Selecting flagship species to solve a biodiversity conservation conundrum

The difficulty of effectively monitoring and managing the environment to conserve biodiversity is as yet an unsolved conundrum.A project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has concluded that progress can be made through the use of flagship species selected using criteria drawn from conservation biology,ecosystem function,socio-economics,and cultural importance.Inclusion of the latter three criteria will help attract and maintain the commitment of the public to play full parts in carrying out any conservation measures needed.A system is proposed for scoring species to select those that are most suitable as flagships.This method can be used regardless of the size of the area chosen for attention,whether it is a region,a country,or a particular protected area.

Conservation and behavior of Africa＇s ＂Big Five＂

We examine the conservation status of Africa＇s ＂Big Five＂： lion, leopard, buffalo, black and white rhinoceros and elephant, and the role of behavioral knowledge in their conservation. Efforts to conserve these flagship species consist of in situ conservation, captive breeding and reintroductions. With a few exceptions, we find limited evidence that knowledge of behavior informs conservation programs targeted at these species. For management in the wild, knowledge of infanticide and ranging can provide guidelines for realistic hunting quotas and corridors between protected areas, respectively. For ex situ and reintroduction programs, behavioral knowledge is chiefly focused on improved animal husbandry. Despite a formidable understanding of these species＇ behavior, the practicalities of using such knowledge may be diminished because exploitation of these species is so forceful and the bulk of efforts aimed at conserving these species （and indeed most other African species） are primarily in situ where behaviorally driven interventions are limited. Our comparative findings suggest that behavior has been of rather narrow use in the conservation of these flagship species [Current Zoology 60 （4）： 486--499, 2014].

Amphibian richness along modified riparian areas of central Mexico:conservation priorities

Background:Land‑use change frequently affects faunistic populations and communities.To achieve successful conservation strategies,we need suitable information about species distribution and the causes of extinction risk.Many amphibian species depend on riparian vegetation to complete their life cycles.About 41%of amphibian species are globally threatened,and accurate estimations of population size,species richness and the identification of critical habitats are urgently needed worldwide.To evaluate the magnitude of changes in species richness and demography,estimations that include detection probability are necessary.In this study,we employed multi‑species occupancy models to estimate detection probability and the effect of land cover type(i.e.,cropland,artificial pasture,secondary and mature forest)in a 500‑m radius on the occupancy probability and richness of diurnal amphibians in 60 riparian zones in the state of Michoacán in central Mexico.Furthermore,we evaluated the potential of the endemic salamander Ambystoma ordinarium as a flagship species for the conservation of other native amphibian species.Results:We registered a total of 20 amphibian species in the diurnal assemblage,of which 10 species are considered at risk of extinction.We found that cropland was the most important land‑use type for explaining amphibian distribu‑tion in riparian zones,with negative effects on most amphibian species.We found no differences in species richness between zones with and without A.ordinarium.In riparian zones occupied by A.ordinarium,however,we found a higher number of species at risk of extinction.Conclusions:Our findings showed negative effects of croplands on the distribution of most amphibian species.The riparian zones are important for the maintenance of native diurnal amphibian communities and A.ordinarium can act as a flagship species for the conservation of threatened amphibian species.