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25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011 patterns of genetic structure of black-backed woodpeckers, a fire specialist and then compared these patterns to hairy woodpeckers, a common generalist. The black-backed woodpecker showed no spatial structure across a vast spatial scale (3500 km) whereas the hairy woodpecker showed a strong pattern of isolation by distance. This led us to simulate two basic models of dispersal: frequent colonization of new patches and stable migration among static patches to understand the mechanisms that created the observed patterns of genetic structure. The simulation results suggested that frequent colonization of newly created habitats at intermediate dispersal distances provide a mechanism for producing a pattern of low genetic differentiation and no isolation by distance across vast spatial scales, consistent with the empirical results on black-backed woodpeckers. This research exemplifies the need to consider dispersal behavior when interpreting empirical patterns of genetic structure across large spatial scales. 2011-12-07 10:30 Seeing the Forests Through the Trees: A Big Picture View of Tropical Rainforests Pimm, SL*, Duke University; Tropical moist forests hold the greatest variety of terrestrial species. Just how extensive they are and how many species they contain are not welldocumented. Much depends on how one defines them, of course. Without clear definitions estimates of how fast tropical forests are shrinking and how much carbon their destruction emits into the atmosphere are also uncertain. Even with estimates of where the forests are, estimates of their species richness begs the question of how many species are not-yet known to science. I will synthesize and compare existing estimates of these key parameters. 2011-12-06 11:30 Connecting the General Public to the Science of Saving Tropical Species Pimm, SL*, Duke University; I will relate two stories. First: just over a decade ago, there was still considerable scepticism in some quarters about whether tropical forests were indeed shrinking — and at the alarming rate the scientific community claimed. The ready availability of GoogleEarth imagery changed all that, but those images became available almost certainly because of a concerted effort on the part of the conservation community to make Landsat images widely and cheaply available. Second is the issue of how one can engage the public on a subject that is so unrelentingly depressing as species extinction. I shall present an example of a restoration project, entirely motivated by the need to prevent the maximum number of extinctions as cost effectively as possible. What has made this project compelling to its donors is the ability to see the forest restoration taking place — again, using readily available remote sensing imagery. 2011-12-09 18:00 Interaction Biodiversity Underpins a Novel Parasitic- Mutualism Between Black Rhinoceros and Red-billed Oxpeckers Plotz, RD*, Centre for Biodiversity & Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ & Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, R.S.A.; Linklater, WL, Centre for Biodiversity & Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ & Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, R.S.A.; Ecosystems and communities are structured by interspecific relationships, but most are poorly understood. Long-term biodiversity conservation may be achieved better by focusing on the maintenance of these relationships, rather than the biodiversity involved. We quantified the complex relationship between the red-billed oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorynchus) and the critically endangered black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) that is mediated by specialized rhinoceros ecto- and endo-parasites and large predators of rhinoceros, particularly humans. We show experimentally that (1) rhinoceros with large haemorrhaging lesions caused by a parasitic filarial nematode (Stephanofilaria dinniki) were a critical food source for oxpecker, (2) oxpecker exacerbated lesions size and severity but that (3) oxpecker also acted as sentinels for rhinoceros against human predatory threat. Thus, we demonstrate that a conditional parasitic-mutualism relationship between black rhinoceros and oxpecker, is made possible by other parasitic and predator biodiversity relationships. Here strong evidence is provided that a critically endangered flagship species is the keystone in a network of biodiverse interactions among multi-trophic coexisting species. The first step to conserving interaction biodiversity requires a better understanding of the complex dynamics within which they occur. 