Quantifying species recovery and conservation success to develop an IUCN Green List of Species

Stopping declines in biodiversity is critically important, but it is only a first step toward achieving more ambitious conservation goals. The absence of an objective and practical definition of species recovery that is applicable across taxonomic groups leads to inconsistent targets in recovery plans and frustrates reporting and maximization of conservation impact. We devised a framework for comprehensively assessing species recovery and conservation success. We propose a definition of a fully recovered species that emphasizes viability, ecological functionality, and representation; and use counterfactual approaches to quantify degree of recovery. This allowed us to calculate a set of 4 conservation metrics that demonstrate impacts of conservation efforts to date (conservation legacy); identify dependence of a species on conservation actions (conservation dependence); quantify expected gains resulting from conservation action in the medium term (conservation gain); and specify requirements to achieve maximum plausible recovery over the long term (recovery potential). These metrics can incentivize the establishment and achievement of ambitious conservation targets. We illustrate their use by applying the framework to a vertebrate, an invertebrate, and a woody and an herbaceous plant. Our approach is a preliminary framework for an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List of Species, which was mandated by a resolution of IUCN members in 2012. Although there are several challenges in applying our proposed framework to a wide range of species, we believe its further development, implementation, and integration with the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species will help catalyze a positive and ambitious vision for conservation that will drive sustained conservation action.     

Bird‐community responses to habitat creation in a long‐term,large‐scale natural experiment

Ecosystem function and resilience are compromised when habitats become fragmented due to land‐use change. This has led to national and international conservation strategies aimed at restoring habitat extent and improving functional connectivity (i.e., maintaining dispersal processes). However, biodiversity responses to landscape‐scale habitat creation and the relative importance of spatial and temporal scales are poorly understood, and there is disagreement over which conservation strategies should be prioritized. We used 160 years of historic post‐agricultural woodland creation as a natural experiment to evaluate biodiversity responses to habitat creation in a landscape context. Birds were surveyed in 101 secondary, broadleaf woodlands aged 10–160 years with ≥80% canopy cover and in landscapes with 0‐17% broadleaf woodland cover within 3000 m. We used piecewise structural equation modeling to examine the direct and indirect relationships between bird abundance and diversity, ecological continuity, patch characteristics, and landscape structure and quantified the relative conservation value of local and landscape scales for bird communities. Ecological continuity indirectly affected overall bird abundance and species richness through its effects on stand structure, but had a weaker influence (effect size near 0) on the abundance and diversity of species most closely associated with woodland habitats. This was probably because woodlands were rapidly colonized by woodland generalists in ≤10 years (minimum patch age) but were on average too young (median 50 years) to be colonized by woodland specialists. Local patch characteristics were relatively more important than landscape characteristics for bird communities. Based on our results, biodiversity responses to habitat creation depended on local‐ and landscape‐scale factors that interacted across time and space. We suggest that there is a need for further studies that focus on habitat creation in a landscape context and that knowledge gained from studies of habitat fragmentation and loss should be used to inform habitat creation with caution because the outcomes are not necessarily reciprocal.     

Dental Fluorosis in Wild Deer: Its Use as a Biomarker of Increased Fluoride Exposure

The relationships between age (range: 3 to 14 yr), mandibular bone fluoride level (marker of accumulated internal dose, range: 597 to 4680 mg F^- kg^-1> dry wt) and intensity of dental fluorosis (reflecting fluoride exposure during enamel formation) were studied in a sample of 53 fluorosed red deer from a fluoride-polluted area in the Czech-German border region (Ore mountains and their southern foreland). Assessment of the severity of dental fluorosis was performed for the 3 permanent premolars and 3 molars of one hemimandible per animal by using an ordinal measurement scale. For statistical analysis, the maximum tooth score of fluorosis (MTS) and the dental lesion index of fluorosis (DLI, sum of the six tooth scores per individual) were used. In the sample, both MTS (r_s = 0.850) and DLI (r_s = 0.813) were highly significantly (p <0.00001) correlated with bone fluoride content. A weaker correlation existed between age and bone fluoride content (r_s = 0.322, p <0.05). The results demonstrate that in case of regional, long-term fluoride pollution, dental fluorosis (measured as MTS or DLI) can be used as a sensitive biomarker of fluoride exposure in deer and thus as an indicator of the level of environmental contamination by fluorides. In many countries, skulls and mandibles of wild deer are regularly and continuously collected by hunters. Assessment of the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis in this material offers the opportunity for an efficient large-scale biomonitoring of environmental pollution by fluorides at very low cost.     

