Systematic review of the impact of restrictive wildlife trade measures on conservation of iconic species in southern Africa.

Trade restrictions are often advocated and implemented as measures to protect wild species threatened by overexploitation. However, in some instances, their efficacy has been questioned, notably by governments in the southern African (SADC) region, which tend to favor a sustainable use approach to wildlife management. We conducted a systematic review of published literature guided by the PRISMA process to examine the effectiveness of trade restrictions and directly related control measures in addressing threats to species conservation in the SADC region, with a focus on elephants (Loxodonta sp.), rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum, Diceros bicornis), lions (Panthera leo), and pangolins (Manis sp.). We focused in particular on the direct conservation impact of trade restrictions at species or population level, indirect conservation impact at human behavior or attitude level, and socioeconomic impact on rural livelihoods and well-being and on national economies. Research on these topics was uneven and focused strongly on the effects of trade restrictions and law enforcement on crime-related behavior. Research gaps include socioeconomic impacts of trade restrictions, including effects of international restrictions on local livelihoods and consequent secondary conservation impacts, and evaluations of attempts to disrupt criminal networks. Based on the reviewed impact evidence, the effectiveness of international trade restrictions depends on a range of fully aligned measures in countries of origin, transit, and consumption. For example, our results suggest positive ecological short-term but negative or unknown long-term socioeconomic impacts of domestic restrictions. Based on these findings, key policy requirements include more nuanced approaches to incorporate a range of appropriate measures in range, transit, and consumer countries, that focus on capacity development for early detection and apprehension of incursions inside protected areas; measures for constructive engagement with relevant local communities outside protected areas; and future research to improve understanding of the socioeconomic contribution of wildlife.

Revisión sistemática del impacto de las medidas restrictivas de comercio de vida silvestres sobre la conservación de especies icónicas en el sur de África Resumen Las restricciones comerciales a menudo se promueven e implementan como medidas para proteger a las especies silvestres amenazadas por la sobreexplotación. Sin embargo, en algunas instancias, su eficacia ha sido cuestionada, en particular por gobiernos de la región del sur de África (SADC), que tienden a favorecer un enfoque de uso sustentable para el manejo de la vida silvestre. Realizamos una revisión sistemática de la literatura publicada guiada por el proceso PRISMA para examinar la efectividad de las restricciones comerciales y las medidas de control directamente relacionadas para enfrentar las amenazas a la conservación de especies en la región de la SADC, con un enfoque en elefantes (Loxodonta sp.), rinocerontes (Ceratotherium simum, Diceros bicornis), leones (Panthera leo) y pangolines (Manis sp.). Nos centramos en particular en el impacto directo sobre la conservación de las restricciones comerciales a nivel de especie o población, el impacto indirecto sobre la conservación a nivel de comportamiento o actitud humana, y el impacto socioeconómico en los medios de vida y el bienestar rurales y en las economías nacionales. La investigación sobre estos temas fue desigual y se centró principalmente en los efectos de las restricciones comerciales y la aplicación de la ley en el comportamiento relacionado con el delito. Los vacíos a investigar incluyen los efectos de las restricciones internacionales sobre los medios de vida locales y los consiguientes impactos secundarios en la conservación, y evaluación de los intentos de desarticular las redes criminales. Con base en la revisión de la evidencia del impacto, la efectividad de las restricciones de comercio internacional depende de una gama de medidas totalmente alineadas en los países de origen, tránsito y consumo. Por ejemplo, nuestros resultados sugieren impactos socioeconómicos ecológicos positivos a corto plazo, pero negativos o desconocidos a largo plazo, de las restricciones nacionales. Con base en estos hallazgos, los requisitos clave para la definición de políticas incluyen enfoques más matizados para incorporar una variedad de medidas apropiadas ­ en los países de origen, tránsito y consumidores ­ que se centren en el desarrollo de capacidades para la detección temprana y la detención de incursiones dentro de áreas protegidas; medidas para un compromiso constructivo con las comunidades locales relevantes fuera de las áreas protegidas; e investigaciones futuras para mejorar la comprensión de la contribución socioeconómica de la vida silvestre.

Can we eliminate the primate pet trade in the United States?

International laws and conventions have gone a long way in reducing the number of wild primates entering the United States of America (US) for the pet trade. However, breeding primates for sale to private owners in the United States continues, and individual states present a bewildering array of laws and regulations on the holding of primates as pets. As primatologists we can act to decrease the demand for primate pets by (1) speaking out on the inappropriate use of primates in mass media and especially in social media; (2) not posing in photographs in close proximity to primates; (3) continuing to educate about why primates do not make good pets; and (4) contributing to the science that underlies state and federal legislation with the goal of eliminating captive breeding of primates for the pet trade. We encourage primatologists and others in related fields to be cognizant of the persistent commercialization of primates and be willing to take action to deter it.

