1
|
Wooster EIF, Gaynor KM, Carthey AJR, Wallach AD, Stanton LA, Ramp D, Lundgren EJ. Animal cognition and culture mediate predator-prey interactions. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:52-64. [PMID: 37839906 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Predator-prey ecology and the study of animal cognition and culture have emerged as independent disciplines. Research combining these disciplines suggests that both animal cognition and culture can shape the outcomes of predator-prey interactions and their influence on ecosystems. We review the growing body of work that weaves animal cognition or culture into predator-prey ecology, and argue that both cognition and culture are significant but poorly understood mechanisms mediating how predators structure ecosystems. We present a framework exploring how previous experiences with the predation process creates feedback loops that alter the predation sequence. Cognitive and cultural predator-prey ecology offers ecologists new lenses through which to understand species interactions, their ecological consequences, and novel methods to conserve wildlife in a changing world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eamonn I F Wooster
- Gulbali Institute, School of Agricultural, Environmental, and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, Australia.
| | - Kaitlyn M Gaynor
- Departments of Zoology and Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Alexandra J R Carthey
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW 2113, Australia
| | - Arian D Wallach
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Lauren A Stanton
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, USA
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Erick J Lundgren
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Harvey AM, Beausoleil NJ, Ramp D, Mellor DJ. Mental Experiences in Wild Animals: Scientifically Validating Measurable Welfare Indicators in Free-Roaming Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13091507. [PMID: 37174544 PMCID: PMC10177449 DOI: 10.3390/ani13091507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The mental experiences of animals are what characterises their welfare status. The Five Domains Model for assessing welfare aligns with the understanding that physical and mental states are linked. Following measurement of indicators within each of the four physical/functional Domains (1. Nutrition; 2. Physical environment; 3. Health; and 4. Behavioural interactions), the anticipated negative or positive affective consequences (mental experiences) are cautiously inferred and assigned to Domain 5. Those inferences derive credibility from validated knowledge of the underlying systems of physiology, neurophysiology, neuroethology and affective neuroscience. Any indicators used for assessing welfare need to be scientifically validated. This requires, firstly, evidence of the links between a measurable/observable indicator and the physical/functional impact (in Domains 1 to 4), and secondly, a demonstrable relationship between the physical/functional impact and the mental experience it is inferred the indicators reflect (in Domain five). This review refers to indicators of physical/functional states in Domains 1 to 4, which have been shown to be measurable in free-roaming wild horses, and then evaluates the scientific evidence linking them to inferred mental experiences in Domain 5. This is the first time that the scientific evidence validating a comprehensive range of welfare indicators has been synthesised in this way. Inserting these indicators into the Five Domains Model enables transparently justifiable assessment and grading of welfare status in free-roaming horses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M Harvey
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Ngaio J Beausoleil
- Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - David J Mellor
- Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wallach AD, Ramp D, Benítez-López A, Wooster EIF, Carroll S, Carthey AJR, Rogers EIE, Middleton O, Zawada KJA, Svenning JC, Avidor E, Lundgren E. Savviness of prey to introduced predators. Conserv Biol 2023; 37:e14012. [PMID: 36178043 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The prey naivety hypothesis posits that prey are vulnerable to introduced predators because many generations in slow gradual coevolution are needed for appropriate avoidance responses to develop. It predicts that prey will be more responsive to native than introduced predators and less responsive to introduced predators that differ substantially from native predators and from those newly established. To test these predictions, we conducted a global meta-analysis of studies that measured the wariness responses of small mammals to the scent of sympatric mammalian mesopredators. We identified 26 studies that met our selection criteria. These studies comprised 134 experiments reporting on the responses of 36 small mammal species to the scent of six introduced mesopredators and 12 native mesopredators. For each introduced mesopredator, we measured their phylogenetic and functional distance to local native mesopredators and the number of years sympatric with their prey. We used predator and prey body mass as a measure of predation risk. Globally, small mammals were similarly wary of the scent of native and introduced mesopredators; phylogenetic and functional distance between introduced mesopredators and closest native mesopredators had no effect on wariness; and wariness was unrelated to the number of prey generations, or years, since first contact with introduced mesopredators. Small mammal wariness was associated with predator-prey body mass ratio, regardless of the nativity. The one thing animals do not seem to recognize is whether their predators are native.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arian D Wallach
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ana Benítez-López
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Eamonn I F Wooster
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Scott Carroll
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Alexandra J R Carthey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Erin I E Rogers
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Owen Middleton
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Kyle J A Zawada
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jens-Christian Svenning
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ella Avidor
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Erick Lundgren
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Harvey AM, Ramp D, Mellor DJ. Review of the Foundational Knowledge Required for Assessing Horse Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12233385. [PMID: 36496906 PMCID: PMC9736110 DOI: 10.3390/ani12233385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
A detailed understanding of what is usual for a species under optimal conditions is critical for identifying and interpreting different features of body function that have known impacts on animal welfare and its assessment. When applying the Five Domains Model to assess animal welfare, the key starting point is therefore to acquire extensive species-specific knowledge relevant to each of the four physical/functional Domains of the Model. These Domains, 1 to 4, address areas where objective information is evaluated and collated. They are: (1) Nutrition; (2) Physical environment; (3) Health; and (4) Behavioural interactions. It is on the basis of this detailed knowledge that cautious inferences can then be made about welfare-relevant mental experiences animals may have, aligned with Domain 5, Mental State. However, this review is focused entirely on the first four Domains in order to provide a novel holistic framework to collate the multidisciplinary knowledge of horses required for undertaking comprehensive welfare assessments. Thus, inferring the potential mental experiences aligned with Domain 5, the final step in model-based welfare assessments, is not considered here. Finally, providing extensive information on free-roaming horses enables a better understanding of the impacts of human interventions on the welfare of horses in both free-roaming and domestic situations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M. Harvey
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
- Correspondence:
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - David J. Mellor
- Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lundgren EJ, Ramp D, Middleton OS, Wooster EIF, Kusch E, Balisi M, Ripple WJ, Hasselerharm CD, Sanchez JN, Mills M, Wallach AD. A novel trophic cascade between cougars and feral donkeys shapes desert wetlands. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:2348-2357. [PMID: 35871769 PMCID: PMC10087508 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Introduced large herbivores have partly filled ecological gaps formed in the late Pleistocene, when many of the Earth's megafauna were driven extinct. However, extant predators are generally considered incapable of exerting top-down influences on introduced megafauna, leading to unusually strong disturbance and herbivory relative to native herbivores. We report on the first documented predation of juvenile feral donkeys Equus africanus asinus by cougars Puma concolor in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of North America. We then investigated how cougar predation corresponds with differences in feral donkey behaviour and associated effects on desert wetlands. Focusing on a feral donkey population in the Death Valley National Park, we used camera traps and vegetation surveys to compare donkey activity patterns and impacts between wetlands with and without cougar predation. Donkeys were primarily diurnal at wetlands with cougar predation, thereby avoiding cougars. However, donkeys were active throughout the day and night at sites without predation. Donkeys were ~87% less active (measured as hours of activity a day) at wetlands with predation (p < 0.0001). Sites with predation had reduced donkey disturbance and herbivory, including ~46% fewer access trails, 43% less trampled bare ground and 192% more canopy cover (PERMANOVA, R2 = 0.22, p = 0.0003). Our study is the first to reveal a trophic cascade involving cougars, feral equids and vegetation. Cougar predation appears to rewire an ancient food web, with diverse implications for modern ecosystems. Our results suggest that protecting apex predators could have important implications for the ecological effects of introduced megafauna.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erick J Lundgren
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | | | - Eamonn I F Wooster
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Erik Kusch
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Mairin Balisi
- La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology, Claremont, CA, USA
| | - William J Ripple
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Chris D Hasselerharm
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jessica N Sanchez
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Mystyn Mills
- Department of Botany & Plant Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Arian D Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Li J, Xie Z, Qiu X, Yu Q, Bu J, Sun Z, Long R, Brandis KJ, He J, Feng Q, Ramp D. Heavy metal habitat: A novel framework for mapping heavy metal contamination over large-scale catchment with a species distribution model. Water Res 2022; 226:119310. [PMID: 36369683 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) have been consistently entering the food chain, imposing great harm on environment and public health. However, previous studies on the spatial dynamics and transport mechanism of HMs have been profoundly limited by the field sampling issues, such as the uneven observations of individual carriers and their spatial mismatch, especially over large-scale catchments with complex environment. In this study, a novel methodological framework for mapping HMs at catchment scale was proposed and applied, combining a species distribution model (SDM) with physical environment and human variables. Based on the field observations, we ecologicalized HMs in different carriers as different species. This enabled the proposed framework to model the 'enrichment area' of individual HMs in the geographic space (termed as the HM 'habitat') and identify their 'hotspots' (peak value points) within the catchment. Results showed the output maps of HM habitats from secondary carriers (soil, sediment, and wet deposition) well agreed with the influence of industry contaminants, hydraulic sorting, and precipitation washout process respectively, indicating the potential of SDM in modeling the spatial distributions of the HM. The derived maps of HMs from secondary carriers, along with the human and environmental variables were then input as explanatory variables in SDM to predict the spatial patterns of the final HM accumulation in river water, which was observed to have largely improved the prediction quality. These results confirmed the value of our framework to leverage SDMs from ecology perspective to study HM contamination transport at catchment scale, offering new insights not only to map the spatial HM habitats but also help locate the HM transport chains among different carriers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-Ecosystems, International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China; Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, 2007, NSW, Australia
