Biocultural Indicators to Support Locally Led Environmental Management and Monitoring
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Analysis of Habitat Fragmentation and Ecosystem Connectivity Within the Castle Parks, Alberta, Canada by Breanna Beaver Submit
Analysis of Habitat Fragmentation and Ecosystem Connectivity within The Castle Parks, Alberta, Canada by Breanna Beaver Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the Environmental Science Program YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY December, 2017 Analysis of Habitat Fragmentation and Ecosystem Connectivity within The Castle Parks, Alberta, Canada Breanna Beaver I hereby release this thesis to the public. I understand that this thesis will be made available from the OhioLINK ETD Center and the Maag Library Circulation Desk for public access. I also authorize the University or other individuals to make copies of this thesis as needed for scholarly research. Signature: Breanna Beaver, Student Date Approvals: Dawna Cerney, Thesis Advisor Date Peter Kimosop, Committee Member Date Felicia Armstrong, Committee Member Date Clayton Whitesides, Committee Member Date Dr. Salvatore A. Sanders, Dean of Graduate Studies Date Abstract Habitat fragmentation is an important subject of research needed by park management planners, particularly for conservation management. The Castle Parks, in southwest Alberta, Canada, exhibit extensive habitat fragmentation from recreational and resource use activities. Umbrella and keystone species within The Castle Parks include grizzly bears, wolverines, cougars, and elk which are important animals used for conservation agendas to help protect the matrix of the ecosystem. This study identified and analyzed the nature of habitat fragmentation within The Castle Parks for these species, and has identified geographic areas of habitat fragmentation concern. This was accomplished using remote sensing, ArcGIS, and statistical analyses, to develop models of fragmentation for ecosystem cover type and Digital Elevation Models of slope, which acted as proxies for species habitat suitability. -
Minnesota's Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025
Glossary of Terms and Acronyms Terms adaptive management. A decision process that promotes flexible decision making in the face of uncertainty or changing conditions, and allows for adaptation as the effect of management actions and outcomes become better understood. Monitoring of conservation actions and outcomes is a key component of adaptive management. biological diversity. The variety of living organisms that are recognized and analyzed by biologists at three levels of organization: ecosystems; the species that comprise those ecosystems; and the genetic variability within those species (Wilson 2001). Species present in an ecosystem include animals, plants, fungi, protists, and bacteria and range enormously in size and ecological functions. Functional diversity (see definition) is an aspect of biological diversity that some scientists believe may be of particular importance to ecosystem resilience. Biological diversity can be measured at different spatial scales (Whittaker 1960): • alpha-diversity: the number of species found in a small homogeneous area. • beta-diversity: extent of change in species composition among habitats or communities. • gamma-diversity: total species diversity in a landscape. Conservation Focus Areas. Priority areas for working with partners to identify, design, and implement conservation actions and report on the effectiveness toward achieving the goals and objectives defined in the Wildlife Action Plan. Conservation Focus Areas are intended to focus conservation efforts over the next 10 years to maintain and enhance the resiliency of the Wildlife Action Network. ecological classification system. A system used to identify, describe, and map progressively smaller areas of land with increasingly uniform ecological features. The system uses associations of biotic and environmental factors, including climate, geology, topography, soils, hydrology, and vegetation. -
Umbrella Species As a Conservation Planning Tool
Umbrella Species as a Conservation Planning Tool An Assessment Using Resident Birds in Hemiboreal and Boreal Forests Jean-Michel Roberge Faculty of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences Department of Conservation Biology Uppsala Doctoral thesis Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala 2006 Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae 2006: 84 ISSN 1652-6880 ISBN 91-576-7133-8 © 2006 Jean-Michel Roberge, Uppsala Tryck: SLU Service/Repro, Uppsala 2006 Abstract Roberge, J.-M. 2006. Umbrella species as a conservation planning tool: an assessment using resident birds in hemiboreal and boreal forests. Doctor’s dissertation. ISSN 1652-6880, ISBN 91-576-7133-8. In northern Europe, a long history of anthropogenic land use has led to profound changes within forest ecosystems. One of the proposed approaches for conservation and restoration of forest biodiversity is the use of umbrella species, whose conservation would confer protection to large numbers of naturally co-occurring species. This thesis aims to evaluate some of the prerequisites to the umbrella species concept, focusing on resident birds in hemiboreal and boreal forests. The study was performed in four areas belonging to the southern Baltic Sea region: central and southern Sweden, south-central Lithuania and northeastern Poland. A review of empirical evaluations of the umbrella species concept performed in various systems suggested that multispecies approaches addressing the requirements of both the umbrellas and the beneficiary species have better potential than approaches based coarsely on the area needs of single species. An analysis of co-occurrence patterns among resident forest birds in landscape units of 100 ha showed that some species reliably indicated high species richness through their presence. -
