Find research datasets worth reusing
Search datasets from major research repositories and use ShareScore to quickly assess how well each record supports discovery, access, and reuse.
71
datasets available to search
ShareScore release 0.9.0
Dataset results
71 results for “conservation planning”
Data from: Factoring economic costs into conservation planning may not improve agreement over priorities for protection
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data From: Conservation planning in an uncertain climate: identifying projects that remain valuable and feasible across future scenarios
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Comprehensive conservation planning based on multiple biodiversity metrics
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: Reconciling diverse viewpoints within systematic conservation planning
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Demography and dynamics of Giant Kelp cohorts across four decades: Lessons for conservation and resilience planning
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: Constrained optimization of landscape indices in conservation planning to support ecological restoration in New Caledonia
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: The value of time-series data for conservation planning
<ol> <li>Protected areas (PAs) are increasingly being used worldwide for the conservation and management of wildlife. Systematic conservation planning (SCP) aims at ensuring biodiversity persistence while minimizing the threats faced by the species and/or the economic costs related to protection. To account for spatio-temporal interactions between species and human threats, conservation planning for mobile wildlife requires time-series data derived from monitoring of species and human threats, a process that is costly and technically challenging. Therefore, assessments of the monitoring period needed to ensure sufficient data input in the design of efficient, adequate and representative networks of PAs are crucial.</li> <li>We demonstrated the value of time-series data in conservation planning by implementing SCP and data from different monitoring periods to identify priority conservation areas for highly mobile marine megafauna accounting for their main threat: commercial fishing. Two analyses of ten reserve-design scenarios each, replicated as many times as the data composing each scenario permitted were run in Marxan. The best solutions of the planning scenarios were statistically compared using the Cohen`s Kappa test. We also assessed differences in spatial similarity among and within scenarios using the Wilcoxon non-parametric test and a non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis. Finally, we compared the necessary cost and the area selected for each scenario.</li> <li>Our study highlights the importance of time-series ecological and socioeconomic data for the robust selection of priority conservation areas. The results revealed different thresholds of the minimum temporal data required to design efficient networks of PAs for highly mobile species, demonstrating that the incorporation of data covering longer periods to the scenarios produce a more robust selection of priority conservation areas. Conservation plans using data covering less than three years were missing important priority areas.</li> <li> <i>Synthesis and applications. </i>We provide a method for estimating the minimum number of years of monitoring required to design efficient networks of protected areas that ensure the persistence of highly mobile species such as cetaceans and seabirds. This method can be used within an adaptive management framework to evaluate whether a network of PAs performs as planned, and to test whether management strategies should be altered or adjusted in response to local and global changes.</li> </ol>
Conservation planning across realms: enhancing connectivity for multi-realm species
<p>Connectivity plays a key role in biodiversity conservation as it sustains ecological processes important for the maintenance of populations such as migrations. Connectivity is especially relevant for species that rely on different realms during their life cycle or use different realms daily or seasonally (multi-realm species). However, effort to address conservation across multiple realms have focused on identifying priority areas for conservation in a single realm (mostly marine) accounting for threats propagating from other realms or single species needs. Here, we demonstrate how to identify priority areas for conservation across three different realms (freshwater-terrestrial, estuary and marine) for multiple species, including some multi-realm species, that inhabit or move across the three realms. We use the whole Tagus River Basin, its estuary and nearby marine area as a case study. We compared the allocation of priority areas and spatial connectivity achieved under three scenarios: no-connectivity, within-realm and cross-realm connectivity scenarios. There were some differences in the spatial allocation of priority areas across scenarios. The most remarkable difference laid on the connectivity achieved under each scenario, which experienced a 3-fold increase when considering connectivity across realms, compared to solutions that considered only connectivity within each realm independently. This improvement in connectivity was especially marked for some of the species that occur across the three realms. There were, however, trade-offs between this improvement in connectivity: i) an increase in the number of planning units selected, especially in the estuary, the realm that links the other two; and ii) a decline in connectivity achieved within the freshwater—terrestrial and marine realms. Synthesis and applications: Addressing connectivity across realms deserves especial attention when planning for conservation of multi-realm species to ensure adequacy of conservation recommendations to respond to the needs of these species. Given the potential trade-offs between enhanced cross-realm connectivity and total area needed or internal within-realm connectivity, consideration of cross-realm connectivity must be cautiously evaluated and integrated in multi-realm conservation plans.</p>
Predictive genetic plan for a captive population of the Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus) and prescriptive action for ex situ and in situ conservation management in Thailand
