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Society for Conservation Biology 16th Annual Meeting July 14-July 19 2002
co-hosted by DICE and the British Ecological Society
Abstracts for Reintroductions and Translocations
Monday 15th July, 15.30 - 17.30, Grimond
Lecture Theatre 1
Chair: Francois Sarrazin
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timetable
(BLOCK CAPITALS indicate the presenting author)
15.30 - 15.45
ERVIN, MELISSA, Trish Smith. The Nature Conservancy, 2883 Irvine Blvd., Irvine,
CA 92602, USA, mervin@tnc.org (ME, TS).
USE OF SALVAGED PLANT MATERIALS TO RESTORE NATIVE COMMUNITES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
The salvage and relocation of native plants and topsoil from areas proposed for development
in southern California provides a cost-effective means of restoring natural communities.
Plants and topsoil salvaged from intact stands of coastal sage scrub and native grassland
communities were relocated to degraded habitat areas within the Nature Reserve of
Orange County. The Nature Conservancy, worked with the land developer, The Irvine
Company, to identify suitable salvage sites within areas slated for development.
Acceptor sites chosen for the salvaged materials were in close proximity and were
degraded by historic grazing practices. Approximately 17,500 plants as well as ten
acres of high quality grassland topsoil were salvaged and relocated to the degraded
areas. Salvage efforts to date have been successful, achieving an approximate 85
percent survival of two of the most dominant shrub species. All topsoil relocation
sites will be monitored Spring 2002. Additional benefits achieved through this effort
include 1) preservation of native plant species pre-adapted to local site conditions,
2) preservation of beneficial soil microorganisms and 3) preservation of a native
seed bank..
15.45 - 16.00
SARRAZIN, FRANCOIS, Alexandre Robert, Murielle Richard, Michela Bosè,
Nicolas Lecomte, Christian Philippe Arthur, Philippe Lecuyer and Jean Louis Pinna.
Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Laboratoire d'Ecologie, CNRS-UMR 7625, Bât.A,
7ème étage, 7 quai Saint Bernard, Case 237, F-75252 Paris Cedex 05,
France, <fsarrazi@snv.jussieu.fr> (FS; AR, MR, MB, NL), Parc National des Pyrénées
Parc National des Pyrénées, Service Scientifique, 59 route de Pau,
65000 Tarbes, France (CPA), Ligue Pour la Protection des Oiseaux, Grands Causses,
Mairie 12720 Peyreleau, France (PL), Parc National des Cévennes, Château
de Florac, BP 15, 48400 Florac, France (JLP).
DEMOGRAPHIC, GENETIC AND BEHAVIOURAL APPROACH OF REINTRODUCTION: THE CASE OF GRIFFON
VULTURE IN FRANCE.
Despite being largely encouraged, accurate and large scale monitoring of reintroductions
remains relatively rare and recent. In that context the restoration of a Griffon
vultures metapopulation in Southern France involves demographic, genetic and behavioural
studies in order to assess the long-term viability of the system and optimise its
management in an adaptive way. Since the first releases in Massif Central in 1981,
four additional reintroductions have been launched and individually monitored together
with a natural colony in the French Pyrenees. Overall, the dynamics of both reintroduced
and natural populations have been high, particularly on Massif Central and Pyrenees.
The reproductive habitat selection strategy has shown a strong attraction of cliffs
with high breeding success. However preliminary microsatellites analyses show that
genetic diversity remained lower in the reintroduced compared to the natural population
over the last ten years. Regulation processes should mainly induce intraspecific
competition for trophic resources. Elasticity analyses and behavioural data suggest
that this should entail a decrease in juvenile survival and recruitment. These different
studies provide clues for the long-term management of nesting cliff protection, food
distribution as well as further releases, showing the continuum of basic and applied
question that can be assessed through reintroduction monitoring.
16.00 - 16.15
MORO, DORIAN. Centre for Ecosystem Management, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup
6027, Western Australia, Australia, <d.moro@ecu.edu.au>.
TRANSLOCATION OF CAPTIVELY-BRED MARSUPIAL DIBBLERS TO ISLANDS, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The introduction of threatened marsupials to islands affords a higher degree of translocation
success due to the implicit lack of exotic species on islands, or the feasibility
of eradicating them. The Dibbler, Parantechinus apicalis, is a small marsupial
endemic to the south west of Australia. It is listed under international and national
legislation as Endangered, and has been the focus of a successful conservation strategy
to translocate individuals to an island following a captive breeding program as a
security measure for the three other populations known. From 1998, and over three
subsequent years, the population was monitored using radiotelemetry and trapping
techniques. A total of 86 individuals were released in three groups to Escape Island.
