Mobilizing Paleobiology to Support Conservation in the Bahamas

Abstract

The Bahamas sit at the intersection of multiple global change issues emblematic of contemporary Anthropocene conservation challenges. However, the region also has a long and dynamic biocultural history characterized by multiple human migration events associated with species extirpations, extinctions, invasions, and biogeographic rearrangements. This dynamic history informs present day species and ecosystem diversity, as well as societal perceptions of biodiversity conservation. Here, we introduce an interdisciplinary working group focused on the mobilization of paleobiology data and models in support of contemporary conservation agendas and outreach in The Bahamas. Our aims are aligned with global biodiversity goals but are scaled to regional needs. They include: (1) Identify the temporal and spatial scale of human drivers of loss beginning with initial human settlement (ca. AD 700) and through more contemporary time periods; (2) Using these baselines of taxa through time, consider both species-specific conservation and broader ecosystem restoration possibilities; (3) Employ paleobiological data in new modeling and computational approaches to reconstruct ecosystem functions through time and across space to explore possible avenues for “rewilding”; and (4) Ensure equitable benefits of research and conservation implementation. Within the context of these aims, we also discuss both the challenges and great promise of forming a “conservation paleobiology working group” across people with diverse backgrounds and engagement with conservation.