Context An intersectional gender approach is increasingly recognized as key for supporting more equitable and climate-resilient management of small-scale fisheries, but there is a limited understanding of the nuanced relationships among social identities. Marital status is a locally-relevant social identity that can shape gendered roles and influence access to natural resources in the Pacific, yet its intersection with gender remains vastly understudied. Aims In this study, we use national survey data of Palauan fishers (N = 479) to explore differences in perceptions of climate change and behavioral intentions to a major decline in catch across married versus unmarried men and women. Key results Gender was associated with differences across more measures than marital status. However, when examined within gender, marital status was associated with more differences among women than men, particularly in the number of perceived threats, the number of observed climate impacts, and intentions to maintain current fishing effort. Conclusions Our findings underscore the importance of using intersectional analyses as a locally-grounded, analytical method for understanding in-group gendered differences. Implications This study also provides methodological insight into the importance of locally-led environmental social science research in the design and analysis of research instruments.
Context In many coastal shark species, habitat use shifts across life stages. Therefore, examining size-specific patterns of occurrence is essential for understanding their spatial and temporal ecology. Aims This study aimed to describe the seasonal occurrence patterns and size distribution of the sicklefin lemon shark (Negaprion acutidens) in a northern part of its distributional range. Methods Capture surveys were conducted in the coastal waters around Kuroshima Island, Yaeyama Islands, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan from 2017 to 2020. To evaluate seasonal and spatial occurrence patterns, the catch per unit effort was estimated using zero-inflated negative binomial models. In addition, ages of individuals in the population were estimated using size-frequency analysis with a normal mixture distribution model. Key results In total, 199 sicklefin lemon sharks were measured, of which 157 were tagged and released. Their total lengths ranged from 61.2 cm to 135.0 cm, and the size distribution was strongly skewed toward smaller size classes. Sicklefin lemon shark occurrence exhibited clear seasonality, with a pronounced peak during the high-temperature period. The normal mixture distribution model identified three cohorts in the size structure around Kuroshima Island. Conclusions This study provides baseline ecological information on sicklefin lemon sharks at the northern edge of their distribution, and suggests that most recruited individuals may move to other areas within approximately 2 years. Implications This study suggests that broader regional investigations will be necessary to develop effective conservation plans for this species.
No matter how extensive bird conservation efforts may be, these often remain insufficient because the underlying humanistic connection between humans and nature is profoundly fractured. This paper examines how Bird Village, an imaginative world in Wild Wise Weird by Professor Vuong Quan Hoang, offers a pathway to address this deficit by nurturing deeper inner connections with the natural world. Specifically, it demonstrates how the imaginative world of Bird Village can cultivate ecological understanding, foster affective bonds, and expand moral conscience beyond anthropocentric boundaries. Furthermore, the paper explores how the Uncertainty–Absurdity Mutuality (UAM) proposition embedded in Bird Village can function as an epistemic tool to overcome order-induced blindness – shaped by ego, hubris, and entrenched belief systems, and more fundamentally rooted in an anthropocentric worldview – thereby enabling more harmonious coexistence with a natural world characterised by pervasive uncertainty. The analytical power of UAM in identifying, interpreting, and addressing paradoxes that permeate contemporary conservation practices, such as ‘loving’ birds through aviary keeping or ceremonial release, is also discussed.
An aerial observation of of pygmy blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) sub-surface feeding in the Wetar Straight of Timor-Leste. Based on current understanding of their foraging ecology, these whales were probably feeding opportunistically on krill-like zooplankton.
Context Globally, impacts of wildfire on fauna populations and our knowledge of these impacts, vary considerably. Information regarding wildfire effects on Aotearoa’s terrestrial fauna is meagre but interest in this topic is increasing alongside anthropogenic climate change. Aims We undertook the first ecological study of a sub-alpine green gecko population (the jewelled gecko; Naultinus gemmeus) in the Lammermoor Range. In November 2019, a large wildfire burnt through our study site, providing an opportunity to examine how N. gemmeus fares after wildfires. Methods Through field surveys (2015−2025) and a radio-telemetry study we examined how N. gemmeus used habitat in a sub-alpine environment. We also assessed the impacts of the fire on N. gemmeus. Key results Coastal populations of N. gemmeus are considered primarily arboreal; however, our study revealed that the Lammermoor Range population is terrestrial, occupying snow tussock (Chionochloa rigida) and associated plants. Population surveys during the weeks after the fire had a higher sightings rate than before the fire, likely reflecting increased detectability. Subsequent surveys indicated a sharp decline in N. gemmeus sightings, with none occurring during eight surveys between 2022 and 2024. Eventually, a surviving gecko was located in October 2025. Conclusions After the fire, the complexity of the habitat and the ability of the geckos to camouflage was significantly reduced, and this may have contributed to population decline. Implications Translocation of surviving green geckos to safer habitats after a fire may be an appropriate conservation action, as green geckos may struggle to evade introduced predators in a decimated landscape.
