DOCSLIB.ORG

Conservation Science in the RSPB 2011-2012

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Conservation Science in the RSPB 2011-2012 a million voices for nature CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2011 –2012 IN THE RSPB Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) 2 3 Contents Conservation science in the RSPB Introduction .........................................................................................................................................................................6 Funding ................................................................................................................................................................................9 The application of science Casework science – informing the RSPB’s response to development .............................................................................11 Monitoring and indicators A national survey of common scoters ..............................................................................................................................15 The population size and distribution of Scottish crossbills ................................................................................................17 Using remote sensing to assess species conservation status .........................................................................................19 Estimating long-term bird population trends in a region with limited early data ..............................................................21 The ecology of threatened species Food limitation of urban house sparrows .........................................................................................................................23 Dynamics of the white-tailed eagle population in Scotland ..............................................................................................25 A brighter future for Gurney’s pittas .................................................................................................................................27 Twite breeding ecology in crofting areas ..........................................................................................................................29 Ecological process and issues research Evaluating the benefits of Higher Level Environmental Stewardship for farmland birds ..................................................32 Wholecrop silage – re-introducing cereals to modern livestock systems .........................................................................34 Do increases in agricultural yield spare land for nature? ..................................................................................................36 Does climate change explain declines in common sandpipers? .......................................................................................38 Protected area networks in the face of climate change ...................................................................................................40 Can species conservation management be adapted to cope with climate change? ........................................................42 Birds and wind farms – mapped and written guidance for England .................................................................................44 Oil palm – a threat to biodiversity and climate .................................................................................................................46 Preparations for the eradication of invasive mice from Gough Island ..............................................................................48 Publications Publications in scientific journals, proceedings and books ...............................................................................................51 Reports, theses and other publications ............................................................................................................................61 Andrew Parkinson (rspb-images.com) 4 5 Conservation science in the RSPB The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. Nature is amazing – help us keep it that way. The RSPB prides itself on using the best scientific evidence available to guide its conservation policies and practice. Only by basing our work on such evidence can we be confident that our actions will be of benefit to birds and other wildlife. For further copies of this report, or previous issues, please contact the Conservation Science Department, The RSPB UK Headquarters, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL. If you are in Scotland, please contact RSPB Scotland, 2 Lochside View, Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh EH12 9DH. These reports are also available to download from www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/science 6 Introduction Welcome to the eighth report on wildlife is our wind farm sensitivity that in Africa, at least, the IBA network the RSPB's scientific work. As in mapping. The RSPB is very is remarkably robust. About 90% of previous years, this report includes supportive of renewable energy, priority species will still be able to summaries of some of the projects because of the important role it find suitable climatic conditions in the we are involved in. While they plays in reducing greenhouse gas future in at least one of the IBAs in represent just a snapshot of our emissions. However, we are which they are currently found. overall scientific programme, we concerned that poorly-sited wind hope they demonstrate the depth farms can be bad for birds. The RSPB tries to ensure that its and breadth of the RSPB’s Because of this, we have produced work on birds is focused on those scientific work. two maps, one for Scotland (2007 species that need most help, report, pp 41–42) and one for particularly those that are threatened While a key role of conservation