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Bickerton KT, Ewen JG, Canessa S, Cole NC, Frost F, Mootoocurpen R, McCrea R. Avoiding bias in estimates of population size for translocation management. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2918. [PMID: 37688800 PMCID: PMC10909443 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Mark-recapture surveys are commonly used to monitor translocated populations globally. Data gathered are then used to estimate demographic parameters, such as abundance and survival, using Jolly-Seber (JS) models. However, in translocated populations initial population size is known and failure to account for this may bias parameter estimates, which are important for informing conservation decisions during population establishment. Here, we provide methods to account for known initial population size in JS models by incorporating a separate component likelihood for translocated individuals, using a maximum-likelihood estimation, with models that can be fitted using either R or MATLAB. We use simulated data and a case study of a threatened lizard species with low capture probability to demonstrate that unconstrained JS models may overestimate the size of translocated populations, especially in the early stages of post-release monitoring. Our approach corrects this bias; we use our simulations to demonstrate that overestimates of population size between 78% and 130% can occur in the unconstrained JS models when the detection probability is below 0.3 compared to 1%-8.9% for our constrained model. Our case study did not show an overestimate; however accounting for the initial population size greatly reduced error in all parameter estimates and prevented boundary estimates. Adopting the corrected JS model for translocations will help managers to obtain more robust estimates of the population sizes of translocated animals, better informing future management including reinforcement decisions, and ultimately improving translocation success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine T. Bickerton
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of LondonLondonUK
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial ScienceUniversity of KentCanterburyUK
| | - John G. Ewen
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of LondonLondonUK
| | - Stefano Canessa
- Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Nik C. Cole
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Les Augrès ManorJerseyUK
- Mauritian Wildlife FoundationVacoasMauritius
| | - Fay Frost
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial ScienceUniversity of KentCanterburyUK
| | | | - Rachel McCrea
- Department of Mathematics and StatisticsLancaster UniversityLancasterUK
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2
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O'Neill DG, McMillan KM, Church DB, Brodbelt DC. Dog breeds and conformations in the UK in 2019: VetCompass canine demography and some consequent welfare implications. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288081. [PMID: 37494312 PMCID: PMC10370710 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Growing concerns over health and welfare impacts from extreme phenotypes in dogs have created an urgent need for reliable demographic information on the national breed structures of dogs. METHODS This study included all dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK during 2019 at practices participating in VetCompass. Demographic data on these dogs were analysed to report on the frequency of common breeds and also to report on conformation, bodyweight, sex and neuter associations with these breeds. RESULTS The study included 2,237,105 dogs under UK veterinary care in 2019. Overall, 69.4% (n = 1,551,462) were classified as purebred, 6.7% (149,308) as designer-crossbred and 24.0% (536,335) as nondesigner-crossbred. Across 800 unique breed names, the most frequent breeds at any age were nondesigner-crossbred (n = 536,335, 24.0%), Labrador Retriever (154,222, 6.9%) and Jack Russell Terrier (101,294, 4.5%). Among 229,624 (10.3%) dogs aged under one year, the most frequent breeds were nondesigner-crossbred (n = 45,995, 20.0%), French Bulldog (16,036, 7.0%) and Cockapoo (14,321, 6.2%). Overall, based on breed characteristics, 17.6% (395,739) were classified as brachycephalic, 43.1% (969,403) as mesaticephalic and 8.3% (186,320) as dolichocephalic. Of 1,551,336 dogs that were classifiable based on breed, 52.6% (815,673) were chondrodystrophic. Of 1,462,925 dogs that were classifiable, there were 54.6% (n = 798,426) short haired, 32.6% (476,883) medium haired and 12.8% (186,934) long haired. Of 1,547,653 dogs that were classifiable for ear carriage, 24.5% (n = 379,581) were erect, 28.1% (434,273) were semi-erect, 19.7% (305,475) were v-shaped drop and 27.7% (428,324) were pendulous. Overall, there was a 1.09:1.00 ratio of male (n = 1,163,512; 52.2%) to female dogs (n = 1,067,552; 47.8%). CONCLUSIONS Health and welfare issues linked to popular breeds with extreme phenotypes suggest that there is much work to do to help owners to make more welfare-friendly decisions when choosing which type of dog to own.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan G O'Neill
- Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Kirsten M McMillan
- DataSEA (Science, Engineering & Analytics), Research Team, Strategy & Transformation, Dogs Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - David B Church
- Clinical Science and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Dave C Brodbelt
- Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
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Keating LM, Randall L, Stanton R, McCormack C, Lucid M, Seaborn T, Converse SJ, Canessa S, Moehrenschlager A. Using Decision Analysis to Determine the Feasibility of a Conservation Translocation. DECISION ANALYSIS 2023. [DOI: 10.1287/deca.2023.0472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Conservation translocations, intentional movements of species to protect against extinction, have become widespread in recent decades and are projected to increase further as biodiversity loss continues worldwide. The literature abounds with analyses to inform translocations and assess whether they are successful, but the fundamental question of whether they should be initiated at all is rarely addressed formally. We used decision analysis to assess northern leopard frog reintroduction in northern Idaho, with success defined as a population that persists for at least 50 years. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game was the decision maker (i.e., the agency that will use this assessment to inform their decisions). Stakeholders from government, indigenous groups, academia, land management agencies, and conservation organizations also participated. We built an age-structured population model to predict how management alternatives would affect probability of success. In the model, we explicitly represented epistemic uncertainty around a success criterion (probability of persistence) characterized by aleatory uncertainty. For the leading alternative, the mean probability of persistence was 40%. The distribution of the modelling results was bimodal, with most parameter combinations resulting in either very low (<5%) or relatively high (>95%) probabilities of success. Along with other considerations, including cost, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game will use this assessment to inform a decision regarding reintroduction of northern leopard frogs. Conservation translocations may benefit greatly from more widespread use of decision analysis to counter the complexity and uncertainty inherent in these decisions. History: This paper has been accepted for the Decision Analysis Special Issue on Further Environmental Sustainability. Funding: This work was supported by the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [Grant F18AS00095], the NSF Idaho EPSCoR Program and the National Science Foundation [Grant OIA-1757324], and the Hunt Family Foundation. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/deca.2023.0472 .
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4
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Integrated Population Models: Achieving Their Potential. JOURNAL OF STATISTICAL THEORY AND PRACTICE 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s42519-022-00302-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
AbstractPrecise and accurate estimates of abundance and demographic rates are primary quantities of interest within wildlife conservation and management. Such quantities provide insight into population trends over time and the associated underlying ecological drivers of the systems. This information is fundamental in managing ecosystems, assessing species conservation status and developing and implementing effective conservation policy. Observational monitoring data are typically collected on wildlife populations using an array of different survey protocols, dependent on the primary questions of interest. For each of these survey designs, a range of advanced statistical techniques have been developed which are typically well understood. However, often multiple types of data may exist for the same population under study. Analyzing each data set separately implicitly discards the common information contained in the other data sets. An alternative approach that aims to optimize the shared information contained within multiple data sets is to use a “model-based data integration” approach, or more commonly referred to as an “integrated model.” This integrated modeling approach simultaneously analyzes all the available data within a single, and robust, statistical framework. This paper provides a statistical overview of ecological integrated models, with a focus on integrated population models (IPMs) which include abundance and demographic rates as quantities of interest. Four main challenges within this area are discussed, namely model specification, computational aspects, model assessment and forecasting. This should encourage researchers to explore further and develop new practical tools to ensure that full utility can be made of IPMs for future studies.
