scholarly journals Saving endangered species using adaptive management

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (13) ◽  
pp. 6181-6186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Serrouya ◽  
Dale R. Seip ◽  
Dave Hervieux ◽  
Bruce N. McLellan ◽  
R. Scott McNay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Adaptive Management ◽  
Forest Recovery ◽  
Vital Rates ◽  
Large Mammal ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Powerful Means ◽  
Emergency Measure ◽  
Ecosystem Alteration

Adaptive management is a powerful means of learning about complex ecosystems, but is rarely used for recovering endangered species. Here, we demonstrate how it can benefit woodland caribou, which became the first large mammal extirpated from the contiguous United States in recent history. The continental scale of forest alteration and extended time needed for forest recovery means that relying only on habitat protection and restoration will likely fail. Therefore, population management is also needed as an emergency measure to avoid further extirpation. Reductions of predators and overabundant prey, translocations, and creating safe havens have been applied in a design covering >90,000 km2. Combinations of treatments that increased multiple vital rates produced the highest population growth. Moreover, the degree of ecosystem alteration did not influence this pattern. By coordinating recovery involving scientists, governments, and First Nations, treatments were applied across vast scales to benefit this iconic species.

scholarly journals Extinct and endangered species in the vascular plant flora of Strzelce Opolskie (Southern Poland)

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-30
Author(s):  
Łukasz Folcik ◽  
Andrzej Urbisz
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Red List ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Individual Trees ◽  
The Town

AbstractSymptoms of anthropogenic changes in the vascular plant flora include the spread of some species groups and the extinction of others. Also habitat condition changes (eutrophication, pollution etc.) and biodiversity loss (at a regional, national and even continental scale) should be mentioned. Numerous papers with rare plant species localities and endangered habitats have been published but the extinction processes and scale of this phenomenon in urban areas where environmental conservation is crucial, are not often analysed. The aim of the present study is to estimate species loss in the vascular plant flora of the town Strzelce Opolskie (Chełm, Silesian Upland) on the basis of the floristic literature and botanical surveys carried out from 2011 to 2013. A comparison has been made between the list of species reported up to 1945 and those species currently occurring in the study area. As a result, a list of 99 species included in the red list of plants of Opole and Silesian voivodeships is presented. Among this group, 45 species are not confirmed after 1945. Numerous extinct and endangered species are from families: Orchidaceae (8 species), Cyperaceae (7 species), Ranunculaceae (7 species) and Lamiaceae (6 species). Strongly represented are species associated with the communities of Festuco-Brometea and Querco- Fagetea classes. From the species presented, 18 species are included in "Red List of Vascular Plants of Poland" (MIREK ET AL. 2006). It was found that the extinct species represent about 7% of Strzelce Opolskie vascular plant flora. It is a focus point for local authorities to protect botanically valuable areas. Actually, the only Miejski Park is under the conservator's protection and there are few individual trees protected due to their age or size.

scholarly journals Integrating Land Cover Modeling and Adaptive Management to Conserve Endangered Species and Reduce Catastrophic Fire Risk

Land ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 874-897 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Breininger ◽  
Brean Duncan ◽  
Mitchell Eaton ◽  
Fred Johnson ◽  
James Nichols
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Adaptive Management ◽  
Fire Risk

scholarly journals Advantage and Disadvantage of Global and Local Climate Datasets on Modeling Species Distribution at Continental and Landscape Scales

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi-Cheng Liao ◽  
Chi-Ru CHANG ◽  
Yi-Huey CHEN
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Distribution Pattern ◽  
Species Distribution ◽  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Distribution Range ◽  
Lapse Rate ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Landscape Scales ◽  
Global And Local

