Showing papers in "Tropical Conservation Science in 2018"
TL;DR: There is a growing disconnect between the international conferences where grand solutions for tropical conservation are designed and the complex local realities in tropical landscapes where plans need to be implemented as discussed by the authors, and there is a tendency for global processes to prescribe simple generalized solutions that provide good sound bites that can be communicated with political actors and the media.
Abstract: There is a growing disconnect between the international conferences where grand solutions for tropical conservation are designed and the complex local realities in tropical landscapes where plans need to be implemented. Every tropical landscape is different and no “one size will fit all.” There is a tendency for global processes to prescribe simple generalized solutions that provide good sound bites that can be communicated with political actors and the media. Sustainable outcomes in tropical landscapes require locally adapted, unique approaches supported by long-term processes of learning and adaptation. Tropical biologists and conservationists can play a key role by establishing effective local–global links and by directly engaging in local policy discourses while remaining connected to evolving political imperatives.
85 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the contribution of environmental legislation to landscape connectivity and found that environmental legislation has fostered ecological restoration programs worldwide, but few studies have reported the outcomes for landscape connectivity.
Abstract: Environmental legislation has fostered ecological restoration programs worldwide, but few studies have reported the outcomes for landscape connectivity Here, we investigated the contribution of fo
49 citations
TL;DR: The results indicated that damage to agricultural crops and attacks on domestic animals are the most common factors of conflicts and that socioeconomic factors seem to be correlated with their incidence.
Abstract: Conflicts between human beings and wild animals have been recorded in many parts of the world and mainly involve damage to crops, predation of domestic animals, and attacks on humans. This study pr...
47 citations
TL;DR: The threat of extinction for some of the world's highest biodiversity has dramatically increased since the arrival of the Amazon rainforest in the early 1970s as discussed by the authors, despite being only a tiny fraction of the entire world's land area.
Abstract: Ecuador has among the world’s highest biodiversity, despite being a tiny fraction of the world’s land area. The threat of extinction for some of this biodiversity has dramatically increased since A...
47 citations
TL;DR: The authors studied the diet and prey preferences of tigers in Bardia National Park, Nepal using DNA-based techniques from their scat samples and found remains of prey species in the scat.
Abstract: We studied the diet and prey preferences of tigers (Panthera tigris tigris Linnaeus, 1758) in Bardia National Park, Nepal using DNA-based techniques from their scat samples Remains of prey species
35 citations
TL;DR: A list of 16 substitutes is compiled, finding that dosage adjustments produce equivalent treatment outcomes that compensate for potency differences, and further research into TCM stakeholder perspectives and preferences for rhino horn can inform conservation policy.
Abstract: Rhino poaching in Africa has risen alarmingly over the last decade, driven by illegal trade and demand for horns in Asia, where it is used medicinally. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has deep cultural roots, and understanding demand drivers will inform conservation decision-making. We interviewed 15 TCM practitioners in Hong Kong, investigating their familiarity with rhino horn, prescription experiences, and perspectives toward its use and trade. All interviewees believe that rhino horn possesses medicinal properties, despite general unfamiliarity with its chemical composition or any active ingredient. We compiled a list of 16 substitutes, finding that dosage adjustments produce equivalent treatment outcomes that compensate for potency differences. While most interviewees expressed support for trade legalization, most would prefer to continue prescribing substitutes. Further research into TCM stakeholder perspectives and preferences for rhino horn can inform conservation policy.
34 citations
TL;DR: This paper explored correlations between background factors, attitudes, norms, perceived behavioral control and behaviors toward different motivations for hunting (hunting for consumption, killing animals in retaliation for damage to crops or livestock, and keeping wildlife in captivity as pets), and deforestation based on insights from the Theory of Planned Behavior.
Abstract: Protected areas have become a vital conservation strategy to protect wildlife; however, illegal activities performed by local people within and around protected areas may undermine their conservation goals. We used information from 169 direct interviews with rural residents in order to understand the factors affecting illegal behaviors related to hunting and deforestation in three protected areas and a buffer zone of the Southern Bahian Atlantic Forest. We explored correlations between background factors, attitudes, norms, perceived behavioral control and behaviors toward different motivations for hunting (hunting for consumption, killing animals in retaliation for damage to crops or livestock, and keeping wildlife in captivity as pets), and deforestation based on insights from the Theory of Planned Behavior. Our results suggest that a combination of demographic factors, values held for protected areas and location influenced respondents’ attitudes, descriptive norms, and perceived behavioral control in t...
30 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared factors that influence attitudes of local communities toward the conservation of the Tarangire National Park (Tarangire NP) in Tanzania and Mole NP in Ghana.
