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This work was supported by the Peace Parks Foundation; G.C.S. was funded by a doctoral grant from Fundacão para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT: PD/BD/114037/2015); L.H.S. was supported by the National Research Foundation, South Africa (UID: 107099 and 115040) and by the African Institute for Conservation Ecology. Apex predator reintroductions have proliferated across southern Africa, yet their ecological effects and proposed umbrella benefits of associated management lack empirical evaluations. Despite a rich theory on top-down ecosystem regulation via mesopredator suppression, a knowledge gap exists relating to the influence of lions (Panthera leo) over Africa's diverse mesocarnivore (less than 20 kg) communities. We investigate how geographical variation in mesocarnivore community richness and occupancy across South African reserves is associated with the presence of lions. An interesting duality emerged: lion reserves held more mesocarnivore-rich communities, yet mesocarnivore occupancy rates and evenness-weighted diversity were lower in the presence of lions. Human population density in the reserve surroundings had a similarly ubiquitous negative effect on mesocarnivore occupancy. The positive association between species richness and lion presence corroborated the umbrella species concept but translated into small differences in community size. Distributional contractions of mesocarnivore species within lion reserves, and potentially corresponding numerical reductions, suggest within-community mesopredator suppression by lions, probably as a result of lethal encounters and responses to a landscape of fear. Our findings offer empirical support for the theoretical understanding of processes underpinning carnivore community assembly and are of conservation relevance under current large-predator orientated management and conservation paradigms. Postprint

The accelerating global rate of species extinctions and the inevitable human impacts on biodiversity have increased the need to conserve, restore and use ecosystems sustainably. Indicators for biodiversity are the most frequently used tool to monitor the status of biodiversity, changes to biodiversity, and the effects of management actions. In this study, we aim to assess the magnitude of studies on indicators for biodiversity (IB) in European forest ecosystems, establish and analyze the link between IB and silvicultural management measures (MM), and define indicators for management (IM), that aim to support biodiversity at the stand and landscape level. We performed a systematic literature review and analyzed data from 162 studies. We identified 9 IB groups, corresponding to 32 IB and linked them to 7 IM groups corresponding to 44 IM. Arthropods, birds, and plants are the most frequently used IB in European managed forests. We found IB with clear links to specific IM, such as saproxylic species and Collembola (collembolans) with deadwood, bird families (Passeriformes, Piciformes, Accipitriformes) with links to microhabitats, and ground-dwelling species with links to regeneration. We identified 17 species as proposed umbrella species based on the studies examined. This review shows that high structural diversity is associated with an increase in diversity, especially with regard to vascular plants, birds and ground-dwelling species. The adaptation of forest management for biodiversity requires regular active monitoring of IM to assess the temporal and spatial changes and of IB to assess the effectiveness of measures.

Context Understanding the environmental and anthropogenic factors influencing habitat selection of multiple species is a foundation for quantifying human impacts on biodiversity and developing effective conservation measures. Objectives To determine the effect of multiple scales of environmental/topographic and anthropogenic variables and landscape patterns on habitat suitability of terrestrial mammals in Bhutan, assess the effectiveness of the current protected area network, identify areas of high species richness outside of the existing protected area, and evaluate the potential effectiveness of indicator and umbrella species for conservation planning. Methods We modelled multi-scale habitat selection of sixteen species of terrestrial mammals across Bhutan using data from a nation-wide camera trap survey. We used the predicted species distribution maps to assess the multi-species conservation effectiveness of the existing protected area network. We performed simulations to identify high priority areas for multiple species based on their habitat suitability, proximity to existing protected areas and overall connectivity within the predicted distribution of species. We used correlation analysis among predicted occurrence maps and multivariate cluster analysis to identify potential indicator species. We evaluated the potential utility of each species as umbrella species by assessing how well optimal protected areas for that species would protect suitable habitat for all 16 species simultaneously. Results Protected areas and forest cover were strongly associated with habitat use of most modelled species. Additionally, topographical features, like terrain roughness and slope position, contributed to habitat selection of multiple species, but often in different ways. Environmental and topographical variables were mostly selected at medium to broad scales. Anthropogenic variables (agriculture and built-up areas) were negatively associated with habitat suitability of most species at both fine and broad scales. Conservation effectiveness assessment of existing protected areas found protected areas in south-central Bhutan have high effectiveness in terms of both mean and total richness protected. Similarly, biological corridors in the south-central region offered high mean richness protection. Our simulation of optimal areas for additional protection found areas abutting protected areas in southern Bhutan offered high relative species richness protection. Our umbrella species analysis found muntjac, wild pig, serow, sambar and Asian golden cat are the most effective umbrella species for broader biodiversity protection. Our indicator species analysis found tiger, gaur, dhole, clouded leopard, Asian black bear and common leopard as effective indicator species. Conclusions This study highlights the need to protect optimally located species-rich areas outside the current protected areas. This kind of multi-species habitat assessment provides important information to optimize future conservation and development plans at national and regional scales.

Human activities have enormous impact on current biodiversity distribution across all spatial scales. Despite the numerous studies showing the difference between preserved and impaired sites, only little is known about the regional scale. Therefore, we selected four European regions differing in habitat conservation status (HCS) to explore if the variation in land snail communities reflects regional differences. We collected quantitative land snail samples at 169 isolated spring fen sites and measured environmental parameters. The species richness of habitat specialists expressed low variation and weak associations with local conditions in the two regions of adequate HCS, presumably because of their common occurrence throughout most sites. In contrast, the richness of matrix-derived species, i.e. predominantly habitat generalists, was highly variable in these two regions and also tightly associated with local conditions, especially moisture. In both the intermediate and the inadequate HCS region, these associations were much weaker as the fens are less extreme and allow for penetration of matrix-derived species. Population densities of Vertigo geyeri, an umbrella species internationally protected by the EU Habitats Directive, were highest in the two adequate HCS regions. Species composition was primarily controlled by moisture in the regions of adequate HCS, while in the remaining regions, those predictors that are less easily jeopardized by human impact, such as climate, water chemistry and terrain topography, gained importance. In the inadequate HCS region, none of the analysed predictors was associated with the main compositional gradient, suggesting a complete disruption of community-environment relationships. Our results suggest that the species richness and community responses to natural gradients might be substantially modified by human impact, although the effect of some other region-specific factors cannot be easily disentangled because of inevitably low number of studied regions.

