Ongoing Threats to Endemic Species

Abstract

Carolyn Gramling's article “Hawaii's coral trees feel the sting of foreign wasps” (News Focus, 16 Dec. 2005, p. [1759][1]) highlights the risk posed by a nonnative wasp. This is only the most recent example of the vulnerability of endemic Hawaiian species to foreign invaders ([1][2]). For example, the continued existence of the Hawaiian dark rumped petrel ( Pterodroma phaeopygia sandwichensis ) depends on control of nonnative predators at its breeding colonies. Such threats can at best be managed rather than eliminated. Continuing conservation management thus is necessary to maintain such species. ![Figure][3] A Hawaiian dark rumped petrel CREDIT: R. SHALLENBERGER/VIREO The need for ongoing management to maintain species is one characteristic of what has recently been defined as “conservation-reliant species” ([2][4]). Such species face threats that are pervasive, recurring, and cannot be eliminated (e.g., nest parasites, predators, and dependence on disturbance habitat regimes). Without species-specific management, conservation-reliant species are at risk of extinction. The need for ongoing management runs counter to traditional assumptions. In the Endangered Species Act, for example, Congress assumed that, after a species is listed, the threats to its existence will be identified and eliminated so that the species can be taken off the list as recovered. This assumption is proving to be false ([2][4]). Given projections of increased globalization with its resulting homogenization and the concomitant fragmentation of native habitats, the threats of nonnative species can only be expected to increase. Thus, the threat posed to the survival of the coral tree by nonnative wasps, rather than being an interesting observation from an isolated island ecosystem, offers a window to the future challenges facing conservation biology in its efforts to conserve imperiled species worldwide. 1. 1.[↵][5] 1. L. Loope 2. et al. , Stud. Avian. Bio. 22, 291 (2002). [OpenUrl][6] 2. 2.[↵][7] 1. J. M. Scott 2. et al. , Front. Ecol. 7, 383 (2005). [OpenUrl][8] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.310.5755.1759 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: pending:yes [4]: #ref-2 [5]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1. in text [6]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DStud.%2BAvian.%2BBio.%26rft.volume%253D22%26rft.spage%253D291%26rft.atitle%253DSTUD%2BAVIAN%2BBIO%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [7]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2. in text [8]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DFront.%2BEcol.%26rft.volume%253D7%26rft.spage%253D383%26rft.atitle%253DFRONT%2BECOL%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx