Conservation Biology

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Lecture 21 Conservation Biology Conservation Biology Integrative discipline that applies the principles of ecology to the protection of biodiversity Defined as – scientific study of phenomena that affect the maintenance, loss, and restoration of biodiversity Spearheading the effort Alfred Russell Wallace Dan Janzen E.O. Wilson Alwyn Gentry Rate of loss estimations Mostly indirect Fossil record can be used to establish ‘background’ rate to which current rates can be compared Species-area relationships 10% habitat reduction 50% diversity reduction Changes in conservation status over time Endangered Critically endangered Rates of population decline or range contraction of common species Safe estimates Worldwide (optimistic): ~ 100 spp / day become extinct (~ 27,000 / yr) Current extinction rates parallel typical mass extinction events at the end of the Permian & Cretaceous periods Whenever man has arrived large animals have gone extinct HUMANS Passenger pigeon Extinction was sudden Not gradual Spread of introduced species & native generalists, coupled with declining abundances & distribution of native specialists TAXONOMIC HOMOGENIZATION Threats to biodiversity Habitat loss & degradation Loss, fragmentation, degradation Invasive species Overexploitation Pollution Disease Climate Change Invasive species – those that are not native to an area, become naturalized, and have negative effects on ecosystem function Exotic Species Considered Invasive USDA Overexploitation Pollution & Disease Fireproof Killer Whales Biomes face different threats Genetic Analyses As we have seen, deleterious effects are more pronounced in small populations Puma concolor coryi underwent ‘genetic rescue’ PVA Examines population extinction risks Moore et al. 2012 PVA of Trillium recurvatum Conservation measures Ex-situ conservation Zoos Direct introduction of new individuals Extensive habitat manipulations In-situ conservation Habitat protection Defending from predation Legal issues Endangered Species Act Protects 1,300 native species in US & 570 from other countries Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora (CITES) In effect for 35 yrs 167 countries involved 33,000 species receive some protection How to rank species Those in greatest risk are first on the list Surrogate species Surrogates – Species whose protection will indirectly protect other species with overlapping habitat requirements Flagship species – Fuzzy, cute factor Umbrella species – Typically require large areas, i.e., grizzly bears Similar to surrogate Assumes that protection of its habitat will serve as an ‘umbrella’ to protect many other species .

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Biocultural Indicators to Support Locally Led Environmental Management and Monitoring
Copyright © 2019 by the author(s). Published here under license by the Resilience Alliance. DeRoy, B. C., C. T. Darimont, and C. N. Service. 2019. Biocultural indicators to support locally led environmental management and monitoring. Ecology and Society 24(4):21. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-11120-240421 Synthesis Biocultural indicators to support locally led environmental management and monitoring Bryant C. DeRoy 1,2, Chris T. Darimont 1,2 and Christina N. Service 1,2,3 ABSTRACT. Environmental management (EM) requires indicators to inform objectives and monitor the impacts or efficacy of management practices. One common approach uses “functional ecological” indicators, which are typically species whose presence or abundance are tied to functional ecological processes, such as nutrient productivity and availability, trophic interactions, and habitat connectivity. In contrast, and used for millennia by Indigenous peoples, biocultural indicators are rooted in local values and place- based relationships between nature and people. In many landscapes today where Indigenous peoples are reasserting sovereignty and governance authority over natural resources, the functional ecological approach to indicator development does not capture fundamental values and ties to the natural world that have supported social-ecological systems over the long term. Accordingly, we argue that the development and use of biocultural indicators to shape, monitor, and evaluate the success of EM projects will be critical to achieving ecological and social sustainability today. We have provided a framework composed of criteria to be considered when selecting and applying meaningful and efficacious biocultural indicators among the diverse array of potential species and values. We used a case study from a region now referred to as coastal British Columbia, Canada, to show how the suggested application of functional ecological indicators by the provincial government created barriers to the development of meaningful cogovernance.
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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.
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Minnesota's Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025
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Umbrella Species As a Conservation Planning Tool
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Umbrella Species: Critique and Lessons from East Africa
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Selecting Umbrella Species for Conservation: a Test of Habitat Models and Niche Overlap for Beach-Nesting Birds
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Defining and Evaluating the Umbrella Species Concept for Conserving
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Species Biodiversity
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Evaluating Policy-Relevant Surrogate Taxa for Biodiversity Conservation: a Case Study from British Columbia
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Using the Focal Species Approach for Conserving Biodiversity in Landscapes Managed for Forestry
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The Hidden Risk of Using Umbrella Species As Conservation Surrogates: a Spatio-Temporal Approach
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