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25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011 2011-12-09 11:15 Using genomics to manage inbreeding effects in New Zealand’s rarest kiwi Ramstad, KM*, Allan Wilson Centre, Victoria University of Wellington; Robertson, HA, New Zealand Department of Conservation; Colbourne, RM, New Zealand Department of Conservation; Kay, D, New Zealand Department of Conservation; Daugherty, CH, Allan Wilson Centre, Victoria University of Wellington; Ryder, OA, Institution for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo; Allendorf, FW, University of Montana; Kiwi (Family Apterygidae) are flightless ratite birds endemic to New Zealand. All kiwi species have experienced a significant reduction in their native range and struggle with small population size, recent bottleneck effects, and ongoing isolation. We are using genomic techniques to develop genetic markers and assess inbreeding depression in the rarest kiwi species, rowi (Apteryx rowi), which comprise only a single population of approximately 350 individuals. This effort presents a number of challenges common among species of conservation concern. For example, few numbers of individuals mean we are not able to cost-effectively use SNPs, low levels of polymorphism and strong linkage disequilibrium necessitate the screening of large numbers of markers, and the most closely related reference genomes are separated from kiwi by approximately 130my of evolution. Regardless, a single run of sequencing on a Roche 454 Genome Sequencer Junior resulted in nearly 90 thousand sequence reads (mean length 285bp) containing more than 300 putative microsatellite loci that can be screened for polymorphism. Alignment of these sequences with other avian genomes may also help identify functional candidate genes under selection in kiwi. Resultant markers will be critical for assessing relatedness and inbreeding depression among rowi, and will help managers select distantly related individuals for founders of new populations and captive rearing programmes. 2011-12-08 18:30 Conservation of the marbled murrelet in the Pacific Northwest, USA Raphael, MG*, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station; The Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is a small, diving seabird in the alcid family that forages within nearshore marine waters and nests on limbs of old coniferous trees. The species is federally listed as Threatened in the USA in the states of Washington, Oregon and California. As part of the regional effectiveness monitoring program in support of the Northwest Forest Plan, my colleagues and I have been surveying murrelets along coastal waters from year 2000 to present. These surveys indicate that murrelet numbers are declining at an annual rate of about 3.7%. Concurrent modeling of murrelet nesting habitat indicates an overall decline in amount of suitable nesting habitat of about 0.5%/yr, due mostly to logging on non-federal lands and wildfire on federal lands. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of murrelets is strongly correlated with amount of adjacent suitable nesting habitat. Population decline could be due to losses of nesting habitat, but marine conditions could also be responsible. If marine conditions are the driver of population change, then I would expect other marine birds with similar foraging ecologies to experience similar population declines but I found no comparable declines among other alcid species. Circumstantial evidence leads me to conclude that the conservation and restoration of nesting habitat are keys to recovery of this species. 2011-12-06 14:30 Integrating species conservation landscape models into setting management priorities for Nam Kading National Protected Area, Lao PDR. Rasphone, A*, Wildlife Conservation Society Laos; Bryja, G, Wildlife Conservation Society ; Hallam, C, Wildlife Conservation Society Laos; Johnson, A, Wildlife Conservation Society Laos; Spatial Models based on primarily expert information are commonly used in species habitat modeling where empirical data is lacking. Landscape species modeling approach was used in the process to highlight significant areas where management of the Nam Kading National Protected Area (NKNPA) in Lao PDR can ensure an efficient use of limited resources. This paper presents species conservation landscape modeling process and the use of the models in defining management interventions. The preliminary results from field data from the NKNPA are also incorporated to update the models for two of the Landscape species, Eurasian wild pig (Sus scrofa) and northern white-cheeked crested gibbons (Nomascus leucogenys).The results are used to better focus management priorities on these two species within the NKNPA. 2011-12-06 14:24 Return of Rhinoceros unicornis in Manas National Park of India Rathin Barman, Wildlife Trust of India; Bhaskar Choudhuri, Wildlife Trust of India; Phulmoni Boro, Wildlife Trust of India; NVK Ashraf, Wildlife Trust of India; Vivek Menon*, Wildlife Trust of India; For the first time in the history of rhino conservation in India, three rescued orphan greater one horned rhinoceros have been rehabilitated in another habitat which used to be a good rhino bearing area in the past. This has made a successful comeback of Rhinoceros unicornis to Manas National Park, a World Heritage Site in India. This is the first ever rehabilitation of hand-raised calves of Rhinoceros unicornis in a natural habitat. Calves were hand reared at Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) with a aim to rehabilitate them to their natural habitat. Feeding with human milk formula till the age of two years, the calves then fed with concentrates and greens in paddocks in CWRC. At the age of about three years the calves were translocated to Manas National Park, which is about 500 km away from Kaziranga and placed them in a pre-released area with an area about 600 acre. This pre-release area is fenced with electric fence and calves are free to roam and forage in this area. After spending about two years in this pre-release area the calves were released and to the wilderness. Radio monitoring shows that calves has established their own home ranges. 