Habitat, abundance and productivity of the Asian Houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii in Uzbekistan

For a species threatened with exploitation, before embarking on ex situ measures such as population reinforcement through captive breeding, it is important to explore potential in situ measures that could be used to mitigate species off-take by supporting breeding productivity of wild populations. Asian houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii is a globally threatened bird, with continuing declines across Central Asia, mainly due to unregulated hunting and trapping during migration and in winter. This research aims to improve understanding of the breeding season biology of the Asian houbara migratory populations in Central Asia to inform in-situ conservation of the species. Spring fieldwork during 2012–2015 involved distance sampling, nest monitoring and habitat sampling across 14,500 km2 of the Kyzylkum Desert in Uzbekistan. Contrary to expectations, there appeared to be no negative landscape-scale association between livestock density and the abundance of male houbara, and no grazing effect on desert shrub vegetation. Habitat characteristics selected by males at the landscape scale were more likely to maximise visibility of their displays, with higher male abundance in lower shrub vegetation, on gravelly substrate and flatter terrain. The first robust estimate of local male density stratified by different habitats and an estimate of regional numbers were obtained. Houbara nesting success was unaffected by variation in shrub species composition or livestock density, but nests placed within taller vegetation experienced greater success. Satellite-tracking revealed high site-fidelity of males to their display sites and intra-seasonal fidelity of females to breeding areas. During post-breeding dispersal adult birds were found to be using completely different, more productive in terms of vegetation, areas outside their breeding season range. In conclusion I discuss potential implications of key findings for the conservation and management of the Asian houbara population in the Kyzylkum, and their potential relevance to other houbara populations and study systems, and suggest priorities for further research

Effects of habitat and livestock on nest productivity of the Asian houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii in Bukhara Province, Uzbekistan

To inform population support measures for the unsustainably hunted Asian houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii (IUCN Vulnerable) we examined potential habitat and land-use effects on nest productivity in the Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan. We monitored 177 nests across different semi-arid shrub assemblages (clay-sand and salinity gradients) and a range of livestock densities (0–80 km-2). Nest success (mean 51.4%, 95% CI 42.4–60.4%) was similar across four years; predation caused 85% of those failures for which the cause was known, and only three nests were trampled by livestock. Nesting begins within a few weeks of arrival when food appears scarce, but later nests were more likely to fail owing to the emergence of a key predator, suggesting foraging conditions on wintering and passage sites may be important for nest productivity. Nest success was similar across three shrub assemblages and was unrelated to landscape rugosity, shrub frequency or livestock density, but was greater with taller mean shrub height (range 13–67 cm) within 50 m. Clutch size (mean = 3.2 eggs) and per-egg hatchability in successful nests (87.5%) did not differ with laying date, shrub assemblage or livestock density. We therefore found no evidence that livestock density reduced nest productivity across the range examined, while differing shrub assemblages appeared to offer similar habitat quality. Asian houbara appear well-adapted to a range of semi-desert habitats and tolerate moderate disturbance by pastoralism. No obvious in situ mitigation measures arise from these findings, leaving regulation and control as the key requirement to render hunting sustainable

Do sheep affect distribution and habitat of Asian Houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii?

We examined whether pastoralism affected the distribution of Asian Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii (IUCN Vulnerable) or modified its habitat across 14,500 km2 of the Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan. In this landscape, sheep grazing is constrained by access to water, allowing effects to be examined independent of topography and vegetation community. Across a gradient of sheep density (0e10 to 30e80 individuals km2) we achieved n ¼ 140 10-km driven transects (total driven 3500 km). On all transects Houbara and sheep were surveyed at least once, and 96 were driven three times with vegetation sampled on four 50 m-long transects along each of these (measuring 7493 shrubs). Houbara distribution and abundance was also recorded at 147 point counts. In Generalised Linear Models that controlled for plant community, neither interpolated sheep density (within 1 km buffers) nor topographic variation affected houbara incidence on transects, or incidence and abundance at point counts. Although subtle effects were found for some palatable shrubs, sheep did not strongly modify shrub composition or structure at landscape scales. At landscape-scales, livestock browsing has not widely degraded these rangelands, which appear sustainably managed or even under-utilised. Pastoralism and houbara conservation may therefore be compatible, although impacts on nesting females require investigation

Waterbird population estimates for a key staging site in Kazakhstan: a contribution to wetland conservation on the Central Asian flyway

