The Current Conservation Efforts and Future Prospects for the Endangered Nubian Ibex (Capra nubiana ibex) in Sudan

A comprehensive action plan for the conservation of the endangered species, the Nubian ibex in Sudan, can be developed by gaining a thorough understanding of their current status, conservation strategy, and relevant laws and regulations, as well as raising awareness about the importance of protecting endangered species. The Nubian ibex is listed as an endangered species on The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, highlighting the need for further research on population conservation efforts due to insufficient population data. To address this knowledge gap, a questionnaire was conducted with various stakeholders, including police officers, researchers, and lecturers, representing a diverse range of organizations and universities. The findings revealed that hunting is the primary factor contributing to endangerment. Mammals account for 80% of endangered species, while reptiles comprise less than one-tenth. Research centers are recognized as the main governing body, and 85% of participants are concerned about the declining population. Hunting accounted for less than half of the threats to the ibex population in Sudan, while habitat loss made up a quarter. Mining, climate change, human activity, and agriculture were also identified as risks. However, there were no plans, strategies, procedures, or measures in place to conserve the Nubian ibex. There were also no initiatives to preserve its biodiversity, and awareness about endangered species was lacking. Although participants believed that laws were effective in protecting the ibex, no licenses were issued for its conservation, and annual surveys were not conducted. Additionally, there were no recorded instances of Mukhalfat related to the Nubian ibex. In light of these findings, we propose various conservation measures to address these challenges. These measures include the implementation of laws and regulations, conducting annual surveys to monitor population trends, protecting habitats, establishing breeding and releasing programs, launching awareness campaigns, undertaking rehabilitation efforts, enhancing research efforts, and developing comprehensive conservation strategies. Additionally, it is crucial to foster cooperation among wildlife institutes to ensure the effective implementation of these conservation measures.

Geographical differences of leaf traits of the endangered plant Litsea coreana Levl.var.sinensis and its relationship with climate

Seventeen morphological and anatomical characteristics of the leaves were selected from five natural populations to explore the variation in leaf traits of Lits ea core ana var.sinensis and the effects of geographical environment on these variations.Nested analysis of variance,multiple comparisons,principal component analysis(PCA),and correlation analysis were conducted to explore the variations within and between populations and their correlation with geographical and climatic factors.Significant differences in the 17 leaf traits were observed within and among populations.On average,the relative contribution of within population variation to total variation was 24.8%,which was lower than among population variation(54.6%).The average differentiation coefficient of the traits was 65.8%,and the average coefficient of variation 11.8%,ranging from6.7%for main vein thickness to 21.4%for petiole length.The PC A results showed that morphological characteristics were divided into two categories,and the level of variation was greater than that of leaf anatomy.Most of the leaf traits were significantly correlated with geography and climate and showed a gradual variation with longitude,latitude,and altitude.In areas with high temperatures,less rainfall,and strong seasonal rainfall,the leaves are larger,longer and thicker.This study shows that variations in leaf traits of L.coreana var.sinensis mainly come from variations among populations.The level of trait differentiation among populations is high and the level of variation within populations low.These findings help further understand leaf morphological characteristics of this species and can provide a valuable reference for the protection and sustainable utilization of this natural resource.

First Successful Nesting of Black Oystercatchers among Endangered California Least Terns along the West Coast of North America

A pair of Black Oystercatchers(Haematopus bachmani)established a nest in June 2022 at“Tern Town”,an island located in Hayward,California along the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay.This is the first documented occurrence of oystercatchers successfully nesting and fledgling young in association with California Least Terns.The island provides nesting habitat for three special status species.Since 2015,and for a total of six breeding seasons,the endangered California Least Tern(Sternula antillarum browni),the threatened Western Snowy Plover(Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus)and species-of-special-concern Black Skimmer(Rynchops niger),have nested successfully,in association with American Avocet(Recurvirostra americana)and Black-necked Stilt(Himantopus mexicanus).We collected shells near the oystercatcher nest to assess their diet.Diet data showed the oystercatchers foraged on,in decreasing order of abundance,Japanese Little-necked Clams(Ruditapes philippinarum),Ribbed Mussels(Geukensia demissa),Bent-nose Clams(Macoma nasuta),Limpets(Patellogastropoda sp.)and Bay Mussels(Mytilus edulis).This new report on breeding Black Oystercatchers indicates that managing habitat for California Least Tern,Western Snowy Plover,and Black Skimmer can also benefit Black Oystercatcher.This site-specific information on breeding Black Oystercatchers supports recovery plan tasks that are consistent with managing habitat for California Least Tern,Western Snowy Plover and Black Skimmer.

Tropical Climates May Be Suitable for Endangered Desert Tortoise Exhibits, Rescues, Adoptions

Governmental, educational, environmental and other nonprofit organizations have placed efforts on conservation action for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). While federal and state institutions have focused on the desert tortoise in its native habitat of the southwestern United States, there are other conservation groups whose work has been dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, rescue, placement and adoption of the desert tortoise in civilian homes and neighborhoods as well as sanctuaries, reserves and exhibits. AWAKE Community (AWAKE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to natural wildlife habitats and endangered species, has focused its research on desert tortoises in captivity. The California Turtle and Tortoise Club (CTTC), the official adoption arm of California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), has provided instruction on methods of care for desert tortoises raised in captivity including housing, feeding, sexing, health and hibernation for both adults and hatchlings. AWAKE’s research has been aimed at benefiting and supplementing the guidelines provided by CTTC, specifically for coastal climates. AWAKE’s research has also aimed to provide insight to be considered for expanding adoption possibilities to other locations, specifically tropical climates, as adoption needs for desert tortoises have increased. This manuscript presents an analysis of one coastal and one tropical climate that can serve as a basis for: 1) understanding and evaluating climate in both existing and potential habitats for desert tortoise adoptions, rescues and exhibits, 2) providing insight and special instruction for desert tortoise adoptions in coastal communities, and 3) expanding awareness around desert tortoise needs in captivity.

Genetic Diversity of Cephalotaxus mannii, a Rare and Endangered Plant

Using RAPD technique, the DNA diversity of Cephalotaxus mannii Hook. f., its genetic diversity pattern, the reasons for its endangered position and conservative approaches were studied. The results show that: 1. The genetic diversity of C. mannii collected from five localities in Hainan is low, and its adaptability to environmental change is weak. 2. The differences of genetic diversity between intra- and inter-populations are great, and the major variation distributes within the population (DNA diversity is 85.1%). 3. The excessive lumbering, man-made destruction, violent typhoon, edible value of the seeds and genetic drift were the main reasons for the low-level genetic diversity of C. mannii and its endangered position. 4. The difference of the micro-environment and other random factors affecting the population should also be taken into full consideration in the study and in protection of such occasionally scattered plants. 5. Enforced measures should be taken to protect the present population, enlarge the population and lower the loss rate of its gene. Mt. Limulin should be chosen as a conservative spot because of its high genetic diversity and less destruction of the forest. Meanwhile, the protection of other populations should be enforced. 6. The differences within and between the populations are great based on different primers used. The change of proportions in polymorphic loci between the populations is more than that between the primers.

Studies on the Reproductive Biology and Endangerment Mechanism of the Endangered Plant Manglietia aromatica

The embryogenesis, pollen germination, floral character and seed physiology of the endangered plant Manglietia aromatica Dandy were investigated. Based on this study, this species has very low seed set rate. The abortion rate of functional megaspores in all the ovules is 27.9%, the egg cell abortion rate of mature embryo sacs is up to 80%, and the germination rate of pollen grains is as low as nearly 0.01%. In addition, the floral structure appears to be another limited factor for the effective pollination of this species. The endangerment mechanism of this species seems to be comprehensive. Human's destroying actions are the direct factors that have made the population degenerate quickly; low reproductive ability and the destroyed environments are the main reasons that prevent the population from renovating and spreading. Therefore, the conservation measures suggested by this study are to research the breed technology, artificial population renovating, in situ conservation, and ex situ conservation.

Genetic Analysis of Six Endangered Local Duck Populations in China Based on Microsatellite Markers

Seventeen microsatellite loci were used to assess the genetic variation and population structure of six endangered duck populations in China. PIC, heterozygosity with two estimators of genetic differentiation （FST and GST）, and Nei＇s standard genetic distance were evaluated. The results showed that these six endangered duck populations showed high polymorphism. The propor- tion of inter-population subdivision among the six duck populations ranged between 17.0 and 14.7%. The average heterozygosity was 0.706, 0.702, 0.691, 0.676, 0.604, and 0.660 in the Gaoyou, Liancheng, Jinding, Beijing, Shaoxing, and Jianchang ducks, respectively. The average PIC ranged from 0.561 to 0.663. Finally, the results showed higher genetic diversity and difference above the levels of genetic variation among all the populations.

Efficient in vitro Propagation of an Endangered Species Kolkwitzia amabilis Graebn

This study developed an efficient in vitro cultivation and propagation sys- tem for an endangered species Kolkwitzia amabilis using nodal segments as ex- plants. Multiple shoots were induced through axillary bud formation. The highest fre- quency of multiple shoot induction was achieved when the nodal segment explants were incubated in Murashige and Skoog （MS） medium supplemented with 4.44 pM 6-benzyladenine （6-BA） in combination with 0.54 μM a-naphthaleneacetic acid （NAA）, followed by treatment with 4.44 μM 6-BA in combination with 0.27 μM NAA. Shoot multiplication could be induced in MS medium supplemented with stand-alone 6-BA or 6-BA in combination with indole-3-acetic acid （1.71 μM） or NAA （0.27 or 0.54 μM）, with 6-BA and either compound, exhibiting a stronger effect on shoot multiplication. The optimum combination of plant growth regulators for shoot multiplication was 4.44 μM 6-BA with 0.27 μM NAA. The maximum rooting percentage was obtained in a half-strength MS medium supplemented with indole-3-butyric acid alone and in com- bination with NAA and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, but the best combination of plant growth regulators for rooting was 1.48 μM indole-3-butyric acid with 1.08 μM NAA and 0.05 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. The rooted shoots were trans- ferred to a greenhouse with a success rate of 100%.

Advance of New Researches on Tissue Culture of Rare and Endangered Plant Elaeagnus mollis

This review summarized the recent research achievements on the process of tissue culture of the rare and endangered plant Elaeagnus mollis,including sterilizing protocols of different explants derived from adult plants and seeds for tube germination,two types of plants regeneration（organ type and organ genesis type）,methods of rooting and transplanting,factors affecting culture,as well as browning and vitrification phenomena and avoiding measures.And the further biotechnology research fields of E.mollis were prospected.

RAPD Analysis for Genetic Variation within the Endangered Quillwort Isoetes hypsophila (Isoetaceae)

The genetic variation in the critically endangered speciesIsoetes hypsophila was investigated using Random Amplified Polymorphism DNA (RAPD) markers. Thirteen primers were screened from sixty primers, and a total of 104 DNA fragments were scored, of which, 52 were polymorphic loci. Low-level genetic diversity within populations with PPB values ranging from 7.69%to 25.96%was found. An Anal ysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) indicated that the most of variance (78.30%) occurred between Yunnan and Si chuan. The variances among populations within regions and within populations were only 3.89%and 17.82%, respectively.

Leaf phenotypic variation of endangered plant Tetracentron sinense Oliv.and influence of geographical and climatic factors

To analyze the degree and pattern of phenotypic variation in leaves of Tetracentron sinense Oliv from the perspective of genetic and environmental adaptation and thus contribute to effective evidence-based conservation and management strategies for germplasm resources,we measured 17 morphological and epidermal micromorphological leaf traits from 24 natural populations of T.sinense.Nested analysis of variance,multiple comparison,principal component analysis(PCA),cluster analysis,and correlation analysis were used to explore phenotypic leaf variation among and within populations and potential correlations with geographic and environmental factors.There were significant differences in 17 leaf phenotypic traits among and within populations.The mean phenotypic differentiation coefficient of the 17 traits was 56.34%,and the variation among populations(36.4%)was greater than that within populations(27.2%).The coefficient of variation(CV)of each trait ranged from 4.6 to 23.8%,and the mean was 11.8%.Phenotypic variation of leaves was related to environmental factors such as average annual sunshine hours,average July temperature,and average annual rainfall.The variation changed along gradients of longitude,latitude,and altitude.The PCA clustered the 24 natural populations into four groups.Our study suggests that phenotypic variation in T.sinense occurred primarily among populations,with moderate levels of phenotypic differentiation among populations and low levels of phenotypic variation within populations.The plant’s poor adaptability to the environment is likely an important contributor to its endangerment.Accordingly,conservation strategies are proposed to protect and manage the natural populations of T.sinense.

Status and distribution changes of the endangered Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus) in China over the past three decades (1990s-2017)

Background： Understanding the changes in population dynamics, including demographics, distribution and threats is essential for species status assessing.The endangered Green Peafowl （Povo muticus） has experienced sharp population declines and d stribution range diminishing both in China and Southeast Asia. Field population surveys have not been conducted in China since the 1990s, which hindered conservation planning and decision-making.Methods： With interview and line transects methods, we figured out the population and distribution changes of Green Peafowl across its historical ranges over the past three decades in China during 2014-2017.Results： The Green Peafowl once habituated in 54 counties in China. Nearly 60% of the distribution counties were lost in the past three decades, with the left 22 counties distributed in central, southern and western Yunnan, SW China. Population decrease detected in all distribution areas except for Shuangbai and Xinping county where more than 60% of the total population is located. Only about 30% of the former bird population were recorded with the same interviewing method as 20 years ago.Three birds, 1 carcass, 6 calls and 12 footprints were detected along the 865 km line transects, indicating extremely low encounter rate of Green Peafowl in field. Sharp decreases in flock sizes were also detected, from 8-20 birds per flock in the 1990s to 3-5 birds at present. Poaching and habitat conversion are two widespread and long-lasting threats, while poison tion affect regional population＇s survival. Large flocks of 18 ng caused mortality in the past and hydropower construc -27 birds were discovered in the field, which increases our confidence of population recovery of this endangered pheasant in China.Conclusions： Only interviewed bird number and counts based on line transects were presented in this study, without further population estimation due to limitation of the data sets. Although the actual population of this cryptic bird must be underestimated, dramatic population declines and distribution concentrations of the endangered Green Peafowl occurred over the past 30 years in China undoubtedly.

Age structure and static life tables of the endangered Juniperus phoenicea L. in North Sinai Mountains, Egypt:implication for conservation

Studying the population ecology of endangered plants provides important baseline information for its monitoring and conservation.Juniperus phoenicea L.is an endangered species in arid ecosystems in Africa and the Middle East.The static life tables,survival curve and age structure of J.phoenicea populations from two mountains in North Sinai,Egypt(Gabal(G.)El-Halal and G.El-Maghara)were investigated.In each mountain,fifteen plots were selected,and field measurements such as stand density,tree height,and crown diameter were conducted.Moreover,44 trees were cored and crossdated according to standard dendrochronological procedures.The results showed that the tree ages ranged from 50 to 262 years at G.El-Halal and 96 to431 years at G.El-Maghara.Mature J.phoenicea individuals dominated the study area,with only a few individuals being younger than 100 years.Moreover,seedling recruitment was extremely limited.Since the studied J.phoenicea populations showed high mortality rates among both old and young individuals,there is an imminent need for establishing a conservation program to prevent its extinction in the future.Therefore,management and conservation efforts should be made to minimize human disturbance and protect the relic habitats of this endangered species at its southern distribution limits in Africa.