2011-12-06 14:28 Developing an adaptive management framework for the conservation of an endangered amphibian Pollard, CJ*, The University of Newcastle; Stockwell, MP, The University of Newcastle; Garnham, JI, The University of Newcastle; Pickett, EJ, The University of Newcastle; Clulow, J, The University of Newcastle; Mahony, MJ, The University of Newcastle; The once common green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea) began to experience large-scale population declines in NSW during the 1970s, and is now listed as endangered in this state. One of the largest remaining L. aurea populations in NSW is situated at Sydney Olympic Park, where it has been continually monitored since its discovery in the early 1990s. One of the aims of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a range of management actions that have been implemented for the conservation of L. aurea at this site throughout the past two decades, using the data collected during this long-term monitoring regime. One such action was the draining of ponds to temporarily remove a predatory fish, which was found to significantly increase the reproductive success of L. aurea. The second aim of the study was to develop an adaptive management framework based on the assessment of the effectiveness of previously implemented actions. By incorporating the results of previous management actions into the decision making process for the selection of future actions, the adaptive management process has the potential to improve management success in the long-term. 2011-12-08 14:30 Challenges for detecting and projecting climate change impacts on marine mega fauna Poloczanska, E.S.*, Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research; Richardson, A.J., Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research; Marine Climate Change Impacts Working Group, National Centre for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis; While impacts on ecological systems consistent with climate change are increasingly apparent, it can be difficult to rigorously ascribe these to climate change to underpin policy and conservation responses. Identifying the mechanisms driving change is especially challenging with biological data, which are inherently noisy because of short-term biotic and abiotic influences superimposed upon natural decadal climate cycles in the oceanatmosphere system that can mask or interact with climate change. This may be even more challenging for marine mega-fauna with long and complex life history and migratory movements among feeding, breeding and nursery grounds. We compiled a database of >3000 observations of climate change impacts on marine biology and found
25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011 species richness or by their irreplaceability (i.e. irreplaceable because the presence of endemic species) in a global geographic grid. Nine key conservation sites, comprising the 2.5% cells with highest species richness, were found in all oceans and freshwater bodies of all continents, mostly in temperate latitudes, and hold 74% of marine mammal species. In addition, we found 11 key conservation irreplaceable sites, six of which were found in freshwater and five in marine regions. The combination of species rich and irreplaceable key conservation sites allows the representation of all marine mammal species in priority cells providing new criteria and guidance for their conservation. Species richness across the oceans has a strong correlation with human impacts, indicating the urgency of global conservation strategies. 2011-12-07 15:30 Modeling temporal impacts on habitat suitability and population persistence for endangered species Poos, M.S.*, Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Curtis, J., Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Grinnell, M., Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Koops, M., Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Developing quantitative estimates of critical habitat of endangered species often requires knowledge of how species relate to habitat conditions through space and time. However, in many cases the relationship between habitat suitability can change due to temporal differences in the duration and magnitude of population impacts. For example, there are often time lags between the time when a habitat has been perturbed and when the population responds. Additionally, rates of catastrophic events, which occur under very small temporal scales, but have large population-scale impacts, are often unknown. Here, we examine the influence of time lags and catastrophes for altering habitat suitability and population persistence in an endangered species in Canada, the Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus). We model differences in population persistence and habitat suitability using: 1) species-specific projections from historical data, 2) population viability analyses using life history information, and 3) by incorporating natural versus anthropogenic rates of catastrophes into population viability analyses. In all cases, we found that rates of population persistence and habitat suitability of Redside Dace populations were greatly altered by incorporating temporal impacts. Models which fail to incorporate temporal impacts from habitat fragmentation or catastrophes are likely underestimating rates of degradation, suggesting current habitats may be more suitable then they actually are. 2011-12-08 18:30 The Return of the Salt Marshes: Cultivating an Ecosystem while Cultivating Awareness Porcheddu, Jennifer*, CUNY Graduate Center/ College of Staten Island; Salt marshes are among the most productive ecosystems on earth, and the health of inshore marshes directly influences the offshore fishery. Because humans so heavily populate our coasts, salt marshes have been subject to centuries of insult. Despite measures to reduce water pollution, protect fisheries, and limit building on wetlands, the health of salt marshes has continued to decline. Thus, restoration efforts have begun in many locations along our coasts. These restoration methods need to be evaluated for success. My goals are to establish which methods work best, clarify the sequence in which new marshes are recolonized by flora and fauna, and determine how soon ecological function is returned to acceptable levels. I census vertebrate and invertebrate abundance and habitat usage, assess water and soil quality and analyze succession of vegetation at restored and natural marshes. I will compare these data with data collected twenty and forty years ago in this region. This research will inform continued restoration efforts of estuaries along all of our coasts. Additionally, my findings will enhance our understanding of salt marsh dynamics, as well as giving us further insight into the factors causing marsh loss. Further, I have coordinated my research with local high school groups who assist me in data collection. The impact on these students of early exposure to conservation and restoration efforts is considered. 