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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 Recovery of Endangered Species
Session Four
Thursday 18th
July, 15.30 - 17.30, Rutherford Lecture Theatre 1
Chair: Devra Kleiman
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Conference Home Page | Session
timetable
(BLOCK CAPITALS indicate the presenting author)
15.30 - 15.45
WALPOLE, MATTHEW J., Robert J. Smith, Annette E. Huggins and Nigel Leader-Williams.
Durrell Institute of Conservation & Ecology, University of Kent at Canterbury,
Canterbury CT2 7NS, UK, <m.j.walpole@ukc.ac.uk> (MJW, RJS, AEH, NL-W).
DISPLACEMENT LIMITS BLACK RHINOCEROS RECOVERY IN MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE, KENYA
The recovery from poaching of the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli)
population in the Masai Mara National Reserve (MMNR), Kenya, has stalled at a low
population size, density and distribution compared with the situation prior to poaching.
This study examined to what extent human pressures (tourism and cattle encroachment)
were responsible. The spatial distribution of rhinos, cattle, and tourist vehicles
were monitored over a two-year period. These and other ecological and infrastructural
variables were overlaid using GIS to create a data matrix of 1km2 grid cells. Using
these data, an autologistic model of rhino spatial distribution within MMNR predicted
rhino presence in the absence of cattle and in close proximity to drainage lines
(a surrogate for resource availability). Variables related to tourism pressure had
no effect on rhino distribution. The model predicted that, were cattle to be removed
from the Reserve, the rhino population could increase by up to 40% due to an increased
available range. These results suggest that tourism is more compatible with rhino
conservation than steadily encroaching pastoralism that affects the access of rhinos
to suitable habitat and hence limits carrying capacity and the potential for population
recovery.
15.45 - 16.00
ZHANG, LI and Ning Wang. Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity
Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Ecology, Beijing Normal University,
Beijing 100875, P. R. China, <asterzhang@sina.com>.
A PRIMARY STUDY ON THE HABITAT AND BEHAVIOURS OF ASIAN ELEPHANT (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS)
IN SIMAO, YUNNAN OF CHINA, WITH A FOCUS ON THE RESOLUTION OF HUMAN ELEPAHNT INTERACTION
Trace-tracking and transects were used during the surveys on the habitat and behaviours
of Asian Elephant, Elephas maximus, in Simao, Yunnan of China. In five different
vegetation types in the elephants’ range, 457 species of wild plants were recorded.
The behavioural study focused on a herd of five female elephants roaming in the area.
The total home range size of the herd was 35.67 km2. Three core foraging areas comprising
18.42 km2 provided most of the food resources for the herd in the wild. Only one
core foraging area was used during the rainy season. Nineteen species of wild plant
were recorded as the elephants’ main food resources. However, wheat and corn supplied
nearly 80% of the food consumed by the elephants in the rainy season in Simao. It
was indicated that natural food supplies in the habitat were not enough for the elephants.
Under the high pressure and threats of human activities in the habitat, the behaviours
of the elephants presented great environmental adaptation to anthropogenic food resources
and disturbance. The prevention of habitat fragmentation and the provision of enough
natural food resources in the forest will be key tasks for the conservation efforts
of elephants in Simao.
16.00 - 16.15
NUÑEZ, CASSANDRA, Earthwatch Institute, 3 Clocktower Place, Suite 100,
Box 75, Maynard, MA 01754, <nunezcassandra@hotmail.com>.
Daniel I. Rubenstein, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA.
THE IMORTANCE OF ‘SAFETY’ IN WATERING SITE CHOICE OF GREVY’S ZEBRA (Equus grevyi)
MOTHERS.
Grevy’s zebra is one of East Africa’s most highly endangered species; survivorship
of the young is therefore a pressing concern. We examined the watering site preferences
of Grevy’s zebra mothers. In the three months following foaling, Grevy’s mothers
remain near watering sites to ensure sufficient milk production. They will not leave
the area despite poor vegetation quality (due to increased competition and trampling),
often suffering declines in physical condition, and ultimately, decreases in milk
production. The development of additional watering sites to provide Grevy’s mothers
with alternate, higher quality feeding areas has therefore been suggested. Grevy’s
mothers do not use all available watering sites, however, and the determination of
their ‘needs’ in a site is vital if conservation agencies are to move forward in
an effective manner. Vegetation transects and visibility scores were conducted at
13 watering sites on the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya. We noted the type(s),
average height, and overall quality of vegetation, and the visibility of each site
in relation to use by Grevy’s mothers. Only the visibility of an area had any effect
on site choice, and indicated that predator detection, and therefore the relative
‘safety’ of watering sites, is of great importance to Grevy’s mothers.
16.15 - 16.30
Lode, Thierry, ALAIN PAGANO, Rachel Berzins and Vincent Pereboom. Animal Ecology,
Université d’Angers, Campus Belle Beille, F-49045 Angers cedex, France, <Thierry.lode@univ-angers.fr>.
THE EUROPEAN MINK: BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION OF WESTERN POPULATIONS
European Mink populations recently suffered a severe decline and the species is now
among the most endangered mammals in the world. The range area of western population
decreased by half, completely disappearing from north-western France. The analysis
of the pattern of decline showed fragmentation resulting in sub-population isolation
rather than a linear decline. Fragmentation is directly linked to bad water quality
evidencing the rule of habitat alteration. However, multiple causes may be invoked
for the decline of this species. Population genetic investigation revealed a low
heterozygosity level and the Fis evidenced perturbations in reproductive exchanges
validating fragmentation. Moreover, a capture-mark-recapture study showed that sex
ratio is in favour of females (59.1%, n = 13) and, on average, only one individual
was recorded each 2.27 km of river. European Mink conservation implies habitat restoration,
and overall connectivity restoration. In addition, because the Western population
is now very low, reproduction in captivity is urgently required.
16.30 - 16.45
VAN HEEZIK, YOLANDA, Richard Maloney, Philip Seddon and Dave Murray. Department
of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand, <yolanda.vanheezik@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
(YVH), Department of Conservation, Private Bag, Twizel, New Zealand (RM), Department
of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand (PS), Department
of Conservation, Private Bag, Twizel, New Zealand (DM).
THE LAST 61 KAKI: CONSTRAINTS AND COMPROMISE IN SELECTING SPECIES RESTORATION TECHNIQUES
The kaki, Himantopus novaezelandiae, is a critically endangered endemic New
Zealand inland wading bird that has been managed intensively for the last 20 years
using a variety of techniques. Problems managers contend with include: very low numbers
of widely dispersed birds (23 wild adults in 1981); predation by introduced and native
predators; loss of habitat (including weed invasions, water extraction, diverting
and flooding of rivers); unbalanced sex ratio favouring males; hybridisation with
poaka (pied stilts); and disturbance by recreational users of river beds. The goal
of conservation managers is to increase the kaki population to >250 breeding individuals
by 2011, with a mean annual recruitment rate exceeding the mean annual mortality
rate. A variety of management techniques have been used with different emphasis at
different times in order to achieve this goal: artificial incubation of eggs; multiple
clutching; cross-fostering; predator control; captive breeding and releases; habitat
protection; habitat enhancement; advocacy on disturbance and controlling hybridisation.
The challenge when dealing with such critically low numbers of birds is trying, with
limited resources, to be as rigorous as possible when testing the effectiveness of
techniques, within the constraint of the urgent need to achieve immediate results.
16.45 - 17.00
SWINNERTON, KIRSTY, Wildlife Preservation Trust Canada, 120 King Street, Guelph,
Ontario, N1E 4P8, Canada,<kjswin@netcomuk.co.uk>
CONSERVATION OF THE PINK PIGEON (Columba mayeri) ON MAURITIUS
The pink pigeon Columba mayeri was a critically endangered endemic bird from the
island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. The species reached its lowest point, with
a total of between 10 and 20 birds, in 1975. The causes of decline included habitat
destruction, seasonal food shortages and predation by introduced mammals. A recovery
programme for the species was developed which involved captive breeding, reintroduction,
and management of the wild population. Between 1987 and 1997, 256 captive-reared
pigeons were released on Mauritius at three sites and the free-living population
numbered 297 birds at the end of 1998. Factors limiting survival and reproductive
success were identified and an assessment of the reintroduction programme was made.
As a result of the recovery programme, the pink pigeon has been transferred from
Critically Endangered to Endangered. With continued management, survival and productivity
are sufficient to contribute to population growth. Management was considered essential
if the species is to persist in the face of habitat degradation and predation. This
programme is a good example of the interface between captive breeding and the recovery
of a wild population.
17.00 - 17.15
KLEIMAN, DEVRA G. and Jane Moosbruker. Smithsonian National Zoological Park,
Department of Conservation Biology, Washington D.C. 20008, USA, <dgkleiman@aol.com>
(DGK) , 72 Coventry Rd., Bolton, MA 01740, USA (JM).
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF FWS-AZA PARTNERSHIPS IN ENDANGERED SPECIES RECOVERY PROGRAMS
We investigated the structure and function of 11 endangered species recovery programs
involving the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) and the US Fish and Wildlife
Service (FWS) to determine what problems and what possibilities for improvement existed.
We interviewed twenty-seven individuals (mainly species coordinators) from these
programs by telephone for 1-2 hours each. The results show that many of the programs
lack formal agreements and strategies for achieving goals and objectives. While coordinators
are clear about their roles, other program roles and responsibilities are not always
clearly delineated. Few programs have had formal evaluations or strategic planning
meetings recently. Additionally, the majority of coordinators desired more training
and help in leadership skills, resolving conflicts, and other team skills. Both AZA
and FWS personnel also identified more support and better communication as a need.
Most interviewees wished to see more partnerships develop between AZA and FWS, and
their over-all experience was positive. But, many coordinators cited insufficient
funding and staffing for endangered species recovery work as a problem. Some respondents
felt that bureaucratic processes in both AZA and FWS, especially the latter, sometimes
impeded their work. We conclude that there is significant room for improvement in
these partnerships.
17.15 - 17.30
Discussion
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