Publications by authors named "D A Seaman"
Conservation initiatives strive for reliable and cost-effective species monitoring. However, resource constraints mean management decisions are overly reliant on data derived from single methodologies, resulting in taxonomic or geographic biases. We introduce a data integration framework to optimize species monitoring in terms of spatial representation, the reliability of biodiversity metrics, and the cost of implementation, focusing on tigers and their principal prey (sambar deer and wild pigs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Logged and disturbed forests, often seen as degraded, actually harbor significant biodiversity and should not be dismissed in conservation efforts.
- A study in Sabah, Malaysia examined the effects of logging intensity on 1,681 species, revealing two important conservation thresholds.
- Lightly logged forests (less than 29% biomass removed) can recover well, while heavily degraded forests (over 68% biomass removed) may need more intensive recovery efforts, highlighting the varying conservation values of logged forests.
Article Synopsis
- - The evaluation of conservation strategies is often lacking, limiting transparency and efficiency in resource allocation, especially noted in orangutan conservation efforts where about USD 1 billion was invested from 2000 to 2019.
- - The study found that habitat protection, patrolling, and public outreach yielded the best returns on investment for orangutan population maintenance, but effectiveness varied by region due to different threats and costs.
- - By using a new framework to analyze conservation investments, the research highlights the importance of understanding the complex relationships between funding and conservation outcomes, offering valuable insights applicable to global biodiversity efforts.
Article Synopsis
- Critically endangered orangutans are translocated for various reasons, including reintroducing them to areas without wild populations and reinforcing existing ones; however, this process poses disease risks, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, experts advised halting orangutan translocations to minimize the risk of transmitting human diseases, but some releases occurred, exposing orangutans to potential human-borne diseases.
- The study recommends conducting a Disease Risk Analysis, enhancing pathogen surveillance, and exploring conservation strategies other than translocation, such as reducing human-orangutan interactions and protecting natural habitats.