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5
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Chan SCY, Chui SYS, Pretorius Y, Karczmarski L. Estimating population parameters of African elephants: a photographic mark-recapture application in a South African protected area. Mamm Biol 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00334-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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6
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Blais BR, Wells SA, Poynter BM, Harris TR, Allard RA, Koprowski JL. Bridging conservation across the ex situ‐in situ spectrum: Insights into the reproductive ecology of the threatened narrow‐headed gartersnake (
Thamnophis rufipunctatus
). Zoo Biol 2022; 42:429-439. [DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian R. Blais
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment University of Arizona Tucson Arizona USA
| | - Stuart A. Wells
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment University of Arizona Tucson Arizona USA
- Department of Conservation and Science Arizona Center for Nature Conservation/Phoenix Zoo Phoenix Arizona USA
| | - Bradley M. Poynter
- Department of Conservation and Science Arizona Center for Nature Conservation/Phoenix Zoo Phoenix Arizona USA
| | - Tara R. Harris
- Department of Conservation and Science Arizona Center for Nature Conservation/Phoenix Zoo Phoenix Arizona USA
| | - Ruth A. Allard
- Department of Conservation and Science Arizona Center for Nature Conservation/Phoenix Zoo Phoenix Arizona USA
| | - John L. Koprowski
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment University of Arizona Tucson Arizona USA
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7
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Refoyo Román P, Olmedo C, Murciano Cespedosa A, Muñoz B. The expansion process of the Iberian ibex in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, Madrid (Spain). ANIMAL BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION 2022. [DOI: 10.32800/abc.2022.45.0299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this paper we explore the usefulness of MaxEnt to predict the most suitable areas for a wildlife species, the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica). For two decades (1990–2010), the species was established in a small part of the National Park Sierra de Guadarrama (Spain) and there has been a process of expansion to other areas of this protected area since 2010. However, almost two decades have elapsed since the modeling methods (MaxEnt) were proposed and no studies have tested their effectiveness using real distribution data, i.e. data from past predictions, to see if they fit the current distribution. We generated a model with presence– only data from 2007 and verified accuracy from 2017 data concerning real presence. Our results show a relationship between models and the species' current presence. The generated model can be useful to define the preferred locations of the species. We detected several differences between males and females of the species. This work not only shows the importance of selecting climatic and ecological variables for the construction of models but also indicates that they must be adjusted, at least for some species, to each sex and period of the year.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - C. Olmedo
- Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - B. Muñoz
- Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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8
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Fischer JH, Wittmer HU, Kenup CF, Parker KA, Cole R, Debski I, Taylor GA, Ewen JG, Armstrong DP. Predicting harvest impact and establishment success when translocating highly mobile and endangered species. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- JH Fischer
- School of Biological Sciences Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand
- Aquatic Unit Department of Conservation Wellington
| | - HU Wittmer
- School of Biological Sciences Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand
| | - CF Kenup
- Wildlife Ecology Group Massey University Palmerston North New Zealand
| | | | - R Cole
- Murihiku District Office Department of Conservation Invercargill
| | - I Debski
- Aquatic Unit Department of Conservation Wellington
| | - GA Taylor
- Aquatic Unit Department of Conservation Wellington
| | - JG Ewen
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UK
| | - DP Armstrong
- Wildlife Ecology Group Massey University Palmerston North New Zealand
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9
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The long-term effect of over-supplementation on recovered populations: why restraint is a virtue. ORYX 2022. [DOI: 10.1017/s0030605321000296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
We present a long-term analysis of the results of the Apollo butterfly Parnassius apollo recovery project in the Pieniny National Park, southern Poland, using a classical population ecology model. Six possible theoretical models of changes in population abundance were constructed and their predictions compared with current data. Models that did not take into account supplementation with captive-reared individuals provided the best fit to the population growth pattern during recovery. This was probably because of the introduction of captive-reared specimens to sites while habitat reconstruction was taking place. In addition, we provide data supporting the hypothesis that a significant reduction in the habitat's carrying capacity occurred during the restoration project, probably as a result of the population being over-supplemented with captive-reared individuals. Our analysis shows that for a recovery project to be successful, captive breeding and habitat restoration should be properly coordinated.
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10
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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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11
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Dolman PM, Burnside RJ, Scotland KM, Collar NJ. Captive breeding and the conservation of the threatened houbara bustards. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2021. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Translocation of captive-bred individuals to reinforce wild populations may be an important conservation approach for some species, but can be detrimental when employed to boost exploited wild populations, particularly where repeated long-term reinforcement aims to compensate for repeated unregulated offtake. We review evidence that captive breeding alters multiple physiological, life-history and temperamental traits through founder effects, genetic drift and unintended adaption to captivity; degrades learnt behaviours; and compromises biogeography, population structure and viability through introgression. We highlight these risks for the globally threatened African houbara Chlamydotis undulata and Asian houbara C. macqueenii, 2 bustard species hunted throughout much of their ranges and now subject to multiple large-scale captive-breeding programmes and translocations. In eastern Morocco, annual releases of captive-bred African houbara are 2‒3 times higher than original wild numbers, but no investigation of their potentially deleterious effects has, to our knowledge, been published, although most wild populations may now have been replaced by captive-bred domestic stock, which are reportedly not self-sustaining. Despite multiple decades of reinforcement, we are not aware of any analysis of the contribution of captive breeding to African houbara population dynamics, or of the genomic consequences. Asian houbara release programmes may also be promoting rather than preventing declines, and need to contextualise themselves through rigorous analyses of wild population numbers, demographic rates and threats, maintenance of phylogeographic concordance of released with supplemented populations, profiling of traits crucial to survival and the measurement and modelling of the impacts of reinforcement on physiological and behavioural fitness of wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- PM Dolman
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - RJ Burnside
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - KM Scotland
- Emirates Bird Breeding Centre for Conservation, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - NJ Collar
- BirdLife International, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK
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12
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Genetic and viability assessment of a reintroduced Eurasian otter Lutra lutra population on the River Ticino, Italy. ORYX 2021. [DOI: 10.1017/s0030605321000107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
On the River Ticino in northern Italy, a small number of captive Eurasian otters Lutra lutra, belonging to the European breeding programme for self-sustaining captive populations, were reintroduced in 1997, after the species had been declared locally extinct in the 1980s. We surveyed for otter signs in 2008, 2010, 2016–2017 and 2018, confirming the presence of what is probably a small population. To assess the abundance and viability of the population, we genotyped fresh spraints collected during the last two surveys, using 11 microsatellite markers, and modelled the population trend using Vortex. A minimum of six individuals were identified from 25 faecal samples. The analysis of mitochondrial DNA determined that the reintroduced otters share a transversion that is characteristic of the Asiatic subspecies Lutra lutra barang, confirming the contribution of the Asiatic subspecies to the genetic pool of the captive-bred founder population. Population size was consistent with the release of three pairs of otters and all models implied that the number of founders was too small to ensure the long-term survival of the population. Stochastic factors are therefore likely to threaten the success of this reintroduction.
