCN and Mexican legislation criteria. A further 4 km2 of highly suitable habitat is desired for a nature reserves expansion strategy. C. brevifrons and C. tenuis are deemed vulnerable per IUCN criteria, while C. delucana and C. morettii are considered Endangered. However, Mexican laws categorize C. brevifrons, C. morettii, and C. tenuis as Endangered and C. delucana as threatened. Models suggest that the distribution of the species is constrained primarily by soil composition and topographical features. Based on the results of the models, it is essential to implement the restoration of the species' natural habitat. The tepezmaite cycads are a group of endangered species that may soon become extinct unless formal habitat protection is conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the importance of freshwater ecosystems to social‐ecological systems of the Amazon, conservation in the region historically has focused on terrestrial ecosystems. Moreover, current information on pressing management and conservation needs specific to freshwaters is scattered across multiple disciplines and generally focused on particular threats, habitats, and taxa. This disparateness of information limits the ability of researchers and practitioners to set priorities and implement actions that comprehensively address challenges faced by freshwater ecosystems. To reduce this research‐implementation gap, we reviewed the scientific literature on Amazon freshwater conservation to identify pressing actions to be taken and potential directions for their implementation. We identified 63 actions gleaned from 174 publications. These were classified into six major themes: (i) implement environmental flows, (ii) improve water quality, (iii) protect and restore critical habitats, (iv) manage exploitation of freshwater organisms, (v) prevent and control invasive species, and (vi) safeguard and restore freshwater connectivity. Although each action may face different implementation challenges, we propose three guiding principles to support action planning and decisions on‐the‐ground. We conclude with a reflection on potential future directions to place freshwaters into the center of policies and agreements that target the conservation of the Amazon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of New Architecture is the property of New Architecture Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of People & Nature is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Conservation of species requires the protection of the associated suitable habitat. However, it is usually not known how much habitat is required to detect a single rare species. This problem is important, and it is related directly to the success and optimization of conservation planning. However, to date, no statistical methods have been developed to address this problem adequately. In this study, from a statistical sampling theory, we propose an estimator to estimate the minimum area required to conserve one or more additional new rare species. The estimator is highly accurate, as demonstrated by numerical tests. Applying the estimator in a tropical forest plot showed that the additional habitat size required for discovering an additional individual of a previously unseen tropical tree species is about 3.86 ha with a SE of 1.10 ha. In conclusion, the proposed estimator may be applied to conservation planning by assisting conservation biologists and policymakers to balance urban‐related and conservation‐related land uses by estimating the minimum detection areas required for species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatially explicit models are an important component of systematic conservation planning, enabling the depiction of biodiversity metrics across landscapes and objective evaluation of candidate sites for conservation delivery. However, sites considered "best" for conservation are typically viewed from the standpoint of biological value and may not be the most effective or efficient when risk of habitat loss, cost of conservation, intended conservation treatments, and overall conservation strategy are considered. We evaluated risk of habitat loss, land cost, and landscape context for geographic areas harboring most‐dense to least‐dense population quartiles for 16 species of grassland birds in the US northern Great Plains. Differences in land cost, risk of grassland conversion, and landscape context among quartiles and species indicated that a minimum‐area strategy may be inefficient and even ineffective. Priority zones for western species were generally associated with lower agricultural land cost, more protected land, and landscape characteristics associated with intact grasslands; eastern species were generally associated with higher agricultural land cost, tillage probability, grass loss, cropland, development, forest, Conservation Reserve Program grasslands, and distance to grass. Our results indicate that addressing areas outside of population cores increases conservation options and may provide substantial benefits to portions of populations that are most vulnerable to habitat loss or other stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to biodiversity declines worldwide, over 190 nations committed to protect 30% of their lands and waters by 2030 (hereafter, 30×30). Systematic conservation planning and return on investment analysis can be helpful tools for determining where protection efforts could deliver the most efficient and effective reserve design, and supporting decision‐making when trade‐offs among objectives are required. Here, we propose a framework for efficient "30×30" implementation and apply it to the state of California (USA). Because conservation of a region's full suite of biodiversity is the primary objective of the global initiative, we prioritized representation in our analysis. We used Zonation to identify networks that close the gap in representation of major habitat types in California's protected area network and that also conserve the places important for biodiversity or climate change mitigation. We identified networks that are efficient relative to metrics likely to be important in implementation including land acquisition cost, number of transactions, and conservation benefit per hectare, and we illustrate not only trade‐offs associated with these metrics but also differences in the co‐benefits achieved. Five of the eight major habitat types in California are not currently protected at a 30% level statewide, and if representation was achieved solely through private land acquisition, targets could be met for as little as $5.84 billion, with as few as 364 transactions, or with 2.18 million additional conserved hectares. Implementation of 30×30 will likely require more flexibility than a single network design. A "no regrets" action would be to protect properties that were prioritized across all networks and additional implementation should include properties with characteristics of any of the individual networks. Our analytical framework and implementation guidance can be applied to other geographies and jurisdictions to increase the likelihood of both meeting 30×30 targets and delivering the conservation benefits they aim to secure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Efficient