Breeding and dispersal of young occurred within the first year of release. Three
years after the initial release, the fourth generation of wild-born Dibblers has
entered into the population. The conservation effort to secure island Dibblers has
been successful, at least in the short term, due to the combined collaboration between
four organisations and the commitment to financially support a careful monitoring
program of the released population over time.
16.15 - 16.30
FORD, PAULETTE L., Ed L. Fredrickson, Mark C. Anderson, and Joe C. Truett. Rocky
Mountain Research Station, 333 Broadway SE, Suite 115, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA,
<plford@fs.fed.us> (PLF), USDA-ARS, Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces,
New Mexico, USA (EDF), Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Science, New Mexico State
University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA (MCA) and Turner Endangered Species Fund.
P.O. Box 211, Glenwood, New Mexico 88039, USA (JCT).
FIRE AS A MANAGEMENT TOOL TO FACILITATE EXPANSION OF REINTRODUCED BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE
DOG COLONIES IN CHIHUAHUAN DESERT GRASSLANDS
Within the last 100 years, public and private control programmes and plague reduced
black-tailed prairie dog, Cynomys ludovicianus, population numbers by 98%,
causing localised extinctions. Black-tailed prairie dogs significantly alter grassland
ecosystems and are considered a "keystone" species requiring active conservation
efforts. We report on an experimental study evaluating fire vs. mowing for facilitating
expansion of reintroduced colonies. We used three northern Chihuahuan Desert (Sporobolus/Scleropogon
grassland association) colonies reestablished in 1998-99 ranging from 1.27 to 8 ha.
Contiguous taller grasses limited expansion of these colonies. We established six
50 x 50 m experimental plots adjacent to each colony randomly assigned to burn or
mow treatments. All burrows in each colony were mapped immediately preceding, and
four months post-treatment. Numbers of newly established burrows in each plot were
used as a measure of habitat preference. Results indicate no significant differences
in the number of new burrows on burn (mean = 13, SD = 8) vs. mow (mean = 13,
SD = 5) plots. In conclusion, fire can be used in lieu of mowing as a tool.
Persistence of these treatments will depend on prairie dog population dynamics and
impact of treatments on the foraging dynamics of associated large ungulates.
16.30 - 16.45
Nelms, M. Greg, Leslie A. Hansen, ROBERT J. WARREN, Jeffrey J. Brooks, and Duane
R. Diefenbach. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, West Melbourne,
FL 32904, USA (MGN), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 875454, USA (LAH),
Warnell School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA,
<warren@smokey.forestry.uga.edu> (RJW), Human Dimensions in Natural Resources
Unit, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA (JJB) and Pennsylvania
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Pennsylvania State University, University
Park, PA 16802, USA (DRD).
BOBCAT RESTORATION, DEER HERD TRENDS, AND OAK REGENERATION ON CUMBERLAND ISLAND,
GEORGIA, USA
We evaluated bobcat, Lynx rufus, food habits, white-tailed deer, Odocoileus
virginianus, herd trends, and vegetation change over 18 years on Cumberland Island
National Seashore, Georgia, before and after bobcat restoration. Bobcats were released
on the island during 1988-1989 to restore an extirpated predator to this protected
area. We determined abundance of deer and prey use by bobcat during 1988-1990 and
1997-1998. We also analysed annual deer harvest data from 1980 - 1997, and used permanent
plots to compare live oak, Quercus virginiana, regeneration in 1985 - 1997.
During 1988-1990, deer comprised 20-38% of the diet of bobcats, compared to 7-31%
in 1997-1998. Deer abundance decreased after restoration of bobcats, and eviscerated
body weights of deer harvested by hunters increased significantly for most age-sex
classes. After no significant change in height during 1986-1989, mean oak sprout
height doubled between 1989 and 1997; oak sprout and seedling density also increased
during this time. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that predation by
bobcats on deer caused a decline in deer abundance, which resulted in improved deer
condition and a release of vegetation from browsing pressure that enhanced oak regeneration.
16.45 - 17.00
FRITZE, CAMILLA, and William L.R. Oliver. Durrell Institute of Conservation and
Ecology, University of Kent at Canterbury, Canterbury CT2 7NS, UK, cfritze@wcs.org
(CF), and Fauna and Flora International, Great Eastern House Tenison Road, Cambridge
CB1 2TT, UK, WLROliver@aol.com (WO)
RE-INTRODUCTION OF THE PHILIPPINE SPOTTED DEER: WHAT WILL IT TAKE?