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13
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Amburgey SM, Yackel Adams AA, Gardner B, Hostetter NJ, Siers SR, McClintock BT, Converse SJ. Evaluation of camera trap-based abundance estimators for unmarked populations. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02410. [PMID: 34255398 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Estimates of species abundance are critical to understand population processes and to assess and select management actions. However, capturing and marking individuals for abundance estimation, while providing robust information, can be economically and logistically prohibitive, particularly for species with cryptic behavior. Camera traps can be used to collect data at temporal and spatial scales necessary for estimating abundance, but the use of camera traps comes with limitations when target species are not uniquely identifiable (i.e., "unmarked"). Abundance estimation is particularly useful in the management of invasive species, with herpetofauna being recognized as some of the most pervasive and detrimental invasive vertebrate species. However, the use of camera traps for these taxa presents additional challenges with relevancy across multiple taxa. It is often necessary to use lures to attract animals in order to obtain sufficient observations, yet lure attraction can influence species' landscape use and potentially induce bias in abundance estimators. We investigated these challenges and assessed the feasibility of obtaining reliable abundance estimates using camera-trapping data on a population of invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) in Guam. Data were collected using camera traps in an enclosed area where snakes were subject to high-intensity capture-recapture effort, resulting in presumed abundance of 116 snakes (density = 23/ha). We then applied spatial count, random encounter and staying time, space to event, and instantaneous sampling estimators to photo-capture data to estimate abundance and compared estimates to our presumed abundance. We found that all estimators for unmarked populations performed poorly, with inaccurate or imprecise abundance estimates that limit their usefulness for management in this system. We further investigated the sensitivity of these estimators to the use of lures (i.e., violating the assumption that animal behavior is unchanged by sampling) and camera density in a simulation study. Increasing the effective distances of a lure (i.e., lure attraction) and camera density both resulted in biased abundance estimates. Each estimator rarely recovered truth or suffered from convergence issues. Our results indicate that, when limited to unmarked estimators and the use of lures, camera traps alone are unlikely to produce abundance estimates with utility for brown treesnake management.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Amburgey
- Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA
| | - A A Yackel Adams
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80526, USA
| | - B Gardner
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA
| | - N J Hostetter
- Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA
| | - S R Siers
- U.S. Department of Agriculture APHIS Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center, 233 Pangelinan Way, Barrigada, 96913, Guam
| | - B T McClintock
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, NOAA-NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, Washington, 98115, USA
| | - S J Converse
- U.S. Geological Survey, Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences & School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA
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14
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Seaborn T, Andrews KR, Applestein CV, Breech TM, Garrett MJ, Zaiats A, Caughlin TT. Integrating genomics in population models to forecast translocation success. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Travis Seaborn
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow ID U.S.A
| | - Kimberly R. Andrews
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST) University of Idaho Moscow ID U.S.A
| | | | - Tyler M. Breech
- Department of Biological Sciences Idaho State University Pocatello ID U.S.A
| | - Molly J. Garrett
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow ID U.S.A
| | - Andrii Zaiats
- Biological Sciences Boise State University Boise ID U.S.A
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15
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Lazenby KD, Coates PS, O’Neil ST, Kohl MT, Dahlgren DK. Nesting, brood rearing, and summer habitat selection by translocated greater sage-grouse in North Dakota, USA. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:2741-2760. [PMID: 33767833 PMCID: PMC7981223 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human enterprise has led to large-scale changes in landscapes and altered wildlife population distribution and abundance, necessitating efficient and effective conservation strategies for impacted species. Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) are a widespread sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) obligate species that has experienced population declines since the mid-1900s resulting from habitat loss and expansion of anthropogenic features into sagebrush ecosystems. Habitat loss is especially evident in North Dakota, USA, on the northeastern fringe of sage-grouse' distribution, where a remnant population remains despite recent development of energy-related infrastructure. Resource managers in this region have determined a need to augment sage-grouse populations using translocation techniques that can be important management tools for countering species decline from range contraction. Although translocations are a common tool for wildlife management, very little research has evaluated habitat following translocation, to track individual behaviors such as habitat selection and fidelity to the release site, which can help inform habitat requirements to guide selection of future release sites. We provide an example where locations from previously released radio-marked sage-grouse are used in a resource selection function framework to evaluate habitat selection following translocation and identify areas of seasonal habitat to inform habitat management and potential restoration needs. We also evaluated possible changes in seasonal habitat since the late 1980s using spatial data provided by the Rangeland Analysis Platform coupled with resource selection modeling results. Our results serve as critical baseline information for habitat used by translocated individuals across life stages in this study area, and will inform future evaluations of population performance and potential for long-term recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kade D. Lazenby
- Department of Wildland ResourcesJack H. Berryman InstituteS. J. Quinney College of Natural ResourcesUtah State UniversityLoganUTUSA
| | - Peter S. Coates
- Western Ecological Research CenterDixon Field StationU.S. Geological SurveyDixonCAUSA
| | - Shawn T. O’Neil
- Western Ecological Research CenterDixon Field StationU.S. Geological SurveyDixonCAUSA
| | - Michel T. Kohl
- Department of Wildland ResourcesJack H. Berryman InstituteS. J. Quinney College of Natural ResourcesUtah State UniversityLoganUTUSA
| | - David K. Dahlgren
- Department of Wildland ResourcesJack H. Berryman InstituteS. J. Quinney College of Natural ResourcesUtah State UniversityLoganUTUSA
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16
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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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17
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Folt B, Goessling JM, Tucker A, Guyer C, Hermann S, Shelton‐Nix E, McGowan C. Contrasting Patterns of Demography and Population Viability Among Gopher Tortoise Populations in Alabama. J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Folt
- Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 3305 School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Auburn University Auburn AL 36849 USA
| | - Jeffrey M. Goessling
- Eckerd College, 075 James Center for Molecular and Life Sciences St. Petersburg FL 33711 USA
| | - Anna Tucker
- U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 12100 Beech Forest Road Laurel MD 20708 USA
| | - Craig Guyer
- Department of Biological Sciences and Auburn University Museum of Natural History, 331 Funchess Hall Auburn University Auburn AL 36849 USA
| | - Sharon Hermann
- Department of Biological Sciences, 331 Funchess Hall Auburn University Auburn AL 36849 USA
| | - Ericha Shelton‐Nix
- Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources 64 Union Street Montgomery AL 36130 USA
| | - Conor McGowan
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Auburn University Auburn AL 36849 USA
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19
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Muller Z, Lee DE, Scheijen CPJ, Strauss MKL, Carter KD, Deacon F. Giraffe translocations: A review and discussion of considerations. Afr J Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Muller
- School of Biological Sciences Life Sciences Building University of Bristol Bristol UK
- Giraffe Research & Conservation Trust Nairobi Kenya
| | - Derek E. Lee
- Wild Nature Institute Concord NH USA
- Mueller Laboratory Department of Biology Pennsylvania State University State College PA USA
| | - Ciska P. J. Scheijen
- Wildlife and Grassland Sciences University of the Free State Bloemfontein South Africa
- Rockwood Conservation Griekwastad South Africa
| | | | - Kerryn D. Carter
- Elephant Connection Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area Mwandi Zambia
| | - Francois Deacon
- Wildlife and Grassland Sciences University of the Free State Bloemfontein South Africa
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20
