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25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011 and roads, intensity of adjacent anthropogenic land use or size of the forest patch, indicating that invasion can occur across multiple landscape contexts, and species loss is driven by grass invasion rather than pre-emptive habitat disturbances. A seed bank study revealed that germinable species differed substantially from the standing vegetation, but not between invaded and native sites. Most species typical of the community were unrepresented in the seed bank. Thus, the community is not resilient to grass invasion and restoration is likely to require active replacement of targeted native species through revegetation efforts. Removal of the alien grass alone is unlikely to reinstate the native community. 2011-12-08 11:15 Traffic noise impacts on vertebrates of tropical rainforest Goosem, M*, James Cook University; Hoskin, C., James Cook University; Dawe, G., James Cook University; Traffic noise may affect wildlife by causing avoidance of road edges and alterations to calling (breeding) behaviour. We investigated effects of a busy highway on frog and bird abundance and calling behaviour in tropical rainforest of northeast Queensland, Australia. Traffic noise can be detected in dense rainforest up to 200 m from the forest edge at frequencies between 31.5 Hz and 2 kHz. This could interfere with communications of birds and frogs, particularly at the forest edge where noise levels are greatest. Abundance of two frog species increased significantly with distance from the road along two stream transects. However, one of these was unaffected on another two transects and a third species also appeared unaffected. In the endangered frog, Litoria rheocola, body size was smaller and individuals called more often and at a higher dominant frequency close to the road compared with individuals further from the road. For rainforest-dependent birds, abundance and species richness on transects parallel to the highway increased significantly with distance from the highway edge to 200 m inside the forest. No rainforest obligate birds were observed at the highway edge, the only area where non-rainforest birds were found. The dominant song frequencies of at least five out of eighteen bird species were significantly different at the forest edge compared with the forest interior. Traffic noise is likely to be causing many of these edge impacts and may require mitigation. 2011-12-09 14:08 Bio-economic modelling for the viable management of mixed fisheries Gourguet, Sophie*, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Australia; Doyen, Luc, CNRS-MNHN Departement of Ecology and Biodiversity Management, Paris, France; Macher, Claire, Ifremer, Departement of Maritime Economics; Marine fisheries resources are under extreme pressure worldwide. Marine scientists and stakeholders advocate ecosystem-based fishery management (EBFM) for an effective and sustainable management. However, the way to operationalize such EBFM remains controversial. The stochastic coviability approach can be a relevant modeling framework for EBFM as it accounts for dynamic complexities, uncertainties, risks and sustainability objectives balancing ecological, economic and social dimensions together with intergenerational equity. The present paper focuses on the case of the mixed demersal fisheries operating in the Bay of Biscay and especially harvesting Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus), Hake (Merluccius merluccius) and Sole (Solea solea). A bio-economic multi-species and multi-fleets model is developed to examine how to preserve Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) for every species while preserving the economic profitability for the various fleets at play. First results suggest that the viable strategies require a significant mitigation of the fishing capacities as compared to referenced year 2008 for Nephrops trawlers and gill-netters fleets that are the most contributory fleets to Nephrops and Sole fishing mortality. 2011-12-07 18:15 The habitat value of indigenous perennial tree-crop systems in a highly fragmented ecosystem of Mediterranean Australia Gove, AD*, Dept. Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University; Woodall, GS, Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, University of Western Australia; The Western Australian Wheatbelt is one of Australia’s most heavily cleared regions and possesses limited potential for reserve expansion. Hence, it is imperative that management consider the role of the landscape matrix in maintaining species by the provision of habitat and increasing landscape connectivity. Perennial tree-crops are of increasing interest in the region and cultivation far exceeds the area covered by conventional revegetation (~3x). Hence their habitat value should be taken into account. In this study we surveyed bird and wasp assemblages in plantations of the hemiparasitic sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) and brushwood (Melaleuca spp.) and compare these with replicated samples from annual crop (Lupin) and local native woodlands. We have found that wasp species density in tree crops is similar to woodlands, and that tree crops possess an assemblage different to that of annual crops but not necessarily resembling woodland. Sandalwood in particular exhibits bird species densities similar to that of woodlands and provides habitat for several woodland-dependent species. Further analysis will examine whether the tree crops provide a seasonal refuge when on-farm resources are lowest. At this point we suggest that indigenous perennial tree crops can go some way to increasing the extent of habitat for some woodland-dependent species, and likely increase connectivity within highly fragmented Mediterranean landscapes. 2011-12-08 11:30 Ecosystem-based adaptation in marine ecosystems of tropical Oceania in response to climate change Grantham, H.S., Conservation International; McLeod, E, The Nature Conservancy,; Brooks, A, Woodland Park Zoo’s Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program; Jupiter, S.D.