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25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011 The marginal benefits of systematic over opportunistic establishment of protected areas are rarely measured, even though this information is crucial to investing limited conservation resources effectively. We took a predictive approach to comparing the outcomes of opportunistic and systematic selection of marine protected areas (MPAs) in Fiji, where ambitious national conservation goals for inshore marine waters rely on community-based actions for implementing the required management. We used data on established MPAs and key informant interviews to simulate the opportunistic expansion of community-based MPAs, and used Marxan with Zones to systematically design an optimal MPA network, both with the same constraints on location and extent of MPAs. The opportunistic approach achieved quantitative conservation objectives for half the habitats, while all objectives were achieved or nearly achieved with the systematic approach. Despite these differences, a merging of opportunistic and systematic approaches will be necessary to combine strategic perspectives with acceptance by communities. 2011-12-09 15:30 Habitat selection by brown bears in Deosai National Park, Pakistan, and implications for park management Muhammad Ali Nawaz*, Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Outfall Road, Lahore, Pakistan; Jodie Martin, Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Post Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway; Jon E. Swenson, Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon ; Université Lyon 1 ; CNRS, UMR5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France; The Himalayan brown bear is threatened and has a fragmented range in the Himalayas, yet its habit requirements are not known. We investigated habitat selection of brown bears and the impact of human disturbance factors in Deosai National Park, Pakistan. An Ecological Niche Factor Analysis indicated that bears avoided higher elevations and steeper slopes and selected more productive parts of the park (marshy, grassy, and stony vegetation types). Only 65% of the park area was vegetatively productive, with a standing crop of about 900 kg dry matter/km2. The marshy vegetation was the most preferred habitat, probably because it had the highest forage production and density of golden marmots. Brown bears tolerated human infrastructures, like roads and camps, but strongly avoided grazing areas with high livestock density. The habitat suitability map generally followed the biomass productivity patterns of the park. It indicated the central part as suitable, and classified half of the park, mainly peripheral areas, as not suitable for brown bears. The vegetation and habitat suitability maps provide an objective criterion for evaluating present and future developments in the park. Until recently, communities seem to have used the park’s resources without significantly affecting the brown bear population. However in recent years a large influx of livestock by nomad grazers has become a major challenge, which needs urgent attention to continue the present brown bear population recovery and to secure its habitat. We recommend monitoring the livestock and a detailed inventory of the rangeland to understand grazing dynamics in the park and to maintain sustainable stocking rates. 2011-12-08 14:45 Stomped by seabirds or ripped by rats? How colonial seabirds and invasive rodents differ in selection filters they impose on island vegetation Mulder, CPH*, University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA; Bellingham, PJ, Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand; Grant-Hoffman, MN, Bureau of Land Management, Grand Junction, USA; What traits allow seeds and seedlings to survive in the midst of a seabird colony? What traits make them vulnerable to non-native rodents? The filters placed on seeds and seedlings by native seabirds and invasive rodents will determine the characteristics of plant communities that emerge following the invasion of seabird islands by rodents and their subsequent eradication. We test the hypothesis that characteristics that make seedlings tolerant of burial and trampling by seabirds – such as large seed size and rapid seedling growth – also make them vulnerable to rat consumption. We focus on 12 woody plant species commonly found on New Zealand islands, and examine how morphological and chemical characteristics of seeds and seedlings relate to experimentally-determined measures of vulnerability to burial and trampling by seabirds and herbivory by rats. Species differed greatly in their vulnerability to these sources of mortality. Some, primarily those with tiny seeds (< 2 mg), were present in high numbers in the seed bank but negatively affected by seabird burial, a second set with medium-sized seeds was absent where rats are present but increased with seabird density, and a third group of primarily larger-seeded plants (> 500 mg) was unaffected by rats or seabirds. If, as results suggest, seabirds and invasive rodents impose filters of different shapes on plant communities, then the ability of seabird islands to recover naturally following rodent eradication may be limited. 2011-12-08 18:30 Evidence-based management of rhino conservation and tourism in Namibia’s northwest communal lands Muntifering, J.R.*, Minnesota Zoo & Save the Rhino Trust; Loutit, R., Save the Rhino Trust; Uri-Khob, S., Save the Rhino Trust; Brell, B., Save the Rhino Trust; Kasaona, K., Save the Rhino Trust; Bakkes, C., Wilderness Safaris; Beytell, P., Ministry of Environment and Tourism; du Preez, P., Ministry of Environment and Tourism In northwestern Namibia’s communal lands, rhino-based tourism has emerged as a key mechanism to secure the world’s largest free-ranging population of black rhino (Diceros bicornis bicornis) by providing incentives for local communities to trade-off valuable livestock pasture for rhino wilderness and sustainable financing to support anti-poaching and population monitoring efforts. However, unregulated tourism activities may alternatively result in unduly disturbed rhino becoming displaced into marginal, at-risk, and/or inaccessible habitat threatening sustainability. We piloted a rhino-based tourism model informed by an evidence-based adaptive management framework for rhino conservation and enterprise development objectives. Logistic models incorporating rhino viewing data produced a viewing protocol that resulted in only 10% of rhinos becoming displaced during tourist viewing events while 93% of paying tourists were more than satisfied with the experience. Patterns in population-level rhino movement illustrated displacement from areas used chronically by vehicles. A rotational use strategy was therefore implemented resulting in increased sighting success and fewer full days out searching for rhino. Findings suggest that the sustainability of rhino-based tourism as a dual conservation and rural development strategy will require a regional perspective to ensure rhino remain secure in suitable, low-risk and accessible areas and the commitment from communities for rhino conservation endures. 