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Lee DE, Fienieg E, Van Oosterhout C, Muller Z, Strauss M, Carter KD, Scheijen CPJ, Deacon F. Giraffe translocation population viability analysis. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2020. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Most populations of giraffes have declined in recent decades, leading to the recent IUCN decision to upgrade the species to Vulnerable status, and some subspecies to Endangered. Translocations have been used as a conservation tool to re-introduce giraffes to previously occupied areas or establish new populations, but guidelines for founding populations are lacking. To provide general guidelines for translocation projects regarding feasibility, we simulated various scenarios of translocated giraffe populations to identify viable age and sex distributions of founding populations using population viability analysis (PVA) implemented in Vortex software. We explored the parameter space for demography and the genetic load, examining how variation in founding numbers and sex ratios affected 100 yr probability of population extinction and genetic diversity. We found that even very small numbers of founders (N ≤ 10 females) can appear to be successful in the first decades due to transient positive population growth, but with moderate population growth rate and moderate genetic load, long-term population viability (probability of extinction <0.01) was only achieved with ≥30 females and ≥3 males released. To maintain >95% genetic diversity of the source population in an isolated population, 50 females and 5 males are recommended to compose the founding population. Sensitivity analyses revealed first-year survival and reproductive rate were the simulation parameters with the greatest proportional influence on probability of extinction and genetic diversity. These simulations highlight important considerations for translocation success and data gaps including true genetic load in wild giraffe populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- DE Lee
- Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University, Muller Laboratory, State College, PA 16801, USA
| | - E Fienieg
- European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, Plantage Kerklaan 40, 1018 CZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C Van Oosterhout
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Z Muller
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Ave, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - M Strauss
- Wild Nature Institute, 15 North Main Street #208, Concord, NH 03301, USA
| | - KD Carter
- Elephant Connection, Mwandi, Western Province, Zambia
| | - CPJ Scheijen
- Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
| | - F Deacon
- Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
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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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22
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Adler PH, Barzen J, Gray E, Lacy A, Urbanek RP, Converse SJ. The dilemma of pest suppression in the conservation of endangered species. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2019; 33:788-796. [PMID: 30520153 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In the conservation of endangered species, suppression of a population of one native species to benefit another poses challenges. Examples include predator control and nest parasite reduction. Less obvious is the control of blood-feeding arthropods. We conducted a case study of the effect of native black flies (Simulium spp.) on reintroduced Whooping Cranes (Grus americana). Our intent was to provide a science-driven approach for determining the effects of blood-feeding arthropods on endangered vertebrates and identifying optimal management actions for managers faced with competing objectives. A multiyear experiment demonstrated that black flies reduce nest success in cranes by driving incubating birds off their nests. We used a decision-analytic approach to develop creative management alternatives and evaluate trade-offs among competing objectives. We identified 4 management objectives: establish a self-sustaining crane population, improve crane well-being, maintain native black flies as functional components of the ecosystem, and minimize costs. We next identified potential management alternatives: do nothing, suppress black flies, force crane renesting to occur after the activity period of black flies, relocate releases of cranes, suppress black flies and relocate releases, or force crane renesting and relocate releases. We then developed predictions on constructed scales of 0 (worst-performing alternative) to 1 (best-performing alternative) to indicate how alternative actions performed in terms of management objectives. The optimal action depended on the relative importance of each objective to a decision maker. Only relocating releases was a dominated alternative, indicating that it was not optimal regardless of the relative importance of objectives. A rational decision maker could choose any other management alternative we considered. Recognizing that decisions involve trade-offs that must be weighed by decision makers is crucial to identifying alternatives that best balance multiple management objectives. Given uncertainty about the population dynamics of blood-feeding arthropods, an adaptive management approach could offer substantial benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter H Adler
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, 130 McGinty Court, Clemson, SC, 29634, U.S.A
| | - Jeb Barzen
- International Crane Foundation, E-11376 Shady Lane Road, Baraboo, WI, 53913, U.S.A
- Current address: Private Lands Conservation LLC, S-12213 Round River Trail, Spring Green, WI, 53588, U.S.A
| | - Elmer Gray
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, 413 Biological Sciences Building, Athens, GA, 30602, U.S.A
| | - Anne Lacy
- International Crane Foundation, E-11376 Shady Lane Road, Baraboo, WI, 53913, U.S.A
| | - Richard P Urbanek
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, N11385 Headquarters Road, Necedah, WI, 54646, U.S.A
| | - Sarah J Converse
- U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 12100 Beech Forest Road, Laurel, MD, 20708, U.S.A
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23
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Richardson KM, Parlato EH, Walker LK, Parker KA, Ewen JG, Armstrong DP. Links between personality, early natal nutrition and survival of a threatened bird. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 374:20190373. [PMID: 31352895 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing recognition that variation in animal personality traits can influence survival and reproduction rates, and consequently may be important for wildlife population dynamics. Despite this, the integration of personality research into conservation has remained uncommon. Alongside the establishment of personality as an important source of individual variation has come an increasing interest in factors affecting the development of personality. Recent work indicates the early environment, including natal nutrition, may play a stronger role in the development of personality than previously thought. In this study, we investigated the importance of three personality metrics (activity, boldness and acclimation time) for estimating survival of a threatened species, the hihi (Notiomystis cincta), and evaluated the influence of early natal nutrition on those metrics. Our results showed that boldness (as measured from a one-off cage test) had a positive effect on the probability of juvenile hihi surviving to adulthood. There was also a tendency for juveniles that received carotenoid supplementation in the nest to be bolder than those that did not, suggesting that the early environment had some influence on the expression of boldness in juvenile hihi. Linking the development of personality traits with ultimate effects on vital rates may benefit conservation management, as it could enable developmentally targeted management interventions. To our knowledge, this study is the first to identify potential linkages between early natal nutrition, personality and fitness in a wild-living population. This article is part of the theme issue 'Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M Richardson
- Wildlife Ecology Group, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Elizabeth H Parlato
- Wildlife Ecology Group, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Leila K Walker
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, UK.,Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Kevin A Parker
- Parker Conservation, PO Box 130, Warkworth, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - John G Ewen
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, UK
| | - Doug P Armstrong
- Wildlife Ecology Group, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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24
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Krausman PR, Cox AS. Vexing vocabulary in submissions to the
Journal of Wildlife Management. J Wildl Manage 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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25
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Cayuela H, Gillet L, Laudelout A, Besnard A, Bonnaire E, Levionnois P, Muths E, Dufrêne M, Kinet T. Survival cost to relocation does not reduce population self-sustainability in an amphibian. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019. [PMID: 31141249 DOI: 10.1101/446278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Relocations are increasingly popular among wildlife managers despite often low rates of relocation success in vertebrates. In this context, understanding the influence of extrinsic (e.g., relocation design, habitat characteristics) and intrinsic factors (e.g., age and sex) on demographic parameters, such as survival, that regulate the dynamics of relocated populations is critical to improve relocation protocols and better predict relocation success. We investigated survival in naturally established and relocated populations of yellow-bellied toads (Bombina variegata), an amphibian that was nearly extinct in Belgium by the late 1980s. We quantified survival at three ontogenetic stages (juvenile, subadult, and adult) in the relocated population, the source population, and a control population. In the relocated population, we quantified survival in captive bred individuals and their locally born descendants. Then, using simulations, we examined how survival cost to relocation affects the self-sustainability of the relocated population. We showed that survival at juvenile and subadult stages was relatively similar in all populations. In contrast, relocated adult survival was lower than adult survival in the source and control populations. Despite this, offspring of relocated animals (the next generation, regardless of life stage) survived at similar rates to individuals in the source and control populations. Simulations revealed that the relocated population was self-sustaining under different scenarios and that the fate (e.g., stability or increase) of the simulated populations was highly dependent on the fecundity of relocated adults and their offspring. To summarize, our results indicate that survival in relocated individuals is lower than in non-relocated individuals but that this cost (i.e., reduced survival) disappears in the second generation. A finer understanding of how relocation affects demographic processes is an important step in improving relocation success of amphibians and other animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Cayuela