Relationships between different groups of organisms are one of the major factors shaping Earth's ecosystems. This thesis analyses correlations in species composition and species richness at different spatial scales. Knowledge of these so-called cross-taxon congruences are crucial for proper nature conservation and management of species-rich localities of non-forest habitats. One of the main aims of the thesis was to find suitable surrogate groups for biodiversity conservation in non-forest habitats. Invertebrates and vascular plants are generally good surrogate groups for biodiversity conservation. For example, ground beetles seem to have good correlations in species richness at large spatial scales. However, their importance deeply declines at small spatial scales. At both scales, the species richness of ants and butterflies positively correlates with general species richness. Vertebrates, on the other hand, appear to be a bad surrogate taxon, except for birds which can be placed into a shopping basket with invertebrates and plants. At small scales, species composition differs with the type of agricultural use at studied localities. Umbrella species can be selected from these specific species communities. Best umbrella species for non-forest habitats are invertebrate herbivores such as butterflies...

Varios habitantes del Caribe colombiano viven bajo situaciones socioeconómicas adversas, con difícil acceso a agua potable, alimento, salud, educación, entre otras necesidades básicas. Esto ha generado una presión histórica sobre El Bosque Seco Tropical (BST), transformándolo en uno de los ecosistemas más amenazados del país. Con el fin de contrarrestar esta tendencia, el presente trabajo contribuye a desarrollar un modelo de aprovechamiento sostenible sobre las semillas del guáimaro (Brosimum alicastrum), una importante especie y Producto Forestal No Maderable (PFNM) del BST. A continuación, se presenta información sobre la especie, su biología, distribución, abundancia, estructura poblacional, fenología, usos, productividad, entre otros. La información se tomó en el año 2020, en los Montes de María y la Serranía del Perijá, y fue complementada con una revisión bibliográfica y datos compartidos de otros estudios. Se encontró que la estructura de las poblaciones de guáimaro varía dependiendo de la localidad, así como también se ve afectada su productividad de semillas por los regímenes de precipitación. Existe una relación directa significativa entre el tamaño de los árboles (DAP y altura) y el peso y la cantidad de semillas producidas. El DAP mínimo productivo encontrado fue de 31,5 cm, y la densidad de individuos productivos es de 9,80 ± 13,94 árboles/ha dependiendo de la proporción sexual poblacional. Con base en los datos fenológicos y poblacionales se estima que de una hectárea de BST bien conservado se pueden cosechar alrededor de 1,1 t de semilla fresca al año y 0,6 t de harina, garantizando un 35 % de la producción para la regeneración natural de la especie. Evaluando las prácticas de manejo, las características del aprovechamiento, la biología y la productividad de la especie se concluye que el guáimaro es una especie sombrilla óptima para desarrollar modelos de aprovechamiento sostenible, que fortalezcan la salud del BST y la calidad de vida de sus habitantes. Many inhabitants of the Caribbean Region of Colombia undergo socioeconomic adversities (e.g., scarce access to drinking water, food, health and education). This situation has created historical pressure on the Tropical Dry Forest (TDF), and it deeply transformed it into one of the most endangered ecosystems of Colombia. In order to reverse this trend, this manuscript helps to develop a sustainable model for harvesting the seeds of “Guáimaro” (Brosimum alicastrum), which is an important tree that produces Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) in the TDF. The data presented are about B. alicastrum, its biology, distribution, abundance, population structure, phenology, uses and productivity. The information was gathered in 2020, in the “Montes de María” and “Serranía del Perijá”, and it was enriched using the available literature and additional data from other studies. It was found that the population structure of "Guáimaro” varies among localities. The seed production is also affected by precipitation patterns. There is a positive and significant correlation between the tree size (DBH and height) and its productivity (number and weight of seeds). The minimum productive diameter found was an individual with 31,5 cm DBH. The density of productive trees was 9,80 ± 13,94 trees/Ha, and is dependent on the sex ratio. Based on the populations and the phenological data collected, the annual productivity that is expected for 1 Ha of a pristine forest is around 1,1 tons. of seeds and 0,6 tons. of seed fluor (after discounting the 35 % of the crop for natural repopulation of the species). Due to the biology and productivity of the “Guáimaro”, and the way its seeds are collected, we conclude that B. alicastrum is an umbrella species, very well suited for the development of sustainable harvesting projects, that strengthen the TDF ecosystem as well as the life quality of its people. Bogotá D.C.

The worldwide decline of seabird populations due to the combined effects of global and regional changes is creating immense challenges for managers and conservationists. Predicting population responses to proposed management strategies could provide the most effective tools to prevent, halt and reverse ongoing declines. System dynamic modelling frameworks are considered particularly relevant to interrelate biological, ecological and environmental characteristics and to predict population trends. A system dynamics model was designed, compiling diverse information concerning a relict population of the European Shag located in western Iberia, to outline the most effective management options for its conservation. The simulations demonstrate that mortality caused by invasive animals and bycatch mortality were the main reasons for the current population decline. Without management interventions, a decrease of 8% was projected for the next decade, which could be mitigated by specific conservation actions. The results show the usefulness of dynamic modelling frameworks to understand local cause-effect relationships and species responses to ecosystem management under changing environmental conditions. We highlight that the framework proposed, after specific parameterization, could be easily adaptable to other species within similar socio-ecological systems., This study was supported by the International Internship Grant Program of the University of Cadiz (EDUCA), Spain for conducting research in internationally renowned centres and the Centre for the Research and Technology of AgroEnvironmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB) of the Universidad de Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal. In addition, the following entities contributed to this work: European Investment Funds by FEDER/COMPETE/POCI Operational Competitiveness and Internationalization Programme, under Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006958, National Funds by FCT -Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project UIDB/04033/2020 and INTERACT, Integrative Research in Environment, AgroChains and Technology, Project Norte 2020 45/2015/02. R. B. received support from POPH/FSE, funds and by National Funds through FCT Foundation for Science and Technology under the Portuguese Science Foundation through Doctoral grant FCT_SFRH/BD/102428/2014.

