Modeling fine-scale habitat connectivity for terrestrial mammals, snakes, and turtles in the Southeast USA

The rich biodiversity in the Southeast USA is under threat from both rapid urbanization and climate change. Re-connecting the existing natural areas in the region is perhaps the best hope of preventing extinction for many species. However, scientists have been thus far unable to provide fine-scale recommendations for conservation practitioners as to the best land parcels to protect or restore in order to efficiently enhance terrestrial habitat connectivity. In this project, we take advantage of recent advances in supercomputing and connectivity modeling software to identify high priority habitat connectivity zones for a range of vertebrate species across a 7-state study area. Target species include black bear, red wolf, Florida Panther, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, pine snake, and box turtle. We used expert opinion to derive dispersal resistance surfaces for each species, and then Circuitscape and other connectivity analysis tools to model the potential flow of these animals across the landscape. Our general results highlight the importance of three parallel connectivity zones in the Atlantic Coast portion of the Southeast (Appalachians, Fall Line Sandhills, and Coastal Plain Wetlands), and also demonstrate considerable significance for the numerous large river corridors that stretch inland perpendicular to the main arteries of connectivity.

Australia has the third largest marine estate of any nation in the world. With recent initiatives such as the rezoning of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the addition of 2.3 million square kilometres to the national system of marine reserves, Australia has shown strong commitment to the principles of marine conservation. With approximately 20% of the Australian population spending approximately 20 million days fishing (80% of which are in salt water) each year, the recreational fishing community is a key stakeholder in marine conservation. Consequently, there is interest in developing appropriate methods for effectively engaging recreational fishers in conservation initiatives. The paper compares and contrasts three recent initiatives to enhance the engagement of recreational fishers. Results suggest that commonly used public consultation programs (public meetings and submission programs) provide little opportunity for meaningful engagement and are not viewed favourably by most recreational fishers. Alternative arrangements that engage fishers directly though community-based environmental monitoring or through partnerships in scientific study of the environment hold promise for enhancing recreational fishers’ engagement in marine conservation. However, such programs must overcome constraints related to recruitment and retention of volunteers, fishers’ lack of trust in science and management, on-going funding, and acceptance of such programs by scientists and managers.

Habitat fragmentation results in decreased area and increased patch isolation, along with microclimatic and biogeographical changes, altering the richness and the relative abundance of species involved in disease transmission cycles, leading to changes in pathogen persistence, prevalence and distribution in the landscape.

Large landscape conservation initiatives are those efforts which are focused on large areas of recognized conservation value, sensitivity and/or threat and require a broad-based, multi-jurisdictional, multi-sectorial, multipurpose (economic, social and environmental) approach with specific, measurable conservation objectives. The North America Large Landscape Practitioners’ Network is an alliance of over 250 large landscape initiatives and includes professionals and citizens engaged in leading, managing, researching, advocating, funding, educating or setting policy to advance these initiatives. Specific objectives of the network include: 1) Building capacity and awareness for large landscape conservation at various scales and across sectors; 2) Linking existing and emerging large landscape conservation initiatives; 3) Promoting leadership; and 4) Advocating for resources and policies that support large landscape conservation initiatives. Large scale conservation efforts function as institutional isolates. Through networked coordination, these initiatives can elevate the trajectory of these efforts, especially in a time of climate change. North America is not alone in advancing this ambitious conservation agenda. There are efforts worldwide which can be supported and championed by a global network.

Perhaps we didn't aim high enough. Conservation Medicine was designed to bring together the ecological health, human health and animal health communities to address the health implications of environmental change. Tom Lovejoy termed those who practice conservation medicine as "Planetary Doctors". Today we stand at the brink of a real and impending conservation bottleneck. Within the next 100 years we will surpass several planetary thresholds relating to climate change, irreversible loss of global biodiversity, and the aspirations of 11 billion people. The next 100 years will test our collective resolve in finding a sustainable path for human livelihoods and nature conservation. Conservation Medicine needs to enlist the knowledge disciplines and institutions that can address this challenge. True planetary health will require more than combined collaborations between entrenched branches of the ecological, medical and veterinary science communities. We need to train planetary doctors and inspire citizens of our planet to be global health practitioners. As planetary doctors, we cannot simply treat the symptoms of this problem, whether it be emerging infectious diseases due to ecological change, or asthma within polluted cities. We must pursue a systemic and preventive health approach. Our ambitions are fueled by the planetary crisis at hand and thus we have no choice but to aim higher.

Knowledge of the biomass/distribution of a species is critical to manage and conserve the population. Environmental DNA (eDNA), DNA fragments released from aquatic vertebrates, has recently used to detect the presence of species. In order to develop how to estimate biomass/distribution of fish species, we used common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and invasive bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) as the target species, and quantified the concentration of their DNA copies in 1-2 L water samples using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) with species-specific primer/probe set for cytochrome b. The concentration of eDNA from carp was positively correlated with carp biomass in the both laboratory and outdoor experiments. The biomass data estimated from eDNA concentration reflected the potential distribution of carp in the natural freshwater lagoon. In 70 ponds, we estimated the presence of invasive bluegill with the eDNA method. We detected bluegill DNA in the ponds where bluegills were observed visually and some where bluegills were not observed. Using our eDNA method, we can estimate the presence of fish species more precisely than using traditional methods, such as casting-nets or fishing, in the natural environments where species are difficult to detect. The eDNA method can be easily adapted to monitor the other species for which primers can be developed.

