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Morris AB, Visger CJ, Fox SJ, Scalf C, Fleming S, Call G. Defining Populations and Predicting Future Suitable Niche Space in the Geographically Disjunct, Narrowly Endemic Leafy Prairie-Clover ( Dalea foliosa; Fabaceae). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:495. [PMID: 38498467 PMCID: PMC10891826 DOI: 10.3390/plants13040495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Conservation actions for rare species are often based on estimates of population size and number, which are challenging to capture in natural systems. Instead, many definitions of populations rely on arbitrarily defined distances between occurrences, which is not necessarily biologically meaningful despite having utility from a conservation management perspective. Here, we introduce a case study using the narrowly endemic and highly geographically disjunct leafy prairie-clover (Dalea foliosa), for which we use nuclear microsatellite loci to assess the current delimitations of populations and management units across its entire known range. We model future potential suitable niche space for the species to assess how currently defined populations could fare under predicted changes in climate over the next 50 years. Our results indicate that genetic variation within the species is extremely limited, particularly so in the distal portions of its range (Illinois and Alabama). Within the core of its range (Tennessee), genetic structure is not consistent with populations as currently defined. Our models indicate that predicted suitable niche space may only marginally overlap with the geology associated with this species (limestone glades and dolomite prairies) by 2070. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the extent to which populations are ecologically adapted to local environments and what role this could play in future translocation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley B. Morris
- Department of Biology, Furman University, Greenville, SC 29613, USA;
- Independent Researcher, San Antonio, TX 78247, USA;
| | - Clayton J. Visger
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA;
| | - Skyler J. Fox
- Department of Biology, Furman University, Greenville, SC 29613, USA;
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30458, USA
| | | | - Sunny Fleming
- Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI), Redlands, CA 92373, USA;
| | - Geoff Call
- Tennessee Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cookeville, TN 38501, USA;
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2
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Gerber LR, Barton CJ, Anderson DM. Aligning the logics of inquiry and action to address the biodiversity crisis. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14128. [PMID: 37259634 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Despite an abundance of research reaffirming biodiversity's importance to the health of the planet and society, species continue to go extinct at an alarming rate. Why has continued research on the value of biodiversity not had the intended effect and what can be done about it? We considered biodiversity loss as a public value failure and the result of a misalignment between the logic of inquiry (which guides scientists) and the logic of action (which guides practitioners). We drew lessons from our own research to propose the creation of a national biodiversity strategy designed to link the logic of inquiry with the logic of action and coordinate the production of actionable conservation science and informed conservation action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah R Gerber
- Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Chris J Barton
- School for the Future of Innovation in Society, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
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3
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Treakle T, Epanchin-Niell R, Iacona GD. Factors associated with preemptive conservation under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14104. [PMID: 37185993 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, there has been an increasing emphasis on proactive efforts to conserve species being considered for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) before they are listed (i.e., preemptive conservation). These efforts, which depend on voluntary actions by public and private land managers across the species' range, aim to conserve species while avoiding regulatory costs associated with ESA listing. We collected data for a set of social, economic, environmental, and institutional factors that we hypothesized would influence voluntary decisions to promote or inhibit preemptive conservation of species under consideration for ESA listing. We used logistic regression to estimate the association of these factors with preemptive conservation outcomes based on data for a set of species that entered the ESA listing process and were either officially listed (n = 314) or preemptively conserved (n = 73) from 1996 to 2018. Factors significantly associated with precluded listing due to preemptive conservation included high baseline conservation status, low proportion of private land across the species' range, small total range size, exposure to specific types of threats, and species' range extending over several states. These results highlight strategies that can help improve conservation outcomes, such as allocating resources for imperiled species earlier in the listing process, addressing specific threats, and expanding incentives and coordination mechanisms for conservation on private lands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Treakle
- Resources for the Future, Washington, D.C., USA
- ASU School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Rebecca Epanchin-Niell
- Resources for the Future, Washington, D.C., USA
- Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Gwenllian D Iacona
- Resources for the Future, Washington, D.C., USA
- ASU School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
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4
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Nicol‐Harper A, Doncaster CP, Hilton GM, Wood KA, Ezard THG. Conservation implications of a mismatch between data availability and demographic impact. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10269. [PMID: 37475724 PMCID: PMC10353920 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cost-effective use of limited conservation resources requires understanding which data most contribute to alleviating biodiversity declines. Interventions might reasonably prioritise life-cycle transitions with the greatest influence on population dynamics, yet some contributing vital rates are particularly challenging to document. This risks managers making decisions without sufficient empirical coverage of the spatiotemporal variation experienced by the species. Here, we aimed to explore whether the number of studies contributing estimates for a given life-stage transition aligns with that transition's demographic impact on population growth rate, λ. We parameterised a matrix population model using meta-analysis of vital rates for the common eider (Somateria mollissima), an increasingly threatened yet comparatively data-rich species of seaduck, for which some life stages are particularly problematic to study. Female common eiders exhibit intermittent breeding, with some established breeders skipping one or more years between breeding attempts. Our meta-analysis yielded a breeding propensity of 0.72, which we incorporated into our model with a discrete and reversible 'nonbreeder' stage (to which surviving adults transition with a probability of 0.28). The transitions between breeding and nonbreeding states had twice the influence on λ than fertility (summed matrix-element elasticities of 24% and 11%, respectively), whereas almost 15 times as many studies document components of fertility than breeding propensity (n = 103 and n = 7, respectively). The implications of such mismatches are complex because the motivations for feasible on-the-ground conservation actions may be different from what is needed to reduce uncertainty in population projections. Our workflow could form an early part of the toolkit informing future investment of finite resources, to avoid repeated disconnects between data needs and availability thwarting evidence-led conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Nicol‐Harper
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography CentreUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
- Wildfowl & Wetlands TrustSlimbridgeUK
| | | | | | | | - Thomas H. G. Ezard
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography CentreUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
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5
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Filewod B, Kant S, MacDonald H, McKenney D. Decision biases and environmental attitudes among conservation professionals. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ben Filewod
- Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment London School of Economics and Political Science Houghton Street London WC2A 2AE UK
- Integrated Ecology and Economics Division Canadian Forest Service 1219 Queen Street East Sault Ste. Marie P6A 2E5 Canada
| | - Shashi Kant
- Institute for Management & Innovation University of Toronto Mississauga 3359 Mississauga Road Mississauga L5L 1C6 Canada
| | - Heather MacDonald
- Integrated Ecology and Economics Division Canadian Forest Service 1219 Queen Street East Sault Ste. Marie P6A 2E5 Canada
| | - Daniel McKenney
- Integrated Ecology and Economics Division Canadian Forest Service 1219 Queen Street East Sault Ste. Marie P6A 2E5 Canada
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6