Simple Summary Butterflies provide numerous ecological and socio-economic services and are important indicator species. China is home to over 2000 species of butterflies and in recent years has elevated biodiversity conservation on the national agenda. This manuscript reviews China’s butterfly conservation efforts and its legal and policy frameworks. We note some of the current limitations in butterfly conservation (inappropriate listing of protected species; over-reliance on inventories, rather than holistic research) and offer numerous recommendations to improve conservation efforts. Our recommendations include those related to integration of scientific data into policy (designation of scientifically-based protected areas; development of appropriate criteria for classifying protected species; use of umbrella species for conservation purposes), adoption of butterfly-friendly land use policies in rural and urban areas, butterfly ranching and farming, use of citizen science to improve data collection, and enhanced public outreach and environmental education campaigns. Our recommendations will help further the goals of China’s National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2011–2030). Abstract About 10% of the Earth’s butterfly species inhabit the highly diverse ecosystems of China. Important for the ecological, economic, and cultural services they provide, many butterfly species experience threats from land use shifts and climate change. China has recently adopted policies to protect the nation’s biodiversity resources. This essay examines the current management of butterflies in China and suggests various easily implementable actions that could improve these conservation efforts. Our recommendations are based on the observations of a transdisciplinary group of entomologists and environmental policy specialists. Our analysis draws on other successful examples around the world that China may wish to consider. China needs to modify its scientific methodologies behind butterfly conservation management: revising the criteria for listing protected species, focusing on umbrella species for broader protection, identifying high priority areas and refugia for conservation, among others. Rural and urban land uses that provide heterogeneous habitats, as well as butterfly host and nectar plants, must be promoted. Butterfly ranching and farming may also provide opportunities for sustainable community development. Many possibilities exist for incorporating observations of citizen scientists into butterfly data collection at broad spatial and temporal scales. Our recommendations further the ten Priority Areas of China’s National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2011–2030).

Coastal development is a major anthropogenic factors that modify and degrade the coastallagoons and mangrove swamps of Mexico, for this reason, the aim of this work is to highlightthe importance of representing the red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) at the biological andecological coastal ecosystems and conceptualize it as an umbrella species for the lakeTampamachoco to generate initiatives to protect and restore the lagoon system as signs ofdeterioration and contamination. Proposes strategies and actions for restoration and protectionof the lagoon Tampamachoco to safeguard the flora and fauna that protects the red mangrove,improved hydrological conditions of the lagoon and retrieve important species and commercialfisheries which are certain to reactivate economic income fisheries and restaurant.

The extent of shrubland and young forest in the Northeast, USA, has declined rapidly since the mid-1900’s. Accordingly, the abundance of wildlife that depends on young forest has also declined. For example, American woodcock (Scolopax minor), an upland shorebird species, require an appropriate spectrum and spatial configuration of young forest to thrive and their populations have declined significantly since at least 1968. Active forest management is required to conserve populations of American woodcock and other young forest wildlife, but the importance of young forest management to some aspects of the ecology of key wildlife are not fully understood. I investigated three aspects of American woodcock ecology in relation to young forest management in Rhode Island, USA. First, I monitored the daytime locations of radiomarked American woodcock to assess habitat selection at multiple scales in relation to young forest management. Second, I also monitored American woodcock movements between daytime and nighttime locations and quantified food availability and predator activity at these sites to test the foraging-benefit and predation-risk hypotheses that were proposed to explain American woodcock commuting behavior. Third, I compared landbird communities at managed forest openings used by breeding American woodcock and nearby random forest sites to determine whether American woodcock habitat management benefits non-target landbirds and so verifies adopting American woodcock as an umbrella species useful for conservation. Daytime habitat selected by American woodcock comprised areas of younger forest where the biomass of preferred food (i.e., earthworms [Haplotaxida]) was 1.7 – 3.1 times greater, and the density of shrub and sapling stems was two times greater, compared to random sites. American woodcock home ranges were typically

Both cuculiform and piciform species can be used as bioindicators and, to a lesser extent, as umbrella species. A territory mapping method was employed in 2015 to assess their population densities in a riparian forest on the Zambezi River near Katima Mulilo, NENamibia. The forest, c. 280 ha in surface area, was partly transformed by human settlement and croplands. A total of 9 cuculiform and 6 piciform species were recorded. Population densities (male’s territories per 100 ha) were assessed as follow: Diederick, Klaas’s and Jacobin Cuckoo — each one with 1.1, African Emerald and African Black Cuckoo — each one with 0.7, Red-chested Cuckoo — 0.4; Senegal Coucal — 4.3, White-browed and Coppery-tailed Coucals — each one with 0.7; Bearded Woodpecker — 1.8, Golden-tailed Woodpecker — 1.1, Cardinal Woodpecker — 0.4; Black-collared Barbet — 5.7, Crested Barbet — 0.7, and Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird — 1.8. Both cuculiform and woodpecker species avoided built-up areas in the man-modified riparian forest, while all barbet species appeared to prefer them. Chrysococcyx cuckoos are not territorial in respect to Cuculus/Clamator cuckoos. The latter ones are, however, territorial in respect to other species from the same genera. Coucals display territorialism in regard to members of other species of the genus Centropus.