Endophytic bacteria associated with endangered plant Ferula sinkiangensis K. M. Shen in an arid land： diversity and plant growth-promoting traits

Ferula spp. are traditional medicinal plants found in arid land. Large-scale excavation for extracting bioactive compounds from the plants in arid regions of Xinjiang over the last few years has, however, significandy decreased their distributions. Due to the urgent need for preservation of these plant resources, along with the need of searching for alternative source of the useful metabolites, it is important to screen the endophytic microbial resources associated with the plant Ferula sinkiangensis K. M. Shen. In the study, a total of 125 endophytic bacteria belonging to 3 phyla, 13 orders, 23 families, and 29 genera were isolated based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing data. Among the different isolates, three strains isolated from roots were potential novel species of the genera Porphyrobacter, Paracoccus and draycofatopsis. In this study, 79.4% and 57.1% of the total isolates were capable of producing indole-3-acetic acid （IAA） and siderophore, respectively. And, 40.6% of the strains inhibit the growth of fungal pathogen Afternaria alternata, 17.2% and 20.2% strains were positive for antagonism against Vertidllium dahlia 991 and V. dahlia 7, respectively. These results demonstrated that E sinkiangensis is a rich reservoir of endophytic bacterial resources with potential for production of biologically important functions such as plant growth-promoting factors.

Using MiddRAD-seq data to develop polymorphic microsatellite markers for an endangered yew species

Microsatellites are highly polymorphic markers which have been used in a wide range of genetic studies.In recent years, various sources of next-generation sequencing data have been used to develop new microsatellite loci, but compared with the more common shotgun genomic sequencing or transcriptome data, the potential utility of RAD-seq data for microsatellite ascertainment is comparatively under-used.In this study, we employed MiddRAD-seq data to develop polymorphic microsatellite loci for the endangered yew species Taxus florinii. Of 8,823,053 clean reads generated for ten individuals of a population, 94,851(~1%) contained microsatellite motifs. These corresponded to 2993 unique loci, of which 526(~18%) exhibited polymorphism. Of which, 237 were suitable for designing microsatellite primer pairs, and 128 loci were randomly selected for PCR validation and microsatellite screening. Out of the 128 primer pairs, 16 loci gave clear, reproducible patterns, and were then screened and characterized in 24 individuals from two populations. The total number of alleles per locus ranged from two to ten(mean=4.875), and within-population expected heterozygosity from zero to 0.789(mean = 0.530),indicating that these microsatellite loci will be useful for population genetics and speciation studies of T. florinii. This study represents one of few examples to mine polymorphic microsatellite loci from ddRAD data.

Regeneration ecology and population status of a critically endangered and endemic tree species （Ilex khasiana Purk.） in north-eastern India

Detailed studies on population structure and regeneration ecology ofllex khasiana were carried out at five representative natural populations i.e. Mylliem （Population - I）, Upper Shillong （Population - II）, Shillong Peak （Population -III）, Laitkor （Population - IV） and Nongpiyur （Population - V） to probe into the responsible affecting factors for its population structure and regeneration ability in these populations. Experimental observation under three controlled light conditions （full sunlight （100%）, intermediate sunlight （50%） and low sunlight （30%）） showed that the growth status and survival rates of seedlings under intermediate and low light were better than those under the high light condition. The density-diameter distribution in population of adult trees （〉Scm dbh） exhibited a typical character of a regenerating population. A higher seedling mortality rate in natural populations of I. khasiana was most probably due to increase in light intensity following vegetation destruction and other anthropogenic disturbances that cause opening of forest canopy. The findings of the present study would be of immense value in formulating appropriate conservation measures for the species.

Transcriptome analysis of the endangered Notopterygium incisum: Coldtolerance gene discovery and identification of EST-SSR and SNP markers

Notopterygium incisum C. C. Ting ex H. T. Chang(Apiaceae) is an endangered perennial herb in China. The lack of transcriptomic and genomic resources for N. incisum greatly hinders studies of its population genetics and conservation. In this study, we employed RNA-seq technology to characterize transcriptomes for the flowers, leaves, and stems of this endangered herb. A total of 56 million clean reads were assembled into 120,716 unigenes with an N50 length of 850 bp. Among these unigenes, 70,245(58.19%) were successfully annotated and 65,965(54.64%) were identified as coding sequences based on their similarities with sequences in public databases. We identified 21 unigenes that had significant relationships with cold tolerance in N. incisum according to gene ontology(GO) annotation analysis. In addition, 13,149 simple sequence repeats(SSRs) and 85,681 single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected as potential molecular genetic markers. Ninety-six primer pairs of SSRs were randomly selected to validate their amplification efficiency and polymorphism. Nineteen SSR loci exhibited polymorphism in three natural populations of N. incisum. These results provide valuable resources to facilitate future functional genomics and conservation genetics studies of N. incisum.