2011-12-07 15:15 Network-theoretic approaches for evaluating critical habitat: confronting trade-offs between habitat quality and connectivity Rayfield, B*, Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Pelletier, D, Département de Géographie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada; Cardille, J, Département de Géographie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada ; Gonzalez, A, Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Land use change threatens biodiversity by altering habitat area and quality but also by reducing habitat connectivity. The creation of networks of habitat fragments and corridors is expected to maintain biodiversity by facilitating an exchange of organisms, energy, and nutrients among fragments. From this perspective critical habitat fragments should be identified that contribute both connectivity and additional attributes, such as unique biodiversity. We present and apply a method to guide conservation planning in fragmented landscapes that uses network models to balance the trade-off between fragment quality and connectivity. This network-theoretic approach delineates multiple, efficient pathways through the landscape matrix which collectively form potential corridors between habitat fragments. Network metrics can quantify the independent contribution of each fragment to network connectivity structures (e.g., purely topological metrics) or can provide integrated measures of both fragment quality and connectivity (e.g, weighted centrality metrics). We apply this approach in a highly fragmented, multi-use landscape (1.5 million ha) in south-eastern Canada. We identify threshold distances at which habitat fragments are minimally aggregated into subnets and produce a spatial prioritization of fragments based on their contributions to network quality and connectivity. We demonstrate and quantify the importance of conserving critical habitat fragments that are of lower quality to protect connectivity across the network of fragments. Our method contributes to the integration of connectivity into systematic conservation planning. 2011-12-08 18:30 Designing walls as ecosystems in urban environments Reay, SD*, Auckland University of Technology; This project that provides a unique opportunity to use an inter-disciplinary collaborative approach to explore a range of potential design solutions by bringing technology and science (in particular the fields of biology and ecology) together with design to increase the awareness and understanding of issues centred on sustainability, framed in the context of understanding ecological systems. Urban development has resulted in a loss of connection with nature, and as a consequence, a loss of ecosystem processes. Consequently, we fail to see ourselves as part of nature. This loss of ‘cultural biodiversity’ has given way to the idea that nature is provided for our use and exploitation. The challenge to develop sustainable futures is to have 136
25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011 long-term planning that interrupts the decreasing importance of natural environment in the lives of urban people. Urban societies need to be encouraged to develop an awareness and understanding of the importance of ecosystem services and the role they play in urban environments, and ultimately human well-being. Enhancing natural biodiversity in urban environments and engaging urban dwellers with nature may help natural heritage be integrated with valid cultural values. This poster describes the design and development of prototype ceramic tile concepts to be used as a boundary structure to support the establishment of living walls for large concrete facades on city buildings, by establishing a complex 3D substrate to support early colonising species and act a substrate for continued biological invasion by a diverse range of plant and animal species. Over the longer-term the product should require no general maintenance to ensure continued functional integrity. The ultimate success of the product would result in the establishment of ongoing ecosystem processes. The proposed design exploits the potential to provide an internal cavity that is able to ‘house’ plant and animal species. This ‘living’ substrate will not likely require seeding of initial colonisers, but as a substrate will provide habitat for a range of species (while excluding urban animal pests i.e. mice/rats etc), that may colonise when ecological requirements are satisfied by prior successional colonising organisms. In its initial installed state the ceramic tile will represent an aesthetically clean and simple structure. Over time this structure will weather, require minimal or no maintenance and will start to ‘wear’ as biological entities adhere and develop. Over time it is anticipated that the structure will transform to become a dynamic structure that harbours and supports on-going biological (ecological) activity. A novel aspect of the proposed ceramic product is that the ecological requirements of invertebrates are considered. 