mitigation of the biodiversity crisis requires targeted conservation actions in locations with high species richness, the presence of endangered species and unique species communities. However, prioritising sites remains challenging because of sparse knowledge on biodiversity, limiting the possibility of communicating efficiently with local decision makers. We examine easy‐to‐replicate, yet robust, methods to identify areas with high conservation values on large spatial scales using data filtering and complementary biodiversity indicators based on species records from a biodiversity information facility. Location: Finland, Europe. Methods: We illustrate the protocol by focusing on Lepidoptera in Finnish municipal districts. We mobilised over 3 million species records on 878 native Lepidoptera (2001–2020) from the Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility. We estimated the richness of overall and endangered species using species accumulation curves, as well as the uniqueness of species communities, using measures of local contribution to beta diversity (LCBD). After testing for multiple thresholds and their effect on indicator accuracy, 97 districts with >5000 records were included in the analyses. Results: Estimated overall species richness was highest on the southern coast and significantly decreased in the North, following a known pattern with Lepidoptera in Finland. Species richness was not the highest in the districts with the greatest number of records and the ranking differed from the raw data, demonstrating the importance of correcting for sampling intensity. The estimated number of endangered species correlated with overall species richness, except in northernmost districts, where the proportion of endangered species was exceptionally high. High LCBD replacement (i.e. unique species communities) was concentrated in the Southwest (hemi‐boreal) and North (northern boreal) of the country. Main Conclusions: We provided an example and interpretations of how scalable biodiversity indicators based on accumulation curves and LCBD analyses, and careful data filtering (thresholds) can be used to identify sites with conservation priorities from multi‐sourced species records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vernal pools—small seasonal wetlands—provide critical breeding habitat for many species but are under-protected in environmental regulation. Because vernal pools are not rare in the northeastern United States, regulatory emphasis is typically placed on protecting "significant" vernal pools yet scientific criteria for determining thresholds for conservation significance remain poorly developed. We used an evidence-based approach to identify thresholds of pool significance based on populations of breeding amphibians in five ecoregions and across urbanization gradients of New York State, where a recent revision to wetland law allows regulation based on amphibian productivity. We combined existing population survey data with new surveys to yield a dataset of 587 pools for estimating statistical distributions of productivity of two indicator species: spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) and wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus). Spotted salamander egg mass counts were significantly lower in highly developed landscapes. Larger pools were generally more productive for both species yet no single habitat feature reliably predicted high egg mass counts. Pool incidence and productivity also varied regionally: the Hudson-Mohawk region hosted the most known vernal pools and highest egg mass counts and the Lake Plain region the fewest known pools. Our dataset yielded threshold options for guiding pool protection that varied by the proportion of pools targeted. We suggest a lower standard for protecting pools in high-development areas and that presence of other pool-breeding indicator species could also qualify pools for significance. These recommendations can guide regulators in affording protection critical to small wetland habitats specific to regional and landscape contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective management and mitigation of multiple human impacts on marine ecosystems require accurate knowledge of the spatial patterns of human activities and their overlap with vulnerable habitats. Cumulative impact (CI) mapping combines spatial information and the intensity of human activities with the spatial extent of habitats and their vulnerabilities to those stressors into an intuitive relative CI score that can inform marine spatial planning processes and ecosystem‐based management. Here, we mapped potential CIs of 45 human activities from five sectors (climate change, land‐based, marine‐based, coastal, commercial fishing) on 21 habitats in Atlantic Canada's Scotian Shelf bioregion. We applied an uncertainty and sensitivity analysis to assess the robustness of results and identify hot and cold spots of CIs. Nearly the entire Scotian Shelf bioregion experiences the CIs of human activities, and high CIs were frequently associated with multiple stressors. CIs varied widely across habitats: CI scores in habitats >30 m deep were dominated by climate change and commercial fishing, while nearshore habitats were influenced by a much wider range of activities across all five sectors. When standardized by area, coastal habitats had among the highest CI scores, highlighting the intensity of multiple stressors in these habitats despite their relatively small spatial extent and emphasizing the importance of a multisector approach when managing coastal ecosystems. Robust hot spots of CIs (i.e., areas with high CI scores that were insensitive to alternative modeling assumptions and simulated data quality issues) occurred mostly in coastal areas where multiple high‐intensity activities overlapped with highly vulnerable biogenic habitats. In contrast, robust cold spots of CI mostly occurred offshore. Overall, our results emphasize the need to consider CIs in management and protection and demonstrates that, in many areas, targeting only one activity will be insufficient to reduce overall human impact. The CI map will be useful to highlight areas in need of protection from multiple human impacts, provide information for ecological indicator development, and establish a baseline of the current state of human use in the bioregion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We present a methodology to address multifaceted uncertainties in species distribution models (SDMs), enhancing their robustness and providing vital insights to inform management and conservation decisions. Data uncertainties, including positional inaccuracies in historical data and absences in survey data that could be attributed to anthropogenic disturbances rather than habitat unsuitability, can compromise SDM predictions, risking the efficacy of resultant conservation strategies. Location: While the concepts and methodologies presented hold global applicability, our case study is situated in and around the Negev Desert of southern Israel and the Palestinian West Bank, focusing on the critically endangered Be'er Sheva fringe‐fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus beershebensis) that is endemic to this area. Methods: Utilizing calculated