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Land‐use and climate change are major pressures on terrestrial biodiversity. Species' extinction risk and responses to human pressures relate to ecological traits and other characteristics in some clades. However, large‐scale comparative assessments of the associations between traits and responses to multiple human pressures across multiple clades are needed. We investigated whether a set of ecological characteristics that are commonly measured across terrestrial vertebrates (ecological traits and geographic range area) are associated with species' responses to different land‐use types and species' likely sensitivity to climate change. We aimed to test whether generalizable patterns in response to these pressures arise across both pressures and across vertebrate clades, which could inform assessments of the global signature of human pressures on vertebrate biodiversity and guide conservation efforts. At the species level, we investigated associations between land‐use responses and ecological characteristics with a space‐for‐time substitution approach, making use of the PREDICTS database. We investigated associations between ecological characteristics and expected climate‐change sensitivity, estimated from properties of species realized climatic niches. Among the characteristics we considered, 3 were consistently associated with strong land‐use responses and high climate‐change sensitivity across terrestrial vertebrate classes: narrow geographic range, narrow habitat breadth, and specialization on natural habitats (which described whether a species occurs in artificial habitats or not). The associations of other traits with species' land‐use responses and climate‐change sensitivity often depended on species' class and land‐use type, highlighting an important degree of context dependency. In all classes, invertebrate eaters and fruit and nectar eaters tended to be negatively affected in disturbed land‐use types, whereas invertebrate‐eating and plant‐ and seed‐eating birds were estimated to be more sensitive to climate change, raising concerns about the continuation of ecological processes sustained by these species under global changes. Our results highlight a consistently higher sensitivity of narrowly distributed species and habitat specialists to land‐use and climate change, which provides support for capturing such characteristics in large‐scale vulnerability assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity calls for an expansion of the current protected areas (PAs) to cover at least 30% of global land and water areas by 2030 (i.e., the 30×30 target). Efficient spatial planning for PA expansion is an urgent need for global conservation practice. A spatial prioritization framework considering multiple dimensions of biodiversity is critical for improving the efficiency of the spatial planning of PAs, yet it remains a challenge. We developed an index for the identification of priority areas based on functionally rare, evolutionarily distinct, and globally endangered species (FREDGE) and applied it to 21,536 terrestrial vertebrates. We determined species distributions, conservation status (global endangerment), molecular phylogenies (evolutionary distinctiveness), and life‐history traits (functional rarity). Madagascar, Central America, and the Andes were of high priority for the conservation of multiple dimensions of terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity. However, 68.8% of grid cells in these priority areas had <17% of their area covered by PAs, and these priority areas were under intense anthropogenic and climate change threats. These results highlight the difficulties of conserving multiple dimensions of biodiversity. Our global analyses of the geographical patterns of multiple dimensions of terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity demonstrate the insufficiency of the conservation of different biodiversity dimensions, and our index, based on multiple dimensions of biodiversity, provides a useful tool for guiding future spatial prioritization of PA expansion to achieve the 30×30 target under serious pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorescence in amphibians and reptiles has emerged as a prominent study subject in recent years, with research focused on understanding its function and diversity. As the knowledge of fluorescence in vertebrates is still understudied, we surveyed amphibian and reptile species in montane and lowland Atlantic Forest sites to evaluate presence or absence of fluorescence. By randomly sampling species, we found evidence of fluorescence in amphibians of the genera Scinax, Brachycephalus and Hylodes, and reptiles of the genera Bothrops, Enyalius and Hemidactylus. Our findings increase the list of known species that may benefit from fluorescent patterns. Fluorescence was either ocular, dermal, or subdermal related to the skeleton or ossified dermal structures. Whether these species are able to see and interpret the different the patterns generated by fluorescent structures is yet to be discovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic pollution is a widespread and growing concern due to its transformation into microplastics (MPs), which can harm organisms and ecosystems. This study, aimed to identify plastic pollution in the feces of terrestrial vertebrates using convenience sampling both inside and outside protected areas in Western Thailand. We hypothesized that MPs are likely to be detectable in the feces of all vertebrate species, primarily in the form of small black fragments. We predicted varying quantities of MPs in the feces of the same species across different protected areas. Furthermore, we expected that factors indicating human presence, landscape characteristics, scat weight, and the MP abundance in water, soils, and sediments would influence the presence of plastics in feces. Among 12 terrestrial species studied, potential MPs were found in 41.11% of 90 samples, totaling 83 pieces across eight species including the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), Eld's deer (Rucervus eldii), Dhole (Cuon alpinus), Gaur (Bos gaurus), Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), Wild boar (Sus scrofa), Northern red muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis), and Butterfly lizard (Leiolepis belliana). Specifically, 3.61% of all potential MPs (three pieces) were macroplastics, and the remaining 96.39% were considered potential MPs with the abundance of 0.92 ± 1.89 items.scat−1 or 8.69 ± 32.56 items.100 g−1 dw. There was an association between the numbers of feces with and without potential plastics and species (χ2 = 20.88, p = 0.012). Most potential plastics were fibers (95.18%), predominantly black (56.63%) or blue (26.51%), with 74.70% smaller than two millimeters. Although there were no significant associations between species and plastic morphologies, colors, and sizes, the abundance classified by these characteristics varied significantly. FTIR identified 52.38% as natural fibers, 38.10% as synthetic fibers (rayon, polyurethane (PUR), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and PUR blended with cotton), and 9.52% as fragments of PET and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Human-related factors were linked to the occurrence of potential plastics found in the feces of land-dwelling wildlife. This study enhances the understanding of plastic pollution in tropical protected areas, revealing the widespread of MPs even in small numbers from the areas distant from human settlements. Monitoring plastics in feces offers a non-invasive method for assessing plastic pollution in threatened species, as it allows for easy collection and taxonomic identification without harming live animals. However, stringent measures to assure the quality are necessitated to prevent exogenous MP contamination. These findings underscore the importance of raising awareness about plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems, especially regarding plastic products from clothing and plastic materials used in agriculture and irrigation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to compare terrestrial vertebrate mammals in two protected areas located in different countries, each characterized by unique natural-ecological conditions and disparate management methods. Research focuses on terrestrial vertebrates of the Lishan Nature Reserve in the People’s Republic of China (24,200 hectares) and the Zagatala Nature Reserve in the Republic of Azerbaijan (47,349 hectares). We examine various indicators, such as size, weight, age, habitat, altitude, climate, and eating habits, to understand the factors that contribute to the differences between the two reserves. Field research was conducted from July 6–10, 2022, in the Zagatala Reserve and from June 15–21, 2023, in the Lishan Reserve. A systematic literature review was performed on the scientific, theoretical, and methodological foundations of protected area research. Additionally, we analyzed the natural and ecological characteristics (relief, climate, hydrography, soil cover, and vegetation) of both reserves and explored the taxonomy and distribution of terrestrial vertebrate species. We specifically studied rare and endemic species that inhabit these reserves, culminating in a comparative analysis of the fauna of amphibians and mammals in both locations, focusing on their size, weight, age, habitat, altitude, climate, and dietary patterns.

