Post-fire habitat restoration of sables during winter season in northern slope of the Great Xing＇an Mountains

Habitat loss and fragmentation have been associated with the decline of endangered species. In 1987, a catastrophic fire in the northern Great Hing＇an Mountains of China, where the main habitat of sables （Martes zibellina） is located, aggravated the loss and fragmentation of the forest landscape. Due to restricted distribution and low population density, sables were listed in the national first-grade protected species in China. The objective of this paper was to identify to what extent the habitat of sables had been restored 13 years after the fire. Based on the behavioral data, which came from field survey information by radio-tracking, GPS （Global Positioning System） and forest inventory data, suitability habitat maps were derived using the Ecological Niche Suitability Model （ENSM）. In addition, the habitat structure was analyzed with selected landscape indices. Although forest cover mostly had been restored by 2000, the results indicated that, compared to the pre-fire situation, the areas of suitable habitat had been reduced significantly, especially those of less suitable, marginally suitable and moderately suitable designation. Fragmentation was aggravated, and suitable patches were found to be further isolated with the exception of those in most suitable areas. The ratio of the patch perimeter to area in unsuitable, moderately suitable and suitable areas decreased, while the ratios within other suitability types increased. Moreover, the percentage of soft boundaries decreased slightly, which can influence the redistribution of sables. The results above indicated that the suitable habitat had deteriorated, and the restoration of the sables＇ habitat remained to be done.

Habitat Restoration Planning for Anatolian Wild Sheep （Ovis gmelini anatolica Valenciennes, 1856） in Konya-Bozdag, Turkey

Anatolian wild sheep is still exists only in Konya-Bozdag Wildlife Development Area in the world. Because of the ongoing illegal hunting, habitat destruction, etc. starting in 1966, only a herd consisting of 35 individuals survived. Thereupon, in the same year, 42,000 ha of fieldshad were declared as a protected areaby the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Following this period, the number has increased to 2,000 in 2005. In the studied area, due to the increasingly exceeded carrying capacity of the land, wild sheep tended to lower the nutritional value of plants. Malnutrition, illnesses, stress, etc. led to death, and population size decreased to 600. Based on this information, there are two main ways to make deteriorated habitat structure suitable for accommodation, growth and proliferation of Anatolian wild sheep individuals. The firstone is about carrying individuals to other natural areas, and the latter is the restoration work in this area. Restoration work on the outside to add nutrients to the living environment （artificial feeding） and arranging habitat work are implemented. Depending on the type of habitat restoration work, restoration on the entire area, plot-plot restoration and radiating from the center to the environment restoration form can be made.

Improving landscape connectivity through habitat restoration:application for Asian elephant conservation in Xishuangbanna Prefecture,China

Habitat restoration is an effective method for improving landscape connectivity,which can reduce habitat fragmentation.Maintaining landscape connectivity could promote connections between habitat,which is extremely essential to preserve gene flow and population viability.This study proposes a methodological framework to analyze landscape connectivity for Asian elephant habitat conservation,aiming to provide practical options for reducing habitat fragmentation and improving habitat connectivity.Our approach involved combining a species distribution model using MaxEnt and landscape functional connectivity models using graph theory to assess the impact on connectivity improvement via farmland/plantation restoration as habitat.The results showed that:(1)there were 119 suitable habitat patches of Asian elephant covering a total area of 1952.41 km^(2).(2)The connectivity between habitats improved significantly after vegetation restoration and the gain first decreased and then increased with the increase of dispersal distance.(3)The first few new habitat patches that were identified played an important role in improving connectivity,and the variation rate of connectivity gradually leveled off as the number of new habitats increased.(4)Prioritization of the 25 best new habitat patches increased connectivity from 0.54%to 5.59%as the dispersal distance increased and mainly was located between two Asian elephant distribution regions and two components.Establishment of new habitat patches was effective for improving or restoring connectivity.Our findings can be used as guidance for improving the studied fragmented Asian elephant habitats,and they can also be used as a reference for the habitat restoration of other endangered species heavily affected by habitat fragmentation.