| | - Zunyi Xie
- Key Laboratory of Geospatial Technology for the Middle and Lower Yellow River Regions, Ministry of Education, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China; College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
| | - Xiaocong Qiu
- College of Life Sciences, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, China
| | - Qiang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Jianwei Bu
- Laboratory of Basin Hydrology and Wetland Eco-restoration, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Ziyong Sun
- Laboratory of Basin Hydrology and Wetland Eco-restoration, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Ruijun Long
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-Ecosystems, International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Kate J Brandis
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, 2052, NSW, Australia
| | - Jie He
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Qi Feng
- Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology of Inland River Basin Gansu/Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering Research Center, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, 2007, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wooster EIF, Ramp D, Lundgren EJ, O'Neill AJ, Yanco E, Bonsen GT, Wallach AD. Predator protection dampens the landscape of fear. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eamonn I. F. Wooster
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Univ. of Technology Sydney Ultimo NSW Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Univ. of Technology Sydney Ultimo NSW Australia
| | - Erick J. Lundgren
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Dept of Biology, Aarhus Univ. Aarhus Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Dept of Biology, Aarhus Univ. Aarhus C Denmark
| | | | - Esty Yanco
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Univ. of Technology Sydney Ultimo NSW Australia
| | - Gavin T. Bonsen
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Univ. of Technology Sydney Ultimo NSW Australia
| | - Arian D. Wallach
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland Univ. of Technology Brisbane QLD Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kennedy BPA, Boyle N, Fleming PJS, Harvey AM, Jones B, Ramp D, Dixon R, McGreevy PD. Ethical Treatment of Invasive and Native Fauna in Australia: Perspectives through the One Welfare Lens. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12111405. [PMID: 35681870 PMCID: PMC9179540 DOI: 10.3390/ani12111405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary A public forum can reveal a wide range of perspectives on the ethical treatment of animals. This article describes how a panel of experts navigated through a discussion on the many and varied challenges of attempting to manage invasive and native fauna in Australia. The panel acknowledged the variety of these fauna, their effects on others and the consequences of control measures for three parties: animals, humans and the environment. The One Welfare concept has been developed to guide humans in the ethical treatment of non-human animals, each other and the environment. The forum accepted the need to consider this triple line, and exemplifies the merits of a One Welfare approach to discussions such as this. We used a series of questions about past, present and anticipated practices in wildlife control as the core of the panel discussion. We revealed five different but intersecting perspectives: conservation action, wildlife research, invasive animal ecology, mainstream animal protection and compassionate conservation. This article shows how understanding of lines of contention on various core topics can provide a framework for further discourse that may bear fruit in the form of One Welfare solutions. Abstract The One Welfare concept is proposed to guide humans in the ethical treatment of non-human animals, each other and the environment. One Welfare was conceptualized for veterinarians but could be a foundational concept through which to promote the ethical treatment of animals that are outside of direct human care and responsibility. However, wild-living animals raise additional ethical conundrums because of their multifarious values and roles, and relationships that humans have with them. At an open facilitated forum, the 2018 Robert Dixon Memorial Animal Welfare Symposium, a panel of five experts from different fields shared their perspectives on “loving and hating animals in the wild” and responded to unscripted questions from the audience. The Symposium’s objectives were to elucidate views on the ethical treatment of the native and invasive animals of Australia and to identify some of the resultant dilemmas facing conservationists, educators, veterinarians and society. Here, we document the presented views and case studies and synthesize common themes in a One Welfare framework. Additionally, we identified points of contention that can guide further discourse. With this guide in place, the identification and discussion of those disparate views was a first step toward practical resolutions on how to manage wild-living Australian fauna ethically. We concluded that there was great utility in the One Welfare approach for any discourse about wild animal welfare. It requires attention to each element of the triple bottom line and ensures that advocacy for one party does not vanquish the voices from other sectors. We argue that, by facilitating a focus on the ecology in the context of wild animal issues, One Welfare is more useful in this context than the veterinary context for which it was originally developed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brooke P. A. Kennedy
- School of Environment and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia;
- Correspondence:
| | - Nick Boyle
- Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Bradleys Head Road, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia;
| | - Peter J. S. Fleming
- Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange Agricultural Institute, 1447 Forest Road, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia;
- Ecosystem Management, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
| | - Andrea M. Harvey
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; (A.M.H.); (D.R.)
| | - Bidda Jones
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; (A.M.H.); (D.R.)
| | - Roselyn Dixon
- School of Education, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;
| | - Paul D. McGreevy
- School of Environment and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia;
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Desprez M, Zawada K, Ramp D. Overcoming the ordinal imbalanced data problem by combining data processing and stacked generalizations. Machine Learning with Applications 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mlwa.2021.100241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
|
10
|
Batavia C, Nelson MP, Bruskotter JT, Jones MS, Yanco E, Ramp D, Bekoff M, Wallach AD. Emotion as a source of moral understanding in conservation. Conserv Biol 2021; 35:1380-1387. [PMID: 33410227 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Recent debates around the meaning and implications of compassionate conservation suggest that some conservationists consider emotion a false and misleading basis for moral judgment and decision making. We trace these beliefs to a long-standing, gendered sociocultural convention and argue that the disparagement of emotion as a source of moral understanding is both empirically and morally problematic. According to the current scientific and philosophical understanding, reason and emotion are better understood as partners, rather than opposites. Nonetheless, the two have historically been seen as separate, with reason elevated in association with masculinity and emotion (especially nurturing emotion) dismissed or delegitimated in association with femininity. These associations can be situated in a broader, dualistic, and hierarchical logic used to maintain power for a dominant male (White, able-bodied, upper class, heterosexual) human class. We argue that emotion should be affirmed by conservationists for the novel and essential insights it contributes to conservation ethics. We consider the specific example of compassion and characterize it as an emotional experience of interdependence and shared vulnerability. This experience highlights conservationists' responsibilities to individual beings, enhancing established and widely accepted beliefs that conservationists have a duty to protect populations, species, and ecosystems (or biodiversity). We argue compassion, thus understood, should be embraced as a core virtue of conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea Batavia
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, U.S.A
| | - Michael Paul Nelson
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, U.S.A
| | - Jeremy T Bruskotter
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, 210 Kottman Hall, Columbus, OH, 43210, U.S.A
| | - Megan S Jones
- Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, U.S.A
| | - Esty Yanco
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Marc Bekoff
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, U.S.A
| | - Arian D Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Hasselerharm CD, Yanco E, McManus JS, Smuts BH, Ramp D. Wildlife-friendly farming recouples grazing regimes to stimulate recovery in semi-arid rangelands. Sci Total Environ 2021; 788:147602. [PMID: 34029808 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
While rangeland ecosystems are globally important for livestock production, they also support diverse wildlife assemblages and are crucial for biodiversity conservation. As rangelands around the world have become increasingly degraded and fragmented, rethinking farming practice in these landscapes is vital for achieving conservation goals, rangeland recovery, and food security. An example is reinstating livestock shepherding, which aims to recouple grazing regimes to vegetation conditioned to semi-arid climates and improve productivity by reducing overgrazing and rewiring past ecological functions. Tracking the large-scale ecosystem responses to shifts in land management in such sparsely vegetated environments have so far proven elusive. Therefore, our goal was to develop a remote tracking method capable of detecting vegetation changes and environmental responses on rangeland farms engaging in contrasting farming practices in South Africa: wildlife friendly farming (WFF) implementing livestock shepherding with wildlife protection, or rotational grazing livestock farming with wildlife removal. To do so, we ground-truthed Sentinel-2 satellite imagery using drone imagery and machine learning methods to trace historical vegetation change on four farms over a four-year period. First, we successfully classified land cover maps cover using drone footage and modelled vegetation cover using satellite vegetation indices, achieving 93.4% accuracy (к = 0.901) and an r-squared of 0.862 (RMSE = 0.058) respectively. We then used this model to compare the WFF farm to three neighbouring rotational grazing farms, finding that satellite-derived vegetation productivity was greater and responded more strongly to rainfall events on the WFF farm. Furthermore, vegetation cover and grass cover, patch size, and aggregation were greater on the WFF farm when classified using drone data. Overall, we found that remotely assessing regional environmental benefits from contrasting farming practices in rangeland ecosystems could aid further adoption of wildlife-friendly practices and help to assess the generality of this case study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chris D Hasselerharm
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo 2007, NSW, Australia.
