Questioning current practice in brown bear, Ursus arctos, conservation in Europe that undervalues taxonomy

Cuestionamiento de la actual estrategia de conservación del oso pardo, Ursus arctos, en Europa, que infravalora la taxonomía En este trabajo se ponen de relieve los problemas relacionados con la taxonomía actualmente aceptada del oso pardo, Ursus arctos, y sus consecuencias para la conservación en el ámbito europeo. En la actualidad, ni la taxonomía ni las prácticas de conservación reconocen la enorme variabilidad morfológica existente dentro de la especie Ursus arctos. Los investigadores moleculares reconocen la existencia de siete clados principales enUrsus arctos y, a pesar de que en Europa occidental la mayoría de las poblaciones pertenecen al primitivo Clado 1 del linaje de oso pardo, en las políticas vigentes de conservación no se hace referencia a ello. Además, la diminuta población de osos pardos de los Apeninos, caracterizada por una morfología craneal particular, ni siquiera es reconocida como una unidad evolutiva significativa (UES) por la legislación europea vigente ni tampoco está incluida en la Lista Roja de la UICN. Ello puede tener graves consecuencias, puesto que la conservación del oso pardo en Europa occidental se ha basado principalmente en programas de repoblación y reintroducción.Cuestionamiento de la actual estrategia de conservación del oso pardo, Ursus arctos, en Europa, que infravalora la taxonomía En este trabajo se ponen de relieve los problemas relacionados con la taxonomía actualmente aceptada del oso pardo, Ursus arctos, y sus consecuencias para la conservación en el ámbito europeo. En la actualidad, ni la taxonomía ni las prácticas de conservación reconocen la enorme variabilidad morfológica existente dentro de la especie Ursus arctos. Los investigadores moleculares reconocen la existencia de siete clados principales enUrsus arctos y, a pesar de que en Europa occidental la mayoría de las poblaciones pertenecen al primitivo Clado 1 del linaje de oso pardo, en las políticas vigentes de conservación no se hace referencia a ello. Además, la diminuta población de osos pardos de los Apeninos, caracterizada por una morfología craneal particular, ni siquiera es reconocida como una unidad evolutiva significativa (UES) por la legislación europea vigente ni tampoco está incluida en la Lista Roja de la UICN. Ello puede tener graves consecuencias, puesto que la conservación del oso pardo en Europa occidental se ha basado principalmente en programas de repoblación y reintroducción.The present paper highlights problems associated with the currently–accepted taxonomy of brown bear, Ursus arctos, and their consequences for conservation at the European level. The enormous morphological variability within Ursus arctos is not acknowledged in current taxonomy and conservation practice. Seven major clades are recognized in Ursus arctos by molecular researchers, and although Western Europe maintains most of the populations belonging to the relict Clade 1 brown bear lineage, no reference to this is made in current conservation policy. Furthermore, the tiny population of Apennine brown bears, characterized by unique skull morphology, is not even recognized as a distinct ESU (evolutionari significant unit) by current European legislation, nor is it included in the IUCN Red List. This may have serious consequences as brown bear conservation in Western Europe has been mainly based on restocking and reintroduction programs

Aproximación a nivel de suprataxón de las prioridades de conservación de roedores en el siglo XXI