Floristic Characteristics of the Rare and Endangered Plants and the Conservation Countermeasures in Tibet, China

The floristic elements and the geographical distribution are analyzed in thispaper based on statistics of elements of rare and endangered plants in Tibet. The results have beengained as following: (1) According to 'the National Important Wild Conservative Plants List (List1)' and 'the National Important Wild Conservative Plants List (List 1)', there are a total of 54plant species (48 genera and 33 families); (2) The geographical elements are very complicated inTibet with 12 of 15 distribution patterns of genera classified by academician Wu; (3) There areobvious temperate genera with 28 genera accounting for 60. 4% of the total genera; (4) There areabundant endemic species accounting for 18. 52% of total species but poor endemic genera; (5) Thegeographical distribution is uneven and a great of species distribute in the areas between 1 000 mand 3 500 m above sea level; (6) To protect the rare and endangered plants efficiently, sixconservation measures are proposed, and 35 species are suggested for the conservative plants of theautonomous conservation level.

Somatic Embryogenesis and Organogenesis for Regeneration of Endangered Multipurpose Desert Plant <i>Leptadenia pyrotechnica</i>Forsk. Decne in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Leptadenia pyrotechnica is an important multipurpose endangered plant in the Kingdom of Bahrain with restricted distribution. Nodal explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of indole acetic acid (IAA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Initially, 80% and 60% explants responded in direct shoot and callus initiation response respectively in presence of 8.88 μM BAP with 5.71 μM IAA in modified MS media after two weeks of culture. The highest frequency of plant regeneration was observed in presence of 8.88 μM BAP with 1.14 μM IAA following organogenic pathway of differentiation. Hundred percent callus proliferation was observed while initial callus developed in presence of 4.44 μM BAP with 2.85 μM IAA and was transferred in media containing 4.44 μM, 6.66 μM BAP with 2.85 μM IAA and 13.32 μM BAP with 5.71 μM IAA. The callus derived plants were regenerated following the pathway of indirect somatic embryogenesis. The induction of somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from callus was also observed in modified MS media supplemented with 4.44 μM BAP and 2.85 μM IAA. The plant regeneration protocol we developed for Leptadenia pyrotechnica will be very beneficial for biodiversity conservation and environment protection of Bahrain. Moreover, the present paper reports for the first time specifically the somatic embryogenesis in this multipurpose desert plant Leptadenia pyrotechnica.

Using Head Patch Pattern as a Reliable Biometric Character for Noninvasive Individual Recognition of an Endangered Pitviper Protobothrops mangshanensis

Mangshan pitviper, Protobothrops mangshanensis （formerly Zhaoermia mangshanensis） is endemic to China. Unfortunately, due to the decreasing size of its wild populations, this snake has been listed as critically endangered. Re- search carried out on the Mangshan pitviper＇s population ecology and captive reproduction has revealed that the unique head patch patterns of different individuals may potentially be used as a noninvasive recognition biometric character. We collected head patch pattern images of 40 individuals of P. mangshanensis between 1994 and 2011. By comparing each pitviper＇s head patch pattern, we found that the head patch pattern of individual snakes was different and unique. Additionally, we observed and recorded the head patch pattern characters of four adults and five juveniles before and af- ter ecdysis. Our findings confirmed that head patch patterns of Mangshan pitvipers are unique and stable, remaining un- changed after ecdysis. Thus, individuals can be quickly identified by examining the head patch pattern within a specific recognition area on the head. This method may be useful for noninvasive individual recognition in many other species that display color patch pattern variations, especially in studies of endangered species where the use of invasive marking techniques is undesirable.