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25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011 2011-12-08 18:30 Priorities in policy and management when existing biodiversity stressors interact with climate-change Driscoll, DA*, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University; Felton, A, Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; Gibbons, P, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University; Felton, AM, Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; Munro, NT, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University; Lindenmayer, DB, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University; There are three key drivers of the biodiversity crisis; well known existing threats to biodiversity, direct effects of climate-change, and interactions between these two. In this presentation we describe the policy and management responses that are needed to minimise the impacts of these interactions and to avoid perverse outcomes of misguided climate-change adaptation measures. Renewed management and policy action that address known threats to biodiversity are a priority. An appropriate response to climate-change will include a reduction of land clearing, increased habitat restoration using indigenous species, a reduction in the number of exotic species transported between continents or regions of endemism, and a reduction in the unsustainable use of natural resources. Achieving these measures requires substantial reform of international, national and regional policy, and the development of new or more effective alliances between scientists, government agencies, non-government organisations and land managers. Furthermore, new management practices and policies are needed that consider shifts in the geographic range of species, and that are responsive to new information acquired from improved research and monitoring programs. The interactions of climate-change with existing threats to biodiversity have the potential to drive many species to extinction, but there is much that can be done now to reduce that risk at all levels of government. 2011-12-08 14:30 Molecular resolution of model ecosystems for island restoration Drummond, A., Department of Computer Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Nelson, N., Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand; Russell, J.*, School of Biological Sciences and Department of Statistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Stevens, M., South Australian Museum, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Newcomb, R., Plant and Food Research, Mt Albert, Auckland, New Zealand; Buckley, T., Landcare Research, Tamaki, Auckland, New Zealand.; Island ecosystems are complex, and most of their components, particularly cryptic, small and microbial, remain undiscovered. This presents substantial challenges when managers wish to set restoration targets and monitor whole-ecosystem recovery following conservation interventions. Advances in molecular tools, particularly next-generation sequencing, provide a powerful framework to characterise ecosystems and place their components simultaneously within a phylogeographic and species-abundance context. We demonstrate the utility of these methods in a pilot study characterising a 700 metre elevational gradient on Hauturu (Little Barrier Island), one of the first nature reserves in New Zealand, from which all introduced mammals have recently been eradicated. We show that the resolution of molecular tools is sufficient to distinguish high-levels of inter-plot variability and overall trends across all levels of biodiversity (birds, vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, fungi, invertebrates, pathogens). On Hauturu we are able to monitor ecosystem recovery following introduced species removal, and also for potential impacts of climate change. These methods provide a suite of tools that reduce the need for costly and/or time consuming expert identification of diversity. We believe they will come to dominate ecosystem characterization in the 21st century, when used in concert with traditional ecological methods. 2011-12-09 12:00 The role of marine protected areas in mitigating climate change and providing ecosystem services Dudley, Nigel*, Equilibrium Research; The role of marine protected areas in mitigating climate change and providing ecosystem services Following the 10th Conference of Parties of the CBD, signatory governments committed to protect at least 10% of marine areas, a massive increase on the current 7.2% of coastal waters and 3.3% of high seas. Although aimed primarily at halting biodiversity decline, a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) would deliver many additional benefits. Understanding these could help ensure commitments were carried through and might influence the size, location, management and governance of MPAs. We summarise a ten year research project by WWF and the World Bank, which compiled information on wider benefits of the global protected area network. We look at the role of protection areas in securing carbon in mangroves, kelp and sea-grass beds and in open-water plankton; and at the role of coral reefs, marshes and mangroves in protecting against storms and ocean surges. We examine evidence that MPAs can maintain fisheries, by securing spawning and nursery grounds for fish. The recreational values of MPAs are assessed, along with their role in protecting important cultural and sacred natural sites. Some challenges are discussed, with respect to ensuring effectiveness and building and maintaining stakeholder support. We look at the implications of the IUCN protected area definition in a marine context. Finally we end with recommendations for developing a comprehensive and robust global network of marine protected areas, delivering multiple benefits. 