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Crates R, Stojanovic D, Heinsohn R. The phenotypic costs of captivity. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:434-449. [PMID: 36341701 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The breeding of threatened species in captivity for release is a central tool in conservation biology. Given gloomy predictions for biodiversity trends in the Anthropocene, captive breeding will play an increasingly important role in preventing future extinctions. Relative to the wild, captive environments drastically alter selection pressures on animals. Phenotypic change in captive animals in response to these altered selection pressures can incur fitness costs post-release, jeopardising their potential contribution to population recovery. We explore the ways in which captive environments can hinder the expression of wild phenotypes. We also stress that the phenotypes of captive-bred animals differ from their wild counterparts in multiple ways that remain poorly understood. We propose five new research questions relating to the impact of captive phenotypes on reintroduction biology. With better use of monitoring and experimental reintroductions, a more robust evidence base should help inform adaptive management and minimise the phenotypic costs of captivity, improving the success of animal reintroductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross Crates
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Linnaeus Way, Acton, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Dejan Stojanovic
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Linnaeus Way, Acton, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Robert Heinsohn
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Linnaeus Way, Acton, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
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7
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McLellan ML, Dickie M, Boutin S, Becker M, Ernst B, Peel D, Zimmerman KL, Serrouya R. Prioritizing populations based on recovery potential. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Melanie Dickie
- Wildlife Science Centre Biodiversity Pathways Mill Bay British Columbia Canada
| | - Stan Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Marcus Becker
- Caribou Monitoring Unit, Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Bevan Ernst
- Caribou Monitoring Unit, Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
- Ministry of Land Water and Resource Stewardship Kamloops British Columbia Canada
| | - Darcy Peel
- Caribou Monitoring Unit, Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
- Ministry of Land Water and Resource Stewardship Kamloops British Columbia Canada
| | - Kathryn L. Zimmerman
- Caribou Monitoring Unit, Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
- Ministry of Land Water and Resource Stewardship Kamloops British Columbia Canada
| | - Robert Serrouya
- Wildlife Science Centre Biodiversity Pathways Mill Bay British Columbia Canada
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8
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Johnson SA, Molano-Flores B. Is the Endangered Species Act living to its full potential? The reassessment of the conservation status and recovery of Macbridea alba Chapm. as a case study. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2023.1116848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Since 1988, the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund or “Section 6” fund facilitates partnerships between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state agencies that aim to provide data pertinent to the recovery of Endangered Species Act (ESA) protected species. Despite the success of these efforts, research for rare plants is chronically underfunded and many species experience long periods of research inactivity that hinders their conservation. One example is Macbridea alba Chapm. (white birds-in-a-nest, Lamiaceae, M. alba from hereon), a federally threatened and state endangered mint endemic to four counties within the Florida panhandle. The species is a candidate for delisting after 30 years of protection under the ESA, however a lack of up-to-date data associated with the species has continually challenged the implementation of effective conservation programs and prolonged the recovery process. The focus of this paper is to review the timeline of recovery goals for M. alba, present a summary of recent research findings (i.e., species distribution models, habitat associations, reproductive ecology), and identify achievements as well as persistent obstacles to recovery and delisting. Our research focused on 5 of 10 recovery actions listed in the recovery plan for M. alba. Our findings provide updated data and make novel contributions to the protection of M. alba that will prioritize and improve management efforts. Overall, our work highlights frequent barriers to the recovery and delisting of rare species, using an endemic plant species as a case-study. Importantly, we outline effective methods for the rapid assessment of at-risk plant species that due to enduring data gaps, face an uncertain future in listing and recovery. We hope our work provides a convincing case demonstrating the critical need for current and expanded ESA funding and encourages a diversity of individuals and institutions to participate in critical rare plant research to swiftly fill research gaps and expedite recovery of some of the rarest plant species across the United States.
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9
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Feng X, Hua R, Zhang W, Liu Y, Luo C, Li T, Chen X, Zhu H, Wang Y, Lu Y. Comparison of the gut microbiome and resistome in captive African and Asian elephants on the same diet. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:986382. [PMID: 36875997 PMCID: PMC9978182 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.986382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Elephants are endangered species and threatened with extinction. They are monogastric herbivorous, hindgut fermenters and their digestive strategy requires them to consume large amounts of low quality forage. The gut microbiome is important to their metabolism, immune regulation, and ecological adaptation. Our study investigated the structure and function of the gut microbiota as well as the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in captive African and Asian elephants on the same diet. Results showed that captive African and Asian elephants had distinct gut bacterial composition. MetaStats analysis showed that the relative abundance of Spirochaetes (FDR = 0.00) and Verrucomicrobia (FDR = 0.01) at the phylum level as well as Spirochaetaceae (FDR = 0.01) and Akkermansiaceae (FDR = 0.02) at the family level varied between captive African and Asian elephants. Among the top ten functional subcategories at level 2 (57 seed pathway) of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database, the relative gene abundance of cellular community-prokaryotes, membrane transport, and carbohydrate metabolism in African elephants were significantly lower than those in Asian elephants (0.98 vs. 1.03%, FDR = 0.04; 1.25 vs. 1.43%, FDR = 0.03; 3.39 vs. 3.63%; FDR = 0.02). Among the top ten functional subcategories at level 2 (CAZy family) of CAZy database, MetaStats analysis showed that African elephants had higher relative gene abundance of Glycoside Hydrolases family 28 (GH 28) compared to Asian elephants (0.10 vs. 0.08%, FDR = 0.03). Regarding the antibiotic resistance genes carried by gut microbes, MetaStats analysis showed that African elephants had significantly higher relative abundance of vanO (FDR = 0.00), tetQ (FDR = 0.04), and efrA (FDR = 0.04) than Asian elephants encoding resistance for glycopeptide, tetracycline, and macrolide/rifamycin/fluoroquinolone antibiotic, respectively. In conclusion, captive African and Asian elephants on the same diet have distinct gut microbial communities. Our findings established the ground work for future research on improving gut health of captive elephants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Feng
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Rong Hua
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China
| | - Wanying Zhang
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Yuhang Liu
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Caiyu Luo
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Tonghao Li
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Xiaolin Chen
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Hui Zhu
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Youcong Wang
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Yan Lu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China
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10
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Evans MJ, Malcom JW. Recovery units under the Endangered Species Act should be used more widely. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.1018159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Recovering species is the main goal of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In the face of limited conservation budgets, diverse tools are needed to efficiently recover species. Recovery units may be one such tool - designated portions of a species’ range that must be recovered individually before an entire species can be considered recovered. Recovery units allow for spatial flexibility in developing recovery goals and may be used in regulatory decisions such as ESA section 7 consultation. Despite the advantages, very little information exists on how recovery units have been developed and used. We mined available public data to determine the number and types of species for which recovery units have been designated; evaluated species and geographic characteristics associated with recovery unit designation; and examined how recovery units have been used in implementing the ESA, such as during consultation. We found 49 listed species had designated recovery units through December 2017, and that these species typically had relatively large ranges and were well-studied. We found taxonomic biases in recovery unit designation as well, with fish species being disproportionately likely to have recovery units and plants disproportionately less. These species were also more likely to have their recovery units considered and used in subsequent ESA implementation – a probability that decreased as time since unit designation passed. Improvements in recovery priority numbers among species with recovery units indicate that the theoretical benefits of this tool may have translated to improved status. These data indicate that recovery units could be applied to additional wide-ranging species to improve recovery under the ESA.
