Conservation biology in practice Flashcards
Single species approach
The single species approach to conservation focuses on saving one species at a time to reach broader goals.
SSA is used to understand causes of the decline of a species, however it is very complicated. Species could be vulnerable because they are specialized in a specific environment, their ecological niche is narrow.
Example of the Cheetah → Hard to breed, reproductive and congenital abnormalities, low genetic diversity and inbreeding, depression, extremely high cub mortality (in captivity and in the wild) VS habitat degradation, predation by lions and illegal trade. Different variables could be the cause of decline.
Sometimes a species is vulnerable because of their phenotype → they are too specialized and have a narrow niche.
Keystone species
the species that structures the ecosystem. If you remove it the ecosystem collapses → can be top predators, for example.
Umbrella species
Uses the habitat in such a way that the whole habitat is useful for them → conserving the habitat, conserves the species.
Flagship species
Chosen strategically to raise awareness of financial support. Aesthetically pleasing/charismatic species like Panda or cheetah… (mostly marketing but also a way to fund a project)
Indicator species
represents community composition or reflects environmental changes. If one species can really indicate a process, it can be used as an example to pull for environmental change.
Multi-species approach
working on the levels of habitats, ecosystems, and landscapes. Very different approach compared to the classic single species approach. The work here involves various disciplines, e.g. architecture, for the design of an area as a complex system:
maintain viable populations of all native species in situ.
represent, within protected areas, all native ecosystem types across their natural range of variation.
maintain evolutionary and ecological processes.
manage over periods of time long enough to maintain the evolutionary potential of species.
accommodate human use and occupancy within these constraints.
Systematic conservation planning
linked to multi-species approach. Systematic conservation planning is the process of locating, configuring, implementing, and maintaining areas to promote the persistence of biodiversity and other natural values.
It has 6 steps:
- compile biodiversity data in the region of concern
- identify conservation goals for the region.
- reviewing existing conservation areas
- select additional conservation areas.
- implement conservation action.
- maintain the required values for the conservation area.
In situ and ex situ conservation
In situ conservation: a set of conservation techniques involving the designation, management, and monitoring of biodiversity in the same area where it is encountered.
Ex situ conservation: he relocation of endangered or rare species from their natural habitats to protected areas equipped for their protection and preservation. ex situ conservation can be a complement of in situ conservation and happens in zoos, aquaria and botanical gardens.
Its main goals:
education: different strategies for environmental education can be put in place, even using art, dioramas
knowledge and scientific research: training projects for animals before their reintroduction in their natural environments. These projects may be carried out by partnerships between in situ and ex situ specialistic groups.
Main problems: domestication.
Environment enrichment
Changing a captive animal’s environment in a way that improves the animal’s quality of life. Captive environments are often safer than the wild but can also be less challenging and stimulating.
Actions that have to do with social, cognitive, sensory, food. For example: animals should hunt for the food, it should not be directly given to them.
These are taken to decrease/contrast domestication to increase the structure complexity of the captivity environment.
Main activities provided by zoos
the breeding of threatened species in captivity
their reintroduction
the maintenance of genetically managed insurance populations
the power to educate and influence large numbers of adults and children
the ability to carry out essential basic research and to develop veterinary medicine using a vast range of otherwise inaccessible animals.
Rewilding
a comprehensive, often large-scale, conservation effort focused on restoring sustainable biodiversity and ecosystem health by protecting core wild/wilderness areas, providing connectivity between such areas, and protecting or reintroducing apex predators and highly interactive species (keystone species).
According to some theories, it is to go back to pre-neolithic Europe times, others have a future-oriented view, no historical idea. In general, all have to do with the concept of ecosystem, either of the past or one that will develop/evolve over time.
Emphasis on top-down approach: Rewilding emphasizes the top-down role of predator species in precipitating wider ecological changes, or so called Cascading effects.
Self-regulation and autonomy: Rewilding rejects continuous direct human management of rewilded objects, instead placing emphasis upon the self-regulation within and amongst non-human species and ecological processes.
Temporal orientation and historical authenticity For example: Carrifran Wildwood restoration project. A former grazing valley since 2000 it has been owned by Borders Forest Trust (Wildwood Group). The stated objective of the project is to «recreate an extensive tract of wild and largely wooded land, evoking the pristine countryside of 6.000 years ago. (see website and pictures) Historical authenticity and future-oriented ecosystems.
Example of top-down approach of rewilding
Reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone park to control all the grazers and restore vegetation.
Restoration
repairing disturbed ecosystems through human intervention. Where conservation biology is often focused on preventing ongoing degradation, restoration ecology seeks to actively reverse such degradation.
Reintroduction
reintroduce a species that existed in a specific ecosystem at a specific time. BUT → introductions (different from re-introductions) shouldn’t be done, they are forbidden!! The introduction of an alien species may create invasive species.
The Central American toad was introduced as an alien species in Australia for the production of sugar cane and now it is eating everything.
The samurai wasp was introduced in Italy to control dangerous insects for some agricultural productions, but the problem is that it spreads easily.
For reintroduction projects, very detailed plans and studies take place, like the environmental impact assessment or the Historical-ecological study to understand if historically a species was living in a specific place or if it was introduced, etc., and to understand the reason of its extinction.
Restocking
Enhances the population of specific animals to increase their number in nature. Like the bear in the alps, where there were a few left.
