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25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011 2011-12-06 15:45 Incorporating Predation Risk into Nesting Decisions by an Urban Adapter and an Urban Avoider Kearns, LJ*, The Ohio State University; Rodewald, AD, The Ohio State University; Behavior can indicate the adaptability of a species to novel environments, such as urban ecosystems with altered predator communities. In urban forest fragments in central Ohio, USA, we studied the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), an urban adapter, and the Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens), an urban avoider, to compare how nest-site selection behaviors might be influenced by predation risk, and if so, what types of information about that risk might be most influential. We assessed how changes in vegetation characteristics between subsequent nesting attempts were influenced by public information about 1) the predator community or 2) the risk of nest depredation at a site, or 3) private information based on fate of previous nests built that season. We evaluated models with these predictor variables and julian date of nest attempt using Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC). For changes in nest height, the top model included only previous nest fate and julian date for cardinals, and julian date for flycatchers. However, the top model for predicting change in nest concealment for cardinals included predation risk and julian date, and nest concealment increased between subsequent nests as the risk of nest depredation increased. For flycatchers, however, the top model only included julian date. These results suggest that the urban adapter may be more responsive to predation risk than the urban avoider at the nest-site scale. 2011-12-08 18:30 Metapopulations, mitochondria and McMansions: Conservation genetics of an endangered Australian frog in an urbanising landscape. Keely, Claire C*, The University of Melbourne; Parris, Kirsten M, The University of Melbourne; Heard, Geoff W, The University of Melbourne; Melville, Jane E, Museum Victoria; Hamer, AJ, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne; Urbanisation is a leading cause of species extinctions worldwide and is considered a major threat to global biodiversity. Recently proposed urban growth boundaries will increase the extent of Melbourne, Australia, by an additional ~40,000 hectares. The endangered Growling Grass Frog (Litoria raniformis) will be directly impacted by Melbourne’s urban expansion over the next few decades. Remnant populations of this frog occur throughout the proposed urban growth areas, and the species is known to be sensitive to habitat fragmentation caused by urbanisation. I assessed the genetic structure and diversity of remnant populations of L. raniformis across Melbourne’s urban fringe, as part of broader research on the conservation requirements of this species. Tissue samples were collected from 270 individuals, and combined with a further 178 samples from an existing collection. Haplotype composition and diversity were determined by sequencing a fragment of the mitochondrial gene, COI. Preliminary analyses reveal similarities between populations distributed across Melbourne’s north, with shared haplotypes present. Information acquired during this project will be integrated into models of metapopulation viability for L. raniformis around Melbourne, and will inform specific management options such as reintroductions and translocations. 2011-12-09 11:15 Protected Area Restoration: Investing in Ecological Integrity and Resilience in a Changing World KEENLEYSIDE, K.A.*, Parks Canada; Pellatt, M.G., Parks Canada; McLennan, D, Parks Canada; Dumouchel, C, Parks Canada; Woodley, S, Parks Canada; Increasingly, individual countries, the scientific community, and conservation organizations are recognizing that parks and other protected areas play a key role in contributing natural solutions to the challenges posed by climate change. This presentation focuses on how actions aimed at protecting, connecting, and restoring ecosystems, and connecting people with nature, enhance ecological, social and economic resilience to climate change. We use examples from Parks Canada’s experience in restoring ecological integrity to illustrate how protected areas policies that are well-aligned with conservation science can contribute to meeting global biodiversity and climate change goals. The presentation demonstrates how ecological restoration activities in and around protected areas play a role in climate change adaptation and mitigation at the same time that they re-establish or enhance biodiversity and ecological connectivity, provide meaningful educational and visitor experiences, and contribute to the well-being of local communities. 2011-12-06 11:15 Linking environmental policy and conservation of ecosystem services – evaluating social and ecological controls in an agricultural ecosystem Kelly Garbach*, University of Calfornia Davis, Departments of Envirnomental Science & Policy, Plant Sciences; Alejandra Martínez- Salinas, CATIE Center for Tropical Agriculture Research and Higher Education; Mark Lubell, University of Calfornia Davis, Department of Envirnomental Science & Policy; Fabrice A.J. De Clerck, CATIE Center for Tropical Agriculture Research and Higher Education; Valerie T. Eviner, University of Calfornia Davis, Department of Plant Sciences; Agricultural lands are increasingly being called upon to provide biodiversity habitat and multiple ecosystem services. Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) is emerging as a policy tool to promote conservation practices, such as planting live fences (hedgerows) in pasture-dominated systems. However, concerns about resource competition between trees and herbaceous species have prevented their widespread adoption. This study investigated: 1) the role of PES in driving live fence adoption and management; and 2) influence of live fences on the availability and distribution of three ecosystem services: bird diversity, pasture productivity, and microclimate regulation. Interviews with 101 farmers revealed that participating in PES significantly increased use of multistrata live fences (un-pruned trees, full canopy), compared with non-participants; PES participation did not influence use of simple live fences (pruned trees, sparse canopy). Un-pruned multistrata fences had unique influence on ecosystem services: multistrata live fences hosted twice as many bird species as surrounding pastures and simple live fences. Multistrata fences resulted in a ≤5m tradeoff zone directly beneath the tree canopy, in which midday air temperatures were mitigated by 10 °C and pasture productivity was reduced by up to 60%. In contrast, simple live fences did not reduce pasture productivity, but also did not have significant benefits for bird diversity or microclimate regulation. 2011-12-09 13:15 Will global change alter mast seeding in tussock grasslands? Kelly, D*, Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury; Geldenhuis, A, Mathematics and Statistics, University of Canterbury; Byrom, AE, Landcare Research; James, A, Mathematics and Statistics, University of Canterbury; Holland, EP, Landcare Research; Lee. WG, Landcare Research; Plank, M, Mathematics and Statistics, University of Canterbury; Cowan, PE, Landcare Research Many plants worldwide show mast seeding (synchronous highly variable seed crops among years), often triggered by temperature cues. There has been much speculation about how global change might alter the magnitude, frequency, and spacing of high-seed years in mast-seeding species, with downstream effects on seed predation, plant regeneration, and the speed of elevational shifts in species ranges. Whether, and how, climate change alters reproduction depends on the exact mechanisms that plants use to trigger high-seed years. Here we present a novel mechanism for how masting plants respond to temperature cues, using New Zealand snow tussocks (Chionochloa species) as an example. This mechanism both fits the observational data better than previous models, and predicts that global change will not cause long-term changes in mast seeding patterns. 2011-12-06 11:30 Experimental reintroduction of a macropod into an environment with predators; comparing their habitat use during the establishment phase to post establishment. KEMP, LF*, The University of Adelaide; Carthew, S, The University of Adelaide; Johnston, G, University of South Australia; Forty-six tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii eugenii) were experimentally reintroduced into Innes National Park in South Australia. Predators were present, and animals were intensively radio-tracked over a 21 month period. The establishment phase post reintroduction is a critical time as animals may fail to survive if they cannot find resources and avoid predators in an unfamiliar habitat. The experimental reintroduction tested whether release group familiarity influenced anti-predator strategies, as indicated by habitat use. Results showed that during the establishment phase (first month post 82
25th International Congress for Conservation Biology • Auckland, New Zealand • 5-9 December 2011 release) animals released with unfamiliar conspecifics were 55% more likely to use high cover habitat, and they foraged closer to cover than did those animals released in pre-established groups. Overall, animals made better predator-avoidance habitat choices once they were accustomed with the habitat. One year post-release animals were 38% more likely to use high cover habitat, they remained significantly closer to cover while foraging, and group sizes were 3.2 times larger than during establishment. Results from this study were imperative in the planning of subsequent reintroduction events for this species. 2011-12-07 14:15 Village-REDD+: a concept that promotes broad participation and spreads benefits widely among forest dependent people in Papua New Guinea Ken, Bensolo*, Wildlife Conservation Society, Papua New Guinea Programme; Arihafa, Arison , Wildlife Conservation Society, Papua New Guinea Programme; Clements, Tom, Wildlife Conservation Society, Papua New Guinea Programme; Kuange, John, Wildlife Conservation Society, Papua New Guinea Programme; Samson, Mellie, Wildlife Conservation Society, Papua New Guinea Programme; Zeriga-Alone, Tanya , Wildlife Conservation Society, Papua New Guinea Programme; Sinclair, J Ross, Wildlife Conservation Society, Papua New Guinea Programme; Papua New Guinea (PNG) has some of the world’s largest remaining tracts of rainforest, in and around which live many of the poorest people in the nation. Conservation and development projects on forested lands in PNG have largely failed to deliver either conservation or development. Among the causes of failure have been a poor understanding local social groups and land tenure, resulting in crippling disputes and the capture of benefits by elites. The Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) mechanism that presents a significant new opportunity to address conservation and development, will also founder if it does not learn lessons from past failures. The ‘Village-REDD+’ concept developed by the Wildlife Conservation Society is an approach to forest management that minimizes disputes and maximizes equal distribution of benefits by operating at appropriate social scales and bundling carbon credits into administratively and economically viable ‘carbon-credit pools’. This approach features a detailed community mobilization process with local Benefit Sharing Agreements that enable resource owners to achieve the development goals they have indentified for themselves. To succeed REDD+ activities in PNG will need to raise awareness and lower expectations, build strong partnerships with all levels of government, have flexibility in policy and design to account for diverse local conditions and respond to local needs with bottom-up development planning. 