Assessing and improving the veracity of international trade in captive-bred animals.

Captive breeding is often seen as a solution to sustainably increasing the supply of individuals in the wildlife trade. To be an effective conservation measure this requires robust systems to verify the authenticity of captive-bred species. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) monitors the international trade in Listed species-which for many taxa is dominated by captive-bred individuals-using the Review of Captive Trade (RCT) process. A key question is how best to identify laundered or inauthentic captive-bred trade and how has this changed over time and space. We develop targeted assessments based on multiple RCT criteria to identify probable instances of laundering and misuse of source and purpose codes in international trade records, and apply this to 39,167 records of captive trade from 2000 to 2020 spanning 53,674,762 individuals. We find a very low proportion of trade volume (1.8%, 37,835 individuals) misreported as originating from non-existent, registered Appendix I-breeding facilities, and low instances of exporter-reported captive trade being recorded by importers as wild-sourced (<4%) or ranched (1%). We also find that <2% of species-year-exporter records have abrupt shifts from wild to captive sources, potentially indicating laundering. Conversely, we find high incidences of exporter- and importer-reported trade differing in whether the trade was commercial or not - a phenomenon we attribute to differing definitions, not illegal activity. Our results indicate a low incidence of concerning international trade being reported, but we suggest this likely stems from reporting requirements that limit our assessments. We highlight additional trade data that, if embedded into Party's annual reports, would vastly improve inferential potential, greatly increasing the number of records (Appendix II and III species) that could be verified with minimal effort for management authorities.

Identification of Novel 5' and 3' Translation Enhancers in Umbravirus-Like Coat Protein-Deficient RNA Replicons.

Translation of plant plus-strand RNA viral genomes that lack a 5' cap frequently requires the use of cap-independent translation enhancers (CITEs) located in or near the 3' untranslated region (UTR). 3'CITEs are grouped based on secondary structure and ability to interact with different translation initiation factors or ribosomal subunits, which assemble a complex at the 3' end that is nearly always transferred to the 5' end via a long-distance kissing-loop interaction between sequences in the 3'CITE and 5' hairpins. We report here the identification of a novel 3'CITE in coat protein-deficient RNA replicons that are related to umbraviruses. Umbra-like associated RNAs (ulaRNAs), such as citrus yellow vein-associated virus (CYVaV), are a new type of subviral RNA that do not encode movement proteins, coat proteins, or silencing suppressors but can independently replicate using their encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. An extended hairpin structure containing multiple internal loops in the 3' UTR of CYVaV is strongly conserved in the most closely related ulaRNAs and structurally resembles an I-shaped structure (ISS) 3'CITE. However, unlike ISS, the CYVaV structure binds to eIF4G and no long-distance interaction is discernible between the CYVaV ISS-like structure and sequences at or near the 5' end. We also report that the ∼30-nucleotide (nt) 5' terminal hairpin of CYVaV and related ulaRNAs can enhance translation of reporter constructs when associated with either the CYVaV 3'CITE or the 3'CITEs of umbravirus pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV2) and even independent of a 3'CITE. These findings introduce a new type of 3'CITE and provide the first information on translation of ulaRNAs. IMPORTANCE Umbra-like associated RNAs (ulaRNAs) are a recently discovered type of subviral RNA that use their encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase for replication but do not encode any coat proteins, movement proteins, or silencing suppressors yet can be found in plants in the absence of any discernible helper virus. We report the first analysis of their translation using class 2 ulaRNA citrus yellow vein-associated virus (CYVaV). CYVaV uses a novel eIF4G-binding I-shaped structure as its 3' cap-independent translation enhancer (3'CITE), which does not connect with the 5' end by a long-distance RNA:RNA interaction that is typical of 3'CITEs. ulaRNA 5' terminal hairpins can also enhance translation in association with cognate 3'CITEs or those of related ulaRNAs and, to a lesser extent, with 3'CITEs of umbraviruses, or even independent of a 3'CITE. These findings introduce a new type of 3'CITE and provide the first information on translation of ulaRNAs.

Prevalence and perspectives of illegal trade in cacti and succulent plants in the collector community.

