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25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011 2011-12-08 18:30 Bounded rationality and the design of protected areas systems: a case study from Uruguay Soutullo, A*, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural; Bartesaghi, L, Dirección Nacional de Medio Ambiente; Mejía, P, Dirección Nacional de Medio Ambiente; Nin, M, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural; Ríos, M, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural; The process of taking decision is constrained by the information available, the analytical capability of processing that information, and the amount of time available for making decisions. Thus, decision-makers are often satisficers, seeking for a satisfactory solution rather than an optimal one. The process of designing a system of protected areas requires making decisions over three main questions: 1) where new protected areas are to be created, 2) what should be the objectives and the spatial design of each of these areas, and 3) how should they be managed to meet their goals. A different set of information is needed to provide proper answers to each of these questions. Here we suggest a planning approach to the design of protected areas systems based on the concept of bounded rationality and systematic conservation planning principles, and apply it to the design of Uruguay’s national system of protected areas (NSPA). Conservation objectives for each of the 12 extant protected areas are identified, as well as the location of the 24 new areas that are to be created to meet the objectives of the NSPA. 2011-12-08 18:30 Linking national and local objectives in the design and management of protected areas: three case studies from Uruguay Soutullo, A*, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural; Bartesaghi, L, Dirección Nacional de Medio Ambiente; Mejía, P, Dirección Nacional de Medio Ambiente; Nin, M, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural; Ríos, M, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural; The management of protected areas that integrate a system of reserves should seek to ensure that system-level objectives are met. If protected areas systems are designed following systematic conservation planning principles, each of the areas that integrate the system have a unique role to play in order to fulfill the system’ objectives. Thus, the process of designing these areas, setting their conservation objectives, and planning their management has to ensure that by meeting the targets of the areas’ management plans the system’s objectives are properly met. Here we describe the process, tools and principles applied to the design and planning of three reserves that integrate Uruguay’s national system of protected areas (NSPA), and the lessons learnt. These areas include both public and private lands, and encompass a range of habitat types, including woodlands, grasslands, wetlands, and coastal and marine ecosystems. 2011-12-06 10:45 Functional Connectivity and the Resistance Surface Spear, SF*, The Orianne Society; Balkenhol, N, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research; Fortin, M-J, University of Toronto; McRae, BH, The Nature Conservancy; Scribner, K, Michigan State University; Resistance surfaces are an increasingly common method to measure functional connectivity. Resistance surfaces represent hypothesized relationships between landscape features and functional connectivity, and are based on underlying biological functions such as relative abundance or movement probabilities in different land cover types. The biggest challenge for calculating resistance surfaces is assignment of resistance values to different landscape features. We discuss the biological assumptions and considerations that influence analyses using resistance surfaces, such as the relationship between gene flow and dispersal, how habitat suitability may influence animal movement, and how resistance surfaces can be translated into estimates of functional landscape connectivity. Finally, we outline novel approaches for creating optimal resistance surfaces using either simulation or computational methods. These approaches have the potential to improve corridor analysis, but they also create new challenges. We conclude that no single approach for using resistance surfaces is appropriate for every situation. We suggest that researchers carefully consider objectives, important biological assumptions and available parameterization and validation techniques when planning biological corridors. 2011-12-09 17:00 A Global Conservation Assessment of Dung Beetles: Sampled Red List Approach Spector, SH*, American Museum of Natural History; Nichols, ES, Columbia University; Davis, ALV, University of Pretoria; Forgie, S, Landcare Research; Josso, JF, l’Association Catharsius; Frolov, A, Zoological Institute Russian Academy of Science; Krell, FT, Denver Museum of Nature and Science; Larsen, T, Princeton University We present the results of a global conservation assessment of Scarabaeine dung beetles, a widely proposed focal taxon for biodiversity inventory and monitoring. A randomly selected sample of 1500 species (24.7% of the 6060 valid, described species) were assessed using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, Version 3.1. For each species, historical range, current distribution, habitat requirements, and threat vectors were determined. Globally, 10.6% of dung beetle species are threatened with extinction. This is likely an underestimate given the additional 5.9% of species that are known to be on trajectories toward threatened status, and the significant proportion of previously widespread species for whom recent population or distribution information is unavailable. Narrow-range endemic, hostspecialist, and tropical forest-inhabiting species were threatened at higher rates than the total fauna. Also of concern are projections that the functional consequences of dung beetle declines may be non-linear and more severe than the proportion of threatened species would suggest. 