Abstracts available here - Society for Conservation Biology

25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011
2011-12-09 11:00 Engaging stakeholders in the selection of flagship
species
Veríssimo, D*, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology; Smith,
RJ, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology; Pongiluppi, T,
SAVE Brasil; Santos, C, SAVE Brasil; Develey, PF, SAVE Brasil;
MacMillan, DC, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology;
Flagship species are instrumental in raising awareness and changing
behaviour for biodiversity conservation. However most flagships are selected
without consulting the stakeholders they attempt to influence, which can
seriously hamper their effectiveness. To tackle this issue we developed a
framework based on social marketing and environmental economics which
aims at understanding the values key stakeholders hold for different species.
This framework was applied to select a bird flagship species for the Atlantic
forest in the Serra do Urubu, Northeast Brazil. Through the use of 438
choice experiment questionnaires, we found that selected stakeholders first
prioritized aesthetically-pleasing species, followed by species with small
populations, high visibility and those which could not be kept as pets. We
then used these four criteria to produce a candidate list of four potential
flagship species by linking this information with the profiles of the 221
bird species found in the Serra do Urubu. Finally, we conducted a survey
where stakeholders chose between the different flagship candidates, which
allowed us to identify the most popular flagship species and understand
more about the trade-offs that influence conservation decision-making.
This study highlights how social marketing and environmental economics
contribute towards an active engagement of stakeholders in the design of
behaviour change and awareness raising campaigns.
2011-12-08 18:30 Range size and habitat use of a naturally occurring
island population of the northern quoll, Dasyurus hallucatus.
Vincent van Uitregt*, The University of Queensland; William Ellis,
The University of Queensland; Sean Fitzgibbon, The University of
Queensland; Robbie Wilson, The University of Queensland;
The northern quoll Dasyurus hallucatus is a predatory marsupial that has
undergone massive range reduction in Australia. Previously common across
the top end of the mainland, D. hallucatus populations have disappeared
soon after the invasion of the toxic cane toad Bufo marinus. Fortunately,
many island populations that have had no contact with B. marinus persist
in high densities. Groote Eylandt, off the Northern Territory coast, is one
such island where the traditional owners maintain customs that closely link
them with their country and the animals therein. In a collaborative effort,
researchers from The University of Queensland and Rangers from the
Anindilyakwa Land Council are investigating the range size and habitat use
of D. hallucatus on Groote Eylandt. The primary aim is to provide baseline
data on this naturally occurring island population, which is becoming more
and more important for the conservation of the species, and to provide data
for comparison with mainland populations and recently translocated island
populations. This collaboration fosters an exchange of skills that will enable
the local indigenous rangers to carry out ecological research to monitor and
maintain biodiversity on the island.
2011-12-08 14:30 Impacts of hydro-electric project development on
the critical habitats for montane birds, Western Himalaya
Virat Jolli*, CISMHE, University of Delhi
The montane forest of Sainj Valley, Western Himalaya is under
anthropogenic pressure due to the development of hydro-electric projects
(HEP). The ongoing HEP activities around highly biodiverse areas
(Endemic Bird Area Zone) have negatively affected the birds of Sainj
Valley. To guide conservation initiatives, montane bird communities were
studied to determine their response along a disturbance gradient with the
aim of identifying key factors influencing their distribution. Habitat types
surveyed included primary and secondary montane forests, agricultural,
and HEP affected habitats (disturbed). Response variables included total
avifaunal and woodland species richness and abundance and were measured
using point count surveys. Explanatory variables measured were related to
tree and shrub density, disturbance intensity and altitude. Estimated ‘true’
species richness was higher for pristine and minimally disturbed sites, lower
in agricultural sites and lowest in HEP affected sites. This study revealed
that tree and shrub density and disturbance influenced species distribution;
woodland birds responded acutely with HEP activities. Generalist species
tended to increase around human modified landscape while specialist
avoided it. The avian foraging guilds across a disturbance gradient suggested
that frugivores and carnivores were the most affected one while omnivore
abundance increased in human modified landscape, while insectivore
abundance remained unchanged. I recommend increasing vegetation cover
in disturbed habitats along with proper landscaping and any development
proposed in and around protected Himalayan forest needs to be well
evaluated and later monitored closely to minimise habitat loss for avian
habitats.
2011-12-09 14:15 The effectiveness of contrasting protected areas in
Madre de Dios, Peru
Vuohelainen, A*, University of Oxford; Coad, L., University of
Oxford; Marthews, T., University of Oxford; Malhi, Y., University
of Oxford; Killeen, T., Conservation International;
Accurate monitoring of the effectiveness of protected areas in reducing
deforestation is increasingly important, given the vital role of forest
protection in climate change mitigation. Previous studies on protected area
effectiveness have often employed remote sensing to measure deforestation,
comparing deforestation rates within protected areas to ‘buffer’ areas
outside them. However, buffer analysis may overestimate protected area
effectiveness and provides little information on the factors contributing to
effectiveness. We used a regression model, controlling for landscape effects,
to estimate the effectiveness of ten protected areas in Madre de Dios, Peru.
Factors influencing protected area effectiveness were investigated using insitu
key-informant interviews. While our analyses suggested that all of the
areas had prevented deforestation to some extent, the most effective areas
were ecotourism and conservation concessions, with surveillance and good
relations with surrounding landowners. Native community areas were found
to be less effective, with deforestation mainly driven by internal resource
use and population growth. Weak local governance and immigration were
identified as underlying factors reducing the effectiveness of protection. The
results highlight the need to combine remote sensing with information on
protected area management, as identification of drivers and deterrents of
deforestation is vital for improving the effectiveness of protection
2011-12-09 16:45 Captive Facilities as a Safe Harbour - Saving New
Zealand Native Frogs from Extinction
Waldman, Bruce*, Seoul National University;
New Zealand endemic frogs (genus Leiopelma) are ‘living fossils’, the
most archaic lineage of living anurans. Their conservation presents special
challenges. The species exist in small, isolated or highly fragmented
populations, with limited gene flow and highly structured populations.
Of most concern is Archey’s frog, Leiopelma archeyi. Populations surveyed
in optimal habitat declined by over 80% since 1996. But in many areas
where frogs were common in the early 1990s, none remain. After the
discovery of amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
(Bd), infecting Canterbury hylid frogs in 1989, reducing risk of exposure
of Leiopelma frogs to Bd became a primary management objective. While
a low proportion of Archey’s frogs have been found infected by Bd in the
field, infections have not been observed to cause morbidity or mortality.
Sick frogs have been frequently found in the field, however, showing
clinical signs, including blisters and skin ulcerations, associated with
other diseases. A captive breeding programme was established in 2002 to
safeguard the species from disease. Infected individuals, rescued from the
field, showed full, spontaneous recovery within 6 months under optimised
ex situ conditions. Further, frogs successfully bred under simulated natural
conditions. Genetic approaches, including selective breeding for MHC
alleles known to confer disease resistance, should be incorporated into
management strategies to ensure successful reintroductions.
2011-12-09 12:15 Land reform, grassland conversion, and species
habitat loss in New Zealand’s remaining indigenous grasslands
Walker, S*, Landcare Research, Private Bag 1930, Dunedin 9054,
New Zealand;
A process of land reform (called ‘tenure review’) is coinciding with a period
rapid pastoral intensification in New Zealand’s remaining indigenous
grasslands. In 1992, the Crown owned about 2.4 million ha of land (9.3%
of New Zealand) in about 350 large properties that it leased for grazing in
the interior of the South Island. Although a limited form of biodiversity
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