Abstract Species distribution model based on global and local climate datasets were hypothesized to have advantages on projecting distribution range at continental and landscape scales, respectively. Random Forest (RF) and principle components analysis (PCA) aimed to project potential distribution range and to construct climate space of Bretschneidera sinensis in continental East Asia (CEA) and northern Taiwan (NTWN) based on the WorldClim and local climate datasets. Geographical extent of the endangered species at continental scale was available to be projected by RF based on the WorldClim dataset, whereas isolation and fragmentation of natural habitat had not been presented by the projection map in CEA. At landscape scale, projection map of RF in NTWN based on the WorldClim dataset presented gridded distribution far from empirical distribution pattern, while that based on local climate dataset presented a distribution pattern relevant to elevation and topography. PCA had revealed climate differentiation between continental and island populations. Evidently, local climate dataset is essential for identifying ecological adaptation of island population at geographical margin of the endangered species. Meteorological data interpolated and altitudinal adjusted by empirical elevation lapse rate calculated for each watershed had captured climate heterogeneity in mountainous area, whereas it generated huge number of gridded cells that is not available to expand this method to continental region. Global climate dataset has the advantage on modeling geographical extent of plant species at continental scale, while local climate dataset used for modelling species distribution enables conservationists to delineate reliable conservation areas in fragmented natural habitats at landscape scale.

scholarly journals Advantage and Disadvantage of Global and Local Climate Datasets on Modeling Species Distribution at Continental and Landscape Scales

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi-Cheng Liao ◽  
Chi-Ru CHANG ◽  
Yi-Huey CHEN
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Distribution Pattern ◽  
Species Distribution ◽  
Potential Distribution ◽  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Distribution Range ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Landscape Scales ◽  
Global And Local

Abstract Species distribution model based on global and local climate datasets were hypothesized to have advantages on projecting distribution range at continental and landscape scales, respectively. Random Forest (RF) and principle components analysis (PCA) aimed to project potential distribution range and to construct climate space of Bretschneidera sinensis in continental East Asia (CEA) and northern Taiwan (NTWN) based on the WorldClim and local climate datasets. Geographical extent of the endangered species at continental scale was available to be projected by RF based on the WorldClim dataset, whereas RF had projected bias map that presented gridded squares at edges of the potential distribution range. At landscape scale, projection map of RF in NTWN based on the WorldClim dataset presented gridded distribution far from empirical distribution pattern, while that based on local climate dataset presented a distribution pattern relevant to elevation and topography. PCA had revealed climate differentiation between continental and island populations. Evidently, local climate dataset had reflected climate heterogeneity at landscape scale and is essential for identifying local adaptation of island population at geographical margin of the endangered species. However, huge number of gridded cells generated from local climate interpolation method for projecting potential distribution range at landscape scale is not available to expand geographical extent to continental region. Global climate dataset has the advantage on modeling geographical extent of plant species at continental scale, while local climate dataset used for modelling species distribution enables conservationists to delineate reliable conservation areas in fragmented natural habitats at landscape scale.

scholarly journals Managing hybridization of a recovering endangered species: The red wolf Canis rufus as a case study

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M. Gese ◽  
Fred F. Knowlton ◽  
Jennifer R. Adams ◽  
Karen Beck ◽  
Todd K. Fuller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Adaptive Management ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Wolf Population ◽  
Canis Rufus ◽  
Unique Challenge ◽  
Species Recovery ◽  
Red Wolf ◽  
Red Wolves

Abstract Hybridization presents a unique challenge for conservation biologists and managers. While hybridization is an important evolutionary process, hybridization is also a threat formany native species. The endangered species recovery effort for the red wolf Canis rufus is a classic system for understanding and addressing the challenges of hybridization. From 1987?1993, 63 red wolves were released from captivity in eastern North Carolina, USA, to establish a free-ranging, non-essential experimental population. By 1999, managers recognized hybridization with invasive coyotes Canis latrans was the single greatest threat to successful recovery, and an adaptive management plan was adopted with innovative approaches for managing the threat of hybridization. Here we review the application and results of the adaptive management efforts from 1993 to 2013 by comparing: (1) the numbers of wolves, coyotes, and hybrids captured, (2) the numbers of territorial social groups with presumed breeding capabilities, (3) the number of red wolf and hybrid litters documented each year and (4) the degree of coyote introgression into the wild red wolf gene pool. We documented substantial increases in the number of known red wolves and red wolf social groups from 1987–2004 followed by a plateau and slight decline by 2013.The number of red wolf litters exceeded hybrid litters each year and the proportion of hybrid litters per year averaged 21%. The genetic composition of the wild red wolf population is estimated to include < 4% coyote ancestry from recent introgression since reintroduction. We conclude that the adaptive management plan was effective at reducing the introgression of coyote genes into the red wolf population, but population recovery of red wolves will require continuation of the current management plan, or alternative approaches, for the foreseeable future. More broadly, we discuss the lessons learned from red wolf adaptive management that could assist other endangered species recovery efforts facing the challenge of minimizing hybridization.

