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25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011 and provide guidance to develop adaptation strategies for biodiversity, humans, and productive systems. We report on preliminary results from 10 of those sites, in addition to new sites planned in South America. These sites provide baseline data and identify processes and patterns in biodiversity and productive systems across different geographic contexts. Our research considers complementary modules of investigation that contextualize the challenges and opportunities of adaptation for biodiversity and socioeconomic components, providing measures of trends as well as effectiveness of adaptive management strategies. 2011-12-09 11:15 Interpreting the status of biodiversity in grasslands with different management and climate change using ground measures and remote sensing Halloy, S*, The Nature Conservancy; Ibáñez, M, The Nature Conservancy; Touval, J, The Nature Conservancy; Boucher, T, The Nature Conservancy; Bran, D, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, INTA; Gaitán, J, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, INTA; Iglesias, G, The Nature Conservancy; Given limited options for traditional protected area conservation in large expanses of temperate grasslands, alternative approaches are needed where conservation is effected through integrated land management. Indicators have been developed to measure the sustainability of such approaches in terms of vegetation cover, biomass, carbon, etc; where biodiversity is deemed to respond in similar ways. We explored the potential for developing more direct measures of biodiversity status that would be practical yet robust, and allow scaling from the farm to a regional landscape. Most effective and practical measures included species richness, plant cover, ΔL (a community composition disturbance indicator, or its inverse 1/ΔL as indicator of Biodiversity condition), trends in the green index (EVI, Enhanced Vegetation Index) over time, and its coefficient of variation between years. In addition to proposing measures and analyses, we suggest visualization methods to provide more effective ways of sharing the information and having it adopted. 2011-12-07 15:00 Climate change vulnerability assessment for a national park in California: Evaluating community-level vulnerability Hameed, Sarah O, UC Davis Graduate Student; Baty, Jill, UC Davis Graduate Student; Holzer, Katie, UC Davis Graduate Student; Doerr, Angela*, UC Davis Graduate Student; Climate change and its consequences for natural communities pose major challenges to conservation management. Working with managers at Point Reyes National Seashore, we have taken a step towards addressing this challenge with a site-specific climate change vulnerability assessment. We took a multi-faceted approach: 1) we surveyed scientific experts regarding how climate change may impact 12 communities in the park; 2) we quantitatively compared vegetation community distribution predictions of community niche models based on three different global circulation models; 3) we mapped predicted sea level rise and erosion hazard onto vegetation communities at the park and analyzed the potential impacts to the park’s communities; and 4) we assessed the vulnerabilities of select species to climate change using NatureServe’s Climate Change Vulnerability Index. The results identify communities that may be most vulnerable to climatic changes in the region and highlight research priorities for the park. The process provides a blueprint for assessing climate change vulnerability in conservation areas around the world using available data and knowledge. 2011-12-07 14:30 GARM - A Genetic Algorithm for Resistance Map creation for the study of species connectivity and gene flow. Hand, Brian*, University of Montana; Landguth, E.L., University of Montana; Raiford, D. , University of Montana; Maintenance of species and landscape connectivity has emerged as an urgent need in the field of conservation biology. Landscape genetics provides tools to help measure genetic structure, and functional connectivity, among individuals across a landscape. The relationship between an optimal path through a complex landscape and fitness is often represented as a resistance map where high fitness is equivalent to the least cost path. Resistance surfaces are combined from different weighted landscape features representing hypotheses for gene flow, habitat, and dispersal of organisms and mostly open to expert opinion. Due to map complexity, the combinatorial power of layer permutations quickly outgrows any feasible inclusive study except by automated process. Needed are more reliable and robust methods to explore relationships between landscape features and genetic structure. Genetic algorithms (GA) mimic the process of natural evolution on sets of solutions and are well suited for searching large parameter space. We introduce GARM, a Genetic Algorithm for Resistance Map Creation which searches out parameter space of weight varied resistance maps using partial Mantel tests. GARM provides an important tool in a growing genetics landscape toolbox to help land managers and conservationists use growing empirical datasets to move from landscape maps to future predictions and helps to explore the possibilities of current conservation practices on future genetic structure. 