combinations of reliable and uncertain datasets, we created diverse dataset scenarios. Pre‐development distribution and habitat requirements were estimated for each scenario using a blend of statistical and machine‐learning algorithms in R. Additionally, a combined scenario was modelled using hierarchical model ensembles to effectively weight data by reliability. Results: Our innovative approach produces more robust models and reveals the impact of uncertain datasets on model predictions. Incorporating potential anthropogenic absences led to erroneous model conclusions, particularly when historical data exclusion occurred—a practice often implemented in the pursuit of model robustness. Main Conclusions: Uncertainties in SDMs can yield incorrect conclusions, imperilling conservation efforts. Initiated by land managers, our work actively informs conservation practices. The study's global relevance provides an approach for addressing real‐world challenges in estimating species distributions, advancing the application of conservation science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crop and crop wild relative (CWR) checklist of Lithuania was created containing 2630 taxa. The checklist comprises 1384 native taxa including archaeophytes and 1246 neophytes. In total, 699 taxa (26.6%) are defined for food and forage use. A list of 144 CWR priority species with 135 native species and archaeophytes and 9 naturalized species was generated. In total, 53 genera of food and forage species belonging to 15 families are represented by the priority CWR. Two approaches for CWR genetic reserve selection have been employed in this study: (1) CWR-targeted evaluation of preselected sites, including Natura 2000 sites, national protected areas, and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), such as ancient hillfort sites and ecological protection zones of water bodies; (2) analysis of large georeferenced plant databases. Forty-five potential genetic reserve sites have been selected by the first approach covering 83 species or 57.6% of the national CWR priority list. With the second approach, the in situ CWR National Inventory database has been created by combining data from the Database of EU habitat mapping in Lithuania (BIGIS), Herbarium Database of the Nature Research Centre (BILAS), Lithuanian Vegetation Database (EU-LT-001), and Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Hotspot analysis of CWR species richness and number of observations suggested that higher CWR diversity is more likely to be found in protected areas. However, Shannon diversity and Shannon equitability indices showed that the areas outside of the protected areas are also suitable for CWR genetic reserve establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use is both a major cause of the biodiversity crises and a potential solution to it. Decisions about land use are made in complex social–ecological systems, yet conservation research, policy, and practice often neglect the diverse and dynamic nature of land use. A deeper integration of land system science and conservation science provides major opportunities in this context, through a transfer of concepts, data, and methodologies. Specifically, a closer exchange between land‐use data developers and users will enable common terminology and better data use, allowing to move beyond coarse land‐cover representations of land use. Similarly, archetyping and regionalization approaches can help to embrace, rather than oversimplify, the diversity of land‐use actors and practices. Finally, systematically linking land‐use actors to portfolios of pressures on biodiversity, beyond their direct impact on habitat, can better represent and map co‐occurring and interacting threats. Together, this will enable conservation policymakers and planners to recognize the often‐complex and wicked nature of conservation challenges related to land, allowing for more context‐specific conservation policymaking and planning, and more targeted conservation interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The range of global concepts of cultural heritage conservation has provided inspiration for China's cultural heritage conservation. China's approach to cultural heritage conservation has evolved from a focus on cultural relics conservation within urban planning to the formulation of specialized and multiple conservation planning. Furthermore, China is actively seeking ways to combine conservation planning and urban planning in order to achieve integrated conservation goals. However, the current practice indicates that 'multiple-planning integration' still needs to be improved to ensure the integrity of cultural heritage. This paper examines the influence of international organizations on the formation and development of China's multiple conservation planning. It also explores how heritage discourse has impacted the multiple-planning integration through a case study. International exchanges have a twofold impact: they improve the conceptual and technical development of China's cultural heritage conservation planning, and they guide its transition from cultural relics to historic city conservation. The primary effect of heritage discourse is that the demolition-and-reconstruction-oriented discourse has compromised the practice's integrity through multiple-planning integration. In the context of the localization of cultural heritage protection, it analyses the process and problems of the localization of cultural heritage conservation planning in China to draw wider attention to it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Values-based approaches are among the best practices for management and conservation planning. However, cultural significance assessments (of the attributes and values of cultural heritage) have generally been performed by experts (top-down) instead of including expert and nonexpert communities (top-down and bottom-up). Objectives: This paper presents a multitechnique approach in which different strategies are applied to assess the perceptions of cultural significance held by several actors (users, managers, staff, experts, children, students, virtual community) within the framework of the Keeping It Modern Grant awarded by the Getty Foundation (2020–2023) for the Ocean Swimming Pool (1960–1966) designed by Álvaro Siza in Matosinhos, Portugal. Method: Interviews, surveys, social media analysis, and workshops with children, students, and experts were adopted for the method, and, whenever possible, the 'Imagine Ballarat' Love, Change and Imagine questions were utilised as a resourceful instrument for assessing the significance attributed by multiple stakeholders. Results: Based on the results, stakeholders' opinions and values regarding the heritage site could be compared, which revealed the relationship between the values and the groups of actors, thereby deepening the complexity of heritage sites as National Monuments. Conclusion: By using this integrated perspective, we could define the cultural significance of a modern heritage site through an inclusive methodology while also establishing the grounds for conservation policies within a more broadly participative management of change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective protection of highly mobile and data-poor species constitutes a great challenge amid growing ocean exploitation and use. Blue whales and bowhead whales in the North-East Atlantic face several threats, such as climate change, ship strikes, pollution, and entanglement in fishing gear. Consequently, the OSPAR ("Oslo-Paris Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic") Commission recognised their need for protection and included them on the OSPAR List of Threatened and/or Declining Species. Two actions to protect these endangered species that OSPAR Contracting Parties have agreed on are (i) identifying areas that play an essential role in the species' life cycle—subsequently called key habitats, and (ii) ensuring that those key habitats are covered by OSPAR marine protected areas (MPAs). In addition, OSPAR has committed to expanding its network of MPAs and other effective area-based conservation measures by 2030 to cover at least 30% of the OSPAR maritime area (termed the 30 × 30 target) from today's approx. 