A sub-population of the Cross River gorilla (CRG) has been discovered in the Lebialem-Mone Forest landscape (LMFL) of Cameroon. According to the forestry law, the LMFL is a non-permanent forest estate implying that it can be converted into any form of land use. While FFI and ERuDeF are working with the administration towards designating a wildlife sanctuary for this CRG, the local populations are striving towards achieving their livelihood. Also, multi-national corporations and "power class" individuals are starting off large scale plantation agriculture. For FFI and partners to proceed with the plan, field information is mandatory. They need to know the changes that have occurred over time and become acquainted with the current and emerging challenges to conserving the LMFL. Landsat and SPOT satellite images for 1986 and 2011 respectively were employed to assess the changes. Questionnaires, interviews, observations and FGDs were used to identify current and emerging challenges. Results proved forest cover reduced from 80% in 1986 to 66% in 2011 and that 84% of the population were actually aware. The drivers of the current change were identified to be: farming 69%, house construction 12%, and timber exploitation 10%. These same activities plus large scale plantation were recognized as emerging threats to the CRG of the LMFL. To continue with the plan, FFI and partners should work with all actors involved in the zone if they wish that the LMFL should be used sustainably.

Fragmented fish habitats by passage blockages such as drops and dams have adversely affected up to down movement and breeding in agricultural canals around paddy fields in Japan. Although re-networking by installation of fish-ways into passage blockages has been often conducted, the effects of the improvement have not been sufficiently evaluated owing to shortages of consideration for population dynamics including movement and reproduction. We developed a simple population dynamics model specifically designed for small stream networks. The networks were depicted on a computer, using numerous mesh elements equaled to habitat units. The difficulty of movement over the boundary between adjacent mesh elements was given as an attribute value corresponded to the ascending rates for each element. Movement distance of each individual in no blockage was given based on our previous studies. Success or failure of movement over each boundary within the ideal movement distance was determined in order of closeness to the original position until the individual failed to move successfully or moved its ideal movement distance by comparing the attribute value with a generated uniform random number. In each mesh element, annual reproduction was calculated using the logistic growth model. We simulated population dynamics before and after re-networking habitats in a hypothetical network, and proposed methods to relatively evaluate the effect of re-networking habitats under each scenario.

Abstract: In Japan, six species of aquatic turtles live in fresh water or semiaquatic habitats. Native turtles living on Honshu Island, Mauremys japonica, Chinemys reevesii, and Pelodiscus sinensis, are decreasing in number because of competition with alien turtles. The main species competing with native turtles in Japan, the red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans (young sliders are called "midorigame" in Japan), are distributed throughout Japan because these turtles are kept as pets. Many studies have investigated the manner in which T. scripta elegans colonizes ponds in Japan, but few reports describe popular perceptions. This study was conducted to support educational activities aimed at reducing the abandonment of alien species. Inhabitation of city parks by turtles was examined. Then a questionnaire survey was administered to park users to clarify their views of turtles and perceptions of T. scripta elegans. Alien turtles dominated native turtles in the two studied ponds. Furthermore, city park users like all turtles. However, alien turtles, including T. scripta elegans, are not as well liked. Reasons for abandoning T. scripta elegans include the idea that perceptions of young midorigame do not match perceptions of adult red-eared sliders. As one might expect, city park users do not know that breeding T. scripta elegans is difficult. City park users must be educated about the problem of alien turtles when exterminating alien species.

The first attempt to introduce conservation biology into the system of education as a separate discipline in Ukraine was made at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (Tarasova, 2012), based on teaching materials developed by NCEP, AMNH (ncep.amnh.org). The aim of the study was to estimate the effectiveness of the new course in developing environmental competence of Ukrainian students. For evaluation of behavior towards environment in the open and behavioral component of environmental competence in our experiment the methods developed by Shebanova (1999) and Prutsakova (2005) was applied. Before and after the course students received the questionnaire with 10 situations which may occur in professional or domestic life. Analysis of open answers was carried out according to the criteria of the types of behavior (Prutsakova, 2002), and responses were interpreted as one of four behavioral types scaling from actively friendly to actively aggressive. Results showed that most of respondents (40 and 43%) were already well responsible for the environment. When all types were joined as generally positive and negative to nature, the tendency of increasing positive answers was found (mean changing from 65 to 72%). The observed tendency was verified by Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p = 0.0468) with 95% probability. So, the course appears to be effective in developing environmental competence of Ukrainian students.