2011-12-09 16:54 Competitive Impacts of an Invasive Nectar Thief on a Pollinator Community Hanna, Cause*, University of California Berkeley; Kremen, Claire, University of California Berkeley; Mutualistic plant-animal interactions, such as pollination, can be disrupted by a range of competitive interactions between invasive and native floral visitors. As the most abundant tree species in undisturbed Hawaiian forests, ‘Ohi’a lehua, Metrosideros polymorpha, is critical to the Hawaiian fauna and the energy flow through Hawaiian ecosystems. The invasive Western yellowjacket wasp, Vespula pensylvanica, is an adept and aggressive nectar thief of the partially self-incompatible and pollen limited M. polymorpha. A BACI (Before-After, Control-Impact) experimental design was utilized to compare the standing nectar crop, floral visitation patterns, and fruit-set of M. polymorpha within high Vespula abundance control sites to low Vespula abundance removal sites. The experimental removal of V. pensylvanica, when compared to control sites, resulted in a significant increase in the availability of nectar; the diversity, visitation rate, and efficacy of the pollinator community; and the fruit set of M. polymorpha. These results provide evidence that V. pensylvanica suppresses the pollinator community through both exploitative and interference competition and negatively impacts the reproduction of M. polymopha. By elucidating the strength, mechanisms, and implications of these competitive interactions this research provides insight into the impact invaders have on ecosystem function and the impact competition has on the structure of pollinator communities. 2011-12-09 11:30 A forest carbon project in practice in the Ankeniheny- Zahamena Corridor, Madagascar Hanta Ravololonanahary*, Conservation International; Bruno Rajaspera , Conservation International; James MacKinnon, Conservation International; Located between two national parks, the 381,000 ha Ankeniheny- Zahamena Corridor (CAZ) is one of the largest remaining relics of rainforest in Madagascar, and one of the new proposed protected areas within the expanded Malagasy System of Protected Areas. Due to its importance in terms of ecosystem services for the benefits of surrounding communities, this new protected area is planned as a Natural Resource Reserve (Category VI in IUCN classification) that is co-managed in an arrangement that integrates local communities in the management of the corridor. Effective management of the corridor would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 10 million tCO2 over 30 years and provide essential services that are key for human adaptation to climate change. This presentation will describe the progress made towards protecting the corridor as a demonstration REDD+ project, adaptation benefits that this protected area provides and explore the challenges of using protected areas to address climate change issues. 2011-12-08 18:30 Effects of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on tree survival in a temperate forest, northeastern China Hao,ZQ*, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Wang,XG, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; 1. Tree survival plays a central role in forest ecosystems. Although many mechanisms have been proposed as being important in explaining patterns of tree survival, their contributions are still subject to debate. 2. We used generalized linear mixed models to examine the relative importance of an intrinsic factor (tree size) and two types of extrinsic factors (abiotic and biotic neighborhood variables) on tree survival in an old-growth temperate forest in Northeastern China at three levels (community, guild and species). Biotic 64
25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011 variables include the basal area and number of conspecific and heterspecific neighbors within 20 m. Abiotic variables included topographic variables (i.e., slope, aspect and elevation) and soil nutrients. 3. Our results demonstrated that tree size and both abiotic and biotic neighborhood variables significantly affected tree survival, but their relative importance varied within and among the community, guild and species levels. Of the variables tested, tree size was typically the most important predictor of tree survival, followed by biotic and then abiotic variables. 4. Among the biotic factors, we found strong evidence for negative density dependence in the CBS temperate forest, based on negative effects of conspecific neighbor basal area. However, the number of conspecific neighbors had either no effect or a positive effect on tree survival, likely due to habitat-related factors promoting both recruitment and survival. 5. Among the abiotic factors tested, soil nutrients tended to be more important in affecting tree survival than topographic variables. Abiotic factors generally influenced survival for species with relatively high abundance, for individuals in smaller size classes and for shade-tolerant species. 6. Synthesis. Our study demonstrates how large, spatially explicit datasets can offer insights into the relative importance of variables driving patterns of tree mortality in unmanaged forest systems. 2011-12-06 12:00 Modelling ecosystem structure and function over the 21st century Harfoot, M*, UNEP-WCMC & Microsoft Research; Newbold, T, UNEP-WCMC & Microsoft Research; Purves, D, Microsoft Research; Scharlemann, J, UNEP-WCMC; Tittensor, D, UNEP- WCMC & Microsoft Research; Macroecological approaches have been criticized as simply describing patterns, rather than examining the underlying mechanisms that generate those patterns. An understanding of processes is important for projecting changes into the future, rather than simply extending correlative patterns spatially or temporally. Here we introduce a process-based model of ecosystem structure and function that is truly global in scope covering both the marine and terrestrial realms. The model represents the processes of interaction between organisms grouped by functional traits and captures the flow of matter and nutrients across trophic levels in what will be a stoichiometrically consistent manner. The model will provide a scientifically robust and policy relevant tool for examining the consequences of various economic and human development scenarios over the coming century. Maps of observed ecosystem functional richness and evenness will be used to validate model performance and the ultimate intent is to contribute a freely-available tool that can be used for rapid visualization by policy makers, and can be reconstructed, deconstructed, and added to by biodiversity scientists. 