The Philippine Spotted Deer, Cervus alfredi, has been extirpated over 95%
of its former range within the Visayan Islands of central Philippines. This is due
to rapid deforestation and hunting. In 1985, the Philippine Spotted Deer Conservation
Program (PSDCP) was established to protect the last remaining wild populations and
to initiate a co-operative captive breeding program. This poster discusses the potential
of re-introducing C. alfredi captive-born individuals to sites within the
species historical range (IUCN, 1995; Kleiman et al., 1994.) The captive population
is still in preliminary stages of growth and is not yet demographically self-sustaining.
Genetically, however, the population is viable. Presently, there is no surplus stock
for re-introduction and the situation within the Visayan Islands precludes re-introduction.
An interview based survey was conducted in specific sites to determine the current
status and distribution of C. alfredi, patterns of disturbance, and local
attitudes towards conservation. It is evident that the initial causes for local extinctions
and declines persist, namely in the form of high rates of hunting and unsustainable
extraction of forest resources. The PSDCP must be expanded to include in-situ activities
such as community education, habitat protection, local capacity building and introduction
of alternative livelihoods for subsistence communities.
17.00 - 17.15
SMITH, WINSTON P., Leslie N. Carraway and Thomas A. Gavin. USDA Forest Service,
Pacific Northwest Research Station, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Juneau, AK, USA,
<Winston_Smith@fs.fed.us> (WPS), Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon
State University, Corvallis, OR, USA (LNC), and Department of Natural Resources,
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA (TAG).
CRANIAL AND ALLOZYME VARIATION IN COLUMBIAN WHITE-TAILED DEER: IMPLICATIONS FOR RESTORATION.
We examined variation in 18 cranial dimensions among three disjunct populations of
white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, in the Pacific Northwest to test
the hypothesis that they were from a single taxon. Previous allozyme analyses indicated
considerable variation among the three populations, but genetic divergences were
about one-third of the genetic distance between whitetail populations in the Northeast
and our three sample populations and suggested the populations in the Pacific Northwest
represented a single taxon. However, we observed substantial variation in cranial
dimensions among the three populations that analytically and graphically sorted into
three distinct morphological groups. Neither the genetic or morphological data support
current taxonomy, but likely are independently insufficient to warrant a taxonomic
revision. Still, the three populations show considerable morphological and genetic
variation, remain disjunct and isolated from each other, occupy different habitats,
and likely are on different evolutionary trajectories. Future efforts to recover
Columbian white-tailed deer may include reintroductions into portions of its former
range. Because of our results, we suggest that deer from the three populations should
not be mixed. That is, deer from one population should not be translocated to either
of the locations of the other populations to supplement or establish whitetail populations.
17.15 - 17.30
BRIGHT, PAUL W. and Jennifer MacPherson. School of Biological Sciences, Royal
Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 OEX, UK, <p.bright@rhbnc.ac.uk>.
CAPTIVE BRED ANIMALS DIVORCE AND DIE, BUT REINTRODUCTIONS STILL SUCCEED: LESSONS
FROM DORMICE
The hazel dormouse, Muscardinus avellanarius, is a European protected species
indicative of diverse ancient woodlands, a habitat that has greatly declined. Restored
woodland habitat for this species is very isolated from extant populations, so a
reintroduction programme has been instigated in the UK. Dormice for reintroduction
have been mostly captive-bred. Displacement of wild dormice from the path of the
channel tunnel rail link allowed us to test the hypothesis that wild-caught animals
out-perform captive-bred animals during reintroductions. The response of wild-caught
and captive-bred dormice to calls of a predator, the tawny owl, Strix alluco,
was tested in situ; the response of captive-bred dormice suggested that they
could not discriminate between the call of a predator and pulsed white noise. Following
release, significantly more pairs of captive-bred dormice lived separately (divorced).
The survival rate of wild-caught dormice appeared higher. We conclude that the performance
of captive-bred animals could be improved by pre-release pairing and perhaps anti-predator
conditioning. This would increase the number of reintroductions that could be attempted
annually. However the seven reintroductions conducted to date suggest that release
of large numbers of captive-bred dormice can overcome the deficiencies of captive
birth.
The SCB2002 pages are maintained by Christine Eagle
email: C.M.Eagle@ukc.ac.uk
Conference email: scb2002@ukc.ac.uk
Last updated: 30.06.02