*, Wildlife Conservation Society Fiji Country Program; Hardcastle, J., The Nature Conservancy; Richardson, A.J., The University of Queensland; Poloczanska, E.S., CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research; Hills, T., Conservation International; Mieszkowska, N., Klein, C.J. and J.E.M. Watson; University of Queensland. Tropical Oceania, including Melanesia, Polynesia, Micronesia and northern Australia, is one of the most biodiverse regions of the world. Climate change impacts have already occurred in the region and will become one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and people. Climate projections indicate that sea levels will rise in many places but not uniformly. Islands will warm and annual rainfall will increase and exhibit strong decadal variations. Increases in global atmospheric CO2 concentration are causing ocean acidification, compromising the ability of organisms such as corals to maintain their calcium carbonate skeletons. We discuss these climate threats and their implications for the biodiversity of several ecosystems (coral reefs, seagrass and mangroves) in the region. We highlight current adaptation approaches designed to address these threats, including efforts to integrate ecosystem and community-based approaches. Finally, we identify guiding principles for developing effective ecosystem-based adaptation strategies. Despite broad differences in governance and social systems within the region, particularly between Australia and the rest of the Pacific, threats and planning objectives are similar. Ensuring community awareness and participation are essential everywhere. The science underpinning ecosystem-based adaptation strategies is in its infancy but there is great opportunity for communicating approaches and lessons learnt between developing and developed nations in tropical Oceania. 2011-12-06 11:30 Quantifying resistance of landscape characteristics to gene flow Graves, Tabitha*, Northern Arizona University; Beier, Paul, Northern Arizona University; Royle, Andy, US Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Refuge; Kendall, Katherine, US Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center; We describe a new technique to estimate the effect of environmental characteristics on gene flow. To maintain and restore connectivity within and among grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) populations, we want to understand how gene flow is affected by variables such as road density, number of buildings per square mile, highways, railroads, land cover type, and poor habitat. Most current approaches to corridor planning rely on expert opinion. Current analytical techniques use coarse search methods, take a long time, and do not provide variance estimates. Our approach provides resistance estimates and variance of those estimates for each variable. We conducted a simulation study to examine the ability of our method to detect true resistance to gene flow under different scenarios. We evaluate the influence of landscape characteristics (random, slightly patchy, very patchy), relationship form (e.g. linear, quadratic, logistic), and the underlying assumption of how animals see their landscape (randomly= resistances based 60
25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011 on circuit theory and all-knowing= least cost paths). We examine bias and precision of our estimates under all scenarios and provide recommendations about when our approach will be most appropriate. This technique will promote science-based corridor planning efforts for multiple species. Next we will apply this approach to > 1500 genetic captures of 545 grizzly bears from 2004 across 8 million acres in northwestern Montana, USA. 2011-12-07 16:45 Monitoring Marine Reserves - How do we know if protection is effective? Gregor, K.E.*, Marine Studies Department, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic; Young, K.D., Department of Conservation; Overton, J. McC., Landcare Research; Rapson, D., Department of Conservation; Measuring the effectiveness of conservation management programs requires clear management objectives, a monitoring program specific to those objectives, and the resources to implement them. Tuhua Marine Reserve, situated in the North Island of New Zealand was established to restore representative sub-tidal rock reef faunal and floral communities. The Reserve has had a complex 18 year history regarding the setting of management objectives, achieving compliance and measuring the effectiveness of protection. In the last three years however, clearly stated objectives, enforced compliance and a revised monitoring program have enabled responses in line with desired management outcomes to be measured. Here we discuss the development of ecosystem-based management objectives and the design of a spatially and temporally explicit monitoring program for measuring progress towards these. In addition, we discuss how a long term conservation and education partnership between the government agency responsible for managing the reserve, and a regionally based tertiary institution has provided the resources to develop the monitoring program through its 18 years of trial and evaluation, and will continue to provide the resources required for the monitoring program into the future. Our study illustrates the importance of developing clear management outcomes from the outset of protection, designing appropriate monitoring programs to measure these, having partnerships in place to implement them over the long term, and reporting results in a manner relevant to management capability and accountability. 