Many jurisdictions require ecological risk assessments for terrestrial wildlife (i.e., terrestrial vertebrates) to assess potential adverse effects from exposure to anthropogenic chemicals. This occurs, for example, at contaminated sites and when new pesticides are proposed, and it occurs for chemicals that are in production and/or proposed for wide‐scale use. However, guidance to evaluate such risks has not changed markedly in decades, despite the availability of new scientific tools to do so. In 2019, the Wildlife Toxicology World Interest Group of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) initiated a virtual workshop that included a special session coincident with the annual SETAC North America meeting and which focused on the prospect of improving risk assessments for wildlife and improving their use in implementing chemical regulations. Work groups continued the work and investigated the utility of integrating emerging science and novel methods for improving problem formulation (WG1), exposure (WG2), toxicology (WG3), and risk characterization (WG4). Here we provide a summary of that workshop and the follow‐up work, the regulations that drive risk assessment, and the key focus areas identified to advance the ability to predict risks of chemicals to wildlife. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:645–657. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Key Points: Emerging methods and science that support problem formulation, conceptualizing the problem relative to regulatory statute and management goals in wildlife ecological risk assessment, provide opportunities to improve accuracy and make sound environmental decisions.Development and use of a priori, scenario‐based approaches, operationalization of animal‐friendly techniques for exposure assessment, and establishment and implementation of postregistration, remediation, and/or restoration monitoring guidance will improve exposure assessment in wildlife risk assessment.Effect assessments for wildlife would benefit from addressing critical knowledge gaps in the sensitivity of amphibians, reptiles, and bats in addition to birds and mammals, and from further development of regulatory guidance on holistic effect assessment at individual and population level in wildlife.Development and implementation of weight of evidence approaches may help address uncertainty in risk characterization, which may be supported by developing probabilistic approaches and systematic reviews and improved evidence‐integration techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Food webs are essential for understanding how ecosystems function, but empirical data on the interactions that make up these ecological networks are lacking for most taxa in most ecosystems. Trait‐based models can fill these data gaps, but their ability to do so has not been widely tested. We test how well these models can extrapolate to new ecological communities both in terms of pairwise predator–prey interactions and higher level food web attributes (i.e. species position, food web‐level properties). Location: Canada, Europe, Tanzania. Time Period: Current. Major Taxa Studied: Terrestrial vertebrates. Methods: We train trait‐based models of pairwise trophic interactions on four independent vertebrate food webs (Canadian tundra, Serengeti, alpine south‐eastern Pyrenees and Europe) and evaluate how well these models predict pairwise interactions and network properties of each food web. Results: We find that, overall, trait‐based models predict most interactions and their absence correctly. Performance was best for training and testing on the same food web (AUC > 0.90) and declined with environmental and phylogenetic distances with the strongest loss of performance for the tundra‐Serengeti ecosystems (AUC > 0.75). Network metrics were less well‐predicted than single interactions by our models with predicted food webs being more connected, less modular, and with higher mean trophic levels than observed. Main Conclusions: Theory predicts that the variability observed in food webs can be explained by differences in trait distributions and trait‐matching relationships. Our finding that trait‐based models can predict many trophic interactions, even in contrasting environments, adds to the growing body of evidence that there are general constraints on interactions and that trait‐based methods can serve as a useful first approximation of food webs in unknown areas. However, food webs are more than the sum of their parts, and predicting network attributes will likely require models that simultaneously predict individual interactions and community constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic pollution is a widespread and growing concern due to its transformation into microplastics (MPs), which can harm organisms and ecosystems. This study, aimed to identify plastic pollution in the feces of terrestrial vertebrates using convenience sampling both inside and outside protected areas in Western Thailand. We hypothesized that MPs are likely to be detectable in the feces of all vertebrate species, primarily in the form of small black fragments. We predicted varying quantities of MPs in the feces of the same species across different protected areas. Furthermore, we expected that factors indicating human presence, landscape characteristics, scat weight, and the MP abundance in water, soils, and sediments would influence the presence of plastics in feces. Among 12 terrestrial species studied, potential MPs were found in 41.11% of 90 samples, totaling 83 pieces across eight species including the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii), Dhole (Cuon alpinus), Gaur (Bos gaurus), Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), Wild boar (Sus scrofa), Northern red muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis), and Butterfly lizard (Leiolepis belliana). Specifically, 3.61% of all potential MPs (three pieces) were macroplastics, and the remaining 96.39% were considered potential MPs with the abundance of 0.92 ± 1.89 items.scat−1 or 8.69 ± 32.56 items.100 g−1 dw. There was an association between the numbers of feces with and without potential plastics and species (χ2 = 20.88, p = 0.012). Most potential plastics were fibers (95.18%), predominantly black (56.63%) or blue (26.51%), with 74.70% smaller than two millimeters. Although there were no significant associations between species and plastic morphologies, colors, and sizes, the abundance classified by these characteristics varied significantly. FTIR identified 52.38% as natural fibers, 38.10% as synthetic fibers (rayon, polyurethane (PUR), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and PUR blended with cotton), and 9.52% as fragments of PET and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Human-related factors were linked to the occurrence of potential plastics found in the feces of land-dwelling wildlife. This study enhances the understanding of plastic pollution in tropical protected areas, revealing the widespread of MPs even in small numbers from the areas distant from human settlements. Monitoring plastics in feces offers a non-invasive method for assessing plastic pollution in threatened species, as it allows for easy collection and taxonomic identification without harming live animals. However, stringent measures to assure the quality are necessitated to prevent exogenous MP contamination. These findings underscore the importance of raising awareness about plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems, especially regarding plastic products from clothing and plastic materials used in agriculture and irrigation systems.

Environmental factors, such as temperature, precipitation, and elevation, explain most of the variation in species richness at the global scale. Nevertheless, richness patterns may have different drivers across taxa and regions. To date, a comprehensive global examination of how various factors such as climate or topography drive patterns of species richness across all terrestrial vertebrates, using the same methods and predictors, has been lacking. Recent advances in species‐distribution data allowed us to model and examine the richness pattern of all terrestrial tetrapods comprehensively. We tested the relationship between environmental and biogeographical variables and richness of amphibians (5983 species), birds (9630), mammals (5004), reptiles (8939), and tetrapods as a whole, globally, and across biogeographical realms. We studied the effects of climatic, ecological, and biogeographic drivers using generalized additive models. Richness patterns and their environmental associations varied among taxa and realms. Overall precipitation was the predominant richness predictor. However, temperature was more important in realms where both cold and warm conditions exist. In the Indomalayan realm, elevational range was very important. Richness patterns of mammals, birds, and amphibians were strongly related to precipitation whereas reptile richness was mostly associated with temperature. Our results support the universal importance of precipitation but also suggest that future global‐scaled research should incorporate other relevant variables other than climate, such as elevational range, to gain a better understanding of the richness–environment relationship. By doing so, we can further advance our knowledge of the complex relationships between biodiversity and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the formative years of science-based biodiversity conservation and planning, Mozambique was undergoing a prolonged post-colonial liberation struggle (1964-1974) and subsequent civil war (1976-1992), resulting in a profound gap in biodiversity knowledge and conservation planning relative to other countries in the region. This study represents Mozambique's first post-war (1992 to the present) zoo-geographic regionalisation at a fine scale, using 20 years of terrestrial vertebrate data comprising 54 species and 27,199 records that cover 53% of the 0.5° grid cells of the country, with 35% of cells having sufficient data for subsequent quantitative analysis. Cluster and Indicator species (IndVal) analysis were used to delimit zooregions and to identify their characteristic species, respectively, while Redundancy analysis was used to relate environmental variables to vertebrate groups. These analyses divided Mozambique into six zooregions (Niassa, Tete, Gilé, Marromeu-Gorongosa, Limpopo-Zinave-Banhine and Maputo). Our study reveals that the zooregions identified are not adequately protected by the current network of protected areas. An expanded network of protected areas is needed to ensure biodiversity conservation in Mozambique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Freshwater ecosystems are important for global diversity and are subject to anthropogenic impacts. Knowing the biodiversity of these sites is important, and a revolutionary method to survey this is currently the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) released by organisms into the environment. In this study, eDNA evaluation was used to analyze water samples obtained from Lake Poma, Piana degli Albanesi Lake and Lake Scanzano. The results showed that by using eDNA, it was possible to provide the first snapshot of vertebrate biodiversity in these three lakes. Moreover, the results also showed that eDNA could be a useful tool to evaluate the ecology of the environment. Freshwater ecosystems play a key role in global diversity and are subject to a series of anthropic impacts, often leading to biodiversity loss. The organisms inhabiting these sites continuously release DNA into the environment through cells, excrement, gametes and/or decomposing matter; thus, evaluation of this eDNA could revolutionize the monitoring of biodiversity. In this study, environmental DNA metabarcoding was used for the first time in three Sicilian lakes: Lake Poma, Piana degli Albanesi Lake and Lake Scanzano. Results obtained provide the first snapshot of vertebrate biodiversity in these three lakes, where little is known, to provide valuable information useful for creating a baseline of knowledge regarding the biodiversity in these three lakes. Another important result was the detection of marine species, most likely due to some kind of anthropogenic contamination. Environmental DNA is a useful tool to evaluate both biodiversity and the ecological status of the environment; it has the potential to complement traditional methods, and the use of both approaches may offer a more comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the distribution of terrestrial vertebrates in the northeastern part of the Kanin Peninsula (67°50′47″ N, 46°20′40″ E) based on the results of their census conducted in July 2021. In total, 1 amphibian species, 1 reptile species, 57 bird species, and 6 mammal species have been recorded. The following bird species have been recorded in the tundra zone of the Kanin Peninsula for the first time: tufted duck (Aythya fuligula L.), common eider (Somateria mollissima L.), pallid harrier (Circus macrourus S.G. Gmelin), and common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos L.). A distinct feature of the vertebrate fauna inhabiting this region located in the low-growing dwarf-birch tundra belt is the presence of boreal species, including common frog (Rana temporaria L.), viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara Lichtenstein), tufted duck, common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula L.), Eurasian crane (Grus grus L.), common sandpiper, brown bear (Ursus arctos L.), and European elk (Alces alces L). So far, this is the northernmost known habitat of the viviparous lizard. The following factors are favorable for the presence of boreal species in this area: its location on the southern slope of the plateaulike Kanin Kamen Ridge and ruggedness of its relief, including deep river valleys with well-heated slopes protected from winds. It is established that the spatial density of the Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus L.) brood burrows has decreased ten times when compared with the 1940–1950s due to the activation of cryogenic processes in permafrost that destroy the burrows dug by this predator in loose soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities have severely impacted many species and ecosystems. Thus, understanding the local biodiversity situation is crucial for implementing effective biodiversity conservation interventions. Mindanao in the southern Philippines is home to various unique species, particularly in its pristine ecosystems. However, the available biodiversity data for many terrestrial vertebrates and key areas remain incomplete. To address this issue, we synthesized published literature related to biodiversity from 2000 to 2022 in Mindanao. Moreover, this analysis used four key terrestrial vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) in Mindanao as research objects. According to our findings, there was a significant and positive correlation between the number of biodiversity studies and species recorded. In terms of species richness, birds were the most recorded group (n ​= ​334 spp.), followed by reptiles (n ​= ​108 spp.), mammals (n ​= ​70 spp.), and amphibians (n ​= ​52 spp.). We also found that the number of endemic and threatened species varies geographically and across taxonomic groups. Yet, we discovered a significant disparity in the information available on biodiversity in different provinces of Mindanao. For example, the western provinces of Mindanao have had not records of biodiversity for more than two decades. Furthermore, we found that the changes in tree cover loss were consistent with biodiversity records, but this correlation is only significant for birds. Finally, we highlighted some critical threats and challenges to biodiversity, including deforestation, agricultural expansion, mining, and their impact on biodiversity conservation in Mindanao. Our findings suggested that biodiversity conservation should focus not only on areas with high levels of biodiversity but also on areas lacking biodiversity information. To do this, we call for strengthening collaboration among various institutions and digitizing and centralizing of information related to biodiversity. By gaining a deeper understanding of biodiversity in Mindanao, we can better and sustainably protect critical ecosystems in this region from the increasing threats posed by human activities.

Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) has become increasingly popular in ecological studies, but its efficacy for assessing overall terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity is unclear. To quantify this, its performance for species detection must be directly compared to that obtained using traditional observer-based monitoring (OBM). Here, we review such comparisons across all major terrestrial vertebrate classes and identify factors impacting PAM performance. From 41 studies, we found that while PAM-OBM comparisons have been made for all major terrestrial vertebrate classes, most comparisons have focused on birds (65%) in North America (52%). PAM performed equally well or better (61%) compared to OBM in general. We found no statistical difference between the methods for total number of species detected across all vertebrate classes (excluding reptiles); however, recording period and region of study influenced the relative performance of PAM, while acoustic analysis method and which method sampled for longer overall showed no impact. Further studies comparing PAM performance in non-avian vertebrates using standardised methods are needed to investigate in more detail the factors that may influence PAM performance. While PAM is a valuable tool for vertebrate surveys, a combined approach with targeted OBM for non-vocal species should achieve the most comprehensive assessment of terrestrial vertebrate communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective, resilient and strategic protected area networks are essential to protect biodiversity and human welfare, especially in vulnerable biodiversity hotspots. This is the case in the Brazilian Cerrado, the richest tropical savanna, and a deforestation front worldwide. Worryingly, the rate of habitat conversion in Cerrado greatly reduces opportunities to conserve its biodiversity. Herein, using the most comprehensive database on the distribution of Cerrado endemic terrestrial vertebrates, we mapped conservation priority areas and evaluated how and to what extent habitat loss and fragmentation reduce conservation opportunities. Priority areas are scattered throughout the Cerrado. Larger priority areas are concentrated in the northern portion of the region. Southern priority areas are small, scattered, and isolated. During the last 35 years, opportunities to conserve large contiguous areas have significantly decreased, hampering the representation of key endemic species. However, as most endemic vertebrates are small ranged, modest but well located increments in total protected area will result in significant overall improvements in the PA system. Protecting the largest priority areas identified here is urgent and mandatory, while using habitat restoration as a key activity to promote connectivity among smaller priority areas, especially in the southern portion of this hotspot.

Human‐induced environmental changes have a direct impact on species populations, with some species experiencing declines while others display population growth. Understanding why and how species populations respond differently to environmental changes is fundamental to mitigate and predict future biodiversity changes. Theoretically, species life‐history strategies are key determinants shaping the response of populations to environmental impacts. Despite this, the association between species life histories and the response of populations to environmental changes has not been tested. In this study, we analysed the effects of recent land‐cover and temperature changes on rates of population change of 1,072 populations recorded in the Living Planet Database. We selected populations with at least 5 yearly consecutive records (after imputation of missing population estimates) between 1992 and 2016, and for which we achieved high population imputation accuracy (in the cases where missing values had to be imputed). These populations were distributed across 553 different locations and included 461 terrestrial amniote vertebrate species (273 birds, 137 mammals, and 51 reptiles) with different life‐history strategies. We showed that populations of fast‐lived species inhabiting areas that have experienced recent expansion of cropland or bare soil present positive populations trends on average, whereas slow‐lived species display negative population trends. Although these findings support previous hypotheses that fast‐lived species are better adapted to recover their populations after an environmental perturbation, the sensitivity analysis revealed that model outcomes are strongly influenced by the addition or exclusion of populations with extreme rates of change. Therefore, the results should be interpreted with caution. With climate and land‐use changes likely to increase in the future, establishing clear links between species characteristics and responses to these threats is fundamental for designing and conducting conservation actions. The results of this study can aid in evaluating population sensitivity, assessing the likely conservation status of species with poor data coverage, and predicting future scenarios of biodiversity change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Resolving the tree of life is among the greatest challenges for modern biology, yet genetic data for many species are lacking to infer their position in the tree with confidence. In fact, little is known about what the missing species are and where to look for them. I identify main hotspots that host the most unsampled vertebrate species and test the hypothesis that local diversity determines the degree of sampling effort. Location: Global. Taxon: Terrestrial vertebrates (amphibians, birds, mammals, reptiles). Methods: I use published distributional data and search DNA sequence repositories to identify taxa with no genetic data available. I map spatial patterns of the unsampled diversity and sampling effort to test the effect of species richness on sampling completeness. I examine the dependence of country‐level sampling completeness on the country's socio‐economic development. Results: About 24% of living terrestrial vertebrate species have no genetic data available. The Andes, Central Africa and the Malay Archipelago are the most unsampled. Sampling effort is highest in North America, continental South‐East Asia and Amazonia. In contrast, Central Africa, the Horn of Africa, Malay Archipelago and Andes are consistently the least sampled regions. Regions of low diversity are better sampled than biodiversity hotspots. Main conclusions: The most unsampled species are in the tropics. I pinpoint several key regions that are least represented in the tree of life and where sampling should be prioritized. Country's wealth seems to be an informative proxy for its sampling completeness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater ecosystems play a key role in global diversity and are subject to a series of anthropic impacts, often leading to biodiversity loss. The organisms inhabiting these sites continuously release DNA into the environment through cells, excrement, gametes and/or decomposing matter; thus, evaluation of this eDNA could revolutionize the monitoring of biodiversity. In this study, environmental DNA metabarcoding was used for the first time in three Sicilian lakes: Lake Poma, Piana degli Albanesi Lake and Lake Scanzano. Results obtained provide the first snapshot of vertebrate biodiversity in these three lakes, where little is known, to provide valuable information useful for creating a baseline of knowledge regarding the biodiversity in these three lakes. Another important result was the detection of marine species, most likely due to some kind of anthropogenic contamination. Environmental DNA is a useful tool to evaluate both biodiversity and the ecological status of the environment; it has the potential to complement traditional methods, and the use of both approaches may offer a more comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem.

1. Open-source biodiversity databases contain a large number of species occurrence records but are often spatially biased; which affects the reliability of species distribution models based on these records. Sample bias correction techniques require data filtering which comes at the cost of record numbers, or require considerable additional sampling effort. Since independent data is rarely available, assessment of the correction technique often relies solely on performance metrics computed using subsets of the available – biased – data, which may prove misleading.2. Here, we assess the extent to which an acknowledged sample bias correction technique is likely to improve models’ ability to predict species distributions in the absence of independent data. We assessed variation in model predictions induced by the aforementioned correction and model stochasticity; the variability between model replicates related to a random component (pseudo-absences sets and cross-validation subsets). We present, then, an index of the effect of correction relative to model stochasticity; the Relative Overlap Index (ROI). We investigated whether the ROI better represented the effect of correction than classic performance metrics (Boyce index, cAUC, AUC and TSS) and absolute overlap metrics (Schoener’s D, Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation coefficients) when considering data related to 64 vertebrate species and 21 virtual species with a generated sample bias.3. When based on absolute overlaps and cross-validation performance metrics, we found that correction produced no significant effects. When considering its effect relative to model stochasticity, the effect of correction was strong for most species at one of the three sites. The use of virtual species enabled us to verify that the correction technique improved both distribution predictions and the biological relevance of the selected variables at the specific site, when these were not correlated with sample bias patterns.4. In the absence of additional independent data, the assessment of sample bias correction based on subsample data may be misleading. We propose to investigate both the biological relevance of environmental variables selected, and, the effect of sample bias correction based on its effect relative to model stochasticity.

The role of biotic interactions, such as interspecific competition, in driving geographical range evolution is still poorly understood. For instance, lineages distributed across regions with a large number of potential competitors might experience some level of geographical packing of their range limits, so that changes in their geographical distributions are hampered. Conversely, a large number of competitors could instead lead to accelerated rates of geographical range evolution, with lineages shifting their ranges to avoid competition. We recently introduced the concept of clade density (CD; the sum of the areas of overlap between a species and other members of its higher taxon, weighted by their phylogenetic distance) as a proxy of the potential for interspecific competition across the geographical distribution of a given species. In this study, we used a large dataset with 5936 terrestrial vertebrate species to test whether CD is significantly associated with variation in the rate of geographical range evolution using two alternative approaches. First, we tested if there is a significant relationship between CD and the geographical distance between sister species. In addition, we estimated tip rates of geographical range evolution and tested if they were consistently associated with variation in CD. We found no evidence for an effect of CD on geographical range evolution in either of the tested approaches, even after accounting for phylogenetic uncertainty. These results are inconsistent with equilibrial models of species diversification and suggest that interspecific competition might not play a pervasive role in geographical range evolution of terrestrial vertebrates., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aim: The aim was to derive global indices of winter conditions and examine their relationships with species richness patterns outside of the tropics. Location: All extratropical areas (>25° N and 25° S latitudes), excluding islands. Time period: 2000–2018. Major taxa studied: Amphibians, birds and mammals. Methods: We mapped three global indices of winter conditions [number of days of frozen ground (length of frozen ground winter); snow cover variability; and lack of subnivium (below‐snow refuge)] from satellite data, then used generalized additive models to examine their relationships with species richness patterns derived from range data. Results: Length of frozen ground winter was the strongest predictor of species richness, with a consistent cross‐taxonomic decline in species richness occurring beyond 3 months of winter. It also often outperformed other environmental predictors of species richness patterns commonly used in biodiversity studies, including climate variables, primary productivity and elevation. In areas with ≥3 months of winter conditions, all three winter indices explained much of the deviance in amphibian, mammal and resident bird species richness. Mammals exhibited a stronger relationship with snow cover variability and lack of subnivium than the other taxa. Species richness of fully migratory species of birds peaked at c. 5.5 months of winter, coinciding with low species richness of residents. Main conclusions: Our study demonstrates that winter structures latitudinal and elevational gradients of extratropical terrestrial species richness. In a rapidly warming world, tracking the seasonal dynamics of frozen ground and snow cover will be essential for predicting the consequences of climate change on species, communities and ecosystems. The indices of winter conditions we developed from satellite imagery provide an effective means of monitoring these dynamics into the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Mountains harbour a rich and non‐random cluster of species, yet knowledge of the species' biological attributes that support their coexistence in the montane community is limited. Here, we investigated the association of species occurrence on the Tibetan Plateau with their morphological, ecological or evolutionary constraints. Location: Tibetan Plateau (TP). Taxon Mammals and birds. Methods: We tested whether species occurrence on the TP correlates with morphological, ecological or evolutionary constraints using the spatial distribution, phylogeny, dispersal ability and thermal niche property data for 1353 terrestrial vertebrates (383 mammals and 970 birds). We used standard (non‐phylogenetic) and phylogenetic logistic regressions to elucidate the relative contributions of these attributes of species to explaining their occurrence on the TP. We assessed the geographical patterns of the community structures on the TP and fitted linear mixed models to explore the underlying eco‐evolutionary forces. Results: The TP species exhibited a higher cold tolerance, wider thermal niche breadth and higher rate of niche evolution than non‐TP species. We supported the assumption that the TP species were not a random subset from the species pool, but were structured jointly by environmental filtering and dispersal limitation. While dispersal and ecological processes underlying species assemblages varied spatially and among taxa, we found that species in stressful environments were limited by environmental filtering, whereas dispersal limitation was more pronounced under favourable climatic conditions. Main conclusions: Our study finds that environmental filtering and dispersal limitation jointly shape the species assemblage on the TP. These findings provide significant insights into community assembly processes on the TP and other montane ecosystems on Earth, especially those that are sensitive to global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have very limited knowledge of how species interact in most communities and ecosystems despite trophic relationships being fundamental for linking biodiversity to ecosystem functioning. A promising approach to fill this gap is to predict interactions based on functional traits, but many questions remain about how well we can predict interactions for different taxa, ecosystems and amounts of input data. Here, we built a new traits‐based model of trophic interactions for European vertebrates and found that even models calibrated with 0.1% of the interactions (100 out of 71 k) estimated the full European vertebrate food web reasonably well. However, predators were easier to predict than prey, especially for some clades (e.g. fowl and storks) and local food web connectance was consistently overestimated. Our results demonstrate the ability to rapidly generate food webs when empirical data are lacking—an important step towards a more complete and spatially explicit description of food webs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land‐use change is the leading driver of global biodiversity loss thus characterising its impacts on the functional structure of ecological communities is an urgent challenge. Using a database describing vertebrate assemblages in different land uses, we assess how the type and intensity of land use affect the functional diversity of vertebrates globally. We find that human land uses alter local functional structure by driving declines in functional diversity, with the strongest effects in the most disturbed land uses (intensely used urban sites, cropland and pastures), and among amphibians and birds. Both tropical and temperate areas experience important functional losses, which are only partially offset by functional gains. Tropical assemblages are more likely to show decreases in functional diversity that exceed those expected from species loss alone. Our results indicate that land‐use change non‐randomly reshapes the functional structure of vertebrate assemblages, raising concerns about the continuation of ecological processes sustained by vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the pattern of species extinction risk is key to biodiversity conservation. Previous studies showed extinction risk correlates strongly with taxon species richness. However, there is no consistent conclusion to this hypothesis, and patterns differ among different taxonomic groups. Here, we collated lists of vascular plant and terrestrial vertebrate species information on their threatened status in Yunnan Province and performed the first systematical analysis to test the relationship between the proportion of threatened or extinct species and species richness at the family-level of the two above taxa in Yunnan Province, China. We found that extinction risk was not randomly distributed among families and the estimated extinction risk was higher among closer phylogenetic families than expected by chance. Moreover, there were significant negative correlations between extinction risk and family size in vascular plants and terrestrial vertebrates. Our results suggest that family size is a good predictor of extinction risk and extinction risk is related to evolutionary history at family-level among vascular plants and terrestrial vertebrates in Yunnan.

An inventory of terrestrial vertebrates in 17 post-coalmining sites in the Donbas region of Ukraine revealed 90 species (2 amphibian, 3 reptile, 69 bird and 16 mammal species). The poten-tial of these sites was confirmed for sustaining and conservation of protected terrestrial vertebrate species. Some relationships were considered between environmental heterogeneity and species richness. These links in terms of GIS-derived variables have not been widely examined across such gradients of human impact on the landscape as post-coalmining sites. We have explored simple measures of geodiversity, which provided a timesaving and financially practical way of measuring abiotic environmental heterogeneity of the study units. In our case, we have found a positive rela-tionship between the topographic wetness index and bird species richness, and a negative relation-ship between the brightness temperature (minimum) and bird/mammal species richness. A sponta-neous succession of post-coalmining sites seems to have enhanced biodiversity and promoted the settlement of specialized and/or endangered species.

