Conservation’s green illusion: Nitrogen thresholds as critical determinants of extinction risk in specialist herbivores
Despite decades of habitat-based interventions, the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) remains in steep decline across its Himalayan range. Conservation strategies have emphasized forest cover and connectivity yet overlooked a key physiological constraint: the availability of dietary nitrogen. As obligator...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-10-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425003385 |
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| author | Saroj Shrestha |
| author_facet | Saroj Shrestha |
| author_sort | Saroj Shrestha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite decades of habitat-based interventions, the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) remains in steep decline across its Himalayan range. Conservation strategies have emphasized forest cover and connectivity yet overlooked a key physiological constraint: the availability of dietary nitrogen. As obligatory bamboo folivores, red pandas depend on leaves with sufficiently high foliar nitrogen to meet metabolic and reproductive demands, though direct experimental evidence is limited. However, bamboo nitrogen content varies dramatically across species, seasons, elevations, and disturbance gradients. This perspective argues that the absence of nitrogen criteria constitutes a critical blind spot in red panda conservation. Sub-threshold habitats can function as ecological traps, silently undermining translocation, reproduction, and survival even in structurally intact forests. We call for a paradigm shift that integrates foliar nitrogen thresholds into conservation science, landscape planning, and reintroduction protocols. We outline research priorities to (1) establish red panda nitrogen requirements through controlled trials, (2) map nitrogen landscapes using NIRS and remote sensing, and (3) embed nutritional adequacy in habitat policy frameworks. Without this integration, conservation efforts risk being structurally sound but nutritionally void. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c384d9d183fb4beba623099cd79f2055 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj-art-c384d9d183fb4beba623099cd79f20552025-08-20T03:50:21ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942025-10-0162e0373710.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03737Conservation’s green illusion: Nitrogen thresholds as critical determinants of extinction risk in specialist herbivoresSaroj Shrestha0Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; Red Panda Network, Kathmandu 44600, NepalDespite decades of habitat-based interventions, the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) remains in steep decline across its Himalayan range. Conservation strategies have emphasized forest cover and connectivity yet overlooked a key physiological constraint: the availability of dietary nitrogen. As obligatory bamboo folivores, red pandas depend on leaves with sufficiently high foliar nitrogen to meet metabolic and reproductive demands, though direct experimental evidence is limited. However, bamboo nitrogen content varies dramatically across species, seasons, elevations, and disturbance gradients. This perspective argues that the absence of nitrogen criteria constitutes a critical blind spot in red panda conservation. Sub-threshold habitats can function as ecological traps, silently undermining translocation, reproduction, and survival even in structurally intact forests. We call for a paradigm shift that integrates foliar nitrogen thresholds into conservation science, landscape planning, and reintroduction protocols. We outline research priorities to (1) establish red panda nitrogen requirements through controlled trials, (2) map nitrogen landscapes using NIRS and remote sensing, and (3) embed nutritional adequacy in habitat policy frameworks. Without this integration, conservation efforts risk being structurally sound but nutritionally void.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425003385Nutritional ecologyFoliar nitrogen thresholdsEcological trapsHabitat quality vs. quantity |
| spellingShingle | Saroj Shrestha Conservation’s green illusion: Nitrogen thresholds as critical determinants of extinction risk in specialist herbivores Global Ecology and Conservation Nutritional ecology Foliar nitrogen thresholds Ecological traps Habitat quality vs. quantity |
| title | Conservation’s green illusion: Nitrogen thresholds as critical determinants of extinction risk in specialist herbivores |
| title_full | Conservation’s green illusion: Nitrogen thresholds as critical determinants of extinction risk in specialist herbivores |
| title_fullStr | Conservation’s green illusion: Nitrogen thresholds as critical determinants of extinction risk in specialist herbivores |
| title_full_unstemmed | Conservation’s green illusion: Nitrogen thresholds as critical determinants of extinction risk in specialist herbivores |
| title_short | Conservation’s green illusion: Nitrogen thresholds as critical determinants of extinction risk in specialist herbivores |
| title_sort | conservation s green illusion nitrogen thresholds as critical determinants of extinction risk in specialist herbivores |
| topic | Nutritional ecology Foliar nitrogen thresholds Ecological traps Habitat quality vs. quantity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425003385 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarojshrestha conservationsgreenillusionnitrogenthresholdsascriticaldeterminantsofextinctionriskinspecialistherbivores |