| | - Esty Yanco
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo 2007, NSW, Australia.
| | - Jeannine S McManus
- Research Department, Landmark Foundation, Riversdale, South Africa; Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Cape Town 7535, South Africa.
| | - Bool H Smuts
- Research Department, Landmark Foundation, Riversdale, South Africa; Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Cape Town 7535, South Africa.
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo 2007, NSW, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Affiliation(s)
- Erick J Lundgren
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia. .,Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Jianguo Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, AZ 85281, USA.,School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Martin Sluk
- Roger Williams Park Museum of Natural History, Providence, RI 02907, USA
| | - Karla T Moeller
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, AZ 85281, USA
| | | | - Arian D Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Harvey AM, Morton JM, Mellor DJ, Russell V, Chapple RS, Ramp D. Use of Remote Camera Traps to Evaluate Animal-Based Welfare Indicators in Individual Free-Roaming Wild Horses. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:2101. [PMID: 34359229 PMCID: PMC8300222 DOI: 10.3390/ani11072101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously developed a Ten-Stage Protocol for scientifically assessing the welfare of individual free-roaming wild animals using the Five Domains Model. The protocol includes developing methods for measuring or observing welfare indices. In this study, we assessed the use of remote camera traps to evaluate an extensive range of welfare indicators in individual free-roaming wild horses. Still images and videos were collected and analysed to assess whether horses could be detected and identified individually, which welfare indicators could be reliably evaluated, and whether behaviour could be quantitatively assessed. Remote camera trapping was successful in detecting and identifying horses (75% on still images and 72% on video observation events), across a range of habitats including woodlands where horses could not be directly observed. Twelve indicators of welfare across the Five Domains were assessed with equal frequency on both still images and video, with those most frequently assessable being body condition score (73% and 79% of observation events, respectively), body posture (76% for both), coat condition (42% and 52%, respectively), and whether or not the horse was sweating excessively (42% and 45%, respectively). An additional five indicators could only be assessed on video; those most frequently observable being presence or absence of weakness (66%), qualitative behavioural assessment (60%), presence or absence of shivering (51%), and gait at walk (50%). Specific behaviours were identified in 93% of still images and 84% of video events, and proportions of time different behaviours were captured could be calculated. Most social behaviours were rarely observed, but close spatial proximity to other horses, as an indicator of social bonds, was recorded in 36% of still images, and 29% of video observation events. This is the first study that describes detailed methodology for these purposes. The results of this study can also form the basis of application to other species, which could contribute significantly to advancing the field of wild animal welfare.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M. Harvey
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia;
| | - John M. Morton
- Jemora Pty Ltd., P.O. Box 2277, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia;
| | - David J. Mellor
- Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand;
| | - Vibeke Russell
- Veterinary Contractor, c/o Animal Emergency Australia, P.O. Box 1854, Springwood, QLD 4217, Australia;
| | - Rosalie S. Chapple
- Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, 16 Dunmore Lane, Katoomba, NSW 2780, Australia;
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia;
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Brandis KJ, Mazumder D, Gadd P, Ji B, Kingsford RT, Ramp D. Using feathers to map continental‐scale movements of waterbirds and wetland importance. Conserv Lett 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kate J. Brandis
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Debashish Mazumder
- Australian Nuclear Science Technology Organisation Lucas Heights New South Wales Australia
| | - Patricia Gadd
- Australian Nuclear Science Technology Organisation Lucas Heights New South Wales Australia
| | - Boyu Ji
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences University of Technology Sydney Ultimo New South Wales Australia
| | - Richard T. Kingsford
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences University of Technology Sydney Ultimo New South Wales Australia
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Abstract
Abstract
Apex predators structure ecosystems by hunting mesopredators and herbivores. These trophic cascades are driven not only by the number of animals they kill, but also by how prey alter their behaviors to reduce risk. The different levels of risk navigated by prey has been likened to a “landscape of fear.” In Australia, dingoes are known to suppress red fox populations, driving a trophic cascade. However, most of what we know of this relationship comes from circumstances where predators are persecuted, which can affect their social and trophic interactions. Utilizing camera traps, we monitored fox behavior when accessing key resource points used by territorial dingoes, in a region where both predators are protected. We predicted that foxes would avoid and be more cautious in areas of high dingo activity. Indeed, foxes avoided directly encountering dingoes. However, contrary to our expectations, foxes were not more cautious or vigilant where dingo activity was high. In fact, fox activity and scent-marking rates increased where dingo scent-marking was concentrated. Further, foxes were increasingly confident with increasing levels of conspecific activity. Our results suggest that responses to the threat of predation are more complex than fear alone. In socially stable conditions, it is possible that prey may develop knowledge of their predators, facilitating avoidance, and reducing fear.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eamonn I F Wooster
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Erick J Lundgren
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Adam J O’Neill
- Dingo for Biodiversity Project, Mount Perry, Queensland, Australia
| | - Arian D Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lundgren EJ, Ramp D, Stromberg JC, Wu J, Nieto NC, Sluk M, Moeller KT, Wallach AD. Equids engineer desert water availability. Science 2021; 372:491-495. [PMID: 33926950 DOI: 10.1126/science.abd6775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Megafauna play important roles in the biosphere, yet little is known about how they shape dryland ecosystems. We report on an overlooked form of ecosystem engineering by donkeys and horses. In the deserts of North America, digging of ≤2-meter wells to groundwater by feral equids increased the density of water features, reduced distances between waters, and, at times, provided the only water present. Vertebrate richness and activity were higher at equid wells than at adjacent dry sites, and, by mimicking flood disturbance, equid wells became nurseries for riparian trees. Our results suggest that equids, even those that are introduced or feral, are able to buffer water availability, which may increase resilience to ongoing human-caused aridification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erick J Lundgren
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia. .,Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Jianguo Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.,School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Nathan C Nieto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Martin Sluk
- Roger Williams Park Museum of Natural History, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Karla T Moeller
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Arian D Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Nelson MP, Batavia C, Brandis KJ, Carroll SP, Celermajer D, Linklater W, Lundgren E, Ramp D, Steer J, Yanco E, Wallach AD. Challenges at the intersection of conservation and ethics: Reply to Meyer et al. 2021. Conserv Biol 2021; 35:373-377. [PMID: 33351969 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Paul Nelson
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, 321 Richardson Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, U.S.A
| | - Chelsea Batavia
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, 321 Richardson Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, U.S.A
| | - Kate J Brandis
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Scott P Carroll
- Department of Entomology & Nematology, University of California Davis, 1 Shield Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, U.S.A
| | - Danielle Celermajer
- Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Wayne Linklater
- Department of Environmental Studies, California State University - Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Amador Hall, 555D, Sacramento, CA, 95819, U.S.A
- Centre for Biodiversity & Restoration Ecology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, 6021, New Zealand
- Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, 6019, South Africa
| | - Erick Lundgren
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Jamie Steer
- Biodiversity Department, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington, 6142, New Zealand
| | - Esty Yanco
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Arian D Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Lundgren EJ, Schowanek SD, Rowan J, Middleton O, Pedersen RØ, Wallach AD, Ramp D, Davis M, Sandom CJ, Svenning JC. Functional traits of the world's late Quaternary large-bodied avian and mammalian herbivores. Sci Data 2021; 8:17. [PMID: 33473149 PMCID: PMC7817692 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-020-00788-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Prehistoric and recent extinctions of large-bodied terrestrial herbivores had significant and lasting impacts on Earth's ecosystems due to the loss of their distinct trait combinations. The world's surviving large-bodied avian and mammalian herbivores remain among the most threatened taxa. As such, a greater understanding of the ecological impacts of large herbivore losses is increasingly important. However, comprehensive and ecologically-relevant trait datasets for extinct and extant herbivores are lacking. Here, we present HerbiTraits, a comprehensive functional trait dataset for all late Quaternary terrestrial avian and mammalian herbivores ≥10 kg (545 species). HerbiTraits includes key traits that influence how herbivores interact with ecosystems, namely body mass, diet, fermentation type, habitat use, and limb morphology. Trait data were compiled from 557 sources and comprise the best available knowledge on late Quaternary large-bodied herbivores. HerbiTraits provides a tool for the analysis of herbivore functional diversity both past and present and its effects on Earth's ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erick J Lundgren
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia.