In 2013, we conducted a baseline study on the presence, distribution and occupancy of medium- to large-sized mammals in Bolivia along the San Buenaventura-Ixiamas road that runs parallel to the Madidi National Park and Natural Area of Integrated Management boundary and cuts through the Tacana Indigenous Territory and a number of neighboring private properties. Establishing a 3 km buffer on each side of the road, we studied an 865 km2 area divided into 1 km2 cells and sampled a total of 356 of these cells. In each cell, we established one 300 m transect divided into 25 m sections and registered wildlife sign, mainly footprints, from eight wildlife species or species groups. The transects were placed either along streams (75% of cells) or within forest (25% of cells). Using single-season single-species occupancy models we estimated occupancy (ψ) for Tapirus terrestris (ψ = 0.39), Pecari tajacu (ψ = 0.5), Mazama americana (ψ = 0.56), Dasyprocta spp. (ψ = 0.59), Cuniculus paca (ψ = 0.56), Leopardus spp. (ψ = 0.33), and use for Tayassu pecari (ψ = 0.17) and Panthera onca (ψ = 0.11). Occupancy and use results verified community perceived wildlife corridors between Madidi and its area of influence. We identified additional corridors along many streams crossing the San Buenaventura-Ixiamas road. This connectivity is not only important for wildlife, but also from a food security perspective for the indigenous communities that depend on wildlife as an important source of protein. The results will be used to mitigate the impact of road improvements through the identification of priority areas for maintaining connectivity between Madidi and the surrounding landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Trait data are increasingly being used in studies investigating the impacts of global changes on the structure and functioning of ecological communities. Despite a growing number of trait data collations for terrestrial vertebrates, there is to date no global assessment of the gaps and biases the data present. Here, we assess whether terrestrial vertebrate trait data are taxonomically, spatially and phylogenetically biased. Location: Global. Time period: Present. Major taxa studied: Terrestrial vertebrates. Methods: We compile seven ecological traits and quantify coverage as the proportion of species for which an estimate is available. For a species, we define completeness as the proportion of non‐missing values across traits. We assess whether coverage and completeness differ across classes and examine phylogenetic biases in trait data. To investigate spatial biases, we test whether wider‐ranging species have more complete trait data than narrow‐ranging species. Additionally, we test whether species‐rich regions, which are of most concern for conservation, are less well sampled than species‐poor regions. Results: Mammals and birds are well sampled even in species‐rich regions. For reptiles and amphibians (herptiles), only body size presents a high coverage (>80%), in addition to habitat‐related variables (amphibians). Herptiles are poorly sampled for other traits. The shortfalls are particularly acute in some species‐rich regions and for certain clades. Across all classes, geographically rarer species have less complete trait information. Main conclusions: Trait information is less available on average in some of the most diverse areas and in geographically rarer species, both of which crucial for biodiversity conservation. Gaps in trait data might impede our ability to conduct large‐scale analyses, whereas biases can impact the validity of extrapolations. A short‐term solution to the problem is to estimate missing trait data using imputation techniques, whereas a longer‐term and more robust filling of existing gaps requires continued data‐collection efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has been related to the current loss of global biodiversity. In this paper, the effects of different scenarios of climate change on the distribution of the four classes of terrestrial vertebrate species in Andalusia (Spain) are explored. The goal is to obtain potential climatically suitable areas for each group (amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds) under each proposed scenario and examine the usefulness of the current static design of protected areas. We propose a methodology to construct habitat suitability models, which are used to predict the expected species richness given each projected scenario of climate change. The relative change of the species richness within National and Natural Parks, remainder of Natura (2000) network and unprotected areas is compared. The results of the study show a broad effect of climate change on the species richness distribution. In general, there is a loss of specific richness and a restricted availability of suitable areas. The protected areas located in higher altitudes maintain the best conditions for the survival of the taxa considered in the proposed climate change scenarios.

Aim: Wild biodiversity and agrobiodiversity are affected by challenges such as agricultural intensification. However, it is unknown whether or not both components of biodiversity respond similarly to environmental factors and to these challenges. Here, we examine the spatial relationships between the distributions of wild biodiversity and agrobiodiversity, to quantify how and where they covary across the geography. Location: Mainland Spain, a European region that harbours high values of both wild and agro‐ biodiversity. Methods: We used geographically weighted regression models to analyse the spatial variation in the relationships between the distribution of wild vertebrates and environmental and agrobiodiversity variables. We modelled the spatial gradients in species richness of native terrestrial vertebrates—that is, specific groups of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals—as a function of local livestock breed richness—that is, bovine, ovine, caprine, asinine, equine and porcine—climate variables and human footprint. Results: We found significant covariation between the distribution of native vertebrate species richness and climate, human footprint and livestock diversity. Overall, the association between species richness of the four wild terrestrial vertebrate groups and local livestock breed richness is positive across most of the studied area. However, local breed richness of cattle and sheep breed displays contrasting patterns, where cattle breeds associate positively to most wildlife vertebrates and sheep breeds show negative associations. Main conclusion: Wildlife diversity distributions are significantly associated with livestock agrobiodiversity. These spatial relationships are mediated by large‐scale environmental gradients. Since both, wildlife and livestock agrobiodiversity, tend to co‐occur spatially, future strategies for conservation in agricultural landscapes could benefit from integrated approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Predicting future changes in species richness in response to climate change is one of the key challenges in biogeography and conservation ecology. Stacked species distribution models (S‐SDMs) are a commonly used tool to predict current and future species richness. Macroecological models (MEMs), regression models with species richness as response variable, are a less computationally intensive alternative to S‐SDMs. Here, we aim to compare the results of two model types (S‐SDMS and MEMs), for the first time for more than 14,000 species across multiple taxa globally, and to trace the uncertainty in future predictions back to the input data and modelling approach used. Location: Global land, excluding Antarctica. Taxon: Amphibians, birds and mammals. Methods: We fitted S‐SDMs and MEMs using a consistent set of bioclimatic variables and model algorithms and conducted species richness predictions under current and future conditions. For the latter, we used four general circulation models (GCMs) under two representative concentration pathways (RCP2.6 and RCP6.0). Predicted species richness was compared between S‐SDMs and MEMs and for current conditions also to extent‐of‐occurrence (EOO) species richness patterns. For future predictions, we quantified the variance in predicted species richness patterns explained by the choice of model type, model algorithm and GCM using hierarchical cluster analysis and variance partitioning. Results: Under current conditions, species richness predictions from MEMs and S‐SDMs were strongly correlated with EOO‐based species richness. However, both model types over‐predicted areas with low and under‐predicted areas with high species richness. Outputs from MEMs and S‐SDMs were also highly correlated among each other under current and future conditions. The variance between future predictions was mostly explained by model type. Main conclusions: Both model types were able to reproduce EOO‐based patterns in global terrestrial vertebrate richness, but produce less collinear predictions of future species richness. Model type by far contributes to most of the variation in the different future species richness predictions, indicating that the two model types should not be used interchangeably. Nevertheless, both model types have their justification, as MEMs can also include species with a restricted range, whereas S‐SDMs are useful for looking at potential species‐specific responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mesozoic plate tectonic and paleogeographic history of Gondwana had a profound effect on the distribution of terrestrial vertebrates. As the supercontinent