What is Conservation Biology?
An integrative approach to the protection and management of biodiversity that uses appropriate principles and experiences from basic biological field such as genetics and ecology; from natural resource management fields such as fisheries and wildlife; and from social sciences such as anthropology, sociology, philosophy, and economics. (ff(Meffe et al. 1997) From Groom, Meffe, and Carroll 2006 Biodiversity The varietyyp; of life and its processes; it includes the variety of living organisms, the ggg,enetic differences among them, the communities and ecosystems in which they occur, and the ecologgyical and evolutionary processes that keep them functioning, yet ever changgging and ada ptin g.
Conservation Biology, a publication of the Society for Conservation Biology, recently released an analysis of the 25 most cited papers in that journal and determined that Paton’s 1994 paper, “The effect of edge on avian nest success—how strong is the evidence?” was cited 363 times. MESM: Conservation Biology
• This specialization prepares students for professional positions in the science and management of the earth's biological diversity. They may concentrate studies in ecological aspects of applied conservation biology, management of biodiversity, or economics and policy aspects of conservation biology. Employment opportunities
• Graduates find employment with federal and state resource management and regulatory agencies, nongovernmental conservation organizations, and private environmental consulting firms. Wildlife Biologist GS-486 series: non-researchiih positions • At least 9 semester hours in wildlife: mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, wildlife management, or wildlife biology; and • AlAt least 12 semes ter hours ilin zoology: general zoology, invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology , genetics, ecology, cellular biology, parasitology, entomology, and • At least 9 semester hours in botany or the related plant sciences. Wildlife Biologist GS-486 series: researchiih positions • At least 9 semester hours in wildlife: mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, wildlife management, or wildlife biology; and • At least 12 semester hours in zoology: general zoology, invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, physiology, genetics, ecology, cellular biology, parasitology, entomology, and • At least 9 semester hours in botany or the related plant sciences. • At l east 15 semes ter hours oftf trai ni ng in any combination of two or more of the following: chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, soils, and/or geology. Core courses (21-25 credits),
• Natural Sciences (12-16 credits) - Plant & Animal Biology (at least 3 credits) - Ecology (at least 3 credits) - Biodiversity Analysis & Management (at least 3 credits) Social Sciences (6 credits) Quantitative Methods (3 credits) • Natural Sciences (12-16 credits) - Plan t & A ni ma l Bio logy (tl(at least t3 3 credit dit)s) • NRS 591 Ornithology • BIO 467 – biology of algae - Ecology (at least 3 credits) • NRS 423 – wetland ecology • BIO 455 – marine ecology - Biodiversity Analysis & Management (at least 3 credits) NRS 406 – Wetland Wildlife NRS 407 – Nongame/endangered spp . Social Sciences (6 credits) • CPL 539 Environmental Law • CPL 511 Pl an/N at . Env. StSystem Quantitative Methods (3 credits) • STA 412 Statistical methods in Research • NRS 520 – Quantitative tech. in Nat. Res. research Other requirements
• Elective courses (6-10 credits) up to you • Independent study (3 credits: EVS 598) an idindepen den t researc h pro jec tthtt that culminates in a substantial, high-quality, written repor t. (I’ll come bac k to this ) • Graduate seminar (2 credits) • Written comprehensive examination on coursework. Faculty interested n Conservation Biology • Pet er P at on, NRS , bir ds /amp hibians • Tom Husband, NRS, mammals • Peter August, NRS landscape ecology • Graham Forrester, NRS, marine protected areas Internship opportunities
• US Fish and Wildlife Service • US Environmental Protection Agency • NtNatura lRl Resources Conserva tion Serv ice •RI DEM • The Nature Conservancy • Rhode Island Natural History Survey • Audubon Society of Rhode Island Linda Vanderveer – consulting firm Population trends of American Woodcock In Maryland TIMBERLAND AREA BY STAND-SIZE CLASS AND PERCENT OF TOTAL BY INVENTORY YEAR in RI
Effects of Early Successional habitat restoration on avian populations in RI With RI DEM and NRCS Christine Caron – NEIWPCC @ RI DEM
Population trends and habitat use of Harlequin Ducks in Rhode Island Sachuest Point NWR Beavertail Christmas bird count data
USFWS census data RI Feral Cat Working Group
Wild Cat Foundation has trapped, neutered and returned (TNR) more than 7, 550 cats !
