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Accurate information on species range contraction is the cornerstone of effective biodiversity conservation. The eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) is an apex predator in Florida and, similar to many species native to Florida, is threatened by widespread habitat destruction. Environmental deoxyribonucleic acid (eDNA) monitoring of this elusive snake would provide a non‐invasive approach to improve our knowledge of the species' range and distribution. We designed and tested an eDNA assay that can detect the presence of D. couperi from soil samples from their natural scrub habitat in Florida. We validated our assay in silico, in vitro, and in situ. Furthermore, we investigated the influence of temperature and humidity on the degradation rate of eDNA over time. We successfully amplified the cytochrome b gene for D. couperi at concentrations as low as 3 × 10−3 ng/μL and successfully detected the presence of D. couperi in 2 of 30 in situ field soil samples. The degradation experiment resulted in detectable DNA for 10 days. Interestingly, temperature and humidity had no effect on the degradation rate of eDNA in our experimental conditions. This study provides support for soil eDNA applications to detect the presence of a federally threatened species in their natural environment bolstering our ability to monitor the conservation and management of imperiled species. Environmental DNA provides an additional conservation tool to quickly and effectively monitor species range shifts driven by multiple anthropogenic stressors to promote the persistence of imperiled species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population surges of crown‐of‐thorns starfish (COTS) (Acanthaster spp.) are a leading cause of coral cover loss on Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR). While COTS culling has been undertaken since 2012 little is known about how the public perceive COTS culling or how perceptions vary among social groups. Drawing on survey data collected in 2018 and 2022 we test the relative influence of demographic variables, social and institutional variables, and beliefs concerning the risks and benefits of culling, on public acceptance for the culling of COTS on the GBR. In contrast with previous research suggesting a polarization of views, we found limited opposition to culling (12% in 2018 and 8% in 2022). Remaining respondents, however, were almost equally divided between those who agreed or strongly agreed with culling and those who were neutral or only slightly in agreement. The strongest predictors of support, in terms of standardized mean odds ratios, were the perceived social, environmental, and ethical responsibility of culling (1.57), the manageability of culling risks (1.46), the personal importance of the GBR to the respondent (1.33), trust in science to deliver solutions (1.30), confidence in management of the GBR (1.26), and how much of a threat respondents believed COTS posed to the Reef (1.25). These findings suggest public communications about COTS culling might usefully focus on how scientific understanding, ongoing research, ecosystem monitoring, and partnerships with Reef Traditional Owners and stakeholders guide operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study presents an integrated conservation framework for the globally threatened fishing cat, synthesizing both ex situ management and in situ strategies. The strategy aligns with the One Plan Approach, which views captive populations as part of a broader metapopulation network, and the Opportunities to Thrive framework, which emphasizes animal welfare in captivity. This study analyzed the genetic diversity of a recently initiated fishing cat captive breeding population by the West Bengal Zoo Authority, India, and conducted a population viability analysis. The results suggest that the current genetic diversity (56%) and population carrying capacity (30 individuals) can be sustained for over 100 years through a strategy of supplementation and harvesting. Introducing two adult males and females annually will allow for sustainable harvesting to supplement wild populations. Additionally, this study identified 21 potential reintroduction zones in the Sundarbans and Terai regions of West Bengal, using environmental criteria that favor fishing cat occurrence. This work offers a comprehensive blueprint for applying the One Plan Approach to ensure the long-term survival of the fishing cat. The One Plan Approach advocates for a hybrid species management framework, wherein captive-bred populations are considered metapopulations nested within a broader network of zoos and wild populations Additionally, the Opportunities to Thrive framework aims to enhance animal welfare by addressing the physiological, psychological, and emotional needs of captive individuals, thereby improving conservation outcomes. Here, we present an integrated framework for the conservation of a globally threatened wetland wild cat species, the fishing cat, by synthesizing optimal ex situ management practices and in situ conservation strategies. Further, we examined the genetic constitution of the founder population in a fishing cat captive breeding program that was recently initiated by the West Bengal Zoo Authority, India and conducted a population viability analysis to suggest how best to maintain the genetic diversity of the population. We found that the present genetic diversity of 56% and maximum carrying capacity of the captive population (30 individuals) can be maintained for more than 100 years with a combination of supplementation and harvesting. Keeping stochastic events in mind, the introduction of two adult males and females to the existing population each year will seamlessly allow the harvesting of two adult males and two adult females every alternate year to supplement wild populations. Further, we adopted the proposed integrated framework to delineate recommendations for the supplementation of wild populations in West Bengal. We used environmental criteria known to influence fishing cat occurrence to identify 21 potential reintroduction zones in the Sundarbans landscape and Terai region in northern West Bengal with habitable areas for the fishing cat that are larger than the maximum known species' home range. Our study is timely and insightful because it provides a holistic blueprint for implementing the One Plan Approach in safeguarding a threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs), including lists of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), outline state strategies for protecting species and habitats in the United States. In developing the current, second revision SWAPs, states are increasingly pursuing coordinated landscape conservation approaches. Analyzing SGCN lists in the first revision SWAPs, we found evidence that they already support multistate conservation. Most states address a common set of vertebrate and invertebrate groups, include most of the imperiled species from these groups, do not prioritize endemics over non‐endemics, and often include most imperiled species that are shared with neighboring states. Also, a regional SGCN coordination effort was successful. Although 65% of animals on each SGCN list were assessed as at elevated risk of extirpation by state authorities, only 43% of the combined national list were at elevated risk of global extinction. Over 40% of the combined animal SGCNs are considered globally apparently secure. Plants, snails, freshwater shrimps, and freshwater insects were poorly represented in SGCN lists. For the current SWAP revisions, we recommend improving foundational data on taxonomy, range‐wide distribution, and conservation status; expanded taxonomic coverage in SGCN lists; supporting existing and establishing new interstate initiatives; and diversifying funding mechanisms that target regional cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many industries are required to perform population viability analysis (PVA) during the consenting process for new developments to establish potential impacts on protected populations. However, these assessments rarely account for density‐dependent regulation of demographic rates. Excluding density‐dependent regulation from PVA‐based impact assessments is often assumed to provide a maximum estimate of impact and therefore offer a precautionary approach to assessment. However, there is also concern that this practice may unnecessarily impede the development of important industries, such as offshore renewable energy.In this study, we assess density‐dependent regulation of breeding success in 31 populations of seabird. We then quantify the strength and form of this regulation using eight different formulations. Finally, we use PVA to examine how each formulation influences the recreation of observed dynamics (i.e. model validation), as well as the predicted absolute and relative population response to an extrinsic threat (i.e. model projection).We found evidence of both negative (n = 3) and positive (n = 5) regulation of seabird breeding success. In populations exhibiting negative regulation, excluding density‐dependent regulation from PVA‐based impact assessment allowed uncontrolled population growth, such that model outcomes became biologically implausible. By contrast, in populations exhibiting positive regulation, excluding density‐dependent regulation provided an appropriate reconstruction of observed dynamics, but population decline was underestimated in some populations. We find that multiple formulations of density dependence perform comparably at the detection, validation and projection stages of analysis. However, we tentatively recommend using a log‐linear or Weibull distribution to describe density‐dependent regulation of seabird breeding success in impact assessments to balance accuracy with caution. Finally, we show that relative PVA metrics of impact assessment cannot necessarily be used to overcome PVA misspecification by assuming density independence in positively regulated populations.Synthesis and applications: We suggest that a density‐dependent approach when performing PVA‐based assessments for seabird populations will prevent biologically unrealistic, unconstrained population growth and therefore ensure meaningful PVA metrics in populations experiencing negative regulation. It will also maintain a precautionary approach for populations experiencing positive regulation, crucial when estimating impacts for these more vulnerable populations. These conclusions have immediate international application within the consenting processes for marine industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shrinking saline lakes provide irreplaceable habitat for waterbird species globally. Disentangling the effects of wetland habitat loss from other drivers of waterbird population dynamics is critical for protecting these species in the face of unprecedented changes to saline lake ecosystems, ideally through decision‐making frameworks that identify effective management options and their potential outcomes. Here, we develop a framework to assess the effects of hypothesized population drivers and identify potential future outcomes of plausible management scenarios on