A global reptile assessment highlights shared conservation needs of tetrapods

Nature, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 605(7909), P. 285 - 290

Published: April 27, 2022

Comprehensive assessments of species' extinction risks have documented the crisis1 and underpinned strategies for reducing those risks2. Global reveal that, among tetrapods, 40.7% amphibians, 25.4% mammals 13.6% birds are threatened with extinction3. Because global been lacking, reptiles omitted from conservation-prioritization analyses that encompass other tetrapods4-7. Reptiles unusually diverse in arid regions, suggesting they may different conservation needs6. Here we provide a comprehensive extinction-risk assessment show at least 1,829 out 10,196 species (21.1%) threatened-confirming previous extrapolation8 representing 15.6 billion years phylogenetic diversity. by same major factors threaten tetrapods-agriculture, logging, urban development invasive species-although threat posed climate change remains uncertain. inhabiting forests, where these threats strongest, more than habitats, contrary to our prediction. Birds, amphibians unexpectedly good surrogates reptiles, although smallest ranges tend be isolated tetrapods. Although some reptiles-including most crocodiles turtles-require urgent, targeted action prevent extinctions, efforts protect such as habitat preservation control trade species, will probably also benefit many reptiles.

Language: Английский

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A global phylogeny of turtles reveals a burst of climate-associated diversification on continental margins

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 118(7)

Published: Feb. 8, 2021

Living turtles are characterized by extraordinarily low species diversity given their age. The clade's extensive fossil record indicates that climate and biogeography may have played important roles in determining diversity. We investigated this hypothesis collecting a molecular dataset for 591 individual that, together, represent 80% of all turtle species, including representatives families 98% genera, used it to jointly estimate phylogeny divergence times. found the tree is relatively constant diversification (speciation minus extinction) punctuated single threefold increase. also shift temporally geographically associated with newly emerged continental margins appeared during Eocene-Oligocene transition about 30 million years before present. In apparent contrast, from time period contains evidence major, but regional, extinction event. These seemingly discordant findings appear be driven common global process: cooling drying at transition. This climatic led aridification drove extinctions fossil-bearing areas, while simultaneously exposing new margin habitat subsequently allowed burst speciation these exploitable ecological opportunities.

Language: Английский

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Potential effects of future climate change on global reptile distributions and diversity

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 32(4), P. 519 - 534

Published: Feb. 21, 2023

Abstract Aim Until recently, complete information on global reptile distributions has not been widely available. Here, we provide the first comprehensive climate impact assessment for reptiles a scale. Location Global, excluding Antarctica. Time period 1995, 2050 and 2080. Major taxa studied Reptiles. Methods We modelled distribution of 6296 species assessed potential realm‐specific changes in richness, change richness across space, species‐specific range extent, overlap position under future change. To assess climatic 3768 range‐restricted species, which could be modelled, compared conditions between both non‐modelled species. Results Reptile was projected to decline significantly over time, globally but also most zoogeographical realms, with greatest decreases Brazil, Australia South Africa. Species highest warm moist regions, these regions being shift further towards extremes future. Range extents were considerably future, low current ranges. Shifts centroids differed among realms taxa, dominant poleward shift. Non‐modelled stronger affected by than Main conclusions With ongoing change, is likely decrease parts world. This effect, addition considerable impacts position, visible lizards, snakes turtles alike. Together other anthropogenic impacts, such as habitat loss harvesting this cause concern. Given historical lack distributions, calls re‐assessment conservation efforts, specific focus anticipated

Language: Английский

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Distinct metabolic responses to thermal stress between invasive freshwater turtle Trachemys scripta elegans and native freshwater turtles in China

Integrative Zoology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(6), P. 1057 - 1075

Published: Jan. 2, 2024

Abstract Different responses or tolerance to thermal stress between invasive and native species can affect the outcome of interactions climate change biological invasion. However, knowledge about physiological mechanisms that modulate interspecific differences in is limited. The present study analyzes metabolic by globally turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans , as compared with two co‐occurring turtle China, Pelodiscus sinensis Mauremys reevesii . Changes metabolite contents expression enzyme activities genes involved energy sensing, glucose metabolism, lipid tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle after exposure gradient temperatures were assessed juveniles. Invasive turtles showed distinct stress. T. greater transcriptional regulation sensors than turtles. Enhanced anaerobic metabolism was needed all three under extreme heat conditions, but phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase lactate dehydrogenase invader stronger upregulation stable species, which inhibition high temperatures. These contrasts pronounced muscles species. Regulation observed both P. not M. Thermal did inhibit TCA may contribute tolerance. Overall, our further suggested potential role mediating

Language: Английский

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Searching priorities for a species at the brink of extinction: Threats analysis on the critically endangered Nubian Flapshell Turtle (Cyclanorbis elegans)

African Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 62(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract The Critically Endangered Nubian Flapshell Turtle ( Cyclanorbis elegans ) is found in the White Nile River system South Sudan and northern Uganda. Over past few decades, its populations have sharply declined, primarily due to human‐induced threats, leading near‐extinction across almost entire range. In this paper, we present results of a comprehensive threat analysis undertaken pinpoint challenges confronting species within natural habitat, specifically only known sites where it currently exists. We aimed develop conceptual framework understand causal relationships among driving forces, threats target species. This allows visualisation web intricate interactions that contribute species' decline vulnerability. convened panel experts who identified three primary direct Turtle: (1) Sand mining (IUCN code 3.2); (2) Overfishing by native fishers refugees (code 5.4) (3) Habitat loss at nesting 7.3). Among these overfishing had largest geographical extension, highest intensity duration, while habitat occurred frequency. These varied significantly Additionally, when assessing overall magnitude impact, with higher scores compared sand mining. Our also underlying forces behind threats: Economic interests activities along Nile; influence civil conflict refugee populations, which demand for bushmeat; Chinese expatriates, lead overfishing; (4) removal bank vegetation serves as catalyst sites. resulting valuable tool defining targeted conservation measures each distinct threat.