Although illegal wildlife trade (IWT) represents a serious threat to biodiversity, research into the prevalence of illegal plant collection and trade remains scarce. Because cacti and succulents are heavily threatened by overcollection for often illegal, international ornamental trade, we surveyed 441 members of the cacti and succulent hobbyist collector community with a mixed quantitative and qualitative approach. We sought to understand collector perspectives on the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) and on the threats IWT poses to cactus and succulent conservation. Most respondents (74% of 401 respondents) stated that illegal collection in cacti and succulents represents a "very serious problem" and that the problem of wild plant collection is increasing (72% of 319 respondents). Most forms of illegal collection and trade were seen as very unacceptable by respondents. Self-reported noncompliance with CITES rules was uncommon (11.2% of 418 respondents); it remains a persistent problem in parts of the cacti and succulent hobbyist community. People engaging in rule breaking, such as transporting plants without required CITES documents, generally did so knowingly. Although 60.6% of 381 respondents regarded CITES as a very important tool for conservation, sentiment toward CITES and its efficacy in helping species conservation was mixed. Collectors in our survey saw themselves as potentially playing important roles in cactus and succulent conservation, but this potential resource remains largely untapped. Our results suggest the need for enhanced consultation with stakeholders in CITES decision-making. For challenging subjects like IWT, developing evidence-based responses demands deep interdisciplinary engagement, including assessing the conservation impact of species listings on CITES appendices.

Aunque el mercado ilegal de especies (MIE) representa una amenaza seria para la biodiversidad, son escasas las investigaciones sobre la prevalencia del intercambio y la colecta ilegal de plantas. Ya que las cactáceas y suculentas están amenazadas seriamente por la sobrecolección, generalmente para el mercado ornamental internacional e ilegal, encuestamos mediante una estrategia cualitativa y cuantitativa a 441 miembros de la comunidad de aficionados a coleccionar estas plantas. Buscamos entender las perspectivas que tienen los coleccionistas sobre la Convención sobre el Comercio Internacional de Fauna y Flora Silvestres (CITES) y sobre las amenazas que el MIE representa para la conservación de las cactáceas y las suculentas. La mayoría de los respondientes (74% de 401) mencionaron que la recolección ilegal de estas plantas representa un "problema muy serio" y que el problema de la recolección de plantas silvestres está en aumento (72% de 319 respondientes). Casi todas las formas de mercado y colecta ilegal fueron consideradas como inaceptables por los respondientes. El no cumplimiento autoreportado de las reglas de la CITES no fue recurrente (11.2% de 418 respondientes), pero permanece como un problema persistente en algunos sectores de la comunidad de aficionados a la colección de estas plantas. Las personas que rompieron las reglas, como con el transporte de plantas sin los documentos CITES requeridos, en su mayoría lo hicieron conscientemente. Aunque el 60.6% de los 381 respondientes consideraron la CITES como una herramienta muy importante para la conservación, los sentimientos hacia ella y su eficiencia en el apoyo a la conservación de especies fueron encontrados. Los coleccionistas de nuestra encuesta se reconocieron como actores potencialmente importantes en la conservación de las cactáceas y las suculentas, pero este recurso potencial permanece desaprovechado en su mayoría. Nuestros resultados sugieren que es necesaria una consulta reforzada con los actores en las decisiones de la CITES. Para temas exigentes como el MIE, el desarrollo de respuestas basadas en evidencias demanda una participación interdisciplinaria profunda, incluyendo la evaluación del impacto de conservación que tienen los listados de especies en los apéndices de CITES. Prevalencia y perspectivas del mercado ilegal de cactáceas y plantas suculentas en la comunidad de coleccionistas.

Association of reproductive traits with captive- versus wild-sourced birds in trade.

The wildlife trade is a billion-dollar global business, involving millions of people, thousands of species, and hundreds of millions of individual organisms. Unravelling whether trade targets reproductively distinct species and whether this preference varies between captive- and wild-sourced species is a crucial question. We used a comprehensive list of all bird species traded, trade listings and records kept in compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and a suite of avian reproductive parameters to examine whether wildlife trade is associated with particular facets of life history and to examine the association between life-history traits and captive- and wild-sourced traded volumes over time. Across all trade, CITES listing, and CITES trade, large birds were more likely to be traded and listed, but their longevity and age at maturity were not associated with CITES listing or trade. We found species across almost the full range of trait values in both captive and wild trade between 2000 and 2020. Captive trade volumes clearly associated with relatively longer lived and early-maturing species; these associations remained stable and largely unchanged over time. Trait-volume associations in wild-sourced trade were more uncertain. Only body mass had a clear association, and it varied from negative to positive over time. Although reproductive traits were important in captive-sourced trade, species-level variation dominated trade, with even congeneric species varying greatly in volume despite similar traits. The collection and incorporation of trait data into sustainability assessments of captive breeding facilities are crucial to ensure accurate quotas and guard against laundering.