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11
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Iacona GD, Avery-Gomm S, Maloney RF, Brazill-Boast J, Crouse DT, Drew CA, Epanchin-Niell RS, Hall SB, Maguire LA, Male T, Newman J, Possingham HP, Rumpff L, Runge MC, Weiss KCB, Wilson RS, Zablan MA, Gerber LR. Hurdles to developing quantitative decision support for Endangered Species Act resource allocation. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.1002804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service oversees the recovery of many species protected by the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). Recent research suggests that a structured approach to allocating conservation resources could increase recovery outcomes for ESA listed species. Quantitative approaches to decision support can efficiently allocate limited financial resources and maximize desired outcomes. Yet, developing quantitative decision support under real-world constraints is challenging. Approaches that pair research teams and end-users are generally the most effective. However, co-development requires overcoming “hurdles” that can arise because of differences in the mental models of the co-development team. These include perceptions that: (1) scarce funds should be spent on action, not decision support; (2) quantitative approaches are only useful for simple decisions; (3) quantitative tools are inflexible and prescriptive black boxes; (4) available data are not good enough to support decisions; and (5) prioritization means admitting defeat. Here, we describe how we addressed these misperceptions during the development of a prototype resource allocation decision support tool for understanding trade-offs in U.S. endangered species recovery. We describe how acknowledging these hurdles and identifying solutions enabled us to progress with development. We believe that our experience can assist other applications of developing quantitative decision support for resource allocation.
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12
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Zander KK, Burton M, Pandit R, Gunawardena A, Pannell D, Garnett ST. How public values for threatened species are affected by conservation strategies. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 319:115659. [PMID: 35820310 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
While the imminent extinction of many species is predicted, prevention is expensive, and decision-makers often have to prioritise funding. In democracies, it can be argued that conservation using public funds should be influenced by the values placed on threatened species by the public, and that community views should also affect the conservation management approaches adopted. We conducted on online survey with 2400 respondents from the general Australian public to determine 1) the relative values placed on a diverse set of 12 threatened Australian animal species and 2) whether those values changed with the approach proposed to conserve them. The survey included a contingent valuation and a choice experiment. Three notable findings emerged: 1) respondents were willing to pay $60/year on average for a species (95% confidence interval: $23 to $105) to avoid extinction in the next 20 years based on the contingent valuation, and $29 to $100 based on the choice experiment, 2) respondents were willing to pay to reduce the impact of feral animals on almost all presented threatened species, 3) for few species and respondents, WTP was lower when genetic modification to reduce inbreeding in the remaining population was proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Burton
- School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Australia
| | - Ram Pandit
- School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Australia
| | - Asha Gunawardena
- School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Australia
| | - David Pannell
- School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Australia
| | - Stephen T Garnett
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Australia
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13
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Wright AD, Campbell Grant EH, Zipkin EF. A comparison of monitoring designs to assess wildlife community parameters across spatial scales. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2621. [PMID: 35389538 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Dedicated long-term monitoring at appropriate spatial and temporal scales is necessary to understand biodiversity losses and develop effective conservation plans. Wildlife monitoring is often achieved by obtaining data at a combination of spatial scales, ranging from local to broad, to understand the status, trends, and drivers of individual species or whole communities and their dynamics. However, limited resources for monitoring necessitates tradeoffs in the scope and scale of data collection. Careful consideration of the spatial and temporal allocation of finite sampling effort is crucial for monitoring programs that span multiple spatial scales. Here we evaluate the ability of five monitoring designs-stratified random, weighted effort, indicator unit, rotating panel, and split panel-to recover parameter values that describe the status (occupancy), trends (change in occupancy), and drivers (spatially varying covariate and an autologistic term) of wildlife communities at two spatial scales. Using an amphibian monitoring program that spans a network of US national parks as a motivating example, we conducted a simulation study for a regional community occupancy sampling program to compare the monitoring designs across varying levels of sampling effort (ranging from 10% to 50%). We found that the stratified random design outperformed the other designs for most parameters of interest at both scales and was thus generally preferable in balancing the estimation of status, trends, and drivers across scales. However, we found that other designs had improved performance in specific situations. For example, the rotating panel design performed best at estimating spatial drivers at a regional level. Thus, our results highlight the nuanced scenarios in which various design strategies may be preferred and offer guidance as to how managers can balance common tradeoffs in large-scale and long-term monitoring programs in terms of the specific knowledge gained. Monitoring designs that improve accuracy in parameter estimates are needed to guide conservation policy and management decisions in the face of broad-scale environmental challenges, but the preferred design is sensitive to the specific objectives of a monitoring program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander D Wright
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Evan H Campbell Grant
- SO Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Turners Falls, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elise F Zipkin
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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14
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Population genomics of Sitka black-tailed deer supports invasive species management and ecological restoration on islands. Commun Biol 2022; 5:223. [PMID: 35273319 PMCID: PMC8913846 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03159-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive mammals represent a critical threat to island biodiversity; eradications can result in ecological restoration yet may fail in the absence of key population parameters. Over-browsing by invasive Sitka black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis) is causing severe ecological and cultural impacts across the Haida Gwaii archipelago (Canada). Previous eradication attempts demonstrate forest regeneration upon deer removal, but reinvasion reverses conservation gains. Here we use restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (12,947 SNPs) to investigate connectivity and gene flow of invasive deer (n = 181) across 15 islands, revealing little structure throughout Haida Gwaii and identifying the large, central island of Moresby (>2600 km2) as the greatest source of migrants. As a result, the archipelago itself should be considered the primary eradication unit, with the exception of geographically isolated islands like SGang Gwaay. Thus, limiting eradications to isolated islands combined with controlled culling and enhanced biosecurity may be the most effective strategies for achieving ecological restoration goals. Genomic data presented in this study provide clues about why previous attempts to eradicate the invasive Sitka black-tailed deer from the Haida Gwaii archipelago in Canada have been incomplete. The authors find substantial gene flow between islands, with the exception of the remote island of SGang Gwaay, which they argue is a viable option for near-term eradication efforts.
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15
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Costante DM, Haines AM, Leu M. Threats to Neglected Biodiversity: Conservation Success Requires More Than Charisma. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.727517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Our planet is home to an incredible array of species; however, relatively few studies have compared how anthropogenic threats impact taxonomic groups over time. Our objective was to identify temporal trends in threats facing the four most speciose phyla protected by the United States Endangered Species Act: angiosperms, arthropods, chordates, and mollusks. We determined presence or absence of threats for each species in these phyla by reviewing Final Rule listing decisions. For each phylum, we evaluated whether there was a linear, quadratic, or pseudo-threshold association between year of listing and the presence of 24 anthropogenic threats. We identified temporal trends for 80% of the 96 threat-phylum combinations. We classified threats as topmost (probability of being included in a species' listing decision peaking at ≥ 0.81) and escalating (probability of being included in a listing decision increasing by ≥ 0.81 between a species' first and most recent years of listing). Angiosperms, arthropods, and mollusks each had more topmost and escalating threats than chordates. Percentages of topmost threats were 42.9% (N = 21) for mollusks, 36.4% (N = 22) for angiosperms, and 33.3% (N = 21) for arthropods. Percentages of escalating threats were 22.7% (N = 22) for angiosperms and 14.3% (N = 21) for arthropods and mollusks. In contrast, percentages of topmost and escalating threats were only 4.2% (N = 24) for chordates, this one threat being climate change. Our research suggests potential conservation successes; some overutilization and pollution threats showed only gradually increasing or declining trends for certain phyla. We identified authorized take impacting angiosperms as the sole threat-phylum combination for which the threat had been consistently decreasing since the phylum's first year of listing. Conversely, species interactions, environmental stochasticity, and demographic stochasticity threats have seen drastic increases across all phyla; we suggest conservation efforts focus on these areas of increasing concern. We also recommend that resources be allocated to phyla with numerous topmost and escalating threats, not just to chordates.