- Département de Biologie, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, Quebec, Quebec, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Nature, Ecology, & Conservation (NEC), Mas du Clos, Montagnole, 73000, France
| | - Lilly Gillet
- UR BIOSE/UR TERRA, Université de Liège-Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, 2 Passage des Déportés, Gembloux, B-5030, Belgium
| | - Arnaud Laudelout
- Natagora, Département Etudes, 1 Traverse des Muses, Namur, B-5000, Belgium
| | - Aurélien Besnard
- EPHE, UM, SupAgro, IRD, INRA, UMR 5175 CEFE, CNRS, PSL Research University, Montpellier, F-34293, France
| | - Eric Bonnaire
- Agence de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Office National des Forêts, 54000, Nancy, France
| | - Pauline Levionnois
- Direction Territoriale Grand Est, Office National des Forêts, 54000, Nancy, France
| | - Erin Muths
- Fort Collins Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, 80526, Colorado, USA
| | - Marc Dufrêne
- UR BIOSE/UR TERRA, Université de Liège-Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, 2 Passage des Déportés, Gembloux, B-5030, Belgium
| | - Thierry Kinet
- Natagora, Département Etudes, 1 Traverse des Muses, Namur, B-5000, Belgium
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26
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Cayuela H, Gillet L, Laudelout A, Besnard A, Bonnaire E, Levionnois P, Muths E, Dufrêne M, Kinet T. Survival cost to relocation does not reduce population self-sustainability in an amphibian. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01909. [PMID: 31141249 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Relocations are increasingly popular among wildlife managers despite often low rates of relocation success in vertebrates. In this context, understanding the influence of extrinsic (e.g., relocation design, habitat characteristics) and intrinsic factors (e.g., age and sex) on demographic parameters, such as survival, that regulate the dynamics of relocated populations is critical to improve relocation protocols and better predict relocation success. We investigated survival in naturally established and relocated populations of yellow-bellied toads (Bombina variegata), an amphibian that was nearly extinct in Belgium by the late 1980s. We quantified survival at three ontogenetic stages (juvenile, subadult, and adult) in the relocated population, the source population, and a control population. In the relocated population, we quantified survival in captive bred individuals and their locally born descendants. Then, using simulations, we examined how survival cost to relocation affects the self-sustainability of the relocated population. We showed that survival at juvenile and subadult stages was relatively similar in all populations. In contrast, relocated adult survival was lower than adult survival in the source and control populations. Despite this, offspring of relocated animals (the next generation, regardless of life stage) survived at similar rates to individuals in the source and control populations. Simulations revealed that the relocated population was self-sustaining under different scenarios and that the fate (e.g., stability or increase) of the simulated populations was highly dependent on the fecundity of relocated adults and their offspring. To summarize, our results indicate that survival in relocated individuals is lower than in non-relocated individuals but that this cost (i.e., reduced survival) disappears in the second generation. A finer understanding of how relocation affects demographic processes is an important step in improving relocation success of amphibians and other animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Cayuela
- Département de Biologie, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, Quebec, Quebec, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Nature, Ecology, & Conservation (NEC), Mas du Clos, Montagnole, 73000, France
| | - Lilly Gillet
- UR BIOSE/UR TERRA, Université de Liège-Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, 2 Passage des Déportés, Gembloux, B-5030, Belgium
| | - Arnaud Laudelout
- Natagora, Département Etudes, 1 Traverse des Muses, Namur, B-5000, Belgium
| | - Aurélien Besnard
- EPHE, UM, SupAgro, IRD, INRA, UMR 5175 CEFE, CNRS, PSL Research University, Montpellier, F-34293, France
| | - Eric Bonnaire
- Agence de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Office National des Forêts, 54000, Nancy, France
| | - Pauline Levionnois
- Direction Territoriale Grand Est, Office National des Forêts, 54000, Nancy, France
| | - Erin Muths
- Fort Collins Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, 80526, Colorado, USA
| | - Marc Dufrêne
- UR BIOSE/UR TERRA, Université de Liège-Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, 2 Passage des Déportés, Gembloux, B-5030, Belgium
| | - Thierry Kinet
- Natagora, Département Etudes, 1 Traverse des Muses, Namur, B-5000, Belgium
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27
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Caughlin TT, Damschen EI, Haddad NM, Levey DJ, Warneke C, Brudvig LA. Landscape heterogeneity is key to forecasting outcomes of plant reintroduction. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01850. [PMID: 30821885 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Conservation and restoration projects often involve starting new populations by introducing individuals into portions of their native or projected range. Such efforts can help meet many related goals, including habitat creation, ecosystem service provisioning, assisted migration, and the reintroduction of imperiled species following local extirpation. The outcomes of reintroduction efforts, however, are highly variable, with results ranging from local extinction to dramatic population growth; reasons for this variation remain unclear. Here, we ask whether population growth following plant reintroductions is governed by variation at two scales: the scale of individual habitat patches to which individuals are reintroduced, and larger among-landscape scales in which similar patches may be situated in landscapes that differ in matrix type, soil conditions, and other factors. Quantifying demographic variation at these two scales will help prioritize locations for introduction and, once introductions take place, forecast population growth. This work took place within a large-scale habitat fragmentation experiment, where individuals of two perennial forb species were reintroduced into eight replicate ~50-ha landscapes, each containing a set of five ~1-ha patches that varied in their degree of isolation (connected by habitat corridors or unconnected) and edge-to-area ratio. Using data on individual growth, survival, reproductive output, and recruitment collected one to two years after reintroduction, we developed models to forecast population growth, then compared forecasts to observed population sizes, three and six years later. Both the type of patch (connected and unconnected) and identity of the landscape to which individuals were reintroduced had effects on forecasted population growth rates, but only variation associated with landscape identity was an accurate predictor of subsequently observed population growth rates. Models that did not include landscape identity had minimal forecasting ability, revealing the key importance of variation at this scale for accurate prediction. Of the five demographic rates used to model population dynamics, seed production was the most important source of forecast error in population growth rates. Our results point to the importance of accounting for landscape-scale variation in demographic models and demonstrate how such models might assist with prioritizing particular landscapes for species reintroduction projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Trevor Caughlin
- Department of Biological Sciences and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725 USA
| | - Ellen I Damschen
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 451 Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Nick M Haddad
- Kellogg Biological Station and Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, Michigan, 49060, USA
| | - Douglas J Levey
- Division of Environmental Biology, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314, USA
| | - Christopher Warneke
- Department of Plant Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 USA
| | - Lars A Brudvig
- Department of Plant Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 USA
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28
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Grauer JA, Gilbert JH, Woodford JE, Eklund D, Anderson S, Pauli JN. Modest immigration can rescue a reintroduced carnivore population. J Wildl Manage 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A. Grauer
- Department of Forest and Wildlife EcologyUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison1630 Linden DriveMadisonWI53706USA
| | - Jonathan H. Gilbert
- Biological ServicesGreat Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife CommissionP.O. Box 9 − 72682 Maple StreetOdanahWI54861USA
| | - James E. Woodford
- Bureau of Natural Heritage ConservationWisconsin Department of Natural Resources107 Sutliff AvenueRhinelanderWI54501USA
| | - Daniel Eklund
- U.S. Forest ServiceChequamegon Nicolet National Forest1170 4th Avenue SPark FallsWI54552USA
| | - Scott Anderson
- U.S. Forest ServiceChequamegon Nicolet National Forest1247 E Wall StreetEagle RiverWI54521USA