Roads are encroaching on tiger range in Asia, increasing tiger extinction risk and necessitating bold new planning strategies., Roads are proliferating worldwide at an unprecedented rate, with potentially severe impacts on wildlife. We calculated the extent and potential impacts of road networks across the 1,160,000-km2, 13-country range of the globally endangered tiger (Panthera tigris)—a conservation umbrella species. We found that roads were pervasive, totaling 134,000 km across tiger conservation landscapes (TCLs), even in tiger priority sites and protected areas. Approximately 43% of the area where tiger breeding occurs and 57% of the area in TCLs fell within the road-effect zone. Consequently, current road networks may be decreasing tiger and prey abundances by more than 20%. Nearly 24,000 km of new roads will be built in TCLs by 2050, stimulated through major investment projects such as China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Given that roads will be a pervasive challenge to tiger recovery in the future, we urge decision-makers to make sustainable road development a top priority.

Monitoring populations and designing effective conservation actions for endangered species present significant challenges. An accurate understanding of current distribution, ecological traits and habitat requirements is imperative in formulating conservation strategies. Recent surveys on the southernmost Cuvier’s Gazelle (Gazella cuvieri) population, an ungulate endemic to North Africa, showcase its importance in terms of numbers and genetic diversity. This population inhabits a remote region in the extreme north-western portion of the Sahara Desert and has not been well studied. Here, we examine the potential distribution of Cuvier’s Gazelle and the environmental factors limiting the species in a Saharan environment, by combining broad-scale field survey data and species distribution models. Our objective was to identify high priority conservation areas in the southernmost known portion of the species’ distribution by modelling habitat selection at the landscape scale using a predictive distribution map. Our results show that the distribution of Cuvier’s Gazelle is strongly related to mountainous areas with heterogeneous terrain and remoteness from large human settlements over other ecological factors that had less impact on the species’ presence and distribution. We also provide a quantitative estimate of the potential distribution range of Cuvier’s Gazelle in southern Morocco, identifying two well-demarcated key areas. The two core areas currently contain enough rugged terrain isolated from human encroachment to support the endangered species in this harsh desert environment. We encourage the implementation of conservation planning for Cuvier’s Gazelle as an “umbrella species”, which will confer effective protection to higher-quality habitat zones and co-occurring species, leading to sustainable and ecologically responsible development in the region.

This article belongs to the Special Issue Dragon Trees - Tertiary Relicts in Current Reality., Umbrella species are defined as species that can be rare and sensitive to human disturbance, whose protection may confer the protection of other co-occurring species. The dragon’s blood tree Dracaena cinnabari Balf.f. was already considered an umbrella species on Socotra Island (Indic Ocean, Yemen) due to its ecological importance for some native biota. We studied the reptile community living on D. cinnabari from Socotra Island. We sampled reptiles on trees across most D. cinnabari populations and applied co-occurrence and network partition analyses to check if the presence of reptiles on D. cinnabari populations was random or structured. Regardless of its patched and scarce actual distribution, we report the use of this tree as a habitat by more than half of the reptile community (12 endemic reptiles). Co-occurrence and network partition analyses demonstrate that this community is structured across the distribution of dragon’s blood trees, reflecting complex allopatric, vicariant, and biotic interaction processes. Hence, these trees act as micro-hotspots for reptiles, that is, as areas where endemic and rare species that are under threat at the landscape scale co-occur. This Socotra endemic tree is currently threatened by overgrazing, overmaturity, and climate change. Its protection and declaration as an umbrella species are expected to benefit the reptile community and to protect evolutionary processes that are partially driven by the ecological links between reptiles and this tree. To our knowledge, no tree species has been proposed as an umbrella species for island vertebrate endemics so far, highlighting the ecological uniqueness of Socotra Island., This article is an output of Project 13055714, financed by the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, and Grant CGL2012–36970 from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain (co-funded by FEDER). R.V. was supported by a postdoctoral grant (SFRH/BPD/79913/2011) from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) and national funds under the scope of “Norma transitória” through FCT (DL57/2016/CP1440/CT0002). S.C. was supported by grant PGC2018-098290-B-I00 (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE) and grant 2017-SGR-00991 from the Secretaria d’Universitats i Recerca del Departament d’Economia i Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya.

Conservation strategies for a reliable set of umbrella species should benefit many co-occurring species and will improve conservation efficiency. The umbrella index (UI) is increasingly applied for umbrella species selection in different ecosystems. We developed a modified river UI to select potential macroinvertebrate umbrella species with a combination of 69 sites in the Taizi River Basin of northeast China. Calculation of UI and comparison of biotic indices between sites of presence and absence of umbrella species were performed to make the final umbrella species list. The umbrella scheme, based on the proportion and composition of sites supporting the confirmed umbrella species, was introduced to illustrate the conservation effectiveness. A total of eight umbrella species were obtained and all of them were aquatic insects, such as caddisfly and mayfly larva. Umbrella schemes supporting the top umbrella species, hosted the majority of co-occurring species and only 7% of beneficiary species were missed by the umbrella schemes of 70% effort. The positive relationship between abundance of co-occurring species and umbrella species, validated the ability of umbrella species to confer protection and co-existence of co-occurring species, and thus indicated the effectiveness of umbrella species conservation. Co-occurring species were located close to umbrella species in ordinations, suggesting they respond to similar environmental variables characterized by high flow velocity, dissolved oxygen and pebble-covered substrate. On account of good performance of umbrella schemes in our study, UI with further improving methods should be promoted for selection of umbrella species and decision for optimizing of conservation sites in the future.

As both a flagship and umbrella species, the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is one of the most heavily invested species in conservation. Here, we report the wide distribution range retreat of the leopard (Panthera pardus, 81% loss), snow leopard (P. uncia, 38%), wolf (Canis lupus, 77%) and dhole (Cuon alpinus, 95%) from protected areas in the giant panda distribution range since the 1960s. The present findings indicate the insufficiency of giant panda conservation for protecting these large carnivore species and suggest that future conservation efforts should target restoring ecosystems with high trophic complexity to facilitate the recovery of large carnivore populations.

Imperiled sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems of western North America are experiencing unprecedented conservation planning efforts. Advances in decision-support tools operationalize concepts of ecosystem resilience by quantitatively linking spatially explicit variation in soil and plant processes to outcomes of biotic and abiotic disturbances. However, failure to consider higher trophic-level fauna of conservation concern in these tools can hinder efforts to operationalize resilience owing to spatiotemporal lags between slower reorganization of plant and soil processes following disturbance, and faster behavioral and demographic responses of fauna to disturbance. Here, we provide multi-scale examples of decision-support tools for management and restoration actions that evaluate general resilience mapped to variation in soil moisture and temperature regimes through new lenses of habitat selection and population performance responses for an at-risk obligate species to sagebrush ecosystems, the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). We then briefly describe general pathways going forward for more explicit integration of sage-grouse fitness with factors influencing variation in sagebrush resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasive species (e.g., annual grasses). The intended product of these efforts is a more targeted operational definition of resilience for managers by using quantifiable metrics that help limit chances of spatiotemporal mismatches among restoration responses owing to differences in engineering resilience between sagebrush ecosystem processes and sage-grouse population dynamics. Moreover, spatial resilience can be promoted though explicit consideration of sage-grouse and sagebrush predicted responses to active and passive management treatments across space and time. We describe tools that include multi-scale geospatial overlays and simulation analyses of post-disturbance land cover recovery aimed at prioritizing primary threats to sagebrush ecosystems in the Great Basin in the western portion of sage-grouse range (i.e., grass-fire cycles and conifer expansion), but underlying concepts have broader application to a range of ecosystems.

Declining pollinator populations worldwide are attributed to multiple stressors, including the loss of quality forage. Habitat management in agricultural areas often targets honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) specifically, with the assumption that native bees will benefit from an ‘umbrella species’ strategy. We tested this theory using a conservation physiology approach to compare the effects of landscape composition and floral dietary composition on the physiological status of honey bees and Melissodes desponsa in eastern South Dakota, USA. The total glycogen, lipid and protein concentrations were quantified from field collected bees. Next-generation sequencing of the trnL chloroplast gene from bee guts was used to evaluate dietary composition. The effects of landscape and dietary composition on macronutrient concentrations were compared between bee species. As the mean land-use patch area increased, honey bee glycogen levels increased, though M. desponsa experienced a decrease in glycogen. Protein levels decreased in honey bees as the largest patch index, a measure of single patch dominance, increased versus M. desponsa. Lipids in both species were unaffected by the measured landscape variables. Dietary analysis revealed that honey bees foraged preferentially on weedy non-native plant species, while M. desponsa sought out native and rarer species, in addition to utilizing non-native plants. Both species foraged on Asteraceae, Oleaceae and Fabaceae, specifically Melilotus sp. and Medicago sp. Dietary composition was not predictive of the macronutrients measured for either species. Together, these data highlight the management importance of including patch area in conservation recommendations, as bee species may have divergent physiological responses to landscape characteristics. While solitary bees may forage on weedy introduced plants in agricultural areas, robust strategies should also reincorporate native plant species, though they may not be preferred by honey bees, to maximize overall health and diversity of pollinator communities.

Cumulative effect of various land use and land cover variables that eventually affect suitability level of set/sets of habitats is a main concern in wildlife habitat conservation efforts. Even though, there have been various methodologies to identify the factors that influence probability of species persistence, survival, or occurrence in a particular habitat, no research has been conducted to assess the cumulative effects of LU/LC variations on the Persian leopard regional persistence (e.g., in several provinces, regions). Innovative formulation of the species and area specific regional indices, sub-indices, and threshold levels was carried out concerning the Persian leopard persistence in various regions of Iran (see chapter 3 for classification of regions). Regional and provincial values were assessed for the density of several variables including protected area, national park, wildlife reserve, forest, range lands, dry farming and irrigated farming, city, main and sub roads, village and human population. Principle Component Analysis and regression curve estimation techniques are the main analysis methods used in this study. Developing two types of empirically fitted models allows for adjusting the density of land use and land cover variables in a way to ensure that leopard persistence is not affected by the cumulative effect of the variables. Accordingly, current status of all provinces of Iran in relation to the cumulative effects of land use and land cover variables comparing to the corresponding threshold values together with relative conservation strategy is demonstrated in this chapter. Also, the findings support that the Persian leopard range in Iran is in the process of a major fragmentation into the northern and southern parts. Furthermore, this approach provides an insight to the managers and decision makers in order to identify wildlife friendly solutions in LU/LC and development planning. Since the leopard is an umbrella species, this model could be used to improve conservation status of the other co-existed species in leopard habitats (e.g., gray wolf, brown bear, wild goat, wild sheep, red deer, roe deer, etc.). Due to the fact that this innovative approach is on the basis of the data assessed about the Persian leopard in a regional context in Iran, the models are considered to be species and region specific. However, the same technical procedures can be modified using the area specific data for the leopard or other species in other countries and regions.

The very particular (hypercarnivorous) diet of felids makes them naturally dispersed and rare; with the same size and habitat, the space needed for an adult felid is much more extensive than that of any other animals belonging to the order of Carnivora. This puts the currently recognized 40 species of wild felidae at increased direct and indirect risks due to the modifications that man has made to the natural environment. The large felids belong to the group that conservationists call “umbrella species,” whose active conservation indirectly involves the conservation of many other species within the ecosystem, and thus safeguards (at least in large part) its biodiversity and encourages self-sustaining ecological processes. In addition to the hunting that many felines have been subjected to for their precious and sought-after fur, there are numerous other causes that have facilitated the numerical decline of felids, or the total disappearance of some populations, species, and/or subspecies. The main threats worldwide are: 1. Sports hunting for trophies involving mostly the great wild cats such as the tiger, lion, leopard, jaguar, and puma; 2. Persecution by hunting and trapping when they are considered to be harmful and dangerous for both man and domestic animals; 3. Hunting and poaching to obtain parts of the animal for traditional pharmacopoeia; 4. The modification and fragmentation of natural habitats into increasingly small and isolated areas, and the loss of sufficient natural prey numbers necessary for the survival of felids; 5. The political and economic situations of some states can negatively affect the survival of felids and their conservation; 6. Hunting and poaching for bushmeat. Fortunately, today there are many associations that study felines in their natural states and draw up programs for their conservation.

