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Crates R, Stojanovic D, Heinsohn R. The phenotypic costs of captivity. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:434-449. [PMID: 36341701 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The breeding of threatened species in captivity for release is a central tool in conservation biology. Given gloomy predictions for biodiversity trends in the Anthropocene, captive breeding will play an increasingly important role in preventing future extinctions. Relative to the wild, captive environments drastically alter selection pressures on animals. Phenotypic change in captive animals in response to these altered selection pressures can incur fitness costs post-release, jeopardising their potential contribution to population recovery. We explore the ways in which captive environments can hinder the expression of wild phenotypes. We also stress that the phenotypes of captive-bred animals differ from their wild counterparts in multiple ways that remain poorly understood. We propose five new research questions relating to the impact of captive phenotypes on reintroduction biology. With better use of monitoring and experimental reintroductions, a more robust evidence base should help inform adaptive management and minimise the phenotypic costs of captivity, improving the success of animal reintroductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross Crates
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Linnaeus Way, Acton, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Dejan Stojanovic
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Linnaeus Way, Acton, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Robert Heinsohn
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Linnaeus Way, Acton, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
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2
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Parlato EH, Ewen JG, McCready M, Gordon F, Parker KA, Armstrong DP. Incorporating data‐based estimates of temporal variation into projections for newly monitored populations. Anim Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. H. Parlato
- Wildlife Ecology Group Massey University Palmerston North New Zealand
| | - J. G. Ewen
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UK
| | - M. McCready
- Hihi Conservation Charitable Trust Rotorua New Zealand
| | - F. Gordon
- Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust Taranaki New Zealand
| | | | - D. P. Armstrong
- Wildlife Ecology Group Massey University Palmerston North New Zealand
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3
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Armstrong DP, Parlato EH, Frost PG. Incorporating individual variation in survival, reproduction and detection rates when projecting dynamics of small populations. Ecol Modell 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2021.109647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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4
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Hunter-Ayad J, Jarvie S, Greaves G, Digby A, Ohlemüller R, Recio MR, Seddon PJ. Novel Conditions in Conservation Translocations: A Conservative-Extrapolative Strategic Framework. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.691714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In response to anthropogenic threats, conservation translocations are increasingly used to combat species' population and range declines. However, moving animals outside of their current distribution can mean introducing them to novel conditions, even in the case of reintroductions to formerly inhabited areas due to ecosystem changes following extirpation. This exposure to novel conditions introduces uncertainty that can undermine decision making for species conservation. Here we propose two strategies, which we define as conservative and extrapolative, for approaching and managing novelty and the resulting uncertainty in conservation translocations. Conservative strategies are characterised by the avoidance and removal of novel conditions as much as possible, whereas extrapolative strategies are more experimental, allowing exposure to novel conditions and monitoring outcomes to increase understanding of a species' ecology. As each strategy carries specific risks and opportunities, they will be applicable in different scenarios. Extrapolative strategies suit species in recovery which can afford some experimental management, or species facing novel and emerging threats which require less traditional translocations, such as assisted colonisations. We provide examples, applying our framework to two endemic New Zealand species with long histories of translocation management: tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), a reptile and takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri), a flightless bird.
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5
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A modelling framework for integrating reproduction, survival and count data when projecting the fates of threatened populations. Oecologia 2021; 195:627-640. [PMID: 33646386 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04871-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
A key goal of ecological research is to obtain reliable estimates of population demographic rates, abundance and trends. However, a common challenge when studying wildlife populations is imperfect detection or breeding observation, which results in unknown survival status and reproductive output for some individuals. It is important to account for undetected individuals in population models because they contribute to population abundance and dynamics, and can have implications for population management. Promisingly, recent methodological advances provide us with the tools to integrate data from multiple independent sources to gain insights into the unobserved component of populations. We use data from five reintroduced populations of a threatened New Zealand bird, the hihi (Notiomystis cincta), to develop an integrated population modelling framework that allows missing values for survival status, sex and reproductive output to be modelled. Our approach combines parallel matrices of encounter and reproduction histories from marked individuals, as well as counts of unmarked recruits detected at the start of each breeding season. Integrating these multiple data types enabled us to simultaneously model survival and reproduction of detected individuals, undetected individuals and unknown (never detected) individuals to derive parameter estimates and projections based on all available data, thereby improving our understanding of population dynamics and enabling full propagation of uncertainty. The methods presented will be especially useful for management programmes for populations that are intensively monitored but where individuals are still imperfectly detected, as will be the case for most threatened wild populations.
