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75 results for “Dynamic conservation”

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dryad32/100

Data from: Mammal diversity and metacommunity dynamics in urban green spaces: implications for urban wildlife conservation

As urban growth expands and natural environments fragment, it is essential to understand the ecological roles fulfilled by urban green spaces. To evaluate how urban green spaces function as wildlife habitat, we estimated mammal diversity and metacommunity dynamics in city parks, cemeteries, golf courses, and natural areas throughout the greater Chicago, IL, USA region. We found similar a-diversity (with the exception of city parks), but remarkably dissimilar communities in different urban green spaces. Additionally, the type of urban green space greatly influenced species colonization and persistence rates. For example, coyotes (Canis latrans) had the highest, but white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) the lowest, probability of persistence in golf courses compared to other green space types. Further, most species had a difficult time colonizing city parks even when sites were seemingly available. Our results indicate that urban green spaces contribute different, but collectively important, habitats for maintaining and conserving biodiversity in cities.

opencc-zeroDec 2016View details →

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Data from: Using the Spatial Population Abundance Dynamics Engine for conservation management

1. An explicit spatial understanding of population dynamics is often critical for effective management of wild populations. Sophisticated approaches are available to simulate these dynamics, but are largely either spatially homogeneous or agent-based, and thus best suited to small spatial or temporal scales. These approaches also often ignore financial decisions crucial to choosing management approaches on the basis of cost-effectiveness. 2. We created a user-friendly and flexible modelling framework for simulating these population issues at large spatial scales – the Spatial Population Abundance Dynamics Engine (SPADE). SPADE is based on the STAR model (McMahon et al. 2010) and uses a reaction-diffusion approach to model population trajectories and a cost-benefit analysis technique to calculate optimal management strategies over long periods and across broad spatial scales. It expands on STAR by incorporating species interactions and multiple concurrent management strategies, and by allowing full user control of functional forms and parameters. 3. We used SPADE to simulate the eradication of feral domestic cats Felis catus on sub-Antarctic Marion Island (Bester et al. 2002) and compared modelled outputs to observed data. The parameters of the best-fitting model reflected the conditions of the management programme, and the model successfully simulated the observed movement of the cat population to the southern and eastern portion of the island under hunting pressure. We further demonstrated that none of the management strategies would likely have been successful within a reasonable timeframe if performed in isolation. 4. SPADE is applicable to a wide range of population management problems, and allows easy generation, modification and analysis of management scenarios. It is a useful tool for the planning, evaluation and optimisation of the management of wild populations, and can be used without specialised training.

opencc-zeroDec 2014View details →

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Data from: Intercolony movement of pre-breeding seabirds over oceanic scales: implications of cryptic age-classes for conservation and metapopulation dynamics

Aim: Demographic linkage between subpopulations plays a critical role in population processes. Metapopulation dynamics, however, remains one of the most poorly understood aspects of population biology. This is especially true for small, pelagic seabirds because their discrete subpopulations are located on offshore islands, separated by vast areas of open ocean, making monitoring logistically challenging. Seabird populations often contain large numbers of immature pre-breeders that may be important for subpopulation connectivity and demography, but are poorly studied. Here we provide evidence for intercolony movement of pre-breeding Leach's storm-petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa among three colonies spanning the North Atlantic Ocean. We discuss their influence on metapopulation dynamics and the extinction risk of a subpopulation under threat from extreme predation. Location: North Atlantic Ocean Islands (Scotland, Canada & Iceland). Methods: We use a novel application of Bayesian stable isotope mixing models to infer recent movement of pre-breeding birds between three major breeding populations in the North Atlantic. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values from breeding birds (central place foragers) sampled at each colony were used as model sources and pre-breeding birds as model mixtures. Results: Of 134 pre-breeding Leach's storm-petrels sampled at three colonies across the North Atlantic, five had isotope mixing model estimates dissimilar (< 25%) to their colony of capture and were instead isotopically similar to another breeding region. Nineteen further pre-breeders had highly mixed signatures (< 50% for the colony of capture), indicating possible recent movement between colonies. Main conclusions: Our findings provide evidence for interpopulation connectivity of pre-breeding Leach's storm-petrels among colonies spanning the North Atlantic. These results highlight the significance of cryptic young age-classes in metapopulation dynamics and the demographic processes. Moreover, they provide us with a better understanding of how one subpopulation remains extant, despite experiencing extreme predation rates.