Language: Английский

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Hunting Wildlife in the Tropics and Subtropics

Published: Aug. 25, 2022

The hunting of wild animals for their meat has been a crucial activity in the evolution humans. It continues to be an essential source food and generator income millions Indigenous rural communities worldwide. Conservationists rightly fear that excessive many animal species will cause demise, as already happened throughout Anthropocene. Many large mammals birds have decimated or annihilated due overhunting by If such pressures continue, other meet same fate. Equally, if use wildlife resources is continue those who depend on it, sustainable practices must implemented. These need remain become custodians within lands, own well-being well biodiversity general. This title also available via Open Access Cambridge Core.

Language: Английский

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Anthropogenic impacts on threatened species erode functional diversity in chelonians and crocodilians

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: March 28, 2023

The Anthropocene is tightly associated with a drastic loss of species worldwide and the disappearance their key ecosystem functions. orders Testudines (turtles tortoises) Crocodilia (crocodiles, alligators, gharials) contain numerous threatened, long-lived for which functional diversity potential erosion by anthropogenic impacts remains unknown. Here, we examine 259 (69%) existing 375 Crocodilia, quantifying life history strategies (i.e., trade-offs in survival, development, reproduction) from open-access data on demography, ancestry, threats. We find that simulated extinction scenarios threatened greater than expected chance. Moreover, effects unsustainable local consumption, diseases, pollution are strategies. In contrast, climate change, habitat disturbance, global trade affect independent strategy. Importantly, degradation twice all other Our findings highlight importance conservation programmes focused preserving jointly phylogenetic representativity these highly groups.

Language: Английский

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Is the future female for turtles? Climate change and wetland configuration predict sex ratios of a freshwater species

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 29(10), P. 2643 - 2654

Published: Feb. 1, 2023

Climate change and land-use are leading drivers of biodiversity decline, affecting demographic parameters that important for population persistence. For example, scientists have speculated decades climate may skew adult sex ratios in taxa express temperature-dependent determination (TSD), but limited evidence exists this phenomenon is occurring natural settings. species vulnerable to anthropogenic practices, differential mortality among sexes also ratios. We sampled the spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata), a freshwater with TSD, across large portion its geographic range (Florida Maine), assess environmental factors influencing present suggests recent has potentially skewed ratio turtles, samples following pattern increased proportions females concomitant warming trends, only within warmer areas sampled. At intermediate temperatures, there was no relationship climate, while cooler we found opposite pattern, becoming more male biased increasing temperatures. These patterns might be explained part by variation relative adaptive capacity via phenotypic plasticity nest site selection. Our findings suggest turtles context-dependent multi-scale land use. observed negative between proportion amount crop cover (within 300 m) when wetlands were less spatially aggregated. However, aggregated, remained consistent. This reflect sex-specific movement render males from agricultural machinery other threats. highlight complexity species' responses both use, emphasize role landscape structure can play shaping wildlife demographics.

Language: Английский

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Global conservation status of the jawed vertebrate Tree of Life

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Feb. 29, 2024

Abstract Human-driven extinction threatens entire lineages across the Tree of Life. Here we assess conservation status jawed vertebrate evolutionary history, using three policy-relevant approaches. First, calculate an index threat to overall showing that expect lose 86–150 billion years (11–19%) history over next 50–500 years. Second, rank species by their EDGE scores identify highest priorities for species-focused finding chondrichthyans, ray-finned fish and testudines all vertebrates. Third, families. We found within monotypic families are more likely be threatened in decline than other species. provide a baseline at risk catalyse action. This work continues trend highlighting neglected groups—such as testudines, crocodylians, amphibians chondrichthyans—as from phylogenetic perspective.

Language: Английский

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Anaerobic fungi in the tortoise alimentary tract illuminate early stages of host-fungal symbiosis and Neocallimastigomycota evolution

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: March 28, 2024

Abstract Anaerobic gut fungi (AGF, Neocallimastigomycota ) reside in the alimentary tract of herbivores. While their presence mammals is well documented, evidence for occurrence non-mammalian hosts currently sparse. Culture-independent surveys AGF tortoises identified a unique community, with three novel deep-branching genera representing >90% sequences most samples. Representatives all were successfully isolated under strict anaerobic conditions. Transcriptomics-enabled phylogenomic and molecular dating analyses indicated an ancient, position tree these genera, evolutionary divergence time estimate 104-112 million years ago (Mya). Such estimates push establishment animal- symbiosis from late to early Cretaceous. Further, tortoise-associated isolates (T-AGF) exhibited limited capacity plant polysaccharides metabolism lacked genes encoding several carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) families. Finally, we demonstrate that observed curtailed degradation capacities reduced CAZyme repertoire driven by paucity horizontal gene transfer (HGT) T-AGF genomes, compared mammalian counterparts. This was reflected altered cellulosomal production T-AGF. Our findings provide insights into phylogenetic diversity, ecological distribution, history, evolution fungal-host nutritional symbiosis, dynamics acquisition .

Language: Английский

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