2011-12-07 16:45 Untangling the paradox: the use of invasive plants by native pollinators Harmon-Threatt, Alexandra*, UC Berkeley ; Kremen, Claire, UC Berkeley ; The spread of invasive plants can homogenize plant communities, disrupt native plant-pollinator networks and is believed to contribute significantly to native pollinator declines. Despite this, numerous studies have found invasive plants are often visited by native pollinators and in some systems are the primary resources supporting native pollinator species. We aimed to understand if invasive plants are significantly different than native species when comparing features that are known to influence collection. We then regrouped species by whether they were collected by Bombus vosnesenskii, a native pollinator. Morphological characters and pollen samples were collected from all blooming plant species that were available to B. vosnesenskii. Pollen was analyzed for percent carbon and nitrogen, essential amino acids and per inflorescence pollen reward for each species. We found that invasive species were not significantly different than native species for any of the measured features. However, collected species were significantly different than non-collected plant species for all features except morphology. This suggests that Bombus vosnesenskii collects pollen from plant species that provide adequate nutrition and availability regardless of nativity. Pollinator restoration efforts should consider that all native plants are not adequate resources for native pollinators and that large scale removal of invasive plants could adversely affect pollinator populations. 2011-12-07 15:15 Anticipated global change and small population demography interact to threaten the persistence of a rare cockatoo Harris, JBC*, University of Adelaide; Fordham, DA, University of Adelaide; Mooney, PA, South Australia Dept Environment and Natural Resourcces; Pedler, LP, South Australia Dept Environment and Natural Resourcces; Araujo, MB, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Madrid; Paton, DC, University of Adelaide; Watts, MJ, University of Adelaide; Brook, BW, University of Adelaide The South Australian glossy black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami halmaturinus) is restricted to Kangaroo Island, Australia where it currently numbers 350 birds and is intensively managed. We used a sophisticated and ecologically robust method to examine the relative impacts of anticipated climate change, fire, disease, and reduced management on the species’ persistence. A habitat model was coupled with a population model to create a mechanistic forecast of climate impacts. Species interactions were included by using an ensemble distribution model of the cockatoo’s food plant, Allocasuarina verticillata, as a driver of habitat suitability. A novel model averaging approach was used to reduce climate model uncertainty. The sensitivity of the model to changes in input parameters was evaluated with a new application of Latin Hypercube sampling. Our results show that small population demographic processes may cause a 24% decline even if climate warming is mitigated and current management levels are maintained. If management of nest-predating possums is stopped, cockatoo extinction will be a reality. Disease, increased fire, and habitat loss from climate change are all predicted to exacerbate losses. Translocation to the mainland, even with associated management, would not mitigate these declines. This analysis demonstrates the importance of partitioning the contribution of demographic rates and anthropogenic stresses to the decline of small populations under climate change. 2011-12-08 18:30 Genetic structures of the rare alpine plants and the common congeneric plants Harue Abe, Niigata University; Yoshihisa Suyama*, Tohoku University; Many rare alpine plants are rapidly headed toward extinction due to habitat loss caused by global warming and grave robbing etc. This study aims to capitalize on effective conservation policies combining the information of the locations and the genotypes of all individuals. We compared between the endemic postglacial relict species and the widespread congeneric species in two genus, Gentiana and Mensiesia. Menziesia goyozanensis, a Japanese kind of fool’s huckleberry, is a shrub species endemic only to Mt. Goyo (only one population) in the northern part of Japan, which was compared to M. pentandra. Gentiana yakushimensis Makino is a perennial herb endemic only to Yaku-shima island located in the southern part of Japan, which was compared to G. triflora. Both species are listed as ‘critically endangered’ in the Red Data Book of wild plants in Japan. The genetic diversity at several microsatellite loci of the common species was greater than that of the endemic postglacial relict species in both genus. The genetic differentiations (Fst) between the neighbor peaks was 0.275 for G. yakushimensi. The loss of genetic diversity within a population and genetic differentiation among populations might occurred due to habitat fragmentation and reduced population size by global warming since the last glacial period. These results show that populations of the endemic species are at risk of extinction due to genetic factors for both species. It would be important to study and monitor population dynamics and genetic diversity of next generation to further assess degree of recruitment through time. 2011-12-09 11:02 Identifying preconditions for community participation in marine conservation. A case study. Hauptfeld, RS*, NOAA Coral Reef Management Fellow - PR DNER; Spatially-explicit marine protected areas (MPAs) are considered useful tools for the protection of important ecosystems including tropical coral reefs. Research indicates that the degree to which MPAs achieve long-term conservation outcomes is related not merely to biological and physical variables, but in large part to social factors. Much attention has been paid to the benefits gained by delegating full or partial responsibility for MPA management to local communities and resource users. Providing a space for community participation in decision-making and applied activities such as research and monitoring is suggested to enhance efficiency, increase 65
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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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