Asociación entre los rasgos reproductivos de aves en cautiverio versus las de origen silvestre comercializadas Resumen El mercado de fauna es un negocio mundial de miles de millones de dólares que involucra a millares de personas, miles de especies y cientos de millones de organismos individuales. Por ello es necesario resolver la cuestión de si el mercado se enfoca en especies con distinciones reproductivas y si esta preferencia varía entre las especies de origen silvestre y en cautiverio. Usamos una lista completa de todas las especies de aves comercializadas, listados y registros comerciales conforme a la Convención sobre el Comercio Internacional de Especies Amenazadas (CITES) y un conjunto de parámetros de reproducción de aves para analizar si el mercado de fauna está asociado con facetas particulares de la historia de vida. También analizamos la asociación entre los rasgos de la historia de vida y el volumen comercializado de origen silvestre y de cautiverio a lo largo del tiempo. En todos los mercados, listas de CITES y mercados CITES, las aves de mayor tamaño tuvieron mayor probabilidad de ser comercializadas y estar enlistadas, pero su longevidad y edad a la madurez no se asoció con el mercado o la lista e CITES. Detectamos especies en casi toda la gama de rasgos tanto en el comercio de cautiverio como el silvestre entre 2000 y 2020. El volumen comercial de cautiverio mostró una asociación clara con las especies relativamente más longevas y de madurez temprana; esta relación fue estable y casi no cambió con el tiempo. La asociación del volumen en las especies de origen silvestre fue más incierta; sólo la masa corporal tuvo una relación clara y ésta varió entre positiva y negativa con el tiempo. Aunque los rasgos reproductivos fueron importantes para el mercado con origen en cautiverio, la variación a nivel de especies dominó el mercado, incluso mostrando una enorme variación del volumen entre las especies congéneres a pesar de tener rasgos similares. La recolección e incorporación de datos sobre los rasgos dentro de los análisis de sustentabilidad de las instalaciones para la cría en cautiverio es crucial para asegurar las cuotas adecuadas y prevenir blanqueo de capitales.

Determining the sustainability of legal wildlife trade.

Exploitation of wildlife represents one of the greatest threats to species survival according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Whilst detrimental impacts of illegal trade are well recognised, legal trade is often equated to being sustainable despite the lack of evidence or data in the majority of cases. We review the sustainability of wildlife trade, the adequacy of tools, safeguards, and frameworks to understand and regulate trade, and identify gaps in data that undermine our ability to truly understand the sustainability of trade. We provide 183 examples showing unsustainable trade in a broad range of taxonomic groups. In most cases, neither illegal nor legal trade are supported by rigorous evidence of sustainability, with the lack of data on export levels and population monitoring data precluding true assessments of species or population-level impacts. We propose a more precautionary approach to wildlife trade and monitoring that requires those who profit from trade to provide proof of sustainability. We then identify four core areas that must be strengthened to achieve this goal: (1) rigorous data collection and analyses of populations; (2) linking trade quotas to IUCN and international accords; (3) improved databases and compliance of trade; and (4) enhanced understanding of trade bans, market forces, and species substitutions. Enacting these core areas in regulatory frameworks, including CITES, is essential to the continued survival of many threatened species. There are no winners from unsustainable collection and trade: without sustainable management not only will species or populations become extinct, but communities dependent upon these species will lose livelihoods.

Potential for invasion of traded birds under climate and land-cover change.

Humans have moved species away from their native ranges since the Neolithic, but globalization accelerated the rate at which species are being moved. We fitted more than half million distribution models for 610 traded bird species on the CITES list to examine the separate and joint effects of global climate and land-cover change on their potential end-of-century distributions. We found that climate-induced suitability for modelled invasive species increases with latitude, because traded birds are mainly of tropical origin and much of the temperate region is 'tropicalizing.' Conversely, the tropics are becoming more arid, thus limiting the potential from cross-continental invasion by tropical species. This trend is compounded by forest loss around the tropics since most traded birds are forest dwellers. In contrast, net gains in forest area across the temperate region could compound climate change effects and increase the potential for colonization of low-latitude birds. Climate change has always led to regional redistributions of species, but the combination of human transportation, climate, and land-cover changes will likely accelerate the redistribution of species globally, increasing chances of alien species successfully invading non-native lands. Such process of biodiversity homogenization can lead to emergence of non-analogue communities with unknown environmental and socioeconomic consequences.

Cryptic species diversity in a widespread neotropical tree genus: The case of Cedrela odorata.