11%. In this paper, we present the results of modelling key habitats for the bowhead and blue whales in the North-East Atlantic, including Arctic waters. Due to the sparse data situation for these species, we apply presence-only modelling methods. As this method can, in principle, produce somewhat biased results, we recommend that systematic, regular surveys on these species in Arctic waters be significantly intensified for future analyses to overcome the data paucity and allow using presence–absence/count data modelling approaches. Key habitats of blue whales were identified between Iceland and Svalbard, extending to the Azores. For bowhead whales, key habitats were identified in the Fram Strait. However, our findings show that only 11.8% of blue whale key habitats and 4.1% of bowhead whale key habitats are currently covered by OSPAR MPAs. To protect 30% of key habitats for these species in the most efficient way, our analyses suggest that suitable areas to designate new OSPAR MPAs are located around the Azores for blue whales and in the Fram Strait for bowhead whales. With these additional MPAs, OSPAR would substantially improve the protection of the two endangered species and, at the same time, progress towards its 30 × 30 target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

There is a biodiversity crisis, and to prevent extinctions the most important sites to be effectively conserved must be identified. Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) include sites of importance for species survival. Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) sites, a subset of KBAs, contain ≥95% of the population of highly threatened species. Currently, only 47 tree species have been identified using the AZE criteria. The Global Tree Assessment, assessing the extinction risk of the world's tree species, has enabled trees to be incorporated into KBA and AZE sites. Here we present a methodology to utilize data from the IUCN Red List to identify potential AZE species for trees. This 10‐part methodology identified 2909 tree species as potential AZE species across the world, representing at least 5% of described tree species. As further tree species are assessments are published on the IUCN Red List, this methodology will be important for identifying potential AZE species. The methodology can be applied and adapted to any taxa on the IUCN Red List. This analysis serves as a prioritization mechanism for identifying species in urgent need of conservation action to prevent extinctions. The species identified can feed into national KBA identification efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land trusts have historically selected many project sites opportunistically, awaiting communication from willing sellers or donors interested in conserving their land. However, in light of the multiple ecological crises faced by land trusts, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and habitat destruction, there is a growing awareness of the need to practice land conservation with an increased pace, scale, and efficacy. In answer to that challenge, we provide one example of how a land trust can adopt methodology for the strategic selection of land protection project sites. Strategic land conservation, as demonstrated in this paper, involves thoughtful prioritization of the attributes of future conservation project sites. Following prioritization, spatial analysis of the region is conducted to identify sites that meet the prioritized attributes, in this case, resilience to climate change. The case study explored in this paper is the 2020 Strategic Land Conservation Plan created by Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy and its partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change restricts and alters the distribution range of plant species. Predicting potential distribution and population dynamics is crucial to understanding species' geographical distribution characteristics to harness their economic and ecological benefits. This study uses Dendrocalamus brandisii as the research subject, aiming to accurately reveal the impact of climate change on this plant. The findings offer important insights for developing practical conservation and utilization strategies, and guidance for future introduction and cultivation. The MaxEnt model was optimized using regularization multiplier (RM) and feature combination (FC) from the 'Kuenm' package in R language, coupled with ArcGIS for modeling 142 distribution points and 29 environmental factors of D. brandisii. This article explored the key environmental factors influencing the potential suitable regions for D. brandisii, and predicted trends in habitat changes under SSPs2.6 and SSPs8.5 climate scenarios for the current era, the 2050s, 2070s, and 2090s. (1) The results show that when FC = QPH and RM = 1, the AUC = 0.989, indicating that the model prediction is accurate with the lowest complexity and overfitting. The key environmental factors affecting its primary suitable distribution, determined by jackknife training gain and single-factor response curve, are the precipitation of warmest quarter (bio18), the temperature seasonality (bio4), the minimum average monthly radiation (uvb-4), and elevation (Elev), contributing 93.6% collectively. It was established that the optimal range for D. brandisii is precipitation of warmest quarter of between 657 and 999 mm, temperature seasonality from 351% to 442%, minimum average monthly radiation from 2420 to 2786 J/m2/day, at elevation from 1099 to 2217 m. (2) The current potential habitat distribution is somewhat fragmented, covering an area of 92.17 × 104 km2, mainly located in southwest, south, and southeast China, central Nepal, southern Bhutan, eastern India, northwestern Myanmar, northern Laos, and northern Vietnam. (3) In future periods, under different climate scenario models, the potential habitat of D. brandisii will change in varying degrees to become more fragmented, with its distribution center generally shifting westward. The SSP8.5 scenario is not as favorable for the growth of D. brandisii as the SSPs2.6. Central Nepal, southern Bhutan, and the southeastern coastal areas of China have the potential to become another significant cultivation region for D. brandisii. The results provide a scientific basis for the planning of priority planting locations for potential introduction of D. brandisii in consideration of its cultivation ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the absence of high-quality biodiversity data, land-use planners and conservationists often rely on biodiversity surrogates. Many studies have proposed surrogates based on assumptions about the environmental niches of species. However, the use of such assumptions is not always useful because biological processes and ecological interactions can operate at different scales due to the non-uniform geographical distribution of environmental conditions. In such cases, compositional heterogeneity across the same region can be expected but is often hidden by broad-scale environmental data. Furthermore, these assumptions may obscure important relationships between species and their environment. To elucidate this issue, we asked whether biotic interactions between two taxonomic groups are more important than other factors in reflecting the distribution of unsampled species. To do this, we compared the relationship between the distribution of bird species and the distribution of the five most-abundant palm species which are often considered indicators of bird communities. These species include Lepidocaryum tenue, Oenocarpus bataua, Oenocarpus bacaba, Mauritiella aculeata, and Attalea speciosa. Additionally, we considered environmental factors (precipitation, water-table levels, sand and clay contents) and the ecoregions along the Purus-Madeira interfluve as drivers of bird species composition. Our results show that bird-assemblage composition was strongly correlated with changes in palm-species abundance. The presence-absence data for bird-species showed that palm-species alone explained 25% and 19% of composition of all birds and only canopy birds, respectively. These palm species are abundant and can be easily identified and monitored by non-specialists, such as citizen scientists. Citizens are often involved in data acquisition but may not have the experience to sample large assemblages consisting of hundreds of species; thus, these five most-abundant palms species could serve as a cost-effective and efficient biodiversity surrogate for birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation planning is the process of locating, implementing, and maintaining areas that are managed to promote the persistence of biodiversity, ecosystem function, and human use. In this review, we analyze the ways in which social processes have been integrated into Marxan, a spatially explicit conservation planning tool used as one step in a broader process to select the location and size of protected areas. Drawing on 89 peer-reviewed articles published between 2005 and 2020, we analyzed the ways in which human activity, values, and processes are spatialized in the environment, something we call socialscape ecology. A socialscape ecology approach to conservation planning considers not only the spatial configuration of human activity in a land or seascape but also the underlying drivers of these activities, how resource use rights and access operate in an area, and how resource users contribute to data collection and decision making. Our results show that there has been a small but statistically significant increase in the total number of cost variables into Marxan analysis over time, with uneven performance across seven of the nine categories assessed. One notable area of improvement has been the increase over time in number of studies integrating socio-environmental change (e.g., climate change) in their analysis. Including accurate, context-specific, and detailed accounts of social features and processes within land and seascapes is essential for developing conservation plans that are cost-effective, ecologically sound, socially desirable, and just. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conserving landscapes used by multiple stakeholder groups requires understanding of what each stakeholder values. Here we employed a semi-structured, participatory approach to identify features of value in the terrestrial Antarctic Peninsula related to biodiversity, science and tourism. Stakeholders identified 115 features, ranging from Adélie penguin colonies to sites suitable for snowshoeing tourists. We split the features into seven broad categories: science, tourism, historic, biodiversity, geographic, habitat, and intrinsic features, finding that the biodiversity category contained the most features of any one category, while science stakeholders identified the most features of any stakeholder group. Stakeholders have overlapping interests in some features, particularly for seals and seabirds, indicating that thoughtful consideration of their inclusion in future management is required. Acknowledging the importance of tourism and other social features in Antarctica and ensuring their integration into conservation planning and assessment will increase the likelihood of implementing successful environmental management strategies into the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Applied Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Decision science emphasizes necessary elements required for robust decision‐making. By incorporating decision science principles, frameworks, and tools, it has been demonstrated that decision‐makers can increase the chances of achieving conservation aims. Setting measurable objectives, clearly documenting assumptions about the impact of available actions on a specific threat or problem, explicitly considering constraints, exploring and characterizing uncertainty, and structured deliberation on trade‐offs have been identified as key elements of successful decision‐making. We quantify the extent to which these five elements were utilized in published examples of decision making in conservation in both academic and conservation practice between 2009 and 2018. We found that less than 50% of identified examples included all five elements, with differences in the degree of decision science applied across five commonly used decision support approaches: adaptive management (AM), systematic conservation planning (SCP), structured decision making (SDM), multi‐criteria decision analysis, and cost‐effectiveness analysis. Example applications that utilized the SDM framework were limited in numbers but used on average more than 50% of the five key elements we considered. Although SCP and AM constituted the majority of examples, they were more prevalent in academic studies rather than management applications. SCP and AM examples were widespread in protected area planning, threat abatement, and restoration. Strong geographic bias exists in documented conservation activities that deploy all five decision science elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many domestic animals have a profound impact on endangered species through complex interactions and spillover effects in and between coupled human and natural systems. A thorough understanding of the driving forces of human decisions regarding how domestic animals are kept is therefore critical to promote the synergy of human livelihood and biodiversity conservation. Working in the Qinling Mountains of China, we conducted a