| | - Jonathan N. Pauli
- Department of Forest and Wildlife EcologyUniversity of Wisconsin‐Madison1630 Linden DriveMadisonWI53706USA
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29
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Lloyd NA, Hostetter NJ, Jackson CL, Converse SJ, Moehrenschlager A. Optimizing release strategies: a stepping‐stone approach to reintroduction. Anim Conserv 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N. A. Lloyd
- Centre for Conservation Research Calgary Zoological Society Calgary AB Canada
| | - N. J. Hostetter
- U.S. Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Laurel MD USA
| | | | - S. J. Converse
- U.S. Geological Survey Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit School of Environmental and Forest Sciences (SEFS) & School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (SAFS) University of Washington Seattle WA USA
| | - A. Moehrenschlager
- Centre for Conservation Research Calgary Zoological Society Calgary AB Canada
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30
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Improving conservation policy with genomics: a guide to integrating adaptive potential into U.S. Endangered Species Act decisions for conservation practitioners and geneticists. CONSERV GENET 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-018-1096-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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31
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Drummond FM, Lovegrove TG, Armstrong DP. Combining data-derived priors with postrelease monitoring data to predict persistence of reintroduced populations. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:6183-6191. [PMID: 29988454 PMCID: PMC6024125 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2017] [Revised: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring is an essential part of reintroduction programs, but many years of data may be needed to obtain reliable population projections. This duration can potentially be reduced by incorporating prior information on expected vital rates (survival and fecundity) when making inferences from monitoring data. The prior distributions for these parameters can be derived from data for previous reintroductions, but it is important to account for site-to-site variation. We evaluated whether such informative priors improved our ability to estimate the finite rate of increase (λ) of the North Island robin (Petroica longipes) population reintroduced to Tawharanui Regional Park, New Zealand. We assessed how precision improved with each year of postrelease data added, comparing models that used informative or uninformative priors. The population grew from about 22 to 80 individuals from 2007 to 2016, with λ estimated to be 1.23 if density dependence was included in the model and 1.13 otherwise. Under either model, 7 years of data were required before the lower 95% credible limit for λ was > 1, giving confidence that the population would persist. The informative priors did not reduce this requirement. Data-derived priors are useful before reintroduction because they allow λ to be estimated in advance. However, in the case examined here, the value of the priors was overwhelmed once site-specific monitoring data became available. The Bayesian method presented is logical for reintroduced populations. It allows prior information (used to inform prerelease decisions) to be integrated with postrelease monitoring. This makes full use of the data for ongoing management decisions. However, if the priors properly account for site-to-site variation, they may have little predictive value compared with the site-specific data. This value will depend on the degree of site-to-site variation as well as the quality of the data.
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32
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Extinction Risk and Conservation Options for Maui Parrotbill, an Endangered Hawaiian Honeycreeper. JOURNAL OF FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 2018. [DOI: 10.3996/072017-jfwm-059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Extinction rates for island birds around the world have been historically high. For forest passerines, the Hawaiian archipelago has suffered some of the highest extinction rates and reintroduction is a conservation tool that can be used to prevent the extinction of some of the remaining endangered species. Population viability analyses can be used to assess risks to vulnerable populations and evaluate the relative benefits of conservation strategies. Here we present a population viability analysis to assess the long-term viability for Maui parrotbill (Kiwikiu) Pseudonestor xanthophrys, a federally endangered passerine on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Contrary to indications from population monitoring, our results indicate Maui parrotbills may be unlikely to persist beyond 25 y. Our modeling suggests female mortality as a primary factor driving this decline. To evaluate and compare management options involving captive-rearing and translocation strategies we made a female-only stage-structured, meta-population simulation model. Maui parrotbills have low reproductive potential in captivity; therefore, the number of individuals (∼20% of the global population) needed to source a reintroduction solely from captive reared birds is unrealistic. A reintroduction strategy that incorporates a minimal contribution from captivity and instead translocates mostly wild individuals was found to be the most feasible management option. Habitat is being restored on leeward east Maui, which may provide more favorable climate and habitat conditions and promote increased reproductive output. Our model provides managers with benchmarks for fecundity and survival needed to ensure reintroduction success, and highlights the importance of establishing a new population in potentially favorable habitat to ensure long-term persistence.
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33
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Saunders SP, Cuthbert FJ, Zipkin EF. Evaluating population viability and efficacy of conservation management using integrated population models. J Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah P. Saunders
- Department of Integrative Biology College of Natural Science Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
| | - Francesca J. Cuthbert
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology University of Minnesota St. Paul MN USA
| | - Elise F. Zipkin
- Department of Integrative Biology College of Natural Science Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
- Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
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Davies OAM, Huggins AE, Begue JA, Groombridge JJ, Jones C, Norfolk D, Steward P, Tatayah V, Zuël N, Ewen JG. Reintroduction or natural colonization? Using cost-distance analysis to inform decisions about Rodrigues Island Fody and Warbler reintroductions. Anim Conserv 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- O. A. M. Davies
- Institute of Zoology; Zoological Society of London; London UK
| | | | - J. A. Begue
- Mauritian Wildlife Foundation; Solitude Mauritius
| | - J. J. Groombridge
- Durrell Institute of Conservation & Ecology; School of Anthropology and Conservation; University of Kent; Canterbury UK
| | - C. Jones
- Mauritian Wildlife Foundation; Vacoas Mauritius
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust; Jersey UK
| | - D. Norfolk
- British Trust for Ornithology; Thetford UK
| | - P. Steward
- Sustainability Research Institute; University of Leeds; Leeds UK
| | - V. Tatayah
- Mauritian Wildlife Foundation; Vacoas Mauritius
| | - N. Zuël
- Mauritian Wildlife Foundation; Vacoas Mauritius
| | - J. G. Ewen
- Institute of Zoology; Zoological Society of London; London UK
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35
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O’Donnell KM, Messerman AF, Barichivich WJ, Semlitsch RD, Gorman TA, Mitchell HG, Allan N, Fenolio D, Green A, Johnson FA, Keever A, Mandica M, Martin J, Mott J, Peacock T, Reinman J, Romañach SS, Titus G, McGowan CP, Walls SC. Structured decision making as a conservation tool for recovery planning of two endangered salamanders. J Nat Conserv 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2017.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Converse SJ, Bailey LL, Mosher BA, Funk WC, Gerber BD, Muths E. A Model to Inform Management Actions as a Response to Chytridiomycosis-Associated Decline. ECOHEALTH 2017; 14:144-155. [PMID: 27056609 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-016-1117-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Revised: 12/27/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Decision-analytic models provide forecasts of how systems of interest will respond to management. These models can be parameterized using empirical data, but sometimes require information elicited from experts. When evaluating the effects of disease in species translocation programs, expert judgment is likely to play a role because complete empirical information will rarely be available. We illustrate development of a decision-analytic model built to inform decision-making regarding translocations and other management actions for the boreal toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas), a species with declines linked to chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Using the model, we explored the management implications of major uncertainties in this system, including whether there is a genetic basis for resistance to pathogenic infection by Bd, how translocation can best be implemented, and the effectiveness of efforts to reduce the spread of Bd. Our modeling exercise suggested that while selection for resistance to pathogenic infection by Bd could increase numbers of sites occupied by toads, and translocations could increase the rate of toad recovery, efforts to reduce the spread of Bd may have little effect. We emphasize the need to continue developing and parameterizing models necessary to assess management actions for combating chytridiomycosis-associated declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Converse
- U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 12100 Beech Forest Road, Laurel, MD, 20708, USA.
