Conserving tigers amid persistent human-wildlife conflict requires credible evidence to guide policy and negotiations with communities experiencing livestock losses. Yet, quantifying livestock depredation remains challenging, with most studies relying on opportunistic scat sampling and uncalibrated biomass conversion factors. To address this gap, we synthesized 43 scat-based diet studies (7328 scats; 2000-2025) across eight countries and implemented a mixed-effects meta-analysis to establish an empirical baseline for livestock contribution to tiger diets. The pooled range-wide mean livestock contribution to tiger's diet was 7.4% of biomass (95% CI: 4.3-12.5%), with significantly higher rates in areas where settlements were enclaved within tiger habitat. Wild prey density and forest cover were not significant predictors of the dietary contribution; tiger density showed a weak negative trend. Crucially, we demonstrate how power analysis anchored to this baseline enables managers to determine sample sizes required to detect ecologically meaningful increases in livestock consumption-information essential for setting defensible thresholds in compensation schemes and conflict mitigation. For example, detecting a five percentage-point increase above the pooled mean (enclaved) at 80% power requires similar to 595 independent scats, inflating to similar to 655 when accounting for clustering. These benchmarks provide a transparent, science-based framework for negotiations, ensuring that interventions remain proportionate and equitable. We recommend integrating baseline-driven power calculations into policy design, alongside improvements in scat verification, sampling representativeness, and species-specific conversion factors, to strengthen coexistence strategies across tiger landscapes.

Preventing human-caused extinctions is a foundational aim of conservation. However, in addition to causing extinctions, humans have moved numerous species to new areas. A considerable percentage of these are threatened in their native ranges. Broadening our conservation ethos to include introduced species is contentious and requires critical thinking in empirical and normative dimensions to negotiate between conflicting conservation goals. Here, we present a series of questions to inspire critical thinking in the negotiation of these conflicts. Empirically, we suggest that conservationists should consider whether the effects of introduced species are due to their non-nativeness per se or are simply a consequence of the organism having a metabolism and taking up space. Importantly, this requires proper scientific comparison to the effects of similar native organisms - otherwise many claims of 'harm' are unfalsifiable and could be used to justify the eradication of any organism. We further propose questions to help conservationists sort facts from normative values, which often wear empirical clothes. Through empirical rigor, value transparency and critical justification of these values, we believe that twenty- first century conservation can become a future-facing and pluralistic discipline with a heightened ability to prevent extinctions in an increasingly unpredictable and novel biosphere.

Kangaroos are widely framed as overabundant pests within Australian agricultural landscapes, a narrative that legitimises exclusion and lethal control. Yet a growing number of farmers avoid shooting kangaroos despite experiencing impacts associated with their presence. To understand the drivers of these divergent management choices, we conducted a quantitative‑led mixed‑methods study combining an online survey of 114 Australian farmers with a small number of semi‑structured interviews used to contextualise survey findings. Survey respondents were categorised according to kangaroo management practice (currently shoot, used to shoot, never shot), and attitudes were measured across four conceptual dimensions: Conflict, Relationship, Welfare, and Role. Linear mixed‑effects models revealed that conflict framing was the primary dimension differentiating management groups. Farmers who currently shoot kangaroos showed strong agreement with conflict‑oriented statements, whereas farmers who had never shot kangaroos exhibited neutral to negative conflict framing alongside strong recognition of kangaroos’ ecological roles, relational significance, and welfare concerns. Importantly, reported exposure to ecological and productivity impacts like road safety hazards, property damage, and grazing pressure did not account for these differences; both shooters and non‑shooters reported similar impacts. Social responses to non‑shooting were largely supportive or neutral, with evidence of selective non‑disclosure rather than overt sanctioning. Together, these findings indicate that lethal kangaroo control is associated primarily with how impacts are interpreted rather than the magnitude of harm experienced. Farmer‑led coexistence reflects coherent moral-ecological worldviews rather than isolated techniques, highlighting the importance of addressing the overarching influence of conflict framing on policy, institutions, and cultural narratives to support coexistence of kangaroos in agricultural landscapes.