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Smith D, King R, Allen BL. Impacts of exclusion fencing on target and non-target fauna: a global review. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:1590-1606. [PMID: 32725786 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Exclusion fencing is a common tool used to mitigate a variety of unwanted economic losses caused by problematic wildlife. While the potential for agricultural, ecological and economic benefits of pest animal exclusion are often apparent, what is less clear are the costs and benefits to sympatric non-target wildlife. This review examines the use of exclusion fencing in a variety of situations around the world to elucidate the potential outcomes of such fencing for wildlife and apply this knowledge to the recent uptake of exclusion fencing on livestock properties in the Australian rangelands. In Australia, exclusion fences are used to eliminate dingo (Canis familiaris dingo) predation on livestock, prevent crop-raiding by emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae), and enable greater control over total grazing pressure through the reduction of macropods (Macropodidae) and feral goats (Capra hircus). A total of 208 journal articles were examined for location, a broad grouping of fence type, and the reported effects the fence was having on the study species. We found 51% of the literature solely discusses intended fencing effects, 42% discusses unintended effects, and only 7% considers both. Africa has the highest proportion of unintended effects literature (52.0%) and Australia has the largest proportion of literature on intended effects (34.2%). We highlight the potential for exclusion fencing to have positive effects on some species and negative effects on others (such as predator exclusion fencing posing a barrier to migration of other species), which remain largely unaddressed in current exclusion fencing systems. From this review we were able to identify where and how mitigation strategies have been successfully used in the past. Harnessing the potential benefits of exclusion fencing while avoiding the otherwise likely costs to both target and non-target species will require more careful consideration than this issue has previously been afforded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deane Smith
- University of Southern Queensland, Institute for Life Sciences and the Environment, Toowoomba, Queensland, 4350, Australia
| | - Rachel King
- University of Southern Queensland, School of Sciences, Toowoomba, Queensland, 4350, Australia
| | - Benjamin L Allen
- University of Southern Queensland, Institute for Life Sciences and the Environment, Toowoomba, Queensland, 4350, Australia.,Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, 6034, South Africa
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Abstract
AbstractAn important component of reintroduction is acclimatization to the release site. Movement parameters and breeding are common metrics used to infer the end of the acclimatization period, but the time taken to locate preferred food items is another important measure. We studied the diet of a reintroduced population of brushtail possums Trichosurus vulpecula in semi-arid South Australia over a 12 month period, investigating changes over time as well as the general diet. We used next-generation DNA sequencing to determine the contents of 253 scat samples, after creating a local plant reference library. Vegetation surveys were conducted monthly to account for availability. Dietary diversity and richness decreased significantly with time since release after availability was accounted for. We used Jacob's Index to assess selectivity; just 13.4% of available plant genera were significantly preferred overall, relative to availability. The mean proportion of preferred plant genera contained within individual samples increased significantly with time since release, but the frequency of occurrence of preferred plants did not. Five genera (Eucalyptus, Petalostylis, Maireana, Zygophyllum and Callitris) were present in more than half of samples. There was no difference in dietary preferences between sexes (Pianka overlap = 0.73). Our results suggest that acclimatization periods may be longer than those estimated via reproduction, changes in mass and movement parameters, but that under suitable conditions a changeable diet should not negatively affect reintroduction outcomes. Reintroduction projects should aim to extend post-release monitoring beyond the dietary acclimatization period and, for dry climates, diet should be monitored through a drought period.
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Hunter‐Ayad J, Ohlemüller R, Recio MR, Seddon PJ. Reintroduction modelling: A guide to choosing and combining models for species reintroductions. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mariano R. Recio
- Department of Biology and Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry Unit of Biodiversity and Conservation Rey Juan Carlos University Móstoles Madrid Spain
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9
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Franks VR, Andrews CE, Ewen JG, McCready M, Parker KA, Thorogood R. Changes in social groups across reintroductions and effects on post‐release survival. Anim Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- V. R. Franks
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UK
| | - C. E. Andrews
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UK
| | - J. G. Ewen
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UK
| | - M. McCready
- Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust Rawhitiroa New Zealand
- Hihi Conservation Charitable Trust Wellington New Zealand
| | | | - R. Thorogood
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE) University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
- Research program in Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
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10
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Panfylova J, Ewen JG, Armstrong DP. Making structured decisions for reintroduced populations in the face of uncertainty. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Panfylova
- Wildlife Ecology GroupMassey University Palmerston North New Zealand
| | - John G. Ewen
- Institute of ZoologyZoological Society of London London UK
| | - Doug P. Armstrong
- Wildlife Ecology GroupMassey University Palmerston North New Zealand
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11
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Murphy C, Burnett S, Conroy GC, Howland BWA, Lamont RW, Sumner J, Ogbourne SM. Genetic diversity and structure of the threatened striped legless lizard, Delma impar: management implications for the species and a translocated population. CONSERV GENET 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-018-1127-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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12
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Helmstedt KJ, Possingham HP. Costs are key when reintroducing threatened species to multiple release sites. Anim Conserv 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. J. Helmstedt
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management University of California Berkeley Berkeley CA USA
| | - H. P. Possingham
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions School of Biological Sciences University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia
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