Can local ecological knowledge be used to assess status and extinction drivers in a threatened freshwater cetacean

摘要: Local ecological knowledge constitutes a potentially useful source of information for conservation, but the quality, limitations and biases this body remain largely untested. The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) is highly threatened freshwater cetacean found in one world's most densely populated human environments. dynamics decline poorly understood, local from fishing communities across its range may represent an important conservation tool monitoring population status quantifying levels human-caused mortality. We used interview data extensive survey middle-lower drainage to investigate spatial temporal patterns abundance, mortality change. Interview on relative abundance decline, especially weekly sighting frequencies, show congruent with collected boat-based surveys, demonstrating that informant can provide accurate quantitative these two key parameters species status. Interview-based collection therefore represents method assessing trends cetaceans other charismatic or distinctive aquatic species, be particularly appropriate regions where resources regular surveys are limited. Using identify primary threats less straightforward due probable However, able demonstrate number porpoises killed annually mainstem have doubled annual rate quadrupled over past decades, vessel strikes factors having increased more recent years than by-catch It seems unlikely fisheries has been dominant driver mainstem, suggesting regulating regional not sufficient conservation. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.