Ascendency As Ecological Indicator for Environmental Quality Assessment at the Ecosystem Level: a Case Study
Hydrobiologia (2006) 555:19–30 Ó Springer 2006 H. Queiroga, M.R. Cunha, A. Cunha, M.H. Moreira, V. Quintino, A.M. Rodrigues, J. Seroˆ dio & R.M. Warwick (eds), Marine Biodiversity: Patterns and Processes, Assessment, Threats, Management and Conservation DOI 10.1007/s10750-005-1102-8 Ascendency as ecological indicator for environmental quality assessment at the ecosystem level: a case study J. Patrı´ cio1,*, R. Ulanowicz2, M. A. Pardal1 & J. C. Marques1 1IMAR- Institute of Marine Research, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517, Coimbra, Portugal 2Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies, University of Maryland, Solomons, Maryland, 20688-0038, USA (*Author for correspondence: E-mail: [email protected]) Key words: network analysis, ascendency, eutrophication, estuary Abstract Previous studies have shown that when an ecosystem consists of many interacting components it becomes impossible to understand how it functions by focussing only on individual relationships. Alternatively, one can attempt to quantify system behaviour as a whole by developing ecological indicators that combine numerous environmental factors into a single value. One such holistic measure, called the system ‘ascen- dency’, arises from the analysis of networks of trophic exchanges. It deals with the joint quantification of overall system activity with the organisation of the component processes and can be used specifically to identify the occurrence of eutrophication. System ascendency analyses were applied to data over a gradient of eutrophication in a well documented small temperate intertidal estuary. Three areas were compared along the gradient, respectively, non eutrophic, intermediate eutrophic, and strongly eutrophic. Values of other measures related to the ascendency, such as the total system throughput, development capacity, and average mutual information, as well as the ascendency itself, were clearly higher in the non-eutrophic area. -
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT AN]) Appropriathd CARRYING CAPACITY: a TOOL for PLANNING TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT AN]) APPROPRIAThD CARRYING CAPACITY: A TOOL FOR PLANNING TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY by MATHIS WACKERNAGEL Dip!. Ing., The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ZUrich, 1988 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (School of Community and Regional Planning) We accept this thesis as conforming to the r ired standard THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA October 1994 © Mathis Wackernagel, 1994 advanced In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for an Library shall make it degree at the University of British Columbia, I agree that the that permission for extensive freely available for reference and study. I further agree copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the head of my department or by his or her representatives. It is understood that copying or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. (Signature) ejb’i’t/ Pios-ii’ii &toof of C iwivry Gf (i l r€dva k hi di’e The University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada Date O 6) ) DE-6 (2/88) ABSThACT There is mounting evidence that the ecosystems of Earth cannot sustain current levels of economic activity, let alone increased levels. Since some consume Earth’s resources at a rate that will leave little for future generations, while others still live in debilitating poverty, the UN’s World Commission on Environment and Economic Development has called for development that is sustainable. The purpose of this thesis is to further develop and test a planning tool that can assist in translating the concern about the sustainability crisis into public action. -
Umbrella Species: Critique and Lessons from East Africa
Animal Conservation (2003) 6, 171–181 © 2003 The Zoological Society of London DOI:10.1017/S1367943003003214 Printed in the United Kingdom Umbrella species: critique and lessons from East Africa T. M. Caro Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 96516, USA Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, P.O. Box 661, Arusha, Tanzania (Received 28 April 2002; accepted 26 November 2002) Abstract Umbrella species are ‘species with large area requirements, which if given sufficient protected habitat area, will bring many other species under protection’. Historically, umbrella species were employed to delineate specific reserve boundaries but are now used in two senses: (1) as aids to identifying areas of species richness at a large geographic scale; (2) as a means of encompassing populations of co-occuring species at a local scale. In the second sense, there is a dilemma as to whether to maximize the number or viability of background populations; the umbrella population itself needs to be viable as well. Determining population viability is sufficiently onerous that it could damage the use of umbrella species as a conservation shortcut. The effectiveness of using the umbrella-species concept at a local scale was investigated in the real world by examining reserves in East Africa that were gazetted some 50 years ago using large mammals as umbrella species. Populations of these species are still numerous in most protected areas although a few have declined. Populations of other, background species have in general been well protected inside reserves; for those populations that have declined, the causes are unlikely to have been averted if reserves had been set up using other conservation tools. -