2011-12-08 15:30 Migratory patterns of humpback whales in Colombia and the selection of areas included in the Corredor Marino del Pacífico Oriental Tropical Recalde-Salas, Angela *, Fundación Yubarta. Cali, Colombia - The University of Queensland, Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory. Gatton, Australia.; Flórez-González, Lilián, Fundación Yubarta. Cali, Colombia.; Wilson, Howard, The University of Queensland, The Ecology Centre. St Lucia, Australia; Noad, Michael, The University of Queensland, Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory. Gatton, Australia.; Capella, Juan, Fundación Yubarta. Cali, Colombia; Tobón, Isabel, Fundación Yubarta. Cali, Colombia; The presence or absence of a species was one of the points taken into account to select areas or regions included in the “Corredor Marino del Pacífico Oriental Tropical (CMPOT)”. However, for migratory species such as humpback whales, presence is not enough to select one area over other. Quantitative analysis of the migratory patterns of the southeast pacific humpback whale population, were performed for two areas in the Colombian Pacific Coast: Gorgona National Natural Park (GI) and Málaga Bay (MB). The analysis performed using probabilistic methods, showed low connectivity between the areas both within a season and between the seasons, and a higher rate of return to MB. Analysis also showed differences in habitat use; MB is mainly a destination and nursing area, and GI a transit and courtship one. Based on these differences, it is possible to consider MB as the main breeding area in Colombia and should be considered as an additional area for the CMPOT, which already includes GI. We also conclude that for humpback whales, ecological aspects such as return and movements should be considered as well as presence or absence in the selection of areas included in marine corridors. 2011-12-06 15:30 Giving Equal Conservation Priority to Ecosystems Protects Low Levels of Biodiversity Redding, DW*, Manchester Metropolitan University; Marsden, S, Manchester Metropolitan University; A ‘Convention for Biodiversity’ target set in 2004, asked governments to work together to ensure that at least 10% of each major ecoregion was protected by 2010. We ask: Was giving equal conservation priority to each ecoregion an approach that was going to maximise biodiversity protection? Using data from only those bird species abundant enough to be conserved at each of our 400 neotropical study sites, we found giving different weights to each ecoregion conserved up to 10 times as many species, compared to giving each ecoregion equal priority. We compare those ecoregions that were found to be consistently high priority, irrespective of the geographical area considered, and compared them to the current levels of protection, to identify high priority targets in the neotropics. 2011-12-08 10:45 Defining the Burden of Proof in Conservation REDFORD, KENT H.*, Wildlife Conservation Society; Salafsky, Nick, Foundations of Success; Conservation practitioners often must take action in the face of uncertainty about the costs and benefits of different options. For example, should a critically endangered frog population be managed in the wild, or brought into captive breeding? Or, should a land trust facilitate a conservation easement on a wetland owned by a large oil company? In each case, although the decision makers cannot wait for absolute certainty before taking action, is there some standard “burden of proof” that they need to meet so that it can be said that they acted in good faith and are “blameless” for the results of their decision? Conservationists are not the only professionals facing these situations. Medical doctors deciding on treatment options for an ill patient, judges making sentencing decisions, and soldiers and police officers following rules of engagement for using deadly force all have to meet burdens of proof established within their profession. We examine these other professions and use the findings to propose a taxonomy of issues based on the level of risk associated with an incorrect decision and suggest ways that these issues be given higher profile in the practice of conservation. 2011-12-06 12:00 Hunting for solutions to problems of predator management in UK Redpath, S.M.*, ACES, Aberdeen University; Birds of prey are still illegally killed in the UK by game managers and this presents conservation with a real challenge. I will examine approaches taken to managing this issue in the specific example of the UK uplands, where I have worked for 26 years. I will highlight the alternative perspectives of those involved and summarise the natural and social science that has been done to understand this fascinating and revealing problem. I will then explore the alternative approaches taken to finding solutions, consider the variety of solutions that have been proposed and the barriers that have prevented resolution. I will end by considering the role of science, legislation and dialogue in finding a solution to this problem, and the broader implications for conservation. 2011-12-09 11:30 Conservation Science Expertise for Local Land Use Planning and Residential Development REED, SE*, Colorado State University/Wildlife Conservation Society; High rates of land development around the world, the gap in funding available for land protection, and the need for dynamic conservation strategies in a changing climate all make this a critical time to examine new approaches for incorporating conservation objectives into development practices. Conservation development (CD) is an alternative approach to the site design of a development property that protects or restores its ecological resources and clusters housing on the remainder of the site. Although CD accounts for a growing proportion of residential development and private land conservation activity, design standards for how to implement CD were developed with limited involvement of conservation scientists, and the resulting CD projects are rarely evaluated for their conservation effectiveness. We will review guidelines and incentives for CD in local land use regulations and the resulting land use and conservation patterns in CD projects that are implemented through these regulations. We will discuss how conservation biology theory and research—specifically, the principles of reserve design, conservation planning, and protected area management—can be used to improve the conservation effectiveness of CD projects. We conclude with recommendations for how SCB and its member scientists can engage in regional land use policy and local development projects to shape future development patterns and improve the outcomes for conservation. 137
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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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