In-situ Conservation

Question 1

What is in-situ conservation?

Answer 1

The process of protecting an endangered plant or animal species in its natural habitat

Question 2

What are the 4 points for in-situ management

Answer 2

1. Identity drivers of population change
2. Identify management strategies (eg. Translocation)
3. Wider landscape management (quality, connectivity, area)
4. Monitor success and modify plans if necessary

Question 3

What was the CBD 2010 target for percentage of worlds land area to be under some sort of protection?

Answer 3

17% (22.8 million km2)

Question 4

What are the 7 IUCN protected areas

Answer 4

Strict nature reserve (Cat 1a)
Wilderness Area (Cat 1b)
National Park (Cat II)
Natural monument (Cat III)
Habitat/species management area (Cat IV)
Protected landscape (Cat V)
Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources (Cat VI)

Question 5

What is PAME

Answer 5

Protected Areas Management Effectiveness, a value between 0-1 on how successful the management of an area has been

Question 6

Why are protected areas useful tools?

Answer 6

• More effective and secure
• Less costly (although that is context specific
• Coverage, many species covered at once through network of protected areas
• viability: natural selection and evolution continue (maintain genetic diversity)
• economic sustainability

Question 7

What is translocation?

Answer 7

Moving plants and animals for conservation purposes from one site for release in another site

Question 8

When is translocation success more likely?

Answer 8

• for native non-sensitive species than for threatened
• when habitat quality at target site is high
• herbivores
• in core of species historical ranges
• wild caught instead of captive bread

Question 9

What is population restoration and what 2 types are there?

Answer 9

Conservation translocation to within indigenous range

• reinforcement: release into an existing population
• reintroduction: release inside its indigenous range from which it has disappeared

Question 10

What is conservation introduction and what are the 2 types

Answer 10

Conservation translocation to outside an organism indigenous range

• assisted colonisation: release outside its indigenous range to avoid extinction
• ecological replacement: release outside its indigenous range to perform a specific ecological function

Question 11

What is an argument against conservation introduction

Answer 11

The current understanding of invasions is inadequate to forecast negative consequences

Question 12

What is the famous example of conservation introduction gone wrong

Answer 12

The Nile Perch, released in Lake Victoria in 1950s/1960s, contributed to the disappearance of nearly 200 endemic species

Question 13

What’s the other (less known) example of conservation introduction gone wrong

Answer 13

American red squirrel
Translocated to Newfoundland as prey for pine marten, competed with Newfoundland red crossbill for food causing near local extinction

Question 14

Case study of translocation: Golden Lion Tamarin

Answer 14

Found in highly fragmented low lands of Brazil 
800 left in wild, 30% were translocated
Threats: habitat loss and pet trade
Methods of conservation used:
- captive breeding and research
- habitat management 
- translocation reintroduction

Question 15

Case study of translocation: the large blue

Answer 15

91 colonies in 1840, national extinction by 1980

Habitat management, failed reintroductions

Question 16

Who are opportunity costs worst for

Answer 16

People that depend highly on natural resources for food intake and livelihoods

Question 17

Give an example of expensive conservation?

Answer 17

Borneo, cost went from $28 to $48 when opportunity costs taken into account because cannot plant palm oil