Selecting Umbrella Species for Conservation: a Test of Habitat Models and Niche Overlap for Beach-Nesting Birds
Biological Conservation 203 (2016) 233–242 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Biological Conservation journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/bioc Selecting umbrella species for conservation: A test of habitat models and niche overlap for beach-nesting birds B. Maslo a,b,⁎,K.Leua, C. Faillace a,M.A.Westonc,T.Poverd,T.A.Schlachere a Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA b Rutgers Cooperative Extension, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA c Centre for Integrative Biology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia d Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, Trenton, NJ, USA e School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Australia article info abstract Article history: Umbrella species are rarely selected systematically from a range of candidate species. On sandy beaches, birds Received 18 March 2016 that nest on the upper beach or in dunes are threatened globally and hence are prime candidates for conservation Received in revised form 8 August 2016 intervention and putative umbrella species status. Here we use a maximum-likelihood, multi-species distribution Accepted 12 September 2016 modeling approach to select an appropriate conservation umbrella from a group of candidate species occupying Available online xxxx similar habitats. We identify overlap in spatial extent and niche characteristics among four beach-nesting bird species of conservation concern, American oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus), black skimmers (Rynchops Keywords: Beach-nesting birds niger), least terns (Sterna antillarum) and piping plovers (Charadrius melodus), across their entire breeding Conservation shortcuts range in New Jersey, USA. -
Biology for Queensland
BIOLOGY FOR QUEENSLAND AN AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVE UNITS LORRAINE HUXLEY MARGARET WALTER SERIES CONSULTANT 3 & 4 ROBYN FLEXMAN SAMPLE CHAPTER UNCORRECTED PAGE PROOFS To access a sample of the additional digital resources and teacher materials that support this series, visit: www.oup.com.au/ sampledigital For more information, or to book an appointment with your local sales consultant, contact: Tegan Hooper Email: [email protected] Mobile: 0456 655 441 Melissa Wearne Email: [email protected] Mobile: 0447 557 931 AN AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVE BIOLOGY FOR QUEENSLAND UNITS 3 & 4 LORRAINE HUXLEY MARGARET WALTER SERIES CONSULTANT ROBYN FLEXMAN DRAFT 1 Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries. CONTENTS Published in Australia by Oxford University Press Level 8, 737 Bourke Street, Docklands, Victoria 3008, Australia. © Lorraine Huxley, Margaret Walter Using Biology for Queensland: An Australian 3.6 Identifying features in terrestrial The moral rights of the authors have been asserted Perspective Units 3 & 4 ����������������������������������������������� VI ecosystems ��������������������������������������������������������XXX First published 2020 3rd Edition Acknowledgements ����������������������������������������������������� X 3.7 Biodiversity in ecosystems ����������������������������XXX All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, 3.8 Measuring features of an in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, by licence, or under terms agreed with the reprographics rights organisation. -
About This File
AUTHORS Bruce G. Marcot is the regional wildlife ecologist in the Ecological Framework for Management Research, Development, and Application Program, Pacific Northwest Research Station, U.S. Department of Agri- culture, Forest Service in Portland, Oregon. Michael J. Wisdom is the technology transfer scientist at the Starkey Experimental Forest, Pacific Northwest Research Station, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service in La Grande, Oregon. Hiram W. LI is a professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Gonzalo C. Castillo is a graduate student at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Managing for Featured, Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species and Unique Habitats for Ecosystem Sustainability Bruce G. Marcot, Michael J. Wisdom, Hiram W. Li, and Gonzalo C. Castillo From Volume III: Assessment Paul F. Hessburg, Science Team Leader and Technical Editor Eastside Forest Ecosystem Health Assessment Richard L. Everett, Assessment Team Leader Published by: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station General Technical Report PNW-GTR-329 February 1994 In cooperation with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region ABSTRACT Marcot, Bruce G.; Wisdom, Michael J.; Li, Hiram W.; Castillo, Gonzalo C. 1994. Managing for fea- tured, threatened, endangered, and sensitive species and unique habitats for ecosystem sustainability. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-329. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 39 p. (Everett, Richard L., assessment team leader; Eastside forest ecosystem health assessment; Hessburg, Paul F., science team leader and tech. ed., Volume III: assessment.) The traditional approach to wildlife management has focused on single species—historically game species and more recently threatened and endangered species. -