| | - Larissa L Bailey
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Brittany A Mosher
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - W Chris Funk
- Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Brian D Gerber
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Erin Muths
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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Walking on their own legs: unassisted population growth of the agouti Dasyprocta leporina, reintroduced to restore seed dispersal in an Atlantic Forest reserve. ORYX 2017. [DOI: 10.1017/s0030605316001149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractReintroduction of locally extirpated species is an increasingly popular conservation tool. However, few initiatives focus on the restoration of ecological processes. In addition, many reintroductions fail to conduct post-release monitoring, hampering both assessment of their success and implementation of adaptive management actions. In 2009 a reintroduction effort was initiated to re-establish a population of the red-rumped agouti Dasyprocta leporina, a scatter-hoarding rodent known to be an important disperser of large seeds, with the aim of restoring ecological processes at Tijuca National Park, south-east Brazil. To assess whether this reintroduced population established successfully we monitored it using mark–resighting during November 2013–March 2015. Population size and survival were estimated using a robust design Poisson-log normal mixed-effects mark–resight model. By March 2015 the number of wild-born individuals fluctuated around 30 and overall growth of the population was positive. As the reintroduced population is capable of unassisted growth, we conclude that the reintroduction has been successful in the medium term. We recommend the cessation of releases, with efforts redirected to continued monitoring, investigation and management of possible threats to the species’ persistence, and to quantification of the re-establishment of ecological processes. Reintroduction of D. leporina populations can be a cost-effective tool to restore ecological processes, especially seed dispersal, in Neotropical forests.
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Griffiths AD, Rankmore B, Brennan K, Woinarski JCZ. Demographic evaluation of translocating the threatened northern quoll to two Australian islands. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2017. [DOI: 10.1071/wr16165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context
Translocation is widely used to help avoid extinction of species from threatening processes. A fundamental objective of translocation is to establish self-sustaining populations; estimating demographic parameters is critical to assessing success of these programs and can also be used to support future management actions.
Aims
We estimated demographic parameters to evaluate the success of translocating the northern quoll Dasyurus hallucatus to two islands (Astell and Pobassoo), in response to the threat posed by the introduced cane toad Rhinella marina on the Australian mainland.
Methods
We used capture–mark–recapture methods to monitor both populations at regular intervals from initial release in 2003 until 2009 and a one-off survey in 2014.
Key results
Relative abundance (trap success) increased exponentially in the first 4 years, declined, and then stabilised in subsequent years. The population of female northern quolls on Astell Island peaked in 2006 with an estimate of 3640 (95% CI 3022–4257), and on Pobassoo Island the peak was 2007 with 617 (95% CI 531–703) females. In 2014 the population had decreased to 2193 (95% CI 1920–2467) on Astell and 451 (95% CI 359–543) on Pobassoo. Apparent survival and body condition decreased significantly following the population peak, possibly related to density dependence.
Conclusion
Both populations of northern quolls reached their regulation phase after going through establishment and growth phases, which included exceeding carrying capacity. The pattern was similar between the populations.
Implications
Increased survival and recruitment at threat-free translocation sites contributes to successful establishment of self-sustaining populations.
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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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Use of Simulation Modeling to Evaluate Management Strategies for Reintroduced Riparian Brush Rabbits in California. JOURNAL OF FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 2016. [DOI: 10.3996/052015-jfwm-045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The riparian brush rabbit Sylvilagus bachmani riparius is restricted to areas of dense cover along rivers and tributaries in the Central Valley of California, USA, and is considered endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. An approved recovery plan for this subspecies recommended establishment of three additional self-sustaining populations within its historical range. Concurrent with habitat restoration efforts that included revegetation of levees and provision of flood refugia, we reintroduced 325 captive-bred individuals to the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge between July 2002 and July 2005, and monitored their survival with radiotelemetry. Using available survival estimates and estimated reproductive parameters, we developed a population viability analysis model to determine the risk of extinction of the reintroduced population under a series of alternate scenarios including different release strategies. All model scenarios resulted in high probabilities of extinction over 20 y in the absence of either ongoing supplementations or significant improvements to vital rates. Extinction risks over 20 y appeared independent of initial release strategies. The risk of extinction remained high (>99%) even when the initial founder population was supplemented with captive-bred brush rabbits for up to 10 y. Supplementing the population annually for the entire 20-y period would be required for the population to persist given current estimates of vital rates. These results suggest that the reintroduced population is not self-sustaining and continued releases will not provide the anticipated long-term benefits. Additionally, our understanding of the integral components of habitat and potential limiting factors should be refined to address their influence on demographics and the cause of brush rabbit declines at the release site in a comprehensive way. These results underscore the importance of viability analyses and developing testable hypotheses about potential limiting factors early in reintroduction efforts to more efficiently guide data-gathering and monitoring criteria, identify data deficiencies, and refine reintroduction techniques in the early stages of management.