Reply to the comment by Harron on “Widespread declines in woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) continue in Alberta”

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Hervieux ◽  
M. Hebblewhite ◽  
N.J. DeCesare ◽  
M. Russell ◽  
K. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Original Study ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Caribou ◽  
Vital Rates ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Protected Species ◽  
Demographic Trends ◽  
Powerful Means ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Study Species

Estimation of demographic trends from vital rates provides a powerful means to estimate population trends in cryptic or difficult to study species such as woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)). Using such methods, Hervieux et al. (2013; Can. J. Zool. 91(12): 872–882) recently showed 11 of 14 woodland caribou populations in Alberta were declining at ∼8%/year following up to 18 years of monitoring. Harron (2015; Can. J. Zool. 93(2): 149–150) critiques our original study, claiming that negative biases in our demographic monitoring exaggerate our conclusions of widespread caribou declines. Here, we systematically review each of Harron’s claims of bias, rejecting each of his claims upon careful review of the mechanisms by which his purported claims would manifest in our population trend estimation. Therefore, we conclude that Harron’s scientific critique was superficial and misleading. Delays in conservation actions raised by Harron’s critique risk diminishing opportunities to conserve and recover this federally and provincially protected species.

scholarly journals Development of ecologically meaningful, multiple-species conservation strategies under the California and U.S. Endangered Species Acts

2021 ◽  
pp. 61-75
Author(s):  
Erica Fleishman ◽  
T. Luke George ◽  
Eric C. Hansen ◽  
Julie Heinrichs
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Population Biology ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Vital Rates ◽  
Protected Species ◽  
Strategic Acquisition ◽  
Multiple Species

The California and U.S. Endangered Species Acts prohibit take of protected species, but allow for authorization of take incidental to otherwise lawful activities provided the take is minimized and mitigated. Incomplete and inconsistent ecological information can limit the contribution of mitigation plans for incidental take, especially those for multiple species, to species persistence. Many such plans focus on acquisition and management of coarse-resolution land-cover or land-use types. These classifications may not coincide with a species’ resource requirements (its habitat) or the greatest constraints to its viability. Complementing acquisition with rigorous research on population biology, stressors, and habitat use and quality may be much more effective than preservation of putative but unproven habitat. Such adaptive conservation can be applied to species with restricted or extensive distributions. When the distribution and ecology of geographically restricted species are well-known, then connectivity analyses, sometimes complemented by spatially explicit, mechanistic population models, may inform habitat acquisition and management. When little information exists on the ecology or vital rates of a restricted species, we suggest assessment of occupancy, habitat use, or demography; tracking individuals’ movements; and evaluation of habitat quality. Acquisition and management of local lands that may not serve as habitat is unlikely to contribute to conservation of extensively distributed species with range-wide declines. Instead, we suggest that conservation efforts for these species emphasize strategic acquisition of open space (large, undeveloped areas that are more likely to serve as high-quality habitat), potentially in locations distant from the permit area. The above areas of research can inform optimization of conservation locations. Many mitigation decisions are based on assumptions drawn from limited data. Inclusion of scientific research in development and implementation of mitigation plans for incidental take can strengthen the plans’ information content, improve the ecological success acquisition and management, and advance conservation of protected species.

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