Alumni Publications
Ezat, M.Z., Fritsch, C.J., Downs, C.T. (2018) Use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) to survey Nile crocodile populations: A case study at Lake Nyamithi, Ndumo game reserve, South Africa. Biological Conservation, (223): 76-81.
Observer bias and inexperience are challenging aspects of crocodile survey methods for determining population numbers and structure. Aerial surveys with either a helicopter or a fixed winged aircraft are generally preferred methods to ground surveys; however, the high cost of the former is a limiting factor. Recently unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones have been proposed for surveys because of their potential of improving over traditional techniques of wildlife monitoring and as they have relatively lower costs. We investigated of the suitability of a UAV to determine numbers and structure of the Nile crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus, population during winter at Lake Nyamithi, Ndumo Game Reserve in South Africa. We used the UAV for eight flights covering ~132 ha…
Gress. E., Andradi-Brown, D.A. (2018) Assessing population changes of historically overexploited black corals (Order: Antipatharia) in Cozumel, Mexico. PeerJ 6: e5129.
Black corals (Antipatharians) are crucial structural and ecological components of many mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; reefs 30–150 m depth). In Mexico, black corals are harvested for the jewellery industry, which has historically led to population depletion. Harvesting began in the early 1960s and was concentrated around Cozumel Island until 1995. Since then, harvesting permits have been granted only for the mainland coast. Here we compare Cozumel populations between 1998 and 2016 for the two black coral species targeted by the jewellery industry. We found that densities of Plumapathes pennacea in 2016 were substantially lower than in 1998…
Gonzalez, J.C.T., Layusa, C.A.A., Duya, M.R.M., Heaney, L.H., Balete, D.S., Tabaranza, D.G.E., Espanola, C.P, van de Ven, W.A.C., Diesmos, A.C., Afuang, L.E., Causaren, R.M., Diesmos, M.L., Lagat, R.T., Realubit, N.D., Sy, E.Y., Lit, I.L. Jr., Naredo, J.C.B., Lastica, E.A., Pasicolan, S.A., Tagtag, A.M., De Leon, J., Lim, T.M.S., Ong, P.S. (2018) Review and update to the 2004 National List of Threatened Terrestrial Fauna of the Philippines. Sylvatrop: 28(1): 73-144.
In 2004, the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued the National List of Threatened Fauna Species. Between 2015 and 2017, this was reviewed by assessing 1994 taxa, including 57 mammals, 683 birds, 355 reptiles, 115 amphibians, and 784 invertebrates, using the threatened categories specified in the 2001 Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. Another group evaluated the initial assessment if the criteria were properly applied and the taxa were assigned to their appropriate categories. Fifty-five percent or 1105 species were placed under four threatened categories: Critically Endangered (CR) – 60; Endangered (EN) – 61; Vulnerable (VU) – 439; Other Threatened Species (OTS) – 545. For the first time, invertebrates were included in the assessment and accounted for nearly 70% of species listed…
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