Establishing New Populations (Class 19)

Question 1

What do reintroduction programs aim to do?

Answer 1

-To establish new wild or semi-wild populations of rare and endangered species to increase the size of existing populations.
-Allows species that have persisted only in
captivity or small, isolated populations to
regain their ecological and evolutionary
roles.

Question 2

Challenges of captive breeding programs?

Answer 2

• Must understand factors that lead to decline of original population
• Some species may be successful in captivity but not in the wild because of original cause of decline

Question 3

What are the 3 approaches to establishing new populations?

Answer 3

1) Reintroduction program
2) Reinforcement program
3) Introduction program

Question 4

What does reintroduction program involve?

Answer 4

-Releasing captive bred or wild collected animals into an ecologically stable site that is within their historical range but the species no longer occurs

Question 5

Wild individuals may be caught and released elsewhere in range when:

Answer 5

1) new protected area is establish
2) an existing population is under threat
3) natural dispersal is disrupted

Question 6

Oregon forestsnail

Answer 6

• exists in extremely isolated habitat patches in Fraser Valley.
• cannot disperse adequately
• members of the public have helped move them, but no official program

Question 7

What does the reinforcement program involve?

Answer 7

-Restocking or augmentation, releasing individuals into an existing population to increase its size and gene pool

Question 8

Orange Bellied Parrots

Answer 8

in 2011 the new population increased the population significantly.

• from the September to march, 19->23 captive bred birds.
• this is an example of reinforcement program.

Question 9

What does the Introduction program involve?

Answer 9

-moving captive bred or wild collected organisms to areas suitable for the species, outside of their historical range.

Question 10

When is the Introduction program employed?

Answer 10

1) When environment within known range has deteriorated so the species can no longer survive there.
2) Reintroduction is impossible because the original threat is still present

Question 11

New Zealand Kakapo

Answer 11

• example of introduction program

- introduced to offshore islands as nonnative predators had decimated its population on the mainland.

Question 12

What is Head-starting?

Answer 12

Method used in establishing new or reinforcing existing populations. Animals are raised in captivity during their vulnerable stages, then released into the wild.
-Ex: sea turtle hatcheries

Question 13

What are some concerns about new animal populations?

Answer 13

• Expensive
• Require long term commitment
• May be highly emotional public issues
• but, may be the best hope for a species

Question 14

What factors should be considered in animal release programs?

Answer 14

• Crucial to include local people in establishment programs so community has a stake in its success
• Must make sure new population does not harm new ecosystem or local populations
• must not dilute wild population gene pool by introducing too many individuals with low genetic variability

Question 15

What is soft release?

Answer 15

Released
animals are initially
provided with special
care and assistance to
improve survival
prospects.

Question 16

What is hard release?

Answer 16

Abrupt release of individuals
without assistance. Individuals may disperse explosively from
protected area, resulting in failed
establishment effort.

Question 17

What are the generalizations for success from 200 establishment programs?

Answer 17

More success was noted in:

• better habitat quality
• greater in core of historical range than outside of historical range
• greater in wild caught then in captive bred animals
• greater for herbivores than carnivores
• greater when more individuals were introduced

Question 18

What are the learned behaviours of released animals?

Answer 18

• animals learn from other members when they grow in the wild
• captive bred animals must be trained to hunt, located food, social behaviours and be afraid of predators.

Question 19

What is important with new plant populations?

Answer 19

• site selection

- head start - growing them into seedlings and then planting them in the wild

Question 20

What needs to be considered in establishing new plant populations?

Answer 20

• Disturbance by fire or tree falls may be necessary for seedling establishment in many species
• Seeds need to be selected from a site similar so they are genetically suited
• need to eliminate original threats (invasive species)

Question 21

How to increase success of new plant populations?

Answer 21

Germinate seeds in controlled environment and create optimal conditions at planting site.