England (this report, pp 44–45) that because their population has scientists at the RSPB is to produce show where wind farms would pose declined. To ensure that we prioritise or review science, they also dedicate the greatest risk to sensitive bird the right species, we invest a substantial amount of time to species. These maps, which were substantial resources in monitoring ensure that science – their own or funded by Scottish Natural Heritage bird populations, often working with others’ – informs policy and practice. and Natural England, are designed to multiple partners. Several examples Nowhere is this more apparent help guide statutory agencies, local are given in this report. On pages than in the support provided by authorities, wind energy developers 15–16, we outline the results of a RSPB scientists to “casework”. and others in the early stages of any survey of the common scoter – a This all-encompassing term covers, wind farm planning application. very rare duck that, in the UK, only in particular, the work that the RSPB occurs on remote Scottish lochs. does to ensure that any planned While renewable energy will Worryingly, the survey confirmed our developments do not adversely unquestionably play a part in fears that this species is in decline, affect important sites for birds. mitigating climate change, there is with its numbers dropping by 45% For example, if a developer proposes now ample evidence of the impact since the first survey 12 years earlier. to expand a port on an estuary, or to that the changing climate is having Work is currently underway to try to build a new housing estate next to on biodiversity. Most obviously, determine why the species has heathland, or to establish a wind many species are shifting their declined so much in recent years. farm off-shore, then RSPB scientists geographical ranges as they try to will assist in responding to these track suitable climatic conditions. Although we are concerned by the proposals by identifying the likely In many parts of the world, BirdLife results of the scoter survey, those impacts on birds and other wildlife. International has mapped the most from the first ever survey of the While much of this work is important areas for birds (IBAs), and Scottish crossbill, the UK’s only reactive to individual developments, lobbies for these areas to receive endemic bird, are much more our response is strongly guided by formal protected area status if they reassuring (pp 17–18). This survey, reviews of the evidence of impacts do not already have it. But as the which used a sophisticated call from similar developments. Read climate changes, will those sites playback technique, developed by more about how science underpins retain the species for which they the RSPB and the University of our casework on pages 11–13. were originally identified and St Andrews, revealed that there were designated, or will the species simply about 6,800 pairs of Scottish crossbills One specific example of the work we move away? Research by the RSPB, in the UK, and therefore the world. do to reduce the potential for conflict and the Universities of Cambridge Although there were wide confidence between built developments and and Durham (pp 40–41) has shown intervals around this estimate, the 7 population is sufficiently large that it may be lost within the next half of all publications for 2008–2011 is is no longer considered a species of century. Such information has been provided at the back of the report, global conservation concern. used to reassess the conservation and for previous years is available at: status of several New Britain bird www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/science While the UK is blessed with an species without the need for abundance of information on the ground-based surveys. We would be delighted to hear of status of species, this is rarely the any ideas that you might have on case in biodiversity-rich but As an applied conservation how we could improve
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Species Action Plan for the Azores Bullfinch Pyrrhula Murina in the European Union (2009 - 2019)
    Species Action Plan for the Azores bullfinch Pyrrhula murina in the European Union (2009 - 2019) Prepared by: On behalf of the European Commission Species action plan for the Azores bullfinch Pyrrhula murina in the European Union The present action plan was commissioned by the European Commission and prepared by BirdLife International as subcontractor to the “N2K Group” in the frame of Service Contract N#070307/2007/488316/SER/B2 “Technical and scientific support in relation to the implementation of the 92/43 ‘Habitats’ and 79/409 ‘Birds’ Directives”. Compilers Joaquim Teodósio, SPEA, [email protected] Ricardo Ceia, [email protected] Luis Costa, SPEA, [email protected] List of Contributors Boris Barov, BirdLife International Nelson Santos DRA Rui Botelho SPEA Frederico Cardigos DRA, Hugo Laborda SPEA Catarina Quintela DRRF Jaime Ramos IMAR/Univ. de Coim- Sheila da Luz Univ. De Açores bra Paulo Cabral CMN Carlos Silva SPEA Filipe Figueiredo SPEA Sérgio Timóteo Univ. de Coim- Miguel Ferreira SPR Açores bra/SPEA Carlos Pato DRT Ruben Heleno Bristol University José Pedro Tavares RSPB Milestones in the Production of the Plan First SAP was adopted by the EU in 1996 Two evaluations of the implementation were made (2001 and 2004) 28 - 30 January 2009, Workshop LIFE Laurissilva Sustentável/ Priolo SAP, Nordeste 26 May 2009, scientific meeting on the SAP, Lisboa First draft submitted to EC: 30 June 2009 Second draft submitted to EC: 01 November 2009 Consultation workshop with main stakeholders, Ponta Delgada: 17 November 2009 Final draft: 31 January 2010 International Species Working Group n/a Reviews This Action Plan should be reviewed and updated every ten years (first review in 2019).
