Biological Conservation

There have been many attempts to classify geographic areas into zones of similar characteristics. Recent focus has been on ecoregions. We examined how well the boundaries of the most commonly used ecoregion classi®cations for the US matched the boundaries of existing vegetation cover mapped at three levels of classi®cation, ®ne, mid-and coarse scale. We analyzed ecoregions in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The results were similar among the two ecoregion classi®cations. For both ecoregion delineations and all three vegetation classi®cations, the patterns of existing vegetation did not correspond well with the patterns of ecoregions. Most vegetation types had a small proportion of their total area in a given ecoregion. There was also no dominance by one or more vegetation types in any ecoregion and contrary to our hypothesis, the level of congruence of vegetation patterns with ecoregion boundaries decreased as the level of classi®cation became more general. The implications of these ®...

Ecotourism is an important tool for biodiversity conservation in protected areas. However, high visitation rates and intensive public use can affect the wildlife. The present study aimed to evaluate vertebrate foraging in areas under different levels of human influence in the Tijuca National Park, a protected area within the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We used baits to attract vertebrates in areas with and without visitor facilities, at distances of 5, 35, and 100 meters from the road. We have analyzed the removal of bait by vertebrates in such treatments and identify higher consumption associated to greater human presence. The presence of visitors and visitor facilities (e.g., parking lots, barbecue pits, picnic tables, and playgrounds) significantly increases bait consumption. Park managers should consider the negative impacts of tourism on wildlife searching for ways to minimize them. RESUMO O ecoturismo é uma importante ferramenta para a conservação da biodivers...

Our ability to demonstrate statistical patterns of invasion by non-native species will determine the success of future management projects. We investigated the suitability of self-organizing maps (SOM, neural network) for patterning habitat invasion by exotic fish species at the regional scale (Southwest France), using a binary dataset of species occurrences. The SOM visualization can be used as an analytical tool to bring out relationships between sample locations and biological variables, but in addition the weight of each species in the output of the SOM can be interpreted as its occurrence probability in various geographic areas. After training the SOM with fish presence/absence data, the k-means algorithm helped to derive three major clusters of sites (headwater, montane, and plain areas). Each cluster was divided into two subsets of sites according to non-native fish, because assemblage compositions delineated different geological areas: Pyrenees Mountains, Massif Central Moun...

The current geographical distribution of the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus colony inhabiting the Cabo Blanco peninsula (Western Sahara-Mauritania) is described. Its distribution range has apparently not changed since surveys conducted in 1984–1988. Sightings of adults on the Tarf el Guerguerat coast, 20 km north of the known breeding caves, suggests the existence of other possible breeding groups further north. Two caves used by the seals are described for the first time. A review of historical trends in cave occupation by seals made it possible (1) to locate the so-called ‘maternity cave’, last reported in 1949; and (2) to establish that the colony, since its discovery, has occupied at least eight caves, five of which have collapsed. An index of population size based on counts of individuals of identified morphological types indicates that, during 1993–1994, the colony was composed of c.113–165 individuals (excluding pups), a larger number than previously assumed. Counting of seals at times of maximum haul-out is proposed as a tool to monitor population trends, although it is considered unreliable for estimating absolute numbers.

Connectivity and dispersal are key components determining the persistence of fragmented populations. However, the assessment of dispersal rates and landscape factors affecting functional connectivity remains problematic for species living in small populations, even more so in stress-sensitive, rare or elusive species. In this study, we estimated current dispersal patterns in a regional population of the endangered capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) using a novel, parsimony-based application of pedigree analysis. In spring 2003 and 2008, we systematically collected non-invasive samples of this forest bird species in five local populations in the north-eastern Pre-Alps of Switzerland. Based on 11 nuclear microsatellites, we identified 86 unique genotypes over the two sampling periods and determined levels of genetic structure. We investigated the relative impact of topography and land use on functional population connectivity by comparing inter-individual genetic distance with GIS-derived least-cost path models representing different dispersal scenarios. Results show that local populations are connected by dispersers, suggesting occasional contemporary gene flow. Mountain ridges were found to hamper capercaillie dispersal, while, at odds with our hypothesis, neither a broad valley nor land use type notably affected gene flow. These results suggest that our study region represents a patchy metapopulation. Our study illustrates how pedigree analysis and landscape genetic methods can significantly contribute to the understanding of dispersal and connectivity in rare and elusive species.

RESUMO Este trabalho apresenta o perfil das RPPN localizadas no Planalto Paulistano. O estudo foi baseado em entrevistas aos proprietários de dez reservas privadas localizadas na zona oeste da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo. A maioria das reservas foi criada com objetivos conservacionistas. Nove das reservas não possui qualquer instrumento de manejo. As principais ameaças enfrentadas pelas reservas foram: caça, incêndios, falta de recursos e apoio. O potencial das reservas na conservação da natureza poderia melhorar com a criação de uma rede de parcerias e com a formação de convênios para suprir as demandas de apoio e manejo adequado das reservas. ABSTRACT This work presents a profile of RPPN located in the São Paulo Atlantic Plateau. The study was based in interviews to the owners of ten private reserves located in the west portion of São Paulo City. Most of reserves were created for conservationist purposes. Nine of ten reserves have no management instruments. The main threats that the reserves are under were: hunt, fire, lack of resources and support. The conservation potential of the reserves could be improved with a net of partnerships and agreements to supply the needs for support and adequate management of the reserves.