multidisciplinary study using a structural equation model (SEM) to link households' demographic and economic conditions, peoples attitudes and activities with their decisions, and further investigated how such process influences the potential negative impact of free‐ranging dogs on wildlife. Among 139 blood and saliva samples collected from dogs that were owned by local villagers but allowed to roam freely, 33.3% were positive for at least one of three viral infections, including canine distemper (28.2%), canine parvovirus (25.6%), and rabies virus prevalence (10.3%). SEM modeling revealed that human activity (β = 0.27, p =.012) has significantly increased dogs' potential negative impacts on wildlife by increasing the number of dogs and their direct contact with wildlife, as well as their larger movement range. Conversely, improvement in demographic and economic conditions (β = −0.22, p =.011) and human attitudes (β = −0.51, p =.013) suppresses the influence of free roaming dogs on wildlife. Meanwhile, livelihoods dependent on natural resources increased the likelihood of owners having dog practice that may negatively impact wildlife (β = 0.54, p <.001), without improving the economic conditions of the residents (β = −0.26, p <.001). Based on the above results, we recommend a program that combines educational and conservation efforts to encourages local residents in more responsible dog ownership and recommend reserve managers provide financial incentives to mitigate human‐wildlife conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The approach common to well‐known conservation planning frameworks is rooted in values, like species persistence and quality habitat, and expectations resulting from conservation actions, like restoration and protection. We evaluated value‐focused thinking (VFT) as a framework for setting objectives based on personal or group values. Our approach included five steps: eliciting individual participant values, specifying objectives, organizing objectives, structuring multiple objectives, and a quality check. We implemented these steps with 12 conservation planning teams at a global conservation organization. We performed descriptive analyses based on comparisons between final group objectives and initial individual objectives as well as the quality check. We found that participants could only self‐identify a proportion of the team's objectives, which VFT strengthened. Participants were equally challenged with identifying means and ends objectives, contrasting with general VFT theory. Both experienced and newly formed teams effectively applied VFT. Our study formalizes a common‐sense approach to evaluating the underlying drivers of conservation planning so that its resulting outcomes can be most impactful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: Proposals to increase protected area networks to 30% of land area globally will, given habitat conversion, require ecosystem restoration. Trait‐based approaches provide tools for this and highlight priorities for protected area expansion—both where functional diversity has the highest values and where it is higher than expected given species richness. Maps of sampled angiosperm species from across Africa show where these diversity metrics deviate. These maps also show the 30% of land with greatest potential to support functional diversity at national and continental scales, of which less than a quarter is protected, demonstrating the need for coordinated trans‐national plant conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of the Sanjiangyuan National Park (SNP) system indicates a higher requirement for refining management practices, especially for protecting the ecological barrier system (EBS) that supports national ecological security and biodiversity. However, it is still understudied how planners can identify the key areas for maintaining EBS in addition to functional zoning. This study took the SNP as an example and built a comprehensive analytical framework, including fragmentation analysis, landscape morphology analysis, and connectivity analysis based on graph theory. The study found that the ecological patches of the Lancang River Source sub-park are relatively complete, while those of the Yangtze River Source sub-park and the Yellow River Source sub-park are more fragmented according to different indicators. The study then identified key nodes and edges of sources for maintaining the EBS. These areas are located mostly near core zones of habitat patches. Furthermore, the study analyzed key patches for maintaining landscape connectivity using two indicators DN (degree of nodes) and dIIC (the delta integral index of connectivity), which respectively quantify the number of neighbors of a habitat and its impact on the whole connecting EBS. Last, the study identified areas with dense landscape corridors in the EBS for suggesting key protection areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) will become the most important multilateral agreement to guide biodiversity conservation actions globally over the coming decades. An ecosystem goal and various targets for maintaining integrity, restoring degraded ecosystems, and achieving representation in conservation areas feature throughout the GBF. Here, we provide an operational framework that combines disparate information on ecosystem type, extent, integrity, protection levels, and risk of collapse to support identifying irreplaceable "Critical Ecosystem Areas" (CEAs), to help implement these ecosystem targets. The framework classifies each component ecosystem based on its integrity, importance in ensuring no ecosystem collapse, and relative value in achieving ecosystem‐specific representation targets. These CEAs are immediate conservation opportunities given that they achieve multiple ecosystem GBF goals and targets, and we showcase its application using Myanmar's forested ecosystems as a case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) are endangered coastal, marine, and riverine megaherbivores with high environmental plasticity, constrained by tidal and seasonal water level cycles that affect access to food and fresh water. Accurate quantification of the species' habitat requirements, typically achieved through home range (HR) estimation, is required to implement area‐based conservation initiatives. In this study, we used GPS tracking data from 38 wild and captive‐rehabilitated released manatees to estimate HR using autocorrelated kernel density estimators (AKDE) and average time speed. We investigated whether body size, habitat type, sex and behavioural group influence home range size due to energy requirements, resources availability, a scramble‐competitive polygyny mating system, and adaptation to the wild. Eighteen manatees exhibited range‐resident behaviour, with a mean 95% home range of 72.96 km2 (± 218.52) and a median of 10.69 km2. The mean daily speed was estimated to be 13.47 km/day (± 4.16). Home range and body size were positively correlated, consistent with HR allometry theory. Long‐term tracked individuals showed a trend of increasing HR over time. Only four released animals (17.4%) were range‐resident, suggesting that they may need additional time to establish a home range. Individuals using only the marine environment had larger