    [Show full text]
  • High Survival Rate of a Critically Endangered Species, the Azores
    High survival rate of a critically endangered species, the Azores Bullfinch , as a contribution to population recovery David Monticelli, Ricardo Ceia, Ruben Heleno, Hugo Laborda, Sergio Timóteo, Daniel Jareño, Geoff M. Hilton, Jaime A. Ramos To cite this version: David Monticelli, Ricardo Ceia, Ruben Heleno, Hugo Laborda, Sergio Timóteo, et al.. High survival rate of a critically endangered species, the Azores Bullfinch , as a contribution to population recov- ery. Journal für Ornithologie = Journal of Ornithology, Springer Verlag, 2010, 151 (3), pp.627-636. 10.1007/s10336-010-0501-4. hal-00570023 HAL Id: hal-00570023 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00570023 Submitted on 26 Feb 2011 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. J Ornithol (2010) 151:627–636 DOI 10.1007/s10336-010-0501-4 ORIGINAL ARTICLE High survival rate of a critically endangered species, the Azores Bullfinch Pyrrhula murina, as a contribution to population recovery David Monticelli • Ricardo Ceia • Ruben Heleno • Hugo Laborda • Sergio Timo´teo • Daniel Jaren˜o • Geoff M. Hilton • Jaime A. Ramos Received: 12 May 2009 / Revised: 30 November 2009 / Accepted: 1 February 2010 / Published online: 26 February 2010 Ó Dt.
    [Show full text]
  • Papua New Guinea Ii
    The Greater Bird-of-paradise display we witnessed at the km 17 lek in Kiunga was truly unforgettable. PAPUA NEW GUINEA II 12– 28 August / 1 September 2016 LEADER: DANI LOPEZ VELASCO Our second tour to Papua New Guinea – including New Britain - in 2016 was a great success and delivered an unprecedented number of high quality birds. A total of 21 species of Birds-of-paradise (BoPs), - undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary, and “out of this world” bird families in the world, were recorded, perhaps most memorable being a superb male Blue BoP, scoped at close range near Kumul for as long as we wished and showing one of the most vivid blue colours in the animal world. Just as impressive though were spectacular performances by displaying Raggiana and Greater BoPs in excellent light, with up to 8 males lekking at a time, a stunning male King BoP and two displaying males Twelve-wired BoPs at the Elevala River, a cracking adult male Magnificent BoP in the scope for hours at Tabubil, several amazing King-of-Saxony BoPs, waving their incredible head plumes like some strange insect antennae in the mossy forest of Tari Valley, great sightings of both Princess Stephanie´s and Ribbon-tailed Astrapias with their ridiculously long tail feathers, superb scope studies of Black and Brown Sicklebills uttering their machine-gun like calls, and so on. While Birds-of-paradise are certainly the signature family in PNG, there is of course 1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Papua New Guinea II www.birdquest-tours.com plenty more besides, for example we recorded a grand total of 33 species of pigeons and doves, -they reach their greatest diversity here in New Guinea, as do kingfishers-, including nine Fruit Doves, a rare New Guinea Bronzewing feeding on the road, and, during the extension, both Black Imperial Pigeon and Pied Cuckoo-Dove.
    [Show full text]
  • Ultimate Papua New Guinea Ii
    The fantastic Forest Bittern showed memorably well at Varirata during this tour! (JM) ULTIMATE PAPUA NEW GUINEA II 25 AUGUST – 11 / 15 SEPTEMBER 2019 LEADER: JULIEN MAZENAUER Our second Ultimate Papua New Guinea tour in 2019, including New Britain, was an immense success and provided us with fantastic sightings throughout. A total of 19 Birds-of-paradise (BoPs), one of the most striking and extraordinairy bird families in the world, were seen. The most amazing one must have been the male Blue BoP, admired through the scope near Kumul lodge. A few females were seen previously at Rondon Ridge, but this male was just too much. Several males King-of-Saxony BoP – seen displaying – ranked high in our most memorable moments of the tour, especially walk-away views of a male obtained at Rondon Ridge. Along the Ketu River, we were able to observe the full display and mating of another cosmis species, Twelve-wired BoP. Despite the closing of Ambua, we obtained good views of a calling male Black Sicklebill, sighted along a new road close to Tabubil. Brown Sicklebill males were seen even better and for as long as we wanted, uttering their machine-gun like calls through the forest. The adult male Stephanie’s Astrapia at Rondon Ridge will never be forgotten, showing his incredible glossy green head colours. At Kumul, Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, one of the most striking BoP, amazed us down to a few meters thanks to a feeder especially created for birdwatchers. Additionally, great views of the small and incredible King BoP delighted us near Kiunga, as well as males Magnificent BoPs below Kumul.
