Landscape ecology and conservation: moving from description to application

1994 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Hobbs
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Ecology ◽  
Conservation Biology ◽  
Conservation Management ◽  
Patch Dynamics ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Metapopulation Dynamics ◽  
Quantitative Methodology ◽  
Effective Conservation ◽  
Conservation Of Biodiversity

The focus of conservation biology has been predominantly the study of single species, and conservation management and legislation has been directed mostly at the species level. Increasingly, however, there has been a recognition that ecosystems and landscapes need to be considered, since they form the physical and biotic context within which species exist. Increased emphasis on the landscape scale suggests that the emerging discipline of landscape ecology might have much to offer conservation biology. Landscape ecology is still a young science with no well-defined theoretical framework and little rigorous quantitative methodology. It aims to study patterns, processes and changes at the scale of hectares to square kilometers. Its focus on the pattern and dynamics of ecosystems or patches within a landscape offers much which is of relevance to conservation biology. Topics such as disturbance, patch dynamics, metapopulation dynamics, landscape flows, connectivity and fragmentation all have relevance to the conservation of biodiversity in natural, altered and rapidly changing systems. The papers in this issue provide a cross section of Australian research into landscape ecology which is of relevance to conservation biology. Methodological, theoretical and practical aspects are covered. I suggest that effective conservation of biodiversity will be achieved only if the landscape context is taken into account.

Distribution, abundance and demography of green pythons (Morelia viridis) in Cape York Peninsula, Australia

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel James Deans Natusch ◽  
David Francis Stewart Natusch
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Management ◽  
Potential Range ◽  
Pet Trade ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Population Demographics ◽  
River Catchment ◽  
Iron Range ◽  
Ecological Attributes ◽  
Cape York ◽  
Effective Conservation

The green python (Morelia viridis) is an iconic snake species highly sought after in the pet trade and is the target of illegal collection. Despite their popularity, some important ecological attributes of green pythons remain unknown, making their effective conservation management difficult. Detection-only surveys were conducted throughout the potential range of the green python in Australia, and intensive mark–recapture surveys were conducted in the areas where there have been previous records. In total, 298 green pythons were located in the Iron, McIlwraith and Kawadji–Ngaachi ranges of Cape York, distributed over an estimated area of 2289 km2, where they frequented rainforest habitats and adjacent vine thickets. They were not found in the Lockerbie Scrub or Jardine River Catchment, despite anecdotal records. Green python density was estimated to be 540 km–2 in the Iron Range and 200 km–2 in the McIlwraith Range, where the percentages of adults captured were 56% and 83%, respectively. The differences between abundance and population demographics in the Iron and McIlwraith ranges may be due to differences in prey abundance and the impacts of collection. The results of this study provide baseline data to conservation managers and policy makers for the future conservation management of this species in Australia.

scholarly journals Can landscape-scale approaches to conservation management resolve biodiversity-ecosystem service trade-offs?

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine E. Cordingley ◽  
Adrian C. Newton ◽  
Robert J. Rose ◽  
Ralph T. Clarke ◽  
James M. Bullock
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Service ◽  
Conservation Management ◽  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Service Trade ◽  
Trade Offs

scholarly journals Coupling movement and landscape ecology for animal conservation in production landscapes

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1870) ◽  
pp. 20172272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim S. Doherty ◽  
Don A. Driscoll
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Ecology ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Conservation Management ◽  
Animal Movement ◽  
Structural Connectivity ◽  
Movement Ecology ◽  
Animal Conservation ◽  
Conventional Management ◽  
Habitat Conversion ◽  
Management Approaches

Habitat conversion in production landscapes is among the greatest threats to biodiversity, not least because it can disrupt animal movement. Using the movement ecology framework, we review animal movement in production landscapes, including areas managed for agriculture and forestry. We consider internal and external drivers of altered animal movement and how this affects navigation and motion capacities and population dynamics. Conventional management approaches in fragmented landscapes focus on promoting connectivity using structural changes in the landscape. However, a movement ecology perspective emphasizes that manipulating the internal motivations or navigation capacity of animals represents untapped opportunities to improve movement and the effectiveness of structural connectivity investments. Integrating movement and landscape ecology opens new opportunities for conservation management in production landscapes.