This study investigates the strategy to engage local communities living adjacent to Akagera National Park in conservation as an opportunity to enhance sustainable biodiversity conservation in Rwanda. The main objective of the study was to determine the strategy that would be adopted to enhance sustainable biodiversity conservation in national parks of Rwanda. The focal point were the local communities living adjacent to the Akagera National Park, located in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. A sample size of 70 was used and 66 agricultural households living adjacent to ANP and 4 people from the park, local administration were surveyed. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine factors contributing to the productivity and the willingness to pay (WTP) or accept (WTA) for the plan of conservation measures. Results showed that land and crop production influence the crop yield and that revenue local communities obtain from the selling of the harvest at the market was the major determinant of WTP. Other socio-economic characteristics were not statistically significant. The study recommends the provision of agricultural extension services and application of environmental valuation tools in assessing local communities' attitudes toward biodiversity conservation to enhance decision making for effective and sustainable conservation. Key words: Local Communities, Biodiversity Conservation, Akagera National Park, Rwanda

Habitat loss and fragmentation may have harmful impacts on genetic diversity, population structure and overall viability of tropical trees. Here we test the hypothesis that habitat loss and fragmentation cause lower genetic variability and higher genetic differentiation in small and isolated and seedling populations of Prunus africana in Northwestern Ethiopia. We selected 8 remnant patches of variable sizes and isolation for leaf and /or bark sample collection. DNA was extracted from 210 adult and 232 seedling samples. Based on 7 microsatellite markers, negative effects of fragmentation were demonstrated. Genetic diversity (based on allelic richness) was significantly (P0.05) with patch size or isolation. These results demonstrate adverse effects of forest loss and fragmentation on genetic diversity and population structure of P. africana in NW Ethiopia. Conservation and restoration activities that promote protection of the natural forest remnants from further destruction and fragmentation as well as enhance habitat connectivity and expansion may help to mitigate such adverse effects of fragmentation and to maintain viable populations of valuable trees in this region.

Prescribed fire is a commonly used management technique for maintaining fire-adapted ecosystems, yet empirical data regarding its effects on amphibians are limited and contradictory. We used radio-telemetry to examine the effects of prescribed fire on movements, mortality, and habitat selection of American toads (Anaxyrus americanus) in a southern Appalachian upland hardwood forest. We tracked 26 adult A. americanus between 27 January - 30 May 2012. Toads exhibited non-breeding site fidelity and traveled 993.5 m (± 265.9 m) mean (± SD) route distance between the breeding ponds and last recorded locations. We found no evidence of direct mortality of A. americanus from prescribed fire. Forward stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that the availability of coarse woody debris (CWD) was a significant discriminator between microhabitats used and random plots. Toads also maintained shorter distances from CWD in the burned than in the unburned locations. Our results indicate that prescribed fire as implemented in this study did not cause direct mortality, nor did it appear to inhibit migratory movements of adult A. americanus. However, fire reduced the diversity and availability of refugia, especially deciduous leaves, though the availability of alternative cover objects (e.g., CWD) in burned treatments allowed toads to inhabit those areas, suggesting the importance of maintaining near-ground structural complexity for A. americanus in fire-managed forests.

Future climate and land-use changes and growing human populations may reduce the abundance of water resources relative to anthropogenic and ecological needs in the Northeast and Midwest (USA). We used output from WaSSI, a water accounting model, to assess potential changes between 2010 and 2060 in (1) anthropogenic water stress for watersheds throughout the Northeast and Midwest and (2) native fish species richness (i.e., number of species) for the Upper Mississippi water resource region (UMWRR). Six alternative scenarios of climate change, land-use change, and human population growth indicated that future water supplies will, on average across the region, be adequate to meet anthropogenic demands. Nevertheless, the number of individual watersheds experiencing severe stress (demand > supplies) was projected to increase for most scenarios, and some watersheds were projected to experience severe stress under multiple scenarios. Similarly, we projected declines in fish species richness for UMWRR watersheds and found that the number of watersheds with projected declines and the average magnitude of declines varied across scenarios. All watersheds in the UMWRR were projected to experience declines in richness for at least two future scenarios. Many watersheds projected to experience declines in fish species richness were not projected to experience severe anthropogenic water stress, emphasizing the need for multi-dimensional impact assessments of changing water resources.

The Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) represents the largest marine protected area in the Pacific Ocean and a substantial oceanic conservation effort by Kiribati, a least developed country. In the mid-19th century, the PIPA was part of a hotspot for American whalers known as the "on-the-line" grounds. These whalers from New England particularly targeted sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), prized for their valuable oil. The vigorous whaling by the American fleet contributed to major declines in global whale populations. Sperm whale populations in the PIPA do not seem to have recovered, as they are rarely reported there today despite their known historical presence and the pristine condition of the PIPA ecosystem. Our research connects information on historic and current whale populations in the PIPA region. We investigate historic whaling logbook data of global whale sightings and kills that were compiled and mapped in previous studies. By revisiting this data and narrowing our regional focus, we have been able to recreate maps that offer insight into the historic temporal, spatial, and seasonal distributions of sperm whale populations in the PIPA region. This research provides new insight into the baseline population of sperm whales in the PIPA, which can be used to make inferences about current populations, reasons behind their slow recovery despite the pristine ecosystem, and the larger implications for PIPA managers and stakeholders.