Abstract: The success of biodiversity conservation in African countries depends to a large extend on the cooperation of local communities. This study compared factors that influence attitudes of local communities toward the conservation of the Tarangire National Park (Tarangire NP) in Tanzania and Mole National Park (Mole NP) in Ghana. The purpose was to find out if the predominantly agricultural-communities around the Mole NP in Ghana will differ in park-attitude than the predominantly pastoral-communities around the Tarangire NP in Tanzania. Household survey was used to assess attitudes and focus group discussions used to elicit further information from respondents to complement the survey data. The study surveyed 365 households in 7 villages: 3 villages adjacent to the Tarangire NP and 4 villages adjacent to the Mole NP. There was significant difference between the park-attitudes of residents in communities near the Mole NP and their counterparts in communities near the Tarangire NP. However, respondents in both countries showed slightly positive and negative attitudes toward the parks as ecological entities and as community development agents, respectively. Factors that had significant effects on attitudes include: “knowledge of park rules,” “employment in park,” “distance between village and park,” “household size,” “access to non-timber forest products,” and “livelihood activity.” The findings suggest that any efforts aimed at increasing local community support for any of the two national parks should critically consider livelihoods diversification, population control, and extensive conservation education in neighboring communities.
26 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the availability of sampling sampling designs for ecological indicators and found that despite increasing advances for selecting ecological indicators, monitoring sampling designs are not always available, and they concluded that sampling sampling is a key step for achieving restoration success.
Abstract: Monitoring is a key step for achieving restoration success. Despite increasing advances for selecting ecological indicators, monitoring sampling designs are not always available. We investigated ho...
26 citations
TL;DR: The wild bird trade is a major driver of species loss in Indonesia as mentioned in this paper, however, studies of the Indonesian bird trade have focused on the island of Java, providing little information on the bird trade in other parts of the world.
Abstract: The wild bird trade is a major driver of species loss in Indonesia. However, studies of the Indonesian bird trade have focused on the island of Java, providing little information on the bird trade ...
25 citations
TL;DR: The role of wild and domestic prey in sustaining popula... as mentioned in this paper has shown that large carnivores using human-use areas, but our understanding of their ecology in such landscapes is limited.
Abstract: There is increasing evidence of large carnivores using human-use areas, but our understanding of their ecology in such landscapes is limited. The role of wild and domestic prey in sustaining popula...
TL;DR: The efficacy of using camera traps on potentially active burrows identified by local Ba'Aka guides to rapidly locate giant ground pangolins in the wild for subsequent observation and tagging for telemetry studies is tested.
Abstract: Giant ground pangolins (Smutsia gigantea) are poorly known and difficult to study due to their nocturnal and burrowing habits. Here, we test the efficacy of using camera traps on potentially active burrows identified by local Ba'Aka guides to rapidly locate giant ground pangolins in the wild for subsequent observation and tagging for telemetry studies. We deployed nine cameras on potential giant ground pangolin burrows in the Dja Biosphere Reserve, Cameroon. One camera photographed an adult male giant ground pangolin using a burrow within 2 days of camera deployment. The pangolin used the same burrow several times over a 25-day period and possible scent-marking behavior was recorded.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an accurate description of spatial urban growth is a prerequisite step in order to implement appropriated policies to improve the ecosystem service performance of green spaces in a city.
Abstract: An accurate description of spatial urban growth is a prerequisite step in order to implement appropriated policies to improve the ecosystem service performance of green spaces in a city. Such infor...
TL;DR: Chapman et al. as discussed by the authors found that the proportion of the land covered by regenerating forest surpasses than in primary forest, thus protecting regenerating forests could offer a valuable conservation opportunity, but only if those lands promote faunal recovery.
Abstract: In much of the tropics, the proportion of the land covered by regenerating forest surpasses than in primary forest, thus protecting regenerating forest could offer a valuable conservation opportunity, but only if those lands promote faunal recovery. Chapman et al. documented the recovery of populations of six primate species over up to 45 years in Kibale National Park, Uganda and discovered that in preexisting forest, populations of all species grew, except blue monkeys. Populations (except blue monkeys) also increased by colonizing regenerating forests at previously cleared sites. In many cases, populations in these regenerating areas were of comparable size to those in old-growth forest, and there was little evidence that this population increase corresponded with a decline in neighboring old-growth forests. This research demonstrates the potential for management of regenerating forest to be an effective conservation tool and illustrates the importance of conducting and funding long-term monitoring.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the additional gain of restoration actions implemented as part of a PES program to protect a key watershed for water supply on increasing functional landscape connectivity in the Atlantic Forest region of southeastern Brazil.
Abstract: Restoration projects designed to promote one ecosystem service may have synergistic benefits to other services. Therefore, bundling them can be an effective way to maximize the return to the investments in programs of payments for ecosystem services (PES). Here, we investigated the additional gain of restoration actions—which were implemented as part of a PES program to protect a key watershed for water supply—on increasing functional landscape connectivity in the Atlantic Forest region of southeastern Brazil. Using a landscape ecology approach, we estimated the amount of forest cover before (2006) and after (2012) restoration activities by the PES program and changes in structural and functional landscape connectivity for birds with varying gap-crossing capabilities. Forest cover increased from 42.5 to 86.1 ha after the implementation of restoration projects by the PES program. In the simulated scenarios of landscape connectivity, the mean patch size of functionally connected forest increased by 1,034%, 392%, 248%, and 94% for species with gap-crossing capabilities of 0, 20, 40, and 60 m, respectively. Our results highlight the potential for incorporating biodiversity conservation objectives into PES projects primarily designed to enhance water-related ecosystem services.
TL;DR: Research on fruiting patterns and seed viability and germination of eight species from the tropical dry forest of Morelos, Mexico will allow adequate decision-making for seed collection and plant propagation of the study species.
Abstract: With the aim of providing information for ecological restoration programs, we studied reproductive phenology and seed germination of eight species from the tropical dry forest of Morelos, Mexico. W...
TL;DR: The domestic dog is the most successful invasive mammalian predator species, and reducing its ecological impacts on wildlife is a central conservation goal globally as discussed by the authors. But free-ranging dogs can negatively affect wildlife.
Abstract: Domestic dog is the most successful invasive mammalian predator species, and reducing its ecological impacts on wildlife is a central conservation goal globally. Free-ranging dogs can negatively in...
TL;DR: Illegal, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) often occurs in remote highly biodiverse areas, such as the Madre de Dios region of Peru.
Abstract: Illegal, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) often occurs in remote highly biodiverse areas, such as the Madre de Dios region of Peru. Mercury used in gold mining bioaccumulates in the env...
TL;DR: Close-to-nature (CTN) forestry integrates multiple forest functions and emphasizes forest ecosystem conservation as discussed by the authors.Within this framework, forests are typically maintained as uneven-aged mixed stands.
Abstract: Close-to-nature (CTN) forestry integrates multiple forest functions and emphasizes forest ecosystem conservation. Within this framework, forests are typically maintained as uneven-aged mixed stands...
TL;DR: A literature review and the information contained in the two most important databases in Mexico with digitized information for the region report 2,548 species, of which 2,391 are native and 157 naturalized (exotic) as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: We present an assessment of the recorded vascular plants in the Los Tuxtlas region, in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, an important portion of the humid tropical forest at the northern edge of its distribution. A literature review and the information contained in the two most important databases in Mexico with digitized information for the region report 2,548 species, of which 2,391 are native and 157 naturalized (exotic). The families with the highest number of species are Fabaceae, Orchidaceae, Asteraeae, and Rubiaceae. The composition of the flora is analyzed, and its similarity is compared with other tropical regions of Mexico. The humid tropical forest in Los Tuxtlas stands out as the site with the third highest number of tropical species in Mexico, and in particular for its high number of endemisms. A quarter of the species occurring in the region are threatened; despite this, the biosphere reserve within its limits plays an important role in the conservation of this type of vegetation.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors use an ethnozoological approach, with a protocol that captures spatially explicit and temporal ecological knowledge on defaunation, to understand how the depletion process can be reversed in a postconflict context and to identify the levers that can inverse the cascading effect to allow species recovery.
Abstract: In the face of increased defaunation in tropical regions, embracing the complexity of wildlife population trends is important to guide the development of effective conservation and restoration strategies. Here, based on a case study in Democratic Republic of the Congo, we use an ethnozoological approach, with a protocol that captures spatially explicit and temporal ecological knowledge on defaunation. Our case study evidences the overall depletion profile for the majority of mammal species in the whole landscape and particularly for red colobus, orycterope, and chimpanzee. The elephant has already disappeared locally, and okapi and forest buffalo only persist in the northern part of the landscape. On the other hand, postdepletion sustainability seems to characterize Yangambi Reserve, with more stable populations of fast-reproducing/small-sized species. Local extinctions or sharp declines in mammal populations in our landscape are either the direct consequence of conflict or the result of cascading effects that have their origins in the rebellions between 1996 and 2002. From a conservation perspective, the challenge is to understand how the depletion process can be reversed in a postconflict context and to identify the levers that can inverse the cascading effect to allow species recovery. We encourage the use of our methodology in regions that are regularly used by a significant number of observers. The proposed methodology provides cost-effective, reliable, and spatially explicit data on population trends, covering for a wide range of species and allows to understand the historical pattern of defaunation as well the wider context in which changes occurred.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that permeable edges can undermine the effectiveness of preserves because animals may move into adjacent adjacent areas, and they propose a solution to prevent animals from moving into protected areas.
