Abstracts available here - Society for Conservation Biology

25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011
The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, University of
Massachusetts have partnered to examine the role of dam operations on
altered hydrology in the Connecticut River watershed, a large basin located
in the northeastern portion of the United States. Specifically, alternative
scenarios of system-wide dam management are being explored to naturalize
river flows and improve aquatic and riparian biodiversity while continuing
to provide flood control, water supply, and hydropower generation. Over
3,000 dams have been identified in the Connecticut River basin, and
a system-wide approach is needed to understand interactions between
dam operations and ultimate effects on river flows and river-dependent
communities. We will pair hydrologic information with ecological
information of river-dependent species and communities to develop flow
restoration scenarios that will improve ecological conditions, be functional
at a system-wide scale, and provide for human water management needs.
Through the articulation of strategy effectiveness measures throughout the
planning process we have been able to make course corrections to improve
conservation outcomes. This case study will demonstrate how the adaptive
management process allowed for improvements in the project including our
approaches to science, stakeholder engagement and integration of state and
federal policy.
2011-12-09 14:20 Paying for big cats: the carbon opportunity
Macdonald EA*, University of Oxford; De Barros AE, University
of Oxford; Malhi YM, University of Oxford ; Macdonald DW,
University of Oxford;
Tropical forests sit at the confluence of three linked global crises: rates of
forest loss, biodiversity loss and rising global temperatures associated with
catastrophic levels of anthropogenic green house gas emissions. Reducing
Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation and the enhancement of
forest carbon stocks (known as REDD+) is therefore proposed as a climate
change mitigation strategy. While REDD+ remains an entirely carbonfocussed
policy, it is hoped that its implementation will provide a diverse
array of co-benefits such as watershed management, protection from soil
erosion, sustainable community development and, crucial for this study,
biodiversity conservation. Arguably, this use of carbon-offset mechanisms
to lever biodiversity conservation (and the wider framework of Payments for
Ecosystems Services) offers the greatest vehicle for investment in biodiversity
in recorded history. Taking as case studies, two wide ranging felids (the Tiger
(Panthera tigris) and the Jaguar (Panthera onca)), this interdisciplinary study
first uses spatial analysis to show how REDD+ could deliver optimal benefits
to both carbon sequestration as well as biodiversity conservation, before
exploring the policy context in which this might be delivered.
2011-12-07 12:00 Assessing Nesting Habitat Monitoring Protocols for
Bog Turtles: Do We Know What Females Really Want?
Macey, S.*, Fordham University; Clark, J.A., Fordham University;
The bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) is a U.S. threatened species,
primarily because the early successional wetland habitat that bog turtles
require is increasingly rare. Since adequate nesting areas may be a limiting
factor in degraded habitats, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) used expert
opinion to draft a habitat monitoring protocol to assess nesting habitat
suitability and site viability. We explored (1) whether restoration improved
the amount of “suitable” habitat and (2) whether the current monitoring
indicators and criteria reflect the microhabitats of actual nest-sites. Four sites
in New York State were assessed in 2008 and, after restoration at three of
those sites, we repeated the monitoring in 2010 and determined that the
amount of “suitable” habitat had decreased at all four sites. Consequently,
we ranked all sites as “poor” viability. Using radiotelemtery to locate nests,
we recorded microhabitat condition data at each nest-site. CART analysis
showed that woody stem density and distance to water/muck variables best
described nest-site selection rather than the criteria set forth in the TNC
protocol. Daily mean nest temperatures were significantly warmer than
random – suggesting that females are selecting warmer nest-sites. Since
restoration is the primary conservation action for bog turtle recovery, it is
essential to understand nest-site selection and develop appropriate protocols
for nesting habitat assessments to measure the effects of restoration.
2011-12-09 14:12 The Value of Extralimital Species to Ecotourism in
the Eastern Cape
Maciejewski, K*, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University; Kerley,
G. I. H, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University;
The Private Protected Areas (PPAs) in the Eastern Cape stock an abundance
of charismatic species with the aim of increasing diversity of species for
ecotourism. Many species, which historically did not occur in the Eastern
Cape, known as extralimital species were introduced under the auspices that
it would increase ecotourism by enhancing the tourist’s wildlife experience.
Our hypothesis is that this is not the case and stocking extralimital species
does not necessarily lead to increased interest by tourists. Given this,
marketing of reserves should be used to bring more awareness to indigenous
species and educate tourists the importance there of. We assessed the role
that extralimital species play in ecotourism in Shamwari Game Reserve,
South Africa by conducting research into the behaviour of tourists on game
drives. The methodology we used included a mixed-method approach where
quantitative as well as qualitative data was collected. The results suggested
that tourists do not have a preference for specific species but value the
experience of the reserve as a whole. During game drives most of the time
was spent viewing elephants followed closely by the white rhino which was
also ranked as the most important species based on proportions of viewing
and stopping time. Results from questionnaires indicated that the lion was
the most valued large mammal species and the black rhino was favoured over
the white rhino. The study concludes that there is no value in the stocking
of extralimital species and PPAs should abide to national legislation which
requires the removal of extralimital species from all conservation areas.
2011-12-08 18:30 House mouse research on Saddle Island, New
Zealand: Population and invasion biology
MacKay, JWB*, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland;
Murphy, EC, Department of Conservation, New Zealand; Hauber,
ME, Hunter College, City University of New York, USA; Clout, MN,
School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland;
After humans, house mice (Mus musculus) are probably the most widely
spread mammal species in the world which is testament to the species’
adaptability and ability to invade new areas. Mice cause significant damage
to the native ecosystems they invade. It is therefore extremely important to
prevent them from colonising new areas and (where possible) to eradicate
existing populations. Nearly 40% of mouse eradication attempts on islands
have failed for unknown reasons and the invasion biology of the species
has never been studied. Aspects of mouse biology were experimentally
investigated on a small island in New Zealand over the course of two years.
Population densities, ranging behaviour and aspects of population genetics
of mice living on the island were recorded between January and August 2008
before the population was eradicated using trapping and poisoning. Invasion
biology was then investigated through experimental releases of pairs of mice
onto the mouse-free island. The results of these experiments highlight the
impressive invasion potential of mice. Recommendations are made to both
improve mouse eradication success and surveillance methods.
2011-12-09 10:30 Natural Solutions: Protected areas helping people to
cope with climate change
Mackinnon, Kathy, IUCN/WCPA; Dudley, Nigel, IUCN/WCPA;
Sandwith, Trevor*, IUCN ;
Climate change will have profound impacts on biodiversity, requiring new
conservation strategies to link and restore natural habitats to maintain viable
species. Improved protection and management of natural habitats can also
play a critical role in helping human societies to cope with climate change.
Protected areas are especially effective tools for mitigating climate change
by protecting carbon stores in vegetation and soils and sequestering carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere in natural ecosystems. Globally protected area
systems store 15% of terrestrial carbon; wetlands and coastal and marine
habitats such as mangroves and kelp forests are also important carbon sinks.
Furthermore protected areas can play a vital role in adaptation strategies,
helping local and vulnerable communities by buffering local climate, and
reducing risks and impacts from extreme events such as storms, droughts,
and sea-level rise. Conservation areas, especially when well-managed, are
proven, cost effective and sustainable tools to protect ecosystem integrity
and essential ecosystem services that help people cope with climate-related
changes in water supplies, fish stocks, and other wild foods, diseases, and
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