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 Three

Thursday 18th July, 13.30 - 15.00, Rutherford Lecture Theatre 1

Chair: Robert Batie



Conference Home Page | Session timetable


(BLOCK CAPITALS indicate the presenting author)


13.30 - 13.45
MOEHLMAN, PATRICIA D., and Hagos Yohannes, IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group (PDM), Wildlife Conservation Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Eritrea (HY).
POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THE AFRICAN WILD ASS (Equus africanus) IN ERITREA

The African Wild Ass (Equus africanus) is the world's most endangered equid. It persists in one of the harshest climates and terrains in the world, the Horn of Africa. The African wild ass exhibits a mating system and social organization that is typical of equids that live in arid habitats. Females were polyestrous and natality occurs during the rainy season (October to March). The current reproductive rate and foal survival indicates that this population is growing. On the Messir Plateau, the African wild ass occurs in a density of 47 individuals per 100 square kilometers. Historically this is the highest density ever observed of African wild ass. Local pastoralists derive no economic benefits from wildlife, but they and their livestock share resources with all wildlife. The persistence of the African wild ass in this area is mainly due to the tolerance and the protection by the local people.

13.45 - 14.00
MCCARTHY, THOMAS M. International Snow Leopard Trust, 4649 Sunnyside Avenue N. Suite 325, Seattle, WA 98103, USA, <tmccarthy@snowleopard.org>.

A SNOW LEOPARD SURVIVAL STRATEGY

The snow leopard, Uncia uncia, is endangered throughout its 13 nation range in Asia. Due to its extremely cryptic behaviour, and the harsh and remote habitat in which it lives, the species remains poorly understood. Persecuted for trade and in retribution for livestock depredation, it faces increasing pressure, particularly in former Soviet states where the cat’s human neighbours face severe economic hardship. Conservation and research efforts for this species have been limited and often poorly co-ordinated. I present here the results of an 18-month interactive process to formulate a Snow Leopard Survival Strategy (SLSS) with input from scientists, conservation NGOs and resource managers from all snow leopard range states, and around the world. The SLSS provides a comprehensive prioritised analysis of threats to snow leopards and appropriate conservation actions to address them. Similarly, information needs are described and research methodologies suggested. I discuss how consensus was reached on the SLSS by all range states, and, importantly, how it is now being implemented through local development of country-specific action plans.



14.00 - 14.15
LYNAM, ANTONY J., Alan Rabinowitz, U. Saw Tun Khaing and U. Than Myint. Wildlife Conservation Society — Thailand Program, P.O. Box 170, Laksi, Bangkok 10210 Thailand tlynam@wcs.org (AJL, USTK, UTM), Wildlife Conservation Society, Asia/Science and Exploration Program, 185th St. & Southern Blvd., Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York 10460, USA.(AR).

COMPARATIVE STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF TIGERS IN THAILAND AND MYANMAR

Setting range-wide, and country level priorities for saving tigers has been hampered by the lack of information on their status and distribution across remaining habitats. From 1997-2002 the Wildlife Conservation Society worked across the tiger’s range to identify critical sites and to work with national governments to implement specific management actions there. In Thailand and Myanmar, 19 sites were selected using information on historical patterns of tiger occurrence and interviews. Using camera-traps and sign surveys, tigers were confirmed from 86% of Thai sites but only 17% of Myanmar sites. Relative abundance of large mammals was similar across surveys, but Myanmar forests had higher species richness. Tigers were an order of magnitude less frequently detected in camera-traps in Myanmar. Although remaining habitat is more highly fragmented, Thailand has incorporated 60% in protected areas. Camera-traps recorded 57% lower poacher activity in Thailand than in Myanmar, where < 11% of remnant forest is protected. Prescriptions for tiger conservation differ for the two countries. The expansion and addition of protected areas, and staff training will be required for the recovery of Myanmar tiger populations, with ecological monitoring and increased enforcement needed to reduce poaching and stabilise populations of tiger and prey in Thailand.



