Species distribution models (SDMs) represent a widely acknowledged tool to identify priority areas on the basis of occurrence data and environmental factors. However, high levels of topographical and climatic micro-variation are a hindrance to reliably modelling the distribution of narrow-endemic species when based on classic occurrence and climate datasets. Here, we used high-resolution environmental variables and occurrence data obtained from dedicated field studies to produce accurate SDMs at a local scale. We modelled the potential current distribution of 23 of the 25 rarest species from Mount Kaala, a hotspot of narrow-endemism in New Caledonia, using occurrence data from two recent sampling campaigns, and eight high-resolution (10 m and 30 m) environmental predictors in a Species Distribution Modelling framework. After a first sampling operation, we surveyed six additional areas containing, overall, 13 of the 20 species modelled at this stage, to validate our projections where the highest species richness levels were predicted. The ability of our method to define conservation areas was largely validated with an average 84% of predicted species found in the validation areas, and additional data collected enabling us to model three more species. We therefore identified the areas of highest conservation value for the whole of Mount Kaala. Our results support the ability of SDMs based on presence-only data such as MaxEnt to predict areas of high conservation value using fine-resolution environmental layers and field-collected occurrence data in the context of small and heterogeneous systems such as tropical islands.
Recently, debate has flourished about inadequacies in the simplistic ''worst invasive species'' approach and its global scale. Here we investigate the status of the red-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer), an Asian passerine bird. This species has been introduced widely across Pacific islands and is commonly blamed for its impacts on agriculture and biodiversity via dispersal of invasive plant seeds and competition with native fauna. This case study evaluates all available data on the impacts and management of this invasive species and identifies priorities for future research. We reviewed the scientific literature and information from three databases (ABBA, GAVIA, eBird) and highlight that the attention paid to this species by scientists and managers varied considerably between islands and contexts and was globally lower than the attention paid to other species on the IUCN-ISSG list. The red-vented bulbul has now established on 37 islands and in seven continental locations outside its native range. We show that three categories of effects are associated with this species: plant damage, seed dispersal and disturbance of fauna. We compiled lists of 110 plant species consumed, 33 plant species dispersed, and 15 species of bird that this bulbul interacts with. However, these lists were mainly made of opportunistic observations rather than specific assessments. Research outputs that focus on better ways to prevent or quantify the impacts of the red-vented bulbul remain scarce. We found very few references exploring potential positive impacts of this species, and only two examples of management actions undertaken against it. The latter are required to inform management actions, especially on sensitive tropical islands where invasions and dispersal of the red-vented bulbul are ongoing. Our analysis of the literature found no clear support for considering this species to be one of the ''world's worst'' invasive alien species.
In an era of major environmental changes, understanding corals’ resistance to bleaching is as crucial as it is challenging. A promising framework for inferring corals’ trophic strategies from Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses has been recently proposed to this end. As a contribution to this framework, we quantify a risk of bias inherent in its application and propose three alternative adjustments.
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