Selecting Species To Save Flashcards
What does the Telipogon ampliflorus orchid do
Pumps out pheromones to attract insects with sex - barrow thermal range
What is the criteria for selecting species for consecration
Instrumental use Intrinsic value Ecological value Uniqueness Level of threat
What are the extinction threat categories from the IUCN red list
Extinct (EX) Extinct in the wild (EW) Critically endangered (CR) Endangered (EN) Vulnerable (VU) Near threatened (NT) Least concern (LC)
Data deficient (DD) and Not evaluated (NE)
How do the IUCN provide their red list
What is the likelihood of a species becoming extinct in the near future, given current knowledge about population trends, range and recent, current or projected threats
What does the IUCN stand for
International Union for Conservation of Nature
What does extinct mean
When there is not doubt that the last individual has died
Example of a species that was thought to be extinct but reducscovwrwd
lzarus species
Largest bee in the world in Indonesia (magachile Pluto)
What does extinct in the wild mean
When it is known only to survive in captivity or as naturalised population well outside the past range
Example of critically endangered species
Mountain gorilla
Franklin’s bumblebee
Example of endangered species
Tasmanian devil
Giant panda
Example of vulnerable species
African elephant
Rosalia longicorn beetle
What does IUCN data allow us to measure
The trend of threatened species and if it continues
What are the extinction criteria for critically endangered animals
>80% decline over last 10 years. >10km2 occupancy >25% decline expected over 3 years <50 mature individuals 50% extinct in last 10 years
What are the extinction criteria for endangered animals
50% decline >500km2 >20% decline over 5 years >250 immature indicualas 20% in 20 years extinct
What are the extinction criteria for vulnerable animals
20% decline <2000km2 0% decline expected in 10 years <1000 individuals 10% probability of extinction in 100 years
How to measure extinction threat
Observed/expected/historical decline in numbers.
Geographical area occupied.
Number of populations.
Number of living and breeding individuals.
Known threats and their trajectory.
Problem with measuring extinction threat
Data is often highly incomplete
What does IUCN say about limited data
We shouldn’t allow it to be an excuse for inaction
What are different data sources
Observed Estimated Projected Inferred Suspected
Example of an animal to consider assessments at different scale
Red squirrel is endangered in England. Vulnerable in Britain and least concern worldwide
What are some pros of species based conservation
Species more discrete entitles than ecosystems.
Convenient for monitoring.
Public interest in species.
Cons of species based conservation
Little known about most species.
Causes taxonomic bias (vertebrates and higher plants)
Why is there taxonomic bias
Because we rely on public interest and volunteers to do the research there’s taxonomic bias as individuals can’t be bothered to go through the processes if they don’t care about the animals
What is the criteria for selecting areas for consecration
Size of the area Intactness Site condition Level of threat Habitat rarity Fragility / vulnerable to change Biodiversity
Example of size of the area having an impact
No. Of reptiles and amphibians on a W. Indian island increase with island size
Example of intactness having an impact
In the Amazonian region
Example of rarity having an impact
Costa Rica has suffered disproportionate loss of tropical dry forest which is a great ecosystem for humans and animals. McDonald’s used to be spruced
Where are global threat hotspots
In South America
In Madagascar
In Asia e.g Indonesia
Example of fragility of the system to change having an affect
The Gran Sabana ecosystem is highly vulnerable to disturbance e.g soil compaction. But has lots of biodiversity. Thin soils can be blown away as well - lots of threat.
What are the measures of biodiversity of the area
Richness hotspots
Endemicity hotspots
Threat hotspots
Complementarity area
Why are endemicity hotspots smaller
Usually endemic to a country or type of forest or mountain or a hillside or even a plot
What have large NGOs done in the last 15 years
Started to map out priorities in strategic areas found 25 terrestrial hotspots
Examples of hot spots
Caribbean
Central chilli
New Zealand
Madagascar’s
What is a complementarity area
Represent as much biodiversity as possible in a limited area of land available for conservation
Problem with leaving some areas not protected
You can do educational program and establish new policies but if people live there and there’s political boundaries there is constraints as well
What is the challenge of complementarity
Inconvenient as the hot spots of richness, threat and endemicity don’t really line up
Why do the hot spots for richness, threat and endemicity determine
Sites of specific scientific interest
How many national parks in England
- 9.3% area
How many national parks in wales
- 19.9% area
How many national parks in Scotland.
- 7.2% of area
What is the reserve-health index
Index measures changes in:
10 guilds of animals and plants
Includes disturbance-avoiding and favouring species.
Over past 20-30 years.
Do protected areas work in the Uk
Protected area excludes 31 species of birds.
20 new cells would be needed to represent all species.
16 cells needed to repeat by all red data species.
Do protected areas work in New Caledonia
83% of the 447 threatened species are not in protected areas.
5-9 times the current protection area is needed
What is a trade off
A balance achieved between two desirable but incompatible features, a compromise
Example of trade off questions
Do we establish critical protected areas where people live?
Do we allow tourism into an ecologically sensitive area that needs conservation dollars?
Do we protect wild life that face direct conflict with humans?
Do we protect a species no matter the economic cost?
Examples of trade offs
Road development considering agricultural vs envonrmwntal values.
Tourism in Gran Sabana.
Endangered species that are expensive to protect like Mauritius kestrel and sumatran rhino.
What is the conservation triage
Approaches that abandon some species or subpopulations to extinction, in order to focus resources on others with higher chances of survival but HOW do you chose that and who chooses it
What does conservation equal
Complex decision making. Indentifyint region, biodiversity assets, candidate management actions, estimate cost, calculate biodiversity benefit, rank actions by benefit and cost, Create feasible actions, schedule and implement actions, evaluate effectiveness
