Pandas could be wiped out just as conservationists think they are recovering, warns study

The 'panda survival crisis' remains serious, scientists say, despite the animals' recent reclassification as 'vulnerable' rather than 'endangered'

Ian Johnston Environment Correspondent 

Giant pandas could be wiped out despite conservation efforts being hailed as a success, according to a new study.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently decided the bear was no longer officially “endangered” but was merely “vulnerable” to extinction.

This still means the animal faces as “high risk of extinction in the wild” – rather than the previous “very high” chance – but the new research suggested its true plight was perhaps being underestimated.

Continued  

New U.S. Toad Species Discovered for First Time in 50 Years-Nevada's Dixie Valley Toad Already Threatened With Extinction – via Herp Digest

Press Release 7/6/17- Reno, Nev. — Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno and Paul Smith‘s College published a paper today in the journal Zootaxa describing the Dixie Valley toad as a new species in the Great Basin of northern Nevada.

While introducing this new species, the paper also highlights the authors’ concerns for the toad’s conservation: The animal’s survival is urgently threatened by proposed development of a geothermal energy facility in its range.

“I’m excited to hear about the discovery of this new toad, as it increases our knowledge about the vast diversity of amphibians that we have in this country,” said Jenny Loda, a Center attorney and scientist focused on protecting amphibians and reptiles. “But at the same time, I’m concerned for its survival. I hope it was discovered in time to save it from the threats it faces.”

The Dixie Valley toad is found in remote wetlands fed by thermal desert springs on the western edge of the Dixie Valley Playa in Churchill County. Its range is restricted to less than 1,500 acres, making it especially vulnerable to impacts to its habitat. Like many of Nevada’s groundwater-dependent species, it relies on consistent spring flow for survival. This little toad has large, prominent eyes and an olive-colored body dotted with black freckles and rust-colored warts bordered by black halos.

The Bureau of Land Management is currently reviewing the proposed Dixie Meadows Geothermal Utilization Project, which would hurt the toads by constructing facilities and infrastructure on or near their habitat. This project would pump almost 46,000 acre-feet of water per year from the natural underground geothermal reservoir, altering groundwater flow patterns and potentially draining the toad’s wetland habitat.

“We hope the BLM will recognize the importance of this new toad and go back to the drawing board on its review of the Dixie Meadows Geothermal Project,” said Loda. “It’s horrible to think that we may lose this new species just as we’re beginning to learn about it.”

The Center is working to protect the Dixie Valley toad through participation in the environmental review process for the proposed geothermal project and will submit a petition to U.S. Fish and Wildlife to protect the toad under the Endangered Species Act.

For more information contact 

Jenny Loda, jloda@biologicaldiversity.org

Big fish in big trouble in Europe

Date: June 1, 2017
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC)

A new study by an international team of scientists, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, warns that many large fish species, including many of the sharks and rays of Europe, are threatened with extinction. Confirming the findings of previous studies, the scientists highlight regional differences in fish stock status in Europe and point to overfishing in the Mediterranean.

Marine fish play an important role in marine ecosystems, but are also a major food source for marine animals and humans. The new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution found that the bigger the fish, the more likely it is to be threatened with extinction. This is because they are more susceptible to threats such as overfishing because they grow slower, take longer to mature, have fewer offspring and are in higher demand for food consumption and recreational fishing.

The research team studied the status of commercial fish stocks all around Europe to assess the extinction risk of fish. The JRC contributed to the study by analysing stock assessment data of commercial fish stocks in the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean stock assessment data were produced by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), a Commission expert group for which the JRC acts as the secretariat and provides expertise in stock assessments.



Continued