<p>Captive breeding programs for endangered species can increase population numbers for eventual reintroduction to the wild. Captive populations are typically small and isolated, which results in inbreeding and reduction of genetic variability, and may lead to an increased risk of extinction. The Omkoi Wildlife Breeding Center maintains the only Thai captive Chinese goral (<i>Naemorhedus griseus</i>) population, and has plans to reintroduce individuals into natural isolated populations. Genetic variability was assessed within the captive population using microsatellite data. Although no bottleneck was observed, genetic variability was low (allelic richness = 7.091 ± 0.756, <i>H</i><sub>e</sub> = 0.455 ± 0.219; <i>H</i><sub>e</sub> < <i>H</i><sub>o</sub>) and 11 microsatellite loci were informative that likely reflect inbreeding. Estimates of small effective population size and limited numbers of founders, combined with wild-born individuals within subpopulations, tend to cause reduction of genetic variability over time in captive programs. This leads to low reproductive fitness and limited ability to adapt to environmental change, thereby increasing the risk of extinction. Management of captive populations as evolutionarily significant units with diverse genetic backgrounds offers an effective strategy for population recovery. Relocation of individuals among subpopulations, or introduction of newly captured wild individuals into the captive program will help to ensure the future security of Chinese goral. Implications for future conservation actions for the species are discussed herein.</p>
Combining conservation status and species distribution models for planning assisted colonisation under climate change
<p>Effects of climate change are particularly important in the Mediterranean Biodiversity hotspot where rising temperatures and drought are negatively affecting several plant taxa, including endemic species. Assisted Colonisation (AC) represents a useful tool for reducing the effect of climate change on endemic plant species threatened by climate change.</p> <p>We combined SDMs for 188 taxa endemic to Italy with the IUCN red listing range loss threshold under criterion A (30%) to define: a) the number of AC (measured as 2×2 km grid cells that should be occupied by new populations, that is grid cells = new populations) required to fully compensate for predicted range loss and to halt the decline below the 30% of range loss; b) The number of cells necessary to compensate for range loss was calculated as the number of currently occupied cells lost under future climate due to unsuitable conditions. We used two Representative Concentration Pathways, +2.6 and +8.5 W/m2, optimistic and pessimistic scenarios, respectively. Availability of suitable areas for AC was also assessed within the current species distribution and within protected areas.</p> <p>Under the optimistic scenario, no taxa would lose more than 30% of their range and AC would not be required. Under the pessimistic scenario, roughly 90% of taxa showed a cell loss higher than 30%. Eight taxa were predicted to lose >95% of their range. For these species, AC was required from 13 to 16 new populations (= 13 to 16 grid cells) per taxon to cap the range loss at 30%. For currently VU or EN species, an average number of 32 to 35 AC attempts would be necessary to fully compensate for their range loss under a pessimistic scenario. Suitable recipient sites within protected areas falling in their projected range were identified, allowing for short-distance AC.</p> <p>Synthesis. Combining SDMs and red listing thresholds under Criterion A has enabled the strategic planning of multiple-species AC minimising the effort in terms of new populations to be created and maximising the conservation benefit in terms of range loss compensation.</p>
Data from: Catchment zoning for freshwater conservation: refining plans to enhance action on the ground
1. Recent advances in freshwater conservation planning allow addressing some of the specific needs of these systems. These include spatial connectivity or propagation of threats along stream networks, essential to ensure the maintenance of ecosystem processes and the biodiversity they sustain. However, these peculiarities make conservation recommendations difficult to implement as they often require considering large areas that cannot be managed under conventional conservation schemes (e.g. strict protection). 2. To facilitate the implementation of conservation in freshwater systems, a multizoning approach with different management zones subject to different management regimes was proposed. So far, this approach has only been used in post hoc exercises where zones were allocated using expert criteria. This might undermine the cost-effectiveness of conservation recommendations, because both the allocation and extent of these zones have never been optimized using the principles of systematic planning. 3. Here, we demonstrate how to create a catchment multizone plan by using a commonly applied tool in marine and terrestrial realms. We first test the capability of Marxan with Zones to address problems in rivers by using a simulated example and then apply the findings to a real case in the Daly River catchment, northern Australia. We also demonstrate how to address common conservation planning issues, such as accounting for threats or species-specific connectivity needs in this multizone framework, and evaluate their effects on the spatial distribution and extent of different zones. 4. We found that by prioritizing the allocation of zones subject to different management regimes, we could minimize the total area in need of strict conservation by a twofold factor. This reduction can be further reduced (threefold) when considering species' connectivity needs. The integration of threats helped reduce the average threats of areas selected by a twofold factor. 5. Synthesis and applications. Catchment zoning can help refine conservation recommendations and enhance cost-effectiveness by prescribing different management regimes informed by ecological needs or distribution of threats. Reliable information on these factors is a key to ensure soundness of planning. Freely available software can be used to implement the approach we demonstrate here.
