Abstracts available here - Society for Conservation Biology

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
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