fragmented into a series of large landmasses (South America, Africa-Arabia, Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, the Indian subcontinent, and Madagascar), particularly during the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous, its terrestrial vertebrates became progressively isolated, evolving into unique faunal assemblages. We focus on four clades that, during the Mesozoic, had relatively low ability for dispersal across oceanic barriers—crocodyliforms, sauropod dinosaurs, nonavian theropod dinosaurs, and mammals. Their distributions reveal patterns that are critically important in evaluating various biogeographic hypotheses, several of which have been informed by recent discoveries from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. We also examine the effects of lingering, intermittent connections, or reconnections, of Gondwanan landmasses with Laurasia (through the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Himalayan regions) on the distributions of different clades. ▪ This article reviews the biogeographic history of terrestrial vertebrates from the Mesozoic of the southern supercontinent Gondwana. ▪ Relatively large, terrestrial animals—including crocodyliforms, sauropod and nonavian theropod dinosaurs, and mammals—are the focus of this review. ▪ Most patterns related to vicariance occurred during the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous, the intervals of most active Gondwanan fragmentation. ▪ Recent discoveries of vertebrates from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar have played a key role in formulating and testing various biogeographic hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garbage accumulation around terrestrial nature reserves poses a risk to many species. We monitored animal visitation patterns and foraging behaviour at garbage dumps near a forested area in Uttarakhand Himalaya, India, to examine plastic consumption by animals. We recorded 32 species of birds and mammals visiting garbage dumps and classified them as 'peckers', 'handlers' and 'gulpers' based on their foraging behaviour. Gulpers (carnivores and ruminants) were observed feeding more frequently and spent longer durations (3.8 ± 0.2 min) at garbage dumps. Our results highlight the importance of at-source segregation of waste to prevent wild and domestic animals from ingesting hazardous wastes, including plastics at garbage dumps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud forest ecosystems contain unique flora and fauna characterized by high levels of richness and endemism. However, this ecosystem is one of the most threatened because of land-use changes stemming from anthropogenic activities. Therefore, biological inventories are necessary to adequately assess the effects of land-use changes on species now and in the future. In this study, we conducted an inventory of plants and terrestrial vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) in three fragments of cloud forest in southwestern Mexico. Field work was carried out for 15 days per biological group during distinct time periods (2005-2008). Conventional methods of species capture and observation were employed to record species. Recorded species were then categorized based on their endemism and risk category. A total of 67 species of plants, 17 species of amphibians, 25 species of reptiles, 93 species of birds, and 46 species of mammals were recorded. The species accumulation curves for most taxa, except for birds and mammals, showed an asymptotic trend. A total of 56 species endemic to Mexico and four quasi-endemic species were recorded. Plants, amphibians, and reptiles presented the greatest number of species exclusive to Mexico (13 species). Six species of herpetofauna endemic to Guerrero were recorded. According to Mexican laws, 24 of the encountered species are under special protection, while 16 are categorized as threatened and seven as endangered. Reptiles and birds presented the greatest number of at-risk species (14 species). Bird and mammal richness in this study is high in comparison to that recorded in the cloud forests of the entire Mexican state of Guerrero (157 and 75 species, respectively). This data highlights the importance of cloud forests in the study area for local and regional biodiversity. Effective conservation strategies should be prioritized in cloud forests, as this ecosystem is poorly represented in natural protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a preliminary mean of verifying their presence, composition and possible distribution of terrestrial wildlife, camera trapping was conducted within the Gunung Stong State Park. Seven camera traps were placed at 7 different locations at different altitudes. They were placed for 2 months and 83 images were captured with 10 species identified. The most frequently photographed during the 63 day period were the wild boar (Sus scrofa), red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), plantain squirrel (Callosciurus caniceps), leopard cat (Pardofelis marmorata), binturong (Arctictis binturong), Malayan sunbear (Heliarctos malayanus), Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus), serow (Capricornis sumatraensis), Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica) and Malaysian field rat (Rattus tiomanicus). The largest number of images recorded was at Point 3 (468.5m), with 35 out of 83 images, near a camp site frequented by hikers. The results are preliminary, but can be used as a baseline data for subsequent studies that could help in the management of Gunung Stong State Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estimated potential of landscape metrics as a surrogate for biodiversity is strongly dependent on the spatial analytical unit used for evaluation. We assessed the relationship between terrestrial vertebrate species richness (total and taxonomic) and structural landscape heterogeneity, testing the impact of using different spatial analytical units in three mountain systems in Spain. Landscape heterogeneity was quantified through an additive partitioning of the Shannon diversity index of landscape classes. Both landscape heterogeneity and species richness were calculated using two spatial analytical unit approaches: eco-geographic vs . arbitrary (i.e., watersheds vs . square windows of different sizes 20 × 20 km, 50 × 50 km, 100 × 100 km). We predicted species richness on the basis of landscape heterogeneity by fitting separate linear models for each spatial analytical unit approach. The main results obtained showed that landscape heterogeneity influenced terrestrial vertebrate species richness. However, the emerging relationships were dependent on the spatial analytical unit approach. The eco-geographic approach showed significant relationships between landscape heterogeneity and total and taxonomic species richness in almost all cases (except mammals). Considering the arbitrary approach, landscape heterogeneity appeared as a predictor of species richness only for mammals and breeding birds and at the coarsest spatial scales. Our results claim for further consideration of eco-geographical spatial analytical unit approaches in biodiversity studies and show that the methods of this study offer a valuable cost-effective framework for biodiversity management and spatial modeling, with potential to be adapted to national and global applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An inventory of terrestrial vertebrates in six post-quarrying sites in the Donbas Region of Ukraine revealed 104 species (2 amphibian, 6 reptile, 78 bird and 18 mammal species). The potential of these sites was confirmed for sustaining and conservation of numerous species of terrestrial vertebrates; some relationships were considered between environmental heterogeneity and species richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, two articles were published in leading scientific journals, each calling attention to an emerging mass extinction. The two are complementary in that they reached the same conclusion by using data from contrasting environments. But, the important question in each case is, can the beginning of a mass extinction be confidently predicted from the evidence presented? The two articles are the latest of several publications that have stated the Earth is in the beginning of a great extinction episode that will eventually result in the loss of at about 75% of all living species. The most recent extinction of this magnitude occurred at the close of the Cretaceous about 65 million years ago. The new mass extinction prognosis began about 22 years ago and was based on estimates of species extinction, due to human activities, that had reached thousands of species per year. Although such unsupported estimates soon gave way to more realistic approximations based on documented records, the spectre of a mass extinction has remained. However, I have found evidence that human-caused extinctions have amounted to only about 1.5 species per year for the last 500 years and that these losses have probably been equalled or surpassed by species born (speciation) during that time. Without evidence of substantial net species loss, mass extinction becomes a speculation without substance. The world's greatest conservation problem is not species extinction but population decline to the point where many species exist only as remnants of their former abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Examining the biogeography of body size is crucial for understanding how animal communities are assembled and maintained. In tetrapods, body size varies predictably