14.15 - 14.30
WAITS, LISETTE, Jennifer Adams, Craig Miller, Stephan Funk and Buddy Fazio, Department of Fish and Wildlife, University of Idaho, Moscow 83844-1136, USA, lwaits@uidaho.edu (JE, JA, CM), Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London
Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK (SF), US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alligator River NWR, 708 N. Hwy. 64, PO Box 1969, Manteo, NC 27954, USA (BF)

RECOVERING THE ENDANGERED REDWOLF (CANIS RUFUS): ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGE OF HYBRIDIZATION

Preventing hybridization is becoming increasingly important in the conservation of endangered species. The recovery program for the re-introduced red wolf (Canis rufus) population of North Carolina is facing the challenge of preventing hybridization with coyotes (Canis latrans). An adaptive management plan was developed to prevent hybridization while also studying the interactions of red wolves, hybrids and coyotes. This plan utilizes a combination of approaches including culling hybrids and sterilizing hybrids. Managers face the challenge of monitoring for hybridization across 1.7 million acre s and need a reliable and sensitive genetic test . We have addressed these challenges by collecting genetic samples from as many adults and offspring as possible and augmenting trapping efforts with non-invasive genetic sampling of feces. We also collected 19 loci of microsatellite data from coyote populations in North Carolina and Virginia, 14 founders of the captive population, and 50 captive red wolves. Three different analytical approaches to detecting introgression have been evaluated. These approaches are very successful in detecting F1 hybrids (50% introgression) but had low power or conflicting results when identifying red wolves with low levels (25 — 10%) of introgression. This presentation will evaluate the effectiveness of the field and genetic efforts to curb hybridization.




14.30 - 14.45
MEDINA-VOGEL, GONZALO, Vera S. Kaufman R., Silvia Gonzalez, Rene Monsalve A. and Vicente Gómez. Instituto de Ecología y Evolución, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile. Comité Nacional Pro Defensa de la Fauna y Flora (CODEFF), Chile.

ASSESSMENT OF THREATS FACING THE RIVER OTTER IN CHILE AND THE HUMAN DIMENSION OF ITS CONSERVATION PROBLEM

Here we report on two years' research assessing the threats to southern river otters and how these are related to the knowledge and attitude of landowners, farmers, school children and State Department officials toward the water courses and otter conservation in the Lake district of South of Chile. Using an Index of Otter Field Signs (IOS) and an Index of Revisitation Rate (IRR), we assess the effect of woody debris, bank vegetation, channel morphology, river bounds, river canalisation and the presence and activity of humans on the use of water courses by otters. Otters prefer river and stream banks with a high density of riparian vegetation, woody debris and exposed roots. River canalisation and extensive removal of riparian vegetation and woody debris have an adverse impact. This research shows a limited appreciation of rivers, swamp forest and otter conservation by most landowners and some State Departments. The survival of otters in freshwater habitats in Chile may dependent on the conservation of shallow water courses, meanders, swamp forest, macrocrustaceans and the restriction of human dwellings in areas additional to the current National Parks. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an integrated and sustainable management program of floodplains and water courses by authorities.



14.45 - 15.00
GERBER, L. R., M. Tim Tinker, James A. Estes and Daniel F. Doak. Department of Biology, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 871501, Tempe, Arizona, 85287-150, USA, <leah.gerber@asu.edu> (LRG), Department of Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, A-316 Earth & Marine Sciences Building, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA (MTT, JAE, DFD).

MORTALITY SENSITIVITY IN LIFE-STAGE SIMULATION ANALYSIS: A CASE STUDY OF SOUTHERN SEA OTTERS

We use life stage simulation analysis to examine 30 years of age and sex specific mortality data for Southern sea otters. Population recovery of the southern sea otter has been slow compared to other recovering otter populations and since 1995 the population has declined. We present a demographic model for examining the sensitivity of sea otter population growth to putative sources of mortality (e.g., trauma, disease, fisheries, gun shot, mating trauma, shark bites). We use resampling simulations to generate random combinations of vital rates for a large number of matrix replicates, and use these to estimate potential effects of mortality sources on l. Elasticity values obtained for Southern sea otters indicate that the population is far more sensitive to changes in survival rates than reproduction. Disease, emaciation and shark bites explained a substantial fraction of variance in l. Understanding the role of mortality sources for southern otters helps focus attention on the sources of mortality that can and cannot be controlled in recovery efforts.

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