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Measuring protected-area effectiveness using vertebrate distributions from leech iDNA.

Yinqiu Ji1, Christopher C M Baker2,3, Viorel D Popescu4,5

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Security of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, 650223, Kunming, Yunnan, China.

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|March 24, 2022
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Environmental DNA from leeches offers a novel method to track vertebrate occupancy in protected areas. This approach reveals how species distribution relates to elevation and proximity to reserve boundaries, aiding conservation efforts.

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Area of Science:

  • Conservation Biology
  • Molecular Ecology
  • Wildlife Management

Background:

  • Protected areas are crucial for biodiversity conservation, yet measuring their effectiveness remains challenging.
  • Traditional monitoring methods can be labor-intensive and may not capture the full picture of species presence.
  • Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis presents a promising alternative for non-invasive biodiversity assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the feasibility of using leech-derived environmental DNA (eDNA) to estimate vertebrate occupancy in a large protected area.
  • To map species distribution patterns within the Ailaoshan reserve and identify factors influencing occupancy.
  • To provide a novel, spatially-resolved metric for evaluating protected area effectiveness.

Main Methods:

  • Collection of 30,468 leeches by 163 park rangers across 172 patrol areas within the 677 km2 Ailaoshan reserve.
  • Extraction and analysis of DNA from leech bloodmeals to identify vertebrate species.
  • Application of multi-species occupancy modeling to analyze distribution patterns and influencing factors.

Main Results:

  • Identification of 86 vertebrate species, including amphibians, mammals, birds, and squamates, from leech bloodmeals.
  • Species richness was found to increase with elevation and distance from the reserve edge.
  • Domestic mammals and muntjak deer showed higher occupancy at lower elevations, contrasting with most large mammals.

Conclusions:

  • Leech-derived eDNA is a feasible method for estimating spatially-resolved vertebrate occupancies across protected areas.
  • Occupancy patterns provide direct measures of conservation outcomes, informing protected area management.
  • This innovative approach can enhance the contribution of protected areas to global biodiversity goals.