PREMISE: Reconciling the use of taxonomy to partition morphological variation and describe genetic divergence within and among closely related species is a persistent challenge in phylogenetics. We reconstructed phylogenetic relationships among Cedrela odorata (Meliaceae) and five closely allied species to test the genetic basis for the current model of species delimitation in this economically valuable and threatened genus. METHODS: We prepared a nuclear species tree with the program SNPhylo and 16,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms from 168 Cedrela specimens. Based on clades present and ancestral patterns ADMIXTURE, we designed nine species delimitation models and compared each model to current taxonomy with Bayes factor delimitation. Timing of major lineage divergences was estimated with the program SNAPP. RESULTS: The resulting analysis revealed that modern C. odorata evolved from two genetically distinct ancestral sources. All species delimitation models tested better fit the data than the model representing current taxonomic delimitation. Models with the greatest marginal likelihoods separated Mesoamerican C. odorata and South American C. odorata into two species and lumped C. angustifolia and C. montana as a single species. We estimated that Cedrela diversified in South America within the last 19 million years following one or more dispersal events from Mesoamerican lineages. CONCLUSIONS: Our analyses show that the present taxonomic understanding within the genus obscures divergent lineages in C. odorata due in part to morphological differentiation and taxonomic distinctions that are not predictably associated with genetic divergence. A more accurate application of taxonomy to C. odorata and related species may aid in its conservation, management, and restoration efforts.

Prevalence of sustainable and unsustainable use of wild species inferred from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Unsustainable exploitation of wild species represents a serious threat to biodiversity and to the livelihoods of local communities and Indigenous peoples. However, managed, sustainable use has the potential to forestall extinctions, aid recovery, and meet human needs. We analyzed species-level data for 30,923 species from 13 taxonomic groups on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species to investigate patterns of intentional biological resource use. Forty percent of species (10,098 of 25,009 species from 10 data-sufficient taxonomic groups) were used. The main purposes of use were pets, display animals, horticulture, and human consumption. Intentional use is currently contributing to elevated extinction risk for 28-29% of threatened or near threatened (NT) species (2752-2848 of 9753 species). Intentional use also affected 16% of all species used (1597-1631 of 10,098). However, 72% of used species (7291 of 10,098) were least concern, of which nearly half (3469) also had stable or improving population trends. The remainder were not documented as threatened by biological resource use, including at least 172 threatened or NT species with stable or improving populations. About one-third of species that had use documented as a threat had no targeted species management actions to directly address this threat. To improve use-related red-list data, we suggest small amendments to the relevant classification schemes and required supporting documentation. Our findings on the prevalence of sustainable and unsustainable use, and variation across taxa, can inform international policy making, including the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Predominio del Uso Sustentable y No Sustentable de Especies Silvestres Inferido a partir de la Lista Roja de Especies Amenazadas de la UICN Resumen La explotación insostenible de especies silvestres representa una verdadera amenaza para la biodiversidad y el sustento de las comunidades locales y los pueblos indígenas. Sin embargo, el uso sostenible gestionado tiene el potencial para prevenir extinciones, auxiliar en la recuperación y satisfacer las necesidades humanas. Analizamos los datos a nivel de especie correspondientes a 30,923 especies de 13 grupos taxonómicos localizados en la Lista Roja de Especies Amenazadas de la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN) para investigar los patrones del uso intencional de recursos biológicos. Usamos el 40% de las especies analizadas (10,098 de 25,009 especies pertenecientes a diez grupos taxonómicos con suficiente información). Los principales motivos para el uso de vida silvestre fueron como mascotas, animales de exhibición, horticultura y consumo humano. El uso intencional está actualmente contribuyendo a un riesgo elevado de extinción para 28 - 29% de las especies amenazadas o casi amenazadas (NT) (2,752 - 2,848 de 9,753 especies). El uso intencional también afectó al 16% de todas las especies utilizadas (1,597 - 1,631 de 10,098). Sin embargo, el 72% de las especies utilizadas (7,291 de 10, 098) pertenecen a la categoría de preocupación menor, de las cuales casi la mitad (3,469) también contaban con tendencias poblacionales estables o de mejoría. Las especies restantes no estaban documentadas como amenazadas por el uso de recursos biológicos, incluyendo al menos 172 especies amenazadas o NT con poblaciones estables o en aumento. Casi un tercio de las especies que tienen documentado el uso como una amenaza no cuentan con acciones de manejo para abordar directamente esta amenaza. Para mejorar la información de la lista roja relacionada con el uso, sugerimos pequeñas modificaciones a los esquemas relevantes de clasificación y la documentación de apoyo requerida. Nuestros descubrimientos sobre el predominio del uso sustentable y no sustentable, y la variación entre taxones, puede orientar la formulación de políticas internacionales, incluyendo a la Plataforma Intergubernamental de Políticas Científicas sobre Biodiversidad y Servicios Ecosistémicos, el Convenio sobre la Diversidad Biológica y la Convención sobre el Comercio Internacional de Especies Amenazadas.