Challenges in the Development and Use of Ecological Indicators Virginia H
Ecological Indicators 1 (2001) 3–10 Challenges in the development and use of ecological indicators Virginia H. Dale a,∗, Suzanne C. Beyeler b,1 a Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6036, USA b Institute of Environmental Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45058, USA Accepted 7 March 2001 Abstract Ecological indicators can be used to assess the condition of the environment, to provide an early warning signal of changes in the environment, or to diagnose the cause of an environmental problem. Ideally the suite of indicators should represent key information about structure, function, and composition of the ecological system. Three concerns hamper the use of ecological indicators as a resource management tool. (1) Monitoring programs often depend on a small number of indicators and fail to consider the full complexity of the ecological system. (2) Choice of ecological indicators is confounded in management programs that have vague long-term goals and objectives. (3) Management and monitoring programs often lack scientific rigor because of their failure to use a defined protocol for identifying ecological indicators. Thus, ecological indicators need to capture the complexities of the ecosystem yet remain simple enough to be easily and routinely monitored. Ecological indicators should meet the following criteria: be easily measured, be sensitive to stresses on the system, respond to stress in a predictable manner, be anticipatory, predict changes that can be averted by management actions, be integrative, have a known response to disturbances, anthropogenic stresses, and changes over time, and have low variability in response. The challenge is to derive a manageable set of indicators that together meet these criteria. -
Evaluation of the Applicability of a Marine Biotic Index to Characterize the Status of Estuarine Ecosystems: the Case of Mondego Estuary (Portugal) F
Ecological Indicators 4 (2004) 215–225 Evaluation of the applicability of a marine biotic index to characterize the status of estuarine ecosystems: the case of Mondego estuary (Portugal) F. Salas a,∗, J.M. Neto a, A. Borja b, J.C. Marques a a Institute of Marine Research (IMAR), c/o Department of Zoology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal b AZTI, Departamento de Oceanograf´ıa y Medio Ambiente Marino, Herrera Kaia, Portualdea s/n, 20110 Pasaia (Gipuzkoa), Spain Accepted 2 April 2004 Abstract The need for new tools to assess the environmental status of coastal and estuarine systems encouraged Borja et al. [Mar. Pollut. Bull. 40 (2000) 1100] to develop a new index, the AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index (AMBI), which needs to be tested as much as possible in different geographical areas to assess its applicability. This index was applied in the Mondego estuary (western coast of Portugal) together with the Shannon–Wiener, Margalef, Simpson, and W-statistic indices, which are widely used in detecting the effects of marine pollution. Results show that, in some cases, the AMBI provides a more accurate assessment of environmental conditions than the other indices, which were influenced by the dominance of certain species, allowing us to consider it as a promising tool to characterize marine and estuarine environmental quality. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Benthos; Environmental quality; Estuaries; Marine biotic index; Soft-bottom; Water Framework Directive 1. Introduction natural and man-induced changes to the environment, integrating long-term environmental conditions. There is an increasing need for techniques capable For the development of the AMBI, the soft-bottom of evaluating changes in the coastal and estuarine en- macrofauna is divided into five groups according to vironments. -
Amphibians As Ecological Indicators
Amphibians as Ecological Indicators As our environment rapidly changes from various threats, we are left to wonder exactly what the implications and effects of these impacts are. A clue to examine these impacts, or even monitor restoration efforts, can be considered with the use of an ecological indicator. An ecological indicator can be defined by the EPA as, “A measure, an index of measures, or a model that characterizes an ecosystem or one of its critical components.” With this perspective, ecological indicators can be used to assess environmental conditions and trends over time. Amphibians have often been thought to serve as a particularly desirable indicator species. They utilize both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, as dictated through their biphasic life cycle, and their skin is permeable. For these reasons, they are considered to be more sensitive (in both habitats) to environmental changes and stressors than other species (Blaustein et al. 1994). In addition, many species can usually be found in abundance and monitoring efforts are considered effective. Most amphibians are very predictable as far as their reproductive queues. Observing changes in the behavior of amphibians can indicate potential environmental contaminants or pollution sites (Hammer et al. 2004). Abundance and populations of species can illustrate the overall health of the ecosystem and habitat quality. For example, if a significant increase in population is noted, one indication may be for very favorable conditions in the environment with this species; often more precedent than even vegetative responses. A program hoping to utilize an example such as the previous scenario is the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project (CERP).