Biology subjects

Bielby, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Bielby, J..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Tick-box exercise: Choice architecture of online classified advertisement websites can improve reporting of CITES Certificate ownership

The ethical and sustainable trade of nature and natural products relies on the presence of and compliance with legislation. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has been the global standard for the past half century, but doubts exist about compliance with CITES because of the lucrative nature of illegal trade, and because of misunderstandings regarding the details of specific in-country regulations. For two commonly traded species requiring UK CITES Article 10 (A10) Certificates we collected data on the frequency of reporting of the correct paperwork. We did so on two UK websites that vary in their format: one contains both a free text field and a tick box to capture information on CITES Certificates, the other contains solely a free text field. For each species the tick box captured A10 Certificate ownership in 99% of advertisements, which was significantly higher than that reported in the free text field of the same website. Further, the presence of a tick box also encouraged higher reporting of A10 ownership in the free text field, with a significant difference between websites. These results suggest that the choice architecture of websites can have a significant impact on how effectively advertisers report ownership of the correct Certificates and information.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2025

Microbiome Dynamics During Translocation of the Critically-Endangered Frog Craugastor ranoides

O_LIAmphibian populations are declining and species going extinct due to habitat loss, climate change and emerging infectious disease, prompting the increasing use of translocations as a conservation tool. C_LIO_LISkin-associated microbial communities play a key role in amphibian health, particularly in protecting hosts from pathogenic infection. However, to date we know relatively little about the impact of translocation on the dynamics of skin-associated microbes, or the consequences of translocation-mediated disturbance of the microbiome for amphibian health. C_LIO_LIWe investigated the skin microbiome of the critically endangered frog Craugastor ranoides, now restricted to a fraction of its historical range in Costa Rica. We first conducted a multi-population survey to characterise among-population variation in skin bacterial communities. We then translocated individuals to a new site, using radio tracking to monitor them over time and assess individual-level changes in body mass, microbiome composition, and predicted microbial function. C_LIO_LIWe found limited among-population variation in skin microbiome composition across three different populations of C. ranoides. Response of the microbiome to translocation was highly individual-specific; some frogs demonstrated relatively stable community richness and composition, whilst others exhibited marked turnover in bacterial membership and predicted function. Body mass showed similar dynamics, but several of the recaptured frogs had gained mass after several days in the translocation site. C_LIO_LISynthesis and Applications: Our findings highlight the importance of considering microbiome dynamics in threatened species translocations to optimize individual health. This includes considering whether individuals should be prioritised for translocation based on their initial microbiome composition, and understanding how shifts in microbiome post-translocation may alter overall success of translocation efforts. These insights extend beyond amphibians, offering a broader framework for integrating long-term monitoring of host microbiomes and health into conservation efforts. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2024

Exploring media representation of the exotic pet trade: taxonomic, framing, and language biases in peer-reviewed publications and newspaper articles.

O_LIThe exotic pet trade is a global industry with considerable implications for a range of taxa and stakeholders. The scale of the trade means it receives coverage in both popular and scientific media, and some narratives may receive more attention than others. As these media play an important role in shaping public opinion, policy, and legislation, we should consider and acknowledge biases and language use when reporting on the exotic pet trade. C_LIO_LIWe use 320 peer-reviewed journal articles, and 191 newspaper articles on the exotic pet trade between 2001 and 2020 to investigate the frequency of use, citation rate, and language-use across framing categories and taxonomic foci within and between media-types. C_LIO_LIOur results suggest consistent biases in reporting of the trade within and between media-types, highlighting limitations in both. Aspects of welfare were underrepresented in peer-reviewed articles relative to other framings, but it was the most common focus of newspaper articles. C_LIO_LIIf the exotic pet trade is to develop into a more ethical, sustainable, economically beneficial sector, then reassessing our narratives, improving knowledge flow, and encouraging interdisciplinary and comprehensive debates within the field will be essential parts of the process. C_LI

zoology↗