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Button S, Borzée A. An integrative synthesis to global amphibian conservation priorities. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:4516-4529. [PMID: 34091973 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Human activities are driving many species to the brink of extinction, and the current distribution of protected areas only weakly alleviates pressure on threatened species. This discrepancy reflects the presence of protected areas on lands available instead of the ecological, evolutionary, or conservation values of species present. Habitat loss consequently continues to impact threatened species, as illustrated by geographic patterns of biodiversity loss for amphibians. Given the need to better align the boundaries of protected areas with at-risk biodiversity, we assessed the importance of various factors for identifying global and biome-level conservation priority areas, specifically for amphibians. We identified, mapped, and ranked areas of critical conservation importance for all amphibian species on earth using a new integrative tool that scores the urgency of conserving each species and location based on a combination of species characteristics and ecoregion-level human impacts. Our integrative approach is novel in that it accounts for likely threats to Data Deficient species, considers the irreplaceability of unique species that are phylogenetically isolated, and addresses the localized conservation implications of species endemicity and projected future human impacts to an ecoregion. For comparison, we also mapped and ranked amphibian biodiversity using species richness and an Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) score proxy. Our integrative approach predicted key regions for amphibian conservation that were not apparent when using a simple species richness or EDGE score proxy-based approach. Furthermore, by scaling conservation priority scores relative to biome, we identified several temperate and xeric regions of crucial yet overlooked conservation importance for amphibians. Until global amphibian diversity is thoroughly catalogued, we recommend using our integrative scoring approach to set geographic priorities for amphibian habitat protection, while acknowledging that this approach may be complemented by others (e.g., EDGE scores). Our study provides an avenue for avoiding common pitfalls of more simplistic species richness-based approaches for conservation planning, and can be used to improve the future design of protected areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sky Button
- Department of Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Vancouver, WA, USA
| | - Amaël Borzée
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Hughes AC, Marshall BM, Strine C. Gaps in global wildlife trade monitoring leave amphibians vulnerable. eLife 2021; 10:70086. [PMID: 34382939 PMCID: PMC8425949 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
As the biodiversity crisis continues, we must redouble efforts to understand and curb pressures pushing species closer to extinction. One major driver is the unsustainable trade of wildlife. Trade in internationally regulated species gains the most research attention, but this only accounts for a minority of traded species and we risk failing to appreciate the scale and impacts of unregulated legal trade. Despite being legal, trade puts pressure on wild species via direct collection, introduced pathogens, and invasive species. Smaller species-rich vertebrates, such as reptiles, fish, and amphibians, may be particularly vulnerable to trading because of gaps in regulations, small distributions, and demand of novel species. Here, we combine data from five sources: online web searches in six languages, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) trade database, Law Enforcement Management Information System (LEMIS) trade inventory, IUCN assessments, and a recent literature review, to characterise the global trade in amphibians, and also map use by purpose including meat, pets, medicinal, and for research. We show that 1215 species are being traded (17% of amphibian species), almost three times previous recorded numbers, 345 are threatened, and 100 Data Deficient or unassessed. Traded species origin hotspots include South America, China, and Central Africa; sources indicate 42% of amphibians are taken from the wild. Newly described species can be rapidly traded (mean time lag of 6.5 years), including threatened and unassessed species. The scale and limited regulation of the amphibian trade, paired with the triptych of connected pressures (collection, pathogens, invasive species), warrants a re-examination of the wildlife trade status quo, application of the precautionary principle in regard to wildlife trade, and a renewed push to achieve global biodiversity goals. In the last few decades, exotic pets have become much more common. In the UK in 2008, reptiles and amphibians were more popular than dogs, with over eight million in captivity. But while almost all pet cats and dogs are born and bred in captivity, exotic pets are often taken from the wild, putting species and their habitats at risk. An international trade agreement called the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) strives to prevent unsustainable animal trade. But to get CITES protection, species depend on data showing that wildlife trade threatens their survival. In addition, their range countries need to first propose them to be listed. For most wild animal species, there are no data on population size or population decline. In the case of amphibians, CITES regulates the trade of just 2.5% of species. This leaves the rest with no protection from overarching international trade regulations. To protect these animals, researchers need to find out which species are in trade, where they are coming from, and how many are already threatened. To address this, Hughes, Marshall and Strine combined data from five sources, including official CITES trade records, recent research and an online search for amphibian sales in six languages. The data showed evidence of trade in at least 1,215 amphibian species, representing 17% of all amphibians. The figure is three times higher than previous estimates. Of the species in trade, more than one in five is vulnerable to extinction, endangered, or critically endangered. For a further 100 of the traded species, data on population were unavailable. Moreover, analysis of the origins of traded individuals showed that around 42% came from the wild. Tropical parts of the world had the highest number of species in trade, but the data showed exchanges happening across the globe. Unsustainable wildlife trade can have devastating consequences for wild animals. It has already driven at least 21 reptile species to extinction, and data of amphibian species are unknown. To prevent further species going extinct, legal wildlife trade should follow the precautionary principle when it comes to wildlife trade. Rather than allowing people to trade a species until CITES regulates it, a blanket ban should come into force for species that have not been assessed or are threatened. Trade would be able to resume for a species only when assessments show that it would not cause major population decline, or secure, captive breeding facilities can be guaranteed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice C Hughes
- Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, China
| | - Benjamin Michael Marshall
- Institute of Science, School of Biology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - Colin Strine
- School of Biology, Institute of Science, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
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Burgess BT, Irvine RL, Howald GR, Russello MA. The Promise of Genetics and Genomics for Improving Invasive Mammal Management on Islands. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.704809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive species are major contributors to global biodiversity decline. Invasive mammalian species (IMS), in particular, have profound negative effects in island systems that contain disproportionally high levels of species richness and endemism. The eradication and control of IMS have become important conservation tools for managing species invasions on islands, yet these management operations are often subject to failure due to knowledge gaps surrounding species- and system-specific characteristics, including invasion pathways and contemporary migration patterns. Here, we synthesize the literature on ways in which genetic and genomic tools have effectively informed IMS management on islands, specifically associated with the development and modification of biosecurity protocols, and the design and implementation of eradication and control programs. In spite of their demonstrated utility, we then explore the challenges that are preventing genetics and genomics from being implemented more frequently in IMS management operations from both academic and non-academic perspectives, and suggest possible solutions for breaking down these barriers. Finally, we discuss the potential application of genome editing to the future management of invasive species on islands, including the current state of the field and why islands may be effective targets for this emerging technology.