Abstract: Protected areas are often promoted as an important solution to preserving biodiversity. However, permeable edges can undermine the effectiveness of preserves because animals may move into adjacent ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated forest cover change in the period of 1993 to 2014 and quantified the net change in forest area, the loss of original forest area and evaluated forest fragmentation using landscape metrics.
Abstract: Deforestation and fragmentation are threats to the conservation of species and have consequences for ecosystem functions. The focus of this study was to elucidate forest cover change in the period of 1993 to 2014. Our study area is in the central region of Veracruz, Mexico. Land cover and land use classes for the Years 1993, 2000, and 2014 were derived from Landsat images applying supervised classification. Then, we quantified the net change in forest area, the loss of original forest area, and evaluated forest fragmentation using landscape metrics. Our results showed that the area covered by remnant forests decreased 57%. The annual net forest cover change rate for 1993 to 2000 was −0.44%; since then forest cover increased at a rate of 0.11% from 2000 to 2014. The decreasing total edge density and the mean proximity index during the entire period of the study indicate decreasing irregularity in the shape of remnant forest patches and a slight decrease of vulnerability to edge effects. Forest patches augm...
TL;DR: This study reports the first field record of the behavior development and growth pattern of a newborn male Formosan pangolin during the entire nursing period in the wild, using radio-tagging and camera-trapping.
Abstract: The Formosan pangolin mainly inhabits the lowland forest in Taiwan. Biological information on pangolins is limited due to their solitary behavior. This study reports the first field record of the b...
TL;DR: The diet of Harpy Eagles living in the Central Suriname Reserve primary forests is described and literature data is reviewed to provide an accessible reference to all known reports ofHarpy Eagle prey species, enabling a better understanding of the ecological effects of apex predator.
Abstract: Apex predators are in widespread decline, in many occasions as a consequence of the demise of their prey. Harpy Eagles (Harpia harpyja) are the largest extant eagles on Earth and keystone predators...
TL;DR: Big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) is an economically important timber species in the Neotropics and has been selectively extracted from tropical forests for over three centuries as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) is an economically important timber species in the Neotropics. For over three centuries, it has been selectively extracted from tropical forests, thre...
TL;DR: In this paper, the degree to which tree plantations and natural regeneration in the tropics may also provide an opportunity to restore native forest ecosystems is investigated. But, the degree is limited.
Abstract: Efforts to sequester carbon through tree plantations and natural regeneration in the tropics may also provide an opportunity to restore native forest ecosystems. However, the degree to which specie...
TL;DR: Invasive species pose a grave threat to many national parks as mentioned in this paper, and the construction of roads and trails for tourism may facilitate invasion of alien species, which is a serious threat to national parks.
Abstract: Invasive species pose a grave threat to many national parks. Construction of roads and trails for tourism may facilitate invasion of alien species. To understand the effect of road and trail constr...
TL;DR: Higher plasticity in water use traits in atmospheric species, compared to tanks and higher Plasticity in general in species with wide distribution compared to those with small distribution ranges is found.
Abstract: Plasticity may be a key factor to determine plant survival under a changing environment as a result of climate change or land use modification. Plasticity in physiological and morphological traits ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used sequences of two chloroplast markers to examine the phylogeographic patterns of the endemic mistletoe species Psittacanthus auriculatus (Loranthaceae) across its known range in Oaxaca and conducted ecological niche modeling (ENM) to explore changes of its distribution range through present, future, and palaeo periods.
Abstract: The state of Oaxaca is positioned in a rather unique biogeographical position with the highest diversity of vascular plants in Mexico. The isolation of xeric valleys surrounded by complex mountain ranges in Oaxaca supplies an excellent opportunity to investigate the influence of the Pleistocene events on xeric species. To test for the alternative hypotheses of Pleistocene glacial refugia, we used sequences of two chloroplast markers to examine the phylogeographic patterns of the endemic mistletoe species Psittacanthus auriculatus (Loranthaceae) across its known range in Oaxaca and conducted ecological niche modeling (ENM) to explore changes of its distribution range through present, future, and palaeo periods. Our results revealed two groups corresponding to the distribution of individuals/populations from the northern locations (western valleys), and those from southern localities at central valleys of Oaxaca. A significant genetic signal of differentiation, demographic stability, and contraction of suit...