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Simon D Schowanek
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - John Rowan
- Department of Anthropology, University at Albany, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Owen Middleton
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Sussex, UK
| | - Rasmus Ø Pedersen
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Arian D Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Matt Davis
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA, 90007, USA
| | | | - Jens-Christian Svenning
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Wallach AD, Batavia C, Bekoff M, Alexander S, Baker L, Ben‐Ami D, Boronyak L, Cardilin APA, Carmel Y, Celermajer D, Coghlan S, Dahdal Y, Gomez JJ, Kaplan G, Keynan O, Khalilieh A, Kopnina H, Lynn WS, Narayanan Y, Riley S, Santiago‐Ávila FJ, Yanco E, Zemanova MA, Ramp D. Recognizing animal personhood in compassionate conservation. Conserv Biol 2020; 34:1097-1106. [PMID: 32144823 PMCID: PMC7540678 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Compassionate conservation is based on the ethical position that actions taken to protect biodiversity should be guided by compassion for all sentient beings. Critics argue that there are 3 core reasons harming animals is acceptable in conservation programs: the primary purpose of conservation is biodiversity protection; conservation is already compassionate to animals; and conservation should prioritize compassion to humans. We used argument analysis to clarify the values and logics underlying the debate around compassionate conservation. We found that objections to compassionate conservation are expressions of human exceptionalism, the view that humans are of a categorically separate and higher moral status than all other species. In contrast, compassionate conservationists believe that conservation should expand its moral community by recognizing all sentient beings as persons. Personhood, in an ethical sense, implies the individual is owed respect and should not be treated merely as a means to other ends. On scientific and ethical grounds, there are good reasons to extend personhood to sentient animals, particularly in conservation. The moral exclusion or subordination of members of other species legitimates the ongoing manipulation and exploitation of the living worlds, the very reason conservation was needed in the first place. Embracing compassion can help dismantle human exceptionalism, recognize nonhuman personhood, and navigate a more expansive moral space.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arian D. Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSW2007Australia
| | - Chelsea Batavia
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOR97331U.S.A.
| | - Marc Bekoff
- Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ColoradoBoulderCO80309U.S.A.
| | | | - Liv Baker
- Animal Behavior and Conservation ProgramHunter College CUNYNew YorkNYU.S.A.
| | - Dror Ben‐Ami
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSW2007Australia
- Compassionate Conservation Middle East, Steinhardt Museum of Natural HistoryTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Louise Boronyak
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSW2007Australia
- Institute for Sustainable FuturesUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSW2007Australia
| | - Adam P. A. Cardilin
- Faculty of Science Engineering and Built EnvironmentDeakin UniversityWaurn PondsVIC3216Australia
| | - Yohay Carmel
- Division of Environmental, Water and Agricultural EngineeringTechnion Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifa32000Israel
| | - Danielle Celermajer
- Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Faculty of Arts and Social SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNSW2006Australia
| | - Simon Coghlan
- School of Computing and Information Systems, Melbourne School of EngineeringThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVIC3010Australia
| | | | - Jonatan J. Gomez
- Departamento de Ciencias BásicasUniversidad Nacional de LujánRutas 5 y 7Luján6700Argentina
| | - Gisela Kaplan
- School of Science & TechnologyUniversity of New EnglandArmidaleNSW2351Australia
| | - Oded Keynan
- Compassionate Conservation Middle East, Steinhardt Museum of Natural HistoryTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- Dead Sea & Arava Science CentreCentral Arava BranchHatzevaIsrael
| | | | - Helen Kopnina
- The Hague University of Applied Sciences, International BusinessJohanna Westerdijkplein 75EN Den Haag2521the Netherlands
| | - William S. Lynn
- George Perkins Marsh InstituteClark UniversityWorcesterMA01710U.S.A.
| | - Yamini Narayanan
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and EducationDeakin UniversityMelbourneVIC3125Australia
| | - Sophie Riley
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSW2007Australia
- Faculty of LawUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSW2007Australia
| | - Francisco J. Santiago‐Ávila
- Carnivore Coexistence Lab, Nelson Institute for Environmental StudiesUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWI53706U.S.A.
| | - Esty Yanco
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSW2007Australia
| | - Miriam A. Zemanova
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSW2007Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSW2007Australia
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Wallach AD, Lundgren E, Batavia C, Nelson MP, Yanco E, Linklater WL, Carroll SP, Celermajer D, Brandis KJ, Steer J, Ramp D. When all life counts in conservation. Conserv Biol 2020; 34:997-1007. [PMID: 31782203 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Conservation science involves the collection and analysis of data. These scientific practices emerge from values that shape who and what is counted. Currently, conservation data are filtered through a value system that considers native life the only appropriate subject of conservation concern. We examined how trends in species richness, distribution, and threats change when all wildlife count by adding so-called non-native and feral populations to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List and local species richness assessments. We focused on vertebrate populations with founding members taken into and out of Australia by humans (i.e., migrants). We identified 87 immigrant and 47 emigrant vertebrate species. Formal conservation accounts underestimated global ranges by an average of 30% for immigrants and 7% for emigrants; immigrations surpassed extinctions in Australia by 52 species; migrants were disproportionately threatened (33% of immigrants and 29% of emigrants were threatened or decreasing in their native ranges); and incorporating migrant populations into risk assessments reduced global threat statuses for 15 of 18 species. Australian policies defined most immigrants as pests (76%), and conservation was the most commonly stated motivation for targeting these species in killing programs (37% of immigrants). Inclusive biodiversity data open space for dialogue on the ethical and empirical assumptions underlying conservation science.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arian D Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, 2007, NSW, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Erick Lundgren
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, 2007, NSW, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Chelsea Batavia
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, 97331, OR, Corvallis, U.S.A
| | - Michael Paul Nelson
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, 97331, OR, Corvallis, U.S.A
| | - Esty Yanco
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, 2007, NSW, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Wayne L Linklater
- Department of Environmental Studies, Amador Hall, 555D, California State University - Sacramento, 95819, CA, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, U.S.A
- Centre for Biodiversity & Restoration Ecology, Victoria University of Wellington, 6021, Wellington, New Zealand
- Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela University, 6019, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - Scott P Carroll
- Department of Entomology & Nematology, University of California Davis, 95616, CA, Davis, U.S.A
| | - Danielle Celermajer
- Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of Sydney, 2006, NSW, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Kate J Brandis
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Science, University of New South Wales, 2052, NSW, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jamie Steer
- Biodiversity Department, Greater Wellington Regional Council, 6142, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, 2007, NSW, Ultimo, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Li J, Li Z, Brandis KJ, Bu J, Sun Z, Yu Q, Ramp D. Tracing geochemical pollutants in stream water and soil from mining activity in an alpine catchment. Chemosphere 2020; 242:125167. [PMID: 31678854 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This research developed a method of tracing major water chemical parameters (WCP) and soil heavy metals (HM) to identify the processes of mining pollution in topographically complex landscapes. Ninety-nine spatially distributed water samples were collected to characterise the hydrochemical characteristics of an alpine river in north-west China. Sixty river WCP and fifty-six soil HM samples from areas near mining sites were then used to analyse the mining pollution process. Geographical and mining activity characteristics were derived from topographic and mine site information. The occurrence of sulphates (SO42-) and nitrates (NO3-) in river water were highly correlated (up to 0.70), providing strong evidence of pollution from nearby mining activities. Levels of arsenic and cadmium were high in first and fifth order streams, where mining activities were most concentrated. The modelling results showed that geographical patterns and mining activity account for predicting HM distribution, and WCP can be reasonable predictors to trace soil mining pollution. This research can help improve the accuracy of predicting the mining pollution process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Li
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, 2007, NSW, Australia
| | - Zongxing Li
- Key Laboratory of Eco-hydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Kate J Brandis
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, 2052, NSW, Australia
| | - Jianwei Bu
- Laboratory of Basin Hydrology and Wetland Eco-restoration, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Ziyong Sun
- Laboratory of Basin Hydrology and Wetland Eco-restoration, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Qiang Yu