    [Show full text]
  • A Study Investigating the Biodiversity Value of a Native Timber Plantation Landscape in Papua New Guinea
    ResearchOnline@JCU This file is part of the following reference: Pryde, Elizabeth Clare (2014) Tropical production landscapes and conservation: a study investigating the biodiversity value of a native timber plantation landscape in Papua New Guinea. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/43784/ The author has certified to JCU that they have made a reasonable effort to gain permission and acknowledge the owner of any third party copyright material included in this document. If you believe that this is not the case, please contact [email protected] and quote http://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/43784/ Tropical production landscapes and conservation: a study investigating the biodiversity value of a native timber plantation landscape in Papua New Guinea Thesis submitted by Elizabeth Clare Pryde B.Sc.Hons. (University of Melbourne) On 29th August 2014 For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy In the College of Marine and Environmental Sciences James Cook University, Cairns To my magical daughter Amelia STATEMENT OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF OTHERS Research funding • The Australian Pacific Science Foundation (APSF) • Oregon State Zoo • Skyrail Rainforest Foundation • Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists • James Cook University, Australia Stipend • Australian Postgraduate Award Supervision • Professor Steve Turton • Dr James Moloney Study design and analytical support • Dr John Kanowski (vegetation data collection) • Guy Dutson (bird data collection) • Dr Dale Nimmo (Chapter
    [Show full text]
  • State-Of-The-World's-Birds-14-30
    STATE | WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF BIRDS CASE STUDY 17 ESSENTIAL Many IBAs are in danger The current list of IBAs in Danger includes 338 sites in 81 countries and territories worldwide. ECOSYSTEMS All face intense threats and need urgent attention. Examples from across each region highlight ARE IN PERIL the diversity of pressures and the urgency with which actions are required. Healthy, intact habitats are essential not CASE STUDY 16 E ETA TE E E A AA Gediz Delta is a stronghold for threatened Boeung Prek Lapouv is one of the last remnants only for securing the future of birds and Many IBAs remain unprotected waterbirds such as Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus of seasonally inundated wet grassland in the other wildlife, but also for providing the crispus and Red-breasted Goose Branta Lower Mekong in Cambodia. It supports over Many IBAs still lack legal protection and adequate ruficollis, and a vital wintering and stopover site half of the Mekong’s population of the vital ecosystem services that sustain local management. The IBA Protection Index shows for the Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus Vulnerable Sarus Crane Antigone antigone. It is (holding 5-10% of the global population). The under threat from an irrigation scheme that communities and that ultimately keep our that 80% of IBAs are inadequately covered site is threatened by a proposed mega bridge has greatly reduced the cranes’ feeding habitat. planet habitable. Unfortunately, many key by protected areas and one third are entirely project, which would result in the loss of breeding and foraging areas for birds.
    [Show full text]
  • AERC Wplist July 2015
    AERC Western Palearctic list, July 2015 About the list: 1) The limits of the Western Palearctic region follow for convenience the limits defined in the “Birds of the Western Palearctic” (BWP) series (Oxford University Press). 2) The AERC WP list follows the systematics of Voous (1973; 1977a; 1977b) modified by the changes listed in the AERC TAC systematic recommendations published online on the AERC web site. For species not in Voous (a few introduced or accidental species) the default systematics is the IOC world bird list. 3) Only species either admitted into an "official" national list (for countries with a national avifaunistic commission or national rarities committee) or whose occurrence in the WP has been published in detail (description or photo and circumstances allowing review of the evidence, usually in a journal) have been admitted on the list. Category D species have not been admitted. 4) The information in the "remarks" column is by no mean exhaustive. It is aimed at providing some supporting information for the species whose status on the WP list is less well known than average. This is obviously a subjective criterion. Citation: Crochet P.-A., Joynt G. (2015). AERC list of Western Palearctic birds. July 2015 version. Available at http://www.aerc.eu/tac.html Families Voous sequence 2015 INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME remarks changes since last edition ORDER STRUTHIONIFORMES OSTRICHES Family Struthionidae Ostrich Struthio camelus ORDER ANSERIFORMES DUCKS, GEESE, SWANS Family Anatidae Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor cat. A/D in Morocco (flock of 11-12 suggesting natural vagrancy, hence accepted here) Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica cat.