Advances in Reintroduction Biology of Australian and New Zealand Fauna

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Management Strategy ◽  
Conservation Management ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
New Science ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
Timely Review ◽  
Emerging Themes ◽  
Effective Conservation

The publication of Reintroduction Biology of Australian and New Zealand Fauna nearly 20 years ago introduced the new science of ‘reintroduction biology’. Since then, there have been vast changes in our understanding of the process of reintroductions and other conservation-driven translocations, and corresponding changes in regulatory frameworks governing translocations. Advances in Reintroduction Biology of Australian and New Zealand Fauna is a timely review of our understanding of translocation from an Australasian perspective, ensuring translocation becomes an increasingly effective conservation management strategy in the future. Written by experts, including reintroduction practitioners, researchers and policy makers, the book includes extensive practical advice and example case studies, identifies emerging themes and suggests future directions. Conservation practitioners and researchers, as well as conservation management agencies and NGOs will find the book a valuable resource. Although it is based on Australasian examples, it will be of interest globally due to synergies with reintroduction programs throughout the world. 2015 Whitley Awards Certificate of Commendation for Conservation Biology.

Conservation planning at the landscape scale: A landscape ecology method for regional land trusts

2004 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 709-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Kazmierski ◽  
Megan Kram ◽  
Elizabeth Mills ◽  
David Phemister ◽  
Nicholas Reo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Ecology ◽  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Land Trusts ◽  
Regional Land

Mapping ecological vulnerability to fire for effective conservation management of natural protected areas

2015 ◽  
Vol 295 ◽  
pp. 163-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Aretano ◽  
Teodoro Semeraro ◽  
Irene Petrosillo ◽  
Antonella De Marco ◽  
Maria Rita Pasimeni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Conservation Management ◽  
Natural Protected Areas ◽  
Ecological Vulnerability ◽  
Effective Conservation

scholarly journals The costs of single species programmes and the budget constraint

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 108
Author(s):  
Emma Moran ◽  
Ross Cullen ◽  
Kenneth F. D. Hughey
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Annual Cost ◽  
Conservation Management ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Budget Constraint ◽  
Total Cost ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Threatened Status

Despite the scarcity of funding for species conservation programmes, estimation of the cost of threatened species programmes occurs in only a few countries. This paper examines the reasons for the lack of species programme cost estimates and the likely impacts of this on conservation management. We report methodology used to estimate cost for eleven New Zealand species programmes and their estimated costs over a ten year period. Differences between species in the costs of the programmes and the breakdown of the costs are highlighted. The estimated costs are compared with expected levels of expenditure on each species to illustrate the existence of a budget constraint for threatened species. The likely effects of cost of species conservation exceeding expenditures on species conservation are examined. Annual cost data is used together with information on rate of conservation progress to estimate time and total cost for each species to reach Not Threatened status.

scholarly journals Predictor species: Improving assessments of rare species occurrence by modelling environmental co-responses

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter R. Thompson ◽  
William F. Fagan ◽  
Phillip P.A. Staniczenko
Keyword(s):  
Rare Species ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Calibration Data ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Effective Conservation ◽  
Better Than

ABSTRACTDesigning an effective conservation strategy requires understanding where rare species are located. Although species distribution models are primarily used to identify patterns at large spatial scales, their general methodology is relevant for predicting the occurrence of individual species at specific locations. Here we present a new approach that uses Bayesian networks to improve predictions by modelling environmental co-responses among species. For species from a European peat bog community, our approach consistently performs better than single-species models, and better than conventional multi-species models for rare species when calibration data are limited. Furthermore, we identify a group of “predictor species” that are relatively common, insensitive to the presence of other species, and can be used to improve occurrence predictions of rare species. Predictor species are distinct from other categories of conservation surrogates such as umbrella or indicator species, which motivates focused data collection of predictor species to enhance conservation practices.

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