- School of Life Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, 2007, NSW, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, 2007, NSW, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Austin CM, Ramp D. Flight responses of eastern gray kangaroos to benign or harmful human behavior. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:13824-13834. [PMID: 31938484 PMCID: PMC6953569 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, wilderness is being converted for rural and agricultural land use. In countryside landscapes, many habitat structures remain intact, providing suitable habitat for wildlife species that can accurately assess novel risks and develop tolerance to benign disturbances. Associative learning that promotes avoidance and also facilitates desensitization to benign disturbance is key to persisting in these landscapes. Conversely, learning to distinguish and avoid negative interactions with humans, like hunting, is vital. To determine if eastern gray kangaroos are capable of learning from previous interactions with humans, we tested the flight responses of wild kangaroos which have previously experienced either low or high frequencies of harmful and benign encounters with humans. We found that eastern gray kangaroos rapidly habituated to benign disturbance as there was no significant difference in assessment distance between groups that previously experienced low or high frequencies of disturbance. The threat of harmful disturbances was not as quickly learnt, as groups that experienced low frequencies of harmful disturbance delayed flight longer than those experiencing frequent harm. We found that the influence of environmental and group parameters on a kangaroo's decision to flee depended on the intent and frequency of previous interactions with humans. Our study indicates that kangaroos are learning from previous encounters with humans, correctly assessing novel risks which may be contributing to their persistence in countryside landscapes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M. Austin
- Centre for Compassionate ConservationFaculty of ScienceUniversity of Technology SydneyUltimoNSWAustralia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate ConservationFaculty of ScienceUniversity of Technology SydneyUltimoNSWAustralia
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Yanco E, Nelson MP, Ramp D. Cautioning against overemphasis of normative constructs in conservation decision making. Conserv Biol 2019; 33:1002-1013. [PMID: 30734367 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Questions around how to conserve nature are increasingly leading to dissonance in conservation planning and action. While science can assist in unraveling the nature of conservation challenges, conservation responses rely heavily on normative positions and constructs to order actions, aid interpretations, and provide motivation. However, problems can arise when norms are mistaken for science or when they stymy scientific rigor. To highlight these potential pitfalls, we used the ethics-based tool of argument analysis to assess a controversial conservation intervention, the Pelorus Island Goat Control Program. The program proponents' argument for restorative justice was unsound because it relied on weak logical construction overly entrenched in normative assumptions. Overreliance on normative constructs, particularly the invocation of tragedy, creates a sense of urgency that can subvert scientific and ethical integrity, obscure values and assumptions, and increase the propensity for flawed logic. This example demonstrates how the same constructs that drive biodiversity conservation can also drive poor decision making, spur public backlash, and justify poor animal welfare outcomes. To provide clarity, a decision-making flowchart we devised demonstrates how values, norms, and ethics influence one another. We recommend practitioners follow 3 key points to improve decision making: be aware of values, as well as normative constructs and ethical theories that those values inform; be mindful of overreliance on either normative constructs or ethics when deciding action is justified; and be logically sound and transparent when building justifications. We also recommend 5 key attributes that practitioners should be attentive to when making conservation decisions: clarity, transparency, scientific integrity, adaptiveness, and compassion. Greater attention to the role of norms in decision making will improve conservation outcomes and garner greater public support for actions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esty Yanco
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Michael Paul Nelson
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, 321 Richardson Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, U.S.A
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Austin CM, Ramp D. Behavioural Plasticity by Eastern Grey Kangaroos inResponse to Human Behaviour. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9050244. [PMID: 31096679 PMCID: PMC6562978 DOI: 10.3390/ani9050244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Many species of wildlife live in landscapes they share with people. Some exploit resources and protection provided by close proximity to people, while others learn to avoid people all together. In this study, we sought to test whether individuals from a population of eastern grey kangaroos altered grouping and spacing behaviour in response to human presence, depending upon whether the intent and actions of those people were benign or harmful. Under harmful conditions, kangaroos failed to form larger groups when far from cover, however, this typical antipredator grouping behaviour persisted when human disturbances were benign. These differences in grouping and spacing behaviour suggest that kangaroos can exhibit bidirectional behavioural plasticity at fine scales, a trait that may confer adaptive advantages when sharing landscapes with humans. Abstract Sharing landscapes with humans is an increasingly fraught challenge for wildlife across the globe. While some species benefit from humans by exploiting novel opportunities (e.g., provision of resources or removal of competitors or predators), many wildlife experience harmful effects, either directly through persecution or indirectly through loss of habitat. Consequently, some species have been shown to be attracted to human presence while others avoid us. For any given population of a single species, though, the question of whether they can recognise and change their response to human presence depending on the type of human actions (i.e., either positive or negative) has received little attention to date. In this study, we chose to examine the behavioural plasticity within a single population of eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) to both positive and negative human activity. Within a relatively small and contiguous landscape, we identified areas where kangaroos experience a combination of either low and high frequencies of benign and harmful human disturbances. From six sampling sessions over five months, we found that density and group sizes were higher where humans acted benignly towards them, and that these groups had higher representations of sub-adults and juveniles than where humans had harmful intentions. Importantly, we found that the vital antipredator strategy of increasing group size with distance from cover was not detectable at sites with low and high levels of harm. Our findings suggest that these kangaroos are recognising and adjusting their behavioural response to humans at fine spatial scales, a plasticity trait that may be key to the survival of these species in human dominated landscapes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M Austin
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney,Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney,Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Harvey AM, Meggiolaro MN, Hall E, Watts ET, Ramp D, Šlapeta J. Wild horse populations in south-east Australia have a high prevalence of Strongylus vulgaris and may act as a reservoir of infection for domestic horses. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2019; 8:156-163. [PMID: 30815358 PMCID: PMC6378629 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Australia has over 400,000 wild horses, the largest wild equid population in the world, scattered across a range of different habitats. We hypothesised that wild horse populations unexposed to anthelmintics would have a high prevalence of Strongylus vulgaris infections. Verminous endarteritis and colic due to migrating S. vulgaris larvae is now absent or unreported in domestic horses in Australia, yet wild horses may pose a risk for its re-emergence. A total of 289 faecal egg counts (FECs) were performed across six remote wild horse populations in south-east Australia, of varying densities, herd sizes and habitats. Total strongyle egg counts ranged from 50 to 3740 eggs per gram (EPG, mean 1443) and 89% (257/289) of faecal samples had > 500 EPG, classifying them as 'high level shedders'. There were significant differences in mean total strongyle FECs between different locations, habitats and population densities. Occurrence of S. vulgaris was not predictable based on FECs of total strongyle eggs or small (<90 μm) strongyle eggs. A high prevalence of S. vulgaris DNA in faecal samples was demonstrated across all six populations, with an overall predicted prevalence of 96.7%. This finding is important, because of the ample opportunity for transmission to domestic horses. The high prevalence of S. vulgaris suggests vigilance is required when adopting wild horses, or when domestic horses graze in environments inhabited by wild horses. Appropriate veterinary advise is required to minimize disease risk due to S. vulgaris. Monitoring horses for S. vulgaris using larval culture or qPCR remains prudent. Gastrointestinal parasites in wild horse populations may also serve as parasite refugia, thus contributing to integrated parasite management when facing emerging anthelmintic resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M. Harvey
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Maira N. Meggiolaro
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Evelyn Hall
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ellyssia T. Watts
- School of Natural Sciences, College of Sciences and Engineering, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jan Šlapeta