Data from: Postglacial range expansion shaped the spatial genetic structure in a marine habitat-forming species: implications for conservation plans in the Eastern Adriatic Sea
Aim: Understanding how historical and contemporary processes shaped and maintain spatial patterns of genetic diversity is a major goal for conservation biologists. Here, we characterized the pattern of neutral genetic diversity and we inferred underlying processes in the habitat-forming octocoral Paramuricea clavata in the Adriatic Sea, a peculiar phylogeographic region of the Mediterranean Sea. Location: Eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. Methods: We genotyped seven microsatellites in 454 individuals of P. clavata from 13 populations recolonized after the last glacial maximum (LGM). We estimated the levels of contemporary connectivity and genetic drift and we reconstructed the demographic history of these populations. Results: The pattern of spatial genetic structure resulted from the combination of hierarchical genetic clusters and isolation by distance (IBD). A significant decrease in genetic diversity and an increase of the frequencies of individual alleles likely due to allele surfing from the south to the north of the area were observed as expected after a postglacial sequential recolonization. Based on maximum likelihood analyses, the foundation of these populations was not linked to dramatic change in population size. Main conclusion: Oceanographic barriers to gene flow combined to the restricted dispersal of P. clavata likely maintain the hierarchical structure and the IBD pattern. We suggest that the latitudinal genetic gradient results from a northward 'serial founder events' recolonization. By integrating patterns and processes, we bridge the gap between the evolutionary and the conservation biology of P. clavata, providing management guidelines, which will benefit the associated coralligenous biodiversity.
Data from: Sensitivity analysis of conservation targets in systematic conservation planning
Systematic conservation planning has rapidly advanced in the past decade and has been increasingly incorporated in multiple studies and conservation projects. One of its requirements is a quantitative definition of conservation targets. While the Convention on Biological Diversity aims to expand the world's protected area network to 17% of the land surface, in many cases such uniform policy-driven targets may not be appropriate for achieving persistence of various species. Targets are often set arbitrarily, often because information required for the persistence of each species is unavailable or unknown in the focal region. Conservation planners therefore need to establish complementary novel approaches to address the gaps in setting targets. Here, we develop and present a novel method that aims to help guide the selection of conservation targets, providing support for decision makers, planners, and managers. This is achieved by examining the overall flexibility of the conservation network resulting from conservation prioritization, and aiming for greater flexibility. To test this approach we applied the decision support tool Marxan to determine marine conservation priority areas in the eastern Mediterranean Sea as a case study. We assessed the flexibility of the conservation network by comparing 80 different scenarios in which conservation targets were gradually increased and assessed by a range of calculated metrics (e.g., the percentage of the total area selected, the overall connectivity). We discovered that when conservation targets were set too low (i.e., below 10% of the distribution range of each species), very few areas were identified as irreplaceable and the conservation network was not well defined. Interestingly, when conservation targets were set too high (over 50% of the species' range), too many conservation priority areas were selected as irreplaceable, an outcome which is realistically infeasible to implement. As a general guideline, we found that flexibility in a conservation network is adequate when ~10−20% of the study area is considered irreplaceable (selection frequency values over 90%). This approach offers a useful sensitivity analysis when applying target-based systematic conservation planning tools, ensuring that the resulting protected area conservation network offers more choices for managers and decision makers.
