Abstracts available here - Society for Conservation Biology

25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011
2011-12-07 17:15 Predicting the effect of urban noise on acoustic
communication in birds
Parris, KM, University of Melbourne; McCarthy, MA*, University
of Melbourne;
Continuing urbanisation of the planet is changing the physical structure of
habitats for non-human species, but also markedly changing their acoustic
environment. Urban noise interferes with acoustic communication in a
range of animals including birds, with potentially profound impacts on
fitness. However, a general, mechanistic theory to predict which species
of birds will be most affected by urban noise, and the magnitude of any
effects, is lacking. We will present a model to predict the decrease in
communication distance experienced by birds when moving from natural to
urban habitats (or when natural habitats are urbanised). The model predicts
that the magnitude of the decrease is largely a function of signal frequency;
however, the relationship between the former and latter is not monotonic.
A meta-analysis of observed changes in birdsong in urban noise supports
this prediction for signals in the frequency range of 1.5 – 4 kHz. The model
can be used to assess the likely impacts of urban noise on bird assemblages
around the globe, including which species will suffer the greatest acoustic
interference, and which will show the greatest behavioural and populationlevel
responses to urban noise.
2011-12-09 16:30 Mate preference and genetic rescue of the critically
endangered Mountain Pygmy Possum (Burramys parvus)
Parrott, M*, Department of Wildlife Conservation and Science, Zoos
Victoria, Victoria 3052, Australia ; Watson, P, Threatened Species
Department, Healesville Sanctuary, Victoria 3777, Australia; West,
M, Threatened Species Department, Healesville Sanctuary, Victoria
3777, Australia; Koch, J, Threatened Species Department, Healesville
Sanctuary, Victoria 3777, Australia; Weeks, A, CESAR, Bio21
Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia ;
The Mountain Pygmy Possum (Burramys parvus) has undergone a dramatic
decline in population size in the past decade. In particular, the isolated
population on the summit of Mt Buller, Australia, has not only significantly
decreased in number, but has experienced the most rapid loss of genetic
diversity documented for any mammal species. In order to conserve this
species, Mountain Pygmy Possums are being bred by Zoos Victoria to
produce animals for augmentation of the Mt Buller population. One
crucial aim of the captive colony is to hybridise possums from Mt Buller
with individuals from a genetically distinct population to increase their
genetic diversity and perform a ‘genetic rescue’. Research was conducted
using olfactory cues from males to determine the mate preference of females
and examine their interest in males of differing genetic provenance. Animals
were placed in breeding groups based on their preferences and genetic
background. This, and concurrent research into hibernation and diet
requirements, has resulted in the successful production of young in captivity,
including the first hybrids between different evolutionary significant units of
the Mountain Pygmy Possum. Hybridisation has lead to the production of
fertile offspring and a significant increase in genetic diversity of Mt Buller
derived animals. This is an important breakthrough in the conservation of
Australia’s only hibernating marsupial.
2011-12-06 11:30 Nothing new under the increasingly hot sun:
challenges and success in mainstreaming climate change adaptation in
local municipalities
Pasquini, L*, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University; Cowling,
R.M., Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University; Ziervogel, G.,
University of Cape Town;
Ecosystem-based adaptation options are necessary in the face of climate
change, and local municipalities can play an important role in the design
and implementation of adaptation policies, as the tier of government closest
to where the impacts of climate change will be felt. We present a case study
exploring the external and internal factors behind decision-making of local
municipalities within the Western Cape Province, South Africa, with regard
to mainstreaming climate change adaptation. Research also addressed where,
why and how different understandings of climate change adaptation filter
down to affect policies and then practices. Different scales and contexts
of local governance were investigated using a mixed-methods approach.
Municipalities face numerous constraints to adaptation mainstreaming,
including a generalised lack of understanding of climate change, adaptation
options and the role of ecosystem services in adaptation; backlogs in service
delivery; funding constraints; political pressures and interference; and
limited scope of control on environmental management. However, in a
few municipalities certain factors interacted to enable the mainstreaming
of climate change adaptation, and it is these factors that higher levels of
government and stakeholders need support with different interventions:
the presence of dedicated environmental champions, political stability,
experience with severe weather-related disasters, and access to a knowledge
base on climate change.
2011-12-09 12:00 Growth rates of juvenile Broad-snouted caiman at
Pirapitinga Ecological Station, Southeast Brazil.
Passos, L. F*, Puc Minas; Coutinho, M.E., RAN/ICMBio;
The broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) is widely distributed in
the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes in Brazil. Few studies have dealt
with the status and or dynamics of populations in the wild, and the lack
of information imposes serious constraints to the development of broader
conservation and management plans for the species. Since 2006, we are
investigating the dynamics of a natural population of broad-snouted caimans
in an artificial reservoir located in the upper São Francisco river basin,
southeast Brazil. The knowledge obtained by this study shall be applied to
establish new conservation units in trough the São Francisco River Basin.
We conducted night surveys and all animals spoted were captured ,their
cloacal, air and water temperature, SVL and body mass were also measured.
All animals were marked and released at the site of capture. We also monitor
the water level, temperature and precipitation trough the year. The data
collect on field were analyzed trough multiple regressions .Through the
data analysis we concluded that the growth rates are affects not only by the
animal size, but also by different environmental variables in special with the
reservoir water level. The environmental variables directly affect caimans´
growth making it relevant to monitor those conditions in order to complete
understand the growth dynamics of this species.
2011-12-08 18:30 Does translocation work? Monitoring translocated
Asian elephant males in Sri Lanka with GPS collars
Pastorini, J*, Centre for Conservation and Research; Prasad, T,
Department of Wildlife Conservation; Leimgruber, P, Smithsonian
Conservation Biology Institute; Fernando, P, Centre for Conservation
and Research;
Asian elephant management is largely driven by the need to mitigate
human-elephant conflict. Across the range, translocation of elephants
into protected areas has been the mainstay of management. However, few
elephant translocations have been monitored. We studied translocation of
elephant bulls by monitoring them with GPS radiotelemetry. We collared
14 adult males who were captured across Sri Lanka over the last five years.
They were all individuals identified as ‘problem elephants’ and were removed
largely because of public pressure. They were transported and released in
National Parks at varying distances from the capture site. Three males were
translocated more than once. All the elephants showed abnormal ranging
behaviour after translocation and they all left the National Parks into which
they were released. In three instances translocated elephants returned to
their original home range. Five bulls that were translocated died within a
few months of release due to conflict with people. Two bulls settled in new
areas outside the National Parks released to and as far as is known did not
cause conflict. At least five people got killed and five others were injured by
the translocated elephants. The results suggest that translocation of ‘problem
elephants’ is not effective in mitigating conflict or conserving elephants.
2011-12-07 16:30 Can novel species functionally replace extirpated
species? A case study of compensation in pollination from New Zealand
Pattemore, D*, Princeton University;
Losses of native pollinator populations worldwide have led to concerns
about potential consequent declines in pollination rates; both for crop
plants as well as natural plant communities. We investigated whether
compensation maintains pollination for three New Zealand plant species in
the face of the loss of almost all native vertebrate pollinators, by comparing
pollination on an island reserve that retains a full complement of endemic
vertebrate pollinators to sites on the adjacent North Island where these
species are locally or functionally extinct. We found that that in the absence
of native birds and bats, the recent-colonist silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)
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