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Wu CH, Dodd AJ, Hauser CE, McCarthy MA. Reallocating budgets among ongoing and emerging conservation projects. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2021; 35:955-966. [PMID: 32648317 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Conserving biodiversity and combating ecological hazards require cost-effective allocation of limited resources among potential management projects. Project priorities, however, can change over time as underlying social-ecological systems progress, novel priorities emerge, and management capabilities evolve. Thus, reallocation of ongoing investments in response to shifting priorities could improve management outcomes and address urgent demands, especially when additional funding is not available immediately. Resource reallocation, however, could incur transaction costs, require additional monitoring and reassessment, and be constrained by ongoing project commitments. Such complexities may prevent managers from considering potentially beneficial reallocation strategies, reducing long-term effectiveness. We propose an iterative project prioritization approach, based on marginal return-on-investment estimation and portfolio optimization, that guides resource reallocation among ongoing and new projects. Using simulation experiments in 2 case studies, we explored how this approach can improve efficacy under varying reallocation constraints, frequencies, costs, and rates of project portfolio change. Periodic budget reallocation could enhance the management of stochastically emerging invasive weeds in Australia and thus reduce the overall risk by up to 50% compared with a static budget. Reallocation frequency and the rate of new weed incursion synergistically increased the conservation gains achieved by allowing unconstrained reallocation. Conversely, budget reallocation would not improve the International Union for Conservation of Nature conservation status of threatened Australian birds due to slow rates of transition among conservation states; extinction risk could increase if portfolio reassessment is costly. Although other project prioritization studies may recommend periodic reassessment and reallocation, our findings revealed conditions when reallocation is valuable and demonstrated a structured approach that can help conservation agencies schedule and implement iterative budget-allocation decisions cost-effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Huey Wu
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Aaron J Dodd
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Cindy E Hauser
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Michael A McCarthy
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
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20
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Planning practical evidence-based decision making in conservation within time constraints: the Strategic Evidence Assessment Framework. J Nat Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2021.125975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Haines AM, Leu M, Costante DM, Treakle TC, Parenti C, Miller JRB, Malcom JW. Benchmark for the ESA: Having a Backbone Is Good for Recovery. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.630490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To forestall the current rate of global extinction, we need to identify strategies that successfully recover species. In the last decade, the recovery record for the United States Endangered Species Act (ESA) has improved. Our aim was to review federal delisting documents for recovered species and quantify patterns in taxonomy, history of threats, policy, funding and actions that are associated with species recovery. In comparison to species still listed, the average recovered species was a vertebrate, had been listed longer under the ESA, was exposed to a lower number of threats at the time of listing, and received relatively higher levels of funding. Based on our review, we suggest the following strategies to improve species recovery: provide more time for ESA protection, allocate more funding for recovery, maintain environmental regulations that facilitate recovery, establish more private landowner agreements, and increase the area of protected lands.
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Moustafa MAM, Chel HM, Thu MJ, Bawm S, Htun LL, Win MM, Oo ZM, Ohsawa N, Lahdenperä M, Mohamed WMA, Ito K, Nonaka N, Nakao R, Katakura K. Anthropogenic interferences lead to gut microbiome dysbiosis in Asian elephants and may alter adaptation processes to surrounding environments. Sci Rep 2021; 11:741. [PMID: 33436882 PMCID: PMC7803949 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80537-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Human activities interfere with wild animals and lead to the loss of many animal populations. Therefore, efforts have been made to understand how wildlife can rebound from anthropogenic disturbances. An essential mechanism to adapt to environmental and social changes is the fluctuations in the host gut microbiome. Here we give a comprehensive description of anthropogenically induced microbiome alterations in Asian elephants (n = 30). We detected gut microbial changes due to overseas translocation, captivity and deworming. We found that microbes belonging to Planococcaceae had the highest contribution in the microbiome alterations after translocation, while Clostridiaceae, Spirochaetaceae and Bacteroidia were the most affected after captivity. However, deworming significantly changed the abundance of Flavobacteriaceae, Sphingobacteriaceae, Xanthomonadaceae, Weeksellaceae and Burkholderiaceae. These findings may provide fundamental ideas to help guide the preservation tactics and probiotic replacement therapies of a dysbiosed gut microbiome in Asian elephants. More generally, these results show the severity of anthropogenic activities at the level of gut microbiome, altering the adaptation processes to new environments and the subsequent capability to maintain normal physiological processes in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Abdallah Mohamed Moustafa
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
- Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - Hla Myet Chel
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
- Department of Pharmacology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary Science, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw, 15013, Myanmar
| | - May June Thu
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
- Department of Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Sports, Zabu Thiri, Nay Pyi Taw, 15011, Myanmar
| | - Saw Bawm
- Department of Pharmacology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary Science, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw, 15013, Myanmar
| | - Lat Lat Htun
- Department of Pharmacology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary Science, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw, 15013, Myanmar
| | - Mar Mar Win
- Rector Office, University of Veterinary Science, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw, 15013, Myanmar
| | - Zaw Min Oo
- Department of Extraction, Myanma Timber Enterprise, Insein, Yangon, Myanmar
| | | | - Mirkka Lahdenperä
- Department of Public Health, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Kimihito Ito
- Division of Bioinformatics, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-0020, Japan
| | - Nariaki Nonaka
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
| | - Ryo Nakao
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan.
| | - Ken Katakura
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
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Merrick MJ, Morandini M, Greer VL, Koprowski JL. Endemic Population Response to Increasingly Severe Fire: A Cascade of Endangerment for the Mt. Graham Red Squirrel. Bioscience 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaa153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Drought, past fire suppression, insect invasion, and high-severity fire represent a disturbance cascade characteristic of forests in the western United States. The result is altered forest ecosystems diminished in their function and capacity to support biodiversity. Small habitat specialists are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of disturbances because of their limited movement capacity and high site fidelity. Research suggests that small mammals suffer limited direct mortality from fire but are increasingly vulnerable to local extirpation because of secondary impacts that include habitat loss and reduced food availability, survival, and reproduction. We examine the direct and secondary impacts of increasingly severe fire events on the endangered Mt. Graham red squirrel—a model system to demonstrate how disturbances can threaten the persistence of range-limited species. We document survival, space use, and displacement prior to and following fires and discuss implications for conservation. We suggest that management plans address future threats, including disturbance-related habitat loss.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - John L Koprowski
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States
- JK is also a dean, professor, and the Wyoming Excellence Chair of at the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming
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24
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Kraus D, Murphy S, Armitage D. Ten bridges on the road to recovering Canada’s endangered species. Facets (Ott) 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2020-0084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Wildlife is declining around the world. Many developed nations have enacted legislation on endangered species protection and provide funding for wildlife recovery. Protecting endangered species is also supported by the public and judiciary. Yet, despite what appear as enabling conditions, wild species continue to decline. Our paper explores pathways to endangered species recovery by analyzing the barriers that have been identified in Canada, the United States, and Australia. We summarize these findings based on Canada’s Species at Risk Conservation Cycle (assessment, protection, recovery planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation) and then identify 10 “bridges” that could help overcome these barriers and bend our current trajectory of wildlife loss to recovery. These bridges include ecosystem approaches to recovery, building capacity for community co-governance, linking wildlife recovery to ecosystem services, and improving our storytelling about the loss and recovery of wildlife. The focus of our conclusions is the Canadian setting, but our findings can be applied in other national and subnational settings to reverse the decline of wildlife and halt extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kraus
- Faculty of Environment, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo, Environment 2, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
- Nature Conservancy of Canada, 245 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 410, Toronto, ON M4P 3J1, Canada
| | - Stephen Murphy
- Faculty of Environment, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo, Environment 2, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Derek Armitage
- Faculty of Environment, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo, Environment 2, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
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Cheney C, Esler KJ, Foxcroft LC, van Wilgen NJ. The dominating influence of efficacy above management strategy in the long-term success of alien plant clearing programmes. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 271:110836. [PMID: 32778255 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Conservation managers are required to make decisions in complex and uncertain contexts. To strengthen the robustness of conservation decisions, several approaches have been proposed to facilitate stakeholder engagement in the setting of conservation objectives and priority actions. While such processes have led to the formulation of several invasive alien plant management strategies to achieve specific objectives, the long-term consequences and trade-offs inherent in these strategies have not been tested. The performance of five of these strategies over 50 years was tested in the protected area context using empirical data from Table Mountain National Park, South Africa. A simulation model based on data for invasive Acacia species in a fire-driven ecosystem, focused on the interaction between strategy performance and clearing efficacy in achieving a management goal or reducing Acacia density to below 1 plant per hectare. At near perfect levels of clearing efficacy, all strategies converged towards reaching the management goal, while at lower efficacy levels the strategies diverged in their ability to achieve desired outcomes. Despite working across the largest area, strategies that focussed on clearing low density invasions, maintained the least area in a maintenance state over time. In contrast, strategies that focussed on a mix of post-fire, low density areas and high altitude areas cleared less area annually, but maintained a much larger area in a maintenance state. At higher levels of efficacy, strategies that return to previously worked areas were more successful than a post-fire strategy. Strategies that focused solely on securing water, performed poorly in maintaining low overall density of aliens. However, the influence of efficacy was significant and substantial and a much larger difference in area reaching the management goal was achieved by varying efficacy than varying strategy. As such, improving quality of work and implementation will have a far greater effect than which areas are prioritized or how this prioritization is done. While acacias are likely to persist in the long-term, improving work quality coupled with correct strategy selection will ensure continued gains in the area under maintenance and improved return on investment over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad Cheney
- South African National Parks, PO Box 37 Steenberg, 7947, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.