2011-12-08 18:30 Evaluation of the fruit production of three arecacea species in different amazon floodplain environments Sposito, RC*, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá; Palm trees are one of the largest plant families of the world and represent an important source of products that can be used in several ways by the man. This study aimed to compare the fruit production of three Areacacea species, Euterpe precatoria; Scheelea pharelata and Astrocaryum murumuru, between two environments, high and low floodplains found in Mamirauá Reserve, Amazonas, Brazil. We randomly selected 10 individuals per specie distant at least 100m from each other in each floodplain type. We collected, counted and weighed their bunch and fruits/seeds. In the high floodplain E. precatoria presented an average of 2.7 bunches with 16.7kg each one and 8,404 fruits/bunch. In low floodplain, the values were, respectively 2.4; 12.4kg; 6,454. S. pharelata presented in the high floodplain an average of 1.8 bunches and the mean weight of 10 seeds was 0,570kg with an average of 171 fruits/bunch. In low floodplain the values were, respectively 2.1; 0,568kg; 163. In the same way the values encountered to A. murumuru were 2.2; 0,125kg; 227 in the high floodplain and 3.1; 0,141kg; 128 in the low floodplain. T-test (α=0,05) indicated significant difference between both environments types regarding the number of fruit/bunch produced by A. murumuru. These results in addition with further abundance and population structure analysis will enable to predict the regional fruit production capacity of these resources and the ecological potential for management of these important species. 2011-12-07 11:26 Sell It to Save It- A community trade campaign working with communities in Kenya and Australia to benefit wildlife and people. Squires, B*, Wildlife, Conservation and Science; The Beads for Wildlife community trade campaign aims to assist people and save wildlife in Northern Kenya. Zoos Victoria (ZV) is working with the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) to help alleviate communitydriven threats to the region’s wildlife. Working with four NRT community conservancies, the first step in this ambitious project is to provide incentives for people to save wildlife. Zoos Victoria has helped establish and run a community trade project to engage 500 conservancy women with conservation and at the same time providing them with income. By making traditional beadwork that ZV sells in Australia, the women have earned more than AUD.140,000, leading to increased food security, better health and education outcomes, and decreased household conflict. This is directly benefiting wildlife through decreased grazing competition between livestock and wildlife. These outcomes have become powerful channels to communicate with people about sustainable resource management, and protection of wildlife and habitats. In Australia, ZV’s call-to-action campaign engages Australian communities with helping people and wildlife in northern Kenya, through linking Plains Zebras in our zoos with Grevy’s Zebra in Kenya. The results so far demonstrate the power of working with 160
25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011 communities to tackle biodiversity issues. 2011-12-08 18:30 Rare plant populations on degraded and natural habitat do not respond equally to mitigation of pest and pathogen pressure Squires, S, of Environment and Conservation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Corner Brook, NL, Canada; Hermanutz, L*, Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL, Canada A1B 3X9; Dixon, P, 3Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, St. John’s, NL, Canada; Populations of the Limestone Barrens endemics, Braya longii (endangered) and B. fernaldii (threatened) have declined since 1998. Stage based transition matrices created from nine years of demographic data and summarized into deterministic projections suggest additional declines over the next 10 years for each Braya species. The viability of populations on natural substrate is vulnerable to increased mortality of large, flowering plants, where as populations on anthropogenically degraded substrate are vulnerable to declines in seedling survival and seed production. Between 2003 and 2006 the impacts of a non-native insect and pathogenic threats on Braya reproduction and survival was determined. Management scenarios were explored by adjusting the baseline viability models to reflect the survival rates of unaffected plants. For populations on natural substrate, the removal of the insect improved population growth rate more than the removal of a pathogen (B. longii- 8.0% vs 1.8%, B. fernaldii- 10.0% vs 0.3%), where as on anthropogenically degraded substrate the removal of a pathogen improved the population growth rate more than the removal of the insect (B. longii- 1.8% vs 1.1%, B. fernaldii- 10.7% vs 7.4%). Intervention, including the prevention of mortality due to pests and the restoration of populations will help improve long-term population viability. 2011-12-07 17:00 Identifying indicators of illegal behaviour: carnivore killing in human-managed landscapes St. John, F.A.V.*, Bangor University; Keane, A.M., University College London; Edwards-Jones, G., Bangor University; Jones, L., n/a; Yarnell, R.W., Nottingham Trent University; Jones, J.P.G., Bangor University; Managing natural resources often depends upon influencing people’s behaviour. Effectively targeting interventions to discourage environmentally harmful behaviours is challenging because those involved may be unwilling to identify themselves. Non-sensitive indicators of sensitive behaviours are therefore needed. Previous studies have investigated people’s attitudes, assuming attitudes reflect behaviour. There has also been interest in using psychological bias resulting from people’s tendency to imagine that others are more like themselves than they really are, to identify those involved in sensitive behaviours. However, there has been little attempt to test the value of potential indicators. We use the randomised response technique, designed for investigating sensitive behaviours, to investigate potential indicators of human-wildlife conflict. We estimate the proportion of farmers in northeastern South Africa killing five carnivore species, and investigate indicators of carnivore killing using a modified logistic regression model. One-fifth of farmers admitted to killing leopards in the last year. Farmers’ attitudes towards carnivores and their estimates of their peers’ carnivore killing behaviour predict the likelihood of farmers killing carnivores. Attitude and bias in estimates of peer behaviour may be useful indicators of people’s involvement in illicit behaviours. Such information can be used to identify groups of people to engage in behaviour-change interventions. 