opencc-zeroDec 2012View details →

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Data from: Variation across river channels in demographic dynamics of a riparian herb with threatened status: management and conservation implications

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Gesneria pauciflora is a rare-threatened plant growing in riparian forests. Periodic disturbances, expected in this habitat, could influence demographic dynamics on plant populations, yet their impact may not be the same across watershed. We hypothesize that differences in disturbances between the main-channel and tributaries may lead to spatial dissimilarities in population growth rate (λ), structure, and fecundity. METHODS: 1277 plants were tagged and monitored over a 1.5-years period. Every 6-months we measured plant size, survival and fecundity, in addition to appearance of seedlings. These variables were applied in Integral Projection Models to assess the population status of G. pauciflora. KEY RESULTS: Plants in the main-channel were smaller but were more likely to flower and fruit than those in the tributaries. Overall mortality was greater in the main-channel and more so during the rainy season. At both sites λ ranged from 0.9114-0.9865, and survival/growth of larger plants had a greater effect on lambda (> 0.90) regardless of site. CONCLUSIONS: Lambda values suggest that G. pauciflora is declining across the watershed. Higher mortality rates in the main channel (more-perturbed sites) might driving G. pauciflora to reproduced at smaller sizes, while the tributaries (less-perturbed sites) may benefit growth and lead to larger plant sizes. Extreme climatic events are expected to increase in the Caribbean and might decrease the population if left unmanaged. Management strategies that reduce the time plants require to reach larger sizes might be necessary to increase λ, and reintroduction of cuttings might be a possible solution.

opencc-zeroJul 2019View details →

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Trends in the global trade of live CITES-listed raptors: Trade volumes, spatiotemporal dynamics and conservation implications

The global legal wildlife trade is worth US$4-20 billion to the world's economy every year. Raptors frequently enter the wildlife trade for use as display animals, by falconers or hobbyists for sport and recreation. Using data from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora's (CITES) Trade Database, we examined trends in the global, legal commercial trade of CITES-listed raptors between 1975-2020. Overall 272 raptor species were traded, totalling 188,149 individuals, with the number of traded raptors increasing over time. Hybrid Falcons (N = 50,366) were most commonly traded, comprising more than a third of the global diurnal CITES-listed raptor trade, followed by Gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus; N = 30,510), Saker Falcons (F. cherrug; N = 21,679), Peregrine Falcons (F. peregrinus; N = 13,390) and Northern White-faced Owls (Ptilopsis leucotis; N = 6,725). More than half of wild-caught diurnal raptors were classified as globally threatened. The United Kingdom was the largest exporter of live raptors and the United Arab Emirates was the largest importer. More affluent countries were likely to import more raptors than those less affluent. Larger-bodied diurnal species were traded more relative to their smaller-bodied conspecifics. Following the introduction of the European Union's Wild Bird Trade Ban in 2005, the number of traded wild-caught raptors declined. Despite its limitations, the CITES Trade Database provides an important baseline of the legal trade of live raptors for commercial purposes. However, better understanding of illegal wildlife trade networks and smuggling routes, both on-the-ground and online, are essential for future conservation efforts.

opencc-zeroApr 2024View details →

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Collaboration for conservation: assessing country-wide carnivore occupancy dynamics from sparse data

Aim: Assessing the distribution and persistence of species across their range is a crucial component of wildlife conservation. It demands data at adequate spatial scales and over extended periods of time, which may only be obtained through collaborative efforts, and the development of methods that integrate heterogeneous datasets. We aimed to combine existing data on large carnivores to evaluate population dynamics and improve knowledge on their distribution nationwide. Location: Botswana Methods: Between 2010 – 2016, we collated data on African wild dog, cheetah, leopard, brown and spotted hyaena, and lion gathered with different survey methods by independent researchers across Botswana. We used a multi-species, multi-method dynamic occupancy model to analyse factors influencing occupancy, persistence, and colonisation, while accounting for imperfect detection. Lastly, we used the gained knowledge to predict the probability of occurrence of each species countrywide. Results: Wildlife areas and communal rangelands had similar occupancy probabilities for most species. Large carnivore occupancy was low in commercial farming areas and where livestock density was high, except for brown hyaena. Lion occupancy was negatively associated with human density; lion and spotted hyena occupancy was high where rainfall was high, while the opposite applied to brown hyaena. Lion and leopard occupancy remained constant countrywide over the study period. African wild dog and cheetah occupancy declined over time in the south and north, respectively, whereas both hyaena species expanded their ranges. Countrywide predictions identified the highest occupancy for leopards and lowest for the two hyaena species. Main Conclusions: We highlight the necessity of data sharing and propose a generalisable analytical method that addresses the challenges of heterogeneous data common in ecology. Our approach, which enables a comprehensive multi-species assessment at large spatial and temporal scales, supports the development of data-driven conservation guidelines and the implementation of evidence-based management strategies nationally and internationally.