Schielzeth H, Eichhorn G, Heinicke T, et al. Waterbird population estimates for a key staging site in Kazakhstan: a contribution to wetland conservation on the Central Asian flyway. Bird Conservation International. 2008;18(01):71-86.Realistic population size estimates for waterbirds are crucial for the application of wetland conservation strategies, since the identification of internationally important wetlands is based on local numbers relative to the population size of the respective species. Central Asia is a poorly surveyed region that is situated at the intersection of migration routes that lead waterbirds from Western Siberia to the south-west (South-West Asia, East Africa) and to the south-east (South Asia, India). We calculated waterbird population estimates for the Tengiz–Korgalzhyn region, a large wetland complex in the steppe zone of Central Kazakhstan, based on waterbird surveys conducted between 1999 and 2004. For 20 of 43 species analysed the region supported more than 5% of the relevant flyway populations. Five species occurred with more than 40% of the flyway totals, including the Endangered White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala and the Vulnerable Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus. Peak numbers were recorded in summer and autumn and for most species numbers were more than an order of magnitude lower on spring migration compared with autumn migration. We identified 72 individual sites that held more than 20,000 waterbirds or more than 1% of a particular flyway population at least once. These sites are likely to constitute priorities for conservation. The general conservation status of the region is favourable, since many of the important sites are located within a strict nature reserve. However, outside the reserve hunting, fishing and powerline casualties represent conservation issues that should be monitored more carefully in the future

Belt and Road Initiative may create new supplies for illegal wildlife trade in large carnivores

Hinsley, Amy/0000-0002-5590-7617; Farhadinia, Mohammad/0000-0002-5385-6254; Ambarli, Huseyin/0000-0003-4336-9417; Nawaz, Muhammad Ali/0000-0001-5632-9014WOS: 000484026600002PubMed: 31406278…Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford; Oxford Martin Programme on the Illegal Wildlife TradeM.S.F. was supported by a research fellowship from the Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford. A.H. was supported by the Oxford Martin Programme on the Illegal Wildlife Trade

Localized Increased Permeability of Blood–Brain Barrier for Antibody Conjugates in the Cuprizone Model of Demyelination

The development of new neurotherapeutics depends on appropriate animal models being chosen in preclinical studies. The cuprizone model is an effective tool for studying demyelination and remyelination processes in the brain, but blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity in the cuprizone model is still a topic for debate. Several publications claim that the BBB remains intact during cuprizone-induced demyelination; others demonstrate results that could explain the increased BBB permeability. In this study, we aim to analyze the permeability of the BBB for different macromolecules, particularly antibody conjugates, in a cuprizone-induced model of demyelination. We compared the traditional approach using Evans blue injection with subsequent dye extraction and detection of antibody conjugates using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and confocal microscopy to analyze BBB permeability in the cuprizone model. First, we validated our model of demyelination by performing T2-weighted MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, quantitative rt-PCR to detect changes in mRNA expression of myelin basic protein and proteolipid protein, and Luxol fast blue histological staining of myelin. Intraperitoneal injection of Evans blue did not result in any differences between the fluorescent signal in the brain of healthy and cuprizone-treated mice (IVIS analysis with subsequent dye extraction). In contrast, intravenous injection of antibody conjugates (anti-GFAP or non-specific IgG) after 4 weeks of a cuprizone diet demonstrated accumulation in the corpus callosum of cuprizone-treated mice both by contrast-enhanced MRI (for gadolinium-labeled antibodies) and by fluorescence microscopy (for Alexa488-labeled antibodies). Our results suggest that the methods with better sensitivity could detect the accumulation of macromolecules (such as fluorescent-labeled or gadolinium-labeled antibody conjugates) in the brain, suggesting a local BBB disruption in the demyelinating area. These findings support previous investigations that questioned BBB integrity in the cuprizone model and demonstrate the possibility of delivering antibody conjugates to the corpus callosum of cuprizone-treated mice

Economics of conservation law enforcement by rangers across Asia

Abstract Biodiversity targets, under the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, prioritize both conservation area and their effectiveness. The effective management of protected areas (PAs) depends greatly on law enforcement resources, which is often tasked to rangers. We addressed economic aspects of law enforcement by rangers working in terrestrial landscapes across Asia. Accordingly, we used ranger numbers and payment rates to derive continental‐scale estimates. Ranger density has decreased by 2.4‐fold since the 1990s, increasing the median from 10.9 to 26.4 km2 of PAs per ranger. Rangers were generally paid more than the minimum wage (median ratio = 1.9) and the typical salaries in agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector (median ratio = 1.2). Annual spending on ranger salaries varied widely among countries, with a median of annual US71 km−2 of PA. Nearly 208,000 rangers patrolling Asian PAs provide an invaluable opportunity to develop ranger‐based monitoring plans for evaluating the conservation performance. As decision‐makers frequently seek an optimum number of law enforcement staff, our study provides a continental baseline median of 46.3 km2 PA per ranger. Our findings also provide a baseline for countries to improve their ranger‐based law enforcement which is critical for their Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets