Global Patterns of Endemic and Threatened Species in Relation to Environment and Habitat

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Biodiversity Conservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (6 November 2021) | Viewed by 7359

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Interdisciplinary Institute of Environmental, Social and Human Sciences, University of Flensburg, Flensburg, Germany
Interests: ecology; macroecology; species diversity of ecosystems; rare, threatened, and endemic species; habitats; response to changing natural and cultural conditions

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Guest Editor
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
Interests: African mountain biodiversity; plant systematics; phylogeography; orphan crops; biogeography; African plants
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Endemic and threatened species are considered important by both scientists and politicians. Nature conservation concepts and measures require profound knowledge of evolutionary and ecological processes, as well as of the distribution patterns of biodiversity and threats to this diversity. Land-use change and the intensification of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries increase the pressure on ecosystems and their biota.

This Special Issue will focus on analyses of selected endemics or globally threatened species in relation to biogeography, landscape ecology, and genetics/taxonomy. The purpose is to generate scientific information on selected taxa as a fundament for political decisions related to ecosystems or special regions.

We thus welcome contributions on, for example, less-familiar mollusks or insects, as well as new insights on well-known vascular plants or vertebrates. This Issue focuses on taxa with a very restricted range or which are seriously threatened. In particular, we welcome submissions demonstrating how such studies have had an impact on policy (local, regional, or national).

Prof. Dr. Carsten Hobohm
Prof. Dr. Nigel Barker
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • endemic and threatened species
  • conservation
  • biogeography
  • landscape
  • genetics
  • taxonomy

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

8 pages, 1604 KiB  
Article
Preference for Artificial Refugia over Natural Refugia in an Endangered Fish
by Kit Magellan, Olaf L. F. Weyl and Anthony J. Booth
Diversity 2021, 13(12), 635; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13120635 - 2 Dec 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2153
Abstract
The availability of appropriate refugia may ameliorate some impacts of habitat degradation and can aid in the conservation of target species. In addition to natural refugia, the provision of artificial refugia may be viable, particularly in degraded habitats. We examined the conservation potential [...] Read more.
The availability of appropriate refugia may ameliorate some impacts of habitat degradation and can aid in the conservation of target species. In addition to natural refugia, the provision of artificial refugia may be viable, particularly in degraded habitats. We examined the conservation potential of natural and artificial refugia for the endangered Eastern Cape redfin, Pseudobarbus afer. We show that deeper water is preferred so is likely to constitute a natural refuge. However, this preference is overridden by the provision of artificial refugia (a plastic pipe). We highlight that the most important habitat factor in the conservation of P. afer is availability of suitable natural refugia through avoidance of habitat destruction. However, when redfin habitat is already compromised, appropriate artificial refugia may supplement the protection provided by natural refugia and may provide benefits to the whole aquatic community. Full article
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9 pages, 1355 KiB  
Article
Fawn Counts and Adult Female Site Use Are Mismatched Indicators of Habitat Quality in an Endangered Deer
by Julia G. Jacobs, Marcus A. Lashley and Michael V. Cove
Diversity 2021, 13(2), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13020092 - 21 Feb 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3540
Abstract
Many ungulates are spotted as neonates. This trait is unique to individuals, making their identification feasible from remote cameras. Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) are an endangered subspecies of white-tailed deer endemic to the lower Florida Keys, U.S.A. Habitat loss and [...] Read more.
Many ungulates are spotted as neonates. This trait is unique to individuals, making their identification feasible from remote cameras. Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) are an endangered subspecies of white-tailed deer endemic to the lower Florida Keys, U.S.A. Habitat loss and hunting were historical drivers of population decline but recent studies report positive associations of key deer with urbanization. Using opposing camera traps at 56 sites throughout the National Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key, we used spot patterns to uniquely identify and estimate fawn abundance with N-mixture models. We further compared those inferences to models informed by adult doe counts to see how well tracking adult females alone corresponded with fawn habitat associations. Our results indicated that fawn abundance was negatively associated with increasing elevation and human trails, contrary to models based on adult female observations alone. The lowest elevations where fawns were most abundant were associated with dense wetland plant communities, which were likely selected for thermal cover and warrant further investigation given that those areas are most vulnerable to sea-level rise. Our methods showcase the utility of identifying neonates from camera trap photos and draw attention to possible misaligned inferences when tracking adult females in isolation. Full article
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