home ranges compared to mixed (marine and estuarine) and estuarine environments, probably due to freshwater availability. Our study contributes to the understanding of the factors driving manatee movement and provides more accurate estimates of area requirements, which can inform the establishment and zoning of marine protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stream connectivity restoration through the removal or mitigation of dams and other anthropogenic barriers is critical for aquatic species conservation. Historically, stream connectivity restoration planning has been focused on biophysical criteria; however, aquatic barriers are embedded in social contexts that can constrain restoration decisions. To support the integration of social considerations into stream connectivity conservation planning, we synthesized the available research involving social criteria linked to barrier removal. We found that the literature has been focused predominantly on the removal of dams and identify four major categories of social considerations for barrier removal: economics, nonmarket social values, safety, and procedural context. We reviewed contemporary barrier removal prioritization efforts and found that existing approaches typically only consider small subsets of social considerations and face issues with data availability. The findings synthesized in the present article establish potential criteria that could be integrated into effective stream connectivity restoration planning and inform future data capture efforts for barrier removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Context: The leopard (Panthera pardus), the only large carnivore species occurring in central North China, has undergone substantial range contraction and population decline due to anthropogenic pressure across the region. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to map its current suitable habitats and assess the degree of connectivity between core habitats to inform future conservation planning of this big cat at the landscape scale. Methods: We conducted this study in central North China (34°11´ ~ 43°49´N, 103°11´ ~ 123°54´E, about 936,000 km2). We collected occurrence locations (N = 196) of leopards from 2014–2020, and modeled its habitat suitability using an “ensemble” species distribution model by incorporating environmental and anthropogenic variables. We then identified the potential dispersal corridors between core habitat patches (≥ 100 km2) through connectivity analysis. Results: The leopards preferred humid forests at higher elevations with less human disturbance. Their suitable habitats were highly fragmented, with main core habitats located in Shanxi, Shaanxi, and the border between Gansu and Ningxia provinces. Among all the 8,679 km2 suitable habitats, we identified 14 core habitats (139–1,084 km2, mean = 495.21 km2) with a total area of 6,933 km2, among which only 25.26% (1,751 km2) are covered by nature reserves and only 11 core habitats were confirmed with leopard occurrence. We also identified 8 least-cost pathways among these core habitats with an average length of 57.22 km. Conclusions: Our results revealed that, leopards are persisting in highly fragmented habitats with fragile connectivity among core habitats. The leopards remaining in North China should be considered and managed as a regional meta-population for their long-term persistence in the human-dominated landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India boasts of a vast freshwater resource network (rivers, wetlands, and groundwater), which has unique ecological, social and economic values associated with it. Despite their importance for both people and biodiversity, its freshwater ecosystems (FWEs) are heavily impacted through multiple factors such as pollution, overexploitation, habitat loss/modification and climate change. India is also among the hotspots of water resource overuse that has caused a serious decline in freshwater availability.Given that healthy FWEs lie at the centre for supporting the country's ecology, health, economy, livelihoods and ultimately achieving multiple policy goals, it is crucial that holistic and focused efforts are made to protect, conserve, and restore all types of FWEs.We call for an urgent and a greater focus on implementing conservation actions for FWEs in India and suggest the following strategy to enhance focus on their conservation: (1) establishing a shared freshwater conservation vision at a national scale, (2) developing and including national freshwater conservation goals within global efforts, (3) conducting simultaneous conservation action planning at regional scales and (4) bridge planning to implementation gap by strengthening key enabling conditions: i) mainstream FWE conservation within key existing governance instruments, ii) secure sustainable conservation funding, iii) improve data access and knowledge translation; iv) create national awareness around importance of FWEs; v) facilitate collaboration among key actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate and land use changes are eroding biodiversity globally, and reptiles are highlighted as being particularly susceptible. In South Africa, global changes threaten the persistence of an assemblage of dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion) located in a biodiversity hotspot. We used ecological niche modelling to assess the combined effect of climate change and habitat transformation on these species and assessed their susceptibility in a vulnerability framework under optimistic and pessimistic change scenarios. Although our models showed a gain in suitable climatic space for all coastal species in some scenarios, considerable losses were predicted for most species under the most pessimistic change scenarios. Bradypodion ngomeense, for example is predicted to incur a complete loss of climatic suitability by 2050. The vulnerability framework predicts inland species to be more adversely affected by climate change than coastal species. However, no species show resilience to the combined effects of climate change and habitat transformation. Our models predicted a loss of climatically suitable habitat for most species in protected areas. These findings highlight the importance of a protected area network design to remain a step ahead of these anticipated changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation planners often rely on heuristic indices when challenged with prioritizing potential projects under a constrained budget. This paper presents a comparative analysis of several prioritization indices (PIs) of culvert fish passage barriers, which can contribute to declines in anadromous fish populations. A federal injunction requires Washington state to restore 90% of habitat blocked by state‐owned culverts by 2030, prompting the development of numerous PIs, by various entities (i.e., counties, cities) within the injunction area. Our comparative analysis of PIs within the injunction Case Area investigates their ability to distinguish between barriers, their transferability in terms of scoring metrics, how scoring weights differ, and the preferences implied thereby. We document the use of six distinct PI methods by 10 entities and find that some PIs used many shared