Achievements and challenges of primate conservation in China

The dual impact of climate change and human activities has precipitated a sharp decline in primate biodiversity globally.China is home to the most diverse primate species in the Northern hemisphere,which face severe ecological threats due to the expansion of modern agriculture,extensive exploitation and consumption of natural resources,and excessive land development during its transition from an agricultural to a modern society.In response,China has implemented various ecological conservation measures,including habitat restoration and protection.These efforts have made substantial strides in biodiversity conservation,with certain regions witnessing an increase in primate populations.In the current study,we conducted a systematic review of historical documents and field research data related to Chinese primates,evaluating the endangered status of primate species in China.Despite improvements in the habitats of most primate species and some population growth,many species still face severe threats,including declining and small populations.Species such as the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus strykeri),eastern black crested gibbon(Nomascus nasutus),and Hainan gibbon(N.hainanus)remain particularly vulnerable due to their limited distribution ranges and extremely small populations.Insufficient scientific data,fragmented information,and not enough studies in conservation biology further compound the challenges.Moreover,there is a notable lack of detailed population monitoring data for species such as the Bengal slow loris(Nycticebus bengalensis),pygmy slow loris(N.pygmaeus),Indochinese gray langur(Trachypithecus crepusculus),Shortridge’s langur(T.shortridgei),and capped langur(T.pileatus),which hinders the development of practical and targeted conservation management strategies.Therefore,for national biodiversity conservation,there is an urgent need for specialized primate surveys,enhancing habitat protection and restoration,and increasing focus on cross-border conservation strategies and regional cooperation.There is also a need to establish a comprehensive and systematic research database platform,conduct continuous and in-depth research in primate biology,and actively engage in the scientific assessment of ecotourism.Additionally,strengthening public awareness and education on wildlife conservation remains essential.Such integrated and systematic efforts will provide scientific support for the current and future conservation and management of primate species in China.

Importance of Stewards and Other Protection Efforts for Conservation of Red Knots (Calidris canutus rufa) and Other Shorebirds on Delaware Bay, New Jersey

Understanding the factors that contribute to population stability in long-distance migrant birds is increasingly important, particularly given global climate change, sea level rise, and loss or disturbance at essential habitats. While the populations of most shorebirds are declining worldwide, those that migrate through Delaware Bay, New Jersey and Delaware, are declining at the most rapid rate despite conservation efforts. In this paper, we 1) provide background information on population declines of red knots (Calidris canutus rufa) using Delaware Bay, threats to their foraging, and efforts to reduce threats, 2) summarize briefly our studies of the effects of human activities on knots and other shorebirds, 3) present data on management efforts to protect knots and other shorebirds from the activities of people, and 4) discuss the efficacy of such efforts (usually referred to as “decreasing the effect of human disturbances”). The Shorebird Project on Delaware Bay is over 25 years old and provides long-term data to help assess the status of shorebird numbers, particularly for red knot, as well as the density of horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) and their eggs. Red knots have continued to decline even more precipitously in the last few years, presenting cause for concern. Protective efforts have been successful in reducing human disruption on the N.J. Delaware Bay beaches, but the lack of uniformity in implementation across the New Jersey side, and across the whole Bay have hampered further improvements. Implementation of signs, fencing, and stewards on some beaches significantly enhanced the use of these beaches by red knots, determined by examining the use of beaches pre- and post-implementation. Implementation of fencing and stewards had the greatest effect. From 1986 to 2018, there was a significant shift in the percent of Delaware Bay red knots using the NJ side, where protection efforts had been implemented on many of the beaches. Merely restricting access (without fencing or other efforts) did not result in more knots using the beaches post-restriction. This is the first paper that clearly shows the protective effects of having beach stewards. We discuss the long-term needs for continued management of Delaware Bay beaches, and other beaches coastwide, and of determining the causes of population declines of red knots.