2011-12-08 11:00 No Room in the Ark? Climate Change and Biodiversity in the Pacific Islands of Oceania Duffy, D.C.*, University of Hawai`i Manoa; The Pacific Islands of Oceania face unprecedented anthropogenic climate change within this century. Rising sea levels, increasing ocean acidification, warming land and sea temperatures, increasing droughts, and changes in the frequency and intensity of storms are likely to reorder or destroy ecosystems such as coral reefs, mangrove and montane forests, and coastal wetlands. For the developed nations, an array of measures could ameliorate these effects. Developing nations, whose economies may be significantly damaged by climate change, face major impacts on their citizens, consigning conservation of biodiversity to a backseat. Conservation in these countries may not succeed unless the rich nations are willing to pay for them or where preservation of biodiversity satisfies the needs of local communities, often through traditional management and land tenure systems in rural areas. These communities will need useable information, as well as technical advice on how to reduce stressors on changing ecosystems such as wetlands, mangrove forests and coral reefs if they are going to achieve conservation. The resulting process of conservation of biodiversity may appear inefficient, relative to international expectations, but will be more effective over a wide area if it involves local people. 2011-12-07 14:30 Australia’s Great Eastern Ranges Initiative – Connecting People Connecting Nature DUNN, ROB*, Great Eastern Ranges Initiative; Howling, Gary, Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet; Pulsford, Ian, Global Learning Pty. Limited; The Great Eastern Ranges encompass the Great Dividing Range and the Great Escarpment of eastern Australia, stretching over 3,400 km. from the Grampians in Victoria to far North Queensland. Over millions of years, the ranges have provided a refuge for species and ecosystems to survive and evolve due to a wide range of elevations and latitudes with varied landscape and climate zones. Today they contain two thirds of the threatened species in NSW and supply water to over 90% of the population of the eastern seaboard. The Great Eastern Ranges Initiative brings people and organisations together in long-term partnerships to conserve, connect, protect and rehabilitate land along the ranges. The Initiative is a strategic response to mitigate the potential impacts of climate change, land clearing and other environmental stresses along this mega-corridor. Since 2007 the focus has been in five regional areas, each with different partners, stakeholders and social dynamics. Progress has also been made at the continental scale with agencies, researchers and NGOs working together. The Initiative has recently moved from a NSW Government to a community led program and is expanding into Victoria and Queensland. This dual focus, changing leadership and expansion present several challenges, but also provide opportunities for participation and funding. In this context, collaboration is essential, if cross tenure and continental-scale conservation outcomes are to be achieved on a voluntary basis. 44
25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011 2011-12-06 14:15 Exploring benefits of interactions between vultures and famers through multi-agent modelling Dupont, H*, CNRS; Bobbe, S, Centre Edgar Morin; Sarrazin, F, CNRS; The vulture’s conservation relies in part on the management of their trophic resources, which is, in Europe, largely linked to farming activities and constrained by sanitary regulations. Feeding vultures can be seen as a beneficial activity both preserving these flagship species and maintaining ecological carcass elimination. We conducted an interdisciplinary framework on carcass removal by vultures in an agro pastoral context, coupling social investigations and ecological data. We developed a multiagent model in order to investigate the consequences of various local managements of carcass elimination on a population of vultures and on the benefits of such natural carcass removal. Our results underline the advantages of a carcass disposal system directly managed by farmers, called light feeding station. However, the persistence of the vulture population and the associated benefits depend on the utilization of the light feeding stations, relying on the farmers’ perceptions of vultures. We will report on the relevance of interdisciplinary approaches and multi-agent modelling for applied research and management. 