Trends in anecdotal fox sightings in Tasmania accounted for by psychological factors

There has been little evaluation of anecdotal sightings as a means to confirm new incursions of invasive species. This paper explores the potential for equivocal information communicated by the media to account for patterns of anecdotal reports. In 2001, it was widely reported that red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) had been deliberately released in the island state of Tasmania (Australia), although this claim was later revealed to be baseless. Regardless, by 2013 a total of 3153 anecdotal fox sightings had been reported by members of the public, which implied their distribution was wide. For each month in 2001–2003, we defined a monthly media index (MMI) of fox‐related media coverage, an index of their relative seasonal abundance (abundance), and a factor denoting claims of fox evidence (claimed evidence) regardless of its evidentiary quality. We fitted a generalized linear model with Poisson error for monthly totals of anecdotal sightings with factors of year and claimed evidence and covariates of MMI, abundance, and hours of darkness. The collective effect of psychological factors (MMI, claimed evidence, and year) relative to biophysical factors (photoperiod and abundance) was highly significant (χ² = 122.1, df = 6, p < 0.0001), whereas anticipated changes in abundance had no significant influence on reported sightings (p = 0.15). An annual index of fox media from 2001 to 2010 was strongly associated with the yearly tally of anecdotal sightings (p = 0.018). The odds ratio of sightings ranked as reliable by the fox eradication program in any year decreased exponentially at a rate of 0.00643 as the total number of sightings increased (p < 0.0001) and was indicative of an observer‐expectancy bias. Our results suggest anecdotal sightings are highly susceptible to cognitive biases and when used to qualify and quantify species presence can contribute to flawed risk assessments.     

红壤丘陵区冬季大气湿沉降化学特征及森林冠层对其截留作用机制

通过对亚热带千烟洲流域的冬季湿沉降化学特征及森林穿透雨进行研究,揭示亚热带流域森林冠层对大气湿沉降中的营养元素(C、N、P、S)及金属元素(K、Ca、Na、Mg、Al、Fe、Mn、Zn)的截留与作用机制.结果表明:1亚热带丘陵区冬季大气湿沉降以酸沉降为主,p H变化范围在3.49~7.0之间,冬季酸沉降离子中以SO_4~(2-)和NO_3~-为主,其月平均沉降通量分别为4.68 kg·hm~(-2)和0.36 kg·hm~(-2),痕量金属元素中以Zn、K、Ca沉降为主,其沉降通量分别为1.72、0.56、0.36 kg·hm~(-2);2森林林冠对溶解性有机碳(DOC)、溶解性总氮(DTN)、总磷(TP)以及痕量元素Ca、Mg、Mn有明显的截留与离释作用,离释百分比达到64.69%、206.75%、301.38%、137.94%、405.25%、1 226.60%;而对Zn、SO2-4具有很好的吸收作用,吸收百分比为73.50%和12.51%,显著降低了亚热带流域冬季酸沉降对土壤生态系统的危害.     