The island of Borneo is a biodiversity hotspot of global importance that continues to suffer from one of the highest deforestation rates in the tropics. Selective logging concessions overlay a third of the remaining natural forests in the Indonesian part of Borneo, but many of these concessions have become inactive in recent years. Whereas the cessation of logging could be beneficial to biodiversity, the absence of a logging company's presence in the forest could also leave the concession open to deforestation by other actors. Using remote sensing analyses, we evaluate 1) whether inactive concessions are more likely to suffer from deforestation than active ones, 2) the possible reasons why concessions become inactive, and 3) which inactive concessions hold the most potential for biodiversity conservation, if protected from deforestation. Our analysis shows that, counterintuitively, inactive concessions overall suffer a higher rate of forest loss than active ones. We find that small concession size and high elevation are correlated with inactive status. We identified several inactive concessions that, if maintained as natural forest, could significantly contribute to biodiversity conservation, as exemplified by their importance to two umbrella species: Bornean orangutan (Critically Endangered) and Sunda clouded leopard (Vulnerable). Because timber operations in other tropical regions are likely to experience similar cycles of activity and inactivity, the fate of inactive timber concessions and the opportunities they create for conservation deserve much greater attention from conservation scientists and practitioners.

10 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables, supplementary data https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105033, Marine ecosystems are complex socio-ecological systems where sustainable solutions can be best gained by satisfying both conservation and socioeconomic demands. Concretely, the Mediterranean Sea is facing a huge demand of resources and marine activities while hosting abundant and unique biodiversity. It is considered an important elasmobranch hotspot where seventy-two elasmobranch species are present in the basin. Despite the recognised importance of elasmobranchs as umbrella species, to date only a small number of marine protected areas have been designated towards their protection. The paucity of spatially-explicit abundance data on elasmobranchs often precludes the designation of these areas to protect these marine predators. Here, we aimed to identify marine areas to protect elasmobranch species by means of a systematic spatial planning approach. We first estimated the spatial distribution of five elasmobranch species (three sharks and two rays) in the western Mediterranean Sea and then applied Marxan decision support tools to find priority marine conservation areas. We found that the five elasmobranchs are distributed in coastal and slope areas of the southern waters of the study area while in the northern region they are abundant in the continental slope and towards offshore waters. Conservation priority areas were identified in the southern part of the western Mediterranean. Adding more complex cost layers and zoning to the analysis did not alter conservation priority areas, confirming such areas are highly consistent and highly important for elasmobranch protection. The marine conservation priority areas identified here can contribute to designate a proactive area-based protection strategy towards elasmobranch conservation, related species and the habitats that they depend in the western Mediterranean Sea, JG partially carried out the analysis of the present study during his research internship at the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness of the Spanish Government through the predoctoral mobility grant for research internships in foreign R + D centers (EEBB-I-2017-12238). JN was funded by the Spanish National Program Ramón y Cajal (RYC-2015-17809). LC received funding from the Beatriu de Pinós fellowship program (funded by the Catalan Government and EU COFUND program nº 801370). This study is a contribution to the COST Action 15121 (European Cooperation in Science and Technology; Advancing marine conservation in the European and contiguous seas MarCons, http://www.marcons-cost.eu/) supported by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for research and innovation, the project SafeNET (EU-DGMARE MARE/2014/41) and RESNEP (CTM2017-82991-C2-1-R, Spanish Government). MEDITS surveys were funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) of the EU, within the Spanish programme for collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy, With the funding support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S), of the Spanish Research Agency (AEI)

Taxonomic revisionary work is essential for our understanding of our planet’s biodiversity. Yet recent findings specifically concerned with large mammal taxonomy has sometimes been received with open scepticism by the community of conservation biologists, population geneticists in particular. The present contribution offers a taxonomist’s perspective of the problem utilizing case studies of two classically designated subspecies (Ceratotherium simum cottoni and Ursus arctos marsicanus) to show how a refined taxonomy is the first step in establishing effective conservation measures and thus contribute to the maintenance of a healthy and diverse planet through appropriate use of mammals as umbrella species.

Many studies have reported a negative impact of freshwater habitat modification on biota. Nevertheless, some man-made water bodies have proven to be valuable for biodiversity conservation as they can harbour many species. We investigated 36 man-made water bodies to determine their suitability as habitats for Odonata. Larvae were sampled in littoral, during the summer months of 2016 and 2017. At each sampling site, ten samples were collected using a benthos hand net. A total of 21 Odonata species was recorded. Odonata assemblages mainly consisted of common widespread species. Yet, at Vlačine Reservoir, located in the Dinaric Western Balkan ecoregion, we also recorded a rare and endangered Mediterranean species,Lindenia tetraphylla(Vander Linden, 1825). Aquatic and riparian vegetation, water level fluctuations and dissolved oxygen concentration had the highest influence on Odonata, showing that man-made water bodies with a well-developed riparian zone and aquatic vegetation, and with low daily and seasonal water level fluctuations, can provide suitable habitats for diverse Odonata species. Odonata are among the sensitive freshwater insects widely used as ecological indicators and umbrella species, therefore these results about their assemblages in heavily modified and man-made habitats could contribute to future conservation activities of freshwater biota and habitats.