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Nolan RH, Sinclair J, Waters CM, Mitchell PJ, Eldridge DJ, Paul KI, Roxburgh S, Butler DW, Ramp D. Risks to carbon dynamics in semi-arid woodlands of eastern Australia under current and future climates. J Environ Manage 2019; 235:500-510. [PMID: 30711835 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.01.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Extreme disturbance events, such as wildfire and drought, have large impacts on carbon storage and sequestration of forests and woodlands globally. Here, we present a modelling approach that assesses the relative impact of disturbances on carbon storage and sequestration, and how this will alter under climate change. Our case study is semi-arid Australia where large areas of land are managed to offset over 122 million tonnes of anthropogenic carbon emissions over a 100-year period. These carbon offsets include mature vegetation that has been protected from clearing and regenerating vegetation on degraded agricultural land. We use a Bayesian Network model to combine multiple probabilistic models of the risk posed by fire, drought, grazing and recruitment failure to carbon dynamics. The model is parameterised from a review of relevant literature and additional quantitative analyses presented here. We found that the risk of vegetation becoming a net source of carbon due to a mortality event, or failing to realise maximum sequestration potential, through recruitment failure in regenerating vegetation, was primarily a function of rainfall in this semi-arid environment. However, the relative size of an emissions event varied across vegetation communities depending on plant attributes, specifically resprouting capacity. Modelled climate change effects were variable, depending on the climate change projection used. Under 'best-case' or 'most-likely' climate scenarios for 2050, similar or increased projections of mean annual precipitation, associated with a build-up of fuel, were expected to drive an increase in fire activity (a 40-160% increase), but a decrease in drought (a 20-35% decrease). Under a 'worst-case' climate scenario, fire activity was expected to decline (a 37% decrease), but drought conditions remain similar (a 5% decrease). These projected changes to the frequency of drought and fire increase the risk that vegetation used for carbon offsetting will fail to provide anticipated amounts of carbon abatement over their lifetime.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachael H Nolan
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia; Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
| | - Jennifer Sinclair
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia; GreenCollar, The Rocks, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
| | - Cathleen M Waters
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Climate Research, Orange, New South Wales, 2800, Australia
| | | | - David J Eldridge
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Keryn I Paul
- CSIRO Land and Water Flagship, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Stephen Roxburgh
- CSIRO Land and Water Flagship, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Don W Butler
- Queensland Herbarium, Toowong, Queensland, 4066, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Wallach AD, Bekoff M, Batavia C, Nelson MP, Ramp D. Summoning compassion to address the challenges of conservation. Conserv Biol 2018; 32:1255-1265. [PMID: 29700860 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 04/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Conservation practice is informed by science, but it also reflects ethical beliefs about how humanity ought to value and interact with Earth's biota. As human activities continue to drive extinctions and diminish critical life-sustaining ecosystem processes, achieving conservation goals becomes increasingly urgent. However, the determination to react decisively can drive conservationists to handle complex challenges without due deliberation, particularly when wildlife individuals are sacrificed for the so-called greater good of wildlife collectives (populations, species, ecosystems). With growing recognition of the widespread sentience and sapience of many nonhuman animals, standard conservation practices that categorically prioritize collectives without due consideration for the well-being of individuals are ethically untenable. Here we highlight 3 overarching ethical orientations characterizing current and historical practices in conservation that suppress compassion: instrumentalism, collectivism, and nativism. We examine how establishing a commitment to compassion could reorient conservation in more ethically expansive directions that incorporate recognition of the intrinsic value of wildlife, the sentience of nonhuman animals, and the values of novel ecosystems, introduced species, and their members. A compassionate conservation approach allays practices that intentionally and unnecessarily harm wildlife individuals, while aligning with critical conservation goals. Although the urgency of achieving effective outcomes for solving major conservation problems may enhance the appeal of quick and harsh measures, the costs are too high. Continuing to justify moral indifference when causing the suffering of wildlife individuals, particularly those who possess sophisticated capacities for emotion, consciousness, and sociality, risks estranging conservation practice from prevailing, and appropriate, social values. As conservationists and compassionate beings, we must demonstrate concern for both the long-term persistence of collectives and the well-being of individuals by prioritizing strategies that do both.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arian D Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Marc Bekoff
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, U.S.A
| | - Chelsea Batavia
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, U.S.A
| | - Michael Paul Nelson
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, U.S.A
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Brandis KJ, Meagher PJB, Tong LJ, Shaw M, Mazumder D, Gadd P, Ramp D. Novel detection of provenance in the illegal wildlife trade using elemental data. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15380. [PMID: 30337606 PMCID: PMC6194005 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33786-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite being the fourth largest criminal market in the world, no forensic tools have been sufficiently developed to accurately determine the legal status of seized animals and their parts. Although legal trading is permissible for farmed or captive-bred animals, many animals are illegally removed from the wild and laundered by masquerading them as captive bred. Here we present high-resolution x-ray fluorescence (XRF) as a non-invasive and cost-effective tool for forensic classification. We tested the efficacy of this technique by using machine learning on a training set of zoo specimens and wild-caught individuals of short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), a small insectivorous monotreme in Australia. XRF outperformed stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ15N), reducing overall classification error below 4%. XRF has the added advantage of providing samples every 200 μm on a single quill, enabling 100% classification accuracy by taking the consensus of votes per quill. This accurate and cost-effective forensic technique could provide a much needed in situ solution for combating the illegal laundering of wildlife, and conversely, assist with certification of legally bred animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kate J Brandis
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, 2052 NSW, Australia.
| | - Phoebe J B Meagher
- Taronga Wildlife Hospital, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Mosman, 2088 NSW, Australia
| | - Lydia J Tong
- Taronga Wildlife Hospital, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Mosman, 2088 NSW, Australia
| | - Michelle Shaw
- Taronga Wildlife Hospital, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Mosman, 2088 NSW, Australia
| | - Debashish Mazumder
- Australian Nuclear Science Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, 2234 NSW, Australia
| | - Patricia Gadd
- Australian Nuclear Science Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, 2234 NSW, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, 2007 NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Wallach AD, Lundgren EJ, Ripple WJ, Ramp D. Invisible megafauna. Conserv Biol 2018; 32:962-965. [PMID: 29693743 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Arian D Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Erick J Lundgren
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - William J Ripple
- Global Trophic Cascades Program, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, U.S.A
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Suter-Dick L, Mauch L, Ramp D, Caj M, Vormann MK, Hutter S, Lanz HL, Vriend J, Masereeuw R, Wilmer MJ. Combining Extracellular miRNA Determination with Microfluidic 3D Cell Cultures for the Assessment of Nephrotoxicity: a Proof of Concept Study. AAPS J 2018; 20:86. [PMID: 30039346 DOI: 10.1208/s12248-018-0245-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Drug-induced kidney injury is often observed in the clinics and can lead to long-term organ failure. In this work, we evaluated a novel in vitro system that aims at detecting whether compounds can cause renal proximal tubule damage in man. For this, we implemented organotypic cultures of human conditionally immortalized proximal tubule epithelial cells overexpressing the organic anion transporter 1 (ciPTEC-OAT1) in a three-channel OrganoPlate under microfluidic conditions. Cells were exposed to four known nephrotoxicants (cisplatin, tenofovir, cyclosporine A, and tobramycin). The effect on cell viability and NAG release into the medium was determined. A novel panel of four miRNAs (mir-21, mir-29a, mir-34a, and mir-192) was selected as potential biomarkers of proximal tubule damage. After nephrotoxicant treatment, miRNA levels in culture medium were earlier indicators than cell viability (WST-8 assay) and outperformed NAG for proximal tubule damage. In particular, mir-29a, mir-34a, and mir-192 were highly reproducible between experiments and across compounds, whereas mir-21 showed more variability. Moreover, similar data were obtained in two different laboratories, underlining the reproducibility and technical transferability of the results, a key requirement for the implementation of novel biomarkers. In conclusion, the selected miRNAs behaved like sensitive biomarkers of damage to tubular epithelial cells caused by several nephrotoxicity mechanisms. This biomarker panel, in combination with the 3D cultures of ciPTEC-OAT1 in the OrganoPlate, represents a novel tool for in vitro nephrotoxicity detection. These results pave the way for the application of miRNAs in longitudinal, time-course in vitro toxicity studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Suter-Dick
- School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Gründenstrasse 40, 4132, Muttenz, Switzerland.