Review of threats to the Pacific seahorse Hippocampus ingens (Girard 1858) in Peru.

Illegal wildlife trade has been identified as a major source of global commerce of seahorses. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora listed the genus Hippocampus in Appendix II in 2004, when several countries that commercialized these species also banned transactions through domestic legislation, Peru being one of them. Nevertheless, since the 2004 ban was decreed in Peru, transactions have continued, including international commerce, as well confiscations of illegal seahorse Hippocampus ingens (Girard 1858) products. The authors reviewed three official government sources for information on seahorse trade in Peru, identifying differences in the reporting of the two agencies that monitor exports and imports of seahorses, likely due to non-standardized use of product categorization codes (Partidas Arancelarias). Confiscations reported by one of the agencies confirmed that illegal trade continued despite the ban and in similar amounts of what was exported by Peru before the ban (1053 kg confiscated in 2019 vs. 1460 kg exported in 2004, an estimated 437,888 and 607,067 seahorses, respectively). This review highlights gaps in seahorse conservation in Peru, which include research gaps (e.g., taxonomy, biology and use of habitats) as well as the identification of fisheries impact and improvements in by-catch reporting. This review also highlights areas for possible improvement in international trade (e.g., standardized descriptions of Partidas) that ultimately would allow the country to follow the Convention for Illegal Trade of Endangered Species regulations for seahorses.

The welfare of wildlife: an interdisciplinary analysis of harm in the legal and illegal wildlife trades and possible ways forward.

Wildlife trade-both legal and illegal-is an activity that is currently the focus of global attention. Concerns over the loss of biodiversity, partly stemming from overexploitation, and the corona virus pandemic, likely originating from wildlife trade, are urgent matters. These concerns though centre on people. Only sometimes does the discussion focus on the wildlife traded and their welfare. In this article, we make the case as to why welfare is an important component of any discussion or policy about wildlife trade, not only for the interests of the wildlife, but also for the sake of humans. We detail the harm in the trade as well as the current welfare provisions, particularly in relation to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which guide global transport and trade. There are a number of ways that the current approach to wildlife welfare could be improved, and we propose ways forward in this regard.

Phylogenomics, biogeography and taxonomic revision of New Guinean pythons (Pythonidae, Leiopython) harvested for international trade.

The large and enigmatic New Guinean pythons in the genus Leiopython are harvested from the wild to supply the international trade in pets. Six species are currently recognized (albertisii, biakensis, fredparkeri, huonensis, meridionalis, montanus) but the taxonomy of this group has been controversial. We combined analysis of 421 nuclear loci and complete mitochondrial genomes with morphological data to construct a detailed phylogeny of this group, understand their biogeographic patterns and establish the systematic diversity of this genus. Our molecular genetic data support two major clades, corresponding to L. albertisii and L. fredparkeri, but offer no support for the other four species. Our morphological data also only support two species. We therefore recognize L. albertisii and L. fredparkeri as valid species and place L. biakensis, L. meridionalis, L. huonensis and L. montanus into synonymy. We found that L. albertisii and L. fredparkeri are sympatric in western New Guinea; an atypical pattern compared to other Papuan species complexes in which the distributions of sister taxa are partitioned to the north and south of the island's central mountain range. For the purpose of conservation management, overestimation of species diversity within Leiopython has resulted in the unnecessary allocation of resources that could have been expended elsewhere. We strongly caution against revising the taxonomy of geographically widespread species groups when little or no molecular genetic data and only small morphological samples are available.

The perils of flawed science in wildlife trade literature.

