5 research outputs found
Drivers of extinction risk in African mammals: the interplay of distribution state, human pressure, conservation response and species biology
Although conservation intervention has reversed the decline of some species,
our success is outweighed by a much larger number of species moving
towards extinction. Extinction risk modelling can identify correlates of risk
and species not yet recognized to be threatened. Here, we use machine learning
models to identify correlates of extinction risk in African terrestrial
mammals using a set of variables belonging to four classes: species distribution
state, human pressures, conservation response and species biology.
We derived information on distribution state and human pressure from satellite-
borne imagery. Variables in all four classes were identified as important
predictors of extinction risk, and interactions were observed among variables
in different classes (e.g. level of protection, human threats, species distribution
ranges). Species biology had a key role in mediating the effect of
external variables. The model was 90% accurate in classifying extinction risk
status of species, but in a few cases the observed and modelled extinction
risk mismatched. Species in this condition might suffer from an incorrect
classification of extinction risk (hence require reassessment). An increased
availability of satellite imagery combined with improved resolution and classification
accuracy of the resulting maps will play a progressively greater role in
conservation monitoring.JRC.H.5-Land Resources Managemen
Generation length for mammals
Generation length (GL) is defined as the average age of parents of the current cohort, reflecting the turnover rate of breeding individuals in a population. GL is a fundamental piece of information for population ecology as well as for measuring species threat status (e.g. in the IUCN Red List). Here we present a dataset including GL records for all extant mammal species (n=5427). We first reviewed all data on GL published in the IUCN Red List database. We then calculated a value for species with available reproductive parameters (reproductive life span and age at first reproduction). We assigned to missing-data species a mean GL value from congeneric or confamilial species (depending on data availability). Finally, for a few remaining species, we assigned mean GL values from species with similar body mass and belonging to the same order. Our work provides the first attempt to complete a database of GL for mammals; it will be an essential reference point for all conservation-related studies that need pragmatic information on species GL, such as population dynamics and applications of the IUCN Red List assessment
Data from: Generation length for mammals
Generation length (GL) is defined as the average age of parents of the current cohort, reflecting the turnover rate of breeding individuals in a population. GL is a fundamental piece of information for population ecologist as well as for measuring species threat status (e.g. in the IUCN Red List). Here we present a dataset including GL records for all extant mammal species (n=5426). We first reviewed all data on GL published in the IUCN Red List database. We then calculated a value for species with available reproductive parameters (reproductive life span and age at first reproduction). We assigned to missing-data species a mean GL value from congeneric or confamilial species (depending on data availability). Finally, for a few remaining species, we assigned mean GL values from species with similar body mass and belonging to the same order. Our work provides the first attempt to complete a database of GL for mammals; it will be an essential reference point for all conservation-related studies that need pragmatic information on species GL, such as population dynamics and applications of the IUCN Red List assessment
Generation Lenght for Mammals
Generation Lenght for Mammal