a saline lake‐reliant waterbird species. We use 36 years of monitoring data to quantify the effects of environmental conditions on the population size of a regionally important breeding colony of American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) at Great Salt Lake, Utah, US, then forecast colony abundance under various management scenarios. We found that low lake levels, which allow terrestrial predators access to the colony, are probable drivers of recent colony declines. Without local management efforts, we predicted colony abundance could likely decline approximately 37.3% by 2040, although recent colony observations suggest population declines may be more extreme than predicted. Results from our population projection scenarios suggested that proactive approaches to preventing predator colony access and reversing saline lake declines are crucial for the persistence of the Great Salt Lake pelican colony. Increasing wetland habitat and preventing predator access to the colony together provided the most effective protection, increasing abundance 145.4% above projections where no management actions are taken, according to our population projection scenarios. Given the importance of water levels to the persistence of island‐nesting colonial species, proactive approaches to reversing saline lake declines could likely benefit pelicans as well as other avian species reliant on these unique ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating population responses to management is a crucial component of successful conservation programs. Models predicting population growth under different management scenarios can provide key insights into the efficacy of specific management actions both in reversing population decline and in maintaining recovered populations. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) conservation in the United States has seen many successes over the last 50 years, yet the extent to which the bald eagle population has recovered in Arizona, an important population within the Southwest region, remains an area of debate. Estimates of the species' population trend and an evaluation of ongoing nest‐level management practices are needed to inform management decisions. We developed a Bayesian integrated population model (IPM) and population viability analysis (PVA) using a 36‐year dataset to assess Arizona bald eagle population dynamics and their underlying demographic rates under current and possible future management practices. We estimated that the population grew from 77 females in 1993 to 180 females in 2022, an average yearly increase of 3%. Breeding sites that had trained personnel (i.e., nestwatchers) stationed at active nests to mitigate human disturbance had a 28% higher reproductive output than nests without this protection. Uncertainty around population trends was high, but scenarios that continued the nestwatcher program were less likely to predict abundance declines than scenarios without nestwatchers. Here, the IPM‐PVA framework provides a useful tool both for estimating the effectiveness of past management actions and for exploring the management needs of a delisted population, highlighting that continued management action may be necessary to maintain population viability even after meeting certain recovery criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the Arctic, ice‐affiliated marine mammals constitute local subsistence resources but detrimental effects of declines in their sea ice habitats create a need for harvest sustainability assessments in light of climate change. At the same time, empirical data required for thorough population analysis of these species are often sparse at best, as illustrated by the focal species in this study, ringed seals in Svalbard: the last population survey took place two decades ago (2002–2003), demographic data are limited to age, sex, and reproductive status of a small subset of shot individuals, and harvest reporting is patchy and incomplete. Data sparsity is one of the main reasons why potential biological removal (PBR) became a commonly used tool for assessing sustainability of marine mammal harvests. Herein, we calculated PBR for Svalbard ringed seals using both recommended default parameters and population‐specific parameters obtained from an integrated population model (IPM). PBR estimates were highly uncertain, suggesting the number of sustainably harvestable individuals could lie anywhere between 0 and 91, with a substantial chance of any harvest being unsustainable under current environmental conditions and trends. Subsequent population viability analyses (PVAs) further confirmed that the current harvest was likely unsustainable, even in a scenario in which sea ice conditions would not deteriorate (and therefore lower pup survival) further. However, uncertainty in population projections was high, and forecasts thus not ideal for formulating management advice. Better forecasts will require more frequent population surveys and obtaining more knowledge regarding the links between vital rates and environmental conditions, both of which may be facilitated by the adoption of novel technology (e.g., drone monitoring, genetic studies). The modeling framework created in this study can be readily updated with new data as they become available, and can serve as a tool for adaptive management of this and other marine mammal populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The over‐exploitation of wild birds and the products derived from them can be a key threat driving changes in bird species richness and abundance. However, inadequate information on harvest levels combined with irregular population monitoring often means that the role of harvesting in population decline is difficult to quantify. Historically, the pan‐tropical Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus has been subjected to extensive egg harvesting, yet the role of sustained harvesting in population change and future population viability remains unclear. In this study, we used published and new estimates of key demographic rates for a large, harvested Sooty Tern population in Seychelles, western Indian Ocean, to run a series of population viability analyses. We retrospectively assess the impact of historical levels of egg harvesting, and also predict how this population may respond under different future harvesting regimes, assuming no additional environmental change. We provide evidence that egg harvesting has played a substantial role in driving the population decline of Sooty Terns to date and demonstrate that continued harvesting will probably lead to further, possibly dramatic, declines in population size. These results indicate that recent levels of egg harvesting in Seychelles are not sustainable. We also show that the life‐history strategy of Sooty Terns, including a delayed age of first breeding, means the current 2‐year local moratorium on egg harvesting is unlikely to generate an observable population‐level response in Seychelles. Instead, we recommend that the current moratorium is extended at least beyond the age of first breeding (i.e. 5 years) to support appropriate evaluation. We additionally show that harvesting Sooty Tern eggs at much lower levels, i.e. 10% of the population size, is unlikely to reverse population decline. Therefore, long‐term egg harvesting strategies require careful evaluation to maintain a balance between the social, commercial, cultural and biodiversity significance of Sooty Terns in Seychelles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recovery of endangered species is challenging and lengthy, especially when it involves reintroduction and dynamic environmental conditions. Because managers often need to decide between many management strategies with uncertain outcomes, periodically assessing progress toward recovery using population viability analysis (PVA) can help guide decision‐making. We developed a PVA for the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata) to evaluate current status and potential future management strategies to reach goals set in the Recovery Plan. Having grown from their nadir of 13 birds in 1976 to 686 in 2021, the recovery effort has made great progress. Using 15 years of data, we built an individual‐based PVA that included interactions between two captive and three wild populations connected via annual releases. If management continues as planned, the wild populations have no to moderate risks of extinction (0–32%) over the next 100 years. However, wild populations remain dependent on releases to sustain growth, and recovery targets for stable population growth and connectivity have not yet been reached. Our analysis suggests that hurricanes are an impediment to reaching recovery targets and impact some wild populations more than others based on geography. Projections with climate‐change‐induced higher hurricane impact resulted in wild populations being less likely to stabilize. We identified demographic rates and associated management strategies that could positively impact wild populations: increasing reproduction (e.g., via increasing artificial nests, improving nest success) and decreasing first‐year mortality (e.g., via targeted predator control). Based on our current understanding of Puerto Rican parrot demographics, species recovery will continue to be management‐dependent unless demographic rates can be altered. As more data are gathered, especially for data‐sparse populations and in the face of environmental change, future iterations of this model can re‐evaluate progress, update management strategies, and provide support for deciding if and when to delist this iconic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The African continent, renowned for its diverse landscapes and abundant biodiversity, grapples with a critical environmental challenge - deforestation. The swift depletion of forests, serving as the primary habitat for 80% of the world's terrestrial animals and plants, poses a severe threat in Africa. Human activities, including logging, agricultural expansion, and urbanization, have jeopardized numerous ecosystems, exacerbating the overarching global climate crisis. Beyond serving as mere collections of trees, forests are intricate ecosystems supporting a staggering diversity of flora and fauna. The repercussions of forest loss in Africa are profound, resulting in a significant decline in biodiversity. Numerous species, some exclusive to these ecosystems and found nowhere else on the planet, now teeter on the brink of extinction. The predicament of deforestation in Africa is intimately intertwined with the broader global challenge of climate change. Urgency is paramount in addressing this crisis, as the loss of forests impacts not only local ecosystems but also exacerbates the overarching climate emergency. Reforestation emerges as a pivotal solution, offering an opportunity to reverse the damage inflicted on these vital ecosystems. This study examines whether forest natural resources can explain the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis in African countries. The empirical strategy is based on the second-generation cointegration approach, cross-sectional dependency autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) and Augmented Mean Group (AMG) estimator. The findings show a potential long-run relationship between the forest rent and the environment. Further analysis highlights the importance of effective management of natural forest resources for improving environmental quality in Africa. We recommend that policymakers prioritize the restoration of ecosystems that have suffered carbon depletion due to human activities. Restoration efforts should strategically aim to enhance carbon sequestration capacity and rebuild biodiversity. Additionally, the establishment of robust monitoring and reporting systems is imperative to track current carbon emissions from forests. This entails regular assessments of forest carbon stocks, landuse changes, and the effectiveness of ongoing conservation and restoration initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the challenges of accurately determining the age of animals, both in captivity and in the wild. The author, a researcher at the Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University, explains how DNA analysis can provide valuable information about animal age and life events. The article focuses on the use of methylation analysis, a method that examines changes in DNA methylation patterns to estimate age. The author presents examples of age estimation in various species, including primates, bears, and dolphins, and highlights the potential applications of this technology in conservation efforts. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for further research to develop non-invasive age estimation methods for a wide range of animal species. [Extracted from the article]

Translocation of captive-bred animals is a widely used conservation strategy to support the recovery of imperiled wild populations. Identifying which factors enhance or limit survival after release can be important in adapting translocation strategies, particularly for species with low survival rates after release from captivity. Many translocation programs track post-translocation survival, but few complete spatial-statistical assessments of mortality risk associated with release environments. Typically, few animals are released from captive breeding programs, limiting the sample size available for analyses. We aimed to create a workflow that used limited datasets to evaluate the influence of spatial conditions and other factors on mortality risk. Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are endangered in Canada and of conservation concern throughout their range in the United States. After the species declined precipitously in Canada, a captive breeding program was initiated with subsequent releases in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Despite success in captive breeding, mortality rates of released sage-grouse were high. We used GPS- and VHF-based locations of released sage-grouse to determine how spatial features influence mortality risk of sage-grouse after release from captivity. We implemented a multistep approach to quantify and map risk relative to the environmental features associated with mortality. We also assessed whether the movement behaviors of sage-grouse correspond with environmental risk factors by using a combination of survival models and integrated step-selection functions. Mortality of sage-grouse in Alberta was hastened in areas close to anthropogenic disturbance. Although birds in Alberta avoided areas of higher mortality risk, those in Saskatchewan did not, perhaps due to environmental and selection constraints. This multistep approach allowed us to utilize small sample sizes to assess key risk factors in the landscape. This process supports the adaptive modification of translocation plans and can similarly support other data-limited scientists and managers in assessing environmental mortality risk and defining conservation actions for endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the characteristics of forest fragments occupied by a Critically Endangered endemic Peruvian primate, the San Martín titi monkey, Plecturocebus oenanthe (Pitheciidae; Platyrrhini). We selected 45 fragments; 20 had already been surveyed in 2015 by the Proyecto Mono Tocón (six of these had been further split, resulting in 27 fragments); an additional 18 fragments were randomly selected from satellite images. We surveyed these fragments for the presence of P. oenanthe and determined characteristics of the fragments (size, shape, tree density, canopy height) and of the landscape (distance to nearest fragment and road). We also examined changes in the number of fragments and in forest cover between 2015 and 2019. We encountered P. oenanthe in all surveyed fragments except for the smallest one (0.2 ha). Our findings suggest that P. oenanthe can persist in fragments with a wide range of characteristics, particularly with regard to size and tree density. Unless fragmentation continues and overall forest cover in the area diminishes further, the species may be able to persist even in a fragmented landscape, provided that the matrix allows for movements between fragments. However, persistence might not be long-term if groups are not reproductive, populations become too small, and reduced gene flow results in inbreeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common hamster (Cricetus cricetus) occupies a controversial position among mammals inhabiting agricultural areas, as it is possibly the only critically endangered species that is legally targeted by lethal control methods, making it a conflict‐generating pest. We surveyed various stakeholders, agrarian consultants, wildlife rangers, and residents for the first time in Hungary, with two interrelated questionnaires to obtain accurate information about hamster populations, and to learn about the participants knowledge of, and attitude toward hamsters in order to provide fundamental information for planning and strengthening social embeddedness. Additionally, we prepared the current distribution map of the hamster. Based on the relatively wide distribution and locally high abundance of the species, Hungary has a key role in hamster conservation. We identified several factors, which can contribute to successful species protection. The results indicated that more than 60% of the respondent's liked hamsters. In contrast, only a few residents considered hamsters in their settlement to be beneficial. Our results suggest that the hamster's reputation is disproportionately negative due to vaguely known perceptions of harm as compared with actual reported damage. This imbalance could be rectified through enhanced communication efforts. Improving the species' reputation is integral to effective species conservation initiatives. Current pest control practices (poisons and snap traps) kill the hamsters, even though 82% of the residents would prefer to keep the hamsters alive, conforming to conservation efforts. The results also indicated that the hamster could be a flagship species in Hungary. Knowledge of the protected status of the hamster predicted a positive attitude toward the species and related to nature conservation consciousness. We conclude that requirements of residents should be included in the species action plan along with the experts' knowledge, as this could contribute to successful, long‐term conservation of the hamster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Uganda Carnivore Program (UCP), located in Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP), has--among other large carnivore research and conservation measures--engaged in human-carnivore conflict mitigation and prevention efforts since 2015. UCP's experiential lion tourism program funds compensation to local communities for livestock losses to promote carnivore tolerance and conservation. But while UCP's conflict mitigation and prevention trials--through direct payments in response to forensically determined cases of livestock depredation by lion (Panthera leo)--may be aiding in the goal of maintaining lion viability in QENP and the greater Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area (QECA), compensation does not preclude ongoing challenges. These include unsustainable resource uses from human population growth and illegal expansions, subsequent land use changes, illegal livestock grazing and related husbandry practices, and compensation financing shortages. Of note regarding compensation is assessing whether claims of livestock depredation are genuine or not. Nevertheless, disruption to UCP's experiential lion tourism and compensation programs could result in increased retaliatory killings of lions, thus further reducing an already low lion population. As compensation includes the area's large carnivore guild, disruption could also mean further reductions in leopard (Panthera pardus) andspottedhyena (Crocuta crocuta) populations from retaliatory killings. Based on a perspective of UCP's compensation trials and related challenges, several recommendations, including the introduction of compensation percentage rates based on rewards-based frameworks, would strengthen human-carnivore conflict mitigation as part of lion and other large carnivore conservation. This would benefit QENP, greater QECA, and other protected areas where people, livestock, and large carnivores share space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Given the different life histories and movement behaviors of diverse species, reconciling conservation measures to benefit all species is a critical concern for landscape conservation planning. Understanding land cover composition and finding multispecies movement routes across heterogeneous landscapes are crucial to maintaining many target species. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the optimal environment in Florida that promotes multispecies connectivity in landscapes increasingly threatened by rapid suburban development and to enhance methods for delineating the state's ecological networks. Methods: Potential functional connectivity of the focal species with statewide distributions and are considered priorities because of the historical and current threats to their population viability, such as the Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus), Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi), eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi), and southern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger niger), were modeled using Linkage Mapper, Omniscape, and resistant kernels. We combined quantiles from each method for a single species combination approach to leverage the results from the three models for planning purposes. Subsequently, we integrated the results into a novel multiple species, multimodel connectivity mapping approach. Following the corridor analysis, a comparison was made between multispecies connectivity maps, current managed conservation lands, and the main priority areas for the Florida Wildlife Corridor, a previously developed planning network of natural hubs and corridors. Finally, we used the spatial prioritization software Zonation to identify areas of conservation priority, while also illustrating the impacts of infrastructure (built infrastructure, roadways, mining, and future development 2040 and 2070 projections) and threats from human activity (landscape fragmentation, recreation, pollution, contamination, and clean-up sites). Results: The study identified priority areas for all four species, with a particular focus on areas not currently protected. The connectivity models showed significant overlap with current managed conservation lands and the main priority areas for the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Pinchpoint areas or bottlenecks were identified as needing fine-scale incorporation into spatial planning. Using the spatial prioritization software Zonation, we identified areas of conservation priority and illustrated the impacts of infrastructure and threats. Discussion: The results indicate that species-relevant connectivity models incorporating a group of focal species with both complementary and opposing habitat requirements can better inform biodiversity conservation and landscape design decisions. This multi-model approach provides a robust framework for identifying and prioritizing areas for conservation, particularly in landscapes facing rapid suburban development. Integrating multispecies connectivity models into conservation planning can enhance the effectiveness of ecological networks and contribute to the long-term viability of diverse species in Florida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Where stable source populations of at-risk species exist, translocation may be a reasonable strategy for re-establishing extirpated populations. However, the success rates of such efforts are mixed, necessitating thorough preliminary investigation. Stochastic population modeling can be a useful method of assessing the potential success of translocations. Here, we report on the results of modeling translocation success for the Gallinula galeata sandvicensis or 'alae 'ula (Hawaiian Common Gallinule), an endangered waterbird endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Using updated vital rates, we constructed a model simulating 3 existing extant (wild) source populations and a hypothetical recipient site on another island. We then projected the effects of 6 different translocation scenarios and sensitivity of the results to variation of three important demographic parameters on the probability of extinction (PE) of the reintroduced and donor populations. Larger translocations, of at least 30 birds, had low probability of extinction in the reintroduced population, but raised extinction risk of the smallest source population. Spacing out translocations in time (e.g. 10 birds translocated in total in 3 installments over 9 years), led to lower PE than translocating all individuals at once (i.e. bulk translocations) for both the source and reintroduced populations. Brood size and hatch-year juvenile survival had a disproportionate impact on reintroduced population viability. Importantly, the reported juvenile survival rate is very near the threshold for population failure. This suggests that post-introduction and subsequent management of wetlands, particularly predator control, could be critical to reintroduction success. We recommend that individuals should be translocated from multiple, genetically distinct subpopulations to reduce the possibility of inbreeding depression. Based on this analysis, the recipient wetland should be sufficiently large that it can support at least 25 pairs of gallinules. Based on recent estimates of population densities on O'ahu, such a wetland would need to be between 3.75 and 74.6 ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the importance of protecting forests and woodlands to achieve global climate and biodiversity goals, logging impacts persist worldwide. Forestry advocates often downplay these impacts but rarely consider the cumulative threat deforestation and degradation has had, and continues to have, on biodiversity. Using New South Wales (Australia) as a case study, we quantify the extent of deforestation and degradation from 1788 (pre‐European colonization) to 2021. We used historical loss as a baseline to evaluate recent logging (2000–2022) and the condition of the remaining native forest and woodland. Condition was quantified by measuring the similarity of a current ecosystem to a historical reference state with high ecological integrity. Using these data, we measured the impacts on 269 threatened terrestrial species. We show that possibly over half (29 million ha) of pre‐1788 native forest and woodland vegetation in NSW has been lost. Of the remaining 25 million ha, 9 million ha is estimated to be degraded. We found recent logging potentially impacted 150 species that had already been affected by this historical deforestation and degradation, but the impacts varied across species. Forty‐three species that were identified as impacted by historical deforestation and degradation and continue to be impacted by logging, now have ≤50% of their pre‐1788 extent remaining that is intact and nine species now have ≤30%. Our research contextualizes the impact of current logging against historical deforestation and highlights deficiencies in environmental assessments that ignore historical baselines. Future land management must consider both the extent and condition of remaining habitat based on pre‐1788 extents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the dynamics of population recovery in threatened species requires robust longitudinal monitoring datasets. However, evidence‐based decision‐making is often impeded by variable data collection approaches, necessitating critical evaluation of restricted available baselines. The Hainan gibbon, the world's rarest primate, had possibly declined to only seven or eight individuals in 1978 at Bawangling National Nature Reserve but has experienced subsequent population growth. Past population estimates lack detailed reporting of survey effort, and multiple conflicting estimates are available, hindering assessment of gibbon recovery. We investigated all reported estimates of Bawangling gibbon population size from 1978 to 2022, to evaluate the biological signal of population trends and the extent to which noise associated with varying survey effort, reporting and estimation may mask or misrepresent any underlying signal. This longitudinal dataset demonstrates that the Bawangling population experienced a series of bottlenecks and recoveries, with three successive periods of growth interspersed by population crashes (1978–1989, 1989–2000 and 2000–2022). The rate of gibbon population recovery was progressively slower over time in each successive period of growth, and this potential decline in recovery rate following serial bottlenecks suggests that additional management strategies may be required alongside "nature‐based solutions" for this species. However, population viability analysis suggests the 1978 founder population is unlikely to have been as low as seven individuals, raising concerns for interpreting reported historical population counts and understanding the dynamics of the species' recovery. We caution against overinterpreting potential signals within "messy" conservation datasets, and we emphasise the crucial importance of standardised replicable survey methods and transparent reporting of data and effort in all future surveys of Hainan gibbons and other highly threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Recovery planning is considered an important policy instrument for the management of threatened species. While recovery planning has led to improvements in the conservation status of some species, the degree of success can vary substantially across different contexts and is dependent on multiple factors. Institutional and organizational factors such as insufficient funding, weak policies, underspecified goals, and lack of knowledge impact the success of recovery planning. But recovery planning can be fall short in achieving desired outcomes even in the absence of these constraints. Recovery planning is also highly reliant on collaboration efforts between local agencies, community organizations, and research institutions—yet studies examining the diversity of factors influencing the success of recovery planning are rare. To address this gap, we take a multilevel perspective that situates recovery planning inside nested layers of institutional, organizational, team, and action‐level processes. We apply this framework and utilize in‐depth interviews and thematic analysis to analyze barriers and enablers in the recovery of two threatened Australian species. Our analysis reveals how team‐level processes interact with their organizational and institutional contexts to influence outcomes. Key findings emphasize the indispensable role of committed individuals, collaboration, and strategic utilization of specialist knowledge in fostering effective teamwork. Furthermore, our findings also emphasize the critical importance of a shared purpose within the team and the need for equilibrium between personal agendas and team objectives. We highlight the need for more studies to deliver a nuanced understanding of how team‐level processes drive successful recovery planning, even when institutional factors, such as appropriate funding and knowledge, are present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides legal protection to imperiled populations and their associated habitats. As a part of this process, listed species must undergo a general status review (also called 5‐Year Review) to assess the progress toward recovery every 5 years. However, almost all 5‐year reviews result in a status of "no change," prompting scientists to question if the review process is robust enough to detect changes in recovery. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) was therefore interested in developing a standardized metric for monitoring more nuanced recovery progress as part of the status review. In collaboration with the USFWS, over 75 biologists from five different organizations developed and tested a set of novel metrics to summarize recovery progress of listed species by considering current and future conditions, threats, and conservation measures. We found that, although the majority of species had reviews with a recommendation of no change, scorers were able to use the metrics to interpret more nuanced changes in the 3Rs (resiliency, redundancy, and representation), threats, and conservation measures than in the status review. Our results suggest that these metrics could illuminate more nuanced areas of recovery and decline in species' conditions, but consistency among scorers and status reports should be a focus of future development. Our approach offers a rigorous set of metrics to systematically track the recovery progress of all ESA species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zebra mussels have caused significant damage in many lakes and rivers. By using a hybrid population model with discrete-time equations and ordinary differential equations, we represent the zebra mussel's life cycle, growth, and population movement. The dynamics of the larvae (unsettled and settled larvae) are represented during the summer months in a system of two ordinary differential equations, while the juvenile, small adult, and large adult stages are represented by a discrete model with yearly time steps. The goal is to investigate the effects of zebra mussel movement between three different spatial locations and possible control measures. Zebra mussel data and temperature values from three locations in the Hudson River over several years were used to estimate model parameters. We investigate the stability and net reproductive number for our model. We illustrate numerically the hybrid population model for several scenarios of movement and cleaning boats to remove mussels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the demographic drivers of reintroduced and translocated populations is critical for species establishment and persistence. Given the large number of resources required to conduct ongoing reintroduction and reinforcement programs, additional information on population responses to management practices could help identify key actions that best benefit a species while ensuring economic feasibility. An integrated population model (IPM) can be used to assess and forecast the demographic consequences of different management practices and the interrelationship between management effects, population dynamics, and environmental change. We used an IPM to inform the potential impacts of nest management practices and global climate change on the vital rates of the Texas nesting colony of the endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle. We used the IPM to estimate population parameters including adult survival, population growth rate, and abundance of nesting females in Texas. Additionally, given potential future scenarios for management and environmental change, we used the IPM to forecast population change and estimate the probability of persistence of the Texas population under future environmental and management scenarios. Future scenarios for nest management that had some level of management (i.e., not all nests were left in situ) resulted in population growth rates that were likely stable or increasing. Scenarios in which all nests were left in situ resulted in stable or decreasing population growth rates as well as a probability of extirpation from Texas >1 (p(N = 0 in 2100) = 0.25–0.72). Despite uncertainty in forecasted abundance and population growth rates under all scenarios, our model still predicted stable or increasing population growth rates with a continuation of current nest management practices. In contrast, we found that reduced population growth was expected with reduced nest management effort, and population decline and extirpation was expected with no management. Our IPM framework provides an example of how future management scenarios can be evaluated critically to determine population changes through time under future environmental uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Location Time period Major taxa studied Methods Results Main conclusions Ecological and anthropogenic factors shift the abundances of dominant and rare tree species within local forest communities, thus affecting species composition and ecosystem functioning. To inform forest and conservation management it is important to understand the drivers of dominance and rarity in local tree communities. We answer the following research questions: (1) What are the patterns of dominance and rarity in tree communities? (2) Which ecological and anthropogenic factors predict these patterns? And (3) what is the extinction risk of locally dominant and rare tree species?Global.1990–2017.Trees.We used 1.2 million forest plots and quantified local tree dominance as the relative plot basal area of the single most dominant species and local rarity as the percentage of species that contribute together to the least 10% of plot basal area. We mapped global community dominance and rarity using machine learning models and evaluated the ecological and anthropogenic predictors with linear models. Extinction risk, for example threatened status, of geographically widespread dominant and rare species was evaluated.Community dominance and rarity show contrasting latitudinal trends, with boreal forests having high levels of dominance and tropical forests having high levels of rarity. Increasing annual precipitation reduces community dominance, probably because precipitation is related to an increase in tree density and richness. Additionally, stand age is positively related to community dominance, due to stem diameter increase of the most dominant species. Surprisingly, we find that locally dominant and rare species, which are geographically widespread in our data, have an equally high rate of elevated extinction due to declining populations through large‐scale land degradation.By linking patterns and predictors of community dominance and rarity to extinction risk, our results suggest that also widespread species should be considered in large‐scale management and conservation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Habitat loss and degradation pose significant threats to global fish and wildlife populations, prompting substantial investments in habitat creation and restoration efforts. Not all habitats provide equal benefits, leading to challenges in prioritizing restoration actions. For example, juvenile anadromous salmonids require high quality rearing aquatic habitats to achieve the physiological requirements needed to successfully migrate to the ocean. However, there are profound disagreements among anadromous salmon restoration managers whether it is best to focus efforts on restoring in-channel habitats that are available for the entire rearing period or floodplain habitats that, while facilitating greater growth and survival than in-channel habitats, are only available for a few weeks at a time and are typically only activated every two-to-three years. Methods: We used an existing fall-run Chinook salmon decision-support model to evaluate under what conditions floodplain restoration would provide greater benefits than in-channel habitat restoration. The simulations included a wide range of floodplain inundation frequencies and durations and floodplain benefits in the form of increased survival and growth relative to in-channel habitats. Results: The simulations results indicated that in-channel habitat restoration was always the best habitat restoration action when there was no existing in-channel habitat despite simulating a wide range of flood frequency, duration, and growth and survival benefits. Floodplain restoration was generally best when there was sufficient in-channel habitat available to successfully rear most of the juveniles produced by the returning adult salmon. Discussion: We hypothesize that in-channel and floodplain habitats have different roles in salmon population maintenance with in-channel habitats regulating the overall population size and floodplains acting as recurrent resource pulses. Our study provides a quantitative framework to evaluate the benefit of these two habitat types and provides generalizable rulesets that can be used by managers when implementing habitat restoration strategies for species that inhabit both in-channel and floodplain habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predation can have cascading, regulatory effects across ecological communities. Knowledge of the diet of predators can therefore provide important information regarding their ecology and conservation, as well as their impacts on prey populations. Using scats collected during 2019–2023 and estimates of prey abundance from aerial surveys, we characterized prey consumption and preferences of the Vulnerable African lion Panthera leo population in Tsavo, Kenya. Biomass models applied to prey frequencies in scats revealed that > 85% of lion diet comprised large ungulates weighing > 150 kg. The Critically Endangered hirola Beatragus hunteri and Endangered Grevy's zebra Equus grevyi (species that were introduced in Tsavo as part of ex situ conservation programmes in the 1960s) were amongst the seven prey species, of 16 detected, that were preferred by lions. Our results potentially indicate a disproportionate impact of lion predation on the small hirola and Grevy's zebra populations. Preferential predation, coupled with high availability of alternative prey, may trap the small populations of hirola and Grevy's zebra within a predator pit. Our findings provide a better understanding of lion diet, optimal foraging and the potential effects predators can have on threatened and rare prey species in an important conservation landscape. Based on our findings, we recommend an observational study of the predation ecology of lions and other predators in this system, to provide information on age- and sex-specific predation rates on hirola and Grevy's zebra for a population viability analysis, to support the management of these two threatened and rare herbivores in Tsavo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accelerating renewable energy deployment is imperative to address the climate crisis, yet projects commonly face community resistance and local cancellation. Accordingly, interest has risen in social impact assessments (SIAs) to evaluate social viability and strengthen management. However, mainstream approaches overlook upstream political economy dynamics that shape projects and drive opposition. Analyzing renewable developments in Mexico reveals how international negotiations and national policies produce rushed, large-scale projects in marginalized territories, igniting rural social struggles. While SIA practices can be enhanced, upstream policies constrain their scope to reshape misaligned projects and performance to address complex sociocultural contexts. This prompts questioning why vulnerable regions bear concentrated impacts and the need to explore alternative development pathways, despite SIAs implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: If species fail to track the pace of climate change, areas of suitable habitat and population size are likely to decline, threatening species survivorship. Here, we incorporated multiple measures of environmental change and species‐specific habitat requirements to assess the responses of two closely related primate species to future changes in climate and habitat conversion. Specifically, we tested whether the comparatively wider‐ranging and Endangered François' langur (Trachypithecus francoisi) is better suited to withstand future anthropogenic habitat conversion and climate change than is the more narrowly ranging and critically endangered white‐headed langurs (T. leucocephalus). Location: China. Methods: We used species distribution models (SDMs) models and population viability analyses, and calculated dispersal velocity and biotic velocity, to predict the impact of climate and anthropogenic activity on the distribution and survivorship of two closely related primate species. Results: We found that: (1) by the year 2050, the area of suitable habitat for both primate species is expected to decline by 45% to 47%; (2) the population size of François' langurs is expected to increase to 4000 individuals (129%) and the population size of white‐headed langurs is expected to increase to 1400 individuals (133%); (3) biotic velocity, defined as the minimum migration rate required by a species to track its preferred climatic conditions, was 2.84 and 1.48 km/year for François' langurs