Despite broad scientific consensus that sustainable use of wildlife can enhance conservation efforts, ethical concerns have led some community groups to oppose use of wild animals. Voicing those concerns is legitimate, but underlying philosophical bias should not influence science-based analysis and interpretation. We argue that philosophical biases are common in the scientific literature on trade in wildlife. The critically important case of bias surrounding the use of reptile leathers for luxury fashion illustrates the problem. Based on analysis of official seizures of fashion products made from wildlife, a recent study inferred that criminal activity (as inferred by noncompliance with regulations) was common and increasing and, hence, that authorities needed to adopt more stringent restrictions on the trade. In fact, the conclusions of that study are artifacts of pseudoreplication (e.g., multiple counts of single violations) and biased sampling (e.g., focus on companies with high rates of error) and run directly opposite to actual patterns in the data. As a proportion of overall trade, rates of noncompliance are exceptionally low (<0.4%), are declining, and result primarily from paper-work errors rather than criminal intent (e.g., such errors are more frequent for goods shipped by government authorities than by the commercial fashion industry). The recommendation by the study authors to prohibit the international trade in wildlife-based fashion products is imperiling a sustainable trade that can benefit biodiversity and people's livelihoods by providing financial incentives for conservation of species and habitats. This example offers a warning of the dangers of basing research on the wildlife trade on ethical or philosophical positions rather than objective evaluations of evidence.

Los Peligros de la Ciencia Errada en la Literatura sobre el Comercio de Fauna Resumen A pesar del amplio consenso científico de que el uso sustentable de la fauna puede mejorar los esfuerzos de conservación, las preocupaciones éticas han llevado a algunos grupos comunitarios a oponerse al uso de fauna silvestre. Es legítimo otorgarles una voz a estas preocupaciones, pero el sesgo filosófico subyacente no debería influenciar el análisis basado en la ciencia y su interpretación. Discutimos que los sesgos filosóficos son comunes en la literatura científica sobre la fauna. El caso críticamente importante del sesgo alrededor del uso de pieles de reptiles para artículos lujosos de moda ilustra este problema. Con base en el análisis de incautaciones oficiales de productos de moda hechos de fauna, Sosnowski y Petrossian (2020) infirieron que la actividad criminal (deducida como el no cumplimiento de las regulaciones) era común y se encontraba en crecimiento y por lo tanto, que las autoridades necesitaban adoptar restricciones más estrictas para el mercado. De hecho, las conclusiones de Sosnowski y Petrossian (2020) son artefactos de pseudoreplicación (es decir, conteos múltiples de violaciones únicas) y un muestreo sesgado (es decir, enfocado en compañías con tasas altas de error) y van directamente en contra de los patrones actuales en los datos. Como una proporción del mercado en general, las tasas de no cumplimiento son excepcionalmente bajas (<0.4%), están declinando y son el resultado principal de los errores cometidos en el papeleo y no de la intención criminal (es decir, dichos errores son más frecuentes para los bienes enviados por las autoridades del gobierno que para los envíos realizados por la industria de la moda comercial). La recomendación hecha por Sosnowski y Petrossian (2020) de prohibir el mercado internacional de productos de moda hechos con productos animales está poniendo en peligro al mercado sustentable que puede beneficiar a la biodiversidad y al sustento de las personas al proporcionar incentivos financieros para la conservación de especies y hábitats. Este ejemplo ofrece una advertencia sobre los peligros de basar la investigación del mercado de fauna en posiciones éticas o filosóficas en lugar de evaluaciones objetivas de la evidencia.

The scale of Nigeria's involvement in the trans-national illegal pangolin trade: Temporal and spatial patterns and the effectiveness of wildlife trade regulations.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) prohibits commercial trans-national trade in pangolin specimens. However, African pangolins are continually trafficked to Asia for traditional medicine, with Nigeria considered a key hub. Using reported Nigeria-linked pangolin seizure data and interviews with Nigerian law enforcement officials, we a) characterised Nigeria's involvement in global pangolin trafficking January 2010-September 2021, particularly observing trafficking trends after pangolin's CITES Appendix I listing; b) estimated the minimum number of pangolins whose scales are in Nigeria-linked seizures January 2010-September 2021, and; c) assessed ongoing efforts within Nigeria to curb pangolin trafficking. Nigeria-linked seizures involved 190,407 kg of pangolin derivatives (99.9% scales) from a minimum of 799,343 pangolins (95% confidence interval; 625,944-996,353) of four species (see caveats in Methods). All shipments confiscated in transit were destined for Asia, with a rapid increase in the mass of maritime shipments over time. Furthermore, stockpiling of pangolin derivatives for overseas shipment is perhaps a prominent trafficking model in Nigeria. Nigeria's law enforcement efforts improved from 2017, the same year Nigeria apparently began playing a hub role. The impact of pangolin's CITES Appendix I listing on pangolin trafficking was unclear, as the marked rise in seizures from 2017 when the listing became effective, coincided with improvements in Nigerian law enforcement efforts. COVID-19-induced travel restrictions likely reduced trafficking activities in 2020 but activities may have fully resumed in 2021. This study provides new information to inform effective enforcement and policy formulation efforts to protect African pangolins.

Canada and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Lessons Learned on Implementation and Compliance.