| | - Karen J Esler
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
| | - Llewellyn C Foxcroft
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Scientific Services, South African National Parks, Private Bag X402, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa
| | - Nicola J van Wilgen
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Cape Research Centre, South African National Parks, PO Box 216, Steenberg, 7947, Cape Town, South Africa
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Buxton RT, Avery-Gomm S, Lin HY, Smith PA, Cooke SJ, Bennett JR. Half of resources in threatened species conservation plans are allocated to research and monitoring. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4668. [PMID: 32963244 PMCID: PMC7508813 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18486-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Funds to combat biodiversity loss are insufficient, requiring conservation managers to make trade-offs between costs for actions to avoid further loss and costs for research and monitoring to guide effective actions. Using species' management plans for 2328 listed species from three countries we show that 50% of species' proposed recovery plan budgets are allocated to research and monitoring. The proportion of budgets allocated to research and monitoring vary among jurisdictions and taxa, but overall, species with higher proportions of budgets allocated to research and monitoring have poorer recovery outcomes. The proportion allocated to research and monitoring is lower for more recent recovery plans, but for some species, plans have allocated the majority of funds to information gathering for decades. We provide recommendations for careful examination of the value of collecting new information in recovery planning to ensure that conservation programs emphasize action or research and monitoring that directly informs action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel T Buxton
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada.
| | - Stephanie Avery-Gomm
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Hsein-Yung Lin
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Paul A Smith
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Steven J Cooke
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
- Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Joseph R Bennett
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
- Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
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Mothes CC, Stemle LR, Fonseca TN, Clements SL, Howell HJ, Searcy CA. Protect or perish: Quantitative analysis of state‐level species protection supports preservation of the Endangered Species Act. Conserv Lett 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12761] [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] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Leyna R. Stemle
- Department of Biology University of Miami Coral Gables Florida USA
| | - Theresa N. Fonseca
- Department of Biology University of Miami Coral Gables Florida USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolution University of Chicago Chicago Illinois USA
| | | | - Hunter J. Howell
- Department of Biology University of Miami Coral Gables Florida USA
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28
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Peterson MN, Bruskotter JT, Rodriguez SL. Conservation Hospice: A Better Metaphor for the Conservation and Care of Terminal Species. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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29
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Gilbert SL, Broadley K, Doran-Myers D, Droghini A, Haines JA, Hämäläinen A, Lamb CT, Neilson EW, Boutin S. Conservation triage at the trailing edge of climate envelopes. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2020; 34:289-292. [PMID: 31348540 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie L Gilbert
- Department of Fish & Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, U.S.A
| | - Kate Broadley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G0C5, Canada
| | - Darcy Doran-Myers
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G0C5, Canada
| | - Amanda Droghini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G0C5, Canada
| | - Jessica A Haines
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G0C5, Canada
| | - Anni Hämäläinen
- School of Optometry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC CAN, H3T1P1, Canada
| | - Clayton T Lamb
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G0C5, Canada
| | - Eric W Neilson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G0C5, Canada
| | - Stan Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G0C5, Canada
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Lintermans M, Geyle HM, Beatty S, Brown C, Ebner BC, Freeman R, Hammer MP, Humphreys WF, Kennard MJ, Kern P, Martin K, Morgan DL, Raadik TA, Unmack PJ, Wager R, Woinarski JCZ, Garnett ST. Big trouble for little fish: identifying Australian freshwater fishes in imminent risk of extinction. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/pc19053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Globally, freshwater fishes are declining at an alarming rate. Despite much evidence of catastrophic declines, few Australian species are listed as threatened under national legislation. We aim to help redress this by identifying the Australian freshwater fishes that are in the most immediate risk of extinction. For 22 freshwater fishes (identified as highly threatened by experts), we used structured expert elicitation to estimate the probability of extinction in the next ~20 years, and to identify key threats and priority management needs. All but one of the 22 species are small (<150mm total length), 12 have been formally described only in the last decade, with seven awaiting description. Over 90% of these species were assessed to have a >50% probability of extinction in the next ~20 years. Collectively, the biggest factor contributing to the likelihood of extinction of the freshwater fishes considered is that they occur in small (distributions ≤44km2), geographically isolated populations, and are threatened by a mix of processes (particularly alien fishes and climate change). Nineteen of these species are unlisted on national legislation, so legislative drivers for recovery actions are largely absent. Research has provided strong direction on how to manage ~35% of known threats to the species considered, and, of these, ~36% of threats have some management underway (although virtually none are at the stage where intervention is no longer required). Increased resourcing, management intervention and social attitudinal change is urgently needed to avert the impending extinction of Australia’s most imperilled freshwater fishes.