    [Show full text]
  • Birding Melanesia 2015 Report by Adam Walleyn
    Melanesia Discover and Secrets of Melanesia: Birding Melanesia 2015 Report By Adam Walleyn Cardinal Lory pair. Copyright Adrian Hayward The 2015 Melanesian Birding trip was another great success. The year will probably long be remembered for one of the worst droughts ever and while the dry and windy conditions made birding more difficult than usual, we persevered and ended up with an incredible tally of endemics, many of them amongst the most poorly known birds in the world! This incredible itinerary takes in part of the north coast of Papua New Guinea and all of the main islands of the Bismarcks, Solomons and Vanuatu, along with many of the smaller ones. This region is one of the world’s most avian endemic-rich hotspots and is largely inaccessible and unvisited by birders. Amongst 267 species, highlights this year included Superb Pitta sitting right in the open, an unexpected Manus Fantail, one of the first observations of Mussau Triller, a stunning Solomons Nightjar, and incredible diversity of fruit doves (12 species), imperial pigeons (12 species), myzomelas (11 species) and of course white-eyes (10 species). The trip started off with a nice dinner in Madang and then our first of many early mornings to bird a patch of forest not far from town. Bird activity was great this morning and there were a number of fruiting trees which allowed good views of two species of birds of paradise - Lesser Bird of Paradise and Glossy-mantled Manucode. Other nice birds in the fruiting trees included Orange-bellied and Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Zoe’s Imperial Pigeon, Orange-breasted Fig Parrot, and numerous Golden Myna.
    [Show full text]
  • West New Britain Extension July 22–27, 2017
    WEST NEW BRITAIN EXTENSION JULY 22 –27, 2017 White-mantled Kingfisher (Dion Hobcroft) LEADER: DION HOBCROFT LIST COMPILED BY: DION HOBCROFT VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM WEST NEW BRITAIN EXTENSION JULY 22 –27, 2017 By Dion Hobcroft A Purple-bellied Lory dines out in a Coconut flower. (Dion Hobcroft) Our tour got off to a shaky start with a cancelled flight from Port Moresby to Hoskins. Luckily, the superb Airways Hotel honored our rooms from the previous day that we had missed due to another cancelled flight. Love you Air Niugini! After settling in to the very comfortable Walindi Dive Resort, with its well-planned rooms, tasty meals, and excellent staff, we headed out for our first birding in New Britain. We met Joel, a local villager, who guided us up beyond his village into the forest. He led us to a New Britain Boobook, a small hawk-owl he keeps tabs on (and has done so for the past few years). With the elections on, I joked with Joel that we should call the owl “Prime Minister Pete.” We had actually seen the Prime Minister the day before. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 West New Britain Extension, 2017 After great looks at “Pete” we slowly wandered to a viewing area over the forest that was heaving with birds —lots of Eclectus Parrots, our first Blue-eyed Cockatoos, dozens of Red-knobbed and Yellowish imperial-pigeons, Long-tailed Myna, Variable Goshawk, an all-white Pied Coucal, a single Channel-billed Cuckoo (quite rare on NB), the beautiful Purple-bellied Lory, the scarce Black-bellied Myzomela, and great views of the colorful Knob-billed Fruit-Dove.
