Human - wildlife coexistence in the Amazon agricultural frontier

Doutoramento em BiologiaNos últimos anos, a conservação da biodiversidade tem-se revelado como um dos maiores desafios que a humanidade enfrenta, no sentido de salvaguardar o frágil equilíbrio dos ecossistemas no nosso planeta. A procura de medidas de preservação revela-se essencial em zonas de elevada riqueza natural, como são o caso das florestas tropicais da Amazónia, que vêm, sistematicamente, a sofrer um aumento da pressão humana, quer pela expansão da agricultura e pecuária, quer pela crescente exploração dos seus recursos naturais. Neste cenário, as áreas protegidas surgem como um instrumento fundamental para preservação da biodiversidade face à crescente antropização. Aos grandes predadores é reconhecida a importância na manutenção dos ecossistemas pelo papel-chave que ocupam nas cadeias tróficas. O impacto a larga escala, consequente da extinção/redução de grandes carnívoros, acaba por afectar aspectos locais (diversidade) ou mesmo regionais (ciclo da água). Por este motivo, o estudo das relações entre os grandes carnívoros e o homem torna-se relevante na definição de políticas de gestão, contribuindo ainda para a avaliação da eficácia de medidas de conservação, como a funcionalidade de áreas protegidas. Com este estudo pretendeu-se avaliar o estado das populações de dois grandes felinos – jaguar (Panthera onca) e puma (Puma concolor) – numa área protegida (Parque Estadual do Cantão - PEC) e numa área privada (Fazenda Santa Fé - FSF), com o objectivo de aferir a eficácia das reservas naturais, na região do “arco do desmatamento”. As densidades de jaguar e puma foram calculadas ao longo de 3 anos nas estações da chuva e seca. Este estudo contribuiu ainda para um aumento do conhecimento sobre a riqueza de espécies nesta região, nomeadamente dentro do PEC e da FSF. Concluímos que a existência do PEC per se não garante a preservação da biodiversidade, uma vez que está fortemente dependente das áreas florestais adjacentes para conservar a riqueza faunística. Simultaneamente, observamos que os grandes carnívoros, quer pelas características biológicas quer pelo conflito directo com o Homem (resultado de predação sobre o gado), podem ser utilizados como espécies-foco. Observamos ainda que a monitorização das populações destes carnívoros fornece informação indispensável para a avaliação do impacto das actividades humanas e para definir acções de gestão para esta região. A preservação da biodiversidade no “arco do desmatamento” passa pela implementação de planos de conservação concretos que incidam, nomeadamente, no aumento da fiscalização da lei ambiental e no aumento da sensibilização das populações locais (crescente apoio técnico-educativo), no sentido de fomentar o desenvolvimento sustentável.Biodiversity preservation emerged in the last couple of years has one of the main worldwide problems and a great challenge for next generation to come, in order to secure quality of live on planet earth. This fact is of particular importance in the Amazon, a region of high biodiversity that suffers an increase human pressure due to expanding agricultural frontier and exploitation of natural resources. In this region protected areas stand as an essential tool to allow coexistence between man and wildlife. Large predators are key elements in ecosystem functioning because of their important role in food chains. The impact of large-scale extinctions/reduction of large carnivores can reach local (diversity of wildlife) and regional (water cycle) effects. Consequently relationship between man and large carnivores is an important issue on management, furthermore helping in the evaluation of conservation measures like protected areas. In this research we focus on determining the status of large cats (jaguar and puma) population inside a protected area (Cantão State Park, CS - Park) and private forest reserve (Santa Fé Ranch, SF - Ranch) in order to evaluate protected area efficiency in the high human impacted region “arc of deforestation”. Using camera-trapping methodology we determine jaguar and puma density in the region throughout three years and different seasons. We also estimate terrestrial vertebrate richness in CS-Park and SF-Ranch. We observed that CS-Park per se could not guarantee biodiversity preservation at local level and is strongly depended on the securing neighbouring private forest reserves to maintain fauna diversity. We demonstrate also that large carnivores can be used as focal species in management approach in this area. Due to their specific biological demands and the direct interaction with man (consequence of cattle depredation) monitoring carnivore population status creates knowledge baseline from were we can evaluate human impact and launch specific conservation actions in the region. To achieve ultimate preservation goals we suggest intensification on environmental law enforcement and raise technical and educational support to local population towards a more sustainable development

Património natural da Bacia do Ave

PROJECTO ALBA-TER / AVE. ADRAVE

Conservation status and Action Plan for the recovery of Iberian lynx populations in Portugal

From the first half of the 20th century onwards, the Portuguese Iberian lynx population was distributed in three major nuclei: Sado Valley, Malcata and Contenda-Barrancos. In the following decades these areas were subjected to a process that culminated in the specie’s considerable regression, probably as consequence of a major allocation of potential habitat to forestry and of prey scarcity as a result of viral diseases. The most recent survey, conducted from 2002 till 2004, revealed that the species is presently on the verge of extinction. Aware of the critical situation of the Iberian lynx in Portugal, the Institute of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity developed a Conservation Action Plan for the Iberian lynx in order to provide a consistent and effective approach to conserve the species in Portuguese territory. The on-going Action Plan is being applied in all Natura 2000 Sites, located in the lynx historical distribution that present suitable characteristics for the species potential presence or landscape features that can be optimised for lynx survival and that can be relevant for the species life-cycle. The goal of this Plan is to apply pre-release strategic reintroduction activities in order to make it possible, in the long-term, the reintroduction of Iberian lynx. Integrated in the plan, there are several ongoing conservation projects, which include habitat and prey restoration and the construction of a breeding centre that will be integrated within the overall Iberian Lynx Ex situ Conservation Programm