| | - L Mauch
- School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Gründenstrasse 40, 4132, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - D Ramp
- School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Gründenstrasse 40, 4132, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - M Caj
- School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Gründenstrasse 40, 4132, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - M K Vormann
- MIMETAS B.V., JH Oortweg 19, 2333 CH, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - S Hutter
- MIMETAS B.V., JH Oortweg 19, 2333 CH, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - H L Lanz
- MIMETAS B.V., JH Oortweg 19, 2333 CH, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - J Vriend
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Radboudumc, P.O. box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - R Masereeuw
- Div. Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M J Wilmer
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Radboudumc, P.O. box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Nolan RH, Sinclair J, Eldridge DJ, Ramp D. Biophysical risks to carbon sequestration and storage in Australian drylands. J Environ Manage 2018; 208:102-111. [PMID: 29248786 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Carbon abatement schemes that reduce land clearing and promote revegetation are now an important component of climate change policy globally. There is considerable potential for these schemes to operate in drylands which are spatially extensive. However, projects in these environments risk failure through unplanned release of stored carbon to the atmosphere. In this review, we identify factors that may adversely affect the success of vegetation-based carbon abatement projects in dryland ecosystems, evaluate their likelihood of occurrence, and estimate the potential consequences for carbon storage and sequestration. We also evaluate management strategies to reduce risks posed to these carbon abatement projects. Identified risks were primarily disturbances, including unplanned fire, drought, and grazing. Revegetation projects also risk recruitment failure, thereby failing to reach projected rates of sequestration. Many of these risks are dependent on rainfall, which is highly variable in drylands and susceptible to further variation under climate change. Resprouting vegetation is likely to be less vulnerable to disturbance and have faster recovery rates upon release from disturbance. We conclude that there is a strong impetus for identifying management strategies and risk reduction mechanisms for carbon abatement projects. Risk mitigation would be enhanced by effective co-ordination of mitigation strategies at scales larger than individual abatement project boundaries, and by implementing risk assessment throughout project planning and implementation stages. Reduction of risk is vital for maximising carbon sequestration of individual projects and for reducing barriers to the establishment of new projects entering the market.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachael H Nolan
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Jennifer Sinclair
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia; GreenCollar, The Rocks, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
| | - David J Eldridge
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Affiliation(s)
- Arian D. Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales, 2007, Australia
| | - Erick Lundgren
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales, 2007, Australia
| | - Esty Yanco
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales, 2007, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales, 2007, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Dubois S, Fenwick N, Ryan EA, Baker L, Baker SE, Beausoleil NJ, Carter S, Cartwright B, Costa F, Draper C, Griffin J, Grogan A, Howald G, Jones B, Littin KE, Lombard AT, Mellor DJ, Ramp D, Schuppli CA, Fraser D. International consensus principles for ethical wildlife control. Conserv Biol 2017; 31:753-760. [PMID: 28092422 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Human-wildlife conflicts are commonly addressed by excluding, relocating, or lethally controlling animals with the goal of preserving public health and safety, protecting property, or conserving other valued wildlife. However, declining wildlife populations, a lack of efficacy of control methods in achieving desired outcomes, and changes in how people value animals have triggered widespread acknowledgment of the need for ethical and evidence-based approaches to managing such conflicts. We explored international perspectives on and experiences with human-wildlife conflicts to develop principles for ethical wildlife control. A diverse panel of 20 experts convened at a 2-day workshop and developed the principles through a facilitated engagement process and discussion. They determined that efforts to control wildlife should begin wherever possible by altering the human practices that cause human-wildlife conflict and by developing a culture of coexistence; be justified by evidence that significant harms are being caused to people, property, livelihoods, ecosystems, and/or other animals; have measurable outcome-based objectives that are clear, achievable, monitored, and adaptive; predictably minimize animal welfare harms to the fewest number of animals; be informed by community values as well as scientific, technical, and practical information; be integrated into plans for systematic long-term management; and be based on the specifics of the situation rather than negative labels (pest, overabundant) applied to the target species. We recommend that these principles guide development of international, national, and local standards and control decisions and implementation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Dubois
- British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1245 East 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5T 1R1, Canada
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Nicole Fenwick
- British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1245 East 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5T 1R1, Canada
| | - Erin A Ryan
- British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1245 East 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5T 1R1, Canada
| | - Liv Baker
- College of the Environment, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, 06457, U.S.A
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Sandra E Baker
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Oxfordshire, OX13 5QL, U.K
| | - Ngaio J Beausoleil
- Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, Institute of Veterinary Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - Scott Carter
- Detroit Zoological Society, 8450 W 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI, 48067, U.S.A
| | - Barbara Cartwright
- Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, 30 Concourse Gate, Nepean, ON, K2E 7V7, Canada
| | | | - Chris Draper
- Born Free Foundation, Broadlands Business Campus, Langhurstwood Road, Horsham, RH12 4QP, U.K
- University of Bristol, Bristol, City of Bristol, BS8 1TH, U.K
| | - John Griffin
- Wildlife Protection Department, Humane Society of the United States, 1255 23rd St NW, Washington, D.C., 20037, U.S.A
| | - Adam Grogan
- RSPCA UK Wildlife Department, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, West Sussex, RH13 9RS, U.K
| | - Gregg Howald
- Island Conservation, 2161 Delaware Avenue Suite A, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, U.S.A
| | - Bidda Jones
- RSPCA Australia, P.O. Box 265, Deakin West, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Kate E Littin
- Regulation & Assurance Branch, Ministry for Primary Industries, P.O. Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Amanda T Lombard
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - David J Mellor
- Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, Institute of Veterinary Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Catherine A Schuppli
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - David Fraser
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
|
35
|
Austin C, Tuft K, Ramp D, Cremona T, Webb JK. Bait preference for remote camera trap studies of the endangered northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus). Aust Mammalogy 2017. [DOI: 10.1071/am15053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Estimating population size is crucial for managing populations of threatened species. In the Top End of northern Australia, populations of northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus), already affected by livestock grazing, inappropriate burning regimes and predation, have collapsed following the spread of the toxic cane toad (Rhinella marina). Cane toads are currently invading the Kimberley, where they pose a threat to quoll populations. To manage these populations, we need reliable methods for detecting and estimating quoll abundance. We deployed camera traps with lures containing tuna, peanut butter or no bait and found that baited cameras performed better than the unbaited control. Cameras with a tuna lure detected more individuals than cameras baited with peanut butter or no bait. Cameras with a tuna lure yielded more photographs per quoll than those baited with peanut butter or no bait. We identified individual quolls from unique spot patterns and found multiple photographs improved the accuracy of identification. We also found that population estimates for the sample area derived from camera trapping were consistent with those from live trapping using mark–recapture techniques.