2011-12-07 16:45 Can pocket parks support suburban birds in a compact city? Stagoll, K*, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University; Manning, AD, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University; Knight, E, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University; Fischer, J, Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lueneburg; Lindenmayer, DB, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University The desire to improve urban sustainability is motivating many city planners to adopt growth strategies that increase residential density, leading to substantial changes in the urban form. In Australia, for example, Canberra is moving from a “garden city” approach of large residential blocks with extensive private open space, to a “compact city” plan of small blocks with high levels of impervious surface cover. What affect this change will have on biodiversity remains unclear, but it is expected that the role of public green space in providing wildlife habitat will become critical. In our study, we explored the role of suburban “pocket” parks as habitat for birds, and how this role changes with different urban forms. We looked at the effects of several scales, including the vegetation structure within the park, the amount of green space within the neighbourhood, and the housing structure of the suburb. We also considered the importance of physical connectivity between the park and other public green space. We conclude that pocket parks, especially those retaining large native trees, (1) provide foraging and nesting resources for a wide diversity of birds, (2) help maintain a continuum of stepping stones throughout suburban areas, and (3) may function as suburban refugia as cities become more compact. 2011-12-07 10:30 Conservation translocations: from reintroduction to assisted colonisation. Stanley Price, MR, University of Oxford; Seddon, P*, University of Otago; Moehrenschlager, A, Calgary Zoo Reintroductions have developed greatly over the last 40 years from, at worst, irresponsible releases to rigorously designed and monitored scientific practice. Quantitatively, reintroductions have increased both absolutely and in in the diversity of taxa reintroduced, thereby constituting a significant element in the conservation tool box. This presentation will briefly review the development of reintroduction science and practice, proposing a new typology for the array of translocations for conservation purposes. But, reintroduction science and practice must now prepare for the challenges and opportunities afforded by climate change and other major threats to species’ persistence. This presentation will explore the issues around future reintroductions and the proactive moving of species for conservation purposes – ‘assisted colonisation’. We will explore the potentials for reintroduction in the context of forthcoming major change in many contemporary communities and the prospect of novel climates and ecosystems; we will then outline the consequent novel considerations around policy, sociology and ethics, as well as the need to advance urgently our knowledge and capacity in diverse areas such as risk and decisionmaking, genetics and micro-evolution, priority-setting, reintroduction objectives and measures of success, and the requirement for climate models at appropriate scale for reintroductions. 2011-12-07 18:15 Does research and conservation management reduce lifetime reproductive success in a long-lived seabird? STEIN, AM*, Zoology Department, University of Otago, PO Box 56 Dunedin 9054; van Heezik, Y, Zoology Department, University of Otago, PO Box 56 Dunedin 9054; Seddon, PJ, Zoology Department, University of Otago, PO Box 56 Dunedin 9054; The analysis of long-term life history data can be used to calculate lifetime reproductive success. Individuals can vary greatly in productivity according to life history traits, and a relatively low proportion of individuals may actually contribute genetically to the next generation. It is common for vulnerable or threatened species to be subject to consistent and high levels of disturbance for scientific studies and conservation efforts. These efforts often necessitate the handling of birds, eggs, and their young, or involve more intrusive activities such as blood sampling, stomach sampling and TDR deployment. It is often unknown what impact these activities may have on the species that such research is intending to benefit. The aim of this study is to determine which life history components, including interventions for scientific research and conservation management, influence lifetime reproductive success in yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) on the Otago Peninsula, New Zealand. This will be achieved by analysing a long-term dataset of life history and breeding data recorded from individual birds. 161
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Page 189 and 190: Index Benini, Rubens 42 Beniston, M
Page 191 and 192: Index DeWan, Amielle 14 Dianne Brun
Page 193 and 194: Index Hilborn, Ray 27 Hill, CM 176
Page 195 and 196: Index Loutit, R. 116 Louwe Kooijman
Page 197 and 198: Index Ottewell, K 81 Overton, J 61,
Page 199 and 200: Index Sequeira, Ana 151 Serebryakov
Page 201 and 202: Index Winandy, L 181 Winner, J. 112
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