Applied Conservation Research Research Articles

Fine-grained topographic diversity data improve site prioritization outcomes for bees

Biodiversity hotspots are often found in areas of high environmental diversity. This may be explained by an abundance of varying niche space promoting coexistence, buffering effects allowing for persistence during periods of climate change, and by a diversity of selective pressures driving speciation. Thus, environmentally diverse areas are attractive targets for conservation. Few aspects of the environment are unchanging, however, and strategies targeting comparatively durable surrogates for biodiversity are a focus of applied conservation research. For example, topographic diversity (topodiversity), or the variation of landforms present in an area, has proven useful for site prioritization among some taxa. The suitability of this approach for conservation of ecologically important taxa, such as bee pollinators, has not been studied exhaustively, however. Furthermore, the importance of topographic features smaller than 30 m is generally unknown, due to the limited availability of fine-grained elevation data, though could prove relevant for this group and others. We gathered sub-meter elevation data with structure-from-motion photogrammetry and surveyed for bees and plants in the Sapphire Mountains of western Montana, USA to explore if fine-grained topodiversity data are useful for site prioritization. We calculated topodiversity metrics for a range of spatial grain-sizes (0.25–250 m) and neighborhoods (1–500 m) and conducted sensitivity analyses studying correlations with biodiversity patterns. We prioritized sites according to rarity-weighted richness (RWR), which indicates complementarity, or the degree to which a site can contribute unique species to a preserve network. Bee RWR was most strongly correlated with 2 m grain topodiversity data (r 0.73), while plant RWR was most strongly correlated with 235 m data (r 0.44). Though 2 m data were optimal in bees, larger resolutions (35 m) also were effective for site prioritization and use of these meso-grained surrogates only increased site prioritization error by one rank position. We explored multiple regression models predicting RWR with topodiversity metrics of various grains and neighborhood but found no improvement over linear models incorporating only the single most correlated grain-size and neighborhood metric. The best model for plants performed relatively poorly for the task of bee site prioritization. Modeling complementarity with pooled biodiversity data aggregated from both groups slightly improved site rankings for bees and slightly decreased ranking performance in plants. While the costs of fine-grained elevational remote sensing technologies may be high at present, national efforts to gather these data are on the horizon and may facilitate conservation of bees and other groups at the local scale.

The (Mis)use of the Term “Commensalism” in Primatology

This commentary arose from a workshop entitled ‘What works, and what doesn’t work? The challenge of creating effective applied conservation research in human-modified habitats’, held during the joint meeting of the European Federation for Primatology and the Primate Society for Great Britain in Oxford, 2019. One discussion point highlighted the different use of terminology between disciplines as a challenge for effective multidisciplinary conservation research. Growing number of publications have drawn attention to the misuse of the terms such as human-wildlife conflict (Marshall et al. 2007, Peterson et al. 2010, Davidar 2018), crop-raiding (Hill 2017), or ecotourism (McKinney 2017). Here we widen this conversation by reflecting on an additional term regularly used in primatology: commensalism. Here, we will give the different definitions of the term ‘commensal’ used across disciplines and the implications of its misuse. We will then discuss whether this term can be used to categorise human-nonhuman primate (afterward primates) relationships, and conclude by proposing alternative terminology.

From frustration to fruition in applied conservation research and practice: ten revelations

Applied ecologists and conservation scientists have struggled with generating and sharing new knowledge that is of direct relevance and use to practitioners, managers, and policy makers. The so-called knowledge–action gap remains pervasive, and more is needed to narrow the gap and ensure that the best available science is used to inform environmental decisions. By reflecting on my experiences over a 20-year period, I consider how I have transitioned from a state of utter frustration to one where some successes have been achieved. In this paper, I share ten “revelations” that were derived from extensive reflection. They include: partner early and often; commit to lifelong learning; one research domain is never enough; put it all together; don’t assume; learn from your mistakes; embed yourself; look for policy windows; understand scalar influences; there are no guaranteed wins. As an applied ecologist, I am trying to generate science of relevance to end users and train the next generation of scientists on how to do the same or even better than I have been able to achieve. As a scientific community, we need to have open conversations about our successes and failures and include both scientists and practitioners in such discussions. If one is engaged in mission-oriented science (such as addressing the biodiversity crisis or solving environmental problems), I consider it our responsibility to do all we can to ensure that we generate research that is relevant to end users and share it via channels and in formats that they desire. If we fail to do so, not only will it be a source of frustration for the knowledge generators, but it will also be a failure on our parts to help deliver on the promise of evidence-based conservation and environmental management.