Data from: Phylogenetically informed spatial planning is required to conserve the mammalian tree of life
In the face of the current extinction crisis and severely limited conservation resources, safeguarding the tree of life is increasingly recognized as a high priority. We conducted a first systematic global assessment of the conservation of phylogenetic diversity (PD) that uses realistic area targets and highlights the key areas for conservation of the mammalian tree of life. Our approach offers a substantially more effective conservation solution than one focused on species. In many locations, priorities for PD differ substantially from those of a species-based approach that ignores evolutionary relationships. This discrepancy increases rapidly as the amount of land available for conservation declines, as does the relative benefit for mammal conservation (for the same area protected). This benefit is equivalent to an additional 5900 Myr of distinct mammalian evolution captured simply through a better informed choice of priority areas. Our study uses area targets for PD to generate more realistic conservation scenarios, and tests the impact of phylogenetic uncertainty when selecting areas to represent diversity across a phylogeny. It demonstrates the opportunity of using rapidly growing phylogenetic information in conservation planning and the readiness for a new generation of conservation planning applications that explicitly consider the heritage of the tree of life's biodiversity.
Data from: Ecological niche modelling for conservation planning of an endemic snail in the verge of becoming a pest in cardamom plantations in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot
Conservation managers and policy makers are often confronted with a challenging dilemma of devising suitable strategies to maintain agricultural productivity while conserving endemic species that at the early stages of becoming pests of agricultural crops. Identification of environmental factors conducive to species range expansion for forecasting species distribution patterns will play a central role in devising management strategies to minimize the conflict between the agricultural productivity and biodiversity conservation. Here, we present results of a study that predicts the distribution of Indrella ampulla, a snail endemic to the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, which is becoming a pest in cardamom (Ellettaria cardamomum) plantations. We determined the distribution patterns and niche overlap between I. ampulla and Ellettaria cardamomum using maximum entropy (MaxEnt) niche modeling techniques under current and future (2020–2080) climatic scenarios. The results showed that climatic (precipitation of coldest quarter and isothermality) and soil (cation exchange capacity of soil [CEC]) parameters are major factors that determine the distribution of I. ampulla in Western Ghats. The model predicted cardamom cultivation areas in southern Western Ghats are highly sensitive to invasion of I. ampulla under both present and future climatic conditions. While the land area in the central Western Ghats is predicted to become unsuitable for I. ampulla and Ellettaria cardamomum in future, we found 71% of the Western Ghats land area is suitable for Ellettaria cardamomum cultivation and 45% suitable for I. ampulla, with an overlap of 35% between two species. The resulting distribution maps are invaluable for policy makers and conservation managers to design and implement management strategies minimizing the conflicts to sustain agricultural productivity while maintaining biodiversity in the region.
Data from: Conservation planning for offsetting the impacts of development: a case study of biodiversity and renewable energy in the Mojave Desert
Balancing society's competing needs of development and conservation requires careful consideration of tradeoffs. Renewable energy development and biodiversity conservation are often considered beneficial environmental goals. However, the direct footprint and disturbance of renewable energy can displace species' habitat and negatively impact populations and communities if sited without ecological consideration. To mitigate residual impacts, offsets have emerged as a potentially useful tool after trying to avoid, minimize, or restore affected sites. Yet where many species or many sites are involved, the problem of efficiently designing a set of offset sites becomes increasingly complex. Spatial conservation prioritization tools are designed to handle this problem, but have seen little application to offset siting and analysis. To address this need we designed an offset siting support tool for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) of California, and present a case study of hypothetical impacts from solar development in the Western Mojave subsection. We compare two offset scenarios designed to mitigate a hypothetical 15,331 ha derived from proposed utility-scale solar energy development (USSED) projects. The first prioritizes offsets based precisely on impacted features, while the second offsets impacts based on the potential to maximize biodiversity conservation gains in the region. The two methods only agree on 28% of their prioritized sites and differ in meeting species-specific offset goals. Differences between the two scenarios highlight the importance of clearly specifying choices and priorities for offset siting and mitigation in general. Similarly, the effects of background climate and land use change may lessen the durability or effectiveness of offsets if not considered. Our offset siting support tool was designed specifically for the DRECP area, but with minor code modification could work well in other offset analyses, and provide continuing support for a potentially innovative mitigation solution to environmental impacts.