Unsustainable and illegal wildlife trade are contributing to the unprecedented levels of biodiversity loss and possible extinction of one million species. Law enforcement and the criminal justice system have a role to play in helping to regulate and monitor such trade. The main international instrument to regulate wildlife trade is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This mixed methods study researched the lessons learned and best practice in regards to implementation of and compliance with CITES. As part of the study, three countries were identified as case studies and Canada was selected as one of these. Lessons can also be learned from Canada's Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act, which is cumbersome to update when species protections change within CITES. Canada has several elements of good practice, such as the remit, effectiveness and relationships of the three CITES authorities located within Environment and Climate Change Canada, the public health approach to some wildlife imports, and the protection of native CITES species. CITES needs to be improved to further protect endangered species and lessons from Canada and other countries can contribute to this improvement.

Are Fish Wild?

As the global biodiversity crisis continues, it is important to examine the legislative protection that is in place for species around the world. Such legislation not only includes environmental or wildlife law, but also trade law, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which gets transposed into national legislation. This commentary analyses legislative definitions of wildlife, whether or not that includes fish, which has implications for fish welfare, use of fish for food security, and biodiversity conservation when fish, or other wildlife, are excluded. Through a legislative content analysis of the 183 parties' legislation of CITES, we explore whether fish are afforded the same protections as other species by being included in legal definitions of wildlife. We found that while a majority of CITES parties' legislation appear to define fish as wildlife, there are a number of instances where this is unclear or not the case, and this could have significant ramifications for the welfare of non-human animals, their use, and conservation.

Species delimitation and systematics of the green pythons (Morelia viridis complex) of melanesia and Australia.

Molecular data sets and the increasing use of integrative systematics is revealing cryptic diversity in a range of taxa - particularly in remote and poorly sampled landscapes like the island of New Guinea. Green pythons (Morelia viridis complex) are one of the most conspicuous elements of this island's fauna, with large numbers taken from the wild to supply international demand for exotic pets. We test hypotheses about species boundaries in green pythons from across New Guinea and Australia with mitochondrial genomes, 389 nuclear exons, and comprehensive assessment of morphological variation. Strong genetic structuring of green python populations and species delimitation methods confirm the presence of two species, broadly occurring north and south of New Guinea's central mountains. Our data also support three subspecies within the northern species. Subtle but consistent morphological divergence among the putative taxa is concordant with patterns of molecular divergence. Our extensive sampling identifies several zones of hitherto unknown biogeographical significance on the island of New Guinea. We revise the taxonomy of the group, discuss the relevance of our findings in the context of Papuan biogeography and the implications of our systematic changes for the conservation management of these taxa.

The Barcoding Table of Animal Species (BaTAnS): a new tool to select appropriate methods for animal species identification using DNA barcoding.

Food and feed products derived from animal materials have a long history of being adulterated. Methods for the identification of animal samples based on DNA barcoding are very potent tools to reveal species substitution. Since numerous DNA barcoding methods are available for different taxa, it is challenging to choose an appropriate and verified method for each sample in question. To overcome this obstacle the working group "Molecular biological methods for plant and animal species differentiation" developed the "Barcoding Table of Animal Species". This working group is established through the German food and feed law and is mandated to validate standard methods, especially for the official food and feed control laboratories in Germany. In this paper, a collection of currently available and verified DNA barcoding methods for the identification of animal species is presented as a Microsoft Excel® file-"The Barcoding Table of Animal Species (BaTAnS)". It consists of several components: The method collection, the results collection and a section for reporting new entries and problems. It is focusing on the validity and applicability of DNA barcoding methods to test food and feed products for correct species declaration. Each method is listed with its reference and is verified by at least two laboratories for their applicability. Since additional information will be available in future, this table will be updated regularly. The BaTAnS is an easy tool that helps to choose the right verified method to identify a certain specimen to taxon, genus or species level in food samples.

Global wildlife trade permeates the Tree of Life.

Legal and illegal wildlife trade is a multibillion dollar industry that is driving several species toward extinction. Even though wildlife trade permeates the Tree of Life, most analyses to date focused on the trade of a small selection of charismatic vertebrate species. Given that vertebrate taxa represent only 3% of described species, this is a significant bias that prevents the development of comprehensive conservation strategies. In this short contribution, we discuss the significance of global wildlife trade considering the full diversity of organisms for which data are available in the IUCN database. We emphasize the importance of being fast and effective in filling the knowledge gaps about non-vertebrate life forms, in order to achieve an in-depth understanding of global trading patterns across the full canopy of the Tree of Life, and not just its most appealing twig.