metrics, whereas others used a high percentage of unique metrics that would be difficult to replicate outside the entity's jurisdiction. Although habitat potential, habitat quantity, and connectivity were considered across all PIs, we found a high level of variation in terms of the metric weights. Our methods can be employed in other geographies or for other restoration PI planning efforts, and our results may facilitate the development and refinement of future PIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Oceanic sharks play an important role in maintaining the stability and biodiversity of marine ecosystems, and yet they are among the most threatened taxa worldwide. Currently, large spatial‐scale distribution patterns and conservation gaps are poorly known for most species since they are challenging to study. To address the problem, we here use an integrated approach with an illustration with the blue shark (Prionace glauca), a common bycatch oceanic species. Location: Indo‐Western Pacific Ocean (IWPO). Methods: We first collated decades of species occurrences and marine environmental datasets from open‐access sources. We then applied ensembled species distribution models (SDMs) to predict its seasonal distributions and evaluated the model performance using true skill statistic (TSS) and area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve (AUC). We finally conducted spatial analyses (e.g. bivariate hotspot analyses) to identify conservation gaps/opportunities based on the predicted distribution maps and two additional datasets, namely, marine protected areas (MPAs) and fishing effort. Results: (1) Both seasonal SDMs performed well (mean TSS > 0.8, AUC > 0.95), and the results suggested that blue sharks were widely distributed in the IWPO with some seasonal differences in ecological niches and distributions (mainly in the West Indian Ocean and the Northwest Pacific Ocean); (2) large MPAs and shark sanctuaries covered comparable, small portions (4%–9%) of blue shark habitats, but these locations (in MPAs and sanctuaries) varied between seasons; (3) fishery‐shark conflict hotspots also varied between seasons with some located in or close to large MPAs and sanctuaries. Main conclusions: We provide seasonal (cold vs. warm) distribution maps of blue sharks across the IWPO to advance their conservation and management. We highlight the importance of strengthening management both in and near large MPAs and shark sanctuaries. Our study contributes a feasible integrated approach to reveal seasonal distribution patterns and conservation opportunities for oceanic sharks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population size of the Rubus asirensis has declined significantly over the previous century across its geographical region. This decrease is related to changes in natural resources, such as water and foraging site capacity, due to continuous climate change. We used species distribution models (SDMs) to study R. asirensis's reaction to projected climate change over the next few decades. To reduce uncertainty and bias in our SDM predictions, we fitted ensemble SDMs with freshly developed climatic data based on more accurate climate models and diverse dispersal scenarios. In Abha, Tanumah town, Al-Numas in Asir mountains, and Al-Baha province southwest of Saudi Arabia, our SDMs revealed a potential presence of R. asirensis. Furthermore, our models anticipated that the distribution range of R. asirensis would drop by more than 25% during the next few decades. Our findings advocate for immediate conservation action of reintroduction and in situ conservation planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of 3D laser scanning, and additive manufacturing has sparked a profound transformation in the realm of cultural heritage restoration and preservation. These cuttingedge technologies offer a blend of precision, non-invasiveness, and efficiency that has redefined the way artifacts and historical sites are documented and restored. At the beginning of this revolution lies the ability of 3D laser scanning to meticulously capture detailed three-dimensional digital models of cultural objects and sites. This process is non-invasive, meaning it avoids physical contact with the artifacts, thereby minimizing the risk of damage during documentation. With such precision, conservators can create accurate replicas of damaged objects, preserving their historical authenticity while restoring them to their former glory. The integration of additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, enables the efficient restoration of these objects. Utilizing the digital models obtained through laser scanning, conservators can recreate missing or deteriorated parts with unprecedented accuracy. This streamlined approach not only accelerates the restoration process but also ensures that the replicas seamlessly integrate with the original artifact. Beyond restoration, these technologies facilitate continuous monitoring and condition assessment, mitigating the risk of further deterioration. By digitally archiving cultural artifacts and sites, conservators can monitor changes over time, intervening promptly when necessary to preserve their integrity. Through immersive experiences and interactive exhibits, individuals can explore historical sites and artifacts in ways previously unimaginable, fostering a deeper appreciation for our shared heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Shark Bay mouse (SBM; Pseudomys gouldii) was once widespread across south and central Australia. Following European colonisation, SBM declined catastrophically and the only surviving natural population is found on Bernier Island. Several reintroductions of SBM have been attempted but, to date, populations have successfully established on just two Western Australian islands, Faure Island in Shark Bay and North West Island in the Montebello Archipelago. A lack of suitable habitat, particularly dense stands of coastal spinifex (Spinifex longifolius), is thought to have contributed to the failure of the species to establish at some sites. We analysed records of SBM on Faure Island from 2005 to 2023 to assess patterns of detection in different habitat types, including coastal spinifex. SBM were detected in all studied habitat types on Faure Island, suggesting that coastal spinifex may not be essential for the successful reintroduction of the species. Understanding habitat use by SBM on Faure Island may help to inform the selection of future reintroduction sites and the development of future release strategies. This is particularly important in the context of reintroductions to locations within the species' historical range where coastal spinifex does not occur. Most translocations of Shark Bay mice have failed, and a lack of understanding about what habitat types are important may be a contributing factor. We assessed habitat associations of Shark Bay mice on Faure Island and found, contrary to previous research, no clear or consistent association with coastal spinifex. Our study shows that relying on limited information from the remaining island population of this once-widespread species may have led to incorrect conclusions about what habitat features are important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]