Changes of woody species diversity, horizontal and vertical distribution of stems across interior to outside within a primate rich habitat of Northeast India

The interior forest of protected area（PA）recover quickly in terms of greater diversity and structural complexity than peripheral and outsides, which may be due to high plant-frugivore interactions in the interior forest than the disturbed outsides. To describe the structural and functional differences in tree communities from interior to outside forests with in small PA, we quantitatively analyzed the vegetation of Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary, a rich primate habitat of Northeast India. Vegetation was sampled at C10 cm girth at breast height by 10 m 9 500 m sized20 line transects（10 ha） laid in the interior（N = 7）,peripheral（N = 7） and outside（N = 6） zones of this sanctuary. All transects were ordinated by Principal Component Analysis based on correlation between diversity and existing disturbance indices. We found significant differences（P ／ 0.05） in taxonomic richness and diversity indices between the habitat. Van diagram confirmed greater unique species richness in the interior zone（64） than peripheral（28） and outside（6） zones. Overall density（ha-1） did not differed across the zones, but basal area（m2ha-1） was significantly（P ／ 0.01） high in peripheral zone. Vertical distribution of stem density was linearly declined across zones（r2adj[ 0.70; P ／ 0.01） with increase in the canopy height. Horizontal distribution of adult stems showed significant inverse quadratic relationship（r2adj[ 0.80; P ／ 0.001）, which suggests very low density of canopy forming voluminous trees in the interior zone.Immediate protection, restoration and management of interior regions are required to preserve local plant genetic diversity and also to maintain suitable habitat for threatened wildlife.

Variation in abundance and habitat relationship of three understory insectivorous birds in a disturbed landscape of Neotropical dry forest of Colombia

Background:Evaluating relationships between avian populations and their habitat is important for understanding the biology of these species and for management decisions that improve the effectiveness of restoration practices.We investigated how habitat variation along a disturbance gradient affected the abundance of three insectivorous bird species,White-bellied Antbird(Myrmeciza longipes),Barred Antshrike(Thamnophilus doliatus),and Pale-breasted Spinetail(Synallaxis albescens)in a Neotropical dry forest remnant in central Colombia.Methods:The study area,which is located in Magdalena Valley,is under ecological restoration after the construction of the“El Quimbo”hydroelectric dam,with a gradient of habitat conditions,from relatively advanced secondary growth to recently disturbed areas.We conducted bird surveys and quantified the habitat conditions from June 2018 to June 2019.We compared the relative abundance of the birds among the three zones with increasing disturbance and modeled the relationship between the bird abundance with the micro-and landscape-habitat conditions,with Poisson generalized linear model regression.Results:The relative abundance of the three bird species varied according to the habitat features and disturbance level.The abundance of White-bellied Antbirds was higher in forests and thickets than shrubland fragments;Barred Antshrike was more abundant in shrubland and thickets than in forest fragments,and Pale-breasted Spinetail had the highest abundance in shrubland and the lowest in forest fragments.The abundance of both White-bellied Antbird and Pale-breasted Spinetail did not differ among zones with different levels of disturbance,while the abundance of Barred Antshrike decreased in zones with more disturbance.Conclusions:There were significant differences in the habitat relationships of the three understory insectivorous species along the disturbance gradient,although these species were within the same trophic group.These bird species preferred different stages of habitat succession and responded to different habitat and landscape features.Increasing forest fragment areas and decreasing the amount of edge would be useful restoration priorities for these and other similar avian species in this study area.

Plant assemblage and diversity variation with human disturbances in coastal habitats of the western Arabian Gulf

Knowledge about plant diversity along disturbance gradients is essential for conservation and management of fragmented coastal habitats.This study examined the effects of human disturbance intensity in coastal habitats of Kuwait on diversity,composition,identity and assemblage of vascular plant species.Plant survey data from 113 plots （5m×5m each） were randomly selected in 51 sites at coastal fragmented habitats at three levels of disturbance intensities （high,moderate and low） and were statistically analyzed.The results revealed that about 76% of the recorded species are considered threatened species in Kuwait,most of which are being lost in high disturbed habitats.Disturbance led to the dominance of Zygophyllum qatarense,Cornulaca aucheri and Salsola imbricata,which are species of disturbance indicators.Richness,total plant cover and species diversity were higher in moderate and low disturbed habitats than in high disturbed habitats.Beta diversity between high and low disturbed habitats was higher than either between high and moderate,or between moderate and low disturbed habitats.Cluster analyses showed statistically significant differences in composition of plant assemblages,which indicate high beta diversity between the habitat types.Intensive urbanization and industrialization are among the most serious threats that contribute to declines in biological diversity and rapid fragmentation of coastal habitats in Kuwait.Establishing protective enclosures in the disturbed habitats,planting endangered and vulnerable species,and establishing a natural reserve at Nuwaiseeb are recommended conservation actions to avoid loss of the fragmented coastal habitats and to facilitate restoration of native plants.

Spatially biased dispersal of acorns by a scatter-hoarding corvid may accelerate passive restoration of oak habitat on California＇s largest island

Scatter hoarding by corvids （crows, jays, magpies, and nutcrackers） provides seed dispersal for many large-seeded plants, including oaks and pines. When hoarding seeds, corvids often choose nonrandom locations throughout the landscape, resulting in differential survival of seeds. In the context of habitat restoration, such disproportional storing of seeds in areas suitable for germin- ation and establishment can accelerate expansion and recovery of large-seeded tree populations and their associated ecosystems. Here, we investigate the spatial preferences of island scrub jays Aphelocoma insularis during scatter hoarding of acorns （Quercus spp.） on Santa Cruz Island. We use a large behavioral data set on the birds＇ behavior in combination with seedling surveys and spatial analysis to determine whether 1） island scrub jays disproportionally cache seeds in specific habitat types, and 2） whether the preferred habitat type is suitable for oak regeneration. Our results show that the jays nonrandomly cache acorns across the landscape; they use chaparral and coastal sage scrub disproportionally while avoiding open and grassy areas. The areas used most often for caching were also the areas with the highest oak seedling densities. We discuss the potential role of these findings for the recovery of Santa Cruz Island＇s oak habitat since the 1980s.

Ecotourism Development and Biodiversity Conservation in Sri Lanka: Objectives, Conflicts and Resolutions

Biodiversity conservation and sustainably utilizing natural resources improve the benefits of ecotourism development. Ecotourism development makes values for sustainably using biodiversity creating economic development opportunities. This study reviews literature and reveals objectives, conflicts and resolutions for achieving biodiversity conservation through ecotourism development in Sri Lanka. This paper describes conservation objectives in terms of preserving and fostering biodiversity, habitat restoration and managing biodiversity, and making values for natural assets through ecotourism activities. Degradation and destruction of habitat, overexploitation and illegal extraction of species, emissions of greenhouse gasses for climate change, contamination and pollution of the environment, and spread of exotic species are identified as the main conflicts. Conservation resolutions are discussed on education and awareness-raising activities for biodiversity conservation, in-situ conservation and ex-situ preservation of species, integrating biodiversity into ecotourism development, integrating management of biodiversity and ecotourism, linking ecotourism industry and conservation organizations, ecotourism policy and legislations for biodiversity conservation, and imposition of rules and regulations. Policy solutions and building capacity among institutions and other stakeholders for governance and sustainable conservation of biodiversity are key for sustainable ecotourism development.

Influence of microbial priming and seeding depth on germination and growth of native wildflowers

Background:Using native wildflowers for restoring marginal lands has gained considerable popularity.Establishment of wildflowers can be challenging due to several environmental factors.Restoring the microbial community in degraded habitats can potentially result in the native plant performance and habitat restoration.This study was conducted to investigate the impact of native soil microbes and seeding depth on germination of south Texas native wildflowers.Two wildflower species,Ratibida columnifera(Nutt.)(Mexican Hat)and Verbesina encelioides(Cav.)(cowpen daisy),were treated with microbial wash extracted from native soils,and germination rate was recorded for 14-day period.We further analyzed the growth,biomass allocation,and root colonization by mycorrhizal fungi in these two plants growing them in a plant growth chamber for 6 weeks.To determine the impact of seeding depth,we planted the seeds of the two plant species at 2-cm,6-cm,and 12-cm depth and monitored germination and plant growth.Results:The two species responded differently to the seeding depth and microbial wash treatments.Microbial wash treatment resulted in higher germination rate in R.columnifera compared to control,while it did not have any impact on V.encelioides seed germination.While microbial treatment did not influence the total biomass,it had a significant impact on the biomass allocation in both the plant species.R.columnifera seeds germinated at both 2-cm and 6-cm depth and did not germinate at 12 cm,while the V.encelioides seeds germinated only at 2 cm and did not germinate at 6-cm or 12-cm seeding depth.Conclusions:While our results are species specific,our results indicate that native soil microbes can potentially improve the seed germination and growth of wildflowers.Our results also indicate the importance of specific seeding depth when sowing wildflower seeds for habitat restoration.