Abstracts available here - Society for Conservation Biology

25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011
are superimposed on the Brazilian map full of Conservation Units. Our
results showed that in all the models generated, the three species studied are
not inserted or near protected areas. Thus, we conclude that the Brazilian
system of protected areas is still inefficient when it comes to guarantee the
future of these species.
2011-12-07 16:45 Genetic analyses reveal congruence between
biogeographic and genetic boundaries in the New Zealand endemic
little-necked clam, Austrovenus stutchburyi.
Ross, PM*, University of Waikato; Hogg, ID, University of Waikato;
Pilditch, CA, University of Waikato; Lundquist, CJ, NAtional
Institute of Water and Atmospehric Research; Wilkins, RJ, University
of Waikato;
The identification of subpopulations of harvested or threatened species is a
prerequisite for stock assessment, sustainable exploitation and conservation
management. In the marine environment where many organisms disperse
as pelagic larvae the identification of subpopulations has been problematic
due to difficulties associated with determining the distances and pathways
over which larvae disperse. Instead, indirect methods must be used to assess
the spatial elements of stock structure. One such method is biogeography in
which community biodiversity is used to define biologically distinct regions
for population management. However, it is uncertain whether species
spanning biogeographic regions should be managed as units delineated by
biogeographic break points, as this method may artificially impose population
boundaries on widespread species based on the distribution of species with
restricted distributions. In this study we document the population genetic
structure of a widespread New Zealand endemic estuarine clam, based on
an analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers. We examined
the spatial arrangement of genetic lineages identifying six genetically
distinct subpopulations. Boundaries between regions were congruent with
biogeographic boundaries, with analysis of molecular variance suggesting
that the biogeographic classification adequately describes the geographic
distribution of genetic diversity in this species. These results suggest that
in the absence of genetic data, biogeographic classification may provide a
useful proxy for the definition population management units.
2011-12-07 15:15 A Review of Large-Scale Conservation Corridors in
South Africa: From Design to Implementation
Rouget, M*, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Knight, AT,
Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Cowling, RM, Nelson Mandela
Metropolitan University, South Africa; Lötter, M, Mpumalanga
Tourism and Parks Agency, South Africa;
Over the last 10 years, several strategies have been proposed for conserving
large-scale biodiversity corridors in South Africa with various degrees of
success providing a great opportunity to document lessons learned. Here
we review their policy framework, spatial design and implementation.
Early initiatives were developed in the absence of a strong regulating
framework. However, explicit consideration of landscape connectivity and
corridors in recent biodiversity and land use policies should facilitate the
implementation of corridors in the future. In most cases, corridors were
designed in order to limit habitat fragmentation, maintain species migration
routes and allow adaptation to climate change. Most corridors were aligned
with the freshwater network and/or major climatic gradients. We found
that a variety of spatial design methods was used integrating terrestrial and
freshwater connectivity measures. Although the methodological complexity
varied, we could not relate it to implementation levels. Implementation
mechanisms ranged from improved management practices to protected area
expansion. However the extent to which implementation took place varied
considerably. Several factors contributing to success were identified: explicit
links between strategy, design and implementation, integration of freshwater
and terrestrial connectivity, integration of land use and biodiversity
planning, and alignment of different policies. We also identified several
limiting factors such as: late regulation, delay in implementation, lack of
transdisciplinary approach, and limited involvement of key stakeholders.
2011-12-08 18:30 Losing Money and Species due to Illegal fishing
Royalty, Winden*, Tarleton State University;
Hurricanes and oil spills are not the only things that can make the price of
seafood rise. Many countries lose large amounts of fish to illegal activity.
The Japanese fishing industry comes into other countries waters looking
for fish and do not follow the laws that are in place to prevent the loss of
endangered animals. However, Japan is not the only country which fishes
in others waters without following regulations. Ships from China among
others have been found violating the same international laws. Money is
going out of each country as they lose resources to Asia. While it may not
be practical to ban these fishermen completely from every section of the
ocean, a few stricter laws and stronger enforcement of the ones in place
could prevent significant economic losses.
2011-12-08 18:30 Habitat requirements and spatial occurence patterns
of specialist and generalist beetle species in a managed boreal forest
landscape
RUBENE, DIANA*, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences;
Wikars, Lars-Owe, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences;
Ranius, Thomas, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences;
Wild-fires are today scarce in Fennoscandian forests and species associated
with sun-exposed dead wood largely depend on clear-cuts. We have
investigated occurrence patterns and habitat requirements of five beetle
species in repeated surveys 2003-2004 and 2010, in a managed boreal forest
landscape in Sweden. Two of the species are habitat specialists and also
included in the Swedish red list. All species inhabit sun-exposed dead birch
logs, but have to some extent different habitat requirements. Occurrence
of the species is strongly dependent on amount of dead birch wood on
clear-cuts and time since clear-cutting. The most threatened species, Upis
ceramboides, showed a clear decline in occupancy between 2004 and 2010,
while the other species seemed to have a stable or even increasing occupancy.
A possible explanation for the decline is habitat degradation, if the species
respond with a time lag to decreasing amounts and quality of dead wood, or
decreasing proportion of deciduous trees in the managed forest landscape.
It appears that generalist species are able to quite well utilize the resources
in the managed forests, while for some of the specialist species the habitat
amount and quality might be insufficient.
2011-12-06 11:30 Conservation on African Landscapes: Can
Understanding Wildlife Behavior Make Human Behavior Sustainable?
Rubenstein, DI*, Princeton University;
One of the first principles of behavioral ecology is that features of the
environment shape the behavior of animals. Thus as humans alter
landscapes, some features of animal repertoires are likely to change in ways
that allow species to cope with environmental changes. But there will be
limits to the types and degree of behavioral flexibility that animals exhibit.
By identifying the behavior of animals that is malleable, strategic changes to
human behavior can be instituted so that subsequent environmental change
induces naturally adaptive responses of threatened species. The behavior
of equids is diverse, flexible and well characterized; the way ecological
forces mold behaviors to meet the demands of particular habitats is well
understood; and most equid populations today share landscapes impacted
by people. Thus equids represent an ideal group of species for examining
the degree to which changes in animal behavior can identify the types
of changes in human behavior that can foster wildlife conservation and
sustainable human development.
2011-12-08 12:00 Disentangling the effects of different sources of
uncertainty on the projected decline of an epixylic moss population
Ruete, A*, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences (SLU). ; Yang, W, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological
Institute (SMHI), ; Bärring, L, Swedish Meteorological and
Hydrological Institute (SMHI), ; Stenseth, NC, Centre for Ecological
and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biology, University
of Oslo; Snäll, T, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of
Agricultural Sciences (SLU). ;
Assessment of future ecosystem risks should account for as many uncertainty
sources as possible. This means accounting for the joint effects of climate
variables, and using modelling techniques that allow proper treatment of
uncertainties. We investigate the influence of five uncertainty sources on
projections of future abundance of a bryophyte of conservation concern.
Bryophytes have a key role in ecosystem processes and constitute a large
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