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Canessa S, Converse SJ, West M, Clemann N, Gillespie G, McFadden M, Silla AJ, Parris KM, McCarthy MA. Planning for ex situ conservation in the face of uncertainty. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2016; 30:599-609. [PMID: 26306549 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Revised: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Ex situ conservation strategies for threatened species often require long-term commitment and financial investment to achieve management objectives. We present a framework that considers the decision to adopt ex situ management for a target species as the end point of several linked decisions. We used a decision tree to intuitively represent the logical sequence of decision making. The first decision is to identify the specific management actions most likely to achieve the fundamental objectives of the recovery plan, with or without the use of ex-situ populations. Once this decision has been made, one decides whether to establish an ex situ population, accounting for the probability of success in the initial phase of the recovery plan, for example, the probability of successful breeding in captivity. Approaching these decisions in the reverse order (attempting to establish an ex situ population before its purpose is clearly defined) can lead to a poor allocation of resources, because it may restrict the range of available decisions in the second stage. We applied our decision framework to the recovery program for the threatened spotted tree frog (Litoria spenceri) of southeastern Australia. Across a range of possible management actions, only those including ex situ management were expected to provide >50% probability of the species' persistence, but these actions cost more than use of in situ alternatives only. The expected benefits of ex situ actions were predicted to be offset by additional uncertainty and stochasticity associated with establishing and maintaining ex situ populations. Naïvely implementing ex situ conservation strategies can lead to inefficient management. Our framework may help managers explicitly evaluate objectives, management options, and the probability of success prior to establishing a captive colony of any given species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Canessa
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sarah J Converse
- United States Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 12100 Beech Forest Road, Laurel, MD 20708, U.S.A
| | - Matt West
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, 3010, Victoria, Australia
- Wildlife Conservation and Science, Zoos Victoria, Parkville, 3052, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nick Clemann
- Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Heidelberg, 3084, Victoria, Australia
| | - Graeme Gillespie
- Flora and Fauna Division, NT Department of Land Resource Management, Palmerston, 0831, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Michael McFadden
- Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Mosman, 2088, NSW, Australia
| | - Aimee J Silla
- Institute for Conservation Biology and Environmental Management, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, 2522 NSW, Australia
| | - Kirsten M Parris
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael A McCarthy
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, 3010, Victoria, Australia
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Refoyo P, Olmedo C, Muñoz B. Space use of a reintroduced population of Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) in a protected natural area. CAN J ZOOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2015-0166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In Europe, wild ungulates have undergone major expansion and population growth during recent decades. In certain cases, the high density achieved by these populations has led to excessive pressure on the environment, which eventually becomes a limiting factor for the population itself. One of these reintroductions was performed with the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica Schinz, 1838) in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park (Spain). This reintroduced population was monitored during six field seasons (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, and 2014) by direct observation of the animals along transects using the distance sampling method to determine the degree of expansion over the years and the use of different habitats according to different seasons. The abundances obtained for each field season showed a significant increase from 4.16 to 8.65 individuals/km, showing a linear relationship between abundance and extent of the area occupied by the species. We observed that differences between habitat availability and use were significant for all seasons. Our data can be used as an example of the colonization process of a population of wild ungulates and their impact on vegetation to better manage future reintroductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Refoyo
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Complutense University of Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 12, E-28040 Madrid
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Complutense University of Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 12, E-28040 Madrid
| | - C. Olmedo
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Complutense University of Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 12, E-28040 Madrid
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Complutense University of Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 12, E-28040 Madrid
| | - B. Muñoz
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Complutense University of Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 12, E-28040 Madrid
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Complutense University of Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 12, E-28040 Madrid
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White TH, de Melo Barros Y, Develey PF, Llerandi-Román IC, Monsegur-Rivera OA, Trujillo-Pinto AM. Improving reintroduction planning and implementation through quantitative SWOT analysis. J Nat Conserv 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2015.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Lahoz-Monfort JJ, Guillera-Arroita G, Hauser CE. From planning to implementation: explaining connections between adaptive management and population models. Front Ecol Evol 2014. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2014.00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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45
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Frontier population dynamics of an invasive squirrel species: Do introduced populations function differently than those in the native range? Biol Invasions 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-014-0787-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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46
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Servanty S, Converse SJ, Bailey LL. Demography of a reintroduced population: moving toward management models for an endangered species, the Whooping Crane. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2014; 24:927-937. [PMID: 25154087 DOI: 10.1890/13-0559.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The reintroduction of threatened and endangered species is now a common method for reestablishing populations. Typically, a fundamental objective of reintroduction is to establish a self-sustaining population. Estimation of demographic parameters in reintroduced populations is critical, as these estimates serve multiple purposes. First, they support evaluation of progress toward the fundamental objective via construction of population viability analyses (PVAs) to predict metrics such as probability of persistence. Second, PVAs can be expanded to support evaluation of management actions, via management modeling. Third, the estimates themselves can support evaluation of the demographic performance of the reintroduced population (e.g., via comparison with wild populations). For each of these purposes, thorough treatment of uncertainties in the estimates is critical. Recently developed statistical methods (namely, hierarchical Bayesian implementations of state-space models) allow for effective integration of different types of uncertainty in estimation. We undertook a demographic estimation effort for a reintroduced population of endangered Whooping Cranes with the purpose of ultimately developing a Bayesian PVA for determining progress toward establishing a self-sustaining population, and for evaluating potential management actions via a Bayesian PVA-based management model. We evaluated individual and temporal variation in demographic parameters based upon a multi-state, mark-recapture model. We found that survival was relatively high across time and varied little by sex. There was some indication that survival varied by release method. Survival was similar to that observed in the wild population. Although overall reproduction in this reintroduced population is poor, birds formed social pairs when relatively young, and once a bird was in a social pair, it had a nearly 50% chance of nesting the following breeding season. Also, once a bird had nested, it had a high probability of nesting again. These results are encouraging, considering that survival and reproduction have been major challenges in past reintroductions of this species. The demographic estimates developed will support construction of a management model designed to facilitate exploration of management actions of interest, and will provide critical guidance in future planning for this reintroduction. An approach similar to what we describe could be usefully applied to many reintroduced populations.
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Converse SJ, Royle JA, Adler PH, Urbanek RP, Barzen JA. A hierarchical nest survival model integrating incomplete temporally varying covariates. Ecol Evol 2013; 3:4439-47. [PMID: 24340185 PMCID: PMC3856744 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2013] [Accepted: 08/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Nest success is a critical determinant of the dynamics of avian populations, and nest survival modeling has played a key role in advancing avian ecology and management. Beginning with the development of daily nest survival models, and proceeding through subsequent extensions, the capacity for modeling the effects of hypothesized factors on nest survival has expanded greatly. We extend nest survival models further by introducing an approach to deal with incompletely observed, temporally varying covariates using a hierarchical model. Hierarchical modeling offers a way to separate process and observational components of demographic models to obtain estimates of the parameters of primary interest, and to evaluate structural effects of ecological and management interest. We built a hierarchical model for daily nest survival to analyze nest data from reintroduced whooping cranes (Grus americana) in the Eastern Migratory Population. This reintroduction effort has been beset by poor reproduction, apparently due primarily to nest abandonment by breeding birds. We used the model to assess support for the hypothesis that nest abandonment is caused by harassment from biting insects. We obtained indices of blood-feeding insect populations based on the spatially interpolated counts of insects captured in carbon dioxide traps. However, insect trapping was not conducted daily, and so we had incomplete information on a temporally variable covariate of interest. We therefore supplemented our nest survival model with a parallel model for estimating the values of the missing insect covariates. We used Bayesian model selection to identify the best predictors of daily nest survival. Our results suggest that the black fly Simulium annulus may be negatively affecting nest survival of reintroduced whooping cranes, with decreasing nest survival as abundance of S. annulus increases. The modeling framework we have developed will be applied in the future to a larger data set to evaluate the biting-insect hypothesis and other hypotheses for nesting failure in this reintroduced population; resulting inferences will support ongoing efforts to manage this population via an adaptive management approach. Wider application of our approach offers promise for modeling the effects of other temporally varying, but imperfectly observed covariates on nest survival, including the possibility of modeling temporally varying covariates collected from incubating adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Converse
- USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center 12100 Beech Forest Road, Laurel, Maryland
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48
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Converse SJ, Moore CT, Folk MJ, Runge MC. A matter of tradeoffs: Reintroduction as a multiple objective decision. J Wildl Manage 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J. Converse
- U.S. Geological Survey; Patuxent Wildlife Research Center; 12100 Beech Forest Road; Laurel; MD 20708; USA
| | - Clinton T. Moore
- U.S. Geological Survey; Patuxent Wildlife Research Center; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia; Athens; GA 30602; USA
| | - Martin J. Folk
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 1475 Regal Court; Kissimmee; FL 34744; USA
| | - Michael C. Runge
- U.S. Geological Survey; Patuxent Wildlife Research Center; 12100 Beech Forest Road; Laurel; MD 20708; USA
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