Although rodents are not considered among the most threatened mammals, there is ample historical evidence concerning the vulnerability to extinction of several rodent phylogenetic lineages. Owing to the high number of species, poor taxonomy and the lack of detailed information on population status, the assessment of threat status according to IUCN criteria has still to be considered arbitrary in some cases. Public appreciation is scarce and tends to overlook the ecological role and conservation problems of an order representing about 41 percent of mammalian species. We provide an overview of the most relevant information concerning the conservation status of rodents at the genus, subfamily, and family level. For species–poor taxa, the importance of distinct populations is highlighted and a splitter approach in taxonomy is adopted. Considering present constraints, strategies for the conservation of rodent diversity must rely mainly on higher taxon and hot–spot approaches. A clear understanding of phyletic relationships among difficult groups —such as Rattus, for instance— is an urgent goal. Even if rodent taxonomy is still unstable, high taxon approach is amply justified from a conservation standpoint as it offers a more subtle overview of the world terrestrial biodiversity than that offered by large mammals. Of the circa 451 living rodent genera, 126 (27,9 %), representing 168 living species, deserve conservation attention according to the present study. About 76 % of genera at risk are monotypic, confirming the danger of losing a considerable amount of phylogenetic distinctiveness.Aunque los roedores no figuren entre los mamíferos con mayor amenaza de extinción, existen pruebas históricas que demuestran la vulnerabilidad de diversos linajes filogenéticos de roedores. Debido al gran número de especies existentes, la taxonomía deficiente y la falta de información detallada sobre el estado de las poblaciones, en determinados casos es arbitrario determinar hasta qué punto algunas especies se encuentran en peligro de extinción de acuerdo con los criterios de la UICN. Además, si a ello se une el escaso aprecio que el público en general siente por los roedores, la situación explica que se pase por alto tanto el papel ecológico como los problemas de conservación de un orden al que pertenecen aproximadamente el 40% de todas las especies de mamíferos. Se proporciona información exhaustiva y relevante sobre el estado de conservación de los roedores, a nivel de género, familia y subfamilia. Para aquellas especies cuya taxonomía sigue estando incompleta, se destaca la importancia de las distintas poblaciones y su taxonomía se analiza por separado. A causa de las limitaciones actuales, las diferentes estrategias para la conservación de la diversidad de roedores deben basarse fundamentalmente en un mayor análisis del taxón y de los lugares de mayor concentración de poblaciones. Asimismo, una clara comprensión de las relaciones filéticas entre grupos difíciles (como por ejemplo Rattus) constituye un objetivo apremiante. Pese a que la taxonomía de los roedores no sea aún definitiva, desde un punto de vista conservacionista sigue siendo absolutamente justificable analizar el taxón con mayor detenimiento, ya que ofrece una visión general más precisa de la biodiversidad en zonas continentales que la que ofrecen los grandes mamíferos. De los aproximadamente 451 géneros de roedores existentes, 126 (el 27,9 %), que engloban a 168 especies, merecen una especial atención conservacionista según los datos de este estudio. Entre los géneros que se encuentran en peligro de extinción, un 76 % son monotípicos, lo que confirma el peligro de perder una cantidad considerable de singularidades filogenéticas

A higher-taxon approach to rodent conservation priorities for the 21st century

Although rodents are not considered among the most threatened mammals, there is ample historical evidence concerning the vulnerability to extinction of several rodent phylogenetic lineages. Owing to the high number of species, poor taxonomy and the lack of detailed information on population status, the assessment of threat status according to IUCN criteria has still to be considered arbitrary in some cases. Public appreciation is scarce and tends to overlook the ecological role and conservation problems of an order representing about 41 percent of mammalian species. We provide an overview of the most relevant information concerning the conservation status of rodents at the genus, subfamily, and family level. For species¿poor taxa, the importance of distinct populations is highlighted and a splitter approach in taxonomy is adopted. Considering present constraints, strategies for the conservation of rodent diversity must rely mainly on higher taxon and hot-spot approaches. A clear understanding of phyletic relationships among difficult groups -such as Rattus, for instance- is an urgent goal. Even if rodent taxonomy is still unstable, high taxon approach is amply justified from a conservation standpoint as it offers a more subtle overview of the world terrestrial biodiversity than that offered by large mammals. Of the circa 451 living rodent genera, 126 (27,9 %), representing 168 living species, deserve conservation attention according to the present study. About 76 % of genera at risk are monotypic, confirming the danger of losing a considerable amount of phylogenetic distinctiveness