2011-12-08 18:30 Quantification of carbon in grasslands, plantations and natural forests in the Markham-Ramu Valley, Papua New Guinea Ken, Bensolo*, Wildlife Conservation Society, Papua New Guinea Programme; A robust carbon accounting methodology is essential to generate empirical estimates of carbon sequestered, storage and emissions from various carbon pools before the Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) mechanism can be applied. Few such data exist for Papua New Guinea (PNG) despite this being considered a potentially significant country for REDD+ activities. This study is aimed at addressing the paucity of data for PNG by quantifying carbon in above- and belowground biomass and soil in grasslands, plantations and natural forests. Sampling was undertaken on a series of belt transects (100m x 10m) randomly established in each habitat type. In grasslands below-ground biomass was higher than the above-ground. Carbon in litter was similar across the three habitat types at between 39-45% carbon. Soil carbon in natural forests (6.5%) was higher than grasslands (4.4%) and plantations (3.1%). Trees in natural forests sequestered up to 27 tC/ha in their aboveground live biomass compared to 6 tC/ha in plantations. Net absorption in plantations and forest reserves was estimated at 33 tC/ha or 121 tCO2 equivalents, and net emissions from grasslands and sugarcane burning at 17 tC/ha or 63 tCO2e. Afforestation increased net carbon sequestration and storage than that stored in bare grasslands that are prone to continuous burning in PNG. 2011-12-06 17:15 The effects of human activities on the avian scavenger community in Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya Kendall, Corinne*, Princeton University; The six species of vulture found in Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya have declined by 30-60% over the last thirty years and consumption of Furadan-contaminated carcasses used by pastoralists to kill predators appears to be the primary cause. This study aims to assess the susceptibility of different scavenging raptors to poisoning events and wildlife declines. Using over 2000 km of roadside surveys and behavioral observations at sixty experimental carcasses placed in and around the reserve, I assessed the effects of human settlement and wildlife density on avian scavenger habitat use and foraging behavior. Hooded vulture and Tawny eagles, which are generally subordinate to other scavenging raptor species, had higher abundance overall and at carcasses in areas of high settlement and low wildlife density, where the majority of poisoning events occur. Bateleurs, Ruppell’s vultures, and Lappet-faced vultures occurred at lower abundances near human settlements, which may reduce their risk of poisoning. African white-backed vultures showed high reliance on each other both to find and to feed at carcasses and may thus be highly susceptible to continued declines as their own densities and the quality of their habitat continue to degrade. This study demonstrates the importance of considering multi-species groups and their interactions as a technique for assessing susceptibility to human activities across a guild and thus in predicting future declines. 2011-12-09 17:30 Habitat loss and climate change refugia in four threatened and endemic Fijian tree species Keppel, G*, Curtin University; Van Niel, K, University of Western Australia; Fiji is part of the Polynesia/Micronesia global biodiversity hotspot but information on the distribution and ecology of its biota is limited. We determine the biological niches of four tree species endemic to Fiji based on available distribution and ecological data. Using this data we determine the potential distribution of species and compare that with their actual distribution. We also model likely future distributions under anthropogenic climate change. Our results show that Cynometra falcata (Caesalpinaceae; dry forest endemic) and Dacrydium nausoriense (Podocarpaceae; mesic forest endemic) have suffered the greatest loss of habitat since human colonization and would be highly threatened by further habitat clearing and by predicted climate change impacts. Podocarpus affinis (Podocarpaceae; cloud forest endemic) has been little impacted by habitat clearing but is predicted to experience significant habitat loss under predicted climate change scenarios. Moderate impacts (both for past habitat loss and for predicted future impacts are demonstrated for Degeneria vitiense (Degeneriaceae; rainforest endemic). The four threatened target tree species have been differently impacted by past habitat loss and are likely to be affected differently by anthropogenic climate change, illustrating the need for detailed ecological information and the need for different conservation strategies. 2011-12-06 15:15 Current trends in french bats population highlghts by old heterogenous dat Kerbiriou, C*, Conservation des Espèces, Restauration et Suivi des Populations, UMR 7204 MNHN-CNRS-UPMC, 61 rue Buffon, Paris, France ; Julien, JF, Conservation des Espèces, Restauration et Suivi des Populations, UMR 7204 MNHN-CNRS-UPMC, 61 rue Buffon, Paris, France ; Marmet, J, Conservation des Espèces, Restauration et Suivi des Populations, UMR 7204 MNHN-CNRS- UPMC, 61 rue Buffon, Paris, France ; Robert, A, Conservation des Espèces, Restauration et Suivi des Populations, UMR 7204 MNHN- CNRS-UPMC, 55 rue Buffon, Paris, France ; Lemaire, M, Muséum d\’histoire naturelle de Bourges, Les Rives d’Auron, Allée René Ménard, 18000 Bourges; Arthur, L, Muséum d\’histoire naturelle de Bourges, Les Rives d’Auron, Allée René Ménard, 18000 Bourges; Lois, G, NatureParif, 84, Rue de Grenelle 75007 ; Couvet, D, Conservation des Espèces, Restauration et Suivi des Populations, UMR 7204 MNHN-CNRS-UPMC, 55 rue Buffon, Paris, France In the context of biodiversity loss, we need information of population trend at large time and space scale, however well documented animal population dynamics are generally scarce, short time series and based on heavy 83
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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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