Global Conservation Prioritisation Approach Provides Credible Results at a Regional Scale

Diversity and Distributions, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 31(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Aim Conservationists and managers must direct resources enact measures to protect species, despite uncertainty about their present status. One approach covering the data gap is borrowing information from data‐rich species or populations guide decisions data‐poor ones via machine learning. Recent efforts demonstrated proof‐of‐concept at global scale, leaving unclear whether similar approaches are feasible local regional scales which conservation actions most typically occur. To address this gap, we tested a global‐scale predictive using two groups of taxa. Location State Maryland, USA. Taxa Vascular land plants lepidopterans. Methods Using publicly available occurrence biogeographic data, trained random forest classifiers predict state‐level status in each focal We assessed model performance with cross‐validation, explored trends predictions. Results Our models had strong discriminatory ability, accurately predicting for existing assessments. They that northwestern part USA, overlaps Appalachian Mountains, harbours higher concentration unassessed, but likely threatened predictions track known patterns, unassessed predicted as Maryland were often recognised also needing nearby jurisdictions, providing external validation our results. Main Conclusions demonstrate modelling developed analysis can be downscaled credible when applied scale smaller than typical ranges. identified select plant lepidopteran western, montane region priority targets additional monitoring, assessment conservation. By rapidly aggregating disparate integrating across taxa, like those used complement traditional tools assist prioritisation formal assessments, well protection.

Language: Английский

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Biogeography of European Bees

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Effect of Soil Properties on Species Richness of Fossorial Squamate Reptiles

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 26, 2025

ABSTRACT Aim Species richness varies greatly over geographic gradients. Climate and other above‐ground attributes are the most common variables used to explain animal patterns. However, soil properties may play an important role in shaping of species living underground. Studies have yet comprehensively analyse fossorial squamates' patterns how influence them. We investigated different predictors, including climate, influenced fully‐fossorial, semi‐fossorial, non‐fossorial squamates. Location Global. Taxon Reptilia: Squamata. Methods categorised squamates into non‐fossorial, assessed for each category independently. selected potential climatic factors that could their richness. Then we ordinary least squares regression models with spatially lagged (OLSL) geographically weighted (GWRL) investigate climate on group. Results Fully‐fossorial squamate peaks Africa South America. Semi‐fossorial is highest America Australia. Non‐fossorial exhibit maximum Southeast Asia. was more strongly associated than all groups. Nevertheless, as levels fossoriality increase, become correlates Main Conclusions This study highlights importance incorporating alongside biogeography.

Language: Английский

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Extinction risk predictions for the world’s flowering plants to support their conservation

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 31, 2023

Summary More than 70% of all vascular plants lack conservation status assessments. We aimed to address this shortfall in knowledge species extinction risk by using the World Checklist Vascular Plants generate first comprehensive set predictions for a large clade: angiosperms (flowering plants, ∼330,000 species). used Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (BART) predict predictors relating range size, human footprint, climate, and evolutionary history applied novel approach estimate uncertainty individual level predictions. From our model we 45.1% angiosperm are potentially threatened with lower bound 44.5% upper 45.7%. Our species-level predictions, associated estimates, do not replace full Red List assessments, but can be prioritise predicted assessment fast-track non-threatened Least Concern estimates also guide fieldwork, inform systematic planning support global plant efforts targets.

Language: Английский

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Artificial cover objects as a tool for the survey and conservation of herpetofauna

Biodiversity and Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 33(5), P. 1575 - 1590

Published: April 1, 2024

Abstract Artificial cover objects, made of various materials, have been used for decades reptile and amphibian surveys, as well in habitat restoration programs. Their low cost maintenance demands make them a effective efficient survey method. Since flipping covers does not require special skills, can be uniform size material, they standardized method to negate observer biases. We surveyed the literature search studies describing use artificial objects situ part surveys or efforts reptiles amphibians twenty-first century. found 490 conducted 31 countries. Our results show that are an sample terms both labor cost. Overall, we enabled detection 357 species belonging 47 families. Only one study reported animal mortality caused by it also suggested way prevent it. No other direct indirect injuries deaths covers. discuss efficacy surveying amphibians, examine their effectiveness when

Language: Английский

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