Large terrestrial snails are poor overseas dispersers. Yet the Obô giant land snail ( Archachatina bicarinata ) has been considered endemic to both oceanic islands of São Tomé and Príncipe (Central Africa), raising intriguing questions about its origin and inter-island dispersal. Once abundant, populations on both islands declined rapidly in recent decades. To inform conservation, we provide the first genetic assessment of this Endangered species, investigating its phylogenetic affinities within the Achatininae subfamily, and its genetic diversity and structure across both islands. We explored intra-specific diversity using mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (ITS2) sequences from 65 A. bicarinata individuals sampled across both islands. To infer phylogenetic affinities, we analyzed 27 additional Achatininae species using newly sampled material and available reference sequences. A. bicarinata formed a distinct, well-supported lineage within the sampled dataset. Within the taxa included, it was recovered as the closest to Archachatina marginata . At the intraspecific level, COI revealed strong asymmetry in genetic diversity between islands: the smaller island, Príncipe, contained 91% (20/22) of the detected haplotypes, São Tomé showed a much lower diversity and shared two haplotypes with Príncipe. No variation was detected at ITS2 among the sampled individuals of A. bicarinata . This first genetic assessment of A. bicarinata identifies Príncipe as the likely origin of the species and the main reservoir of its genetic diversity. Our results suggest a more recent history on São Tomé, where the species may have been introduced. Although phylogenetic inferences are constrained by the dataset, the results offer a foundation for understanding the species’ history and guiding future research. In situ and ex situ conservation efforts are urgent on Príncipe Island, where most genetic diversity persists, but populations on São Tomé may serve as a safeguard, namely for having larger extents of available habitat.
Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) are widely used indicators of freshwater ecosystem health, yet their diversity in Pakistan remains incompletely characterized. Pakistan’s varied climate and abundant freshwater habitats support a rich odonate fauna, but existing knowledge is fragmented across taxonomy, naiad ecology, and the environmental drivers that shape Odonata assemblages. We conducted a PRISMA-guided systematic review of five databases (Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Springer Link, and Google Scholar), synthesizing findings from 34 studies that met predefined eligibility criteria across five thematic dimensions: regional diversity, genetic diversity, naiad ecology, environmental drivers of assemblage composition, and bioindicator potential. Odonata diversity in Pakistan is unevenly documented, with records concentrated in a few northern regions and clear taxonomic and geographic gaps. Genetic diversity and naiad-ecology studies are particularly scarce, especially for Sindh and Balochistan, and quantitative links between assemblage composition and water quality remain limited. Despite their strong indicator potential, odonates have not yet been incorporated into Pakistan’s freshwater monitoring programs. Odonatae species richness and ecology remain poorly investigated in Pakistan. Persistent gaps in baseline inventories, environmental-response data, and naiad ecology currently limit the practical use of Odonata as bioindicators. Standardized, nationwide Odonata monitoring is recommended to support freshwater biomonitoring and conservation planning, including the development of a Pakistan-specific biotic-integrity index and the protection of priority wetland and riverine habitats.
Background and Research Aims: The Calakmul Biosphere Reserve is one of the best conserved Neotropical forests. It is home to the two largest species of wild felids of America, the jaguar ( Panthera onca ) and the puma ( Puma concolor ), species that are the apex predators and whose populations are being diminished and threatened in some parts of their distribution. We aimed to determine the occupancy and detection probabilities, relative abundance, and activity patterns of these two species over 9 years of camera-trapping at waterholes in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve of Southern Mexico. The goal was to provide a vision of the population’s dynamics among years and under different conditions to design future strategies for their conservation. Methods: We used camera traps to determine relative abundance index (RAI), occupancy, and activity patterns of jaguars and pumas in 18 bodies of water between 2014 and 2022. RAI was used to estimate relative abundance, while the trigonometric generalized linear models to estimate the activity patterns. The dynamic occupancy model was used to calculate the probability of occupancy and detection for both species across 9 years using all sites. Results and Discussion: Pumas exhibited higher mean relative abundance indices (RAI = 1.59) than jaguars (RAI = 0.96). The occupancy models showed that pumas have slightly lower occupancy estimate (0.88) and a high probability of detection (0.39) than jaguars (0.91 and 0.24 respectively). Puma occupancy and detection showed no significant associations with covariates, whereas jaguar detection probability was positively associated with white-lipped peccary occupancy. Our occupancy estimates were higher than several other studies in more humid tropical forest, highlighting the importance of the reserve for the conservation of the two species. The jaguar and puma showed a tendency to be more active at night with peaks at dawn and dusk a pattern that has been found in other studies. Implications for Conservation: Calakmul Biosphere Reserve is an important refuge for wildlife species in Mexico, thus prioritize its continued conservation is essential for safeguard viable populations of these apex predators and their associated vertebrate communities.