Source-Sink Dynamics: a Neglected Problem for Landscape-Scale Biodiversity Conservation in the Tropics

Ecologists have long recognised that populations can persist in poor-quality habitats with below-replacement population growth rates (‘sinks’) provided there is continual immigration from areas with positive intrinsic growth (‘sources’). Source-sink dynamics complicate the assessment of species-environment relationships, because species’ presence or density can be poorly correlated with underlying population productivity. Yet, applied conservation research often uses presence or abundance data to assess species responses to environmental change, particularly in the tropics where few long-term ecological studies are established. This approach assumes that abundance data reliably indicate habitat quality, but in sinks, this assumption can be violated. We review the recent literature and identify a regional bias in reporting of source-sink phenomena, with 71% of the 210 studies considered coming from temperate regions, particularly Eurasia and North America. Very few studies come from tropical and subtropical biomes, where human-driven biodiversity loss is occurring most rapidly, with over 80% not providing strong evidence in the form of demographic, dispersal or molecular data. Source-sink studies in tropical regions have predominantly investigated populations exposed to hunting/exploitation, with few examining land-use change. We review policy-relevant arenas where better treatment of source-sink dynamics is a priority: spatial conservation planning, assessments of land-sparing versus land-sharing, the conservation value of selectively logged forests, and species distribution modelling. Finally, we discuss ways to improve understanding of source-sink dynamics, particularly in tropical regions. Failure to detect source-sink patterns across the hyperdiverse tropics could limit the efficacy of conservation practice, leading us to underestimate the severity of human impacts on biodiversity.

Building a Plant DNA Barcode Reference Library for a Diverse Tropical Flora: An Example from Queensland, Australia

A foundation for a DNA barcode reference library for the tropical plants of Australia is presented here. A total of 1572 DNA barcode sequences are compiled from 848 tropical Queensland species. The dataset represents 35% of the total flora of Queensland’s Wet Tropics Bioregion, 57% of its tree species and 28% of the shrub species. For approximately half of the sampled species, we investigated the occurrence of infraspecific molecular variation in DNA barcode loci rbcLa, matK, and the trnH-psbA intergenic spacer region across previously recognized biogeographic barriers. We found preliminary support for the notion that DNA barcode reference libraries can be used as a tool for inferring biogeographic patterns at regional scales. It is expected that this dataset will find applications in taxonomic, ecological, and applied conservation research.

Expert elicitation as a method for exploring illegal harvest and trade of wild meat over large spatial scales

AbstractNew evidence of commercialization and consumption of wild meat in Amazonian cities has exposed an alarming yet poorly understood threat to Neotropical biodiversity. In response to the limitations of field sampling for large-scale surveys, we sought to develop a method of rapidly assessing wildlife harvest and trade in multiple areas using expert knowledge. Using caiman as a model taxon, we surveyed experts across the Brazilian Amazon. Expert responses to a Likert-style questionnaire suggest that caiman hunting, generally considered a localized rural activity, is in fact common and geographically widespread. Contrary to previous assumptions we found evidence that urban demand is partly driving the harvest, including via interstate trafficking. We highlight the need for further field validation of wild-meat trade and urban consumption patterns in Amazonia. We conclude that expert elicitation is a simple, cost-effective technique that can be a valuable precursor to inform and direct applied conservation research, especially where there are significant knowledge gaps and at large spatial scales.