2011-12-07 18:15 The predictability of infection: weather-driven simulations of pathogen proliferation help explain patterns of endemic chytridiomycosis Murray, K. A.*, University of Queensland; Skerratt, L. F., James Cook University; Garland, S., James Cook University; Kriticos, D., CSIRO Entomology and the Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity; McCallum, H., Griffith University; The amphibian disease chytridiomycosis, which can cause species extinctions, is strongly influenced by environmental conditions. For this reason, climate change has been implicated in its global epidemic emergence. One hypothesis to explain this is that simple weather-driven pathogen proliferation is a major driver of disease dynamics, but explicit tests of this influential hypothesis are scarce. We thus developed a simple mechanistic model to simulate the growth of the pathogen under varying weather conditions to see how well it could predict infection patterns in wild amphibians. We found strong support for several predictions of the proliferation hypothesis when applied to our model species, Litoria pearsoniana, sampled extensively in the wild in south-eastern Queensland: the weather-driven simulations of pathogen growth potential were positively related to both the prevalence and intensity of Bd infections. This allowed much improved prediction of positive disease results. Hence, while intrinsic traits of the individuals sampled (species, sex) remain important for understanding infection patterns, our results strongly suggest that weather-linked pathogen proliferation plays a key role in the infection dynamics of endemic chytridiomycosis. Predictive applications of the model include surveillance design, outbreak preparedness and response, climate change scenario modelling and the interpretation of historical patterns of amphibian decline. 2011-12-06 15:30 Massive losses of intertidal mudflats in East Asia detected by remote sensing Murray, NJ*, University of Queensland; Clemens, R, University of Queensland; Fuller, RF, University of Queensland; Rapid urbanisation and expansion of aquaculture are driving reclamation 116
25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011 of intertidal wetlands throughout East Asia. Intertidal wetlands are of immense importance in this region as a key provider of habitat for threatened migratory species, as well as ecosystem services, economic opportunities and social values. Despite widespread coastal change and severe modification of the region’s major river systems in recent years, the magnitude and distribution of intertidal wetland loss remains largely unquantified until now. We mapped the full extent of intertidal wetlands in East Asia in 1975 and 2010 using a supervised classification methodology on paired Landsat images. Regional tide models were used to identify landsat images acquired at low tide and to allow pairing of images according to tide height. We discovered that considerable areas of intertidal wetlands have been lost as a result of several threatening processes, and rates of loss are of a similar scale to deforestation of the world’s tropical forests. Yet this critical ecosystem is overlooked in many conservation prioritisations. Coastal reclamation is the primary threat to intertidal habitats in Asia, and wetland loss is chiefly occurring in the rapidly developing countries of China and South Korea. Combined with the impacts of climate change and sea level rise, these threatening processes demand immediate research effort and conservation intervention. 2011-12-09 14:45 The importance of community-based involvement for managing cetacean watching in a developing country: Lovina (Bali) dolphin watching as a case study MUSTIKA, PUTU LIZA *, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia; Alastair Birtles , School of Business, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia; Helene Marsh, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia; Support and involvement from primary stakeholders are crucial in the management of community-based marine wildlife tourism in developing countries, particularly activities with potentially adverse impacts on target species. Dolphin watching tourism in Lovina (Bali) has been a lucrative industry for local boatmen with limited education since the late 1980s. The industry targets dwarf spinner dolphins that are predictably found close to shore in the early mornings. The fleet comprises 179 small traditional boats, presumably one of the largest dolphin tour fleets in the world. To understand the concerns of the primary stakeholders of this industry and to benefit from their insights, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 36 boatmen and subsequently discussed the results at local stakeholder workshops. The interviewees confirmed that the industry is essentially unregulated. The boatmen were concerned about the industry’s long-term sustainability, especially with regard to encounter management practices and issues such as garbage and safety. The boatmen resisted limits on fleet size. However, they agreed in-principle to improve encounter management, including a minimum approach distance and turning off the engine in the presence of the animals. Transparent and consistent communications are essential to involving the boatmen in sustainable dolphin watching tourism in Lovina. 