Wild dogs at stake: deforestation threatens the only Amazon endemic canid, the short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis)

The persistent high deforestation rate and fragmentation of the Amazon forests are the main threats to their biodiversity. To anticipate and mitigate these threats, it is important to understand and predict how species respond to the rapidly changing landscape. The short-eared dog Atelocynus microtis is the only Amazon-endemic canid and one of the most understudied wild dogs worldwide. We investigated short-eared dog habitat associations on two spatial scales. First, we used the largest record database ever compiled for short-eared dogs in combination with species distribution models to map species habitat suitability, estimate its distribution range and predict shifts in species distribution in response to predicted deforestation across the entire Amazon (regional scale). Second, we used systematic camera trap surveys and occupancy models to investigate how forest cover and forest fragmentation affect the space use of this species in the Southern Brazilian Amazon (local scale). Species distribution models suggested that the short-eared dog potentially occurs over an extensive and continuous area, through most of the Amazon region south of the Amazon River. However, approximately 30% of the short-eared dog's current distribution is expected to be lost or suffer sharp declines in habitat suitability by 2027 (within three generations) due to forest loss. This proportion might reach 40% of the species distribution in unprotected areas and exceed 60% in some interfluves (i.e. portions of land separated by large rivers) of the Amazon basin. Our local-scale analysis indicated that the presence of forest positively affected short-eared dog space use, while the density of forest edges had a negative effect. Beyond shedding light on the ecology of the short-eared dog and refining its distribution range, our results stress that forest loss poses a serious threat to the conservation of the species in a short time frame. Hence, we propose a re-assessment of the short-eared dog's current IUCN Red List status (Near Threatened) based on findings presented here. Our study exemplifies how data can be integrated across sources and modelling procedures to improve our knowledge of relatively understudied species

MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL : A data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in P ortugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with 26% of all species being includedin the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associatedwith habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mam-mals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion formarine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems func-tionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is cru-cial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS INPORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublishedgeoreferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mam-mals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira thatincludes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occur-ring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live obser-vations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%),bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent lessthan 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrowsjsoil moundsjtunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animaljhairjskullsjjaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8),observation in shelters, (9) photo trappingjvideo, (10) predators dietjpelletsjpine cones/nuts, (11) scatjtrackjditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalizationjecholocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and100 m (76%). Rodentia (n=31,573) has the highest number of records followedby Chiroptera (n=18,857), Carnivora (n=18,594), Lagomorpha (n=17,496),Cetartiodactyla (n=11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n=7008). The data setincludes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened(e.g.,Oryctolagus cuniculus[n=12,159],Monachus monachus[n=1,512],andLynx pardinus[n=197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate thepublication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contrib-ute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting onthe development of more accurate and tailored conservation managementstrategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite thisdata paper when the data are used in publications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Training future generations to deliver evidence-based conservation and ecosystem management

1. To be effective, the next generation of conservation practitioners and managers need to be critical thinkers with a deep understanding of how to make evidence-based decisions and of the value of evidence synthesis. 2. If, as educators, we do not make these priorities a core part of what we teach, we are failing to prepare our students to make an effective contribution to conservation practice. 3. To help overcome this problem we have created open access online teaching materials in multiple languages that are stored in Applied Ecology Resources. So far, 117 educators from 23 countries have acknowledged the importance of this and are already teaching or about to teach skills in appraising or using evidence in conservation decision-making. This includes 145 undergraduate, postgraduate or professional development courses. 4. We call for wider teaching of the tools and skills that facilitate evidence-based conservation and also suggest that providing online teaching materials in multiple languages could be beneficial for improving global understanding of other subject areas.Peer reviewe

Mammals in Portugal: a data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in Portugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with ~26% of all species being included in the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associated with habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mammals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion for marine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems functionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is crucial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublished georeferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mammals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira that includes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occurring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live observations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%), bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent less than 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrows | soil mounds | tunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animal | hair | skulls | jaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8), observation in shelters, (9) photo trapping | video, (10) predators diet | pellets | pine cones/nuts, (11) scat | track | ditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalization | echolocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and 100 m (76%). Rodentia (n =31,573) has the highest number of records followed by Chiroptera (n = 18,857), Carnivora (n = 18,594), Lagomorpha (n = 17,496), Cetartiodactyla (n = 11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n = 7008). The data set includes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened (e.g., Oryctolagus cuniculus [n = 12,159], Monachus monachus [n = 1,512], and Lynx pardinus [n = 197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate the publication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contribute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting on the development of more accurate and tailored conservation management strategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications

One or two cameras per station? Monitoring jaguars and other mammals in the Amazon

Camera trapping has become a popular technique to monitor carnivore populations due to its usefulness in estimating abundance. Nevertheless, there are a number of problems associated with study design which are motivating researchers to search for a compromise that ensures improvement of precision while being cost-effective. We have used data from a capture– recapture study in a forested area in central Brazil to evaluate the effectiveness of using one versus two cameras per trapping station for determining jaguar (Panthera onca) density and capture rates of several other mammals. The capture rate for the jaguar and other species recorded with only one camera was lower than that with two cameras. The number of jaguars identified using photos from one camera ranged between six and seven animals, but reached ten individuals when twocamera sets were used where pictures of both flanks could be positively individualized. These differences, combined with different estimates of effective sampled area size, resulted in jaguar densities estimates ranging from 2.18 to 5.40 and 3.99 individuals/100 km2 when one and two cameras were used per station, respectively (using the half-MMDM and Heterogeneity model). Based on our results, we recommend the use of two cameras per station for jaguar density monitoring to ensure reasonable levels of reliability and accuracy of estimates despite a small sample size.publishe