2011-12-08 14:30 Sustainability of a post-larval capture and culture (PCC) based stock-enhancement program for coral reef food-fish in Fiji Grignon, J*, Griffith University; Johnston, B, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation; Pickering, T, Secretariat of Pacific Community; Morrison, C, Griffith University; In the Pacific region, overfishing and mismanagement have affected the majority of coastal fisheries. While fishing regulations have been the primary means to halt further impacts on diversity and abundance, alternative initiatives such as stock-enhancement are being promoted. The goal of this study was to evaluate the sustainability of a stock-enhancement program based on the post-larval capture and culture (PCC) of coral reef food-fish in Fiji and its suitability as an alternative income generating activity for local communities. This was done using a specifically designed cost-benefit model to test the influence of various combinations of capture effort, capture season, and culture scenarios on economic performance and the risk involved. Results found that low larval capture rates and high associated costs did not permit the program to be economically sustainable over a 20- year period in Fiji. However, other important program benefits including enhancement of reef biodiversity, local capacity building, and the ability to increase economic returns by incorporating fish for the ornamental market suggest that this program has the potential to be economically sustainable as well as providing an important conservation tool for fisheries in the region. 2011-12-08 11:00 Individual space use behavior: assessing sensitivities and vulnerabilities to roads Grilo, C*, Universidade de Lisboa, Centro de Biologia Ambiental/ Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, C2 5º 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal/Departamento de Biología de la Conservación, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Calle A; Sousa, J, Universidade de Lisboa, Centro de Biologia Ambiental/ Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, C2 5º 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Ascensao, F, Universidade de Lisboa, Centro de Biologia Ambiental/Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, C2 5º 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Matos, H, Universidade de Lisboa, Centro de Biologia Ambiental/Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, C2 5º 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Leitao, I, Universidade de Lisboa, Centro de Biologia Ambiental/Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, C2 5º 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Pinheiro, P, Universidade de Lisboa, Centro de Biologia Ambiental/Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, C2 5º 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Santos-Reis, M, Universidade de Lisboa, Centro de Biologia Ambiental/Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, C2 5º 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Revilla, E , Departamento de Biología de la Conservación, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD- CSIC), Calle Américo Vespucio s/n, E-41092 Sevilla, España Understanding the effects of roads and developing ways to mitigate them has become an important goal of many conservation biologists. Even for common and non-threatened species, some life-history attributes and behavior patterns make them particularly vulnerable to them. We assessed the space use response of two common species (barn owls Tyto alba and stone marten Martes foina) in roaded landscapes at different scales: home range, habitat selection, fine-scale movement and actual highway crossings. Both species seem to show low sensitivity to highways. Habitat selection in the vicinity of the highway is mainly explained by the foraging habitat and cover but the presence of the highway seems to drive the fine-scale movements. Individuals tend to cross highways in some locations that increase the road mortality risk. Our findings allow us to determine under which conditions we can expect both barrier effects and road kills in a more integrated way, but they are also important to understand of how vulnerable are these species in relation to highways and traffic, thus helping to develop more cohesive road planning strategies for biological conservation. 2011-12-07 11:02 Enhancing Conservation Practice through Effective Interdisciplinary Education Groom, MJ*, University of Washington Bothell; How do we best create solutions to our myriad conservation problems? Increasingly, interdisciplinary partnerships play a central role in creating conservation solutions on the ground, yet the bulk of our training in conservation still focuses on biological issues alone. We need to better motivate and retain individuals with a wide diversity of goals and approaches to partner in attaining conservation solutions for our future. In this presentation, I will highlight approaches taken in interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate education programs to foster appreciation of the opportunities for being a part of forming conservation solutions. In particular, through exploring connections between biodiversity conservation and human welfare, and highlighting the interdependence among approaches to solutions, students gain a motivation to strengthen multiple goals through interdisciplinary partnerships that seek conservation and societal gains. 2011-12-09 14:00 Redefining Adaptive Management for Conservation in Action Groves, CR*, The Nature Conservancy; Montambault, JR, The Nature Conservancy; Non-profit management literature increasingly implores non-governmental organizations to measure the effectiveness of our performance. In the conservation community, we have been focused on measuring performance through adaptive management for over a decade. Although a recent survey of 29 conservation organizations indicates that adaptive management (plando-check-adapt) remains far from a mainstream practice, we believe there are several important lessons for promoting successful adaptive management. First, investing in measuring the effectiveness of strategies and actions needs to be tailored to the potential risk and leverage involved in a project. It is unrealistic and unnecessary for all projects to measure performance in statistically meaningful ways. Second, adaptive management will be more effective when it addresses questions that managers need answered and less effective when viewed in isolation as a scientific exercise. Third, we need to stop re-inventing the wheel and take advantage of a significant amount of published information on meta-analyses of commonly used conservation strategies. Finally, even the best designs for measuring performance will fall short unless senior managers demonstrably value getting answers to: “What 61
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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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