2011-12-09 16:45 Optimal restoration in a changing climate: trading off the benefits of connectivity and the risks of fire spread Mustin, Karen*, The Ecology Centre, University of Queensland; Possingham, Hugh, The Ecology Centre, University of Queensland; Wilson, Kerrie, The Ecology Centre, University of Queensland; Climate change will alter the strength and nature of threats to species persistence such as fire frequency and severity. Increasing connectivity in fragmented habitats is expected to make positive contributions to species persistence under climate change. However, increasing connectivity may also increase the frequency or severity of fires by increasing fuel loads and facilitating their spread, and thus negatively impact species persistence. These effects will be exacerbated by climate change if changed growing conditions increase fuel loads, drought causes drying of fuel and if climate change increases the occurrence of “fire weather”. We modelled this trade-off between connectivity and fire risk for three species with different dispersal characteristics in a fire-prone landscape in south west Western Australia. Our scenarios of restoration were: corridor, stepping-stone and fragment expansion. We find that the optimal landscape restoration plan for our study area is dependent on both species life history and habitat requirements, and the interaction between climate change and fire risk. We conclude that in order to move from predicting the impacts of climate change to taking conservation action it is essential to understand how multiple threats, in this case climate change and fire, interact to affect species persistence. 2011-12-09 14:00 Valuation of protected areas in Uganda: case study of Murchison Falls Conservation Complex Mwaura, FM*, Economic Policy Research Centre ; Muramira, TE, National Environment Management Authority, Uganda ; Ogwal, FS, National Environment Management Authority, Uganda ; Guloba, M, Economic Policy Research Centre ; Although, it is widely accepted that protected areas (PAs) play important roles through provision of ecosystem services to humanity, PAs conservation in Uganda have been largely hindered by lack of statistical values. To establish the contribution of PAs in national economy a valuation study was undertaken in the Murchison Falls Conservation Complex in Uganda. A total economic valuation method approach was adopted where different valuation techniques were used to estimate different values from various ecosystem services. Valuation technique used were market price, avoidance/ replacement costs, travel cost method, modified contingent, benefit transfer, financial accounting and scenario building. Resources reconnaissance and socio-economic surveys, consultative meeting and existing information were used to collect the relevant data required for the study. The PAs are important habitat for conservation of wild flora and fauna, and also provides other ecosystem services including non-timber wood products, non-wood products (food), medicine, soil erosion control, aesthetic value, carbon sequestration, catchment services, opportunity costs and academic services that were valued at US$2.5M, 2.9, US$1.2M, US$72M, US$73, US$2 M, US$ 13.9M, US$ 13M and US$ 2474 respectively per annum. The bequest /existence value was estimated at US$16 billions while financial return for 2008 was US$ 0.6 million. 2011-12-08 14:40 CONSERVATION OF A RARE AND THREATENED PLANT Quassia bidwillii ON A COAL MINE SITE IN CENTRAL QUEENSLAND NAIK, V.M.*, Centre for Plant and Water Science, CQUnivesity, Rockhmapton, QLD 4702, Australia; Ashwath, N., Centre for Plant and Water Science, CQUnivesity, Rockhmapton, QLD 4702, Australia; Quassia bidwillii (Family: Simaroubaceae), is a shrub listed as a vulnerable species under the Commonwealth EPBC Act 1999 and the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006 (Queensland). This species occurs only at a few localities, including Anglo American Callide Mine in Central Queensland. The major threats to its conservation include habitat clearance due to extensive clearing of native vegetation in the region. Hence, mining companies are required to develop conservation strategies, in order to continue to undertake mining where these species occur. Conservation of Q. bidwillii on mine sites and their surrounds requires information on population ecology, habitat preference, seed biology, propagation strategies, and its ability to grow successfully on mine sites i.e. within conventional rehabilitation. Only three populations amongst the five known populations still exist at present. Initial assessment of herbarium records and recent field visits suggested varied flowering patterns and differing degrees of pest infestation by Atteva albiguttata, respectively. This extensive pest infestation has been reported for the first time on plant. Various other studies such as genetic variation and in situ conservation are being studied as part of research. This research will not only help to understand the biology of the species, but it will also be used to develop conservation procedures that could be utilised by the mining company for long term conservation planning. 2011-12-08 14:15 Ecological & Anthropogenic Covariates Influencing Gharial Distribution & Habitat Use; And The Feasibility Of Photo- Identification For Population Estimation. NAIR, TARUN*, Student, Post-Graduate Programme in Wildlife Biology and Conservation, National Centre for Biological Sciences; The critically endangered gharial faces severe anthropogenic threats across its range, including its stronghold, the Chambal River. Yet, there are no reliable population estimates for gharials and its ecology is poorly understood. This study describes a robust protocol for estimating gharial populations, and investigates factors determining their distribution 117
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Index Benini, Rubens 42 Beniston, M
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Index DeWan, Amielle 14 Dianne Brun
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Index Hilborn, Ray 27 Hill, CM 176
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Index Loutit, R. 116 Louwe Kooijman
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Index Ottewell, K 81 Overton, J 61,
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Index Sequeira, Ana 151 Serebryakov
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Index Winandy, L 181 Winner, J. 112
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