Evaluating Conservation Effectiveness of Nature Reserves Established for Surrogate Species:Case of a Giant Panda Nature Reserve in Qinling Mountains,China

Many nature reserves are established to protect the habitat needs of particular endangered species of interest but their effectiveness for protecting other species is questionable.In this study,this effectiveness was evaluated in a nature reserve network located in the Qinling Mountains,Shaanxi Province,China.The network of reserves was established mainly for the conservation of the giant panda,a species considered as a surrogate for the conservation of many other endangered species in the region.The habitat suitability of nine protected species,including the giant panda,was modeled by using Maximum Entropy(MAXENT)and their spatial congruence was analyzed.Habitat suitability of these species was also overlapped with nature reserve boundaries and their management zones(i.e.,core,buffer and experimental zones).Results show that in general the habitat of the giant panda constitutes a reasonable surrogate of the habitat of other protected species,and giant panda reserves protect a relatively high proportion of the habitat of other protected species.Therefore,giant panda habitat conservation also allows the conservation of the habitat of other protected species in the region.However,a large area of suitable habitat was excluded from the nature reserve network.In addition,four species exhibited a low proportion of highly suitable habitat inside the core zones of nature reserves.It suggests that a high proportion of suitable habitat of protected species not targeted for conservation is located in the experimental and buffer zones,thus,is being affected by human activities.To increase their conservation effectiveness,nature reserves and their management zones need to be re-examined in order to include suitable habitat of more endangered species.The procedures described in this study can be easily implemented for the conservation of many endangered species not only in China but in many other parts of the world.

Forest Cover Change Assessment in Conflict-affected Areas of Northwest Pakistan: the Case of Swat and Shangla Districts

This study examines the spatial and temporal forest cover changes in Swat and Shangla districts to understand the deforestation pattern in context of the recent security conflict in these districts. We used multi-resolution satellite images to assess the long term deforestation from 2001 to 2009 and also to identify episodic forest cutting areas appeared during the conflict period of Oct. 2007 - Oct. 2008. There are only 58 ha of deforestation identified during the conflict period while 1268 ha of gross annual deforestation were assessed during last eight years. Most of the deforestation patches persist around the administrative boundaries at sub-district levels (tehsils) which can be attributed to ambiguity in unclear jurisdiction between the forest official. The results highlight that the forest cutting appeared in Swat and Shangla during the conflict period is not as significant when compared with the long term deforestation pattern in the area. On the one side the results of the study are supportive to the picture that emerges from international studies which report high rate of deforestation in the country and on the other side it negates any relation between the security situation and the increasing deforestation in the north western Pakistan. The study concludes that deforestation assessments require verification by independent sources of data, such as satellite imagery to improve our understanding of deforestation processes.

Evaluation of state and community/private forests in Punjab, Pakistan using geospatial data and related techniques

Background： Forests are fundamental in maintaining water supplies, providing economic goods, mitigating climate change, and maintaining biodiversity, thus providing many of the world＇s poorest with income, food and medicine. Too often, forested lands are treated as ＂wastelands＂ or ＂free＂ and are easily cleared for agricultural and infrastructure expansion. Methods： In this paper, the sustainability of two forest ecosystems （state and community/private owned） was evaluated using SPOT-5 satellite images of 2005 and 2011. This study was conducted in a sub-watershed area covering 468 km2, of which 201 km2 is managed by the state and 267 km2 by community/private ownership in the Murree Galliat region of Punjab Province of Pakistan. A participatory approach was adopted for the delineation and demarcation of forest boundaries. The Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis （GEOBIA） technique was used for identification and mapping of ten Land Cover （LC） features. Results： The results show that between the years 2005 to 2011, a total of 55 km2 （24 km2 in state-owned forest and 31 km2 in community/private forest） was converted from forest to non-forest. The conclusion is that conservation is more effective in state-owned forests than in the community/private forests. Conclusions： These findings may help to mobilize community awareness and identify effective initiatives for improved management of community/private forest land for other regions of Pakistan.

Range extension of four highland agamid lizards in Shimshal Pamir,Pakistan

As part of the Sino-Pak trans-boundary cooperation for conservation and sustainable development in Pamir border region, World Wild Fund （WWF）-Pakistan conducted a preliminary social, economic and ecological survey in the ShimshaI-Pamir Lakes area in July 2009. The purpose of the study was to explore potentials and opportunities for future collaborative conservation of some species, habitats and high altitude ecosystems in the border region between China and Pakistan. The two-week herpetological study in the Shimshal Pamir area of Khunjerab National Park （KNP） along Pakistan-China border was an integral part of the survey, conducted exclu- sively to document reptilian fauna with a special emphasis on investigating their occurrence, distribution and status in the study area. Field investigations were performed during daytime when it was hot enough and reptiles were active, basking or feeding. A total of 15 specimens belonging to four species of the Agamidae family were captured by striking stones and beating bushes with sticks. Collected specimens were preserved using 10% formalin solution, tagged with field information and stored in Zoological Survey Department, Karachi for future reference. Laboratory investigations were carried out for pholidosic counts and morphometric measurements. A detailed review of relevant literature, habitat characteristics and laboratory investigations revealed the occurrence of Laudakia himalayana, L. pakistanica, L. tuberculata and L. badakhshana at 4,082 m, 4,172 m, 4,005 m and 4,240 m asl, respectively, which are much higher altitudes as compared to the previously reported heights of 3,353 m, 3,200 m, 2,500 m and 2,400 m asl. The terrain offers a variety of ecological barriers, in the form of fast and freezing running waters and massive glaciers with peculiar harsh climatic conditions prevailing for nine months of the year, which restricts species migration and thus increases endemism. Although one of the four species recorded from the study area, i.e.L, pakistanica is endemic to Pakistan, L. tuberculata and L. badakhshana are new records from Shimshal, Pakistan, so a detailed investigation is suggested for further herpetological records from the study area.

The reproductive biology of a Central American cichlid Neetroplus nematopus in Lake Xiloá ,Nicaragua

This study was conducted to provide a five-year database on the breeding seasonality and breeding biology of a CentralAmerican cichlid fish Neetroplus nematopus, a biparental substratum-spawning cichlid that cares for its eggs, wrigglers, andfry for up to six weeks. A total of 503 breeding pairs were monitored for breeding success. Breeding pairs of N. nematopus aresexually dimorphic in size, with females averaging 39% of male body mass. Fry emerged from 85% of nesting cavities. Afterthree weeks, only 30% of the broods were present in the nesting cavity; these broods had a 30% survival rate, giving a 9% overallsurvival rate. Nineteen percent of the successful parents with three-week-old broods adopted foreign fry. A consistent unimodalbreeding peak in December was observed for five years. This breeding peak differed dramatically from the bimodal breedingseason 20 years found in the 1970s. The effects of extensive grenade fishing practices during the 1980s might have played a substantialrole in the observed change. Grenade fishing stopped in 1991, and the number of A. nematopus pairs increased by 136%from 1990 to 1995. With increased density of breeding fish, the breeding season for this species also expanded. The balance betweendivergent selection due to competition for breeding sites and stabilizing selection due to predation pressure on offspring islikely to mold the breeding season for N. nematopus and other cichlids of Lake Xiloá. We suggest that brood adoption and synchronyof breeding is a strategy to reduce predation on the parent's own

Mitogenomic phylogeny of the Asian colobine genus Trachypithecus with special focus on Trachypithecus phayrei(Blyth, 1847) and description of a new species

Trachypithecus,which currently contains 20 species divided into four groups,is the most speciose and geographically dispersed genus among Asian colobines.Despite several morphological and molecular studies,however,its evolutionary history and phylogeography remain poorly understood.Phayre’s langur(Trachypithecus phayrei) is one of the most widespread members of the genus,but details on its actual distribution and intraspecific taxonomy are limited and controversial.Thus,to elucidate the evolutionary history of Trachypithecus and to clarify the intraspecific taxonomy and distribution of T.phayrei,we sequenced 41 mitochondrial genomes from georeferenced fecal samples and museum specimens,including two holotypes.Phylogenetic analyses revealed a robustly supported phylogeny of Trachypithecus,suggesting that the T.pileatus group branched first,followed by the T.francoisi group,and the T.cristatus and T.obscurus groups most recently.The four species groups diverged from each other 4.5-3.1 million years ago(Ma),while speciation events within these groups occurred much more recently(1.6-0.3 Ma).Within T.phayrei,we found three clades that diverged 1.0-0.9 Ma,indicating the existence of three rather than two taxa.Following the phylogenetic species concept and based on genetic,morphological,and ecological differences,we elevate the T.phayrei subspecies to species level,describe a new species from central Myanmar,and refine the distribution of the three taxa.Overall,our study highlights the importance of museum specimens and provides new insights not only into the evolutionary history of T.phayrei but the entire Trachypithecus genus as well.

Robinia pseudoacacia leaves improve soil physical and chemical properties

The role of the leaves of Robinia pseudoacacia L., which is widely distributed in the arid lands, on improving soil physical and chemical properties was analyzed at various incubation periods. The incubated soils added with 0, 25, 50 and 75 g Robinia pseudoacacia leaves were tested after consecutive incubation intervals of 6, 8 and 10 months and the different soil parameters were measured. The results showed the increases in organic matter (OM), extractable K, cation exchange capacity (CEC), aggregate stability and water holding capacity, but the decreases in pH value and bulk density after 6 months’ incubation. The gradual decrease in change rates of soil properties indicated less microbial population and organic residual mineralization under acidic conditions, which were resulted from fast decomposition of leaves after the first 6 months incubation. The increases in soil organic matter content, extractable K, CEC, aggregate stability and water holding capacity and the decreases in soil pH and bulk density provide favorable conditions for crop’s growth.

Bridging gaps between environmental flows theory and practices in China

In recent decades,a series of policies and practices for environmental flows(e-flows)have been implemented in China,with the sustainable development goal of balancing the utilization and protection of water resources among social,economic,and ecological needs.The aims of this study were to determine the main challenges and issues in e-flows implementation at different scales by analyzing policies and practices for eflows in China,and to propose some recommendations for bridging the gaps between the science and implementation of e-flows.The gaps between the science and implementation of e-flows were found after review of literature,policies,and practices,and it was found that ecological flow was a more widely used term by the government,rather than e-flows,in implementation.The plans and effects of e-flows implementation are discussed in this paper and challenges of e-flows implementation are recognized:(1)limited water resources and uneven spatial and temporal distribution,(2)a weak scientific basis for e-flows implementation,(3)poor operability of e-flows science,and(4)ineffective supervision and guarantee measures.The recommendations are(1)to strengthen the scientific foundation of e-flows,(2)to improve effectiveness in application of e-flows science,and(3)to propose operable and effective supervision and guarantee measures.This paper elaborates the current understanding of e-flows science and provides practical recommendations for implementing e-flows and for improving the effectiveness in e-flows implementation.To bridge the gaps between science and implementation of e-flows and improve the operability of policies in future practices,more scientific research on practices is recommended through adaptive management.

Status of Asiatic Wild Cat and its habitat in Xinjiang Tarim Basin, China

The Asiatic Wild CatFelis silvestris ornataisregarded as “Least concerned” (LC) first, as “Vulnerable” (VU) and following “Endangered” (EN) and then “Critically endangered” (CR) species as finally and originally concentrative distribute in Xinjiang Tarim Basin region in northwest China. This paper provides comprehensive information on bio-morphology, habitat selectivity, environmental condition, habit, preyfeed source and every item of composition, and relationship among Wild Cat and domestic cat at presence investigated in 2004-2006 and 2011- 2013 as especial study. The paper also illustrated some dynamical statistics of wild cat’ pelt collection by national trade from three prefectures in the last 40 years. Briefing the results of indication that large scale and continuous openup land for cotton in unplanned, exploit petroleum and natural gas, misapply water and destroy desert vegetation, poaching and killing prey objectives, etc., of them long-term effects on plants functional density and qualities of the cat surviving habitat and productivity, whereas pressures of increasing human population to fragile desert ecosystem showed efficiency and desirable effects of the cat surviving.