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31
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Fournier AMV, White ER, Heard SB. Site-selection bias and apparent population declines in long-term studies. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2019; 33:1370-1379. [PMID: 31210365 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Detecting population declines is a critical task for conservation biology. Logistical difficulties and the spatiotemporal variability of populations make estimation of population declines difficult. For statistical reasons, estimates of population decline may be biased when study sites are chosen based on abundance of the focal species. In this situation, apparent population declines are likely to be detected even if there is no decline. This site-selection bias is mentioned in the literature but is not well known. We used simulations and real population data to examine the effects of site-selection biases on inferences about population trends. We used a left-censoring method to detect population-size patterns consistent with site-selection bias. The site-selection bias is an important consideration for conservation biologists, and we offer suggestions for minimizing or mitigating it in study design and analysis. Article impact statement: Estimates of population declines are biased if studies begin in large populations, and time-series data show a signature of such an effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Auriel M V Fournier
- Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, 1815 Popp's Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS, 39532, U.S.A
| | - Easton R White
- Center for Population Biology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, U.S.A
| | - Stephen B Heard
- Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3, Canada
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32
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Degrassi AL, Brantley S, Levine CR, Mohan J, Record S, Tomback DF, Ellison AM. Loss of foundation species revisited: conceptual framework with lessons learned from eastern hemlock and whitebark pine. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Allyson L. Degrassi
- Department of Department of Environment and Society Shenandoah University 1460 University Drive Winchester Virginia 22601 USA
| | - Steven Brantley
- Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center 3988 Jones Center Drive Newton Georgia 39870 USA
| | - Carrie R. Levine
- Conservation Science Partners, Inc. 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202 Truckee California 96161 USA
| | - Jacqueline Mohan
- Odum School of Ecology University of Georgia Athens 140 E. Green Street Athens Georgia 30602 USA
| | - Sydne Record
- Department of Biology Bryn Mawr College 101 North Merion Avenue Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania 19010 USA
| | - Diana F. Tomback
- Department of Integrative Biology, CB 171 University of Colorado Denver P.O. Box 173364 Denver Colorado 80217 USA
- Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation P.O. Box 17943 Missoula Montana 59808 USA
| | - Aaron M. Ellison
- Harvard Forest Harvard University 324 North Main Street Petersham Massachusetts 01366 USA
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33
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Wintle BA, Cadenhead NC, Morgain RA, Legge SM, Bekessy SA, Cantele M, Possingham HP, Watson JE, Maron M, Keith DA, Garnett ST, Woinarski JCZ, Lindenmayer DB. Spending to save: What will it cost to halt Australia's extinction crisis? Conserv Lett 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rachel A. Morgain
- Fenner School of Environment & SocietyThe Australian National University, ACT Australia
| | - Sarah M. Legge
- Fenner School of Environment & SocietyThe Australian National University, ACT Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation ScienceUniversity of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia
| | - Sarah A. Bekessy
- Interdisciplinary Conservation ScienceRMIT University Victoria Australia
| | - Matthew Cantele
- School of BiosciencesThe University of Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Hugh P. Possingham
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation ScienceUniversity of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia
- The Nature Conservancy Arlington Virginia
| | - James E.M. Watson
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation ScienceUniversity of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia
- Global Conservation ProgramWildlife Conservation Society Bronx New York
| | - Martine Maron
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation ScienceUniversity of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia
| | - David A. Keith
- Centre for Ecosystem ScienceUniversity of New South Wales Kensington Australia
| | - Stephen T. Garnett
- Research Institute for the Environment and LivelihoodsCharles Darwin University Northern Territory Australia
| | - John C. Z. Woinarski
- Research Institute for the Environment and LivelihoodsCharles Darwin University Northern Territory Australia
| | - David B. Lindenmayer
- Fenner School of Environment & SocietyThe Australian National University, ACT Australia
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34
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Modeling trade-offs across carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and equity in the distribution of global REDD+ funds. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:22645-22650. [PMID: 31636201 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1908683116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The program on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) is one of the major attempts to tackle climate change mitigation in developing countries. REDD+ seeks to provide result-based incentives to promote emission reductions and increase carbon sinks in forest land while promoting other cobenefits, such as the conservation of biodiversity. We model different scenarios of international REDD+ funds distribution toward potential recipient countries using 2 carbon emission reduction targets (20% and 50% compared to the baseline scenario, i.e., deforestation and forest degradation without REDD+) by 2030. The model combines the prioritization of environmental outcomes in terms of carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation and social equity, accounting for the equitable distribution of international REDD+ funds. Results highlight the synergy between carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation under alternative fund allocation criteria, especially for scenarios of low carbon emission reduction. Trade-offs increase when distributional equity is considered as an additional criterion, especially under higher equity requirements. The analysis helps to better understand the inherent trade-offs between enhancing distributional equity and meeting environmental targets under alternative REDD+ fund allocation options.
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35
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Malcom J, Schwartz MW, Evansen M, Ripple WJ, Polasky S, Gerber LR, Lovejoy TE, Talbot LM, Miller JRB. Solve the biodiversity crisis with funding. Science 2019; 365:1256. [PMID: 31604231 DOI: 10.1126/science.aay9839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Malcom
- Center for Conservation Innovation, Defenders of Wildlife, Washington, DC 20036, USA
| | - Mark W Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Megan Evansen
- Center for Conservation Innovation, Defenders of Wildlife, Washington, DC 20036, USA
| | - William J Ripple
- Department of Forestry Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Stephen Polasky
- Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Leah R Gerber
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Thomas E Lovejoy
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - Lee M Talbot
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - Jennifer R B Miller
- Center for Conservation Innovation, Defenders of Wildlife, Washington, DC 20036, USA.
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36
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Evans MJ, Malcom JW, Li YW. Novel data show expert wildlife agencies are important to endangered species protection. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3467. [PMID: 31371718 PMCID: PMC6671991 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11462-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
To protect biodiversity, conservation laws should be evaluated and improved using data. We provide a comprehensive assessment of how a key provision of the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) is implemented: consultation to ensure federal actions do not jeopardize the existence of listed species. Data from all 24,893 consultations recorded by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) from 2000-2017 show federal agencies and NMFS frequently agreed (79%) on how federal actions would affect listed species. In cases of disagreement, agencies most often (71%) underestimated effects relative to the conclusions of species experts at NMFS. Such instances can have deleterious consequences for imperiled species. In 22 consultations covering 14 species, agencies concluded that an action would not harm species while NMFS determined the action would jeopardize species' existence. These results affirm the importance of the role of NMFS in preventing federal actions from jeopardizing listed species. Excluding expert agencies from consultation compromises biodiversity conservation, but we identify approaches that improve consultation efficiency without sacrificing species protections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Evans
- Center for Conservation Innovation, Defenders of Wildlife, 1130 17th St, NW, Washington, DC, 20036, USA.
| | - Jacob W Malcom
- Center for Conservation Innovation, Defenders of Wildlife, 1130 17th St, NW, Washington, DC, 20036, USA
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr., Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Ya-Wei Li
- Environmental Policy Innovation Center, 777 6th St, NW, Washington, DC, 20001, USA
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37
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Luther D, Gentry K. Threatened vertebrate species: associations between conservation actions, funding and population trends. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2019. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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38
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Structured Decision-Making Incorporates Stakeholder Values into Management Decisions Thereby Fulfilling Moral and Legal Obligations to Conserve Species. JOURNAL OF FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.3996/062017-jfwm-051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
More than 1,500 species of plants and animals in the United States are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act and habitat destruction is the leading cause of population decline. However, developing conservation plans that are consistent with a diversity of stakeholder (e.g., states, tribes, private landowners) values is difficult. Adaptive management and structured decision-making are frameworks that resource managers can use to integrate diverse and conflicting stakeholder value systems into species recovery planning. Within this framework difficult decisions are deconstructed into the three basic components: explicit, quantifiable objectives that represent stakeholder values; mathematical models used to predict the effect of management decisions on the outcome of objectives; and management alternatives or actions. We use Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus, a species listed in 1999 as threatened pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, as an example of how structured decision-making transparently incorporates stakeholder values and biological information into conservation planning and the decision process. Three moral philosophies—consequentialism, deontology, and virtue theory—suggest that structured decision-making is a justified method that can guide natural resource decisions in the future, consistent with United States Congress' mandate, and will honor society's obligation to recover Endangered Species Act listed species and their habitats. Natural sciences offer a biological basis for predicting the outcomes of decisions. Additionally, an understanding of how to integrate humanities into scientifically defensible conservation planning is helpful in providing the foundation for lasting and effective species conservation.