with temperature, moisture, productivity seasonality and topographical complexity. Although millennial-scale human pressures are known to have led to the extinction of primarily large-bodied tetrapods, human pressure history is often ignored in studies of body size that focus on extant species. Here, we analyse 11,377 tetrapod species of the Western Hemisphere to test whether millennial-scale human pressures have left an imprint on contemporary body mass distributions throughout the tetrapod clade. Location Western Hemisphere. Time period Contemporary. Major taxa studied Tetrapods (birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles). Methods We mapped the distribution of assemblage-level median tetrapod body mass at a resolution of 110 km across the Western Hemisphere. We then generated multivariate models of median body mass as a function of temperature, moisture, productivity seasonality and topographical complexity, as well as two variables capturing the history of human population density and human-induced land conversion over the past 12,000 years. We controlled for both spatial and phylogenetic autocorrelation effects on body mass-environment relationships. Results Human pressures explain a small but significant portion of geographical variation in median body mass that cannot be explained by ecological constraints alone. Overall, the median body mass of tetrapod assemblages is lower than expected in areas with a longer history of high human population density and land conversion, but there are important differences among tetrapod classes. Main conclusions At this broad scale, the effect of human pressure history on tetrapod body mass is low relative to that of ecology. However, ignoring spatial variation in the history of human pressure is likely to lead to bias in studies of the present-day functional composition of tetrapod assemblages, at least in areas that have long been influenced by humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, intensively managed forests (IMFs) comprise approximately 9% (27.9 million ha) of total forest area. These forests are primarily in highly productive areas and are managed primarily for wood and fiber production. Intensively managed forests provide both opportunities and constraints for conservation of vertebrate biodiversity. A comprehensive review of these opportunities and limitations within the U.S. is lacking, so we reviewed effects of typical silvicultural management regimes within IMFs on terrestrial vertebrate species. The typical silvicultural regime in IMFs includes practices associated with establishing forest management units (stands), weed control, intermediate thinning, and final harvest. Effects of intensive forest management on vertebrate diversity are mostly indirect through habitat modification. Terrestrial vertebrate responses to intensive forest management are species-specific and directly linked to intensity and extent of habitat modification. Shorter crop tree rotations compress successional stages and limit development and recruitment of mature forest structures (e.g., snags, den/roost trees, coarse woody debris). During stand establishment, increased intensification of site preparation and weed control tends to result in lower vertebrate diversity. Generally, vertebrate diversity of intensively managed stands is progressively reduced after stand establishment as canopy closure occurs and sunlight to the forest floor is restricted, reducing vegetation structural complexity. However, intermediate management practices like thinning, which re-opens the forest canopy, generally have positive or neutral effects on most vertebrate taxa. Final tree harvest removes the overstory and, predictably, vertebrate taxa depending on older or undisturbed forest conditions decline and early seral species increase. To ameliorate negative effects of final harvest on terrestrial vertebrate diversity, land managers have instituted various practices, including retaining habitat elements, protecting riparian zones and sensitive ecological areas, and limiting final harvest unit size as well as how soon an adjacent forest patch can be harvested. Juxtaposition and interspersion of forest stands of varying ages are important determinants of terrestrial vertebrate responses to intensively managed landscapes. A typical intensively managed landscape contains a variety of stand ages, forest types, and other features (e.g., streams, mature forest stands, set-aside areas) that provide habitat for a diversity of terrestrial vertebrate species. Landscape context has direct ramifications for terrestrial vertebrate diversity in intensively managed landscapes, with negative effects more pronounced in forests imbedded in agriculture or anthropogenic landscapes. Most field studies have been of short duration (<5 years) and localized (e.g., multiple stands in an area), hence we call for a greater commitment to longer-term research and monitoring replicated across landscapes. Significant research gaps include how to improve functionality of retained structures, riparian zones, and unique ecological communities, whether vertebrates are evolving or adapting to the rapid changes in habitat conditions characteristic of IMFs, and how landscape context, including spatial distribution of varying stand ages, affects vital rates of terrestrial vertebrate species (hereafter wildlife). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A well-known response of biodiversity to ongoing climate change is range shifts towards cooler temperature areas. Still, a major gap remains in the understanding of the latitudinal component and the differences between ectotherms and endotherms in these responses. The accumulation of evidence of observed climate tracking over the years provides an opportunity to close these gaps. Here, we evaluate latitude and species' thermoregulation as explanatory variables in climate-induced range shifts. We conducted an extensive literature review, selecting empirical studies that provided information about the direction and/or magnitude of climate-induced latitudinal and altitudinal range shifts of almost 400 species. We built linear mixed models to analyze both categorical and continuous distribution data. We showed that many species consistently shifted their ranges towards the poles or higher altitudes. Most importantly, we found that the higher the latitude, the greater the latitudinal range shift, and that ectotherms show stronger range shift responses to ongoing climate change than endotherms. Our findings show that range shifts are already occurring as a result of mild global warming. As global warming intensifies, species might soon reach hard adaptation limits, where shifting ranges is no longer an option, especially for ectotherms and high-latitude species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Species distribution models increasingly use non-standardised, biased data. • Sample bias can be corrected but standardised data is needed to assess its efficiency. • We assess correction effects with multiple approaches on real and virtual species. • Performance comparisons based on classic metrics (AUC, TSS, Boyce, cAUC) are misleading. • The Relative Overlap Index (ROI), developed here, outperformed the other approaches. 1. Open-source biodiversity databases contain a large number of species occurrence records but are often spatially biased; which affects the reliability of species distribution models based on these records. Sample bias correction techniques require data filtering which comes at the cost of record numbers, or require considerable additional sampling effort. Since independent data is rarely available, assessment of the correction technique often relies solely on performance metrics computed using subsets of the available – biased – data, which may prove misleading. 2. Here, we assess the extent to which an acknowledged sample bias correction technique is likely to improve models' ability to predict species distributions in the absence of independent data. We assessed variation in model predictions induced by the aforementioned correction and model stochasticity; the variability between model replicates related to a random component (pseudo-absences sets and cross-validation subsets). We present, then, an index of the effect of correction relative to model stochasticity; the Relative Overlap Index (ROI). We investigated whether the ROI better represented the effect of correction than classic performance metrics (Boyce index, cAUC, AUC and TSS) and absolute overlap metrics (Schoener's D, Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients) when considering data related to 64 vertebrate species and 21 virtual species with a generated sample bias. 3. When based on absolute overlaps and cross-validation performance metrics, we found that correction produced no significant effects. When considering its effect relative to model stochasticity, the effect of correction was strong for most species at one of the three sites. The use of virtual species enabled us to verify that the correction technique improved both distribution predictions and the biological relevance of the selected variables at the specific site, when these were not correlated with sample bias patterns. 4. In the absence of additional independent data, the assessment of sample bias correction based on subsample data may be misleading. We propose to investigate both the biological relevance of environmental variables selected, and, the effect of sample bias correction based on its effect relative to model stochasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]