硫脲对酸性红壤 pH值与金属元素有效性的影响

通过实验室模拟,研究了不同浓度硫脲与尿素配施后,对酸性红壤的pH值及其金属元素有效性的影响.结果表明,土壤施加尿素后,其pH值有先升高后逐渐下降的趋势,而硫脲与尿素配施后,其pH值的下降趋势会受到抑制,尤其是当硫脲浓度达到5.0 mmol·kg-1时,土壤pH由最初的4.65上升到6.50以上,并在实验的中后期一直维持在6.0以上.硫脲和尿素配施后,Cu的有效态含量受硫脲浓度的影响较小,Zn、Al的有效态含量随着硫脲浓度的升高而降低,Mn的有效态含量在高浓度硫脲下,其含量保持在一个较高的水平,达到110 mg·kg-1以上.对于Cu、Zn和Al来说,在不同浓度硫脲和尿素配施后,其有效态含量与土壤的pH值呈现出明显的负相关.而对于Mn来说,在单施尿素的情况下,其有效态含量与土壤的pH值呈现出负相关,而在施入硫脲后,其有效态含量与土壤pH并没有呈现出明显的规律性.同时,研究结果还表明酸性红壤Al有效性随着土壤pH的升高而减小,当硫脲与尿素配合使用时,短期内土壤pH上升得更高,从而使得酸性红壤中Al的有效性减小.在硫脲和尿素配施后,土壤中Mn的有效态含量并不简单地取决于土壤的pH值,由于硫脲对Mn的络合作用和氧化还原作用,其含量受到土壤pH值和硫脲的共同影响.     

Gemini1231双季铵盐选择性抑制赤潮生物生长的实验

以甲藻门的东海原甲藻、塔玛亚历山大藻、裸甲藻,黄藻门的赤潮异弯藻,硅藻门的中肋骨条藻等典型赤潮生物以及绿藻门的青岛大扁藻和亚心形扁藻2种非赤潮生物为研究对象,探讨了Gemini1231双季铵盐类表面活性剂的抑藻活性.结果表明,该表面活性剂在较低浓度下(0.2～0.5 mg·L^-1时),对东海原甲藻、塔玛亚历山大藻和赤潮异湾藻等赤潮生物的生长表现出了明显的抑制作用.当该双季铵盐的浓度增至0.5 mg·L^-1以上时,对中肋骨条藻的生长也表现出了一定的抑制作用.而在相同浓度范围内,对裸甲藻和所选用的2种非赤潮生物生长的影响不明显,表现出了抑藻作用的选择性.对各海洋微藻的脂肪酸组成分析表明,该表面活性剂的选择性抑藻作用与不同海洋微藻生物膜的脂肪酸组成,尤其是其多不饱和脂肪酸的含量明显相关.     

东海赤潮高发区半分析算法色素浓度反演

为研究赤潮机理和预测预报以减少其危害,根据2002-04东海赤潮调查航次实测资料,得出经验系数,建立方程,发展了东海赤潮高发海区的叶绿素a浓度反演半分析算法.由现场实测数据对算法进行检验,叶绿素a吸收系数a_ph(675)及浓度的反演结果误差基本在30%以内,其中浓度反演结果比较,均方根偏差为0.24,最大相对偏差为40.93%,平均相对偏差为18.83%,相关系数R²为0.83.从检验的结果来看,算法反演的精度较好,对于研究海区相对适用.     

Species Inequality in Scientific Study

Abstract: Some conservationists argue for a focused effort to protect the most critically endangered species, and others suggest a large‐scale endeavor to safeguard common species across large areas. Similar arguments are applicable to the distribution of scientific effort among species. Should conservation scientists focus research efforts on threatened species, common species, or do all species deserve equal attention? We assessed the scientific equity among 1909 mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians of southern Africa by relating the number of papers written about each species to their status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. Threatened large mammals and reptiles had more papers written about them than their nonthreatened counterparts, whereas threatened small mammals and amphibians received less attention than nonthreatened species. Threatened birds received an intermediate amount of attention in the scientific literature. Thus, threat status appears to drive scientific effort among some animal groups, whereas other factors (e.g., pest management and commercial interest) appear to dictate scientific investment in particular species of other groups. Furthermore, the scientific investment per species differed greatly between groups—the mean number of papers per threatened large mammal eclipsed that of threatened reptiles, birds, small mammals, and amphibians by 2.6‐, 15‐, 216‐, and more than 500‐fold, respectively. Thus, in the eyes of science, all species are not created equal. A few species commanded a great proportion of scientific attention, whereas for many species information that might inform conservation is virtually nonexistent.