One strategy doesn’t fit all: determinants of urban adaptation in mammals

Urbanization exposes wildlife to new challenging conditions and environmental pressures. Some mammalian species have adapted to these novel environments, but it remains unclear which characteristics allow them to persist. To address this question we identified 190 mammals regularly recorded in urban settlements worldwide, and used phylogenetic path analysis to test hypotheses regarding which behavioural, ecological, and life history traits favour adaptation to urban environments for different mammalian groups. Our results show that all urban mammals produce larger litters; whereas other traits such as body size, behavioural plasticity and diet diversity were important for some but not all taxonomic groups. This variation highlights the idiosyncrasies of the urban adaptation process and likely reflects the diversity of ecological niches and roles mammals can play. Our study contributes towards a better understanding of mammal association to humans, which will ultimately allow the design of wildlife-friendly urban environments and contribute to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts

Threatened by legislative conservationism? The case of the critically endangered Aeolian Lizard

Species-based conservation legislation needs to be based on sound scientific data and updated taxonomic knowledge. European Union environmental legislation is among the most advanced in the world, yet there is not a clear and regular mechanism to update species' lists of Habitats Directive Annexes according the latest available scientific data. Here we reviewed the situation of the endemic Aeolian lizard Podarcis raffonei and indicate it as a case-study of possible ongoing species extinction into the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot as the result of failure to update lists of EU protected species. We recommend to implement a mechanism of periodical revision of the Annexes of the Habitats Directive with particular attention to endemic EU species included in the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered

Density and distribution of western chimpanzees around a bauxite deposit in the Boé Sector, Guinea-Bissau

Funding: partial support by CEAUL (funded by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal, through the project UID/MAT/00006/2019) (TAM).The Boé sector in southeast Guinea‐Bissau harbors a population of western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) that inhabits a mosaic of forest and savanna. The Boé sector contains a substantial bauxite deposit in a region called Ronde Hill, and there are plans for the construction of a mine, which may endanger the chimpanzee population. In 1‐week survey in May 2013, we used the standing crop nest counts method to obtain the number of chimpanzee nests and from that estimate the density and abundance of chimpanzees. We carried out five 1‐km line transects that covered the bauxite deposit and surrounding valleys. We used density surface modeling to analyze habitat preferences, then predicted chimpanzee nest density and distribution based on environmental variables. We found the projected location of the mine partially coincides with an area of high predicted abundances of chimpanzee nests and is surrounded by highly suitable areas for chimpanzees (northeast and southwest). We conclude the mine could have significant direct and indirect effects on this population of chimpanzees whose impacts must be carefully considered and properly mitigated if the mine is built.PostprintPeer reviewe

Molecular DNA identity of the mouflon of Cyprus (Ovis orientalis ophion, Bovidae): Near Eastern origin and divergence from Western Mediterranean conspecific populations

The mouflon population of Cyprus (Ovis orientalis ophion) comprises historically preserved feral descendants of sheep domesticated during the Neolithic. We determined genetic identity of this taxon in order to elucidate its systematic placement and enforce its protection. We used 12 loci of microsatellite DNA to infer genetic relationships between the Cypriot mouflon and either long-time isolated (Corsica, Sardinia) or recently introduced (central Italy) European mouflons (O. o. musimon). We also sequenced the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Cytochrome-b gene to infer the origin of the Cypriot mouflon including many National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) entries of European and Near Eastern conspecifics. Microsatellites disclosed net divergence between Western Mediterranean and Cypriot mouflon. The latter was included in the highly heterogeneous Near Eastern O. orientalis mtDNA group, Iran representing the most credited region as the source for its ancient introduction to Cyprus. Both international and national legislation protect the mouflon of Cyprus as a wild taxon (O. o. ophion). However, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and NCBI include the Cypriot mouflon as subspecies of its respective domestic species, the sheep (O. aries). Unfortunately, people charged with crime against protected mouflon may benefit from such taxonomic inconsistency between legislation and databases, as the latter can frustrate molecular DNA forensic outcomes. Until a definitive light can be shed on Near Eastern O. orientalis systematics, we suggest that the Cypriot mouflon should be unvaryingly referred to as O. o. ophion in order not to impair conservation in the country where it resides