2011-12-06 15:15 Saving wide ranging species: cheetah and wild dog Durant, SM*, Zoological Society of London/Wildlife Conservation Society; Purchase, N, Zoological Society of London/Wildlife Conservation Society; Ogada, M, Zoological Society of London/ Wildlife Conservation Society; Woodroffe, R, Zoological Society of London/Wildlife Conservation Society; Cheetah and wild dog are the widest ranging large carnivores in Africa. With home ranges that can exceed 1000km2, these species need massive areas for their survival. Even the best protected areas harbour populations of cheetah and wild dog less than 10% of that of lions and their survival requires a new approach to conservation. This has led to the development of the range-wide conservation process for cheetah and wild dogs, combining the species as they have similar conservation needs, and two species rather than one increases leverage. The process has the ambitious aim of securing the survival of both species across their range in Africa, by engaging support at all levels, from local communities to governments, and establishing capacity for sustainable conservation. Regional strategies have been established for eastern and southern Africa, two regional co-ordinators are in place and 9 countries have developed national conservation action plans. Declines of cheetah and wild dog have been documented from much of their range: cheetah and wild dog are currently resident in less than 15% of their historical range. Here we describe this approach, and outline the current state of conservation for both species, and achievements made. 2011-12-08 18:30 Unexpected genetic population structure in the Kea (Nestor notabilis) Dussex,N*, University of Otago, Department of Zoology; Jamieson, I. G., University of Otago, Department of Zoology; Robertson, B. C., University of Otago, Department of Zoology; The Kea (Nestor notabilis) is an endemic alpine parrot of the South Island of New Zealand. After 150 years of persecution, it was fully protected in 1986, but the species is still declining over its whole range. Here I present data from twelve microsatellite markers for 400 Kea from nine populations along the length of the South Island. Kea are known to have considerable dispersal capabilities and are sometimes sighted far from their alpine habitat. It is therefore expected that such a potential for gene flow would make distant populations less genetically differentiated. However, we found a significant isolation by distance (IBD) pattern. Moreover, three distinct genetic clusters were identified with little areas of genetic admixture. Our data suggest that kea population may have been separated during the last glaciations. We discuss possible causes for this unexpected population structure, including social behaviour and call differences as a barrier to dispersal and the “beech-gap” hypothesis. 2011-12-08 11:30 Age matters: Adult and juvenile survival rates will respond differently to climate change Dybala, Kristen*, University of California, Davis; Established methods exist for identifying the impacts of environmental stressors on demographic processes, yet these methods have rarely been used to project the impacts of climate change. This study examined the effects of weather and density on adult and juvenile survival rates in a population of Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) in central coastal California. Thirty years of mark-recapture data (N=4,608) were analyzed to test hypothesized effects of weather on survival, and to calculate expected average adult and juvenile survival rates under several climate change scenarios. Adult survival rates were most strongly and negatively affected by summer precipitation, and secondarily by winter weather. Juvenile survival was also most sensitive to breeding season conditions, but indirectly, through the effects of the previous winter’s weather on primary and secondary productivity. Under each of the climate change scenarios, the average adult survival rate is projected to increase, while the average juvenile survival rate is projected to decrease, due to warmer winter temperatures. This approach provides insight into the age group, time of year, and mechanisms that will drive the population’s response to climate change, which may warrant further investigation, more detailed monitoring, or even management intervention. 2011-12-07 17:00 Genetic and demographic monitoring of southern right whales, Eubalaena australis, around New Zealand E. Carroll*, Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand; S. Childerhouse, Australian Marine Mammal Centre, Australian Antarctic Division, DEWHA, Kingston, Tasmania, Australia; N. Patenaude, LGL Limited, Environmental Research Associates, King City, Ontario L7B 1A6; A. Alexander, Marine Mammal Institute and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA; D. Steel, Marine Mammal Institute and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA; R. Constantine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand; S. Smith, New Zealand Department of Conservation, Aquatic & Threats Unit, Wellington 6143, New Zealand; C.S. Baker, Marine Mammal Institute and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA In the aftermath of intensive pre-industrial whaling in the 19th century and illegal Soviet whaling in the 20th century, no southern right whale was seen around the coast of New Zealand for over 30 years. However, a remnant population persisted in the subantarctic Auckland Islands. To describe the genetic and demographic status of the Auckland Islands right whales we collected skin biopsy samples during annual winter surveys from 1995-1998 (n=354) and again from 2006-2009 (n=833). DNA profiles, including genetically identified sex, mtDNA haplotype and microsatellite genotype (13 loci) were used to identify individuals and to estimate abundance using genetic capture-recapture. The population was estimated to number 910 whales (95% CI 641, 1354) in 1998, representing
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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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