Poster Abstracts in Word 29oct - American Museum of Natural History

Relevance to conservation: Restocking measurements form an essential part in manyspecies conservation programs. However, restocking measurements are often conductedwithout taking into account genetic differences between populations. As an example for bestpractice we want to: 1.identify autochthonous crayfish stocks, because they are locallyadapted and represent the diversity between populations. 2.identify most diversepopulations to support adaptability and long-term survival.ADVANCES IN PVA MODELING USING CAPTURE RECAPTURE DATAKEVIN T. SHOEMAKERState University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Department ofEnvironmental and Forest BiologySyracuse, New York USAPh.D. third yearktshoema@syr.eduConservation problem or question: Population viability analysis (PVA) has been acenterpiece of conservation biology since the field was in its infancy. However, PVA analysishas been criticized for its lack of rigor, potential to mislead policymakers, and difficulty intreating uncertainty. I use a case study to illustrate the benefits of Bayesian PVA models forincorporating parameter uncertainty and enhancing scientific rigor.Research methods: I used a 10-year capture history dataset to evaluate the posteriorprobability distribution of several key demographic parameters for a rare turtle (the bogturtle, Glyptemys muhlenbergii). I then performed a simple Population viability analysis byrepeatedly sampling from these posterior distributions. Bayesian analysis was performedusing the BUGS (Bayesian inference Using Gibbs Sampling) programming language.Relevance to conservation: Capture recapture methods are commonly used by conservationscientists to estimate demographic parameters for threatened species. However, long termcapture history datasets can be difficult to analyze, and statistical methods that can morefully exploit these powerful datasets have only recently become available. My studyillustrates how Bayesian analysis can be used to achieve rigorous estimates of demographicrates.IMPACT OF HABITAT FRAGMENTATION ON LEMURS IN NW MADAGASCARTRAVIS STEFFENSUniversity of Toronto, Department of AnthropologyToronto, CanadaPh.D. first yeartravis.steffens@gmail.comConservation problem or question: I will address the issue of landscape level habitatfragmentation and its impact on primate conservation. My specific focus is on how habitatfragmentation impacts the abundance and richness of lemur species within a landscape.This topic is central to primate conservation because primate habitat is becomingincreasingly fragmented, especially in Madagascar.Research methods: I will survey a 1000ha landscape containing 10 fragments of deciduousdry forest ranging from 1-100ha in NW Madagascar. I will determine lemur species richnessand abundance using line transects surveys. I will use GIS to determine the level of habitatfragmentation, habitat loss, and the composition and configuration of the fragments withinthe landscape.Relevance to conservation: Habitat fragmentation is a major issue impacting most primatespecies. Madagascar is losing forest at a dramatic rate resulting in lemur species habitatfragmentation and loss. Many lemur species are red listed due to loss of habitat. No studieson lemurs have focussed on how habitat fragmentation and habitat loss has impactedprimate species at the landscape level.