    [Show full text]
  • Papua New Guinea New Britain Extension III 30Th August to 3Rd September 2019 (5 Days)
    Papua New Guinea New Britain Extension III 30th August to 3rd September 2019 (5 days) Trip Report Blue-eyed Cockatoo by Chris Lester Trip report compiled by Dušan Brinkhuizen & Stephan Lorenz Trip Report – RBL Papua New Guinea – New Britain III 2019 2 Top ten birds as voted for by participants: 1. Golden Masked Owl 6. Melanesian Megapode 2. New Britain Boobook 7. Bismarck Pitta 3. Black-capped Paradise Kingfisher 8. Violaceous Coucal 4. Pied Cuckoo-Dove 9. Nicobar Pigeon 5. Black Imperial Pigeon 10. Purple-bellied Lory __________________________________________________________________________________ Tour Summary New Britain is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago and located just to the northeast of mainland Papua New Guinea. We had three full days to explore this beautiful but little-known island in search of the region’s best endemics. We arrived at Hoskins airport in the late afternoon and made it to our comfortable resort for check-in just around dusk. Apart from Bismarck Crow, Willy Wagtail and Blyth's Hornbill, not many other species were identified during our drive to Kimbe Bay. The following morning, we started our first proper birding at Garu Wildlife Management Area, one of the few protected areas in New Britain. At arrival there was some good activity of parrots with the fantastic Purple-bellied Lory being the first endemic to be scoped. The endemic Blue-eyed Cockatoo soon followed giving us some excellent flight views. Eclectus Parrots and Coconut Lorikeets were also flying around and the tiny Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot was scoped in the canopy. Suddenly, Stephan called out three flyover pigeons which turned out to be the rare Black Imperial Pigeon – what a great catch! Walking down the forest track, we quickly stacked up several other regional endemics such as Red-banded Flowerpecker, White-necked Coucal, Long-tailed Myna and New Britain Friarbird, all of them showing well.
    [Show full text]
  • The Azores Bullfinch
    bs_bs_banner Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 108, 677–687. With 4 figures The Azores bullfinch (Pyrrhula murina) has the same unusual and size-variable sperm morphology as the Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) JAN T. LIFJELD1*, ANTJE HOENEN2, LARS ERIK JOHANNESSEN1, TERJE LASKEMOEN1, RICARDO J. LOPES3, PEDRO RODRIGUES3,4 and MELISSAH ROWE1 1Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, PO Box 1172 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway 2Electron Microscopical Unit for Biological Sciences, Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1041 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway 3CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal 4CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Polo dos Açores, Universidade dos Açores, 9501-801 Ponta Delgada, Portugal Received 25 July 2012; revised 25 September 2012; accepted for publication 25 September 2012 The Azores bullfinch is endemic to the island of São Miguel in the Azores archipelago and the sister species to the Eurasian bullfinch. Here we show that the spermatozoa of the two species have similar ultrastructure and gross morphology. Thus, the unusual and supposedly neotenous sperm morphology previously described for the Eurasian bullfinch appears to be an ancestral trait that evolved before the two taxa diverged. In addition, the coefficients of variation in total sperm length, both within and among males, were high in both species and exceed any previously published values for free-living passerines. Such high sperm-size variation is typically found in species with relaxed sperm competition. However, the high variance in mean sperm length among Azores bullfinches is surprising, because the trait has high heritability and this small, insular population shows clear signs of reduced genetic diversity at neutral loci.
    [Show full text]
  • 2020 Sustainability Report
    NEWCREST MINING LIMITED NEWCREST 2020 SUSTAINABILITY 2020 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 Sustainability Report Sustainable mining means engaging and respecting local communities; assessing and managing safety and social and environmental impacts; and making ethical and transparent strategic business decisions. This approach delivers safe and profitable operations. OUR VISION OUR MISSION To be the Miner of Choice To safely deliver superior for our people, shareholders, returns to our stakeholders host communities, partners from finding, developing and and suppliers. operating gold/copper mines. OUR VALUES Caring about Integrity and Innovation and High Working COVER people honesty problem solving performance together LOCATION — CADIA INSIDE LOCATION — CADIA NEWCREST 2020 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 1 LOCATION — LIHIR About Newcrest 2 OUR MATERIAL TOPICS 19 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 63 Our reporting year — at a glance 4 Improving safety and health 20 OUR PERFORMANCE DATA 66 Message from our leaders 6 Working with our communities 26 Assurance statement 79 Our performance 8 Responding to climate change 34 Disclaimers 80 Our sustainability approach 10 Managing our environmental impacts 40 Corporate directory IBC Our stakeholders 12 Growth and financial sustainability 48 What matters most — our material topics 13 Respecting and protecting human rights 54 Risk management 14 Transparent and ethical business 60 Our people 16 2 ABOUT NEWCREST About Newcrest Newcrest is one of the world’s largest gold About this report This report is prepared for all stakeholders mining companies. We are among the top with an interest in the mining industry 20 companies listed on the Australian Newcrest reports annually in accordance and/or sustainability performance of Securities Exchange, and we are also listed with the core requirements of the Global corporations.
    [Show full text]