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39
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Ellison AM. Foundation Species, Non-trophic Interactions, and the Value of Being Common. iScience 2019; 13:254-268. [PMID: 30870783 PMCID: PMC6416672 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Foundation species define ecosystems, control the biological diversity of associated species, modulate critical ecosystem processes, and often have important cultural values and resonance. This review summarizes current understanding of the characteristics and traits of foundation species and how to distinguish them from other “important” species in ecological systems (e.g., keystone, dominant, and core species); illustrates how analysis of the structure and function of ecological networks can be improved and enriched by explicit incorporation of foundation species and their non-trophic interactions; discusses the importance of pro-active identification and management of foundation species as a cost-effective and efficient method of sustaining valuable ecosystem processes and services and securing populations of associated rare, threatened, or endangered species; and suggests broader engagement of citizen-scientists and non-specialists in the identification and study of foundation species and their biological and cultural values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M Ellison
- Harvard Forest, Harvard University, Petersham, MA 01366, USA.
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40
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Watz J, Nilsson PA, Degerman E, Tamario C, Calles O. Climbing the ladder: an evaluation of three different anguillid eel climbing substrata and placement of upstream passage solutions at migration barriers. Anim Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Watz
- RivEM Department of Environmental and Life Sciences Karlstad University Karlstad Sweden
- Faculty of Environmental Earth Science Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan
| | - P. A. Nilsson
- RivEM Department of Environmental and Life Sciences Karlstad University Karlstad Sweden
- Department of Biology ‐ Aquatic Ecology Lund University Lund Sweden
| | - E. Degerman
- Department of Aquatic Resources Institute of Freshwater Research Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Örebro Sweden
| | - C. Tamario
- Department of Aquatic Resources Institute of Freshwater Research Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Örebro Sweden
| | - O. Calles
- RivEM Department of Environmental and Life Sciences Karlstad University Karlstad Sweden
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41
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Gerber LR, Runge MC, Maloney RF, Iacona GD, Drew CA, Avery-Gomm S, Brazill-Boast J, Crouse D, Epanchin-Niell RS, Hall SB, Maguire LA, Male T, Morgan D, Newman J, Possingham HP, Rumpff L, Weiss KCB, Wilson RS, Zablan MA. Endangered species recovery: A resource allocation problem. Science 2018; 362:284-286. [PMID: 30337394 DOI: 10.1126/science.aat8434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Leah R Gerber
- See supplementary materials for author affiliations.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sarah B Hall
- See supplementary materials for author affiliations
| | | | - Tim Male
- See supplementary materials for author affiliations
| | - Don Morgan
- See supplementary materials for author affiliations
| | - Jeff Newman
- See supplementary materials for author affiliations
| | | | - Libby Rumpff
- See supplementary materials for author affiliations
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42
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Brodie JF, Redford KH, Doak DF. Ecological Function Analysis: Incorporating Species Roles into Conservation. Trends Ecol Evol 2018; 33:840-850. [PMID: 30292431 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2018.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Effective conservation strategies must ensure that species remain not just extant, but able to maintain key roles in species interactions and in the maintenance of communities and ecosystems. Such ecological functions, however, have not been well incorporated into management or policy. We present a framework for quantifying ecological function that is complementary to population viability analysis (PVA) and that allows function to be integrated into strategic planning processes. Ecological function analysis (EFA) focuses on preventing secondary extinctions and maintaining ecosystem structure, biogeochemical processes, and resiliency. EFA can use a range of modeling approaches and, because most species interactions are relatively weak, EFA needs to be performed for relatively few species or functions, making it a realistic way to improve conservation management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jedediah F Brodie
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59802, USA; Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59802, USA.
| | - Kent H Redford
- Archipelago Consulting, Portland, ME 04112, USA; Department of Environmental Studies, University of New England, Biddeford, ME 04005, USA; Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane 4222, Australia
| | - Daniel F Doak
- Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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43
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Martin TG, Kehoe L, Mantyka-Pringle C, Chades I, Wilson S, Bloom RG, Davis SK, Fisher R, Keith J, Mehl K, Diaz BP, Wayland ME, Wellicome TI, Zimmer KP, Smith PA. Prioritizing recovery funding to maximize conservation of endangered species. Conserv Lett 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tara G. Martin
- Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences; University of British Columbia; Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Laura Kehoe
- Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences; University of British Columbia; Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
- Department of Biology; University of Victoria; Victoria BC V8P 5C2 Canada
| | - Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle
- Department of Biology and School of Environment and Sustainability; Global Institute for Water Security; University of Saskatchewan; Saskatoon SK S7N 5B3 Canada
| | | | - Scott Wilson
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada; National Wildlife Research Centre; Ottawa ON K1A 0H3 Canada
| | - Robin G. Bloom
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada; Edmonton AB T6B 1K5 Canada
| | - Stephen K. Davis
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada; Regina SK S4P 2K1 Canada
| | - Ryan Fisher
- Landscape and Habitat Assessment Unit, Fish, Wildlife and Lands Branch; Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment; Regina SK S4S 5W6 Canada
| | - Jeff Keith
- Landscape and Habitat Assessment Unit, Fish, Wildlife and Lands Branch; Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment; Regina SK S4S 5W6 Canada
| | - Katherine Mehl
- Landscape and Habitat Assessment Unit, Fish, Wildlife and Lands Branch; Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment; Regina SK S4S 5W6 Canada
| | - Beatriz Prieto Diaz
- Landscape and Habitat Assessment Unit, Fish, Wildlife and Lands Branch; Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment; Regina SK S4S 5W6 Canada
| | - Mark E. Wayland
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada; Saskatoon SK S7N 0X4 Canada
| | - Troy I. Wellicome
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada; Edmonton AB T6B 1K5 Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Alberta; Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E9 Canada
| | - Karl P. Zimmer
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada; Edmonton AB T6B 1K5 Canada
| | - Paul A. Smith
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada; National Wildlife Research Centre; Ottawa ON K1A 0H3 Canada
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44
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Henson P, White R, Thompson SP. Improving Implementation of the Endangered Species Act: Finding Common Ground Through Common Sense. Bioscience 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biy093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Henson
- Research scientist, field biologist, and wildlife manager throughout the West for 35 years and is currently with the USFWS in Portland, Oregon
| | - Rollie White
- Worked for 30 years as a fisheries scientist and endangered species biologist in Oregon and California and is also with the USFWS in Portland
| | - Steven P Thompson
- Consulting biologist who worked for the USFWS for 31 years before retiring; he is currently serving as chairman of the board to the Peregrine Fund
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45
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob W. Malcom
- Center for Conservation InnovationDefenders of Wildlife Washington DC 20036
| | - Ya‐Wei Li
- Center for Conservation InnovationDefenders of Wildlife Washington DC 20036
- Environmental Policy Innovation Center Washington DC 20005
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46
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47
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Amber ED, Strine CT, Suwanwaree P, Waengsothorn S. Intra-Population Color Dimorphism of Ahaetulla prasina (Serpentes: Colubridae) in Northeastern Thailand. CURRENT HERPETOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.5358/hsj.36.98] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Evan D. Amber
- Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, Nakhon Ratchasima, THAILAND
| | - Colin T. Strine
- Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, THAILAND
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48
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Extinction Debt as a Driver of Amphibian Declines: An Example with Imperiled Flatwoods Salamanders. J HERPETOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1670/16-090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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49
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Walls SC, Ball LC, Barichivich WJ, Dodd CK, Enge KM, Gorman TA, O'Donnell KM, Palis JG, Semlitsch RD. Overcoming Challenges to the Recovery of Declining Amphibian Populations in the United States. Bioscience 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biw153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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50
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Woodcock P, Hayward MW. Moving the Goalposts: Possible Effects of Changes in Opportunity Costs on Conservation Triage. Front Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2016.00113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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