Background and research aims: To reconcile biodiversity protection with the livelihoods of communities living near national parks, Tanzania’s conservation policy puts a strong emphasis on participatory initiatives. However, the effectiveness of these approaches remains unclear to local communities. This study assessed (1) local stakeholders’ perceptions of their participation in protected area management and (2) how these perceptions influence perceived management effectiveness in Mikumi and Saadani National Parks. Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional design was used. Thirty randomly chosen household heads who lived close to national parks were given standard questionnaires to complete in order to collect quantitative data. Key informant interviews with park officials, local leaders, and conservation practitioners were used to gather qualitative data. Descriptive statistics and linear regression in SPSS were used to evaluate the quantitative data, and thematic analysis of the qualitative data was used to supplement the results. Results: Stakeholders predominantly perceived participation favorably, especially in benefit-sharing (83.3%), compensation for wildlife-related damages (93.3%), and community representation within park governance structures (100%). However, perceptions of substantive engagement were less favorable: only 53.3% reported satisfaction with consultations, and 43.3% were uncertain about the authenticity of participatory processes. Regression analysis indicated that stakeholder participation accounted for 21.1% of the variation in perceived management efficacy, although none of the predictors were statistically significant (p > 0.05), implying limited explanatory power. Conclusion: Local involvement remains primarily consultative and has little impact on decision-making, despite the fact that Mikumi and Saadani National Parks have established participation mechanisms. To improve legitimacy and the efficiency of protected area governance, communication, feedback, and cooperative decision-making must be strengthened. Conservation implications: Policymakers and park managers can use these outcomes to more effectively engage stakeholders and promote inclusive, efficient protected-area governance.
Agricultural expansion into tropical forests has led to extensive biodiversity loss, with oil palm plantations being a major driver. Within these landscapes, field margins are among the few semi-natural habitats that may support wildlife, yet their ecological role in smallholder systems remains poorly understood. Here, we examined how fine-scale habitat features and broader landscape heterogeneity influence bird assemblages in oil palm smallholdings. Using data from 45 line transects and Generalised Linear Mixed Models, we assessed bird species richness and abundance in relation to field margin length and type, number of crop types and crop abundance within field margins, height of vegetation cover, distance from peat swamp and mangrove forests, and survey time. Overall, we recorded 29 species, dominated by resident birds, with additional migrants and introduced species. Both bird richness and abundance were significantly shaped by field margin type, number of crop types, distance from peat swamp forest, and survey time. Specifically, both metrics were higher in uncultivated field margins than in cultivated margins, increased with the number of crop types, and were higher at sites farther from the peat swamp forest. Both responses were also higher during morning surveys compared to afternoon surveys. Field margin length, crop abundance, and height of vegetation cover showed no significant effects. These findings suggest that biodiversity-friendly management of smallholder oil palm landscapes should prioritise the retention of uncultivated field margins with natural vegetation, while recognising that crop-type heterogeneity within cultivated margins may also contribute to farmland bird richness and abundance. Our results indicate that these margins may function mainly as supplementary habitats for generalist and disturbance-tolerant bird species, reinforcing the value of local, fine-scale vegetation structure for supporting biodiversity within smallholdings.