The dataset for β diversity pattern of megabenthic community on a seamount of Philippine Sea: Implications for conservation planning on the Kyushu-Palau Ridge
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Assessing the effectiveness of a forest Habitat Conservation Plan for a threatened seabird, the marbled murrelet
<p>Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) commonly facilitate habitat conservation on private land in the United States, yet the effectiveness of individual HCPs is rarely evaluated. Here, we assess the effectiveness of a high-profile HCP created by a lumber company to protect old-growth forest used for breeding by Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) on private land. We used 17 years of HCP-monitoring data to compare trends in murrelet occupancy and inland counts between private HCP areas and public reference areas over time. Based on occupancy models applied to audio-visual survey data, average occupancy was higher in public reference areas (0.85; 85% CI: 0.79-0.90) than in private HCP areas (0.46; 85% CI: 0.38-0.54). Numerically, trends in occupancy were slightly positive in public areas (λ=1.01; 85% CI: 0.94-1.08) and slightly negative in private areas (λ=0.97; 85% CI: 0.87-1.06), but confidence intervals did not preclude stable occupancy on both ownerships. Based on generalized linear mixed models applied to inland radar survey data, murrelet counts in private HCP areas (LS mean=8.7; 85% CI: 6.2-12.2) were lower than those in public reference areas (LS mean=14.8; 85% CI: 10.1-21.7), but confidence intervals overlapped. Murrelet counts declined by 12-17% annually on both ownerships over the study period based on the top model, but a closely competing interactive model suggested more rapid declines in public reference (14-20%) than in private HCP (10-15%) areas. Both models indicated that murrelet counts were negatively related to sea surface temperature, suggesting that warm ocean conditions negatively affect murrelet breeding effort. Collectively, these results suggest that while HCP habitat may be lower quality than public reference areas, the HCP has likely not exacerbated ongoing declines of murrelets in the region. This work highlights the importance of including reference areas when evaluating conservation policies. </p>
Supplementary material 1 from: Krzikowski M, Nguyen TQ, Pham CT, Rödder D, Rauhaus A, Le MD, Ziegler T (2022) Assessment of the threat status of the amphibians in Vietnam - Implementation of the One Plan Approach. Nature Conservation 49: 77-116. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.49.82145
Assessment of the threat status of the amphibians in Vietnam - Implementation of the One Plan Approach
Data from: A comprehensive evaluation of flowering plant diversity and conservation priority for national park planning in China
<p><span>Establishment of a national park protection system in China, including the latest target proposed to protect at least 30% of the land area, calls for a comprehensive exploration of conservation priorities incorporating multiple diversity facets. We herein evaluate the spatial distribution of Chinese flowering plants from the perspectives of richness, uniqueness, vulnerability, and evolutionary history, by integrating three mega-phylogenies and comprehensive distribution data. </span><span>We </span><span>detect significantly high consistency among hotspots of different diversity measures for Chinese flowering plants, suggesting that multiple facets of evolutionary diversity are concentrically distributed in China. Affording legal protection to these areas is expected to maximize positive conservation outcomes. We propose two integrative diversity indices by incorporating three richness-based and three phylogeny-based measures, respectively. Both methods identify areas with high species richness, but the integrative phylogeny-based index also locates key areas with ancient and unique evolutionary histories </span><span>(e.g.,</span><span> Ailao-Wuliang Mts, </span><span>Dabie Mts, Hainan rainforest, </span><span>Karst area of Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi, </span><span>Nanling Mts, and southeast coastal regions)</span><span>. Of all the diversity indices explored, phylogenetic endemism maximizes the incidental protection of other indices in most cases, emphasizing its significance for conservation planning. Finally, 42 priority areas are identified by combining the 5%-criterion hotspots of two integrative indices and the minimum area to protect all threatened species analyzed. These priorities cover only 13.3% of China's land area but host 97.1% of species richness </span><span>(23,394/24,095)</span><span>, 96.5% of endemic species </span><span>(11,841/12,274)</span><span>, 100% of threatened species </span><span>(2,613/2,613)</span><span>, and 99.3% of phylogenetic diversity for flowering plants involved in this study. These frameworks provide a solid scientific basis for national park planning in China.</span></p>
ScienceDex guides
Understand access before you commit
These curated guides explain access requirements, typical timelines, costs, and reuse considerations for widely used research datasets.
Allen Brain Atlas
Allen Brain Atlas is an Allen Institute collection of brain map atlases, datasets, APIs, and analysis tools covering mouse, human, and non-human primate brain resources.
Annotated Behaviour and Observability Dataset (ABODe)
ABODe is a University of Edinburgh DataShare dataset for behavior classification in group-housed mice using home-cage video, identities, bounding boxes, ground-plate positions, and annotator labels.
DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
DANDI is a BRAIN Initiative archive for publishing and sharing neurophysiology data, including electrophysiology, optophysiology, and behavioral data packaged as NWB and related standards.
International Brain Laboratory public data
The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.
OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.