opencc-zeroDec 2021View details →

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Successful conservation translocation: Population dynamics of tiger recovery in Panna Tiger Reserve, Central India

Tiger (Panthera tigris) is an indicator species of ecological health and conservation efforts. Due to excessive poaching, the tiger was locally extinct in Panna Tiger Reserve, central India. Subsequent successful reintroduction efforts have brought the species back from the verge of extinction and have demonstrated the success of conservation translocations in response to such critical situations. To understand the demographic characteristics of the tigers reintroduced to Panna Tiger Reserve, we used an ensemble approach of different sampling techniques and direct observations from a long-term data-set spanning more than 10 years. We evaluated different demographic indicators (population status, growth rate, mean litter size, inter-birth interval, and survival probability). Since reintroduction in 2009, 18 females have recruited 120 cubs from 45 litters. This led to 59 individuals in 2021 with a growth rate of ~26%. The mean litter size was 2.66 (SE 0.1), and the inter-birth interval was 19.16 months (SE 0.5). The high survival rate of the reintroduced population (0.82±0.2) helped to achieve the success of reintroduction. We observed non-constant mortality trajectories for both sexes (higher survival probabilities for females) with a moderately higher risk of death in younger (<1 year) and older (>10 years) individuals. Our results showed the effectiveness of translocation and conservation efforts. The recovered population can be used as a founder for augmentation in other recovering tiger populations. A long-term tiger-centric management plan should be implemented in the area adjacent to Panna Tiger Reserve to conserve and secure the habitat of the entire landscape for the long-term survival of the reintroduced population in a metapopulation framework.

opencc-zeroMay 2024View details →

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Data from: Developing state and transition models of floodplain vegetation dynamics as a tool for conservation decision-making: a case study of the Macquarie Marshes Ramsar wetland

1. Floodplain vegetation states (communities) exhibit spatiotemporal dynamics in vegetation structure and composition, which reflect unique hydrological and connectivity patterns. Shifts in inundation regimes can drive succession and establish new stable states, determined by the magnitude and duration of the hydrological perturbation. 2. We aimed to develop a modelling approach that is able to capture ecosystem dynamics, identify and quantify the main drivers of change, and provide a tool for conservation decision-making. We developed state and transition models for floodplain vegetation states based on surveys in 1991 and 2008 in the Macquarie Marshes (Australia), a Ramsar wetland of international importance. We used a Bayesian logistic regression approach to model state and transitions between vegetation states and investigated how flood frequency, distance to stream and fire frequency were associated with vegetation dynamics during this period. 3. During 1991–2008, significant transitions have occurred towards drier states. Semi-permanent wetland vegetation had the lowest persistence probability (ppsis = 0·456) and a significant threshold response of transitioning to terrestrial vegetation (ptran = 0·505). Transition to drier states was driven by lower inundation probabilities followed by increased fire probability, and distance to nearest stream. 4. Using developed models, we predicted persistence probabilities of vegetation states under an unregulated (i.e. no dams or diversions) and regulated water availability system. Under a regulated system, semi-permanent wetland vegetation had an average persistence of ppsis = 0. 67 and 0·08 in the northern and southern sections of the nature reserve, respectively. Under an unregulated system, the predicted persistence of semi-permanent wetland vegetation was considerably higher: ppsis = 0·87 and 0·38, respectively. 5. Synthesis and applications. Developing quantitative models of state transitions significantly improved our understanding of ecosystem dynamics, identifying sensitive indicators for monitoring and thus supporting conservation decision-making. This helps managers understand potential trajectories of change in ecosystems in response to management options. For example, increasing environmental flows in the Macquarie Marshes is predicted to shift the community towards more of a wetland than the terrestrial state, resulting from river regulation. State and transition models identified how key ecological assets respond to drivers of change, particularly where these can be managed. This is critical for ensuring that all ecosystem components are managed and that these do not shift into undesirable states.

opencc-zeroDec 2014View details →

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