“Devil Tools & Tech”: A Synergy of Conservation Research and Management Practice

AbstractBiodiversity conservation continually presents new challenges, yet conservation resources are limited, and funding for applied conservation research projects more so. Recently, many have reported on the “research–implementation gap,” whereby conservation research findings are infrequently translated into conservation actions. In this perspective, we describe our experiences working in a large multi‐institutional, multi‐disciplinary team as we attempt to bridge the research–implementation gap by developing conservation tools needed to address the conservation challenges faced by Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii). We discuss our project's history, lessons learnt, outcomes, and future plans to provide insights that may help others develop multi‐institutional projects, designed to target rapid and direct implementation of conservation research into management action. Key to our success is the needs‐based prioritization of research measured against the management team's questions, recognition of the different needs of academia, industry and government, a collegiate approach, and willingness to embrace adaptive management. Challenges include developing a project which meets all strategic targets of different institutions, in addition to sourcing funds. Overall, our goal has been to establish an enduring research‐management framework, to facilitate improved integration of scientific research into the management needs of Tasmanian devil conservation, and serve as a template for other species management projects.

From research to implementation: Nature conservation in the Eastern Rhodopes mountains (Greece and Bulgaria), European Green Belt

Nature conservation should ideally build on the scientific recommendations that are concluded from applied conservation research, as well as on monitoring schemes that evaluate the effectiveness of recommendations. We considered as a case study a system of six protected areas located in the Eastern Rhodopes mountains in the southern part of the European Green Belt (EGB). To investigate nature conservation effectiveness, we reviewed 196 articles from scientific journals and books, eight doctoral and master theses, and 39 scientific reports regarding the Greek (one protected area, 428 km 2) and the Bulgarian (five protected areas, 904 km 2) part of the study area. We extracted 743 conservation recommendations, and through questionnaires completed by 10 local experts, we found that 74% of the recommendations were familiar for the experts. In the Greek (GR) and the Bulgarian part (BG) only 52% and 16%, respectively, of the recommendations were implemented, and only 15% (GR) and 3.1% (BG) were implemented and evaluated regarding their effectiveness. According to the experts, the main reasons for non-implementation and non-evaluation were absence or incompetence of the responsible authorities. Some recommendations obtained a remarkable low rate of implementation, such as those regarding agriculture and livestock rearing practices (GR: 29%, BG: 16%) or mammal conservation (GR: 0%, BG: 16%). Some other recommendations obtained rather high rates at least for Greece, such as tourism and environmental education (GR: 57%, BG: 42%) and bird conservation (GR: 57%, BG: 11%). We found that researchers and conservation managers at both sides of the Greek-Bulgarian border face similar implementation problems, related often to the lack of political will for nature conservation and establishment of competent authorities. The role of the EGB is crucial in enhancing the established cross-border collaborations between stakeholders involved in nature conservation.

Comparative morphology of dark-eyed juncosJunco hyemalisbreeding at two elevations: a common aviary experiment

H. Bears (correspondence), M.C. Drever and K. Martin, Centre for Applied Conservation Research, University of British Columbia, 2424 MainMall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada. Present address of H. B.: Rescan Environmental Services, 1111 West Hastings,Vancouver, B.C., V6E 2J3, Canada. Email: bears@zoology.ubc.caMorphologies of bird species often vary along elevation gradients, yet causes of the variation have not been examinedexperimentally. We investigated variation in morphological traits of the dark-eyed junco Junco hyemalis, breeding at1,000 m a.s.l. (low-elevation; i.e. low) and 2,000 m asl (high-elevation; i.e. high) in the Rocky Mountains, Canada. Eightmorphological traits were measured in free-living birds. We found two consistent differences in populations betweenelevations: at high-elevation sites, females had longer wings and males had longer tails than birds from low- elevationsites. Other age- and gender- specific results were observed in free-living birds between elevations: tarsi were shorter inhigh-elevation second year (SY) females and after second year (ASY) males, beak lengths were slightly longer in low-elevation SY females, and high-elevation ASY females tended to have lower fat than low-elevation ASY females.Morphological differences may result from genetic differences between elevations, or phenotypic flexibility resulting fromexposure to the different environmental conditions. To identify which mechanism caused the difference inmorphometrics, hand-reared birds from low- and high-elevation habitats were raised in identical conditions withunlimited access to high quality food until they had replaced all feathers. The traits measured in the lab (wing and rectrixlength, weight and fat score) tended to increase in magnitude compared to field values. Juncos from high- and low-elevations had similar responses to the aviary environment, with one exception: males from high-elevation sites hadgreater weight gain relative to free-living juncos than males from low-elevation sites. Thus, morphological traits in dark-eyed juncos were phenotypically flexible, capable of growing larger in the laboratory environment. However, there werealso persistent genetic or perinatal/maternal differences underlying population responses that prevented traits fromconverging under aviary conditions. As a result, trait size differences between high- and low-elevation populations weremaintained or exacerbated in the common aviary environment.

