Defining priority areas for conservation of poorly known species: A case study of the endemic Brazilian three-banded armadillo
Conservation of poorly known species is challenging as lack of knowledge on their specific requirements may hamper effective strategies. Here, by integrating biogeographical and landscape analyses, we show that informed actions can be delineated for species with limited presence-only data available....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Cambridge Prisms: Extinction |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S275509582200002X/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797799595486478336 |
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| author | Anderson Feijó Rodolfo Magalhães Adriana Bocchiglieri José Luís P. Cordeiro Liana Mara Sena Nina Attias |
| author_facet | Anderson Feijó Rodolfo Magalhães Adriana Bocchiglieri José Luís P. Cordeiro Liana Mara Sena Nina Attias |
| author_sort | Anderson Feijó |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Conservation of poorly known species is challenging as lack of knowledge on their specific requirements may hamper effective strategies. Here, by integrating biogeographical and landscape analyses, we show that informed actions can be delineated for species with limited presence-only data available. We combine species distribution and connectivity models with temporal land cover changes to define priority areas for conservation of the endemic Brazilian three-banded armadillo, one of the most threatened xenarthrans that was once considered extinct in the wild. We revealed that areas of savanna and grassland are the most suitable habitats for the species and that uplands in the Caatinga ecoregion have a greater likelihood for dispersal. The few remnant armadillo populations are spatially associated with core areas of natural vegetation remnants. Worrisomely, 76% of natural core areas were lost in the past 30 years, mirroring the species’ severe population decline. Preserving the remnant core natural areas should be a high priority to ensure the species’ survival. We highlight key areas for proactive and reactive conservation actions for the three-banded armadillo that will benefit other threatened sympatric species. Our integrative framework provides a set of valuable information for guided conservation management that can be replicated for other poorly known species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:21:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e5f12f5ec2514ed688d361a13ffdc3c5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2755-0958 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:21:15Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cambridge Prisms: Extinction |
| spelling | doaj.art-e5f12f5ec2514ed688d361a13ffdc3c52023-06-20T10:01:07ZengCambridge University PressCambridge Prisms: Extinction2755-09582023-01-01110.1017/ext.2022.2Defining priority areas for conservation of poorly known species: A case study of the endemic Brazilian three-banded armadilloAnderson Feijó0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4643-2293Rodolfo Magalhães1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6876-8521Adriana Bocchiglieri2José Luís P. Cordeiro3Liana Mara Sena4Nina Attias5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9472-6763Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Conservação e Manejo da Vida Silvestre, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil EDGE of Existence Programme, Zoological Society of London, London, UKPrograma de Pós graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Ceará, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil International Platform for Science, Technology, and Innovation in Health, Aveiro, Portugal Department of Biology and Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Aveiro University, Aveiro, PortugalPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Conservação e Manejo da Vida Silvestre, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilDepartment of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA ICAS – Instituto de Conservação de Animais Silvestres, Campo Grande, BrazilConservation of poorly known species is challenging as lack of knowledge on their specific requirements may hamper effective strategies. Here, by integrating biogeographical and landscape analyses, we show that informed actions can be delineated for species with limited presence-only data available. We combine species distribution and connectivity models with temporal land cover changes to define priority areas for conservation of the endemic Brazilian three-banded armadillo, one of the most threatened xenarthrans that was once considered extinct in the wild. We revealed that areas of savanna and grassland are the most suitable habitats for the species and that uplands in the Caatinga ecoregion have a greater likelihood for dispersal. The few remnant armadillo populations are spatially associated with core areas of natural vegetation remnants. Worrisomely, 76% of natural core areas were lost in the past 30 years, mirroring the species’ severe population decline. Preserving the remnant core natural areas should be a high priority to ensure the species’ survival. We highlight key areas for proactive and reactive conservation actions for the three-banded armadillo that will benefit other threatened sympatric species. Our integrative framework provides a set of valuable information for guided conservation management that can be replicated for other poorly known species.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S275509582200002X/type/journal_articleCerrado–Caatingaflagship specieshabitat lossnational action plan Tolypeutes |
| spellingShingle | Anderson Feijó Rodolfo Magalhães Adriana Bocchiglieri José Luís P. Cordeiro Liana Mara Sena Nina Attias Defining priority areas for conservation of poorly known species: A case study of the endemic Brazilian three-banded armadillo Cambridge Prisms: Extinction Cerrado–Caatinga flagship species habitat loss national action plan Tolypeutes |
| title | Defining priority areas for conservation of poorly known species: A case study of the endemic Brazilian three-banded armadillo |
| title_full | Defining priority areas for conservation of poorly known species: A case study of the endemic Brazilian three-banded armadillo |
| title_fullStr | Defining priority areas for conservation of poorly known species: A case study of the endemic Brazilian three-banded armadillo |
| title_full_unstemmed | Defining priority areas for conservation of poorly known species: A case study of the endemic Brazilian three-banded armadillo |
| title_short | Defining priority areas for conservation of poorly known species: A case study of the endemic Brazilian three-banded armadillo |
| title_sort | defining priority areas for conservation of poorly known species a case study of the endemic brazilian three banded armadillo |
| topic | Cerrado–Caatinga flagship species habitat loss national action plan Tolypeutes |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S275509582200002X/type/journal_article |
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