Archaeological sites represent long-term biological repositories, relevant for understanding ancient economies and ways of life that can provide historical baseline data for contemporary conservation biology, restoration ecology, and fisheries management. Small-scale excavations at nine archaeological sites within Point Reyes National Seashore, on the central California coast, led to the recovery of a large assemblage of fish remains from deposits dated from 800 to 770 cal BC to the historical era. These assemblages contained over 9000 fish remains identified to at least a family. Applying quantitative analysis and morphometric studies, these data suggest the indigenous fishery of Point Reyes in the homeland of the Coast Miwok people was directed toward the acquisition of mass-captured forage fish from the families Clupeidae, Atherinopsidae, and Engraulidae in addition to Embiotocidae. Perceived declines in contemporary forage fish populations within Point Reyes National Seashore, specifically Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii), an important keystone, indicator, and umbrella species, suggest further protections are needed to ensure continued ecosystem services and prevent ecological extinction.

The umbrella approach applied to landscape connectivity is based on the principle that the conservation or restoration of the dispersal habitats for some species also can facilitate the movement of others. Species traits alone do not seem to be enough to identify good connectivity umbrella species, showing the need to investigate the influence of additional factors on this property. We test whether the potential of a species as a connectivity umbrella can be influenced by landscape composition and configuration. We simulated movement routes for eight hypothetical species in artificial patchy landscapes with different levels of fragmentation, habitat amount and matrix permeability. We determined the effectiveness of the connectivity umbrella of the virtual species using pairwise intersections of important habitats for their movements in all landscapes. The connectivity umbrella performance of all species was affected by the interaction of fragmentation level and habitat amount. In general, species performance increased with decreasing fragmentation and increasing habitat amount. In most landscapes and considering the same dispersal threshold, species able to move more easily through the matrix showed higher umbrella performance than those for which the matrix offered greater resistance. The connectivity umbrella is not a static feature that depends only on the species traits, but rather a dynamic property that also varies according to the landscape attributes. Therefore, we do not recommend spatial transferability of the connectivity umbrella species identified in a landscape to others that have divergent levels of fragmentation and habitat quantity.

Creative approaches to identifying umbrella species hold promise for devising effective surrogates of ecological communities or ecosystems. However, mechanistic niche models that predict range or habitat overlap among species may yet lack development. We reviewed literature on taxon-centered Bayesian belief network (BBN) models to explore a novel approach to identify umbrella taxa identifying taxonomic groups that share the largest proportion of habitat requirements (i.e., states of important habitat variables) with other wetland-dependent taxa. We reviewed and compiled published literature to provide a comprehensive and reproducible account of the current understanding of habitat requirements for freshwater, wetland-dependent taxa using BBNs. We found that wetland birds had the highest degree of shared habitat requirements with other taxa, and consequently may be suitable umbrella taxa in freshwater wetlands. Comparing habitat requirements using a BBN approach to build species distribution models, this review also identified taxa that may not benefit from conservation actions targeted at umbrella taxa by identifying taxa with unique habitat requirements not shared with umbrellas. Using a standard node set that accurately and comprehensively represents the ecosystem in question, BBNs could be designed to improve identification of umbrella taxa. In wetlands, expert knowledge about hydrology, geomorphology and soils could add important information regarding physical landscape characteristics relevant to species. Thus, a systems-oriented framework may improve overarching inferences from BBNs and subsequent utility to conservation planning and management.

Umbrella species are typically chosen because they are expected to confer protection for other species assumed to have similar ecological requirements. Despite its popularity and substantial history, the value of the umbrella species concept has come into question because umbrella species chosen using heuristic methods, such as body or home range size, are not acting as adequate proxies for the metrics of interest: species richness or population abundance in a multi-species community for which protection is sought. How species associate with habitat across ecological scales has important implications for understanding population size and species richness, and therefore may be a better proxy for choosing an umbrella species. We determined the spatial scales of ecological neighborhoods important for predicting abundance of 8 potential umbrella species breeding in Nebraska using Bayesian latent indicator scale selection in N-mixture models accounting for imperfect detection. We compare the conservation value measured as collective avian abundance under different umbrella species selected following commonly used criteria and selected based on identifying spatial land cover characteristics within ecological neighborhoods that maximize collective abundance. Using traditional criteria to select an umbrella species resulted in sub-maximal expected collective abundance in 86% of cases compared to selecting an umbrella species based on land cover characteristics that maximized collective abundance directly. We conclude that directly assessing the expected quantitative outcomes, rather than ecological proxies, is likely the most efficient method to maximize the potential for conservation success under the umbrella species concept.

This overview of relationships between biodiversity and management focuses on Central European Fagus forests. Present management and conservation activities are embedded in the geographic and historic background of Central European forest flora, including endangered, protected, and plant species for which Germany has taken special responsibility to ensure their future survival. Managed and unmanaged forests are compared with respect to plants and other organisms. Based on the floristic background, management for climate change and consequences of conservation on a global ecological footprint will be discussed. The Central European tree flora contains only about 7% of the tree diversity of East Asia. Only a few genera re-migrated to Central Europe after the Pleistocene, while others were lost during the Pleistocene, e.g. the genus Pseudotsuga. In this study the forest flora is characterized by specialized plant species that only grow in forests. These forest specialists contribute only 10% of the plant species of the total German flora. This fraction is even less (4–5%) for Romania which is generally regarded as a region with close to “natural” forest conditions. Also, the forest flora of Germany and Romania contains fewer apomictic and hybrid plant species than the non-forest flora. No forest plant species have gone extinct in Germany in the past 250 years, which is the time since the first floristic documentation of a plant species that was lost in Thuringia, despite intense forest use including changes in dominant tree species. With respect to the Natura 2000 goals of maintaining species diversity of Europe, the deciduous forest, as managed by rotation forestry, contain more protected and endangered species, and species for which Germany has taken responsibility than protected forest. Forests managed with permanent forest cover (so-called “management close-to-nature”) contain fewer plant species than age-class (rotation) forestry. The abundance of dead wood-fungi and of soil bacteria is higher in rotation forest than in protected forests. For the initial phase of decay, a dead wood experiment identified two important tree species, Carpinus betulus and Picea abies, as the most preferred tree species for xylobionts. Carpinus has the most diverse fungal flora among all wood types and is a typical species for managed forests. The Natura 2000 habitat types were defined by plant species, but the assessment of ecosystem health is based on bird species in Central Europe. A time series extending from 1927 until 2015 indicates that most non-migratory forest bird species show an increasing abundance since 1970. Adding migrating and rare bird species populations resulted in constant average abundances since 1970. There is no evidence that sustainable forest management has led to decreased biodiversity in Central Europe. In view of climate change and increasing presence of tree diseases, Europe should avoid enlarging its ecological footprint by taking Central European forests out of management.