The emerging interdisciplinary field of wild animal welfare science (WAWS) explicitly expands the study of welfare to animals in the wild. It has applied value in informing how to improve the welfare of wild animals, ensuring they can thrive as well as survive in the face of the challenges of the Anthropocene. It also has intellectual value by generating new knowledge and insights about the affective states of wildlife. We aim to help scientists and practitioners understand how WAWS can support their work. To facilitate engagement in the field, we articulate core principles and key characteristics, and explore opportunities and challenges. We encourage those with relevant interests to engage in the field's development and application.

Extreme temperatures and heatwave events present challenging conditions for wildlife and are increasing in frequency and intensity in many regions due to climate change. High daily temperatures increase physiological stress and cause mortality in susceptible individuals (e.g. from poor health or exposure) but may also drive behavioural changes as individuals seek to thermoregulate (e.g. seeking shelter or water). As daily high temperatures accumulate into heatwave events, the ability of wildlife to tolerate conditions can diminish and exacerbate stress. Although climate change is well known to decouple species interactions, here we examined how extreme conditions may intensify interactions between predators and prey. In particular, we explored whether predators can exploit the thermoregulatory requirements of prey as they increasingly require access to water. We presented evidence from the use of artificial waterpoints by dingoes, Canis dingo, and eastern grey kangaroos, Macropus giganteus, on a wildlife property in Australia's semiarid drylands, asking whether high temperatures and heatwaves alter species behaviour and interactions between them. Both species increasingly accessed waterpoints as daily maximum temperatures increased; however, the degree of co-occurrence at waterpoints increased significantly as the temperatures became extreme and resulted in heatwaves. Not only did waterpoints become increasingly important for both species during heatwaves, but dingo hunting attempts on kangaroos at these times were significantly higher than expected based on the number of days when heat anomalies occurred. Additionally, dingoes relaxed their predisposition to hunt kangaroos in poor body condition, making kangaroo hunting opportunistic during these times. Our findings emphasize the potential for climate change to exacerbate predator-prey interactions, which may have an impact on species persistence if prey is unable to adapt to predators that exploit their thermoregulatory demands. (c) 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/4.0/).

Various authors have suggested that extinctions and extirpations of large mammalian herbivores during the last ca. 50,000 years have altered ecological processes. Yet, the degree to which herbivore extinctions have influenced ecosystems has been difficult to assess because past changes in herbivore impact are difficult to measure directly. Here, we indirectly estimated changes in (theorised) herbivore impact by comparing the functional composition of current large (≥ 10 kg) mammalian herbivore assemblages to those of a no-extinction scenario. As an assemblage's functional composition determines how it interacts with its environment, changes in functional compositions should correspond to changes in ecological impacts. We quantified functional composition using the body mass, diet and life habit of all wild herbivorous mammal species (n = 502) present during the last 130,000 years. Next, we assessed whether these changes in functional composition were large enough that the resulting assemblages could be considered functionally novel. Finally, we assessed where novel herbivore assemblages would most likely lead to changes in biome state. We found that 47% of assemblages are functionally novel, indicating fundamental changes in herbivore impacts occurred across much of the planet. On 20% of land, functionally novel herbivore assemblages have arisen in areas where alternative biome states are possible depending on the disturbance regime. Thus, in many regions, the late-Quaternary extinctions and extirpations altered herbivore assemblages so profoundly that there were likely major consequences for ecosystem functioning.

In semi-arid drylands, landscape features such as water and trees are vital for individuals when reducing heat stress. In Australia, such landscapes have witnessed widespread canopy loss and considerable shifts in water availability due to anthropogenic processes, and are subject to greater frequencies of extreme temperatures. We explored the use of dammed watercourses and excavated earth tanks, and tree shade in two large macropod species, eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) and red kangaroos (Osphranter rufus) in the semi-arid drylands of south-western Queensland. Using a thermal drone, camera traps, and temperature sensors, we examined the relationship between temperature, and water and canopy shade use by both species. The likelihood of kangaroos being observed in the sun was negatively correlated with temperature, with the likelihood of observing eastern grey kangaroos in the sun dropping below 50 % when temperatures exceeded 28 °C, and 17 °C for red kangaroos. Probability of detecting kangaroos in the shade was positively correlated with temperature, with red kangaroos more strongly selecting shade than eastern grey kangaroos. For eastern grey kangaroos, we observed greatly increased activity at waterpoints when daily maximum temperatures exceeded 28 °C, with a preference for dammed watercourses over excavated earth tanks. Only a weak trend of using dammed watercourses at high temperatures (>36 °C) was detected for red kangaroos. As higher temperatures become more frequent due to climate change, our results suggest that the capacity of wildlife to persist may increasingly depend on the provision and maintenance of landscape features such as water and canopy shade.

IntroductionThis study was undertaken to explore the applicability of portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) technology in combating the illegal wildlife trade, specifically focusing on Australia’s Tiliqua species. The research aimed to develop models that could effectively identify species, distinguish between captive-bred and wild individuals, and predict geographic provenance. The hypothesis was that pXRF could achieve high accuracy in species identification and classifications, thereby providing a useful tool for wildlife enforcement efforts.MethodsThe study was conducted using pXRF technology to analyze a range of Tiliqua specimens, including shingleback (T. rugosa) and common blue-tongue (T. scinoides) lizards. Specimens were collected and analyzed in various states—live, dead, and as animal parts. Species specific XGBoost models were developed and tested for accuracy in identifying species and distinguishing between captive and wild individuals. Geographic provenance models were also created, utilizing predictor variables such as soil nutrient groups and hydrological basins to evaluate model performance.ResultsThe study found that species-specific models could identify shingleback and common blue-tongue lizards with an accuracy of 70%. Additionally, the models distinguished captive-bred from wild individuals with up to 81% accuracy for blue-tongue lizards and 83% for shinglebacks. Geographic provenance models demonstrated variable performance, achieving up to 83% accuracy but indicating the need for further refinement and more intensive sampling to improve model resolution.DiscussionThe results imply that pXRF technology has significant potential as a tool for wildlife enforcement, providing valuable information for species identification and the classification of individuals as captive or wild. This finding is consistent with prior research highlighting the utility of elemental profiling in wildlife conservation. The study also identifies a critical knowledge gap regarding the impact of captivity duration on elemental profiles, suggesting that future research should focus on refining geographic models and understanding the dynamics of elemental changes over time in captive versus wild specimens. Overall, the integration of pXRF into wildlife enforcement protocols represents a cost-effective and rapid approach to combatting illegal wildlife trade.

Conservation of large and iconic species in developing nations captures a considerable share of international funding. Flagship species with charismatic appeal and ecological importance, such as the Tiger, Elephant, Panda and Leopard, are used to get attention and funds. Although there are benefits, this approach also presents challenges by diverting attention from the broader ecosystem, including prey and habitat. Most flagship species-based approaches ignore key aspects of other species conservation and their ecosystem. Therefore, this paper discusses the effects that large mammal/flagship species-centred conservation funding has on developing nations and considers various integrated strategies for developing sustainable ecological outcomes. We do not intend to discourage flagship species-focused fundraising initiatives, but suggest that governments and other conservation authorities should expand their focus to wider ecological systems aspects such as habitat, prey-predator populations and human-wildlife interactions. This offers opportunities to bridge the gap between traditional ecosystem-based and individual species-based approaches and develop sustainable conservation funding strategies in which flagship species can serve as financial catalysts without detracting from, and preferably enhancing, ecosystem-level goals and give equal priorities for other species in developing countries.

Solute concentrations and accumulation in shallow groundwater can trigger a negative domino effect of environmental and economic problems. Accurately tracking the solute chemistry of groundwater is essential for assessing their adverse impacts and pinpointing hotspots of contaminants that require conservation measures. However, existing mapping methods have been greatly limited by the peculiarities of shallow groundwater, such as its challenging hydraulic connection, uneven distribution, and complex driving factors prevalent in arid regions. To address these challenges, we designed a novel framework that integrates species distribution models (SDMs) with traditional hydrological models and advanced machine learning algorithms to predict the spatial distribution of groundwater solutes in a multidisciplinary effort. We carried out a systematic collection of shallow groundwater, deep groundwater, and surface water samples from three adjacent hydrological units in the arid regions of northwest China. By employing the SDMs framework originally utilized in ecology to assess biological species suitability, we could simulate and predict solute concentrations in groundwater. The results emphasized that solutes in surface water were important variables in the final models for Na + , K + , SO 4 2− , and Cl − , while deep groundwater influenced Ca 2+ . In addition, integrating predictor variables into the SDMs enabled the discovery of additional valuable information. Our results highlighted the improved power for mapping groundwater by combining SDMs with multidimensional driving factors. This novel framework could not only clarify the solute movement mechanisms but also reveal their spatial patterns via a transdisciplinary approach, offering a versatile tool for groundwater management and policies.

Portable x-ray fluorescent (pXRF) technology provides significant opportunities for rapid, non-destructive data collection in a range of fields of study. However, there are sources of variation and sample assumptions that may influence the data obtained, particularly in animal samples. We used representative species for four taxa (fish, mammals, birds, reptiles) to test the precision of replicate scans, and the impact of sample thickness, sample state, scan location and scan time on data obtained from a pXRF. We detected some significant differences in concentration data due to sample state, scanning time and scanning location for all taxa. Infinite thickness assumptions were met for fish, reptile and mammal representatives at all body locations. Infinite thickness was not met for feathers. Scan time results found in most cases the 40, 60 and 80 second beam scan times were equivalent but significantly different to 20 second beam scan times. Concentration data across replicate scans were highly correlated. The opportunities for the use of pXRF in biological studies are wide-ranging. These findings highlight the considerations required when scanning biological samples to ensure the required data are suitably collected and standardised while reducing radiation exposure to live animals.

Introduced predators are thought to be responsible for the decline and extinction of their native prey. The prey naivety hypothesis provides a mechanism for these declines, suggesting that native prey are vulnerable to introduced predators as their coevolutionary history is insufficiently long for antipredator behaviours to fully develop. The prey naivety hypothesis thus predicts that prey will be less responsive to introduced predators than to native predators. Australia's endemic small mammals are thought to be vulnerable to predation by red foxes because they are less responsive to – or naive of – a predator with whom they have only co‐occurred since the 19th century. To test whether nativeness determines antipredator behaviours we compared small mammal behavioural responses to fox scent outside (Australia) and inside the foxes' native range (North America and Israel). We conducted giving‐up density experiments in the deserts of these three regions and evaluated small mammal antipredator responses to fox scent. To place these results in a broader context, we then integrated our results into a global meta‐analysis of studies assessing prey responsiveness to fox scent. All small mammals similarly increased their vigilance in response to fox scent, regardless of their coevolutionary history with foxes. Australian small mammals responded with greater wariness to fox scent, by decreasing time at food patches in response to fox scent more than Israeli and American small mammals did. However, we found no evidence that this behaviour influenced foraging as nut consumption was unaffected. Our meta‐analysis revealed that globally, small mammals respond with similar wariness to fox scent regardless of whether foxes are their native predator. We found no evidence that Australian small mammals respond in a maladaptive manner, compared to the foxes' native prey. Our results suggest that animals can develop antipredator behaviours to introduced predators to the same magnitude as native prey.

Grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations are beginning to increase globally after centuries of decline. While protective legislations and policy implementations have been driving this increase, evidence suggests that these work because of a general rise in public acceptance of wolves. As people have become more knowledgeable of the important ecological roles played by wolves, protection has gained increasing community support, with human-wolf coexistence now being achieved in some areas. However, this is not universal, and some subspecies remain endangered. This is the case for the little-known Arabian wolf (Canis lupus arabs), which inhabits arid regions of the southern Levant and Arabian Peninsula: a geopolitically diverse region crossing multiple jurisdictions with disparate cultures, legislations, and attitudes towards wildlife and conservation. Here we review global efforts within the wolf conservation sphere to explore potential opportunities and challenges in the Middle East, acknowledging and accounting for the unique geopolitical complexity of this region. We bring together what is known about this wolf's taxonomic status, distribution, ecology, and conservation across eleven countries in which it resides, collating decades of legislation, governmental, and non-governmental conservation efforts, and summarising literature pertinent to the Arabian wolf. Cross-border collaborations remain challenging in the Middle East, but we identify practical and culturally-based solutions that may improve coexistence and conservation goals, building upon areas where coexistence already occurs. We write this review in the hope that it will highlight the synergies, opportunities, and obstacles that require more serious deliberation and collaboration to conserve one of the region's remaining apex predators.

International and national conservation policies almost exclusively focus on conserving species in their historic native ranges, thus excluding species that have been introduced by people and some of those that have extended their ranges on their own accord. Given that many of such migrants are threatened in their native ranges, conservation goals that explicitly exclude these populations may overlook opportunities to prevent extinctions and respond dynamically to rapidly changing environmental and climatic conditions. Focusing on terrestrial mammals, we quantified the number of threatened mammals that have established new populations through assisted migration (i.e., introduction). We devised 4 alternative scenarios for the inclusion of assisted-migrant populations in mainstream conservation policy with the aim of preventing global species extinctions. We then used spatial prioritization algorithms to simulate how these scenarios could change global spatial conservation priorities. We found that 22% (70 species out of 265) of all identified assisted-migrant mammals were threatened in their native ranges, mirroring the 25% of all mammals that are threatened. Reassessing global threat statuses by combining native and migrant ranges reduced the threat status of 23 species (∼33% of threatened assisted migrants). Thus, including migrant populations in threat assessments provides a more accurate assessment of actual global extinction risk among species. Spatial prioritization simulations showed that reimagining the role of assisted-migrant populations in preventing species extinction could increase the importance of overlooked landscapes, particularly in central Australia, Europe, and the southwestern United States. Our results indicated that these various and nonexhaustive ways to consider assisted-migrant populations, with due consideration of potential conservation conflicts with resident taxa, may provide unprecedented opportunities to prevent species extinctions.

Predator-prey ecology and the study of animal cognition and culture have emerged as independent disciplines. Research combining these disciplines suggests that both animal cognition and culture can shape the outcomes of predator-prey interactions and their influence on ecosystems. We review the growing body of work that weaves animal cognition or culture into predator-prey ecology, and argue that both cognition and culture are significant but poorly understood mechanisms mediating how predators structure ecosystems. We present a framework exploring how previous experiences with the predation process creates feedback loops that alter the predation sequence. Cognitive and cultural predator-prey ecology offers ecologists new lenses through which to understand species interactions, their ecological consequences, and novel methods to conserve wildlife in a changing world.

Since prehistory, humans have altered the composition of ecosystems by causing extinctions and introducing species. However, our understanding of how waves of species extinctions and introductions influence the structure and function of ecological networks through time remains piecemeal. Here, focusing on Australia, which has experienced many extinctions and introductions since the Late Pleistocene, we compared the functional trait composition of Late Pleistocene (130,00-115,000 years before present [ybp]), Holocene (11,700-3,000 ybp), and current Australian mammalian predator assemblages (>= 70% vertebrate meat consumption; >= 1 kg adult body mass). We then constructed food webs for each period based on estimated prey body mass preferences. We found that introduced predators are functionally distinct from extinct Australian predators, but they rewire food webs toward a state that closely resembles the Late Pleistocene, prior to the megafauna extinctions. Both Late Pleistocene and current-day food webs consist of an apex predator and three smaller predators. This leads to food web networks with a similar total number of links, link densities, and compartmentalizations. However, this similarity depends on the presence of dingoes: in their absence, food webs become simplified and reminiscent of those following the Late Pleistocene extinctions. Our results suggest that recently established predators, even those implicated in species extinctions and declines, can restore complexity to food webs simplified by extinction.