Does high vegetation coverage equal high giant panda density?

DEAR EDITOR,The giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)is a unique forest-dwelling species endemic to China.Previous studies have suggested that giant pandas are heavily reliant on old-growth forests with high vegetation coverage.As such,management has primarily focused on improving vegetation coverage in the potential range of giant pandas to increase the availability of suitable habitat.However,it remains unclear whether high vegetation coverage itself results in higher giant panda density.Here,we analyzed changes in vegetation coverage from 2001 to 2011 as well as the occurrence of wild giant pandas in five mountain areas.

Importance of genetic data from type specimens:The questionable type locality of southern white-cheeked gibbon,Nomascus siki(Delacour,1951)

DEAR EDITOR,Many historical descriptions of new species have included vague or inaccurate information about the type locality.This can lead to confusion in the study of the species and their geographic distributions,thereby hindering conservation efforts.One such example is the southern white-cheeked gibbon(Nomascus siki(Delacour,1951)).The type locality is given as Thua Luu in central Vietnam,which is located within the range of another crested gibbon species(N.annamensis)and more than 200 km south of the known range of N.siki.To investigate the problematic type locality of N.siki,we sequenced the mitochondrial genome of the holotype and compared its cytochrome b gene sequence to those of other georeferenced crested gibbon samples.

The development and application of a multiplex short tandem repeat(STR)system for identifying subspecies,individuals and sex in tigers

Poaching and trans-boundary trafficking of tigers and body parts are threatening the world’s last remaining wild tigers.Development of an efficient molecular genetic assay for tracing the origins of confiscated specimens will assist in law enforcement and wildlife forensics for this iconic flagship species.We developed a multiplex genotyping system“tigrisPlex”to simultaneously assess 22 short tandem repeat(STR,or microsatellite)loci and a gender-identifying SRY gene,all amplified in 4 reactions using as little as 1 ng of template DNA.With DNA samples used for between-run calibration,the system generates STR genotypes that are directly compatible with voucher tiger subspecies genetic profiles,hence making it possible to identify subspecies via bi-parentally inherited markers.We applied“tigrisPlex”to 12 confiscated specimens from Russia and identified 6 individuals(3 females and 3 males),each represented by duplicated samples and all designated as Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica)with high confidence.This STR multiplex system can serve as an effective and versatile approach for genetic profiling of both wild and captive tigers as well as confiscated tiger products,fulfilling various conservation needs for identifying the origins of tiger samples.

长江中下游湿地水鸟保护优先区和保护空缺

The Yangtze River floodplain is critical for migratory waterbirds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway(EAAF).Greater awareness of its global importance is urgently needed to ensure waterbird populations remain in favourable conservation status,as well as the enhancement of wider wetland biodiversity within this region.The designation of protected wetland areas and building a green ecological corridor in the Yangtze floodplain is now becoming a critical issue of interest to the Chinese government.Priority sites in this area were identified based on the criteria used to identify sites that qualify as Wetlands of International Importance(Ramsar Sites)and Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas(IBAs)by using multi-source data.The results show that 140 of the sites surveyed are priority sites.The Importance Index(I)for the whole floodplain decreased slightly from 2001–2005 and an unbalanced distribution pattern is evident with Jiangxi and Hunan provinces significantly higher than the other provinces in the floodplain.Although more than 60%of the priority sites are currently located outside protected areas,the average Conservation Effectiveness Index(C)of the whole floodplain is 75.6%,which suggests the coverage of protected areas for most wintering waterbird population is reasonable.Conservation of the Yangtze River floodplain needs to be further strengthened due to declining waterbird abundances and the mismatch between the distribution of protected areas and their importance for wintering waterbirds.A comprehensive system for priority site identification and protection and scientific review is needed.Multi-sourced data from regular,systematic and coordinated monitoring of waterbird distribution and abundance across the EAAF,as well as national scale citizen science programmes are also critically important.