2011-12-09 10:45 Interacting edge effects around abandoned cattle corrals in an African savanna Porensky, Lauren McGeoch*, UC Davis; Habitat edges can impact biodiversity conservation and the provision of ecosystem services. In fragmented or complex landscapes, edge effects may be altered by the presence or proximity of other nearby edges. This phenomenon –edge interaction– is increasingly recognized as a driver of landscape pattern and process. I investigated edge interactions in an African savanna. In this landscape, abandoned cattle corrals develop into treeless, nutrient-rich, preferentially grazed “glades” with unique plant communities. Glades persist for decades, and glade densities are increasing in East Africa. I compared less isolated glades (250m from another glade). Compared with isolated glade edges, edges between adjacent glades had almost twice as many trees, half as much wildlife dung, and substantially different plant and Acacia-ant communities. In general, results did not indicate a convergence or merging of glade edges. To learn more about the development of these patterns, I worked with managers to establish sites containing either one corral, two corrals separated by 100m, or two corrals separated by 200m. Eighteen months after abandonment, corral density and proximity began to affect both plant and wildlife communities. These findings indicate that 1) edge effects may be very sensitive to patch configuration, and 2) the spatial configuration of management activities can have large and sometimes nonintuitive ecological impacts. 2011-12-07 14:45 Integrating tourism within fishing communities: A grassroots effort to create a beneficial industry for the user and a nonextractive use of the marine resource Porter, BA*, NZTRI Auckland University of Technology; Rural poverty is a major concern in coastal areas of developing nations and the current approach to poverty alleviation includes maximizing existing economies such as fisheries. The majority of fisheries development projects are inclusive of a resource management strategy, although the resource may already be in decline and the environmental sustainability of such plans is questionable as many developing countries lack experience with the necessary fisheries management tools (eg. maximum sustainable yield, marine protected areas). The World Tourism Organization suggests tourism as a means for diversifying economies of depressed rural communities and marine tourism should be considered a viable alternative economy for fishing communities. Sustainability and long-term implications of resource exploitation must be considered by the community when exploring alternative economies as tourism may occur at the expense of the host community and community-based planning within tourism integration processes is an activity that is discussed more often than applied. An integration model combining elements of phenomenological inquiry and a participatory methodology is suggested to measure a community’s willingness to engage in tourism and strengthen their role within the tourism integration process. Centralizing the community in the integration will allow environmental and ethical risks to be addressed thus minimizing potential risks. 2011-12-07 12:00 Conservation is where the heart is Possingham, H.P.*, The University of Queensland; Conservation lobbying and campaigns occur at all spatial and temporal scales. Each of us has the most ability to act and achieve conservation outcomes close to home, although the gains are generally small. Global conservation outcomes require many people and are highly uncertain. I will describe my involvement in achieving conservation outcomes on the ground from the local scale, a neighbourhood park, through to issues of continental and global significance. Some common features of success are: timing, persistence and partnerships. 2011-12-09 15:00 Dealing with risk, uncertainty and dynamics in setting spatial conservation priorities Possingham, H.P.*, The University of Queensland; Wilson, K.A., The University of Queensland; Watts, M., The University of Queensland; Beger, M., The University of Queensland; Carwardine, J., CSIRO; Carvalho, S., Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto; Segan, D., The University of Queensland; Game, E., The Nature Conservancy The field of conservation planning now embraces the generic problem of what to do, where and when. There is the misconception that risk and uncertainty are major impediments to spatial conservation planning. In 131
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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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