and white‐headed langurs, respectively; and (4) dispersal velocity, defined as the distance a species has spread over a given period, was 0.82 km/year for both langur species. Main Conclusions: We demonstrate that despite expected population growth, by the year 2050, habitat contraction and insufficient opportunities for dispersal will likely prevent both primate species from tracking and adjusting to changing climate conditions. Moreover, the more widely ranging species, T. francoisi, was not found to have a survival advantage over the more narrowly ranging species (T. leucocephalus) under future conditions of climate change and continued anthropogenic habitat conversion, resulting in a high risk of extinction for both langur species. The modelling approach used here is robust and can be successfully applied to other threatened animal taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat degradation and fragmentation are two of the main drivers for biodiversity loss. To mitigate the negative impact of fragmentation in forests, conservation targets are increasingly addressing connectivity to facilitate the independent movement of species between habitat fragments to ensure genetic diversity and adaptation to climate change. In this article, we present a novel approach to identifying and prioritizing stepping stones for preserving connectivity based on national and regional biodiversity data for Austrian forest ecosystems. Our study identified forest areas where conservation measures should be taken to ensure future habitat connectivity by combining four indicator values with different requirements of a stepping stone habitat into a prioritization value. The four compounded indicators are: (i) the Protect Value, which includes distances to patches of protected areas with restricted management for the undisturbed development of retention areas, (ii) the Connect Value, which combines datasets of designated habitat corridors and connectivity areas in Austria based on landscape models and expert validation, (iii) the Species Value identifying species‐rich areas, and (iv) the Habitat Value identifying biotopes of high ecological value, key biodiversity areas, and sites of favorable protection status. Nonparametric tests revealed significant differences in prioritization value among the ecoregions of Austria and therefore encourage the consideration of stepping stone prioritization at local and regional context. Building upon the insights from this case study on Austrian forest ecosystems, we developed a robust framework derived from our methodology. This framework is designed to facilitate future implementations in diverse study regions, accounting for factors beyond connectivity crucial for identifying high value stepping stone habitats. We encourage adaptation of this framework to local data availability, species requirements, and local conditions. The compiled framework provides decision support for managers and conservationists for prioritizing areas to conserve and improve connectivity of forest habitats. However, it does not substitute on‐the‐ground field assessments of habitat quality and measures of functional connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conservation and spatial management of marine species with limited adult mobility, such as queen conch, is dictated by larval connectivity. Effectively placed reserves provide larval spillover to harvested areas while replenishing their own population. In past studies proximate to the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park (ECLSP), surveys and probabilistic larval transport modeling demonstrated a spillover effect from the ECLSP to surrounding fished areas, while suggesting that incoming larval sources are lacking. Previous work was expanded in both upstream and downstream directions, enabling the statistical examination of (1) how queen conch abundance was linked to predicted larval transport from breeding populations in the ECLSP and (2) how age and size changed throughout the island chain as divided by management and connectivity. Biophysical modeling predictions of larval transport from breeding within the ECLSP were significantly associated with the relative abundance of juvenile conch observed across a nearly 200‐km span. Further, the abundance and shell lip thickness (relative age) of adults and the size of juveniles were significantly larger in ECLSP than unprotected areas. This empirical support for an effective, well‐enforced marine reserve and for using biophysical larval transport modeling as a spatial planning tool should be strongly considered in conch conservation and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic utilization of woody vegetation by African savanna elephants may transform woodland vegetation to open savanna and threaten the extirpation of targeted species. This situation has arisen in Gonarezhou National Park (GNP), Zimbabwe, where a large elephant population (>2 km−2) threatens the persistence of the long‐lived baobab (Adansonia digitata) tree, through elevated mortality levels. This study investigated whether complete or partial refugia from elephant utilization existed for baobabs, and whether protection of trees by management, using wire netting or log‐ or rock‐packs around a tree base, had been effective. A total of 563 baobabs were sampled across northern GNP. Elephants had debarked 99% of trees to some degree, and gouged holes in the stem of 22% of trees. The probability, and severity, of debarking and gouging decreased with increasing distance to permanent water, increasing slope, and the amount of boulder cover. Slope gradient had the greatest effect on elephant impact, with trees located on steep slopes being less affected by elephants than those on flat ground. Distance to water had an effect despite the farthest tree, at 9 km from water, being within the 15 km foraging range of bull elephants. Large boulders partly protected trees even on gentle terrain. None of these factors provided a complete refuge from elephant impact within GNP, but, individually and collectively, provided a partial refuge at current elephant densities. Protection measures doubled tree survival over approximately 5 years, with fencing wire wrapped around baobab stems proving to be the most effective method. Assessment of the future security of baobabs in GNP requires knowledge of their distribution and that of the refugia provided by distance from permanent water, slope, and boulder cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unifying research and conservation objectives with the needs of local populations demands a profound understanding of the field. This perspective provides a brief policy and social‐cultural context for the conservation of endangered sea turtles in São Tomé and Príncipe, Central Africa. It is illustrated by initiatives implemented from the 90s to the 2000s and complemented by a community‐based intervention on Príncipe Island (2010–2014). The intervention focused on awareness‐raising, economic‐alternatives, capacity‐building, and surveillances to deter poaching, collect scientific data, and increase outreach. It contributed to reduce sea turtle exploitation, train local conservationists, and increase awareness to economic alternatives. Securing stakeholders' support is vital for success, and endeavors like this provide a cost‐effective approach, aligning biodiversity conservation strategies with local values and aspirations. Overall, this perspective underscores that failure to collaborate with those involved in wildlife subsistence livelihoods often results in delays and setbacks in reducing exploitation, while modest investments in local stewardship can efficiently improve ecosystems and human well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Understanding how extinction has occurred in the recent past is crucial to unravel its main drivers as well as to implement effective conservation practices to minimize global biodiversity loss. It has long been hypothesized that extinction risk is not randomly distributed among traits of species. However, the actual traits making species more prone to extinction may have been overlooked because already extinct species are often not considered in comparative analyses of extinction risk. We characterized the drivers of extinction in a cosmopolitan bird clade, including Holocene and contemporary extinctions potentially related to human impacts and provided evidence of an 'extinction selectivity' in species traits. Location: Global. Time period: Anthropocene. Major taxa studied: Columbiformes clade, pigeons and doves. Methods: We constructed a new phylogenetic hypothesis of the Columbiformes, a cosmopolitan bird clade consisting of 33 recently extinct and 351 extant species. Then, we integrated data on geography, behaviour and morphology to reveal the drivers of extinction risk. We used phylogenetic generalized least square models to test the effect of geography, behaviour and morphology in the risk of extinction and identified differences in the drivers of extinction when including versus excluding recently extinct species. Results: Our analysis revealed that Columbiformes endemic to islands with ground‐foraging habits, weak flying abilities, migratory behaviour and larger body sizes are more vulnerable to extinction. Our results also show that excluding recently extinct species identifies extinction drivers different from those when including recently extinct species. Main conclusions: Only by accurately identifying the traits that increase extinction risk we can develop targeted conservation measures that promote the long‐term persistence of threatened species. Extinction selectivity has important implications for the conservation of biological communities and ultimately ecosystem functioning, considering the critical role Columbiformes often play as seed dispersers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A growing global human population, habitat conversion, and the indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources have created unsustainable demands on nature, resulting in widespread biodiversity loss. Primates, which represent the third most specious Order of mammals, are facing an extinction crisis. Currently, 69% of primate species are listed by the IUCN as threatened (Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered) and 94% have declining populations. Here, we examine two primary threats to primate population persistence, namely the commercialized hunting and capturing of wild primates and their body parts for food, traditional medicine, pets, and use in biomedical research. Both the legal wildlife trade and illegal wildlife trafficking represent multibillion-dollar industries that contribute to primate population decline, a reduction in genetic diversity, and local extirpation. Trade and trafficking also can lead to the emergence of infectious diseases, increasing biosecurity risks to humans. Between 2015 and 2021, CITES reported 337,511 live primates representing at least 99 species were legally traded, with 6.5% sourced directly from the wild. The recent indictment of Cambodian officials for allegedly laundering wild-caught long-tailed macaques into the U.S. by labelling them as captive-bred, highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability. Comprehensive data on the illegal trafficking of primates are extremely difficult to obtain. However, between 2009 and 2017, primates accounted for 20% of all seizures of illegally traded mammals in the air transport sector. International wildlife trafficking is dominated by criminal networks, corruption, and driven by the demands of wealthy consumers. In addition, the internet has expanded international opportunities to connect buyers and sellers of wild-caught primates and their body parts. Despite explicit bans on selling endangered primates, social media sites continue to do so. Moreover, data on the global food security index (GFSI) indicate that as the international demand for wild live primates, their meat, and other body parts has continued to increase, the majority of people in primate range nations have remained food insecure. Given that almost 70% of primate species are negatively impacted by hunting and trapping, we offer a set of recommendations to reduce the trade and trafficking of wild primates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population viability analyses (PVAs) represent a key component of many recovery plans for threatened and endangered species. Demography links the processes that affect individuals to population‐level patterns, and hence projections constructed from demographic data are the most common tools for PVAs. We constructed a size‐structured integral projection model (IPM) for the United States federally endangered Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander, Ambystoma bishopi, to evaluate demographic influences on population growth and predict the efficacy of future management actions. Flatwoods salamanders breed in ephemeral wetlands in the Southeastern United States. The ephemeral nature of breeding sites can result in complete recruitment failure in drought years when wetlands fail to fill, or dry before metamorphosis occurs. As a result, this species exhibits marked temporal variability in vital rates that must be accounted for in projection models. We constructed a stochastic IPM using 13 years of mark‐recapture data (2010–2023) from two breeding wetlands. Variable survival rates exhibited by flatwoods salamanders, coupled with a high probability of recruitment failure, result in a low predicted probability of population persistence. Sensitivity analyses revealed age at maturity and the frequency of recruitment exerted the greatest influence on population growth, and thus managers should prioritize conservation efforts that target these demographic processes. Additional management should consider strategies to dampen temporal variability in larval survival, something that could be achieved through emergency salvage operations, captive rearing efforts, and manipulation of wetland hydroperiods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of ongoing global changes, long-term demographic monitoring data is crucial to assess the viability of natural populations. Such data is particularly important when large fluctuations in population size obfuscate background demographic trajectories. Here, we report results from the first 5 years of a long-term monitoring of a moonwort (Botrychium, Ophioglossaceae) community in Bic National Park, eastern Canada. Our objectives were to provide a first estimate of the composition, size, and demography of the moonwort colonies and to evaluate the putative influence of meteorological and microenvironmental variables on the density of aboveground sporophytes and sporophyte trait variability. Individuals were identified to the species level and tallied in each colony (n = 16 colonies) for the first 3 years (2019–2021) and then marked, monitored, and measured in permanent sample plots (n = 27 plots) for the last 3 years (2021–2023). Although colonies did not vary in composition (n = 8 Botrychium species), the number of emerged individuals differed yearly. Moonwort abundance, re-emergence, and trophophore height were associated with rainfall during the period of sporophyte emergence. Post-drought recovery occurred readily, which might reflect rapid recruitment or dormancy in Botrychium. Moonwort abundance declined as shrub cover and herbaceous vegetation height increased whereas trophophore size was smaller under closed tree canopy. Our results suggest spring rainfall as the limiting factor in opened habitats, whereas competition for sunlight may be limiting under closed canopy. The sizable and species-rich moonwort community of the Bic National Park provides key insights into Botrychium ecology and community dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subtropical rainforest shrub Graptophyllum reticulatum (Acanthaceae) occurs in only a few populations within a 20‐kilometer range in the Sunshine Coast, south‐east Queensland, Australia. This endangered plant has been subject to habitat degradation and loss, mostly due to land clearing and urbanization. In the past decades, conservation measures such as land protection and translocation have been put in place to protect the species' wild populations. The aim of the study was to analyze the viability of the species' populations in the long term while assessing the effectiveness of land protection and translocation. Demographic data was collected every decade since 2000; for this study, we resurveyed all known populations including a translocated population and two recently discovered populations. We found that the average number of plants per population has doubled since 2000, except in one population that underwent land clearing. However, after being reduced by 70%, plant abundance in this population has been increasing, giving evidence of natural post‐clearing recovery. We developed population growth models for population viability analysis in best, average, and worst‐case scenarios to predict the species' viability over the next 100 years. All populations are expected to grow in the next 100 years, except in the worst‐case scenario in which removing land protection from the model led to an 80% decline in the total number of plants within 100 years, highlighting the importance of land protection for species' conservation. Overall, if current conservation efforts are maintained, this endangered species is likely to persist for the next 100 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population sizes of manatees in many regions remain largely unknown, primarily due to the challenging nature of conducting visual counts in turbid and inaccessible aquatic environments. Passive acoustic monitoring has shown promise for monitoring manatees in the wild. In this study, we present an innovative approach that leverages a convolutional neural network (CNN) for the detection, isolation and classification of manatee vocalizations from longterm audio recordings. To improve the effectiveness of manatee call detection and classification, the CNN works in two phases. First, a long-term audio recording is divided into smaller windows of 0.5 seconds and a binary decision is made as to whether or not it contains a manatee call. Subsequently, these vocalizations are classified into distinct vocal classes (4 categories), allowing for the separation and analysis of signature calls (squeaks). Signature calls are further subjected to clustering techniques to distinguish the recorded individuals and estimate the population size. The CNN was trained and validated using audio recordings from three different zoological facilities with varying numbers of manatees. Three different clustering methods (community detection with two different classifiers and HDBSCAN) were tested for their suitability. The results demonstrate the ability of the CNN to accurately detect manatee vocalizations and effectively classify the different call categories. In addition, our study demonstrates the feasibility of reliable population size estimation using HDBSCAN as clustering method. The integration of CNN and clustering methods offers a promising way to assess manatee populations in visually challenging and inaccessible regions using autonomous acoustic recording devices. In addition, the ability to differentiate between call categories will allow for ongoing monitoring of important information such as stress, arousal, and calf presence, which will aid in the conservation and management of manatees in critical habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long‐term conservation of species at risk relies on numerous, and often concurrent, management actions to support their recovery. Generally, these actions are habitat‐based while others are focused on a species' position within its ecological community. Less studied are the impacts from human presence, despite evidence that human activity may reduce the area functionally available for occupancy or resource acquisition. In the winter of 2020/2021, COVID‐19‐related travel restrictions led to a reduction in helicopter‐assisted back‐country skiing (heli‐skiing). We examined how these reductions in heli‐skiing (termed the anthropause) affected the movement ecology and resource selection of southern mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) as compared to two prior years (2018/2019 and 2019/2020) and the following year when heli‐skiing resumed (2021/2022). We found that home‐range size was on average 80–120% larger during the anthropause than in years of normal heli‐ski operations. Movement rates also varied among periods, with movement during the anthropause (11.9 km2/day) being higher than in 2019/2020 (7.8 km2/day) and 2021/2022 (8.7 km2/day), though similar to 2018/2019 (12.2 km2/day). Resource selection among periods did not differ, with caribou consistently selecting old forests, high elevations and gentle terrain. These results suggest that back‐country recreation, specifically heli‐skiing, may be limiting access to resources for southern mountain caribou. This limitation arises through reduced home‐range size within suitable late‐winter habitat, relative to when heli‐skiing is reduced or not occurring – consistent with Encounter Theory. While the demographic effects of reduced home‐range size and movement were not examined here, reduced access to resources likely compounds other stressors known to affect population viability of caribou. The results of this study demonstrate the impact that recreation can have on wildlife and highlight the need to consider heli‐skiing and other forms of recreation when developing recovery plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the first range-wide population viability model for the northwestern and southwestern pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata and Actinemys pallida, respectively), a stage-based population projection matrix was assembled with 3 life stages: hatchling, juvenile, and adult. Vital rates were defined using biologically appropriate statistical distributions, with additional parametric uncertainty included for the adult survival parameter. A triple-loop stochastic simulation model was built around a population viability analysis to project pond turtle populations into the future. Initial abundance was calculated using available historical presence data and remotely sensed landscape condition metrics. A