Collapse
|
36
|
Thomson FJ, Auld TD, Ramp D, Kingsford RT. A Switch in Keystone Seed-Dispersing Ant Genera between Two Elevations for a Myrmecochorous Plant, Acacia terminalis. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0157632. [PMID: 27310262 PMCID: PMC4911118 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The dispersal capacity of plant species that rely on animals to disperse their seeds (biotic dispersal) can alter with changes to the populations of their keystone dispersal vectors. Knowledge on how biotic dispersal systems vary across landscapes allows better understanding of factors driving plant persistence. Myrmecochory, seed dispersal by ants, is a common method of biotic dispersal for many plant species throughout the world. We tested if the seed dispersal system of Acacia terminalis (Fabaceae), a known myrmecochore, differed between two elevations in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, in southeastern Australia. We compared ant assemblages, seed removal rates of ants and other vertebrates (bird and mammal) and the dominant seed-dispersing ant genera. At low elevations (c. 200 m a.s.l) seed removal was predominantly by ants, however, at high elevation sites (c. 700 m a.s.l) vertebrate seed dispersers or seed predators were present, removing over 60% of seeds from experimental depots when ants were excluded. We found a switch in the keystone seed-dispersing ant genera from Rhytidoponera at low elevations sites to Aphaenogaster at high elevation sites. This resulted in more seeds being removed faster at low elevation sites compared to high elevation sites, however long-term seed removal rates were equal between elevations. Differences in the keystone seed removalist, and the addition of an alternate dispersal vector or seed predator at high elevations, will result in different dispersal and establishment patterns for A. terminalis at different elevations. These differences in dispersal concur with other global studies that report myrmecochorous dispersal systems alter with elevation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fiona J. Thomson
- Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua, Lincoln, New Zealand
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Tony D. Auld
- Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Richard T. Kingsford
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
|
38
|
Wallach AD, Bekoff M, Nelson MP, Ramp D. Promoting predators and compassionate conservation. Conserv Biol 2015; 29:1481-1484. [PMID: 25976274 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Arian D Wallach
- Dingo for Biodiversity Project, P.O. Box 156, Mount Perry, 4671, Queensland, Australia
- Charles Darwin University, School of Environment, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of the Environment, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Marc Bekoff
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of the Environment, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, U.S.A
| | - Michael Paul Nelson
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, U.S.A
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of the Environment, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
|
40
|
|
41
|
Slavich E, Warton DI, Ashcroft MB, Gollan JR, Ramp D. Topoclimate versus macroclimate: how does climate mapping methodology affect species distribution models and climate change projections? DIVERS DISTRIB 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eve Slavich
- Australian Wetlands, Rivers and Landscapes Centre; The University of New South Wales; Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre; The University of New South Wales; Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
| | - David I. Warton
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre; The University of New South Wales; Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
- School of Mathematics and Statistics; The University of New South Wales; Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
| | | | - John R. Gollan
- Australian Museum; Sydney NSW 2010 Australia
- School of the Environment; University of Technology Sydney; Sydney NSW 2007 Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- School of the Environment; University of Technology Sydney; Sydney NSW 2007 Australia
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Gollan JR, Ramp D, Ashcroft MB. Assessing the distribution and protection status of two types of cool environment to facilitate their conservation under climate change. Conserv Biol 2014; 28:456-466. [PMID: 24423229 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2012] [Accepted: 07/30/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Strategies to mitigate climate change can protect different types of cool environments. Two are receiving much attention: protection of ephemeral refuges (i.e., places with low maximum temperatures) and of stable refugia (i.e., places that are cool, have a stable environment, and are isolated). Problematically, they are often treated as equivalents. Careful delineation of their qualities is needed to prevent misdirected conservation initiatives; yet, no one has determined whether protecting one protects the other. We mapped both types of cool environments across a large (∼3.4M ha) mixed-use landscape with a geographic information system and conducted a patch analysis to compare their spatial distributions; examine relations between land use and their size and shape; and assess their current protection status. With a modest, but arbitrary, threshold for demarcating both types of cool environments (i.e., values below the 0.025 quantile) there were 146,523 ha of ephemeral refuge (62,208 ha) and stable refugia (62,319 ha). Ephemeral refuges were generally aggregated at high elevation, and more refuge area occurred in protected areas (55,184 ha) than in unprotected areas (7,024 ha). In contrast, stable refugia were scattered across the landscape, and more stable-refugium area occurred on unprotected (40,135 ha) than on protected land (22,184 ha). Although sensitivity analysis showed that varying the thresholds that define cool environments affected outcomes, it also exposed the challenge of choosing a threshold for strategies to address climate change; there is no single value that is appropriate for all of biodiversity. The degree of overlap between ephemeral refuges and stable refugia revealed that targeting only the former for protection on currently unprotected land would capture ∼17% of stable refugia. Targeting only stable refugia would capture ∼54% of ephemeral refuges. Thus, targeting one type of cool environment did not fully protect the other.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John R Gollan
- University of Technology, Sydney, School of the Environment, P.O. Box 123, Broadway, New South Wales, 2007, Australia; Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Ben-Ami D, Boom K, Boronyak L, Townend C, Ramp D, Croft DB, Bekoff M. The welfare ethics of the commercial killing of free-ranging kangaroos: an evaluation of the benefits and costs of the industry. Anim Welf 2014. [DOI: 10.7120/09627286.23.1.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
|
44
|
Ashcroft MB, Gollan JR, Ramp D. Creating vegetation density profiles for a diverse range of ecological habitats using terrestrial laser scanning. Methods Ecol Evol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael B. Ashcroft
- Australian Museum; Sydney NSW 2010 Australia
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences; Australian Wetlands, Rivers and Landscapes Centre; The University of New South Wales; Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
| | - John R. Gollan
- Australian Museum; Sydney NSW 2010 Australia
- School of the Environment; University of Technology; Sydney NSW 2007 Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- School of the Environment; University of Technology; Sydney NSW 2007 Australia
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
|
46
|
Ashcroft MB, Gollan JR, Ramp D. Creating vegetation density profiles for a diverse range of ecological habitats using terrestrial laser scanning. Methods Ecol Evol 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/j.2041-210x.2013.12157.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael B. Ashcroft
- Australian Museum; 6 College St Sydney NSW Australia 2010
- Australian Wetlands, Rivers and Landscapes Centre; School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales; NSW 2052 Australia
| | - John R. Gollan
- Australian Museum; 6 College St Sydney NSW Australia 2010
- University of Technology, Sydney, School of the Environment; PO Box 123 Broadway New South Wales 2007 Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- University of Technology, Sydney, School of the Environment; PO Box 123 Broadway New South Wales 2007 Australia
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Bino G, Ramp D, Kingsford RT. Niche evolution in Australian terrestrial mammals? Clarifying scale-dependencies in phylogenetic and functional drivers of co-occurrence. Evol Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-013-9631-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
|
48
|
Ramp D. Bringing compassion to the ethical dilemma in killing kangaroos for conservation: comment on "Conservation through sustainable use" by Rob Irvine. J Bioeth Inq 2013; 10:267-272. [PMID: 23595959 DOI: 10.1007/s11673-013-9442-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2013] [Accepted: 03/13/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Ethical debate on the killing of kangaroos has polarised conservation and animal welfare science, yet at the heart of these scientific disciplines is the unifying aim of reducing harm to non-human animals. This aim provides the foundation for common ground, culminating in the development of compassionate conservation principles that seek to provide mechanisms for achieving both conservation and welfare goals. However, environmental decision-making is not devoid of human interests, and conservation strategies are commonly employed that suit entrenched positions and commercial gain, rather than valuing the needs of the non-human animals in need of protection. The case study on the wild kangaroo harvest presents just such a dilemma, whereby a conservation strategy is put forward that can only be rationalised by ignoring difficulties in the potential for realising conservation benefits and the considerable welfare cost to kangaroos. Rather than an open debate on the ethics of killing game over livestock, in this response I argue that efforts to bring transparency and objectivity to the public debate have to date been obfuscated by those seeking to maintain entrenched interests. Only by putting aside these interests will debate about the exploitation of wildlife result in humane, compassionate, and substantive conservation benefits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Ramp
- School of the Environment, University of Technology, Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Abstract
Context Roads have numerous impacts on wildlife populations, such as forming barriers to movement and isolating them from resources. However, knowledge of how wildlife behave in road-impacted environments is limited. Aims Our aim was to assess the suitability of roadside habitat for the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor). Methods We measured the home range, habitat use and body metrics of swamp wallabies at two roadside locations. The home ranges and fitness of the roadside wallabies were compared with the metrics of swamp wallabies within the adjacent reserve. Key results The roadside wallabies had a preference for canopy cover, but not for other habitat features. The roadside home ranges were stable and relatively small. The nocturnal ranges were considerably smaller and further from the road than were diurnal ranges. Only one wallaby crossed the road during the study, via an underpass. There was a significant positive linear correlation between pes length and bodyweight. Roadside wallabies were significantly heavier than were reserve wallabies. Conclusions Our study suggested that individual wallabies avoid the road, are habituated to the roadside environment and may even benefit from it. At the very least, roadside habitats are adequate for the swamp wallaby. Implications Fencing and road crossings are likely to be beneficial conservation-management measures for swamp wallabies in roadside reserves.
Collapse
|
50
|
Chapple RS, Ramp D, Bradstock RA, Kingsford RT, Merson JA, Auld TD, Fleming PJS, Mulley RC. Integrating science into management of ecosystems in the Greater Blue Mountains. Environ Manage 2011; 48:659-674. [PMID: 21779905 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-011-9721-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2009] [Accepted: 07/01/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Effective management of large protected conservation areas is challenged by political, institutional and environmental complexity and inconsistency. Knowledge generation and its uptake into management are crucial to address these challenges. We reflect on practice at the interface between science and management of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (GBMWHA), which covers approximately 1 million hectares west of Sydney, Australia. Multiple government agencies and other stakeholders are involved in its management, and decision-making is confounded by numerous plans of management and competing values and goals, reflecting the different objectives and responsibilities of stakeholders. To highlight the complexities of the decision-making process for this large area, we draw on the outcomes of a recent collaborative research project and focus on fire regimes and wild-dog control as examples of how existing knowledge is integrated into management. The collaborative research project achieved the objectives of collating and synthesizing biological data for the region; however, transfer of the project's outcomes to management has proved problematic. Reasons attributed to this include lack of clearly defined management objectives to guide research directions and uptake, and scientific information not being made more understandable and accessible. A key role of a local bridging organisation (e.g., the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute) in linking science and management is ensuring that research results with management significance can be effectively transmitted to agencies and that outcomes are explained for nonspecialists as well as more widely distributed. We conclude that improved links between science, policy, and management within an adaptive learning-by-doing framework for the GBMWHA would assist the usefulness and uptake of future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosalie S Chapple
- Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, University of New South Wales, Vallentine Annexe, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|