The “umbrella species” concept is a conservation strategy in which creating and managing reserve areas to meet the needs of one species is thought to benefit other species indirectly. Broad-scale habitat protections on behalf of an umbrella species are assumed to benefit co-occurring taxa, but targeted management actions to improve local habitat suitability for the umbrella species may produce unintended effects on other species. Our objective was to quantify the effects of a common habitat treatment (mowing of big sagebrush [Artemisia tridentata]) intended to benefit a high-profile umbrella species (Greater Sage-Grouse [Centrocercus urophasianus]) on 3 sympatric songbird species of concern. We used a before–after control-impact experimental design spanning 3 yr in Wyoming, USA, to quantify the effect of mowing on the abundance, nest-site selection, nestling condition, and nest survival of 2 sagebrush-obligate songbirds (Brewer's Sparrow [Spizella breweri] and Sage Thrasher [Oreoscoptes montanus]...

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been established across all marine environments, though their coherence and effectiveness in protecting umbrella species remains unclear. We used a multi-model ensemble forecasting approach, on 8 years of at-sea censuses of 30 seabird species to identify candidate MPAs in the Portuguese coast, prioritizing important areas for their conservation based on their occurrence and distribution. We overlapped the outputs generated by the Ensemble Ecological Niche Models (EENMs) with layers representing important environmental stressors (fishing intensity, ship density and oil pollution risk), and calculated loss in conservation value using them as cost layers. Three key marine areas were identified along the Portuguese coast: For breeders, there was a key marine area encompassing the Tagus and Sado estuaries and Berlengas archipelago; for non-breeders and migratory species two important areas were identified in the Northern and Southern coast. The key marine area identified in the Northern coast is characterized by high productivity and biodiversity, and can be affected by oil pollution from the refineries and the intensive ship traffic in this area. Also, the area identified in the Southern coast of Portugal for migratory seabirds overlaps extensively with areas of high fishing activity. Our results show that the Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) established along the Portuguese coast protect more than a third of the areas that we prioritized for breeding species and the official MPAs near 65% of the same areas. In contrast, current IBAs and national legislation protect less than 4% of the coastal areas that we prioritize for non-breeding species in this study. Our study, combining multi-species distribution with environmental constraints induced by human activities, allowed us to assess the coherence of the Portuguese marine planning and identify candidate areas to join the Portuguese network of marine protected areas. Our results, employing data from annual at-sea surveys together with the human stressors known to affect the Portuguese coast, proved to be an extremely useful strategy to identify spatial conservation areas along the Portuguese coast as well as to access the adequacy and consistency of those areas. Despite the constraints of this demanding approach, we are confident that our study provides a reliable strategy to inform marine conservation efforts and management planning in similar coastal environments elsewhere, characterized by strong coastal upwelling movements.

Fragmentation and habitat loss pose major threats to global biodiversity. Especially forest dwelling species with small ranges and high habitat specialisation are affected by ongoing land use change. Building projects for infrastructural purposes, expanding settlements, and extensive agricultural areas are assumed to have a high impact on these species. The European Habitat’s Directive aims to conserve and restore habitat networks to lower these impacts. We propose that the idea of securing habitat networks for protected species should be incorporated within large scale landscape planning e.g. by modelling and improving corridors for umbrella species. Within a Danish-German project we developed a model demonstrating potential connecting corridors for Muscardinus avellanarius, a specialised forest dwelling rodent species with low dispersal ability. We used presence data and eco-geographical variables to find a data based time-efficient procedure which may be applied also in other species for future landscape planning. The habitat suitability model shows that the hazel dormouse occupies a narrow niche with highly suitable habitats comprising edge habitats. It indicates the preference of forest patches, linear structures and networks of the mentioned habitats. Along with connectivity the diversity of suitable habitats diversity is the major factor predicting hazel dormouse presence. For conservation management, we calculated habitat corridors and highlight sections with missing connections. This allowed us to accentuate regions of high management interest. The results represent the foundation not only for this cross-border conservation project, but also for long-term dormouse conservation on a federal-state level.

Biodiversity is declining, with major causes identified as habitat loss and a reduction of habitat quality. Recent studies have shown that particularly species with specific habitat demands are suffering in this way. Accordingly, habitat specialists have been nominated as umbrella species, which because they represent a much larger number of species, are thought best to fulfil the requirements of nature conservation. However, species which are ecologically intermediate between habitat specialists and generalists, and typically form networks of populations on adjoining habitats, might suffer even more severely under rapid habitat fragmentation than those specialists which had for a long time already occurred as discrete populations. Today, most of these formerly more widely distributed intermediate species also exist only as small and isolated populations which, because of their increasing geographic isolation, cannot counterbalance local extinctions by recolonisation. Furthermore, these species are mostly equipped with relatively high genetic diversity that is maintained by continual exchange of individuals between local populations. However, this high level of genetic variability frequently decreases after the collapse of population networks – with negative effects on the viability of these species. Thus, factors at the population and molecular levels may lead that formerly common species vanish in the near future.