Save the Cats Arizona, nature reserve, 40 free-roaming cats - $150/month food 6 volunteers
Manager -doesn’t have a lot evidence Cats are killing birds. Alley Cat Allies
• “Humans are the cause of wildlife depletion. Studies show that the overwhelming cause of wildlife depletion is destruction of natural habitat due to manmade structures, chemical pppollution, pesticides, and drought — not feral cats. “
• “Catch and kill doesn’twork t work. Animal control’s endless, cruel cycle is extremely costly to taxpayers. Cats choose to reside in locations for two reasons: there is a food source—(intended or not)—and shelter. When cats are removed from a location, survivors breed to capacity or new cats move in. This vacuum effect is well documented. “ In 1997, American Bird Conservancy (ABC) launched the Cats Indoors!
-77 million pet cats in the United States, only 35% are kept exclusively Indoors
-Domesticated in Egypt more than 4,000 years ago
-Estimated 60-100 million homeless cats free-roaming domestic cats kill more than 100 animals each year, One well-fed cat that roamed a wildlife experiment station was recorded to have killed more than 1,600 animals (tlll(mostly small mamma l)18thls) over 18 months
-free-roaming cat densities reach 114 cats per mile2, outnumbering all similar -sized native predators The goal of this proposal is to develop a humane, comprehihensive sc ience-bdbased management p lan to contro l feral cat colonies in Rhode Island.
This goal will be achieved with the following objectives: Tier 1: To quantify the spatial distribution and population size of feral cat colonies in urban, suburban and rural communities in Rhode Island as a function of population management strategies; Tier 2 : To eval ua te and compare the e ffecti veness of current management strategies by monitoring population trends of colonies over time; Tier 3: To apply what is learned from this study to recommendations guiding the development of a comprehensive evidence-based management plan for feral cat colonies in Rhode Island. RI Ocean Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) • Working to define use zones for Rhode Island’s ocean waters through a research and planning process that integrates the best available science with open public input and involvement Public Perception of Wind Farms and Birds Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area, CA: 5000 wind turbines
On going legal battle: Replace older 100 kw, worst 500 turbines with larger 1-3 MW turbines Erickson et al. 2005. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. PWS-GTR-191 Barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis )
Common eider (Somateria mollissima)
Key Findings •Waterbird collisions with wind turbines are rare at offshore wind farms.
Common eider (Somateria mollissima)
•At Nysted of 235,000 Common Eider migrating through area in autumn; 41- 48 individuals were predicted to collide with turbines.
•An ifinfrare d camera moun tdted on a t urbi ne th thtat monit ored dtht the turbi ne bl bldades for 2,400 hours had no documented Common Eider collisions. Key Findings •Wind turbines result in habitat loss in and around the wind farm.
Pre-construction Post-construction Note shift away from SE of wind farm Avian studies for RI Ocean SAMP
• Goal: Assess current spatial and temporal patterns of avian abundance and movement ecology within Ocean SAMP study area boundaries
• Primary Objectives: 1) Compile and review historical avian datasets.
2) Assess temporal variation in avian spatial distribution and abundance of birds in Ocean SAMP study area.
3) Quantify flight behavior of birds in Ocean SAMP study area
11/28/09 to 2/22/10
1 2-5 6-9 10-13 14-16 17-20 21-30 31-45 46-65 66-100 101-125 126-250
All individuals, regardless of species, detected during aerial surveys from 28 Nov 2009 to 22 Feb 2010 -Raw Data Plotted From 3 Snapshots of the 24 Transects From 11/28/09 to 2/22/10. Common Loon
11/28/09 to 12/8/09
1/11/10 to 1/27/10
1 2-5 6-9 10-13 14-16 17-20 21-30 31-45 46-65 66-100 101-1251 126-250
-Raw Data Plotted From 2 Snapshots of the 24 Transects From 11/28/09 to 1/27/10. Note: Data plotted between line 4 and 5 from western end of study area is due to a flight error. We flew from the bottom of line 5 to the top of line 4 (Red circles). Also note that on some lines only one side of the plane is plotted due to heavy glare making viewing impossible for the observer sitting on the “sunny” side of the plane.
AES proposal: Marion Gold and Peter Paton Assess knowledge and attitudes regarding issues surrounding near and offshore wind farms and migrating water fowl
Use results of assessment to design an Extension outreach program to increase the awareness on the part of public and decision-makers regarding key issues
Promote the adoption of management practices by state and federal regulatory agencies that will minimize the impacts of wind farms on migrating scoter popul ati on s