Guidelines for the Rapid Ecological Assessment - Convention on ...

GUIDELINES FOR THE RAPID ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF BIODIVERSITY IN INLAND WATER, COASTAL AND MARINE AREAS
new species, and developing a broad view of <strong>the</strong> overall biodiversity of an area. For conservation and
management, this in<strong>for</strong>mation is especially pertinent in <strong>the</strong> prioritization of species and areas.
Prioritized species should <strong>the</strong>n be assessed according to species-specific assessment methods. If localities
or habitats are prioritized <strong>for</strong> particular human stresses on <strong>the</strong>m, <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong>y should be considered <strong>for</strong>
assessment according to <strong>the</strong> change assessment methods.
Possible outputs from an inventory assessment include:
Data:
Baseline wetland biodiversity data: species lists/inventories, habitat type lists/inventories, limited data on
population size/structure, abundances, distributional patterns and ranges
<strong>Ecological</strong> data pertaining to <strong>the</strong> area: important wetland habitats, communities and <strong>the</strong>ir relationships
Background in<strong>for</strong>mation on geology, geography, water quality, hydrology, climate, and habitat zones <strong>for</strong>
greater ecological context
Applications:
Species prioritization: identify and prioritize any species of special concern or interest
Area/habitat prioritization: identify and describe important habitats or areas
Conservation recommendations
Basic data and diversity indices (see also Appendix 1)
II. Species-specific assessment
A species-specific assessment provides a rapid appraisal of <strong>the</strong> status of a particular wetland species or
taxonomic group in a given area. The assessment provides more detailed biological in<strong>for</strong>mation about
<strong>the</strong> focus species within <strong>the</strong> context of its protection, use, or eradication (e.g., in <strong>the</strong> case of invasive
species Thus, this assessment type generally pertains to ecologically or economically important species
and can provide rapid in<strong>for</strong>mation about an important species in an area where its status is unknown
or of particular interest. Likewise, <strong>the</strong> assessment can be used to confirm <strong>the</strong> status of species as threatened,
endangered, or stable in a certain area (if <strong>the</strong> assessment is repeated more than once).
Possible outputs from a species-specific assessment include:
Data:
Data pertaining to <strong>the</strong> status of focal species: distribution, abundance, population size/structure, genetics,
health, size, nesting, breeding and feeding in<strong>for</strong>mation
Ecology and behaviour, in<strong>for</strong>mation pertaining to focal species: habitat, range, symbionts, predators,
prey, reproductive and breeding in<strong>for</strong>mation
Applications:
Conservation recommendations
Identification of economic possibilities/interests
Identification of threats and stresses to focal species and habitat
<strong>Assessment</strong> of status of alien species
Habitat classifications and similarity/comparative indices (see Appendix 1)
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