negative binomial regression was used to predict the relationship between abundance, habitat area, and human modification. Populations of pond turtles are dominated by adult individuals, so we applied a nonstable stage distribution to initial abundance values. Initial abundances of analysis units were variable across the species' ranges, but all populations declined precipitously in the population projections. By the end of the century, the mean range-wide probability of extinction was 44.3% for the northwestern species and 57.8% for the southwestern species. Consistent with other long-lived chelonian species, population growth rate was most sensitive to adult survival, indicating that where possible, conservation efforts focusing on increasing or maintaining adult survival would benefit the species. Elasticity analysis indicated a bet-hedging life history strategy where long-term reproductive output is maximized through longevity, small clutches, and frequent reproductive bouts in the face of highly variable juvenile survival. The population dynamics presented here indicate that efforts to bolster adult survival would be most beneficial in terms of long-term population viability, which can inform targeted research and management. The feasibility of such efforts is an important consideration in conservation management for these long-lived species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linear transportation infrastructures (LTIs) are established drivers of habitat fragmentation and barrier effects. Yet, they represent an increasing surface of managed seminatural habitats where increased consideration of biodiversity outputs is needed in an era of global biodiversity decline. A combined effort by both scientists and stakeholders is, therefore, needed to evaluate the promises and limits of these alternatives so that they best achieve their conservation potential. Our study explores the effects of forest powerline clearings on biodiversity, as well as the potential benefits of integrated vegetation management (IVM) as alternatives to clear‐cuts. We recorded the acoustic activity at 35 pairs of forest/clearing stations in two forested regions of France in 2021. Our results suggest that powerline clearings represent increased movement opportunities for bats and, most particularly, edge‐foraging species. They also provide suitable habitats for bush‐cricket species, particularly species requiring thermophilic conditions. We detected no direct benefit from IVM on bat communities. However, bush‐cricket communities appeared richer, more acoustically active, and statistically different from adjacent forests in clearings favoring secondary vegetation compared with clear‐cut ones. This collaborative study provides data on understudied taxa in the context of LTIs and sheds light on conservation promises and limits associated with their management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Threatened species in rainforests may be vulnerable to climate change, because of their potentially narrow thermal tolerances, small population sizes, restricted distributions and limited dispersal. We investigated the relative influence of potential climate change on the population viability of Triunia robusta (Proteaceae), an endangered rainforest shrub endemic to southeast Queensland, Australia. A spatially explicit, stochastic population model with seven stage classes was developed and linked with the species distribution model (SDM) to explore a variety of hypothetical climate change simulations over a 90‐year period from 2010 to 2100: (1) constant population dynamics, (2) changes in habitat distributions as trend in carrying capacity and (3) changes in habitat distributions, precipitation and temperature regime as relative change in seedling survival and fecundity. The results revealed high vulnerability of small populations to local extinction regardless of geographical location or climatic stressors, while some larger populations located in the southern end of the species distribution range showed persistence in‐situ. Triunia robusta was found to be sensitive to reduced precipitation and increased temperature, limiting the species reproductive activities and seedling establishment and reducing the overall abundance consequently. Integration of population models and SDM allowed for the evaluation of multiple climatic stressors that may affect habitat distributions and population dynamics of T. robusta and ultimately suggest potential implications for future conservation and management planning with respect to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt marshes pose challenges for the birds that inhabit them, including high rates of nest flooding, tipping, and predation. The impacts of rising sea levels and invasive species further exacerbate these challenges. To assess the urgency of conservation and adequacy of new actions, researchers and wildlife managers may use population viability analyses (PVAs) to identify population trends and major threats. We conducted PVA for Formicivora acutirostris, which is a threatened neotropical bird species endemic to salt marshes. We studied the species' demography in different sectors of an estuary in southern Brazil from 2006 to 2023 and estimated the sex ratio, longevity, productivity, first-year survival, and mortality rates. For a 133-year period, starting in 1990, we modeled four scenarios: (1) pessimistic and (2) optimistic scenarios, including the worst and best values for the parameters; (3) a baseline scenario, with intermediate values; and (4) scenarios under conservation management, with increased recruitment and/or habitat preservation. Projections indicated population decline for all assessment scenarios, with a 100% probability of extinction by 2054 in the pessimistic scenario and no extinction in the optimistic scenario. The conservation scenarios indicated population stability with 16% improvement in productivity, 10% improvement in first-year survival, and stable carrying capacity. The disjunct distribution of the species, with remnants concentrated in a broad interface with arboreal habitats, may seal the population decline by increasing nest predation. The species should be considered conservation dependent, and we recommend assisted colonization, predator control, habitat recovery, and ex situ conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a conclusion to a special issue on the importance of urban ecosystem services and sustainable urban development. It emphasizes the need to prioritize sustainability in urban planning and development to enhance the wellbeing of urban residents, protect biodiversity, and mitigate environmental degradation. The document highlights the value of green infrastructure in creating resilient cities and promoting social cohesion and equity. It also discusses the potential of poplar trees in enhancing urban green spaces and offers insights into the urgent task of scaling up nature's benefits in the face of rapid urbanization and climate change. Overall, the document emphasizes the need for a holistic understanding of the value of nature in urban settings and the integration of sustainable practices in urban development for the prosperity of urban communities worldwide. [Extracted from the article]

Conserving biodiversity in the context of global change is a challenge for the sustainability of life as we know it. Scientific protection work, particularly for flora, often lacks interdisciplinary approaches that consider human dynamics. The main objective is to evaluate the level of commitment of Spanish society toward the conservation of biodiversity in general and vascular flora in particular. As a secondary objective, it aims to contribute to the transfer between management and the general population. Methodologically, the survey has been used to estimate the willingness to protect threatened flora. The surveyed population is structured on the basis of its commitment to biodiversity conservation into: pro-conservation or pro-utilitarian group. The results are conclusive and indicate a high commitment of the Spanish society to conservation in aspects such as fees or legislative limitations on owners. It also reveals a deficiency in the transfer of the efforts made, from management, to society. It can be concluded that the survey, as a tool, allows us to know the starting social reality, detect weaknesses and deficiencies that allow management to be adapted to that reality, replicate work longitudinally to know the evolution of the measures and, indirectly, bring reality closer, of conservation to the people surveyed (science transfer). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban informal green spaces (IGS) represent valuable reservoirs of biodiversity within urban areas and are increasingly recognized as integral components of green infrastructure. They are perceived as temporary ecosystems, and the management of their vegetation is relatively understudied. The development time of spontaneous vegetation on transformed lands is considered to be in the range of decades, which makes it even more necessary to provide managers with better guidelines for such a long period. Two suggested management approaches for these areas involve: (1) retaining vegetation at various stages of succession (non-forest IGS) and (2) protecting advanced developmental stages (forest IGS), with options for balanced intervention or complete non-intervention. However, the differences in biodiversity between these two types in cities across Central Europe remain unknown, as well as whether the predictors of biodiversity at both local and landscape scales are consistent for non-forest and forest IGS. We examined factors such as habitat continuity, landscape structure, soil quality, and human impact to shed light on pathways for enhancing urban floristic diversity. Conducting extensive botanical surveys in existing informal green spaces (IGS) in Warsaw, we derived various parameters, including the total number of species, Shannon-Wiener biodiversity index, hemeroby, urbanity, share of species from distinct ecological groups, and the number of rare and ancient forest plant species. Tracing habitat continuity from the early 20th century using digitized aerial imagery provided a unique long-term perspective on IGS development. We revealed that no management is pivotal for the conservation of select rare and ancient forest species. On the other hand, partial abandonment with occasional maintenance may enrich species diversity across different successional phases. We uncovered the significant influence of landscape structure and human activity on vegetation species composition within IGS. Notably, IGS proximate to extensive forest landscapes displayed a marked abundance of forest species, alongside a greater prevalence of rare species. However, the presence of other vegetation types in the vicinity did not yield similar effects. Our findings indicate that IGS, when left untouched for decades near forested areas, are valuable for urban biodiversity. As cities across the globe seek sustainable paths, this research underscores the importance of properly understanding and integrating IGS into urban ecological planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]