Real Time, Deep Time, Life Time: Spanning Digital and Traditional Collections Life Cycles

The starting point for this paper is the philosophy and practical application of life cycle collection management being developed by the British Library and by other institutions around the world.From a stewardship perspective, the British Library is trying to take a format-neutral approach to the care and custodianship of its collections. Identifying the similarities between traditional and digital collections and bridging gaps in the preservation differences between traditional and digital collections is a significant cultural and technical challenge.Life cycle collection management is a way of taking a long-term approach to the responsible stewardship of any collection. It defines the different stages in a collection item's existence over time, ranging from selection and cataloguing through to preventive conservation, storage and retrieval. It then seeks to identify the costs of each stage in order to show the economic interdependencies between the phases over time. It thereby aims to demonstrate the long-term consequences of what a library takes into its collections, by making explicit the financial and other implications of decisions made at the beginning of the life cycle for the next 100 plus years. This can be used for practical reasons (by individual curators and selectors) and for economic, governance and political purposes.The paper outlines the latest developments in the life cycle approach to the British Library's traditional and digital collections. The preliminary findings about the traditional paper-based collections were presented at the LIBER conference in Rome in 2003. The early application of the approach to the management of digital collections (namely digitised masters) was presented at the National Preservation Office/Kings College London conference in London later that year. Current strands include potential application to the web archiving programme and to both major and minor digitisation projects and the development of a predictive data tool.A recent development on the digital side is the collaborative partnership between the British Library and University College London in the JISC-funded LIFE project (“Lifecycle Information for E-literature”) begun in early 2005. It is anticipated that there will be an emphasis on the life cycle of electronic and print journals, and on the real-time pilot of electronic material received under voluntary legal deposit.A recent development on the traditional side is that one of the overarching themes to emerge from an international meeting convened by the British Library (funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation) aimed at setting an Applied Conservation Research framework for libraries and archives in the UK was the life cycle of collections. This spanned the deterioration mechanisms of paper- and parchment-based collections (including the natural ageing of materials and evaluation of past preservation strategies and techniques used in conservation); real-time predictive modelling of the effects of the environment and other agents of deterioration on collections; and the past and future life cycle of use.These new UK developments in the life cycle approach to traditional and digital collections are put in the context of wider advances in the subject being developed in Europe and North America.Throughout, developments and ideas that span the management of both traditional and digital collections are highlighted. Given that much of the evidence points to our being in a transition phase, an elision of life cycle management of digital and traditional formats would seem the logical aspiration. There is not necessarily a tension between paper/print and digital, but rather that they are increasingly interdependent and increasingly complementary. Similarly, there is not necessarily always a tension between preservation and access, but they can be complementary, with a critical starting point for preservation being the future usability of collections.The emphasis throughout is on the need for the stewardship of digital and traditional collections to confidently focus on Deep Time and the “Long Now” as opposed to the short-term and immediate expediency. The aim is to confidently steward organic and inorganic, dynamic collections.