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Conservation Gap Analysis of Native U.S. Oaks (3.67005)
Date: July 2019Creator: Beckman Bruns, Emily, Denvir, Audrey, Westwood, Murphy
Type: Article
Description:Oaks are critical to the health and function of forest and shrubland habitats in the United States, but many native oaks are threatened with extinction in the wild. Ongoing conservation efforts exist for some species, but with growing threats and limited resources and time, prioritization and coordination of conservation actions is critical. To facilitate these efforts, we conducted a comprehensive survey of both the achievements and most urgent needs for in situ (on-site) and ex situ (off-site) conservation of priority at-risk oak species in the U.S.
Extent: 114 pages
Using Open Source Data to Identify Conservation Priorities at Large Spatial Scales (3.67073)
Date: 2019Type: Dataset
Description:We are in the middle of the sixth mass extinction, due in part to the intensification of human land use. Therefore it is vital to quickly and effectively identify species at risk of extinction if we are to save them. The effects of human land use can extend beyond habitat loss by severing gene flow between subpopulations, making them more susceptible to inbreeding depression. These genetic effects have a negative impact on species viability and need to be considered in long-term conservation planning. One way to address this is by assessing the vulnerability of populations that are unable to reproduce with one another due to habitat fragmentation. In this study we used open source satellite imagery and species occurrence data to create a method for assessing the vulnerability of subpopulations of species. We selected ten focal species of Quercus found in Japan to develop this methodology and were able to identify four subpopulations that are likely threatened. With these data, we were able to identify local gardens and protected areas best situated to aid these subpopulations. Our methods use open source data and do not require costly field expeditions. Thus, this methodology can aid conservationists, who are often limited by cost or location, in quickly assessing the state of a species and the viability of its subpopulations.